Life In The Cell

BIG NEWS on Mark Buehrle…

We interrupt this season long silence to deliver a piece of history;

Mark Buehrle threw a complete game. That’s not news. He threw a shutout. That’s not new either. He got the win. Very good, but not very newsworthy. He threw a no-hitter. That’s fantastic and definitely big news. But not *the* news. He threw a perfect game. No, that’s not it. HE THREW A PERFECT GAME!!!!! Yeah, that’s it!

Unbelievable. I was listening to the game on mlb.com (being out of market, *sigh*) and it wasn’t until about the fifth inning that it dawned on me (before Ed Farmer or Darrin Jackson mentioned anything) that this game is moving really fast for even a Buehrle game. So I clicked on mlb.com and there it was, zeros.

Of course my interest peaked from then on. And every time he got to 3 balls on a batter, I sat here wishing/hoping he didn’t lose it with a walk.

And then the ninth came. A few pitches into the first batter, Ed Farmer announced the defensive changes, Wise in center, Pods in left, Quentin out of the game. The two pitches later the ball was launched. And listening to Farmer call it, my stomach was in my throat, “A long one, left center field, Wise on the run, he’s at the track, he’s at the fence, leaps, MAKES THE CATCH! HE TOOK AWAY A HOME RUN!!! WOW! WHAT A PLAY!”

Of course the crowd was going nuts, and I was going nuts. I had to see this catch. I went to MLB.com and realized they were showing the last inning live. I watched the rest of the game(including the replay). Incredible.

And the more I think about it the more I think back to his no hitter in 2007. He was one walk away from pitching two perfect games in his career.

Contreras decent, Sox fail miserably in Det

Final score, Det 9, Sox 0.

What can be said, the Sox could get anything going offensively, getting only 4 hits with nothing but a few walks after the 5th. The defense looked (sounded?) sloppy at times (esp later in the game) And then you have the pitching, which has been pretty good this year at keeping them in the game (aside from that one Min game). It was just an all around crappy day for the Chi-Sox.

I can’t in good conscience pick a player of the game (there really wasn’t one) nor can I narrow down the field for the Pinwheeler award (of which there were MANY nominees), so let’s just call this a wash and head down to Florida.

Sox Pick up Podsednik…

It’s been a week, and the Sox have a 4-3 record. Not great, but good enough to be in second place, a half game behind the Royals in the Central. Currently, they’re scoreless in Detroit.

But I thought I’d post the news that Scott Podsednik, who was released in spring training by the Rockies and signed by the Sox in light of the injury to Wise. But before you start falling on your swords, he’s been signed to a minor league contract and will start in centerfield for Triple -A Charlotte.

I’ll be honest, he’s not the 2005 alum I want back (it’s no secret I’m a huge Rowand fan) and I’m not sure I want to see him back in a starting role Chicago, but if he can contribute on a part time basis (maybe teach Wise how to bunt, once Wise comes back) that would be nice.

Thoughts on 2009…

I know this post is coming after only one game of the 2009 season, but after listening to yesterday’s game I feel this must be said: The White Sox have to change their ways if they want to be a contender this season.

Since the addition of Jim Thome in November of 2005, the White Sox offensive strategy has changed from the manufacturing of runs to relying on the long ball to carry them. I’m not suggesting Jim Thome is the reason, nor am I suggesting the White Sox didn’t rely on the long ball before him.

But since the 2006 season, they seem to be a team that fell into a comfort zone of relying on the home run to save them.

Yesterday’s game was very much like many over the past few years; meet a strong pitcher who shuts them down for a majority of the game, stay in the game with decent (although solid pen work yesterday!) pitching, get very little done offensively and hope that one of the big bats can bring them back.

Yesterday (and quite a few games in the past) it worked out in their favor. But I also tend to believe that this mindset has also been a major factor in them barely making it to the playoffs last season (and a quick heave-ho from said playoffs) and not at all the previous two years.

They have to start getting the little things done again, like moving guys over into scoring position (Wise, ARE. YOU. LISTENING? You failed bunt attempts hurt.)

They had several opportunities to score yesterday, with a runner on third with less than two outs and failed.

Another part of the problem with this is that it relies heavily on the few powerhouses on the team to produce… Yeah yeah, everyone on the team has the power to jack longballs, but when people think of the heart of the home run production, they think of Thome, Konerko, and Dye ( I think the jury is still out on Quentin, to see if 2008 was a fluke.) And this style of play puts a lot of strain, not to mention if one or more of these guys goes into a slump (or gets hurt). Last year, the aforementioned Quentin stepped up and covered when the others slumped. Will there always be someone in the wings to do so?

I’d much rather go through this season with the knowledge that the Sox are a run-producing machine that also has the high potential to go yard, as opposed to being a streaky team that scores virtually only with the long ball. And for that to work, there needs to be better execution.

There, I said my piece. Now lets move on.

Game one thoughts: Thome hits a tHomer, Jenks saves the day.

Today contest had all the earmarks for a nerve-wrecking game. The Sox get shut down by a strong opposing pitcher, only to come from behind in superb fashion by a long ball… Details:

Pitching:Mark Buehrle wasn’t fantastic (5 IP, 2 ER 3BB (two HBP) & 3K) but he kept the Royals to only two runs.

