Spring Training is over. Things will matter starting tomorrow. For the Sox, the things that will matter begin on Friday afternoon.

Before spring training really had begun, I made an early prognostication on how the AL Central would look come October. Now that spring is done and the season is about to begin, I thought I would revisit how the standings may look. I knew things could change, but how much still remains to be seen.

In addition to what I think, I also talked to fellow AL Central writers, Jen who writes about the Royals, Jessica who writes about the Tigers and Jen, a contributor here on South Side Hit Girl.

So far, everyone is in agreement that the Tigers are the team to beat. From there, opinions vary a great deal. I think the standings will end up with Detroit, Chicago, Kansas City, Cleveland and Minnesota. The White Sox the past few weeks had me thinking there might be something special happening. » Continue reading “Did Spring Make A Difference In Eventual AL Central Standings?”

Just a couple of more days. Then things count for real. While we have all been paying attention to the spring somewhat, there is an important thing to consider. What should we expect with the other teams in the division.

Some of us are starting to drink that delicious Kool-Aid the White Sox have been serving up the past couple of weeks. I wonder if it will continue. Since you might not be super familiar with the other teams in the division (other than disliking or even hating them), here are things that Jen who writes Drinking The Royals Blue Aid as to say about the Royals and Jessica who writes Motown Lowdown has to say about the Tigers this season.

On the KC Royals:

1) Pitching: If the Royals are to improve and contend, pitching will be key.

2) Will the young players (ie Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Danny Duffy, and the bullpen) build on their rookie seasons or will they deal with the dreaded “sophomore slump”?

3) Were the 2011 seasons for Alex Gordon and Jeff Francoeur career years or can they duplicate them?

And in combining all three, Kansas City is hosting the All-Star Game. Can they get more than one All-Star? » Continue reading “What Is In Store for the 2012 Chicago White Sox?”

The off season is starting to wind down and with the exception of a few moves that other teams made, I’d say this off season has been rather dull. There were a couple of big free agent hitters that had to get new homes and a couple of pitchers needing new homes as well.

The places where those guys landed was rather meh to me. However, the amount of money those guys got to head to new places was ridonkulous. The money that Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder got is . . .  insane. The money C.J. Wilson got was also a bit out there. I should throw Mark Buehrle in that group as well, but given the hometown discounts he gave in the past as well my love for him, I kind of give him a pass.

Sure, the money is insane, those guys got, but the thing that concerns me the most about their deals is the number of years. None of those players is what you’d call a spring chicken. Long term deals always scare me because while a guy has held up well in the past, you just never know what will happen with his health. Not to mention, if that guy does break down fairly early, then you are stuck with a contract that you cannot move. For the team in general, this is one of the worst things that can happen. Especially if you are not very good at developing players from your farm system to use in the majors. CoughtheWhite SoxCough » Continue reading “Early Predictions”

The White Sox are in Cleveland for four games in three days. Today was a split doubleheader in which the sox and the Indians, well, split. The Sox lost Game One 4-3 and won Game Two 5-4.

Mediocre Gavin showed up in Game One. Floyd lasted 6.2 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits. He struck out seven, but he also gave up three home runs. Not a good outing there, Gavin. Will Ohman came on to pitch the last 1.1 innings, and he did so without allowing a hit or a walk.
» Continue reading “Split That Doubleheader!”

The Sox are back at .500 again this season. Will they stay and more importantly, move above this mark? Who knows. Given recent history with the .500 mark, things appear to be headed south for the Sox. However, the opponent facing the Sox right now is one the Sox have managed to handle this season. Here is what you should know going into the three-game tilt.

2011 Records: White Sox 60-60, 3rd in AL Central. Indians: 60-57, 2nd in AL Central. Season series: 6-1

2010 Record: 9-9

All-Time Series Record: 1,030-987 (The Sox are 543-460 at home against the Indians)

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

Gavin Floyd: 10-10, 4.53 ERA, 102K v. Ubaldo Jimenez: 1-0, 3.46 ERA, 13K (stats with the Indians only; season: 7-9, 4.37 ERA, 131K)

Mark Buehrle: 10-5, 3.06 ERA, 83K v. Fausto Carmona: 5-12, 5.12 ERA, 76K

Philip Humber: 8-8, 3.67 ERA, 83K v. Justin Masterson: 9-7, 2.69 ERA, 127K

All games begin at 7:10 pm CDT.  » Continue reading “Series Preview: White Sox v Indians”

Before we get to the recap, everyone congratulate Cheryl for running the Rock ‘N Roll Half Marathon today. Yay Cheryl!

The Sox salvaged the series! They took two of three from the Royals while gaining a game on the Tigers who lost to Baltimore today. John Danks took a no-hitter into the sixth as the Sox beat the Royals 4-2.

» Continue reading “Win a Game, Gain Some Ground”

The White Sox needed to finish another game in extra innings with a similar outcome to the ones in the past. The Sox traveled to Colorado to face the Rockies at Coors Field. The Rockies took game one, 3-2 in 13 innings. The Sox are now 4-8 in extra innings this season.

Sox starter Gavin Floyd came out and pitched well. He went seven innings giving up two runs on six hits and two walks. The bullpen came in and held it down for the most part. Chris Sale, Matt Thornton, and Jesse Crain came on for two innings, one inning, and 1.1 innings respectively. Each only gave up one hit and each struck out one.

The problem came in the 13th. Will Ohman came on in relief of Crain and finished the 12th inning just fine. In the 13th, he gave up the game winning run. With one out, Ohman walked Troy Tulowitzki. Two batters later, he gave up a bloop single to Ty Wigginton, and Tulo scored from first.

However it wasn’t just Ohman. Wigginton’s bloop single was hit to Brent Lillibridge in center. Neither Lillibridge nor Gordon Beckham could get to the ball in enough time, allowing the run to score from first on a single. A SINGLE.

The Sox luckily weren’t shut out, if there’s a silver lining in this. Alexei Ramirez got the Sox on the board in the second with a solo homer of Rockies starter Jason Hammel. The other run scored in the fifth. With one out, Beckham singled to right and Floyd walked. Juan Pierre doubled to right, scoring Beckham and tying the game at two.

The Sox send lefty Mark Buehrle to the hill tomorrow to face the righty Ubaldo Jimenez.

Aaaahhh, the thin air of Denver. Balls potentially flying out of the park super easy. That might be a good thing for some of the struggling offense of the White Sox to get away to high altitude. They will be a “six-game” road trip with the first stop in Colorado. Here is what to expect the next three days.

2011 Records: White Sox (38-41; 3rd in AL Central; 7-5 in interleague) Rockies (38-40; 3rd in NL West; 6-3 in interleague)

2008  Series Record: 1-2 (The Sox were 15-3 in interleauge last season and the Rockies were 9-6 in interleague last season)

All-Time Series Record: 4-2 (The Sox are 3-0 in Denver. In Interleague, the Sox are 150-109. The Rockies are  109-108 are interleague.)

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

Gavin Floyd: 6-7, 4.31 ERA 69K v. Jason Hammel: 4-7, 4.13 ERA, 51K

Mark Buehrle: 6-5, 3.73 ERA, 49K v. TBD

Jake Peavy: 4-1, 4.23 ERA, 32K v. TBD

Tuesday and Wednesday’s games begin at 7:40 pm and Thursday’s game starts at 2:10 pm. All times CDT. » Continue reading “Series Preview: White Sox at Rockies”