White Sox | The Baseball Zealot

NL Central on the rise?

For years now, I’ve heard from White Sox fans about the supposed “weak” NL Central division pointing to their low win totals of the division winner. I’ve always denied it preferring to call it “competitive” and “parity”.

But forget all that. Look at the respective Central divisions now in the admittedly young 2008 season.

Central Division
Team           W   L   WL%  GB
St.Louis STL  12   6  .667  --  
Chicago  CHC  11   6  .647  0.5
Milwkee  MIL  11   6  .647  0.5
Pittsbgh PIT   7  10  .412  4.5
Cincnnti CIN   7  11  .389  5.0
Houston  HOU   6  12  .333  6.0

Central Division
Team           W   L   WL%  GB
ChicagoW CHW  10   7  .588  --  
KansasCy KCR   9   9  .500  1.5
Minnesta MIN   8  10  .444  2.5
Clvlnd   CLE   7  11  .389  3.5
Detroit  DET   6  12  .333  4.5

Again, the season is early but through 17-18 games, the NL Central games, the NL Central has maintained a slim winning margin at 54-51 total record.

The AL Central on the other hand, are suffering at 40-49. Of course, much of that is at the hands of the Detroit Tigers. You could make the argument though, that the Cincinnati Reds (who are at 7-11) are playing below their potential. Some nit-wits have picked them to win the division. Kidding, Reds fans.

Only one team in the AL Central (yes it IS the Sox) have a winning record.

Throwing the numbers out, I see three solid teams (Cubs, Reds, Brewers) plus one very team that I either misjudged or is very lucky (Cardinals). I honestly don’t know what to make of the Astros. Add to that a perennial doormat that is improving (Pirates) and I see a division that is on the rise.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KID

Today, April 15th, was John Danks’ 23rd birthday, even with my birthday transposed, I’m older than he is. Danks was starting for the White Sox today versus the A’s.

But that wasn’t what I was thinking about as I got dressed for a big day of baseball. It was Jackie Robinson Day at all MLB Ballparks across America. Minnie Minoso was receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Negro League Hall of Fame. The Negro League Hall of Fame was Buck O’Neil’s place in KC. It’s a travesty and a shame that Buck passed without getting into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Maybe his stats weren’t the greatest, but Buck was! O’Neil built the Negro League Hall of Fame and kept the Negro Leagues’ memory alive. He was also the first black coach in the majors, with the Cubs. Minnie Minoso also needs to get into the Hall before he passes, he looks great, but he’s not getting any younger, none of us are.

Joining me behind home plate today was Tade (Buehrle’s game the day before was the first game he missed all year) & Steve (another huge Sox fan, who comes as often as he can). Dick & Bea were also there, Dick told a Bubba story that had Tade & I laughing so hard, we were crying. Visited with Mike & his brother over at the caramel corn stand. Seeing it was a day game I stopped in to see Nancy Faust. Nancy looks as good as ever, a blonde, as cute as could be, and friendly! I sympathized with Nancy at the passing of her mother, who would have been 94 this year, she had cancer, and died shortly after her son-in-law, Nancy’s brother-in-law, died of pancreatic cancer. Why do bad things happen to good people?

Well John Danks celebrated his birthday by firing goose eggs at the A’s. The White Sox really flashed the leather behind JD Jr. Alexi Ramirez cutoff a sure double into right center, whirled, and fired to second to easily gun down a shocked Emil Brown. Brown saluted Ramirez as he headed back to the dugout. Joe Crede made a diving stop toward the line, got to his feet, and threw one into the dirt, that was scooped by Nick Swisher. Then there were a couple of dandies turned in by Orlando Cabrera, our new SS, I think I’m gonna like this guy. Carlos Quentin launched a three run bomb into the leftfield stands. The score was 4-0 when Ozzie Guillen lifted Danks in favor of Scott Linebrink with two out, a runner on 1st, and John at 95 pitches thrown. Linebrink allowed the first two runners to reach in the 9th, was replaced by Bobby Jenks, who allowed a sac fly, and a doubleplay closed it out.

I was off to the Red Line to catch the 2nd game of my doubleheader at Wrigley. Judy had a bleacher ticket waiting for me at the courtesy dropoff window.

SOX COMEUP SHORT ON BG’s B*DAY

Went to the Cell for the first time this year to see if history could repeat itself, last year April 18th Mark Buehrle pitched a no hitter, I was there the day before/after the no-no, but wasn’t there the night of. This year, April 14th (my birthday, Greg Maddux’ birthday, and the BZ’s birthday – Happy Birthday to all), I wasn’t gonna miss it, even though it was a brisk 30 degree night. The day before it was a chilly Sunday, I watched it on TV, listened to it on radio, and the White Sox clubbed the Tigers 11-0, behind Javier Vazquez, and two grand slams (one by Paul Konerko & the other by Joe Crede). First time the Sox ever hit two salamis in Chicago, EVER! My timing seems a bit off.

Heading down to the Cell on the Red Line was like coming home again, it just felt right. As I was about to purchase my half price Monday ticket, a woman with an extra gave me a freebie, can’t beat it. I took my usual position 34 rows behind home plate, said hi to Dick & Bea (they own the seats right in front of where I stand), Mike (he runs the caramel corn stand behind home plate), and then Al & Anthony (father & son who come to quite a few games behind the dish). It was great to see everybody again.

Also in attendance was Jermaine Dye’s father (he always gets a big bag of caramel corn from Mike). Al asked JD’s Dad if he played in the NBA, Dye’s Dad nodded and said, with the Detroit Pistons.

The White Sox ended up losing 2-1, but you can’t beat fun at the old ballpark. Maybe I’ll have better luck tomorrow as I’m planning on doing a Red Line Doubleheader (Sox in the day, Cubs at night).

