The White Sox are still on the road. After stunning us with a series win in Minnesota, they are now off to Southern California to see the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Again. These two teams just met up last weekend and now will get an immediate rematch. Here is what you need to know for this weekend.

2013 Record: White Sox 17-21, 5th in AL Central. Angels 15-25, 4th in AL West

2013 Series Record: 1-2

All-Time Series Record: 349-349 (The Sox are 164-185 at Anaheim)

The following pitchers are expected to start the four games this weekend: 

Jose Quintana: 2-1, 3.72 ERA, 30K vs. Jerome Williams: 2-1, 3.06 ERA, 20K

Chris Sale: 4-2, 2.88 ERA, 49K vs. C.J. Wilson: 3-2, 3.88 ERA, 47K

Hector Santiago: 1-2, 2.23 ERA, 31K vs. Joe Blanton: 0-7, 6.46 ERA, 29K

Jake Peavy: 5-1, 2.6 ERA, 51K vs. Jason Vargas: 2-3, 4.03 ERA, 34K

Thursday and Friday’s games begin at 9:05 pm. Saturday’s game starts at 3:05 pm and Sunday’s game begins at 2:35 pm. All times CDT.  » Continue reading “West Coast Kindness? Series Preview: White Sox At Angels”

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms and mother figures out there. Here at SSHG, we’re glad you are baseball fans and possibly even White Sox Fans. Though, if you’ve abandoned the Sox of late, that is completely understandable because they have not played inspiring of late.

In any event, the Mother’s Day game was a Sunday night affair. Hopefully the mom-types had a chance to do some fun things today before settling in for some Sunday night baseball. Things started off in the game rather hopeful. A crazy comeback to Chris Sale and then a strikeout of Mike Trout. It got me all giddy that the game might be amazing. It was an EASY first half of the inning for Sale. I’m not used to seeing such baseball out of the White Sox. They’ve conditioned me to expect runs to be given up right away. Of course, I had to calm myself because this rare start probably won’t last. Something will go wrong soon to cause this game to be lost. Whether it be lousy defense – as if this team has any other type – or lack of offense.

Early on in the game, Chris Sale was cruising in the game. He was mowing down the Angels hitters and they were not really into trying to work the count. They basically swinging at first pitches and making no contact. It was a thing of beauty to see. Of course, this season the pitching really has not been the problem. The problems with this team have generally been due to poor, uh I mean PUTRID defense and lack of offense. » Continue reading “I Just Expect An L These Days From The White Sox”

The road? Not a good place. At home? Again, not a good place. The Sox are off the road and once again at home. This time, hoping for something good to happen to them to get the season turned around. Here is what you need to know for the weekend series against the Angels:

2013 Record: White Sox 14-18, 5th in AL Central. Angels 12-22, 4th in AL West

2012 Season Series Record: 3-5

All-Time Series Record: 348-347 (The Sox are 184-162 at home against the Angels)

The following pitchers are expected to pitch this weekend:

Dylan Axelrod: 0-2, 3.60 ERA, 16K vs. Tommy Hanson: 2-1, 3.86 ERA, 17K

Jose Quintana: 2-0, 3.86 ERA, 25K vs. Jerome Williams: 1-1, 3.16 ERA, 17K

Chris Sale: 3-2, 3.42 ERA, 42K vs. C.J. Wilson: 3-1, 3.86 ERA, 44K

Friday’s game is at 7:10 pm, Saturday’s game is at 6:10 pm and Sunday’s game begins at 7:05 pm. All times CDT. » Continue reading “What To Do? Series Preview: White Sox Versus Angels”

Afte a three-game sweep of a division rival, the Sox took a small break to head south and face the Rangers. Another three-game sweep there was not meant to be, but a series was had. Now, the Sox head north again to face the Twins. And it will definitely be a weird one with a newly acquired teammate. Here is what you should know for the next three games:

