April 2008 - Posts
...when Verlander is in town and the Gambler isn't dealing. Verlander's record vs the Sox is now 1-6 and today just wasn't Kenny Rogers' day.
I wish I had more time but I really need to start packing for a business trip this week so here's a quick recap of the weekend.
Friday night was wet and cold and miserable unless you were smart enough to snag a seat underneath an overhang on the lower level. The Sox dedicated the new 2005 WS monument. It's pretty cool. The ceremony though was a bit odd. Whoever thought it'd be a good idea to have a card carrying cub fan there to help dedicate it should probably have their head examined along with the guy who thought bikers want to hear Elton John in concert. WTF?!!??!!!?? Really? Somebody's wearing bad idea jeans if you ask me...and where was Mayor Daley?
On Friday, Sox offense just couldn't get rolling and Thome got kicked out for arguing balls and strikes. Sox lose 2-5. Yeah, Thome got kicked out, only the third time in his career. Can't wait to see the Dugout on that one.
The universe was righted on Saturday as the Sox blanked La Tigre 7-0 and Gavin Floyd missed a no-no by 5 very soggy outs. Sunday was beautiful and dry but again cold as the Sox won 11-0 thanks mostly to two grannys from Paulie and Crede.
Yeah, this was Crede's second slam of the week! Josh who? Seriously, I was SOOOOOO annoyed midweek when someone on the radio was making some noise about all the Sox fans wanting Crede out of town this winter. Um, really? Not this Sox fan and not the majority of Sox fans I know. It infuriates me how the media (local and national) play up stories and then say it's what the fans wanted. No, actually, it's what stupid people who have to fill up time in front of a mike, on camera or on paper say when they don't know what to say. A few dumb people who can't think for themselves may fall prey to their noise but most Sox fans did not want to get rid of Joe Crede out of the gate. A few years ago, yes, a lot of Sox fans wanted Crede out of town but to KW and the coaching staff's credit, they were patient with him and it's paid of with a WS trophy and so far an exciting start to 2008. I thought about it as he took his curtain call this afternoon. I love the guy. I love his defense, I love his presence at the plate (clutch hitting). I clearly remember a handful of years back with each painful at-bat, I was confused. He was starting to make some good defensive plays but then it seemed he couldn't get a hit to save his life, he was the automatic out. I didn't get it. Why was he up in the majors and/or he'd make a good play and I'd think OK, next at bat will be it for him. Nope. I wish he would have had surgery in the 2006 offseason, perhaps 2007 wouldn't have been so bleak but it's done and over and TG so far looks as though this will be a much better year.
I was talking to a co-worker this week. He said, "Sox fans are way too excited..." I can't speak for everyone. I am excited but a lot of it is just that so far AND I KNOW IT'S EARLY it looks like 2007 is over so a lot of my excitement is actually relief. I know I'm sounding like a broken record but it was just plain painful and I'm hesitant to enjoy what I'm seeing, I'm hesitant to watch a game, I'm still nervous with nearly every pitch and at-bat. We appear to have some offense again, some/most of the starting pitching is working, we have been able to get out of the 8th inning, half the starters are not making their Major League debut. Yeah I'm excited and who wouldn't be excited when their team spends the first two weeks proving "the experts" wrong??!!! Now, all that being said, I'm not saving up for my post season ticket deposit. It's April. There is a long road ahead of us but I think there is nothing wrong with once again being excited about the White Sox.
Whooo Hooo!! Man, this morning felt like Christmas morning--without the 6 hour round trip drive through a blizzard both ways, no sleep cuz I'm cooking two dinners nearly completely by myself...OK, guess it's not like Christmas present but more like Christmas past when it was easy, fun and all about excitement--hopefully this is a little bit of Christmas Future too!!
It's soooo early and I know this. It's just refreshing. I'm still on pins and needles with every at bat and pitching change. I have renewed excitement and energy for the team and the game, funny what a few games do for ya. Bring on the OCD!
Really, it makes me nuts (the OCD). It doesn't come around til baseball season but when it's here, I'm a nut job--how about you? What do you do? Any rituals or OCD? Don't want to share mine as I'm afraid it'll negate everything (eventhough I know FULL WELL nothing I do will impact anything!)