4/13/08 Linescore of the Day: Two grannies

Paul Konerko: 2 for 4, HR, run, 5 rbis

Joe Crede: 1 for 2, HR, run, 4 rbis

The White Sox got two grand slams on Sunday from the bats of Konerko and Crede, the first time that has happened in one game in Sox history.

The Sox scored a total of 11 runs against the hapless Tigers who are now 2-10. Chicago pitching held the Tigers’ lineup to just 6 hits and shut them out.

The four rbis gives Crede the AL lead in that category behind 4 homeruns (already matching his total from last year) and a .341 batting average.

4/4/08 Linescore of the Day: Groan it’s gotta be A.J.

A.J. Pierzynski: 3 for 5, 2 2B, HR, 2 runs, 5 rbis

A.J gets it today by virtue of the “Five rule”. He drove in 5 runs in the Sox’ 8-5 win against the Tigers on Friday. That was accomplished via 2 doubles and a homers.

A.J. had 50 ribbies last year. He’s already got a good head start this year.

Special mention to Philadelphia’s Utley who Chased two homers out of Great American.

Harold Baines to be honored

Good on the Sox.

They announced that Harold Baines, personally one of my favorite White Sox player of my generation, will be immortalized with a life-sized statue outside the Cell. The unveiling of the statue will take place July 22 of this year.

I’ve never been a fan of the DH but despite that, Harold Baines amazed me with the way he kept coming back year after year. Some of us have forgotten that he was a decent fielder and even an ok baserunner before knee problems got in the way. Regardless, Baines made a career out of the designated hitter.

He is the seventh Sox player to have a likeness erected on the concourse near centerfield. He will join Charles A. Comiskey, Minnie Minoso, Carlton Fisk, Luis Aparicio, Nellie Fox and Bill Pierce.

For his 22-year career, Baines hit .289 with 384 homeruns and 1628 rbis.

WELCOME BACK STONER

A little take off on Welcome Back Kotter, I’ve been singing it ever since I heard the news that Steve Stone is back on the Southside of Chicago, the baddest part of town. I’ve got to shake this medley of bad music rolling around in my head.

I was so excited to learn that Stoner would be back, until I learned he was replacing Chris Singleton on radio. Don’t get me wrong I’m glad to see Steve come to the Sox to help their most pathetic broadcast team, but why couldn’t he have replaced DJ?

DJ & the Hawk are the worst baseball announcers in the business, and I’ve got the MLB Direct-TV package so I know what I’m talking about (and that includes Tim McCarver & Vin Scully, would somebody please tell Scully to put a sock in it?).

Chris Singleton wasn’t all that bad, but Ed Farmer could make anybody look good, he’s pure genius! I’m really looking forward to hearing the Dynamic Duo of Farmer & Stone on radio. But even more than that, I look forward to having Steve replace DJ, I know it’s coming.

I know I haven’t mentioned anything about the blowhard ego maniac that is the Hawkero, but we know he ain’t going anywhere. And with Stone joining him (sometime in the future), Harrelson might be okay. Never thought I’d say that.

Last spring in Tucson for the White Sox?

According to this Tucson Citizen report, the Chicago White Sox are attempting to move their spring training grounds. They have have completed a deal with the Dodgers to share a sports complex in Glendale, Arizona. The Sox hope they can move into the stadium, in 2009.

There’s one problem. They need to get out of their current contract with Pima County which has them at Tucson Electric Park till 2012. To do that, they’ll need to find a replacement team to play there.

So for the time being, it’s business as usual and the company line is that they are happy residents of Tucson. So says White Sox vice president of communications Scott Reifert:

“Nothing has changed. We have every intention to honor our commitment in Tucson until 2012 unless we find an acceptable team or a solution.”

For the time being, ground has been broken on the new 12,000 seat facility in Glendale. The Dodgers will be there for sure in 2009 (after 60 springs at Vero Beach).

Time will tell when the Sox will join them.

Sox GM’s Q&A a little tense at SoxFest

Boy, I almost wish I was a fly on the wall at Kenny Williams’ Q&A at SoxFest last weekend.

“We want answers,” declared one fan among a crowd that swelled to about 150 during the first day of the fans’ gathering.

“You don’t have a starting center fielder” and “somebody’s got some explaining to do,” were the other declarations at the start of a scheduled 30-minute session that was extended to 65 minutes.

To Williams’ credit, he apparently handled everything calmly.

“I will take a risk on a high-ceiling players and jeopardize my reputation if I think that player fits into the equation and leads us to a championship if things go the way we think they will,” Williams said during a five-minute reply that finished with applause.

“If you leave here today, understand this: every move, every decision we make is in an effort to win a championship.”

Thanks to South Side Sox for their round up of media links about SoxFest. I hope everyone who went had a good time.

Nick Swisher excited to play for Chicago

Last night, I listened to the MLB.com’s John Marzano and Vinny Micucci interview Nick Swisher about his trade to Chicago. I’ve heard Swish interviewed before and I have to say that based on that, I’ve taken a liking to the Ohio State alum.

When interviewed by the press, some baseball players seem to be measured, watching every word and making sure they say the right thing (I don’t blame them honestly the way some in media treat them). Not Nick Swisher. He gives a great interview. He sounds like a long lost cousin at a family reunion.

Anyway, he’s excited to play in Chicago and doesn’t hesitate to bring up that his dad (catcher Steve) was drafted by the White Sox before getting traded to the Cubs. He’s here to finish the job.

Nick is on the ball. Since the trade to the Sox, he’s already updated his website, nickswisher.net, in a black and white motif.

Catch the interview at MLB.com’s Baseball Channel.