General managers think they know something. Maybe I'm bonkers, but I think the players know best. I say get all the Sox together and let them vote on who is the weakest link. It isn't so much who the Sox need to add as who they need to get rid of.
My nominations for weakest links would be Andruw Jones, Scott Linebrink, Bobby Jenks and Mark Teahen. But I'm not a player. Maybe they'd vote someone else off the island.
Then Ken Williams needs to get on the phone and see who will take their weakest links. I'd settle for anything you could get, even if it's a box of cigars. If nobody wants them at any price, I say release them.
White Sox 11, Seattle 0. ... First place.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Complete Game
That's one way to escape Bobby Jenks: Let Mark Buehrle throw a complete game. I can remember when the CG was not rare. Hey, Billy Pierce tossed 56 complete games over 1956-58.
White Sox 5, Oakland 1 ... First place, 2.5 games ahead of Detroit.
White Sox 5, Oakland 1 ... First place, 2.5 games ahead of Detroit.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
How Long Will It Take?
For the ChiSox to figure out that Bobby Jenks is a mediocre pitcher at best. Hey, Ozzie! Hey, Kenny! Check the calendar on the wall. It's not 2005.
Bobby blows a 1-0 lead for a 2-1 loss.
Seattle 2, White Sox 1
Geez, wake up.
Bobby blows a 1-0 lead for a 2-1 loss.
Seattle 2, White Sox 1
Geez, wake up.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Rolling The Bobby Dice
So Bobby Jenks comes in against the Twins on Sunday and blows a three-run lead. And on Tuesday night, he comes in and nails down a 4-0 win over Seattle. Or did he?
Third baseman Vizquel turns a hit into an out with a crisp play in the ninth. If anybody else is there, it's probably a hit. Then Alexei turns an unbelievable play at short for an out. It should've been first and second for Seattle with nobody out. Instead, Bobby gets one more out, and the "save."
White Sox management seems real slow to see the obvious. J.J. Putz is the Sox's closer-capable pitcher. Jenks is an artifact from 2005.
White Sox 4, Seattle 0 ... First place, 3.5 games up.
Third baseman Vizquel turns a hit into an out with a crisp play in the ninth. If anybody else is there, it's probably a hit. Then Alexei turns an unbelievable play at short for an out. It should've been first and second for Seattle with nobody out. Instead, Bobby gets one more out, and the "save."
White Sox management seems real slow to see the obvious. J.J. Putz is the Sox's closer-capable pitcher. Jenks is an artifact from 2005.
White Sox 4, Seattle 0 ... First place, 3.5 games up.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
White Sox in First!
Sunday's Heroes: Carlos Quentin slams two homers for second straight day, including a grand slam in a 15-5 win over Kansas City. ... Andruw Jones gets 4 RBIs. ... Gordon Beckham gets three hits. White Sox extend their win streak to eight games.
Where we are: First place, half game up!
Next: All Star break.
Notes: The White Sox went 25-5 after June 8 to turn a 9.5 game deficit to a sprint to first place on July 11. Has this been done before by the Chicago White Sox? Sort of. In 1983, manager Tony La Russa's ChiSox fell seven games behind in June, then grabbed first place on July 18. In 1906, Fielder Jones' White Sox fell 9 games behind in July. They surged to first place on Aug. 12.
Where we are: First place, half game up!
Next: All Star break.
Notes: The White Sox went 25-5 after June 8 to turn a 9.5 game deficit to a sprint to first place on July 11. Has this been done before by the Chicago White Sox? Sort of. In 1983, manager Tony La Russa's ChiSox fell seven games behind in June, then grabbed first place on July 18. In 1906, Fielder Jones' White Sox fell 9 games behind in July. They surged to first place on Aug. 12.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
ChiSox's Win Streak at Seven
Saturday's White Sox heroes: Chicago now has won the past five games Gavin Floyd started. ... Carlos Quentin socks two home runs in 5-1 win over Kansas City.
Where we are: Half game out of baseball heaven.
Next: Rookie Dan Hudson vs. Royals' Zack Greinke. ... Has Greinke's number: A.J., 18 for 43, or .419 and Rios, 9 for 26, or .346 ... Can't Handle Greinke: Alexei, 3 for 20, or .150 and Quentin, 4 for 21, or .190.
Where we are: Half game out of baseball heaven.
Next: Rookie Dan Hudson vs. Royals' Zack Greinke. ... Has Greinke's number: A.J., 18 for 43, or .419 and Rios, 9 for 26, or .346 ... Can't Handle Greinke: Alexei, 3 for 20, or .150 and Quentin, 4 for 21, or .190.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Six Straight White Sox Wins
Friday's White Sox heroes: Buehrle's now 8-7 with five wins in past six starts. ... A.J. gets four RBIs. ... Wonder of wonders: Andruw Jones gets three hits in one day. Usually that's a month's work. ... White Sox 8, Kansas City 2.
Where we are: Half game out of baseball heaven.
Next up: Gavin Floyd vs. Brian Bannister. ... Has Bannister dead in his sights: A.J. is 13 for 31 or .419; Alexei is 8 for 20 or .400 ... Hasn't hit Bannister much: Gordon Beckham, 2 for 13 or .154 ... Has Floyd's number: Yuniesky Betancourt, 6 for 16 or .375 ... Not so friendly in just a few at bats against Floyd: Chris Getz, 2 for 3.
Where we are: Half game out of baseball heaven.
