White Sox | The Baseball Zealot

Hopeless in Minnesota

My two game win streak is over! Mark Buehrle got clubbed for 5 runs (4 earned) in five innings & Kevin Slowey had it all going on, final score seven to nothing. The Metrodome lived up to advance billing, it sucks. There are still three games left in the series, tomorrow’s another day, but to be honest – I’d prefer we just blow this race open, rather than have just a 1 1/2 game lead, too close for comfort.

I believe Clayton Richard makes his second big league start tomorrow night. These Twinkies are really pesky, it seems like everybody in the lineup bats in the .310’s, with speed, and they can field.

The Light Rail is a great way to get to/from the game. And I have an 8 hour Greyhound ride to Chicago Friday morning at 1:15 AM, leaving for Waupaca once I get in town, 4 more hours, maybe I should just use my gun and end it now. What do male Twins/Cubs fans have in common? They both pee in troughs, did I tell you this place SUCKS?

TAKING MY STREAK ON THE ROAD

I’m going to Minnesota Sunday to see the White Sox battle the Twins in a key four game series. Never been to this indoor ballpark(?), not really looking forward to it, heard nothing but bad things about this stadium, but the White Sox need my support. I’m not bringing my laptop, as I’ll be coming back via Greyhound overnite 7/31-8/1, then hopping into a car in Chicago, and then going up to Waupaca for my nephew’s 4th birthday (BIGTIME PARTY with ponies & everything). So I’ll be filling you in on my Twinkie experience when I get to Waupaca. CLuke & his family will be with me the first two games, then they’re going to Crivitz for the rest of their vacation.

After watching the lifeless White Sox this past Monday night, at least it was halfprice night, but I was so tired & out of it. The game was dull & boring, even though Tade, Al, Anothony, NickyV were there. Crowe Dog even made an appearance. Sox got clocked, I was there, streak over!

I really was in no mood to go to the game Tuesday night, but I went anyway, and am very glad I did. Mark Buehrle was moved up in the rotation so he could attend his grandfather’s funeral, he tossed a gem. My other two favorite players also had big games, Nick Swisher hit a three run homer & Alexei Ramirez hit a grand slam. 10-2 Good Guys and I had a new streak going.

Clayton Richard made his major league debut one day later than originally planned. Richard struckout the first batter he faced Ian Kinsler, but then the 2nd batter he faced Michael Young took him yard, welcome to the big leagues kid! Jim Thome ripped a three run bomb in the bottom of the 1st to give Clayton a 3-1 lead, but it didn’t last as Texas scored five more times, benefitting from sloppy fielding, 4 Sox errors in the game.

Carlos Quentin cut the deficit to 6-4 with a 5th inning solo shot. Boone Logan allowed two runs in the top of the 7th to make it 8-4. Then Ozzie Guillen went out to ask what was said between Swisher & the homeplate umpire in the 7th, was tossed, and went crazy! There were three or four questionable calls on pitches that were clearly outside that were called strikes. Nick walked after Guillen was ejected, but then Quentin grounded into a doubleplay, leaving a runner at 3rd with two out. Jermaine Dye doubled home Cabrera, but it all seemed too little, too late.

Chicago trailed 8-5 going into the bottom of the 8th inning. Paul Konerko just missed putting one on the board, and settled for a leadoff double. After Toby Hall popped out, Alexei Ramirez plated Paulie with a ground single to left, and then Ramirez went to 2nd on a wild pitch. Officially Juan Uribe was credited with a double on which Alexei didn’t score from 2nd, but here’s what really happened. Ramirez held up on Uribe’s grounder up the middle, not wanting to get caught in no man’s land, then went to 3rd when the ball made it to the outfield, Juan took 2nd when the outfielder’s throw was toward home, good baserunning by Uribe. With runners on 2nd & 3rd with one out Orlando Cabrera crushed a Eddie Guardado offering over the leftfield wall, only to have the wind bring the high drive back for a sac fly rather than a three run homer. Swisher walked on four pitches, none of them close. And then Carlos Quentin hit C.J. Wilson’s first pitch for a no-doubter to left, 10-8 White Sox.

