Sox and Cubs

I'd forgotten that this years Chicago doublentries into the baseball playoffs are both performing a tribute to the playoff performance of the 1983 White Sox. Love those key HR's given up, those bases loaded situations where nobody gets home, and players screaming @ the other team.

Both teams - no doubt about it -are facing tough opponents. But these performances? The Cubs have been worse, and are in a lot of danger now. No Cub hating here, as the Sox have suxxed as well - just a realization that a Chicago Series is sadly slipping into the gutter and both teams have been deeply pathetic. The Cubs are too good a team to be swept - or even not advance from the first round.

The Sox, after a stirring few days this week, still have a bit of life. One loss, when they wanted only one of two in Florida, is ok. They have @ least one game @ Comiskey on Sunday. And, maybe most importantly, they got Vasquez out of the way. The next three starters are Burlhe, Danks, and Floyd - and, if a fifth game is needed, then I believe it should be - i'm changing my vote - Richard the Rookie. Vasquez is a nice #5 starter, but we need better for this series.

Both teams need better. yeesh.

Black Sox Faction

On Over
Sure, Kittle was one of the sparks of the 1983 team, Bere was 14-2 in 1993, and Iguchi was a key to the 2005 team: but shit, all that is eclipsed by that half of a second of a half of a second after Lex Ramirez swung the Sox into game 163 yesterday. He knew it, I knew it, we all knew it - even Minny knew it: that giantic swing wrought a giantic homer and kept the Sox on the road to another World Championship.

I will straight away amidt that this season has beenone of my favourite seasons of all time. We didn't think the team in 2000 or 2005 had a chance entering the season. But this year we expected even less: I scoffed @ GM Wiliams assesment of the Detroit trade that netted them Cabrera and Willis over the winter "It puts detroit in a better position to compete with us". What? And in the end he was right: Detroit couldn't compete for the one game the Sox needed them to win.

The season has been so exciting. Yes, the team has had it's downtimes - what team other than the Angels have not had them this year? Sometimes it was the starters, the relievers, the fielders, or the batters. Yes, injuries -in the form of both of the teams All Stars - have disrupted this team more than the other surviving teams, (but not as bad as, say, Cleveland. But the continued scrapping of the team - time after time they were left for dead before and during - and even the day after the end of the regular season- that to have them playing now is just a treat.

Funny. The addction to this team started early. There probably has not been another season of heavy transistor radio listening for me than this year. I have compulsively have watched and suffered this team the whole year, and they are JUST ABOUT THERE.

So-one game. AS Hawk would say it, "Thrill me one time". And can they do it? Like I wrote yesterday, anyone can win in a baseball game. The reason they play 162 games, instead of 16 or or 30 or 82 or whatever is because any team can win on a given day. Either team could win to-nite, and it would not be an upset. However, there are numbers and feelings that point well towards the Sox.

Though last weeks sweep by the Twins of the Sox was a horrow show and dropped them to 1-8 in Minny, Comiskey has had a similar hold on the Twins: they are 2-7. The Sox themselves have the fourth best home record in baseball. And even though one may assume that the twins sweep of the Sox would prove decisive - it's now the Sox who are on a huge roll. Even though Detroit and Cleveland were playing out the year, the Sox won the last two MUST WIN games. The Twins went 1-2 to end the regular season, when 2-1 would have them in Florida already waiting for the Rays. One can imagine that the twins, watching Lex's granny, had to be.....displeased that they had to go to the airport to catch a plane to Midway.

And the Twins mite win. They are good, and 88 wins are decent. John Danks will be on 3 days rest for the first time in his MLB career, and he is 1-1 in 4 starts w/ a huge ERA this year.

But man, that instant happiness in that half second of a half second right after Lex's swing. I just gotta see that again to-night. Or, as this game is on cable, i gotta listen for it.

Black Sox Faction

Planning Changes

A long while ago I was attempting to plan just which Sox game would be the clo\\incher. Iw as there in 1983 and 1993 when the Sox clinche the old AL west. 2000 and 2005 were clinched in Minnesota -too far fopr me to visit. But this years tight race had me planning to attend one of those last wkd games -v- Cleveland. For the past two weeks -until Tuesdays loss to Minnesota made it impossible - I was planning to go to to-nights game. I knew I couldn't go Saturday nite - a date w/ My Bloody Valentine, who I haven't seen since what -1991?? There was also Sunday, but I was rather hoping that the division would be sewn up by then.