The bullpen was stellar- Richards threw two strong innings, retiring all six batters he faced, Dotel struck out three (but allowed one runner due to dropped third strike), and Jenks gave up a single and a long out but shut it down for the save.

Hitting: Thome had a fantastic day going 3-4 including a clutch 3 run dinger with two outs in the bottom of the 8th; Dye, Fields, and Getz all had a multi-hit game. Wise, Quentin and Ramirez went 0-11 collectively with five of the Sox’s seven strikeouts.

Player of the Game: tHomer. How can he not be?

Pinwheeler of the game: Dewayne Wise 0-4 with three strikeouts. NOT what one wants in a leadoff man.

Yes, I’ve reinstituted the Pinwheeler award. For those unfamiliar, this award is given to the player who would’ve done the White Sox better if he just sat on the bench playing with a Pinwheel.

Meche was strong today, going seven innings with 6Ks, 1ER and no walks. I was very pleased when I heard he was relieved to start the either inning. By rights he should’ve earned a W.

Royally speaking is hoping that this is a wake-up call for the Royals Manager, check out what they have to say here.

Next game is tomorrow @ 7:11, with Greinke going against Floyd.

An Heir To Officer Kark?

Ah. There is nothing as rejuvenating as seeing the first box scores of the spring. All the cliches apply: every team is undefeated, every young prospect is a shiny new toy, every aging veteran is ready for one last all-star campaign. Anyway, as I perused yesterday’s box score, something jumped out to me: Corky Miller, 3 for 3.

Miller is involved in this spring’s most important position battle. Sure, we need to settle on a center fielder, second baseman, two starting pitchers, and possibly a third baseman, but no battle shall be more telling than the one for the coveted position of back-up catcher.

As some of you know, I have an inexplicable affinity for back-up back stops. I really know not from whence this comes. I never caught. I was a first baseman and occasional sieve at third. Still, I like the catch and throw guys who hit .220 with the rare display of power. You may remember my now defunct site: The Ron Karkovice Fan Club. On second thought, you almost assuredly do not. Though the blog name had a certain ironic tone, we really had a Karko fan club when I was in middle school and high school.

In any event, here comes Corky Miller, and the other contestants in the back-up catcher derby, chasing after Officer Kark’s throne. Miller may have gone 3 for 3 yesterday, but for his big league career, he’s a .176 hitter with sub .300 on-base and slugging percentages. That’s terrible. Sub-Karkovician, even. But there, on Miller’s PECOTA card from Baseball Prospectus, Miller’s #6 comparable is Officer Ron Karkovice. Hope springs eternal.

The other candidates have more than a little Kark in them, too. Cole Armstrong, the only option on the 40-man roster, doesn’t have Kark as a comparable, but BP had this to say about him: “He’s a good defensive catcher with a decent amount of power with backup possibilities down the road.” Sound like anyone you know?

Chris Stewart is another possibility. Again, BP’s evaluation sounds familiar: “Be skeptical of the modest power breakout at Birmingham; it came from a guy who got a lot of days off, and whose bat was regarded as a joke by most observers coming into the season. Still, for someone who projects at a .217 EqA, Stewart`s likely to have a big league career, as he has one of the four or five best catching arms in baseball.”

Miller, Armstrong, Stewart — whoever ends up serving as AJ’s caddy will comfortably fit Karko’s mold. Sure, maybe Tyler Flowers will get his first taste of the bigs backing up AJ in September. He’s obviously, or at least better be, a prospect in a different class than the usual fraternity of back-up catchers. Although, let us not forget that Kark himself was a first round pick. But, in any event, I doubt Flowers will see time with the Sox this season. So, for one glorious summer, we can look forward to the once weekly appearance of a hard throwing, soft hitting member of the Cult of Kark. And I couldn’t be more excited. Corky Miller Fan Club, sign me up.

Two ex-Sox players sign, and tHomer’s wish…

Wow.

It’s been a while, I apologize. Life gets in the way sometimes.

As it happens, I’m supposed to be writing a paper for school at the moment, so what better time to make a comment on two recent ex-Sox signings.

In case you missed it in the past week, both Ken Griffey Jr. and Joe Crede have found new homes.

Junior, who really falls in the “rent-a-player” category, went back to Seattle. I’m happy for him, I think he should go back to where he started to finish his career. Not sure that will net him a playoff chance, but it’s where he belongs.

Joe Crede’s situation is a little more concerning. Now that he has signed with the Twins, we’ll be seeing quite a bit of him and he makes them *that* much stronger– provided he can stay healthy. And the Crede fan in me wants him to succeed. So I’ll make you a deal, Joe. You can stay healthy, hit .300 with 30 hrs and 120 RBIs, you just can’t do it against the Sox. Deal? Sweet.

Speaking of players staying healthy, Jim Thome has stated he’d like to play for at least two more years. I’m sure I speak for most (if not all ) Sox fans when I say that if he can stay healthy an produce I’ll be happy to see him in a Sox uniform for two more years (and more, if he wanted.) He’s a great ballplayer and from what I’ve heard just a fantastic guy all around. Besides, I’d still like to see him get a ring with the Sox.

Well, that’s it for me now (I know, such profound words)… I hope to come back really soon.

Swear.

DTK