2012 Record: White Sox 55-46, 1st in AL Central. Twins 43-58, 4th in AL Central

2012 Series Record: 7-2

All-time Series Record: 376-417 (The Sox are 170-225 at Minnesota)

The following pitchers are expected to start in the three games this week:

Jose Quintana: 4-1, 2.58 ERA, 44K vs. Cole De Vries: 2-2, 3.64 ERA, 33K

Francisco Liriano: 3-10, 5.31 ERA, 109K vs. Nick Blackburn: 4-6, 7.99 ERA, 33K

Jake Peavy: 8-7, 3.15 ERA, 126K vs. Scott Diamond: 9-4, 2.88 ERA, 56K

Monday and Tuesday’s games begin at 7:10 pm. Wednesday’s game starts at 12:10 pm. All times CDT. » Continue reading “Hello Minnesota! Series Preview White Sox @ Twins”

First, congratulations to the St. Louis Cardinals who won their 11th World Series title Friday night against Texas Rangers. Hey, Edwin Jackson (remember him) got a series ring as well. Good for him. Sorry Rangers. I was really hoping you’d pull it out. No matter as the White Sox will see you to start the 2012 season. (Side note, is it spring training yet?) In any event, the Hot Stove can officially begin. First up will be awards and the naming of various front office people for teams looking for someone.

Speaking of front offices, Rick Hahn will be with the White Sox it appears at least for one more year. Jerry Dipoto will be the Angels’ new general manager. Meaning Rick didn’t get that job. Rick was among many candidates including Kim Ng who could have been the first woman to be the top dog of a baseball team. I’m sad Rick hasn’t gotten his opportunity to be THE Man in charge, but I’m glad he isn’t gone.

I don’t think I’ve made it much of a secret that I think the White Sox need a change in the front office. I would like to see Rick take over there. While I don’t fully know whether he has different ideas from his boss, Ken Williams, he does strike me as incredibly competent and ready to take on the challenge. Given that he is ALWAYS interviewing and up for GM openings, I really hope that he gets a chance to take over the White Sox. » Continue reading “Happenings At 35th & Shields: Rick Hahn Sticks With The White Sox – For Now”

Oh White Sox. I don’t know what is up with you. In his worst start in months, Mark Buehrle threw 114 pitches in just six innings before the bullpen took over in the Sox loss to the Angels.

Buehrle had a rough start. In the first inning, the Angels scored an unearned run, as the Sox committed two errors. First was Alexei Ramirez’s error that allowed Peter Bourjos to reach first. He came around to score on Torii Hunter’s single and an error by Juan Pierre. Buehrle lasted six innings and allowed a run in each of the first four innings. The last three runs were earned, and he was pulled.

Jesse Crain came on for 1.1 innings. He only allowed one hit before being replaced by Will Ohman. Ohman faced Bobby Abreu, threw one pitch, and got him to fly out to Alex Rios. Jason Frasor came on, and that’s when the tides turned.
» Continue reading “PK 2K Not Quite Enough”

That is a one word description for the 2011 White Sox season. They lose games they should win. Then they will win games they probably should have lost. On paper, they look like they should have a dominating offense and pitching staff. The pitching has panned out well. The offense has panned as well. Badly, that is. They typically don’t score many runs and then days like yesterday, the team erupts for 10 runs and nearly 20 hits. Just. Maddening. No matter how you look at it, this team has driven us crazy.

My biggest fear is that on the upcoming road trip, the offense they put out on Sunday afternoon against the Texas Rangers will be all they had for a week. No, Anaheim and Seattle are not teams that ought to be feared, but you never know with the White Sox. Even the beat writers say such things as every time you are ready to bury this team, they rise from the dead and draw you back in. » Continue reading “Madness”

Back to .500 again! The Sox beat the Rangers this afternoon to bring their record to 63-63. Gavin Floyd was impressive as the Sox shut out the Rangers 10-0.