So, this weeks games highlighted some of the sox's woes this season in turn. Tuesdays 9-3 loss was all about the terrible start by Vasquez. Although the Sox starters -well, the top three, with about a half a good year from vasquez- hasn't been bad, but they did have that two week period in August (or so) when they threatened w/ collapse. Blessedly, it was the young guys - Floyd and Danks - who kept it all to-gether the whole year and allowed the staff as a whole to recover.

Wednesdays loss highlighted the poor hitting. The 3-2 loss had the Sox - except for Grff's hitting - missing opportunities w/ men on base. Although the team also had its hitting scares earlier in the season (and the loss of AL MVP favourite- as of 1 September - and the Sox's OTHER All Star really drove these worries through the last two months of the season), they have't duplicated last years flod.

And then last night. Going into this series, I would have been very happy w/ one win out of three. I pointed to the ace, Gavin Floyd's start, as the probable victory. Although it wasn't his absolute best star, he left the game w/ the lead....... So, last years bugaboo, the relivers, have been shakey -although not as shakey as last year burnouts - but this game's loss could be blamed on them. And, to make it worse, it was Linebrink and Jenks - who have been steady all year , despite Linebrinks recent stay on the DL- who gave up the lead. Not good.

So, the Sox have work to do. Both Minnesota (Royals) and the Sox (Cleveland)are @ home. K.C. has been terrible -v- Minny, but they are also 11-2 inntheir last 13 games. Cleveland made a nice run to bring themmselves to respectability, but they have lost their last three.

As it stand, both teams are tied in the loss colum, so Da Sox have the season intheir own hands. Depending on what Minnesota does, the Sox have to sweep Cleveland (though it's not necessary) and hope KC sweeps Minnesota. If that happens, the Sox do not have to make up that hurricane delayed Detroit game from two weeks ago. However, I sense that on Monday, the Sox will be playing Detroit in the makeup game. What else? There is also the heavy possiblility of a one game playoff -v- Minnesota (Sox 7-2 -v- Minnn. @ Comiskey).

So what am I gonna do?? My plans for this nite changed when a Friday clinching game was rendered impossible by Wednesdays loss. Sunday became the goal - it could be the day - but it could also be Monday (I'll have to work) or Tuesday (I'll have to work). My plans for this nite? On about Wednesday, that #2 St. Rita - #18 Providence game suddenly became very attractive - until I realised that I'd have to travel to the other side of the fucking world to get to it.

So now? Shit - w/ Danks pitching, even if it ain'tno clincher, it looks like it'll be anbother Comiskey nite for me.

Black Sox Faction

Professor Grif

Kenny finally got his guy. He's been persuing Grif for years and finally added him to the Sox. I do not note this as a major trade. The Sox basically picked him up for free. Although nick Masset was a good pitcher and the bullpen will be thinned out because of his loss, he wasn't a team changer. And Danny Richar is last years experiment to try and develop a replacement for Juan Uribe - already done w/ the superior basball player Alexie Ramirez.

To me, Grif is replacing Konerko. Konerko has show no signs of beaking out of his - well, two year -slump, and that dead area needed to be addressed. Paulie was on his way to duplicating his great erformnce of a few years back when he hit 18 hr and had 65 rbi over an entire eason. Make no bones about it, that was where he is headed. I was sick of his and Thomes slow starts - but Thome has come out of his slump nicely.

I feel good about Swisher on first instead of Konerko. When Paul was on the DL earlier, the Sox went 13-7. So, the Sox are basically replacing one slow righty power hitter with another slow lefty power hitter. The difference is, Grif is having a decent year. Konerko is having a disaster of a yar.

Not a bad trade. W/ the starting pitching above all now beginning to be the main focus of concer, the additionof Grif was a suprise. But, I'll welcome him here. And though were not expecting 56 hr's from him - it'll be better than 18 with 65 rbi.

The Cubs Crew.

In Wrigley Field for the Cubs -v- Reds game on Tuesday nite. Jackson and Rocky and I were to meet in front of the Mac D.'s on Clark, but they'd already entered to reserve the seats. I was gonna see GF @ her werke, but time got the best of me and I had to go straight to 22d near the Chinatown El stop and El'd it to Wrigley. Again, I do so like riding the El from time to time.

Those fucks flew the coop - I was 5m late -so I decided to walk a little around wrigleyvilles alleys and discovered a funny thing - so many people rent out their garages for visiting fans that every alley has 6-7 very open garages. Smart $ makers w/ such a little effort.

Easil found the boys -we were in left field, near the curve in the wall. Pretty good game - the Cubs were obviously superior and had the upper hand the whole game. There were some great defensive plays on both sides. Aramis Ramirez in particular made several spectacular plays. I'd brought my radio -which - the Sox are so good this year and I have fallen into the obsession mode. So- yes I was watching the game in front of me, but on my transistor was the game that really mattered.

