Results tagged ‘ Phillies ’

Buck, McCarver, Fox Crew Miss the Boat

Today’s TV sports broadcasts are filled with useless and annoying stats. It seems that anytime a researcher uncovers a stat, it’s deemed suitable to air.

Because the airwaves are filled with so much nonsense, it was maddening to see an interesting–and most would say legitimate–scenario ignored during Fox’s telecast of Game 3 of the National League Championship Series between the Giants and Phillies on Tuesday.
Late in the game, Jose Contreras took the mound for Philly and faced Giants’ Juan Uribe and Aaron Rowand back to back. To White Sox fans and others who closely follow baseball it was an obvious note worth mentioning–that all three players were teammates on the 2005 World Champion Pale Hose. But not a word from announcers Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. 
Was it a monumental discovery? Of course not. Was it  an unforgiveable omission? Absolutely not. But I will bet that if those players had been part of world championship teams in, say, New York or Boston, it would have been mentioned with a possible visual of the three together in Sox uniforms.
Call me too sensitive, if you like, but this kind of thing happens often when it comes to my favorite team and I feel obligated to tell anybody that will stand still long enough to listen.
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Eight Ex-White Sox on LCS Rosters

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While the current players on the White Sox roster are at home relaxing with their families and spending time on the golf course, there are eight former members of the Pale Hose who are on the AL and NL League Championship Series rosters. Four of these players were part of the 2005 World Champions.

American League

Yankees — Nick Swisher, Boone Logan
Rangers — None
National League

Phillies – *Jose Contreras, *Ross Gload, Wilson Valdez
Giants — *Juan Uribe, *Aaron Rowand, +Javier Lopez

* Played for ’05 World Champion Sox (Gload played in just 28 games)
+Played in White Sox organization at AAA Charlotte, did not pitch for big league club
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Some Musings as First-Place White Sox Begin Second Half of Season Against the Twins

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With the All-Star Game break, the blog has been dark for the past three days. But the Sox are back in action today–and so am I.
Here are a few thoughts as the Sox attempt to continue the surge that moved them into the A.L. Central lead after Sunday’s win against the Royals.
–The Sox have reported that Jake Peavy‘s surgery yesterday could not have gone better. Jake, see you in Glendale.
–The South Siders’ No. 1 draft pick, Chris Sale (pictured below), has been promoted from Class A Winston-Salem to AAA Charlotte after only four one-inning stints. Seems like he’s doing his Daniel Hudson imitation, only quicker. He could be in Chicago before too long.
–Those Adam Dunn to the White Sox rumors continue. Reports are that the Nationals are holding out for Gordon Beckham. If that’s the case, it won’t happen. Beckham’s 2010 struggles aside, Gordo is a keeper and the Sox know it.
–I haven’t seen it reported anywhere, but if the acquisition of Dunn doesn’t materialize–and I think Prince Fielder is out of the question–how about adding Raul Ibanez as a lefty bat in the Sox lineup? I’ve always liked him (actually hated him) because of his great success against the Sox over the years. Word is that the Phils wouldn’t mind parting with Raul.
–The Sox are hoping to start a new tradition tonight at Target Field. A tradition of dominating the Twins on their home field. The pitching matchups for the weekend:
TONIGHT: John Danks vs. Kevin Slowey
TOMORROW NIGHT: Gavin Floyd vs. Francisco Liriano
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mark Buehrle vs. Carl Pavano
SUNDAY: Freddy Garcia vs. Nick Blackburn

–After the four games in Minnesota, the Sox play three in Seattle, enjoy an off day and then travel to Oakland for three before returning home on July 26 vs. the Mariners.
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The Springtime Ritual of Predicting the Winners

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We all know that preseason predictions mean nothing–nada, zilch, zero. And while we shouldn’t take them seriously, it’s still a lot of fun–especially when the so-called experts pick your team to win.
Historically, it’s very rare when the baseball media elite pick the White Sox to win their division, let alone the AL pennant or World Series. It’s not that much different this year as the Twins seem to be the most common pick to conquer the AL Central. That said, there are a few “big name” media types among those who have picked the South Siders:
* Hall of Fame electee Bill Madden of the New York Daily News and author of the forthcoming bio of George Steinbrenner.
* Fox Sports‘ Ken Rosenthal, who somewhat tongue-in-cheek picked the Sox to win the World Series while referring to them “Team Wacko.” Think that had anything to do with our Ozzie?
* ESPN‘s Tim Kurkjian, who doesn’t exactly wear a Sox jersey on the weekends.
* Jon Heyman, he of SI, SI.com and the MLB Network.
Since I’m drinking the prediction Kool-Aid, I might as well add my two cents. Here are my divisional picks for 2010:
AL CENTRAL

