ChicagoSportsBlogs : Non Compete

What a difference a week makes. Even Steven. That's pretty much all White Sox fans wanted to see tonight. The Sox returned home to face the Cubs this weekend and swept the visiting Northsiders. This series found both teams still in first even after the Cub's sweep over the Sox at Wrigley last weekend. The Sox took the first game on Friday with ease. They chipped away at the Cubs on Saturday for a win, and rode the home run ball to a victory tonight against a Cubs team that is "scuffling".

The Cubs did a number on the White Sox last weekend and it was good to see the Sox return the favor. If the White Sox sent a message to the Cubs it was that the Southsiders are just as good as the Northsiders.

So here are a few notes from this weekends Crosstown Classic:

1. We're winning because of two things: pitching and home runs. (46% of all our runs)
I'd be a lot more comfortable if we could actually score some runs the old fashion way.
Get em on. Get em over. Get em in. As for the pitching, Buehrle looks like his old self. The cost of his success may have been Javi Vazquez's struggles. These two pitchers have flip flopped. Vazquez looked awful on Saturday and was rescued by Quentin's home run late in the game to win it for the Sox.

2. The Bullpen is pretty good.
I won't go so far as what Joe Morgan said on tonight's telecast ("Best Bullpen he has ever seen") but the pen is great. What a turn around from last year. The combination of the worst bullpen in the Majors and not being able to handle the NL last year ruined our season. Credit goes to Kenny Williams for adding Linebrink and Dotel. I'll happily eat my words now.

3. The MLB should be on notice: Chicago baseball is no joke.
I'm hoping that ESPN and the rest of the country have learned what Chicago knows. The Sox and the Cubs are very balanced teams that are BOTH built for the playoffs. I don't buy this favoritism towards the Cubs. I don't see how anyone can tell me that they are built better for the post season. Especially when you consider the White Sox bats and the bullpen. Hell, throw in the starting pitching and I dare you to tell me the White Sox are any less qualified to make a run at the big show.

4. Lou was tossed in the 2nd inning tonight. He shouldn't have been.
That's right Cub fans, I think you saw some shitty umpiring tonight. Lou shouldn't have been
thrown out tonight. Sure, he shouldn't have been out there arguing balls and strikes but he was heading to the dugout when the home plate umpire threw sweet Lou out. Total crap. The umps need to stop it with the quick hook. I don't think it made a difference in tonight's game, but I'm sure that the Cubs Nation is completely up in arms. Let the home team conspiracy talk begin...


Both these teams are evenly matched and the Crosstown Classic(s) proved it. Now that all the hoopla and drama of an "L" series is over, the Sox can go back to worrying about the Twins. The Cubs can go back to worrying about the St. Louis Cardinals. Both of these 2nd place teams won't go away, and this is troublesome for one main reason. They both can ruin what could be the greatest World Series in our lifetimes.

Go-Go-White Sox!
  Filed under: WhiteSox, News, Cubs