Tag Archives: US Cellular Field

The Peavy Effect

Posted on by
Reply

It took until now but the White Sox are finally feeling the effects on losing Jake Peavy for the year as I’m officially saying that starter, Freddy Garcia, is out of gas. A lot of people probably are thinking that the Sox would not have gotten Edwin Jackson if Peavy was still in the rotation, but don’t be so sure about that. The idea at the trading deadline is to make your team better, and if Peavy did not go down to injury and the Sox had the opportunity to add Jackson to one of the best pitching staffs in baseball then they would have.

Garcia has not pitched that well since Jackson has shown-up, and has even commented that he’s the odd man out going into next season. That’s obvious since Jackson is as good of a pitcher as Garcia was in his prime, if not better. Jackson continues his domination of offenses since coming to the White Sox with 11 strike outs against the Tigers on Saturday. Since arriving Jackson has compiled some pretty impressive stats over a three-game span; 24 strikeouts, three earned runs, only four walks, and a 1.35 ERA over 20-innings pitched. His one blemish would be he has let up 20 hits, but he’s certainly gotten out of whatever jams he’s gotten into.

As Sox fans you can only imagine the rotation in 2010 with Peavy pitching down the stretch, but we’ll have to wait until 2011 to see that rotation. Instead, the Sox now sit three games back of the Twins since J.J. Putz has had one really bad pitch in each of his last two appearances that helped the Tigers win. You can blame Putz, but the lack of offense on Saturday that had many opportunities again, and another poor outing by Garcia put the Sox in a bad position. They did battle back and took a lead, but a poor bullpen outing and bad fielding lead to their demise on Sunday.

Hopefully the White Sox will show-up with clear heads to Target Field on Tuesday evening as they send their top three pitchers against the Twins, and let’s hope the Sox hitters don’t let the Twins’ pitchers off the hook like they did on their last home stand.

A little revenge

Posted on by
Reply

Avila celebrates what would be the game winner.

I’m sure the Tigers wouldn’t mind spoiling the White Sox postseason hopes at all this season, especially since many of players on the 2010 Tigers were part of last years team. The Sox basically took it to the Tigers in the last few weeks of the season aiding in their demise into a one-game playoff against the Twins. UGH… the Twins. The Twins won that and the Tigers went home. I believe a team should compete until the end of the season no matter what their situation (don’t watch the Cubs,) and the top three AL Central teams do just that.

Jim Leyland is a hard-ass and would never settle for a team that just sits back and coasts in any situation, he expects that everyday and the Tigers are a mirror image of that attitude. Last night is a perfect example of how they scraped out a victory from the Sox pushing the Sox two games behind the Twins. Edwin Jackson struck out 11 and newly ordained closer, J.J. Putz struck out three, but not before he let a man on and gave up a go-ahead, two-run shot to Alex Avila. Another blown save for the White Sox bullpen, not good.

I really thought this season it was going to be the White Sox and the Tigers battling for first with the Twins looking in, but that’s not the case, again. Instead, it’s the Twins leading the division looking to win the AL Central, AGAIN! The sad part about that is the White Sox and Tigers are the only AL Central teams to get out of the first round, the Twins get there and choke every year they make the playoff, what a waste.

Welcome Back Mark!

Posted on by
Reply

Beckham and Teahen go yard!

The other night I text my good friend John, “Viciedo has to go. He’s a fastball hitter and he can’t hit a fastball.” John replied, “Teahen will be back soon.” Soon meant Friday night and the Sox may have gotten the left-handed power hitter they wanted without giving Gordon Beckham, Alexei Ramirez, and young arms.

This team was built with Teahen as a starter for the White Sox under the guise that he had the ability to hit 30 home runs since he would have many warm home games at US Cellular Field. Unfortunately Teahen went down with a broken finger before the weather warmed-up in Chicago. He benefited from the steamy weather on Friday night as his return to the Sox included a 2-run homer and a base hit helping the Sox to an 8-4 victory.

The Sox have scored a total of 21 runs in four games on this home stand and those numbers should only increase in the next few days. They also have 35 hits over the four game span with five homers. Not too shabby, but they are only 2-2 at the moment on this home stand and still trail the Twins by a game, as they held on for a 4-3 win last night over Oakland.

The Sox used the Tigers as a springboard to a 25-5 run that began on June 9 and hopefully they will use them again for a similar run. I like our chances in the series with Edwin Jackson going today followed by Tiger tamer, Freddy Garcia, on Sunday.