Bobby Jenks walked Texas’ leadoff hitter in the 9th Josh Hamilton, but then settled down to get the save, WELCOME BACK BOBBY JENKS! I sat down when he entered the game. I’m not superstitious, but I know what works.

Some other happenings in the game. Dick went to the bathroom when Carlos Quentin hit his 2nd homer, that trick always works. We met the agent who represents Juan Uribe, Pablo Ozuna, Miguel Olivo, and Damaso Marte, he seems like a nice guy. Jermaine Dye made a great diving catch in right to keep the Rangers at bay, I guess his knees okay. The Number One Webgem of the day was turned in by Alexei Ramirez. Ramirez was running in at full speed, backhanded the ball with the web of his glove, and flipped it to Paulie, who caught it barehanded for the out. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s always nice to be out at the ballpark for a day game in the middle of the week, this one was extra special, and it was great to see Nancy Faust’s smiling face, she’s such a nice lady!

WINNING STREAK ENDS FOR BG AT THE CELL

I’ll have to start a new winning streak, as Scott Feldman & the Texas Rangers shutdown the White Sox 6-1. Feldman was forced into an emergency start when Eric Hurley had shoulder stiffness. Scott had his share of baserunners, but was able to induce Sox batters into hitting into key doubleplays.

Javier Vazquez was the victim of Josh Hamilton’s three run blast after home plate ump didn’t give Vazquez the corner on a strike three 3-2 pitch that would’ve ended the inning rather than putting another runner on for Hamilton’s monster blast to center. Hank Blalock added insurance with a late shot to the rightfield bar area off Boone Logan. Carlos Quentin’s solo shot was the lone run the Good Guys could muster.

With Jose Contreras on the shelf, rookie lefty Clayton Richard will get the nod Tuesday night for the Pale Hose. Let’s hope the former Michigan backup QB can right the ship.

29 years ago today: Disco Demolition Night

Twenty-nine years ago today, the infamous Disco Demolition at Comiskey Park happened. The plan was dreamed up thanks to White Sox owner Bill Veek and was executed by a 24-year old up and coming radio jock Steve Dahl. Dahl was working for WLUP “the Loop” and had just been snatched up from a rival station which was switching their format to disco music (much to Dahl’s dismay).

Most of you oldsters know the story. The promo itself seemed relatively harmless. Bring in a record (y’all remember records?) of disco music that you love to hate, and you get in Sox Park for 98 cents (WLUP number on the dial was 98.3).

But things got ugly. People didn’t bring one record… they brought boxfuls. There were obscene chants from the stands. Give people a reason to be obnoxious, they’ll take it to the next level. Pandemonium ensued. Swindle magazine’s Simon Steinhardt describes the debacle:

After Dahl and co. took another lap around the field, the grounds crew came onto the field to clean up, and White Sox pitcher Ken Kravec began to warm up for the second game. Meanwhile outside the stadium, a mob of disgruntled teens had begun to shake the portable ticket booths. Apprised of the situation, Mike Veeck asked the deputy in charge of the 40 or so police officers on the field to send some of his men out to deal with the delinquents. A couple fans interpreted the departure of the officers as a gift of carte blanche, and ran onto the field to steal second base-first symbolically, then literally. That was all the spark the crowd needed. Pandemonium. Fans came pouring out over the outfield fence almost immediately, while others sprinted down the ramps from the upper deck to join the bedlam. The scene was typical of a World Series celebration (in that era of Chicago sports, the destruction of disco records was the biggest victory imaginable), and with no regard for the game still to be played, people started plucking grass from the field (an anonymous plucker recalls being told, “Hey man, you can’t smoke that!”). They climbed the foul poles, knocked over the batting cage, and started bonfires around the smoldering record sleeves lying on the field. Most of the people on the field were just running every which way, with no idea what to do but too excited to leave the scene. The players stood on the steps of their dugouts watching the chaos, wearing helmets and wielding bats to protect themselves. “I was shocked and amazed,” says Dahl. “And I knew I was in trouble.”