Oh - and up on the scoreboard. As I saw the Twins take a 5-2 lead on Boston @ Fenway (FINALLY the Twins were going on the road -and to Boston - the thinking went that the Sox mite pick up some games while playing K.C.). So -@ a certain point -the Sox were down 4-1 and the Twins leading byt ghat 5-2 score late. But it all worked out, @ least for this nite.

AH - but there was more than baseball this nite:

"He's working where??"

"Hey - I know the story of the first night they were to-gether"

"WHAT??"

"5000 hits!?!?!"

"So- compare this old girlf with this old girlf w/ this old girlfriend -which was the best?"

"Listen, listen -I got that story - listen"

etc etc etc...

The crowd around us was fine. Cub fans have a reputation as meatheads, but these ones were pretty mellow. We were heckling Adam Dunn, the Reds left fielder. I have the loudest voice of anyone that nite, but I didn't put in too much effort. I jabbled out a few warped Monty Pythonish bizarros, but it was mainly for my edification. Even I didn't get what I was yelling out.

Though the nite threatened rain -angry skies foto's by Rocky -whenever he flixx' them y'll see - it held off. I worked this day @ school, so I came in nice pants and tie to the game- and it was hot. Not opressively hot, but off the shirt. Was I mocked more for my shirtlessness or my Sox hat?

Dunno.

Rocky drop of Jaxx @ the Capital Ship, then me near 22d, and then we drove down to my crib so Rocky could crash over. But before we crashed...

Black Sox Faction

It'll be like his the rest of the season. Thousands of hits and runs @ home, then one run on four hits on the road. Luckily they have been able to keep their head above water on the road so far while running up the third best home record in baseball. That, and the fact they have played eight less home games than road games give the team hope. The current stretch of home games the team is in will allow them to build more of a cushion @ the top.

But the team is looking like it will rely on pitching. The batting will only be apparent @ home - but can this team make any sort of a serious run? Now, come the playoffs, the teams pitching -possibly the best in baseball, both starting and relieving - bode great for the team. But can they cactually make it to the playoffs. Their current standing in the division bespeaks more of the horrid starts of Detroit and Cleveland than the supremeacy of the Sox - but part of their standng is also that they are good.

It's early still -38% of the seaon done. However, they will have to hit away from Comiskey and not when it's over 85 degrees F. Or they learn to steal some bases. But for a wait for the three run HR team, here's hoping that that is not too much to ask.

Black Sox Faction

The plot against Thome and Konerko

I will amidt it. I was wanting to kill both of these players last week. I was gonna post to get rid of the both of them to-gether. But winning has a way of changing things. That and the fact that their long slumps may finally be ending.

Despite the batters best attempts to turn the clock back to last season, the Sox have survived ruff spots and the early part of the season - if building a five and a half game lead can be called 'surviving'. Built on strong pitching in both the starting rotation and relief corps, the Sox have taken advantage of horrible starts by both Cleveland and Detroit and look ready to compete the whole year.

Last years collapse - keyed, I think, by Kenny Williams "trades for the future" that took the emphesis off of a 90 win team rady to compete for the division to a team looking forward to 2008. Well -it worked - the 2007 team was a joke, and this team is in it for this year. Williams off season moves this winter (Swisher, Canbrera, relievers)were for THIS season, and it's has payed off. The two starters acquired in 2007 (Danks and Floyd) have been outstanding this year. So, on almost all fronts, the White Sox are playing well and treating 2007 as an abberation. They may not win 90 games like they have two of the last three seasons - but looks like it'll be close.

And what may keep them from this? Injuries and relief pitching had huge roles in last year disaster. But for me, it was the stinking batters that keyed last years collapse. What didn't hurt them in September of 2005 has killed them since then. Although they won 90 games in 2006, there was something missing. And last year - despite the emphesise on the relievers -it was the batters that clued the fans into the fact that the team was garbage.

This year -even with four starters batting around .210 (or less) for the first two months of the season - they manageged to keep winning. And it is now - with the Sox (road warriors so far) in the midst of a streak of 26 of 32 games in chicago - that the hitting is finally solving itself -for this week. Do not think that they will be scoring 10 runs and 15 hits every game - those days of one run on four hits will make their return.

The key is to make these games appear as little as possible. I still have trouble with the lineup of the team - it still a 'wait for the 3 run Hr' type lineup. But the additions of Swisher, Cabrera (now that both have finally started hitting) and Carlos Quientin- added to the return of Crede - have added hope to the lineup. The fact that the Sox have the largest lead of any team in baseball despite the horrible batting slump the team has endured so far give even more hope that '07 was abberation.