Frustration, Inc.

Posted on by
Reply

The only damage done on Thursday was the psyche of the White Sox offense as they stranded the bases loaded three times. This was the most frustrating game that I’ve viewed all year and I can’t even imagine what was going through the heads of the White Sox hitters as they left nine runners on base from those three innings while stranding a total of 12 runners.

Francisco Lariano pitched his way out of jams over and over again and was definitely the beneficiary of impatient hitting by the White Sox, as well as some generous calls. Bottom line is the Sox offense did not get it done when they had ability to definitely put more than six runs on the board.

Gavin Floyd pitched his worst outing since May allowing six earned runs on ten hits, but kept the game at 3-1 until Jason Kubel hit an 0-2 pitch over the left field wall with two on and two out. It came on Floyd’s 125th pitch of the game and it was a tough outcome for Floyd who deserved better as he should have been pitching with a cushion.

So the Sox fell one game out of first on a night where they had every opportunity to win the game in easy fashion. The good news is the Tigers are coming to town.

One down, one to go

Posted on by
Reply

Is everyone in the White Sox nation a little calmer this morning? I hope so, as we’re acting like we’ve never been in a playoff race. I mean, heck, we won a World Series in 2005 and the Sox did their best to give everyone a heart attack in September where Cleveland was a series win away from knocking the Sox out of the playoffs. That didn’t happen, instead the Sox went on a tear that brought a baseball World Championship to Chicago.

The reason I bring this up is because it’s only August and Sox fans are acting like being a game out is the end of the world or is it sports radio that’s making a big deal about it? Most of the Sox fans I talk to you seem as calm and arrogant as I am about the White Sox right now, but listening to the Waddle and Silvy show on ESPN 1000 you’d think there were two camps; one that is in panic mode and another that isn’t worried at all. This idea may only exist in the head of ex-Bear wide receiver, Tom Waddle, but he brings it up on a daily basis.

I’m sure there is text and emails coming into the show because there are fans of every team in Chicago that the minute the team has a couple of losses it’s all doom and gloom, but I think that camp is much smaller than the camp that is expecting to see the White Sox post season baseball. Then then there’s the talk about having to add another stick to the team which is beginning to wear on me also.

The White Sox ran into a white-hot Baltimore Orioles team that won again last night. They swept the Texas Rangers, took three-out-of-four from the Sox, and have won their first to two games against the Indians this week. This all since the arrival of Buck Showalter. The White Sox hitting performance in Baltimore really stirred-up “the need to add a bat talk,” but as I stated Monday in the post “Panic Button” the White Sox bats will be fine. I would say that statement is accurate as they have averaged six runs in their first two games on this home stand, but hey if the Sox could add a little extra thunder I would love it! Is it necessary? No.

Gavin Floyd takes the mound tonight and I expect my prediction from yesterday to come true with a one game White Sox lead at about 10pm tonight.  FIRE!

3-for-5 not good enough

Posted on by
7

Go Sox!

Things did not go to well for the Sox last night from a starting pitching standpoint, but as I predicted yesterday the bats came to life at home. I jokingly wrote about Sox fans pushing the panic button yesterday and I’m still writing this article with a smile of confidence on my face. Our best, worst pitcher went last night, the guy who should not have been going for his eleventh win at this point in the season, Freddy Garcia. Garcia is an experiment that has worked better than the Sox could have ever imagined, but the problem with Freddy is when he’s bad, he’s really bad. Last night Freddy only lasted 2-1/3 innings for the second time in three outings, which could be a sign that he is tiring as the year winds down. Chances are you won’t see Garcia in the Yankees series.

Garcia’s next scheduled starts are against the Tigers this Sunday, which seems a no-brainer since he owns them and the Tigers are in dire straits, with another start coming in Kansas City on Saturday, August 21. With a day off on Monday, August 23, the Sox can afford to skip Garcia in the Yankees series.

It’s unfortunate that the most important part of my prediction yesterday went wrong, Garcia pitching well, on the other hand I did call three of the five things I talked about correct which is reason enough for Sox fans not to worry. In case you didn’t read yesterday’s post here’s the exert where I made my predictions:

I’ve got a crazy idea the Sox will putting at least six runs on the board tonight against the Twins. I think Carlos Quentin will hit a home run tonight, Mark Kotsay will drive in a run tonight, and Alex Rios will be Alex Rios tonight. There really isn’t  a much tougher team at home right now. I know the Twins have the same home and road record as the Sox, but as of late the Sox have been hard to beat at US Cellular Field.