The scoreboard pleaded with “the fans” to settle down. Bless her heart, Nancy Faust began playing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” on her organ to change the focus of the event.

Eventually, the game was forfeited.

It is interesting to see how this event goes down in history. I’ve never seen the Disco Demolition Night in much of a positive light. It was an part of Chicago culture that seems to have brouht the worst out in people.

However, according to Steve Dahl’s bio, this whole thing is considered “his most influential contribution to the national music scene”. At least that’s what it says on on the website where you can buy the 25th Anniversary DVD.

Perceptions are different, I guess.

AJ HOMERS AJ HOMERS

My winning streak at the Cell has reached an incredible 15 games in a row, what is even more amazing is that this streak includes FIVE sweeps!!! C.C. Sabathia & the Tribe were the latest victims. In what may have been Sabathia’s last start as a member of Cleveland, he was matched up against Jose Contreras. That divorce from a year ago must’ve really been playing mind games, because while he’s not dominant, he’s no longer the doormat he was in 2007, he battles till the end.

Contreras finally surrendered to Grady Sizemore, threw him a fastball, which he nailed for a single. Sizemore moved up on Jamie Carroll’s grounder, which would’ve been a doubleplay had Grady not been on the move. Later in the inning Sizemore scored on a Jhonny Peralta base hit. 1-0 Tribe with the Sox coming up in the bottom of the 1st.

C.C. had a 95 MPH fastball and a filthy breaking ball working all night. Remarkably A.J. Pierzynski & Jermaine Dye hit fastballs on the screws for long gone home runs, 2-1 Good Guys after one. You could tell both balls were gone from the sound they made off the bat. Caramel-Corn Mike didn’t even have to look up to know they were gone.

The Indians manufactured a run in the top of the 2nd, thanks in part to an error by Pablo Ozuna. Isn’t always the way, a guy who makes an error leads off his team’s at bat with a ringing double over the centerfielder’s head? Well that’s exactly what Ozuna did and then he scored on a base hit by Nick Swisher (did I mention I was wearing his teeshirt?). I felt an arm on my shoulder, looked up to see it was Minnie Minoso. After exchanging hellos we got down to the business of talking baseball. I was impressed by the deep drive to left by Alexei Ramirez, while Minnie correctly pointed out, he has to move that runner along. Still after all these years, around 80 years old, Minnie understands how the game has to be played. You can buy stuff from Minnie at www.minoso.com.

In the top of the 5th Sizemore leads off with a walk, this time Contreras had him 0-2, but couldn’t get his curveball over, and ended up walking him. Grady steals 2nd and scores on a Carroll triple inside the rightfield foul line. Remarkably Contreras bears down and gets out of it without giving up another run. It’s about 90 degrees, sticky & hot, but Jose looks to be in his element, probably reminds him of a winter night in Cuba.

Before the 6th inning begins I tell Dick, it might be better just having Sizemore hit a home run rather than having that speed on base, especially leading off the inning. Well Sizemore was due up third in the 6th and I really thought Ozzie Guillen would bring in a lefty with two outs & nobody on base, and with Contreras throwing a ton of pitches, working out of jams, on a very hot night. Well Grady rips a fastball high & deep over the rightfield wall, Dick says, you got what you wanted. I try to argue that I only thought a homer might be better than speed on the bases when he was leading off an inning. An argument I would regret even thinking.

There was alot going on where I stand behind the plate as the Sox came up for their at bats in the bottom of the 6th, talking & what not, nothing to do with baseball. So I decided to vacate my post, move over a little bit on the other side of a brick partition, and sure enough Jackie stops by to visit. Jackie is a cute little vendor friend of mine, she stopped by just to say hi, it would have been rude for me to have ignored her, but I really wanted to concentrate on our hitters. And from what I hear our hitters took some mighty good cuts in the bottom of the 6th, some very loud outs, but I didn’t see any of it. My eyes were glued on Jackie, sorry I didn’t tell her I wouldn’t be back till the 21st, she’ll be looking for me, I’m sure.