Black Sox faction

So, rite after writing how the Sox are rocking the clocks of teams left and rite this spring training, here comes the other side of the team. In two split squad games on Friday, the Sox were out scored 22-1 and collected seven hits over 18 innings of total baseball. Out scored?? More like pounded out of existence.

Sheesh!!!

Ah, but what of the pitching?? Javier Vasquez gave up five earned runs in 1/3d of an inning, and Nick Masset 3 in 4 innings. Of the ten pitchers used, these two and Octavio Dotel seem to be the only ones who will make the team. However, it kinda sucks to see Lance Broadway give up 5 in 2 innings- an indication of how weak the starting staff is past the top Mark Beurlhe and Vasquez.

They now fall to 5-7, and the bright spot can only be said that the five wins are half way to last years 10.

The Black Sox Faction

Just a few games into the 2008 season, but the Sox have played well. Sox fans have been buzzing by the teams play in the first few weeks. Holes abound still, but there's hope in many areas. Two things the team wanted to work on in spring training so far has given everyone reason for optimism. Only spring training, yes ; but that's the point. Lets hope it continues.

Ozzie has made a point that their terrible record in '07's spring = 10-22-1 contributed mightily to their aweful regular season by establishing that air of losing that characterized the whole campaign. They have started out 3-1 to teams that they have had a 3-22-2 record since 2006's spring. Only spring training, yes ; but that's the point. Lets hope it continues.

The other positive is the hitting. Last years team fell apart partly from the pitching (especially the relievers, but the starters sucked as well), but I always felt that it was the horifying hitting that doomed the team. The big boppers all had awful starts - Konerko, Dye, and Thome (injuries contributed), along with the loss of Crede, all had a heavy hand in the losing atmosphere of '07. This spring, in all four games the Sox have had hit totals in the double digits and have been scoring runs. Only spring training, yes ; but that's the point. Lets hope it continues.

Black Sox Faction

Why not? With the loss of John Garland in the off season, the rumours out today that the Sox are sniffing around signing Bartolo Colon are very interesting. I'm a big Colon fan, and regardless if he signs with the Sox or not, I hope he returns healthy. Although he has lost mouch of the last two seasons to injuries and has had an ERA above 5.00 for three of the last four years, he mite - if healthy- make a great addition to the team. It would be great to see his off speed stuff dansing through the strike zone again.

Yeesh how the mighty have fallen. Once the knockout of the entire league featuring seven outstanding starting pitchers a few years ago, the Sox have only two they can truely count on : Mark Burele and Javier Vasquez. After these two the Sox hope a huge return to form by Jose Contrearas (10-17, 5.57 ERA last year) and some sort of breakthrough by John Danks (6-13, 5.50 ERA) and Gavin Floyd(8-10, 6.30). And yes, those stats are correctly printed here in dcs- good luck attempting to rely on these pitchers this year.

I have high hopes for Danks - although he got beat up a lot, he strung up some good games -err, innings- to-gether. Contrereas was the staff ace @ by the end of 2005 - but that's now three seasons ago. And Floyd? Who knows @ this point.

So, in a typical Sox move to save money, they are trying to tap Colon again. With the disaster staff they are now sporting in this new spring training, a Colon move - presumably with the onus on Colon to prove himself healthy - is a smart one. Even if he can't recover, it'll be nice to see him in the Sox uni again- especially if he can produce.

Did I write 'smart one' about a possible Colon move? I meant ' desperate one '.

Colon's stats here.

The Black Sox Faction

The White Sox pursued three major outfielders this off season, and seemingly got their third choice in Nick Swisher. They first went after Tori Hunter and Aaron Rowand to fill in the holes in the outfield but did not get either. This forced them to trade prospects to acquire Swisher. Although it was terrible to trade the prospects*, when one looks @ the three players in a variety of contexts the Sox seem to have come out on top (simply comparing @ the players straight up, not the prospects given up).

Hunter has played in the AL Central his whole career, and he's a great player. He's a two time all star, seven time Gold Glover, and has been in the top 25 of MVP balloting four separate years. He would have been great in the Sox outfield, but no. His $90m/5y contract is so far above what the Sox would pay, he went to California. It's nice to see him out of the division so the Sox don't have to pay him 18 times a year.

Sox fans favourite, Aaron Rowand, would have also looked great back in the outfield. Last year was his best year- 22d in NL MVP voting, an all star appearance, and a gold Glove. He his still on the upside of his career, and I expect him to get 100 rbi's this year. And don't forget, of the three players, he's the only one with a championship.

