A win? In Kansas City? Were we dreaming today in seing the final score from Kansas City today? Nope as the White Sox actually pulled out what seemed the impossible and picked up a 2-1 victory over the PITA Royals in 11 innings. Things as usual didn’t start out well with Chris Sale throwing a ton of pitches early and giving up a run.

Fortunately, he settled down and managed to pitch 7.1 innings. Early on, it looked like he was due for a very short day. As usual, there was no offense to support his efforts once he settled down. It was starting to look like James Shields might get a no-hitter today as he was just cruising.  » Continue reading “White Sox Do The Rare With A Win In Kansas City”

ALL HAIL TYLER FLOWERS! Ok, yes, that was a bit over the top, but I had to say it given the amount of “hatred” there is for him because he is NOT AJ PIERZYNSKI. In other, more important news, the Chicago White Sox slayed the PITA Kansas City Royals today by a final of 1-0. Given how Chris Sale and James Shields have each pitched in the past, it is not surprising this game turned out to be a pitcher’s duel.

The game really did have a bit of a playoff atmosphere to it. While I wasn’t at the game, listening to it really did seal in the fact that it is baseball season for me. Chris started out the game in terrific fashion getting the Royals out in order and the crowd was just ecstatic. Alex Rios followed up in the bottom of the inning getting the Sox a hit off Shields. The Royals would come back to get a hit in the top of the second and from there, it was who would get a hit and maybe get beyond first base.

That did finally happen in the bottom of the fifth inning when Tyler Flowers sent a ball to left center field. Clearly, getting the team on the board definitely made fans on twitter ask “AJ who” and curry some favor. Fans were even cheering and standing for him. He did have a chance earlier in the game to do some damage, but alas it didn’t happen. At least it did happen later. » Continue reading “White Sox Sit In First Place After First Game Of Season”

It’s FINALLY over! The long barren months of no baseball unless you were watching games you might have put on your DVR or saw some archived games is gone. Today, we have baseball at 35th & Shields! And how fitting is it that the Chicago White Sox will open up at home against the Kansas City Royals? A team that some fans insists sucks, but in the past few years have given the White Sox a run for their money. So much so that last season, the Royals came away winning the season series.

This year, I’m hopeful this will not be the case, but you never know until those 18 games are played. Here is what you should know about the upcoming three games:

2013 Record: White Sox 0-0 Royals 0-0

2013 Cactus League Record: White Sox: 14-14 Royals 25-7

2012 Record: White Sox: 85-77 Royals: 72-90

2012 Season Series Record: 6-12

All-Time Series Record: 348-314 (The Sox are 196-140 against the Royals at home)

The following pitchers are expected to start each game this series: 

Chris Sale: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0K vs. James Shields: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0K

Jake Peavy: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0K vs. Ervin Santana: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0K

Gavin Floyd: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0K vs. Jeremy Guthrie: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0K

Monday’s game is at 3:10 pm, Wednesday and Thursday’s games are at 1:10 pm. All times CDT.  » Continue reading “The Long Nightmare Is Over! Series Preview: White Sox Versus Royals”

After playing the way they did tonight, the Sox don’t deserve a shot at the postseason. They lost to the Cleveland Indians, 6-4. Not only did they lose the game, they lost first place in the Central, as the Tigers beat the Royals 5-4. » Continue reading “Adios First Place”

FINALLY a good outing

The Indians lost tonight by a final of 8-2 to the PITA Royals. The Sox won by a final of 7-2 over the Rays. AL Central standings change again and the Sox are in first place.

Philip Humber FINALLY gets a win after pitching terribly and then a string of bad luck no-decisions. The Sox have now won seven games in a row. Oh, and they have won their third series in a row with the win over the Rays tonight.

The game started out as a nice pitching duel. The Rays would break through in the fourth inning when Hideki Matsui, fresh up from the minors would hit a two-run home run to put the Rays on top.

The Sox came back in the fifth inning scoring a run of their own. This of the “fundamental” variety of get ‘em on, get ‘em over and get ‘em in.

Then, the sixth inning came. And your Chicago White Sox again had a night that was just offensive explosion. The team would go on to score five runs to go ahead by a score of 6-2. The Sox would go on to add another run in the eighth inning when Dayan Viciedo would hit a solo shot. » Continue reading “Smell That, White Sox Fans? It’s First Place”

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Keith Allison

“I don’t know what it was like facing Randy Johnson when he was young. But this kid, he’s going to be great, and I think he has a real bright future as a starter.”

That is a great compliment to Chris Sale’s ability as a starter from Rays outfielder Ben Zobrist. And Sale put on a performance in front of a large group of his family and friends as the Sox beat the Rays 2-1. The young southpaw struck out fifteen batters, one shy of the club record. He threw 80 of his 115 pitches for strikes and only gave up one run, an RBI single to Jose Lobaton that drove in Zobrist.