My focus was back on the game in the bottom of the 7th as Brian Anderson stepped in with two runners on base. I was slumped against the wall, head down, eyes closed. Just then another fan stopped by to say, Brian Anderson made him nervous, he wasn’t saying it as a good thing. Immediately I plucked myself off the wall and came to life, I was pulling for Anderson to split the gap, with confidence, Brian hits it hard into the leftcenterfield gap for a two run double and the lead.

Nick Masset pitched the 7th, Octavio Dotel worked the 8th, and setup man Scott Linebrink was called upon to close it out in the 9th, there would be no Bobby Jenks. The first man Linebrink would face would be Sizemore, Dick looked at me and said, “Don’t even think it”, but it was too late as Grady ripped one over the rightfield wall for a loud game tying homer.

Last night’s winner, first win of his career, Adam Russell held the Tribe scoreless in the top of the 10th, and A.J. Pierzynski hit the game winning walkoff home run deep into the night to right.

A sweep of Cleveland and my streak extended to 15! A White Sox security guard threatened that I couldn’t leave when I told him about the streak and that I wouldn’t be back until July 21st.

Here’s to the Sox! Let’s hope they can keep the fireworks going during the games this weekend against the A’s. Tade & I might go to see the Sox in Oakland in August. Other out of town baseball for Teddy Ballgame includes a game between the Indians & Angels in Anaheim on 7/22 and a four game set in Minnesota rooting on the Southside Hitmen. LET’S GO WHITE SOX!

DANKS ALOT

Tade called today to say he had a couple of freebies for tonite’s game. I called CLuke who decided to bring his son Tom down to the Cell. Advanced billing had it as a pitcher’s dual between John Danks & Cliff Lee, and advanced billing didn’t lie. Lee came into the action with a record of 11-1, while Danks would surely have at least ten wins with a little better run support. You’ve got to give CLuke credit, putting his record on the line, with Lee on the hill for the Tribe.

Grady Sizemore tracked down Alexei Ramirez’ Cuban Missile in the 2nd inning with the bases loaded that resulted in a sac fly to put the good guys up 1-0. It stayed that way in part because of Joe Crede flashing the leather and a couple of John Danks pickoffs. Jose, Crede’s brother-in-law, stopped by to say hello, NickyV & I know him from our trip to KC & just before, I called him Josh, my bad. Kelly Shoppach smacked Danks’ first pitch of the 6th inning over the leftfield wall to tie the game at one.

Casey Blake put Cleveland up 2-1 ripping one out to left off Matt Thornton in the top of the 10th, Adam Russell put out the fire. The bottom of the lineup, the heart of the order, would face Indians closer Joe Borowski. JoBo got Crede & Swisher, before Alexei Ramirez sent leftfielder Ben Francisco to the track where Alexei’s drive was just out of the grasp of the leaping Francisco to tie the game at two. It was Ramirez’ third track drive of the game, I thought the homer was too high to go out. I wanted to wear my Alexei Ramirez tee shirt, but I didn’t have one, was gonna buy one Monday night, but didn’t, don’t even know if they have them at the ballpark’s gift shop. Anyway the White Sox weren’t finished as pinch-hitter Dewayne Wise lined a single to right. JoBo threw over to firstbase, I could tell Wise was going on the first pitch, the Indians could not, Dewayne stole second easily on a breaking ball, and scored the winning run when Orlando Cabrera’s base hit fell in front of Sizemore. A streaking Wise beat Sizemore’s throw home.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, I moved into the vacated seats with two outs in the bottom of the 10th, to try to keep the streak going, it now stands at 14 wins in a row with me at the games, Adam Russell picked up his 1st win. Bad timing, Steve left to catch his train at the same time I stepped up.

