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”

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”

Is it wrong that I have just started to expect that White Sox baseball is going to suck? That there will be no hitting, terrible defense and then something else that will happen to make me want to throw stuff at the television? Today had some moments like that, but then it was very interesting. I thought perhaps I might see the PITA Kansas City Royals perhaps get no-hit.

so Addison Reed wasn’t watching a home run ball sail out today, but those walks sure did suck!

Yes, you read that right. The Kansas City Royals for a while were not getting any base runners. By a hit or free pass. It took until the fifth inning for the Royals to finally break through with a base hit. This coming off the bat of Mike Moustakas. The the flood gates opened for the Royals as another defensive gaffe by Jeff Keppinger allowed the PITAs to take a 3-1 lead. Given how the season has gone, you’d be excused if you walked away thinking, so much for a pretty good pitching performance by Jose Quintana.

But WAIT! The Sox would come back and add four more runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 5-3 lead again. Could it be that this team has figured out a way to win in Kansas City? All they would need to do would be to hold the Royals down for a couple of innings and then go relax until tomorrow afternoon.

If you chose to think it was over, you’re excused because our guy, Addison Reed, blew it in the ninth inning. Addy was in to close and we’ve come to expect him to make closing a high-wire act. Addison didn’t disappoint today with walking the first two men he faced in the ninth inning. He did get the next two guys out. Unfortunately, Billy Butler came up and hit a double that would lead to those walks to come around and score to tie the game up.

A blown save for Mr. Reed. If he had nailed things down, he would have been tied with the great Mariano Rivera with 11 saves on the season. » Continue reading “Enthralling Baseball? Why Yes As White Sox Bested By Royals”

April in Chicago is usually not a good time for baseball. It typically is cold and even day games are miserable with fans sitting in the stands bundled up like they are about to head off to the frozen tundra. Today, the temperature was actually fairly decent. The warmest day it has been at a game start so far this season. You’d think with the warmer temperatures, the hot bats of the Chicago White Sox would continue. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

The Sox were in a bid to start the season off with a sweep of the PITA Kansas City Royals, but it was not meant to be as the Royals would win the game by a final of 3-1. As he has in the past, Jeremy Guthrie had the Sox offense befuddled. Before today’s game, Jeremy was 1-0 with a 0.30 ERA in his four most recent appearances against the Sox. It was already going to be a tough battle and he didn’t disappoint Royals fans by going out and doing what he does against the Sox.

The Sox did try to make things interesting in the ninth inning, but it wasn’t enough. Two of three against the Royals, a team that has had the Sox number of late is pretty good. Now if the Sox can do this all season, that would be fantastic.

To his credit, Mr. Consistently Inconsistent was quite good today. Gavin Floyd was locating his fastball well and his curveball was working quite well too. So well in fact that a few times, Royals batters looked at the home plate ump to ask if he was sure that was a strike because the curve ball looked so good and out of the zone. Now, if that Gavin (minus the fifth inning antics) can stick around all season, fans will be in so much love with him, he won’t know what to do with himself from all the fan affection. » Continue reading “Despite Good Gavin, White Sox Can’t Take Finale From Royals”

How fitting that the White Sox end the 2012 season in Cleveland. Given how the Sox played the Indians all season, it is conceivable for a sweep. Then again, after last week’s games, it could be bad. Here is what you need to know about the final series for the 2012 regular season:

2012 Record: White Sox 83-76, 2nd in AL Central. Indians 67-92, 4th in AL Central.

2012 Season Series: 9-6

All-Time Series Record: 1,044-999 (The Sox are 488-527 at Cleveland)

The following pitchers are expected to start the three games: 

Hector Santiago: 3-1, 3.69 ERA, 69K vs. Corey Kluber: 2-4, 5.02 ERA, 48K

Jake Peavy: 11-12, 3.37 ERA, 186K vs. Justin Masterson: 11-15, 5.03 ERA, 154K

Gavin Floyd: 11-11, 4.47 ERA, 138K vs. David Huff: 3-0, 2.86 ERA, 17K

All three games begin at 6:05 pm CDT. Wednesday’s game is the free MLB.com game of the day.  » Continue reading “Playing It Out? Maybe. Series Preview: White Sox @ Indians”

yeah, he was bad today!

The Sox lost today. But you probably already knew that. The Tigers won. Again, you probably already knew that. The Tragic number at the start of the day was at three. Now it is at one. It wasn’t a pretty start for Jose Quintana who was throwing a bajillion pitches in just the first inning. So many in fact, that Philip Humber was up and warming in the bullpen.

Sure, he settled down but as usual, the offense was just not around today. Yeah, they put up a couple of runs. And yeah, they managed to string together some hits ( a whopping FIVE in total) but it was just too little too late. David Price is a 20-game winner  now. There was a brief moment when the Sox looked like they would get to him, but alas, it didn’t happen. Remember when this team was AMAZABALLS with RISP? If you don’t, it’s ok as it was such a long time ago. Now, this team is just looking lifeless. » Continue reading “And Then There Was One”

Perhaps there isn’t want for a division title. The Sox are returning home for the final home stand of the season. This after crapping the bed in Anaheim over the weekend. First up will be the Indians. Here is what you need to know for the last time seeing the Indians at home in 2012:

2012 Record: White Sox 81-71, 1st in AL Central. Indians 63-90, 5th in AL Central

2012 Season Series Record: 8-4

All-Time Series Record: 1,043-997 (The Sox are 550-466 at home against the Indians)

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

Chris Sale: 17-7, 2.82 ERA, 181K vs. Zach McAllister: 5-8, 4.31 ERA, 101K

Francisco Liriano: 6-11, 5.24 ERA, 163K vs. Corey Kluber: 1-4, 5.36 ERA, 44K

Jake Peavy: 11-12, 3.40 ERA, 180K vs. Justin Masterson: 11-15, 4.97 ERA, 152K

Monday’s game begins at 7:10 pm, Tuesday’s game is at 1:10 pm and the finale on Wednesday begins at 7:10 pm. All times CDT. » Continue reading “The Last Stand. Series Preview: White Sox V Indians”

The White Sox looked to increase their lead in the AL Central in the season finale against the Royals, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. The Royals pulled out a win in the ninth, beating the Sox 4-3. » Continue reading “That Ended Badly”

The Sox had the wonderful opportunity to face Bruce Chen again, and just like every other time, they made him look like a Cy Young winner, dropping this game 3-0. » Continue reading “Cy Chen Strikes Again”

Is this it? Is this the series that will one and for all decide the AL Central? The Sox and Tigers will meet for what is very likely the final time this season in this . . . um, CRITICAL series for both teams. Here is what you should know for this series:

2012 Record: White Sox 75-64, 1st in AL Central. Tigers 73-66, 2nd in AL Central

2012 Season Series: 4-10

All-Time Series Record: 1,005 – 1,032 (The Sox are 535-485 at home against the Tigers)

The following pitchers are expected to start in the four games:

Jose Quintana: 5-4, 3.68 ERA, 65K vs. Rick Porcello: 9-11, 4.58 ERA, 95K

Jake Peavy: 10-10, 3.22 ERA, 162K vs. Doug Fister: 8-8, 3.54 ERA, 110K

Francisco Liriano: 5-11, 5.25 ERA, 151K vs. Max Scherzer: 15-6, 3.85 ERA, 213K

Chris Sale: 16-6, 2.88 ERA, 168K vs. Justin Verlander: 13-8, 2.91 ERA, 212K

All four games begin at 7:10 pm CDT.  » Continue reading “Decision Time? Series Preview: White Sox V Tigers”