ChicagoSportsBlogs : Non Compete

I don't want to go overboard with my coverage of  the Chicago weather this past weekend. It's the number one story around here. Just like when it snows (shockingly) in December. We are obsessed with the weather. Especially when it's extreme. Yesterday was extreme. It hit 103 F. I'd say it was perfect football weather. The Bears would agree with me, and as a result they opened the 2005 season with training camp yesterday. Blistering heat be damned. The good news is that no one pulled a hammy. The better news was that we signed Orton in time for him to show up. The best news of all is that Cedric Benson is holding out and was not at camp. Actually it's good news only if you are Thomas Jones. This is the time of year I wish that baseball was a lot shorter than it is. That way, I can start to focus my attention on my fantasy draft and the Bears playoff chances (none) instead of potential division titles. This year it's a little different with the White Sox making moves in the AL. Regardless, football is almost back and I'm excited!

I haven't been inside this room for a long time. It's covered in dust. The old posters of Hawks past adorn the musty walls. It stinks in here. Massively. It seems like that is about to change. Hockey is back. There are going to be some rule changes. Both off the ice, and on the ice. That might actually help the Hawks get back on track. The draft took place last week, and surprise, surprise -- we didn't get the first pick. Pittsburgh did. What a waste. Anyway, if anyone cares: Hockey is back.

I'll take a split. I'm not ashamed to admit that the Red Sox are a great team. They have a solid lineup that can hit the ball anywhere, anytime. I find them to be impressive. If they can get another arm (more on that later) and strengthen their pitching they can go deep in the playoffs. If Joe Crede makes that catch on Thursday night we would be looking at a 3-1 series victory. Those are the brakes. As it stands, 2-2 is a good indication of what the White Sox need to do to compete with what sports media gods think is the best team in the league. Let's break it down:

1. Go easy on the mistakes. We lost 3-0 on Saturday. It's not like we didn't have a chance to score a few easy runs either. It took us more than half the season, and Jason Veritek to look like fools on the base-paths. It seemed like he picked off every runner that got on base. The dropped foul ball that Crede flubbed in foul territory on Thursday was clearly game ending. We have been pretty good in the field this year. Let's keep it that way. If you give teams like the Red Sox a chance, they will punish you on your mistakes.

2. We need some power in our lineup. Frank is on the DL again. I don't think this is going to end well for Big Frank. The swelling in his ankle is slowly subsiding. He hobbles around too much. It's been a year and this ankle hasn't healed yet. Take that as a sign of his availability the rest of the season. Get Frank healthy at any cost. We will need him in the playoffs. That is unless we trade for Griffey (which was rumored years ago). Konerko, Rowand and Everett will have to muscle up the rest of the season. We need Pauly to carry us offensively -- or go out and get an extra bat.

3. We need another arm. This is what the news and the papers are telling us. We need another Freddy Garcia trade. I'm all for it, as long as we are confident that putting on a White Sox uniform won't turn him into a pumpkin. You see, I like our starting rotation. They seem healthy, and strong to me. The bullpen has been worked pretty evenly as well. We haven't burned anyone out. Pitch counts have been under control and El Duque looked awesome on Saturday. Still, we have to acknowledge the trade rumors that have us sending Contreras and Damaso Marte to the Marlins for Burnett. I think sending 3 arms to the Marlins, including McCarthy, for this kid is a bad deal unless he signs with us. They have to give us a player who can help offensively too. What can I say? I am greedy.

So the question has to be asked, are the White Sox a better team without Damaso Marte and Contreras and with the addition of Burnett? It seems like an obvious answer to most people. So obvious that rumors have the Red Sox throwing their names in the hat for the kid. Great. Now the price just went up. It's going to be an interesting stretch run.

It's not official yet, but Ozzie is going to put The Big Hurt on the DL today. Ross Gload was called up for tonight's game against the Red Sox. This is a very bad time to be short handed. The month of August is going to be brutal thanks to a tough schedule. It seems Rowand, Hermanson, Crede, Big Frank and Dye are all hurting. The trade deadline is looming, and you know Kenny wants to make a deal. I was on the fence until last night's loss to the Red Sox. Go and get an arm Kenny. We're going to need it. We are also going to need a healtyh Frank Thomas. How bad can a guy break an ankle? I guess we should all remember that the ankle in question is responsible for holding up a 300 pound DH.

Go Sox! The White Sox, that is!

I was screaming mad. I think the people next door were calling 911. All the sports clichés are true. It was a playoff like atmosphere. The house was packed. The champs were in town for a four game series. They held the one thing we South side fans have yet to acquire through any late trade or waiver signing -- confidence.

They chewed through Buerhle (our ace) and chipped away at an early lead to win this game 6-5. The manner in which they won the game will be played over and over in our collective mind's eye. Crede flubbed the easy pop up in foul territory. The same Joe Crede who only had made 4 errors the entire season. The Crede who came to bat in the previous inning, fought Curt Shilling, and won. That double in the bottom of the 8th gave me confidence. We tied the game. Shilling blew the save. We could do this.