Almost forgot to mention I saw Erick Robertson (of SimYard fame) and his wife Gwen as I was headed into the game. It was a surprise to see Erick at a Sox game, a free ticket, and a pass to the Stadium Club must’ve inspired him to see the light. Robertson usually goes to watch professional baseball in Japan.

I called Tade when I got home to high five him on the win. Tade gave me another freebie for Wednesday night’s game with C.C. Sabathia taking the hill for possibly the last time for the Tribe.

13 WINS IN A ROW FOR BALLGAME & SOX

Cub fans had pretty much wiped their feet on the Sox after sweeping them at Wrigley the previous weekend, now it was time for the Sox to return the favor. Like I said before, I missed seeing the middle game of this Crosstown Classic at the Cell, Lindskoog Family Reunion. But was able to watch the game on TIVO Saturday night. And was able to watch Carlos Quinten take Carlos Marmol yard with what turned out to be the game winner. Just before the homer, FOX showed a closeup of Kerry Wood in the bullpen double flipping the bird to White Sox fans, no one said a word.

Mark Buehrle was on fire as he entered the finale of this three game set, matched up against a soft throwing lefty Sean Marshall. I was a bit concerned, as sometimes Sox hitters have troubles against this type of pitcher. But not Sunday night, Quinten hit a solo shot in the 4th to left, Brian Anderson hit one out with one on in the 5th, and Jim Thome blasted a two run bomb off a reliever in the 8th. The final score 5-1 Sox.

Even though the Sox won by four, there was plenty of drama & excitement. Cubs manager Lou Piniella was ejected early on for disagreeing with the firstbase umpire on whether Joe Crede checked his swing with runners on 2nd & 3rd and nobody out in the third. Nick Swisher made three great fielding plays at firstbase in this game. First he caught a throw from Buehrle that was ticketed from the rightfield line, then he grabbed a hurried off the mark throw from Alexei Ramirez (Ramirez tried to double the runner off 1st, Swisher from the seat of his pants threw to 2nd to double up the runner there), and then Nick put out a threat by snaring a 9th inning nobody out liner & doubling up a wayward Mark DeRosa off 2nd base. After going 5 for 5 on Saturday Derrek Lee struckout three different times on Sunday on high heat.

Monday night was halfpriced night at the Cell, only $8.50, to see the White Sox play the Indians, a fullhouse, with 8,000 walkup. A.J. Pierzynski was not in the lineup for Polish/American Night, go figure. Among those in the house were NickyV & Kathy, Al & Anthony, Tade, Big Bob, KevinS & his friends, Phil, Caramel-Corn Mike, and Jackie stopped by to visit.

It was a beautiful night for baseball on the Southside of Chicago as Gavin Floyd would be facing Jeremy Sowers, another softthrowing lefty. Jim Thome took a heater(?) on a line drive ride to left that cleared the fence with two aboard & two out in the 1st to turn a 1-0 deficit to a 3-1 lead. With two out and Orlando Cabrera on 2nd after a leadoff third inning double, Jermaine Dye ripped a single off the thirdbaseman for an RBI sinle. Later in the 3rd Nick Swisher stepped to the dish with the sacks drunk and unloaded for a grand slam to put the Sox up 8-1. The lead looked out of sight.

The lead was still a comfortable 8-4 one when Floyd left after six innings of work. Octavio Dotel pitched one inning of scoreless ball before giving way to Nick Masset. The Tribe relievers only allowed one run over the last five innings, another Swisher homer, this time from the left side. Things got a little tight as Masset, who hadn’t worked in a while allowed five hits & three runs (two unearned) in 1 2/3 innings, before Matt Thornton was called to save the day. The lefty Choo got an RBI single off the southpaw Thornton, which brought the tying run to the plate in the person of Casey Blake. Matt got Blake to fly to right to end the game and preserve a 9-7 win. Jhonny Peralta had a career night, going 5 for 5, with three doubles, a homer, three RBI’s and three runs scored, but it wasn’t enough.