And then there's Nick Swisher. No all stars, no gold gloves, no world series- but given his age, his salary, his disposition, and that he is a lefty- the Sox seemed to have picked up the player with the biggest upside- despite having to pay heavily in prospects.

With the Sox, it's always salary first. Swisher had just signed an extension that will pay him $26.75 over the next five years. Hunter will make $90, Rowand a bit less than $80. So, for less than 30% of Hunters salary, the Sox get someone who has nearly the same stats- but is just entering his best years. Hunter, 32, will be a productive player for the next few years- but expect swisher to really come into his own. The savings of $11m a year on just one position will allow the Sox to scrimp and save in other areas (shit, what is this- the '78 Sox??).

The same stats?? c'mon, we've heard so much about Hunter, and had the complete enjoymnt watching Rowand in the beginning of his career - and how much have we heard of Swisher? But crunching the batting numbers gives us interesting totals. Swisher comes out really bad in some categories- for example, (all numbers in these comparisons are from the last three years) , his is the lowest battering average of the three by far- .251(s), .279 (h), and .283 (r). He also has the highest strikeout totals of the three - 131(s), 91(h), and 103(r).

But in most other batting stats, he's got better numbers. He leads the three in homers, runs scored, doubles them in walks, and is only 5 rbi behind Hunter. Another clincher is his OBA. Although his batting average is the lowest of the three, his OBA is highest. I was too lazy to figure out what the OBA's for the last three years are, but check out this:

'05/'06/'07

Swisher .322/.372/.371

Hunter .337/.336 /.334

Rowand .329 /.321 /.374

And this hitting in the worst stadium for batting in the majors. To think what numbers he will put up in Comisky is exciting.

These are only batting numbers, and numbers only tell part of the story. Rowand and Hunter are better fielders, although Swisher has that 'run into the fence' quality Sox fans dug fromRowand. Rowand is a champ, and got some all start love this year when he was 29. Hunter has been a regular all star, first when he was 26. Both have recieved Gold Gloves and MVP votes. But given that they both cost about $10m/year more than Swisher, Swisher has generally better or the same stats, he is youngest of all three (having just turned 27 last month) and just entering his best years, is an extremely good teammate, and he's a lefty (to two righties).

It was hard to give up the prospects, but who knows who will make it. Swisher is a known quantity, and we'll be enjoying this player for years to come. There's no way the Sox ill ever pony up $341 million in an off season - just uses that extra $10 on relievers......oh, I guss that's why there are two new relieveres in the Sox pen.

I have to imagine that there will be more moves. There are two shortstops, although I can see Juan Uribe @ second. Then there is the case of third base. Knowing the Sox, it will be Crede and his salary to go. Although the Sox made some moves in the off seaaon, there was not the total redo many thought would happen. In all truth, I could see the Sox recome to-gether as they did after what many thought was a terrible off season after '04. Hopefully last year was just an abberation. We'll have to wait on developments.

Spring training very soon. Very exciting.

..................................................................

*= on the other hand, I am still waiting for Lorenzo Barcelo's star turn.

The Black Sox Faction

Goose!!

It's always great when an old Sox player makes it into the Hall of Fame, and yesterdays raising of Rich Gossage into the Hall was well deserved. Growing up in the Seventies and Eighties, he and another Chicago icon Bruce Sutter were the two most mind blowing closers in the game. Since the advent of a position of "The Closer" on teams seemed to gain full steam during these players careers, I have always felt that these two did more than any other to popularize that spot.

Although it is funny to think now, also was a starter. Coming up in the White Sox system, he won his first seven games a long reliever. He became the Sox's closer in 1975. On a terrible team, he was the All Star: 9-8 record, 26 saves, and a 1.84 ERA.

He made the All Star team again in 1976- the only player to ever make it in consecutive years as both a reliever one year and a starter the next- but he had a rough year. He had a decent ERA, but on a miserable team he went 9-17. Ouch.

What will seem familier to Sox fans, he was traded the next year for richie Zisk's one year run in the South Side Hit Men. Most of Gossage's career stats were achieved after leaving Chicago. However, one of my favourite Goose moments came back in Chicago as a Texas Ranger in 1991. He was 40yo and nearing the end of his career- well, he had a few more years- but still being called into games with the outcome in doubt. In July of that year, the Sox were losing 8-6 when they loaded the bases against Goose in the bottom of the ninth. Now remember, I love any old Sox player and I'm not rejoicing in this particular defeat of the Goose- but this game I remember for more reasons than baseball (the girl @ the time, the context, that nite), and so it's always stuck in my mind. The Sox loaded the bases, and Robin Ventura hit one of his near record career grand slams to win in the ninth.

