Mama Said There Would be Days Like This
I'm trying to keep an open mind about our 2008 Chicago White Sox, but I'm getting a little concerned over how much of it is real and how much of it is drinking the kool-aid that Kenny Williams seems to be serving up in gallons.
Yesterday, the Sox lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 12-10. The Brewers have some serious lumber in their lineup (Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Billy Hall, Rickie Weeks) but they are not in the same conversation with the Indians or Tigers.
The Sox fell behind 3-0 before scoring four runs off of Milwaukee Ben Sheets when Cuban import Alexi Ramirez cleared the bases with a grand slam in the bottom of the third. Jim Thome hit two home runs in the game as Sheets was pounded for nine runs on eight hits in five innings. When you rip the opposing team's ace for numbers like that, you'd expect to win. Meet your 2008 Chicago White Sox.
White Sox starter Pink Gavin Floyd was rocked himself for six runs on nine hits although he did strike out seven (although plate discipline is not the Brewers strong suit.) Scott Linebrink pitched well and when Mike MacUseless pitched a scoreless inning, you had to think the baseball Gods were in the Sox dugout.
However, when new set-up man Octavio Dotel was lit up for four runs and Winston-Salem pitcher Clevlan Santeliz coughed up two in the ninth, the Sox found themselves on the wrong side of a double digit offensive output.
The issue is how many games like this will there be this year? Yes, I am aware that the wind was blowing out in Tucson, but I am also aware that Dotel has to be able to seal the deal. And when the Sox score big like they did, they can't allow the other team back in the game. Detroit and Cleveland can go double digit on you at will. So can Boston, the Yankees and maybe the Angels.
Nick Masset makes maybe the biggest start of his life today against the D-backs in the final Arizona game of the spring. Then it's on to Oklahoma City and Memphis before loading up the truck and heading for Cleveland (snow shoes optional.)
Last year, you kept waiting for the light to go off and for the Sox to kick it into gear. Let's hope they come out a lot faster this year or else we begin our own Sox fan's version of Groundhog Day.
Yesterday, the Sox lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 12-10. The Brewers have some serious lumber in their lineup (Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Billy Hall, Rickie Weeks) but they are not in the same conversation with the Indians or Tigers.
The Sox fell behind 3-0 before scoring four runs off of Milwaukee Ben Sheets when Cuban import Alexi Ramirez cleared the bases with a grand slam in the bottom of the third. Jim Thome hit two home runs in the game as Sheets was pounded for nine runs on eight hits in five innings. When you rip the opposing team's ace for numbers like that, you'd expect to win. Meet your 2008 Chicago White Sox.
White Sox starter Pink Gavin Floyd was rocked himself for six runs on nine hits although he did strike out seven (although plate discipline is not the Brewers strong suit.) Scott Linebrink pitched well and when Mike MacUseless pitched a scoreless inning, you had to think the baseball Gods were in the Sox dugout.
However, when new set-up man Octavio Dotel was lit up for four runs and Winston-Salem pitcher Clevlan Santeliz coughed up two in the ninth, the Sox found themselves on the wrong side of a double digit offensive output.
The issue is how many games like this will there be this year? Yes, I am aware that the wind was blowing out in Tucson, but I am also aware that Dotel has to be able to seal the deal. And when the Sox score big like they did, they can't allow the other team back in the game. Detroit and Cleveland can go double digit on you at will. So can Boston, the Yankees and maybe the Angels.
Nick Masset makes maybe the biggest start of his life today against the D-backs in the final Arizona game of the spring. Then it's on to Oklahoma City and Memphis before loading up the truck and heading for Cleveland (snow shoes optional.)
Last year, you kept waiting for the light to go off and for the Sox to kick it into gear. Let's hope they come out a lot faster this year or else we begin our own Sox fan's version of Groundhog Day.
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