In his 7.1 innings pitches, Sale gave up just three hits and two walks. Jesse Crain came on to finish the eighth and allowed no baserunners. Addison Reed picked up his fifth save in a perfect inning. » Continue reading “StriKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKing Out the Rays”

The White Sox and Rays will do a rematch of their series this season. This time, the White Sox will be visiting the Trop, where presumably the Rays will have a decided advantage since they play in a dome and the White Sox don’t do so well in domes.

2011 Records: White Sox: (7-8) Rays: (6-9) Season series 3-1

2010 Season Series record: 3-4

All-time White Sox record against the Rays: 62 – 43 (The White Sox are 30-24 at the Trop against the Rays)

In the four games, the following pitchers are expected to start for each team:

Edwin Jackson: 2-0, 2.89 ERA, 24K v. David Price: 1-2, 3.92 ERA, 12K

John Danks: 0-1, 3.15 ERA, 20K v. James Shields: 0-1, 3.98 ERA, 11K

Phil Humber: 1-1, 3.46 ERA, 8K v. Wade Davis: 1-2, 3.26 ERA, 8K

Gavin Floyd: 1.1, 4.29 ERA, 16K v. Jeff Nieman: 0-2, 6.32 ERA, 11K » Continue reading “Series Preview: White Sox v Rays”

The White Sox fall to 4-3 on the season after a 9-7 loss to the Rays who picked up their first win of the 2011 season. The day was eventful to start with Manny Ramirez abruptly announcing his retirement due to a PED allegation. While the Rays had nothing much to say prior, there was still a game to be played. Perhaps the news of Manny was enough to awaken the team from their collective slumber and help turn them into a winning team.

Gordon Beckham swinging for the fences & sending it out of the park

» Continue reading “Time To Worry Yet?”

The White Sox played their first home game of the 2011 season today, welcoming the winless Tampa Bay Rays to the South Side. The Sox sent Edwin Jackson to the mound, whose impressive performance helped the Sox to a 5-1 victory.

Jackson dominated the Rays for eight innings. On a cold April day, Jackson allowed only four hits and one earned run. He also struck out a career-high 13 batters. That total also set a franchise record for a home opener.

The Rays never really threatened until the eighth inning, as Jackson pitched a two-hitter through seven with the only hits coming from Sam Fuld’s leadoff single in the first and BJ Upton’s two-out single in the seventh.

Jackson allowed one earned run which came in the eighth before Sergio Santos finished the game in the ninth.

Photo courtesy of Eric Hinkle

The Sox scored early with two runs off Rays’ starter David Price in the first. Juan Pierre singled to left to lead off the inning before Price hit Gordon Beckham.

(Beckham is using “Your Love” as one of his at-bat songs again. This particular Sox fan is quite pleased with this development.)

With Pierre on second and Beckham on first, Price gave up a double to Alex Rios, allowing two runs to score. The Sox scored again in the third. Rios doubled to left, and Paul Konerko singled to left to drive Rios home. Konerko has an RBI in each of the first six games, which sets a new franchise record to open the season.

The last two Sox runs came in the eighth. Alexei Ramirez led off the inning with a single to left before AJ Pierzynski bunt popped out to third. Brent Morel flied out to right. During Brent Lillibridge’s at-bat, Ramirez stole second. He came around to score after Lillibridge singled to left. Lillibridge then stole second during Pierre’s at-bat and came around to score on a single to right.

The Sox hope to keep Tampa winless as left-hander John Danks faces James Shields in tomorrow’s first home night game of the season.

Home Sweet Home! Finally, the White Sox are home for some games. They will start a seven-game homestand hosting the Tampa Bay Rays.

2011 Records: White Sox: (3-2) Rays: (0-5) Season series 0-0

2010 Season Series record: 3-4

All-time White Sox record against the Rays: 59 – 42 (The White Sox are 29 – 18 at the Cell against the Rays)

In the four games, the following pitchers are expected to start for each team:

Edwin Jackson: 1-0, 3.00 ERA, 7K v. David Price: 0-1, 5.14 ERA, 7K

John Danks: 0-1, 3.00 ERA, 8K v. James Shields: 0-1, 2.45 ERA, 7K

Phil Humber: 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 0K v. Wade Davis: 0-1, 5.68 ERA, 3K

Gavin Floyd: 0-0, 5.14 ERA, 5K v. Jeff Nieman: 0-1, 7.50 ERA, 4K

Games will be at 1:10 pm CT Thursday, 7:10 pm CT Friday, 3:10 pm CT Saturday and 1:10 pm CT on Sunday afternoon. » Continue reading “Series Preview: White Sox v Rays”