Thanks, Goose, for it all. That fastball. That facial hair. The pitching style. The effect he had on the closer position. And for conjuring up that context. On many levels, I rejoice in the Goose making it to this stage.

Well done.

Black Sox Faction

Swish or Klank??

I'm not that remiss to the Sox trade= Nick Swisher actually seems to be a positive addition to the team, although heavy prospects were given up. It's a gamble, but the Sox have lost super pitching prospects before. Worth it ?? Context is everything.

First, the positives. By all reports, he's a solid positive teammate who bats left and can play CF or first. While not the leadoff man the Sox are looking for (3 SB's last year), he gets on a lot=.381 OBA last year w/ 100 BBs. He also hit 27 HRs, down from 35 the year before. In addition, he is signed through 2012- one imagines that may have been the biggest attration to the Sox organization. So, the Sox were able to pick a real nice player who has lots of serious upsides with no discernable downsides outside of his strikeouts (131 last year- yeesh!!). Good addition- but the price?

Three prospects gone. Ryan Anderson.......err.......Sweeney was one. But the two keys were pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Fautino de los Santos. Both are prospects that have huge upsides, de los Santos in particular. Although this is the third Sox trade Gonzalez has been in, he also was tagged as a potential Sox starter in the furure- even a star.

But strange as it seems, this trade was done for the future. Swisher, only 27, has proven himself and is just entering his best years. He's signed for five more years, and is exactly the sorta player the team should rebuild around. I can't fathom yet how this team is going to do in 2008- changes are not yet done - but I can't imagine the Sox contending with Detroit or Cleveland, let alone Boston etc... But given that the Sox lost out on the available free agent OF's with the laughably high numbers other teams threw @ the players, the Sox as always have to be creative. This trade added a solid player to the team who will be around for a long time. Although the prospects given up may very well hurt them terribly in four or five years when they hit their stride- it's still in four or five years and if they hit their stride. I think this is a gamble-but not a huge one.

Sox in 2009.

The Black Sox Faction

Boy- things look dark for the rest of baseball with the latest trade of a Carbera- this time from Florida to Detroit, along with Lefty starter Willis. Detroits lineup looks stunning - look left and right, and they seemingly have an all start @ every position. But don't worry, the rest of the 29 teams in the league- a great line up can mean nothing @ all. Chicagoians remember how good the '06 White Sox were supposed to be- the addition of a player who hit 52HR (Thome) the year before was supposed to guanteree a total return to the World Series. Same thing for the "greatest lineup ever' that' years Yankee's.

But it looks especially darm for our team, the White Sox. We got a Cabrera- a shortstop to .....replace our regular short stop. We signed a free agent reliever, Scott Linebrink, to set up Bobby Jenks. And the outfield backups were bettered-presumably- by the addition of Carlos Quentin. That's all, and it seems thepaper sellers are in a tizzy.

Yeah, it'd be nice to have gotten both Cabrera's. The non signing of Tori Hunter was expected by all except Kenny Williams. And the player every Sox fan actually wants to play center field- Aaron Rowand and not Tori Hunter- probably will be signed for a few more years and $$ by some other team.

Being a Sox fan, one expects giant free agents to sign elsewhere. We've been shocked as hell by Reindorf spending $$ for Konerko and Burhle. But the only way this organization can win in modern baseball is to have a couple of steals. Although it was tough to see the ex Sox outfield Ordenez and Lee (and '05 Sox Rowand) playing in All Star game, Williams went for the Irreplaceble in '05- and succeed. Gambling on player futures the last two years destroyed the team in '07- but really, is there any other way for this team? To think it could sign a Hunter for $90m, or a Soriano for $141, or an A- Rod for $275m is pie in the sky. And I believe a .500 teams is about all we are gonna get this year.

Maybe 2009.

The Black Sox Faction

In many ways, I view the tough trade of Sox longtime starter John Garland to the California Angels as a nod to THIS YEAR, and not (well, totally) with a view towards the Sox's salary base in 2012 or whatever. And as hard as it is to lose a real Sox guy, I'm glad the emphesis is on this year.

First, the loss of Garland. I should be looking forward, but there is always a little time to mourn. It took garland forever to break out and become a great starting pitcher He was no Johann Santanna now, but he was solid. I used to make the the crack that with all of the obsessive attention the Trib people forced down our gullets about Wood and Prior (for the Iowa peoples team) that combined they haven't had his impact on the field (except for some game 10 years ago when Wood had 20 k's. Whatever.) I was wrong, but not by much- it's 114-86 -v- Garland's 92-81. However, he developed into a totally reliable starter who will the Sox will be very hard pressed to replace. A consistent, 200= innings starter, @ least 32 games started the past few years, and 18 wins in '05 and '06. On top of all that, a kool teamate.