Going back to the Cell Tuesday & Wednesday nights with Cliff Lee & C.C. Sabathia toeing the rubber for the Tribe, before I head out to Waupaca for the weekend of the 4th.

IT’S THE BADDEST PART OF TOWN

Last week I got tickets to see the Sox play the Cubs Friday & Sunday at the Cell. That was before going to Waupaca while the Sox lost three straight at the un-Friendly Confines. The Cubbies then hosted the Orioles from Baltimore, losing two of three to the Birds. While the Sox traveled across country and took two of three from the Dodgers. So now it was time for the rematch. I was not looking forward to sharing my home with Cub fans, but at least I wouldn’t be at Wrigley. I was excited to back the Sox as they tried to hang onto their 1/2 game lead over Minnesota. Remember I’ve got a ten game winning streak.

The Cubs had their best pitcher on the hill, Ryan Dempster, but he hadn’t won on the road. Dempster hadn’t lost at home, would the Cell feel like home, with all the Cub fans in the house? Jose Contreras started for the Good Guys in Black. The Cubs hamered Jose last weekend on the northside.

Derrick Rose threw out the first pitch, a strike, to Mark Buehrle. I’ve had season’s tickets for the Bulls for 30+ years. I REALLY wanted the Bulls to draft local kid, Memphis point guard, two time Illinois State Champion at Simeon High School in Chicago. So I was very excited to give Rose a big Chicago welcome.

The Cubs leadoff man reached base, but with one on & one out, Derrek Lee grounded into a doubleplay. The Pale Hose jumped out to a 1-0 first inning lead, but that didn’t look like it would hold up, as Contreras lost control & got into a bases loaded jam, but DP Lee obliged once again.

The Sox pushed the envelope with aggressive baserunning, especially against Eric Patterson (who didn’t look any better than brother Corey & he wasn’t up to the challenge of playing LF). I wore my Nick Swisher tee, as luck would have it, Swish stepped in with the bags juiced, and took the ball the opposite way for a grand slam to put the game on ice. Dempster was tagged for eight earned runs, the Sox were up 8-0, enroute to a 10-3 drubbing of the Cubs.

Alexei Ramirez wasn’t available, as his wife went into labor. There were lotsa Cub fans there to see their team, but there were also some of my good friends, Adele, her cousin Mary, Dick & Bea, Steve, Caramel-Corn Mike, and new/old friend Dennis.

Lou and Ozzie "rap" for Chevy dealer

There are obvious perks to being a manager of a Chicago major league team in Chicago. You’re famous and you have the respect and adoration of at least half the town. You get to hang with people like Derrick Lee and umm.. Nick Swisher.

Ozzie gettin’ his groove on for a Chevy dealer

But then there those days where you throw all your self-respect out the window. All for an ad for a two-bit Chevy dealership.

C’mon Lou… was this in your contract or are you really that hard up for money??

CUBS WIN!!!

The Chicago Cubs have completed the Crosstown Classic at Wrigley Field why the Chicago Cubs are in first place. It has nothing to do with anything, but a mighty fine baseball club. The White Sox dropped all three games this past weekend playing at the un-Friendly Confines. Friday’s game was close, maybe with a bunt, following a leadoff 9th inning double, and the outcome could’ve been different. That’s like saying if IFs, ANDs, & BUTs were CANDY & NUTS everyday would be Christmas.

Aramis Ramirez was the star of the series, hitting two out Friday (including the game winner), knocking a three run blast that put Saturday’s game on ice, and hitting his 4th of the three game series was just the cherry on top of a Delicious Cubbie Sundae! The Cubs have the best record in baseball and are unbeatable at Wrigley.

Of course I’m a White Sox fan, but I’m willing to give the Cubbies their do. I’ll be at the Cell this coming Friday & Sunday to see the Southside version of the Crosstown Classic. I’ll be rooting for the Sox to return in the favor this weekend. My winning streak is at ten, hopefully I can increase it to twelve, and maybe the Sox can win one without me on Saturday. LET’S GO WHITE SOX!