In fact, we could have won this game. The top of the order was on it's way up in the next stanza, but it wouldn't matter thanks to Manny Ramirez. Our luck ran out last night. It's been a three game losing streak, and I'm nervous. I'm not panicked. Yet. The breaks we've taken for granted this entire season disappeared with one swing of the bat. I was not impressed.

Text messages were blowing up my phone after the homer. “Errors kill” one said. Three errors are a Hollywood blockbuster-movie type kill. Where was Frank? Where was Dye? Where is Hermanson. The answer to all those text messages is the same. They are hurt. They are starting to wear down. No one thinks we have the mustard, energy or ability to keep this lead. The Twins are on a 3 game winning streak to counter our matching 3 game losing streak. It's symmetrical. It's balance. The lead is only 10 in the division. With one swing of his bat Ramirez has done what the Twins hoped they would do -- plant the first seed of true doubt.

There are 3 games left against the Red Sox. We need to win the rest of them.

I'm not surprised that Shingo was designated for assignment. He wasn't the same pitcher we saw palm ball his way to 19 saves last season. I hope Iguchi can handle losing his fellow countryman.

The decision was to keep Jenks up, and get Shingo ready for a trade. Kenny Williams says he has people already calling him for Shingo. My money is on a trade to the Dodgers. I don't know why, but I just see Shingo on his way to LA. Perhaps bringing someone like Jeff Weaver to the team. Someone on ESPN mentioned the Sox were interested in him. I don't know why, but I can't see us getting anything more for Shingo. I'm also on record for not trading anyone else out of this bullpen. Especially Marte. Left handed closers are worth a ton in the playoffs and Cotts will need some rest eventually.

Don't do anything stupid Kenny.

The most frustrating thing about being a White Sox fan is that no one believes you. It's as if they have seen the Loch Ness monster. They stare at me, in awe of the white cap crowning my head. You can feel their thoughts saying, could he really be a White Sox fan? Is there such a thing? Hell, even Wally was on an expedition to find one a few weeks ago. This should clue you in to the reason why I am ranting this morning.

I'm not arguing about the fact we are rare creatures, but I am shocked that as the best team in baseball we aren't being covered as the lead baseball story on most national sports telecasts. ESPN's Baseball Tonight was too busy shooting an adult film version of the Yankees and Red Sox game. It wasn't a love-fest. This was hard core. The Yankees are coming! The Yankees are coming! They traded for Al Leiter. Stop the presses! The Yankees are coming.

Who cares. What's so amazing about this? They were supposed to win the division. They are going to win the division. They are the most talented team in baseball. At least that's what everyone keeps telling me. I'm not going to begrudge the ESPN folks for pumping their own telecast of the game during their premiere (and usually good) Baseball Tonight show. What I do begrudge them is that the White Sox shouldn't be buried after 2 commercial breaks. We shouldn't be the 4th story of the day. We were about to sweep a pretty good Indians team. We were about to go up 12 games in our division. The Cardinals are exhibiting the same dominance in the NL Central and ended up getting a ton of coverage. They were the second story behind 2 stories covering the Red Sox and the Yankees.

Perhaps, a sweep of the Twins is the only thing the producers of the various ESPN shows are waiting for as proof of the quality this team brings to the diamond. Maybe they would prefer to cover the White Sox when we actually win the division, just in case we do something in the playoffs this time around. Here is a news flash ESPN: The White Sox are the story this year. Start writing.

It wasn't just fans watching Jose Contreras pitch last night. It was highly trained baseball eyes too. Those eyes belonged to scouts. Internal and external to the Pale Hose. These guys are the magicians of baseball. The true talent evaluators. They were looking to see if Contreras still had his “stuff”. I think a 1-0 win with 7 strikeouts answered their questions. It still leaves us with a matzo-ball sized question -- Is that stuff going to San Fran?

The name Jason Schmit keeps coming up. He isn't happy to hear it. I think he is right not to be happy about a trade. He should stay where he is. In the very least the White Sox should carefully consider their options before sending an arm (albeit an older arm) to San Fran. Especially one that has really good luck against teams in our division. Go look at his ERA. The rumors about our new catcher and former Giant, AJ, being hated by the entire clubhouse have subsided as a result of the team's amazing start. This won't be true if we bring sign another Giant. Especially one that doesn't want to be here.

I am going to go out on a limb and list the guys I think Kenny Williams has either received calls about, or is using as trade bait to land another arm for the stretch run.

• Crede
• Timo Perez
• Willie Harris
• Carl Everett
• Shingo Takatsu
• Contreras

I don't see the need to modify our starting rotation, or to replace anyone on it. Especially after the game Contreras pitched last night. Then again, what do I know?

This post was delayed a day because of all our friends out there who enjoy flooding my site with comment spam. Sorry for the delay. I am working as quickly as I can to get a new system up that will prevent this sort of thing.