Sox fans, sit back, relax, and watch the White Sox take a one game lead over the Twins tonight as Freddy Garcia gets the eleventh win he was robbed of last week after another quality start for Freddy. Humidity is high in Chicago today, I expect a lot of sweat and a lot of Sox runs.

The Sox did score six, Rios went 2-4 with a run and caught stealing, and CQ hit a three-run bomb and drove in four. My next prediction, two straight wins with a one-game lead on Thursday.

Another Sweep! Nine in-a-row!

Posted on by
Reply

Are the Cubs next?

It’s hard to believe that on June 8 the Chicago White Sox were 9-1/2 games out of first place, nine games under .500, and talking about trading away veteran players. Since then the White Sox have lost only twice, once to Detroit and once to the Cubs, giving them a 13-2 record over their last 15 games.

The best news is as they completed their sweep of the Atlanta Braves, who came in with the best record in the National League,  this afternoon, they have a weekend series with the free-falling Cubs at the Cell. Not to get ahead of ourselves but I see no reason why the Sox can not win 12 in-a-row at this point, other than the odds and history of this type of win streak occurring. A twelve game win streak has only happened five times in baseball history. Could it happen six?

The best thing about the series against the Braves is the fact that every aspect of the White Sox game was solid; starting and relief pitching, hitting, and fielding. Just perfect all around, and it looks like the team Sox fans were promised is starting to materialize. LET’S GO SOX!!!!

Thunderstruck

Posted on by
2

The White Sox shocked the Cleveland Indians as they came back from a 6-2 deficit in the fifth inning to beat the Indians 8-7 at US Cellular Field. The Indians are to the Sox this year as the Pirates are to the Cubs this year; a team they should beat but can’t seem to win against consistently. It’s really sad we have to get excited over an Indians win, really sad.

The Sox bats knocked around starter Jake Westbrook and the Indians bullpen with another double-digit hitting attack. This has become the most consistent part of the White Sox game at this point in the season, and they’ll need it with the Detroit Tigers coming into town tomorrow night.

Paul Konerko hit his 17th homer run and 41st RBI’s of the season and the hot-hitting Carlos Quentin had a three RBI afternoon for the Sox. Unfortunately, the Sox had to bailout former Sox ace, Mark Buerhle, who only lasted three innings allowing six earned runs. Not good.

A win is a win and we’ll take it anyway we can at this point. It was good enough to gain a game on the Twins and end the weekend on a good vibe. The real challenge is up next, the Detroit Tigers. I’ll be at the game on Wednesday night with Detroit Smitty who will morph into Cubby Smitty by Friday for the Crosstown series at Wrigley. It could be a perfect week, Freddy Garcia win on Wednesday night against the Tigers, Blackhawks win and clinch the Cup as Smitty and I watch the game in the Bullpen Sportsbar, and finally the White Sox pound the crap out the Cubs with home runs by Konerko, Quentin, and Alex Rios. GO SOX!!!! I foreseen it.

Friday Night Fish Fry

Posted on by
6

in control

For the third time in four games the White Sox have 10 or more hits in a game and it looks like things are beginning to function like they should be on the South-side. The Sox are now 2-2 this week , but more importantly they’ve had three solid pitching performances this week and solid hitting. Buerhle pitched eight shut out innings tonight and Alexei Ramirez had a double and three-run homer.

It’s really not surprising at the weather gets warmer and humid that everything has improved for the Sox as they seem to have trouble in cooler weather. It’s beginning to look like the worst part of the season may be coming to an end for the White Sox, especially with some hot weather rolling into town including a 90-degreee Sunday afternoon game.

The other big moment will be tomorrow as Gavin Floyd makes his ninth start of the year which seems to be the magic moment of the season for Floyd. He entered the ninth game of the season last year with a 7.71 ERA, and never saw anything to close to that again. After letting up 36 earned runs in first eight starts of 2009, he only let up 51 earned runs in his next 21 starts. That basically averages out to 2.5 runs a game. Lights out!

It was good night for Chicago sports as the White Sox won easily and the Blackhawks took a 3-0 lead over the Sharks in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Chicago teams were feasting on some fish, yum!