JOE....CREDE....YES! OK, maybe he's made up for the 2 Es last night. Granny!! NICE! It's funny, I've been loooking at our line up and after Thome, Paulie and JD I think "great, easy outs coming up" but our 6th guy is hitting .500 and the 7th and 8th are both above .300. Again, refreshing. 2007 did a number on me. Now I'm actually excited to get to the bottom of the line up. Still a few too many left on base, which grinds me (no pun intended) but we are still winnning so I'll save my complaining til we don't.
I like Jeff Cox's engery but he needs to learn the players a bit more...I know it will come and yes, we have some ssssllllloooooowwww guys but I'm with him 50/50 on the calls for the runners to hold or go home at this point (maybe 60/40). It should come in time...hopefully it doesn't cost us anything in the meantime. Atleast he's been erring on the side of caution and we've still be winning.
Missed Gene Honda (announcer) today, it wasn't the same. It never is without him.
The Blackhawks made an appearance today at the park. Kane, Taser (Toews), Byfuglien, The Wiz and Co were all there complete with a quick bit featuring Kane and Toews on the ice wearing Sox hockey jerseys and Thome (I think) wearing a Blackhawks jersey at the plate. Gotta love Marketing, right?
It was SO nice to not see Santana and Torii Hunter and the like--there were more new names than familiar ones in the line up. The pirahna's are still in effect and deserve concern, luckily the White Sox brought their fishing poles today. Hope it continues.
Would like to say more about today's game and to have my pix uploaded
by now but it's been a long day and I'm drained and somehow I'm
supposed to go to work tomorrow.
The boys are back!!
Wow, is DET hurting. They are going to win a game some time but considering their next series is in BOS I will be surprised if it's anytime in their next series.
It's kind of funny. Have you taken a look at the 1st week standings? Yes, I KNOW it's only the first week. I've got a box full of 162 tickets for 81 games, there is a looooong way to go, they will not stay this way but I get SO tired of all the pre-season predictions esp. when it's all (almost all) the same names year after year. If you don't know much about baseball and/or believe everything said on ESPN you'd wonder why some teams bother to show up. The AL East is currently lead by, of all teams, Baltimore. Following behind in second is Toronto (who just swept BOS), then Tampa Bay, NY and in last place is Boston--funny, eh? The Central is just as entertaining, in this order they are Chicago and KC tied for first (!!), CLE, MIN and DET. In the NL East ATL and FL are tied for first then it's Washington, NY and Philly. The NL Central MIL and STL tied for first, then CIN and the rest. As I said, I know this won't stay this way, it just feels good to see some of the "experts" already backpedaling. Just goes to show it doesn't matter how good teams look on paper or what the guy says on TV, you still have to play the game and KEEP EVERYONE HEALTHY!!
Friday's Sox game in DET was the "battle of the bad" between Contreras and Robertson but then DET showed they had worse on Sat. with the D-Train, who was more like Thomas the train, he could not find the strike zone to save his life. He actually had a no-no going for 6 but I think it's because he was just throwing balls. He walked 7 guys.
Saturday the Sox were behind for a bit and I thought to myself, " well, we knew the Tigers would have to start winning and the Sox as much as I'd like the Sox to win every game, they won't..." but then they started scoring and caught up and then pulled ahead and I realized that it's not 2007. The extra work done in Spring Training and the additions to the roster are giving this team much more spunk in the form of offense. JD, Thome and AJ are off to great starts at the plate and new Sox player Carlos Quinten not only showed off his arm Sat. with a GREAT throw from left that was dead on to Paulie to get the runner out (in turn made the Kitties think twice about running when the ball was in left the rest of the weekend). He's also got 7 RBIs in his first 6 games as a Sox player. Many of the guys have missed HRs by a skotch and with that big Tiger outfield you know if they were hit elsewhere they could have been over the wall.
Also evident is the new bullpen. Linebrink and Dotel have been good as has Boone Logan--much improved from last year. I'm still eating fingernails when anyone goes in but do you blame me? The pen was dead on at the beginning of last year and then well...maybe it's time I just stop talking about it.
It was good that Floyd had his first start vs. DET as he pitched well against them last year and I think that probably helped him this first outting and thankfully Buehrls 2nd outting was much better than his first, which was to be expected.
