Hey look! The three-game losing streak is over! Yes, the White Sox managed to pull out a win behind the excellent pitching performance by Chris Sale. Home runs were the deciding factors as the Sox beat the Rangers, 5-2. » Continue reading “Pitching and Home Runs Power White Sox to Win”

On a day when many Sox fans unsuccessfully spent four hours tweeting and texting votes for Jake Peavy to the All-Star Game (he lost to Yu Darvish in the Final Vote), the Sox did something no other team has done yet this season: they swept the Texas Rangers.

Playing in record-setting temperatures, the White Sox successfully swept the best team in baseball 2-1. And who provided the heroics? You guessed it: Kevin Youkilis. » Continue reading “Excuse Me? Have You Seen My Broom?”

The boys are back home after a successful road trip. Now, they will return home for a six-game homestand before the All-Star break is upon us. Here is what to know for the upcoming games against the Rangers:

2012 Record: White Sox 42-37, 1st in AL Central. Rangers: 50-30, 1st in AL West

2012 Season Series: 1-2

All-Time Series Record: 243-229 (The Sox are 141-96 at home against the Rangers)

The following pitchers are expected to start in the series:

Chris Sale: 9-2, 2.27 ERA, 94K vs Roy Oswalt: 2-0, 4.26 ERA, 12K

Dylan Axelrod: 0-1, 4.50 ERA, 13K vs Scott Feldman: 2-6, 6.13 ERA, 35K

Jose Quintana: 3-1, 2.19 ERA, 29K vs Matt Harrison: 11-3, 3.16 ERA, 65K

Tuesday’s game is at 7:10 pm. Wednesday’s game is at 6:10 pm and Thursday’s game beings at 1:10 pm. Wednesday’s game is also the free game of the day on MLB.com. All times CDT.

» Continue reading “Welcoming All-Stars To Chicago. Series Preview: White Sox V Rangers”

Not a good day for Morel at the plate

That’s it. The season is over. I KNEW we shouldn’t have been drinking that Kool-Aid. The Sox lost to the Rangers by a final of 3-2.

Oh, wait. It is just one game. There are still 161 more left to turn things around. Hopefully we won’t be looking at some of the same mistakes in numerous games to come. While I couldn’t watch the game, I was able to listen to it and here are some observations I had while hoping things might turn out surprisingly well.

• John Danks and the rest of today’s pitchers looked good. At first, John seemed not very sharp to me. However, he settled down and was quite sharp giving up on the few runs and more importantly no walks. The bullpen guys, Matt Thornton and Addison Reed also looked good. I know it is early, but it is encouraging that both were solid today.  » Continue reading “And That’s A White Sox . . . LOSER!”

Final score of 3-2. White Sox even the series against the Rangers. 20,000 Mark Buehrle bobbleheads had to be the reason for the outcome tonight. The game ended up being a bit of a pitcher’s duel between John Danks and Alexi Ogando. Neither factored in the decision.

Turns out the game ended up being quite crucial for the White Sox to win. Fortunately, some people took care of business to get things accomplished.

All of the Texas scoring was thanks to Ian Kinsler. Kinsler was a one-man wrecking crew. He took the second pitch of the game to left field for a home run. Right after that, Craig Gentry hit a fly to right field. It appeared it was going to drop for a hit, but Carlos Quentin made a spectacular diving catch.

Unfortunately, Q landed funny and ended up leaving the game with a shoulder injury. Later, we found out that x-rays came back negative and he will be re-evaluated tomorrow. Mostly good news, however AJ Pierzynski also got the same before landing on the DL. » Continue reading “20,000 Mini Marks Are The Answer”

On the road again.  Who knows if the team can’t wait to get on the road again. But they are headed to deep in the heart of Texas. That is where the White Sox find themselves as they embark upon a 10-day, 10-game road trip. First stop will be Arlington, Texas to take on the Rangers for round two of their season series.

2011 Records: White Sox 22-26 (4th in AL Central) Rangers 24-23 (1st in AL West). Season series: 1-1

2010 series record: 4-5

All time series record: 239-224 (The Sox are 104-134 against the Rangers in Texas)

The following pitchers are expected to pitch in the two games:

John Danks: 0-6, 4.32 ERA, 42K v. Alexi Ogando: 4-0, 2.13 ERA, 37K

Jake Peavy: 1-0, 2.40 ERA, 12K v. Derek Holland: 3-1, 4.37 ERA, 44K

Gavin Floyd: 5-3, 3.88 ERA, 51K v. CJ Wilson: 4-3, 3.42 ERA, 60K

Monday and Tuesday’s games will start at 7:05 pm. Wednesday’s finale will start at 1:05 pm. All times CDT. » Continue reading “Series Preview: White Sox at Rangers”

Day one of spring training is in the books and some good news came about. Jake Peavy threw a 40-pitch session and mentioned that the doctors told him to expect setbacks. I love that his doctors told him this. Hopefully it will stick in Jake’s mind and he will heed the advice given in getting ready / prepping for the season. At this point, I am still pretending that Jake won’t be back so that if he does come back and is useful, I can be pleasantly surprised.

Ken Williams said that Chris Sale will in the bullpen. This is fantastic news. Whether he is the closer remains to be seen, but the fact that the likes of the M&M boys in Minnesota and other tough lefties will have to deal with Sale late in the game is amazing. As for the 5th starter, Ozzie says there are several candidates who would be available when that time comes. The way the schedule looks in April, the team could get away with a 4-man rotation and occasionally using a spot fifth starter when needed.

Finally, in old news, Mark Buehrle is standing behind his comments about Michael Vick. Good for him! Too often when athletes make comments as Mark did, when there is backlash about the comments, the athletes try to take the comments back and make them sound better than they originally came across.

“I said it. It’s an old story,” said Buehrle, speaking directly on his Vick statement. “Again, we are not bringing drama inside and past history stuff. So, I said it, meant it. It’s over and we’ll move on.”

His comment also highlights that it is kind of an old story. Sadly, any commentary with Michael Vick and what he did just won’t go away. Even Texas Ranger Ian Kinsler commented on Michael Vick recently. I can only hope one day that people will get tired of talking about Vick and the dogs. Or at least if they talk about it, give equal time to some of the other reprehensible acts other athletes have committed.

In any event, the first day was rather promising. Now to see what the future days hold and to look forward to February 28th when the first spring training game will be.

GO WHITE SOX!