1. White Sox
2. Twins
3. Tigers
4. Royals
5. Indians


AL EAST 

1. Rays
2. Red Sox
3. Yankees
4. Orioles
5. Blue Jays


AL WEST

1. Angels
2. Mariners
3. Rangers
4. A’s

NL EAST

1. Phillies
2. Braves
3. Marlins
4. Mets
5. Nationals


NL CENTRAL

1. Cardinals
2. Reds
3. Brewers
4. Cubs
5. Pirates
6. Astros


NL WEST

1. Rockies
2. Dodgers
3. Giants
4. Padres
5. Diamondbacks

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Sox-wise and Otherwise…

My weekly off-season musings about the White Sox and more…

* With the White Sox out of the playoffs, “Sox-wise” it’s really very boring these days. Other teams are competing and not a lot of Sox news. Anxious for the post-World Series rumors and deals.

*  One bit of promising Sox news is that yesterday, in an Arizona Fall League game, Sox prospect Dayan Viciedo went 3 for 5 with a homer.

*  If you’re like me, you get annoyed when TV shows and movies set in Chicago try to show the flavor of the town by having the actors wear Cubs gear. It happened this week on the CBS series, The Good Wife, when one of the lead characters donned a Cubs cap. Not sure if I’ll watch another episode–yes, for that reason.

* I’m waiting for a Hollywood ending where Jim Thome comes off the bench and hits a championship series-ending homer for the Dodgers against his former Phillie teammates to enable LA to reach the World Series.

* The best news for TV viewers watching Yankees-Angels is that Chip Caray is broadcasting the National League series.

* I’m sticking with the Yankees in the ALCS, but not with a lot of enthusiasm. Those Angels can be piranhas on steroids.

* Maybe it’s because I’ve seen him consistently kill the Sox,  but I always thought that Raul Ibanez would look great in a Sox uniform.

* While we’re on the subject of wanting players, I want Chone Figgins on the South Side next season.

* The more I think about it, the more I think Paul Konerko will be traded this winter. He’ll never be forgotten and has always been a pro’s pro, but I get the vibe it’s just time.

* Get well wishes to Carlos Quentin, who we need to have a HUGE 2010. Just had a pin removed from his injured wrist.
 

11 Ex-White Sox on 2009 Playoff Rosters

While our Sox failed to make the grade this season, 11 former Chisox find themselves on postseason playoff rosters, including four who won World Series rings with the club, one coach and one manager.

Here’s the breakdown:

AL
Yankees:    *Damaso Marte, Nick Swisher
Twins:         Orlando Cabrera, Jon Rauch
Red Sox:    *Brian Anderson
Angels:        None

NL
Cardinals:    Tony LaRussa (Mgr.), Dave Duncan (Coach)
Dodgers:    *Jon Garland, Jim Thome
Phillies:       Scott Eyre
Rockies:    *Jose Contreras

* Member of 2005 World Champion White Sox. Anderson was on the team, but not on the postseason roster.

Two more of note: Red Sox Manager Terry Francona managed in the Sox organization and Twins’ reliever Matt Guerrier played in the farm system, but neither made it to the majors with the White Sox.

My Hat is Off to the Piranhas

I have a great deal of compassion for the Detroit Tigers and their fans this morning after last night’s thrilling tie-breaker loss in Minnesota. As a White Sox fan, I’ve seen this movie before.The Twins play the right way (especially in the Dome), make very few mistakes, hit in the clutch and just nibble at you until they’ve done enough to win. Ozzie Guillen said it best, they’re a bunch of piranhas.

As a division rival I hate them. As a baseball fan I admire them. Many are predicting a Yankee sweep in the ALDS and it very well could happen. But the Twins, a tired bunch without playoff-caliber pitching and an injured Justin Morneau, will compete and certainly won’t embarrass themselves.

My prediction: Yankees in 4. The Twins will find a way to win a game, but the Yanks’ lineup is as strong and balanced as any in baseball and the pitching staff should be able to handle the Minny hitters, who are at a major disadvantage without Morneau.

My other predictions:

Angels over Red Sox in 5
Cardinals over Dodgers in 5
Rockies over Phillies in 5

Sox News: Freddy Garcia and Matt Thornton had their respective options picked up and will both be back with the Sox in 2010.

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