Other things I liked about this first week: Ozzie yelling at Contreras in the dugout between innings (I'm tired of this lights out guy sucking and people seeimingly tip-toeing around him). Crede is back, Alexei Ramirez, all reports on life in the clubhouse rave about the chemistry, the team has life again. I could do without the crazy beards of Boone, Bobby, Swish and Hall but if they are working then I'm not complaining!
Tomorrow is the home opener. I almost feel like I should be hanging up my Christmas stocking. It's like Santa is coming tonight. Tomorrow is the day!!!!! I'm so happy. I can't wait to get to the park. I can't wait to hear the line-up announced. See the video, the fly by, I can't wait to cheer on the 2008 White Sox!!!!!!!! It's gonna be great!!!!!
Whew. It feels so good to win, never gets old! I know it's only the first series and who wants to ever get swept but in the very beginning of the year--I think it would have just hurt a little bit more if we didn't manage to pull out at least one! I'm not saying it would have been the end of the world. I wasn't going to return my tickets, just sucks to lose is all regardless of how good the pitchers are that you're facing.
First inning and both teams went "up and out in order". Second inning, nearly the same with one walk allowed to CLE. In the first Danks and Paulie had a great play to get Sizemore out on a bunt. Flat out sprint to first between Danks and Grady. Paulie picked up the ball with a light toss over to Danks who was on the move. It was timed perfectly and they got him. Danks also had two first pitch outs. Swish had a good play for the second out in the 2nd...it's was almost down right grindy. (ahem)
Juan Uribe homered on the first pitch in the top of the 6th to put the Sox on top 1-0. Bottom of the 6th the Indians got their 1st hit and advanced the runner to 2nd on a sac bunt. As I was listening at work today my nerves were really starting to go...and my new co-workers are clearly not used to me during baseball season...it will be funny to see how long it takes them to "settle in" with it. Danks makes it out of the inning safely.
Are we ever going to be able to bunt? AJs was fair but went dead in the 7th which allowed an out at 3rd but somehow he managed to get himself safely to 1st but it was for naught as Quinten grounded into a double play right after him.
Danks started the 7th and he walked Hafner who eventually came around to score thanks to a double by Garko (and thanks to JD's misread in right field--not much new there either. Don't get me wrong, I like him but JD is just ready to be a DH.) Score is tied at 1. Next batter JD and Swish collide in the outfield and CLE have two runners at 2nd and 3rd. Now this is at least the 2nd time we've seen this in three games. I know this is the beginning of the season but that is elementary baseball and really unprofessional and dumb. How hard is it to call for the ball?! Next play A. Cabrera slaps a ball right at Crede who can only block it and O. Cabrera THANKFULLY is there to pick it up and throw out the runner at first. Two outs.
Danks departs after a solid outting and Dotel comes in--what's up with those shoes?? Runners still at 2nd and 3rd, and I bite off the rest of the fingernails that somehow made it through the Wings/Hawks game last night. All I can think of is his last outting--ouch. First pitch strike. Deep breath and exhale. Swish makes a catch for three outs. Deeper breath and exhale of relief.
Westbrook is still on the mound for CLE and it's the top of the 8th, I'm thinking it's gotta be time to get this guy out of here. We might have a good little chance here to do something.... 1-0, 2-0 (yeah, it's our time...he's done...) 3rd pitch and YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOAAARRRRRD, YES! JOE CREDE! Sox 2 CLE 1 Sox put 2 aboard and Westbrook is out.
Linebrink comes in, I'm still nervous but he pulls it off! Three batters faced...and a flash of excitement as that means Big Bad Bobby's coming out next time!! HOOORAH!
Don't want to sound grumpy and don't want to complain, I'm very happy about the win and happy to have some of the new guys but I can't help but notice that a few things haven't changed. We still can't bunt, we still can't move guys over, still strand a lot, still hit into more double plays than I'd like and (I don't want to say it) but once again JDs looking old in right-sorry dude. He didn't look right for most of the first half last year, it did get better in the second part of the year but...whatever, we won today and I'm just going to be happy about that
Good to see Crede getting warmed up for Motown. He holds visiting HR record at Comerica...wouldn't want him showing up cold! Go Sox!