The first half of the 2005 baseball season is over. It is clear to me, and perhaps to a few minor voices in sports media that the White Sox are the surprise of the season. I have to admit I was expecting us to be in 4th place if not third at our best. I am happy to report I was wrong. Let's sit down and analyze (don't get scared -- we aren't writing a book here) why I was wrong:

1. I don't know what I am talking about. A professed every-man, every other day fan -- sport is an escape from the daily grind. I do watch or listen to every game, but those guys who hate their lives and spout nothing but stats and think they were meant to be a GM are not my role models. Besides, baseball is a much friendlier conversational piece at the 2 parties I go to every year. Politics is always in poor taste, so “How 'bout them White Sox!” seems a better opener. Clearly, I am not a classically trained sports journalist like some in my town. On the other hand, I'm way better looking.

2. Ozzie is a good manager for Kenny Williams. There is harmony in the front office of this organization. Kenny is hard-headed, and a risk taker. Ozzie is the same guy he was on the field. Sometimes I watch him cringe when Ozuna air-mails a throw into the 3rd row. It is as if he wants to run out there and take his spot. After all, he is wearing a uniform. The goals were set by manager and player. The shift in this team is clear. It was the right move for at least the first half of the season.

3. Pitching. I understand that this is the low-hanging fruit option but I couldn't ignore it. Who in their right mind thought John Garland was going to have an All-Star first half? Even if this is an aberration, his production has raised the games of every man on this pitching staff. It has created a sense of invincibility. If these guys stay healthy, and continue to support one another there is no stopping us.

4. The new additions to the team have all worked out. From Hermanson, to AJ, Tad, Dye, and Podsednik. Each has contributed to an amazing start. This core group of newcomers will have to keep the intensity they had at the start of this season. If we get on a 8 game roll early, it will be because of these guys. They are the White Sox's intangibles.

So after a great All-Star game, and an even better start to the season, here's
hoping that the White Sox can continue on their tear and bring home the
division. (three game losing streak to the A's not withstanding)

My brother and I used to call the team hailing from Oakland as the Pathetics. Then they went on and hired our old manager. They introduced us to the Bash Brothers. They also started whipping on people. That team, in new form sans Larussa showed up in Chicago this past weekend, and bashed the hell out of our 3 best pitchers. 2 of them are All-Stars.

Man I hope they don't make the playoffs.

First half roundup is coming tonight. Hang tight.

Strong work Sox fans! Podsednik is now on the 2005 All Star Team!! Add him to Buerhle, Garland and Konerko and we're showing up strong to this game.

Tonight's game so far has Neil Cotts coming in for Contreras who pitched a pretty solid 6 innings. It's the top of the 7th and the Sox are up 7-2. Something everyone should be laughing about, is that Pauly got the night off and covering for him at first base is Jermaine Dye. We've figured Ozzie's pattern out. No matter home or away game, if the Sox have taken 2 out of 3 in a series you can expect lineup shenanigans. Dye was interviewed in the pre-game and confirmed what we all thought: he hasn't played first base since Triple-A ball. When asked if this was a smart move, Guillen said it's “just first base”. “All he has to do is catch the ball”. Nice one Oz!

Finally -- I didn't want to glance over the fact that Big Frank hit another 3-run homer tonight. That's back to back games the Big Hurt has shown why he should still command respect at the plate. I hope he heals that ankle up over the break, because a healthy Frank Thomas is going to be necessary if our pitching doesn't hold up...

You didn't have to be at the Taste to see fireworks last night. You could have been sitting at the ballpark enjoying a flashback to the old time, hard-hitting White Sox. Pure power was on display last night, thanks to Jermaine Dye.

This is the guy Kenny Williams signed. A first inning gland slam which eventually led to 6 RBIs for Dye lifted the Pale Hose past Tampa Bay last night. The only downer was that McCarthy was rocked again and sent back down on assignment to the minors. He clearly needs to work on some stuff. His consistency isn't there. As a result, I think GM Williams is going to be shopping for another arm. The rotation has been modified so that we can cover the rest of the games with the 4 starters we have in good health (until the All-Star break)

It's going to be an interesting run to the finish line. The Twins have been on a 4 game winning streak and have snapped out of the funk they were in 2 weeks ago. Cleveland is also on a tear winning it's last 3 games. Both these teams are going to charge to the finish. The question is, can the Sox maintain this lead and their health long enough to coast into the playoffs.

It has been a crazy couple of days. Sorry for the delay in between posts. I have been up to no good, and as a result the posts have slowed down. My two faithful readers know that summer in Chicago is rare, and therefore it is a forgivable offense when lapses like this last one occur. Let's skip past the A's series (we took one, Buerhle lost one to Zito on Sunday) and move forward to the congrats for the All-Star Team!

Strong Work awards go to Paul Konerko, John Garland and Mark Buerhle for reaching the big game. We have to also give big ups to all the fans in Chicago for voting for D-Lee, aka Mr. MVP of the National League, ahead of Albert Pujols. Aramis Ramirez joins D-Lee as an NL reserve to round out our Chicago coverage.

Did I forget someone? Hmm....Well, it seems that the Sox have Scott Podsednik still up in the final vote. The voting ends tomorrow, and Podsednik deserves a spot on this All-Star team. He is up against some big names like Jeter, Torii Hunter, and Matsui. Sox fans, get out and vote here. Congrats to everyone for a solid first half.