The roatation? Remember the 'greatest rotation ever' a few years back? One can rely only on Burlehe and Vazquez, and hope for ANYTHING out of the bottom three. Danks showed some good stuff at times, but nothing mainly. Broadway? Haegar? Floyd? Yeesh, this rotation looks thinner than skin. It'll need help, and big time. The trade was very rough for this aspect.

But I welcome Orlando Cabrerra. I'll state the obvious= what the fuck is Juan Uribe getting a $5m contract if we are bringing in Cabrera? And @ 32yo are we getting Cabrera on the downslide of his career? How will the Sox sign him after his contract is up this year?

However, he has many upsides. He has won the Gold Glove, which can only help the infield "D" (although I was happy w/ Uribe defense). He had a great year last year @ the plate- .301, 192 hits, 86 RBI. He will be great in the 2d hole. I'd like his OBA to be better- .345 last year and only .321 all time. But he could be an important piece to the puzzle.

However, @ this time, we don't know what the rest of the pieces are. Crede or Fields @ third? LF Scott Podsednik was released yesterday, so who is in left? What about Jerry Owens? The rumours about Tori Hunter seem strong, so it seems Ozzies wish of a real speed and defense centered team is coming closer to fruitation. However one feels about getting Hunter or Aaron Rowand (neither mite make it to the team, y'all) or any other moves, it does seem that GM Kenny Williams has his sites on THIS YEAR. Not a bad thing, however one feels about the trade. I got such a bad feeling last year this time when Garcia and then Mccarthy were traded for procpects- a 90 win team playing for 2012. Hopefully it is THIS YEAR that Williams is siting.

Cubbage

Although they were the first team to clinch a division in the National League this year, The Cubs have been overlooked by most baseball fans gong into the playoffs. Hoever, they have just as much chance to advance to the World Series- and win it- as any other team. A lot of emphesis was put on their poor start, but they finish well, despite a slow finish.

First things first - the AL looks awesome this year. All four teams, despite flaws, seem likely to take it.

But like last year, the little underdog could win it all. In the baseball playoff, pitching takes on an otherworldly importance. Although they have their ups and downs, the Cubs seem to have as solid staff as anyone in the NL. Zambrano will respond big, and I look to him to have a great postseason. Lilly and Hill have had great years. Hopefully Marquis can respond. But those four starters should stand the Cubs well. I believe their starting pitching is better than Arizona's for the first round @ least.

And the offense is doing well. The big hitters have all had solid years, but below what they usually do. It's the lesser players, like De rosa and Jones, who will have to come up with key hits.

Anything can happen in baseball. It's why they play so many games in the regular season- it all averages out- hopefully. But sometimes things go askew-look @ last years 83 win Cardinals.

Leave Big Z alone

Cub fans are booing their players again. Jaques Jones has been a target since last year, Sammy Sosa before him but the latest mark is stud pitcher/batter Carlos Zambrono. What a bizzare year he has had- from allowing White Sox to actually beat him and other losses the first 1/3 of the season, back to his usual dominating self for the next third, and now terrible again.

I wouldn't boo. No matter how bad he's doing rite now, he's still the teams dominant ace when he's on. He's way too important for the staff to go into too long a funk. The incident in his latest start shouldn't be too overblown-a bad game, yes, in the midst of a bunch of bad games- but he remains the best pitcher on a pretty good staff.

H has had this type of blow up before. From what I've noticed, he usually gets over his pout and performs well. My guess is that his next start will be a return to form. Cheer him, he probably's deserves it.

Two Brite Spots

Sox pitcher Bobby Jenks tied a major league record by recording his 41st straight out yesterday in the Sox 0-6 loss to Seattle. In a down season, two outstanding pitching achievements seem to be the teams hi-lites this season. In April, starter Mark Burelue threw a no hitter. Now, with the season running out of promise, another Sox star lets us still celebrate the team.

Jenks has had a good year after a rough start. Although he may not be Dennis Eckersly c. 1990, he has become better and more dependable all the time. He was deservedly the only All Star from the team, and has a brite future on the team.