Next up: Gavin Floyd vs. Brian Bannister. ... Has Bannister dead in his sights: A.J. is 13 for 31 or .419; Alexei is 8 for 20 or .400 ... Hasn't hit Bannister much: Gordon Beckham, 2 for 13 or .154 ... Has Floyd's number: Yuniesky Betancourt, 6 for 16 or .375 ... Not so friendly in just a few at bats against Floyd: Chris Getz, 2 for 3.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
What the White Sox Need to Do
OK, some folks are saying that the White Sox's measly 1-run scored on Monday points to the need to acquire a big bat.
Such folks have it ace backwards. Too many power hitters is why a team gets held to one run. When the power is off, there's nothing else in the arsenal.
The White Sox could use either a contact hitter with speed or someone who can improve the defense. I like Juan Pierre in left and Alex Rios in center. Both are excellent defensively. But Carlos Quentin is only fair in right field.
If the White Sox are looking to deal, they should go after Aaron Rowand. A center fielder, he could play right field easily (he has an excellent arm too). San Francisco has Rowand grabbing bench right now because he is slumping at bat. The Sox should try to get him, if they don't have to give up too much. He isn't exactly a contact hitter but his fielding instantly improves the Sox pitching staff. In fact, the White Sox would then have three center fielders in the outfield. I like it.
And then Quentin could move to DH and backup outfield duty.
White Sox 4, Kansas City 3 ... Record, 40-36 ... one and a half games behind Minnesota.
Wednesday's match-up at Kauffman Stadium: Jake Peavy vs. Zack Greinke. Who hits Greinke: A.J. Pierzynski, 16 for 40, and Alex Rios, 8 for 22. ... Who struggles vs. Greinke: Paul Konerko, 7 for 51, and Alexei Ramirez, 3 for 20. ... Who hits Peavy: Scott Podsednik, 6 for 16. ... Who can't hit Peavy: David DeJesus, 0 for 11.
If the White Sox trade anybody, who is expendable? I'd say Andruw Jones, Brent Lillibridge, Scott Linebrink, Randy Williams, Jayson Nix and Mark Teahen.
Such folks have it ace backwards. Too many power hitters is why a team gets held to one run. When the power is off, there's nothing else in the arsenal.
The White Sox could use either a contact hitter with speed or someone who can improve the defense. I like Juan Pierre in left and Alex Rios in center. Both are excellent defensively. But Carlos Quentin is only fair in right field.
If the White Sox are looking to deal, they should go after Aaron Rowand. A center fielder, he could play right field easily (he has an excellent arm too). San Francisco has Rowand grabbing bench right now because he is slumping at bat. The Sox should try to get him, if they don't have to give up too much. He isn't exactly a contact hitter but his fielding instantly improves the Sox pitching staff. In fact, the White Sox would then have three center fielders in the outfield. I like it.
And then Quentin could move to DH and backup outfield duty.
White Sox 4, Kansas City 3 ... Record, 40-36 ... one and a half games behind Minnesota.
Wednesday's match-up at Kauffman Stadium: Jake Peavy vs. Zack Greinke. Who hits Greinke: A.J. Pierzynski, 16 for 40, and Alex Rios, 8 for 22. ... Who struggles vs. Greinke: Paul Konerko, 7 for 51, and Alexei Ramirez, 3 for 20. ... Who hits Peavy: Scott Podsednik, 6 for 16. ... Who can't hit Peavy: David DeJesus, 0 for 11.
If the White Sox trade anybody, who is expendable? I'd say Andruw Jones, Brent Lillibridge, Scott Linebrink, Randy Williams, Jayson Nix and Mark Teahen.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Let's Add Speed
Eleven in a row has everybody talking about the White Sox adding a player.
If the White Sox are to add anything before the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline, general manager Ken Williams is likely to add a power DH type. His track record says he'll find an old guy who hits a lot of homers or used to hit a lot of homers.
But I'd rather see the White Sox add speed. There's no reason why the DH should be a power hitter. Speed frightens a pitcher more than power does. It forces fielders to rush and make errors. When on base, it forces pitchers to alter their delivery. It beats out infield grounders. It's more likely to take the extra base on a hit, or tag up on a marginally deep fly ball. It's less likely to go into a slump, and speed is more helpful coming off the bench.
Maybe the Sox have someone in AA or AAA who can fill the bill. Or maybe they could swing a trade for Scott Podsednik or somebody like him.
But let's challenge the myth that the DH has to be about power. It doesn't have to be that way.
Who can the White Sox trade? I say trade Linebrink. He has decent numbers, and some fool will want him. Let's move him before he reverts to his usual disaster mode.
If the White Sox are to add anything before the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline, general manager Ken Williams is likely to add a power DH type. His track record says he'll find an old guy who hits a lot of homers or used to hit a lot of homers.
But I'd rather see the White Sox add speed. There's no reason why the DH should be a power hitter. Speed frightens a pitcher more than power does. It forces fielders to rush and make errors. When on base, it forces pitchers to alter their delivery. It beats out infield grounders. It's more likely to take the extra base on a hit, or tag up on a marginally deep fly ball. It's less likely to go into a slump, and speed is more helpful coming off the bench.
Maybe the Sox have someone in AA or AAA who can fill the bill. Or maybe they could swing a trade for Scott Podsednik or somebody like him.
But let's challenge the myth that the DH has to be about power. It doesn't have to be that way.
Who can the White Sox trade? I say trade Linebrink. He has decent numbers, and some fool will want him. Let's move him before he reverts to his usual disaster mode.
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