Floyd was excellent tonight. He pitched seven innings and barely allowed baserunners. Three hits and a walk. That’s all. Good Gavin showed up tonight for sure. In addition to not allowing baserunners, Floyd struck out six tonight. He brought his record above .500 to 11-10. Chris Sale came on for the eighth. He allowed a hit and a walk, and Jason Frasor pitched a perfect ninth with three strikeouts.

The offense came to play today. Every starter had at least one hit except Alexei Ramirez. He did get on base via a walk though, so he had an opportunity to score and did so. Paul Konerko and Alejandro De Aza were the only starters who didn’t score a run. Speaking of De Aza, he had himself a game. He went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and a stolen base. Brent Lillibridge had a great game. He went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. His RBIs came on a two-run homer in the third inning to put the Sox on the board. Alex Rios hit a two-run homer in the eighth, which were two of the three runs scored in that inning. Tyler Flowers has stepped up in AJ Pierzynski’s absence. He went 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored. The last three RBIs came from Juan Pierre (2) and Konerko (1).

The Sox still sit five games back of the division-leading Detroit Tigers, but they are once again only half a game behind second-place Cleveland. The Tigers start a series in Tampa tomorrow, and the Indians welcome the Mariners tomorrow. There is a chance for ground to be gained without playing a game.

The Sox are off on Monday as they travel to Anaheim to face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Which I’ve always thought is an unnecessarily long name. Mark Buehrle, the owner of an impressive perfect game and an impressive no-hitter, faces Ervin Santana, the owner of a recent non-shutout no-hitter, Tuesday night.

One last thing. I haven’t written a recap since Pierzynski was cleared for baseball activities, so let me say now that I am BEYOND excited that my favorite player could be back in two weeks. THRILLED even.

Decked out in pink for Mother’s Day, the White Sox finished their three-game set in Seattle with a series win, beating the Mariners 5-2 in ten innings.

The Sox scored their first two runs in the fourth inning. Paul Konerko, who went 5-for-5, doubled to center with one out, and Alex Rios followed with a single. After Brent Lillibridge struck out, Ramon Castro singled to left, scoring Konerko and Rios on a missed catch error by Mariners catcher Miguel Olivo.

The Sox scored three runs off Seattle’s closer, Brandon League, in the top of the tenth. Brent Morel led off the inning with a single and moved to second on Juan Pierre’s sac bunt. Alexei Ramirez doubled to left, scoring Morel and then scored on Adam Dunn’s double to right. Konerko singled to center, moving Dunn to third, and he scored on Rios’s single to center, giving the Sox a 5-2 lead.

The Mariners scored both of their runs in the fifth. Jack Cust led off the inning with a double to center, and Jack Wilson singled on a pop bunt to Sox starter Mark Buehrle, moving Cust to third. After Michael Saunders struck out swinging, Brendan Ryan singled to right, scoring Cust and moving Wilson to third. Ichiro hit a sac fly to center, scoring Wilson and ending the Mariners’ scoring for the day.

The Sox continue their West Coast road trip in Los Angeles tomorrow night as they face the Angels who took their series against the red-hot Cleveland Indians (thank you!). Edwin Jackson (2-4, 4.98) faces Ervin Santana (1-3, 4.43), and the Sox hope to keep this short win streak alive!

Yes, the White Sox got some hits today. And they even scored a couple of runs. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to beat the Twins today as they lost by a final score 3-2. With today’s loss, the Sox are firmly planted in the AL Central basement.

The Twins got the scoring going early with a lead-off walk to Denard Span. He was then sacrificed to second base and finally scored on a Jason Kubel RBI single. Yay . In the bottom of the first inning, Juan Pierre ended the hitless streak against the Twins with a single, but he was then promptly picked off base. Yay.  The top of the second inning saw more adventures in Juan-land when Danny Valencia hit what should have been a double. » Continue reading “Hits AND Runs”