His streak is incredible. 41 outs in a row is like throwing a perfect game and a half- there's no room for error. It was exciting to watch/listen to each of the last six outs. Kudo's to Ozzy for pitching jenks in a non save situation so that the home crowd @ comisky could see the record. We appreciate being appreciated. Now, with Cleveland, Detroit, and Minnesota all struggling, it would be nice if the team could emulate their All Star and sting to-gether a winning streak.

When to say when

It’s common knowledge the Sox season is over, yet 51 games are still left after today’s win against the Tigers. It’s very hard to give up hope in the team when so many games are left. In addition, this uninspiring team has finally begun to show a little in the way of winning games. They are 9-4 in their last 13 and the sweep of the Tigers brings them to within ten games out. It may not be ’51 or ’64 or ’78 or ’95; but who knew this early in those years what magic was in store.

But ,the stress is on “magic”.

Pretty much that is what it will take. Despite the recent upturn, they have sucked all year. The past two weeks could easily have been the high point of the season. They are chasing not just one team in the division, but Detroit, Cleveland AND Minnesota. It would take slumps by all three teams ahead of the Sox for them to have a chance.

But, still:

Both Cleveland and Detroit have hit upon hard times lately. Good teams that are winning sometimes unaccountably go bad: witness the Sox’s second half last year. All three teams could conceivably go under. And, of those 51 games, the Sox have six each with Detroit, Cleveland and Minnesota. A superhot Sox club could take the majority of these games and possibly push those teams to bad runs.

However:

Too many of this teams parts are gone to make a serious run. Crede is gone. Podsednik and Erstad are too injury prone and can’t be counted on. And management has given up on the team by trading Tadahito Iguchi and Rob Macoviak in trade deadline deals. And the team is starting 3-4 rookies on the field each game, usually including Josh Fields @ third, Jerry Owens in center and Danny Richar @ second. This is clearly a team that is playing for 2008 or 2009.

On the other hand:

That early team was not winning. For whatever reason, the team stocked with rookies is playing looser and getting results. Fields and Owens have played well, and Richard shows promise. The team was really not ripped apart, either. Both Iguchi and Mackovik were losses, but reports of John Garland, Javier Vasquez, and Paul Konerko being moved proved false. Although one eye is to ‘08, the other is still concentrating on ‘07. And the players who were so terrible in the first half-- specifically Konerko and Dye-- are now hitting up a storm. It may just be the worst of times for the hitting is over, and the new mix of payers has ignited the offense as a whole. Whatever the outcome, a strong finish will bde well for next year.

But, seriously then, the bullpen?

…………no comment. But being a lifelong Sox fan, to think I’d surrender any season with 51 games left and the team ten out* is crazy.

*=since written, they have fallen to 11.5 out.

The Black Sox Faction

Do the Left Thing

The White Sox immeasurably helped their team for the rest of this decade by signing one of the premier available pitchers in the world yesterday. What team would not love an ace lefty who is a proven winner the last eight years? What team would not die for a durable starting pitcher who has been the ace of a very good staff? What team would not love a pitcher who is both the fans and his teamates favourite?

Well, almost the White Sox.

Kudo's to owner Reinsdorf and G.M. Williams for finally responding to the cacaphonious clamour for the resigning of Mark Burhle. In what has been a very down year for the Sox,the fans got some good news in that this team, 21m after being the top team in the world, will not be trashed in a "White flags" type tradeoff just yet.

The seemingly bizzare part of the story is that Burehle kept giving the Sox chancs when most other players would have walked a long time ago. Burhele settled for around $14m/year for four years. There is a conditional no-trade clause that would give Burehle another year and bump up the yearly salary another $1m/y. He could have gotten another two years and maybe 30m more, but will wait till till this contract expires when he is 32:in time for another huge contract.

But a key point in keeping himself here is that he has made a name for himself in chicago. There are what- 27-8 guys in Chicago who are living who can say- I won the world series in a Chicago uniform. Maybe there are a Sox or two alive from 1917, but i doubt it. So, like members of the '85 Bears or the SuperBulls, Burelhe can live forever a hero in Chicago, doing commercials, autograph sessions, tv appearances, etc... leaving chicago would have hurt this a little, but staying in Chicago, he can reap the benefits of '05. Just like Da Bears did this past years and we will begin to see soon as the SuperBulls time fades. both sides played smart.

Now the trick will be to sign John Garland. Although this has been a very tough start for the Sox and threatens to be a totally lost season, the starting staff has been outsdtanding and getting better. With the exception of Jose Contrearas, the staff has been better than advertised. Even rookie Joh Danks looks like a future star 9well, maybe not star, but...). The whole league is looking for a starting staff like the Sox have (well, not ALL teams), so it seems smart to just keep it to-gether and work on the offense.

Sense sometimes prevails.