I’m Back……..And Giants-Brewers 6/27

I am back, after a small hiatus from blogging.

Anyway, I went to the Giants-Brewers game at Miller Park on Saturday, 6/27, and I had a blast. I went because my sister is a big Aaron Rowand fan and wanted to see him play, so I tagged along.

Also, I am a Juan Uribe fan (he was my favorite when he was with the White Sox) so it was destined to be fun.

We got off to a late start leaving, but got there about a half hour after the gates opened. Let me tell you something about Milwaukee: everyone tailgates. I can’t tell you how awkward it was coming out of our car with a Giants shirt on (and a White Sox cap on) when you are surrounded by loads of tailgating Brewers fans. With me, I had a can of pineapple (I’ll explain later), my glove, a Juan Uribe jersey, cards for autographs, a baseball, a mini Giants helmet, and pens and sharpies.

So I made the long and awkward walk to the gate. They were holding a food drive, and since I love pineapple (I really do), I decided to bring a can to spread the joy of pineapple to others. For that, I got this:

 

 

 

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A Jason Kendall collector’s pin. Cool.

I walked in to see Juan Uribe. I held up my jersey and he smiled and waved to me. He never did that to me when he was in Chicago, but it paid off. Here he is taking some BP:

Uribe BP

5-10-09: Texas Rangers at Chicago White Sox

Going into yesterday’s game, Bartolo Colon had never started a game on Mother’s Day in his 13-year career. Also, he had a 12-game win streak against the Texas Rangers, the longest against one team among active players in baseball.

To lead off the second inning, Hank Blalock homered to put Texas up 1-0. But in the bottom half of the inning, the first two batters walked, and after a double play with Jermaine Dye advancin to third, he scored on a wild pitch, tying the game. And Vincente Padilla was still throwing a no-hitter.

In the fifth, Colon really struggled, giving up a lead-off home run to Chris Davis. Hit after hit, and put in a few walks and you end up with a Texas Ranger 4-run inning.

The White Sox were never able to come back, losing the game 7-1. Here is a quote from Ozzie Guillen that summed up the whole game:

“Very boring day — very no-life day.”

That’s all, it was not an offnsive run producing game, just an ugly one.

For some good news, Brett Pill went 2-for-3 in Connecticut’s win with 2 singles and a walk. He is improving his stats every day!

5-9-09: Texas Rangers at Chicago White Sox

Tonight, my brother was fortunate enough to head out to the White Sox game with a friend. I went to the horsetrack and then to Pizzeria Uno to try their gluten-free pizza, which was delicious. So as a result, I only saw the ending of the game.

Johnny Danks was starting for the White Sox against Kevin Millwood. After Getz got hit by a pitch, Carlos Quentin doubled to knock him in, making it 1-0 Sox.

In the fifth, Nelson Cruz doubled for Texas, allowing Elvis Andrus to score Cruz on a two-out single.

Texas and Chicago both tacked on 1 more run each. The action took place in the 8th inning. Kevin Millwood was still on the mound and after a Chris Getz single, Carlos Quentin HBP, and a Jermaine Dye single, the bases were loaded with zero outs. Derek Holland replaced Millwood, hoping to pull off an “El Duque” (for those of you that don’t know, an “El Duque” is when a pitcher enters a game with the bases loaded and zero out. If he retires everyone without allowing a run, he pulled off an “El Duque.” This is named after Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez after he did this in the 2005 ALDS). Well, Jim Thome grounded to second and Kinsler threw home to get Getz. Then, after Darren O’Day comes in and Paul Konerko steps up. He hit the ball to center deep enough for Quentin to score, and the White Sox took a 3-2 lead.

Bobby Jenks came on in the ninth to close the game. He struck the first two batters out and up comes Ian Kinsler, a dangerous threat to steal a base (remember I said this). Bobby Jenks throws an inside pitch that goes behind Kinsler. The umpire issues a warning. Seriously? Bobby Jenks is trying to hit the tying run in a one-run game with two outs and one that can steal a base? Really? Anyway, he was retired on a pop-up, and it was a South Side victory 3-2.

Thoughts

It was a good game by the White Sox. John Danks pitched great. But I would like to applaud Paul Konerko. He sacrificed personal stats for the team. His only job was to hit the ball deep. He did just that to give the Sox a one-run lead. He didn’t try to hit a home run or get a base hit at the risk of a double play or strikeout. Just hit the ball deep. He is a team player.

In Connecticut, Brett Pill went 1-for-4 with a double. Keep believing in yourself Mr. Pill!

5-8-09: Texas Rangers at Chicago White Sox

Jose Contreras was starting for the White Sox so I sat with the stress ball next to me for the game. He was up against Matt Harrison, who shut the White Sox down last Sunday.

It started bad for Contreras. It ended bad for Contreras. Wild pitches, hits, errors (not his fault), everything was going wrong. He left to a chorus of boos.

But even if Contreras pitched great, the White Sox offense had nothing. 0 runs. The Rangers won, 6-0.

Thoughts

Something needs to be done about Contreras. He just isn’t the same pitcher as 2005 and 2006. But the relief pitching of D.J. Carrasco and Clayton Richard did great.

Brett Pill went 1-for-5 with a double and an RBI in Connecticut’s loss.

5-7-09: Detroit Tigers at Chicago White Sox

After a 4-game losing streak and a postponed game, the White Sox attempted to get back on track last night. Before the game even started, Josh Fields was nice enough to give Scott Podsednik #22, who wore that number from 2005-2007 as a fan favorite on the South Side. Meanwhile, Fields will be wearing #7 for now on.

Armando Galarraga started the game for the Tigers, and he really shut the Sox out the first time around. Mark Buehrle was on the mound for the White Sox, trying to go 5-0 for the first time in his career.

The White Sox came out with a bang in the first inning. Chris Getz led off with a walk, and doesn’t it always seem that those players score? After two quick outs, Getz moved to second base. Jim Thome walked, and so it was 1st and 2nd, two outs, and zero hits. And the White Sox have not played well with runners in scoring position with two outs. Well, Jermaine Dye smacked a line drive single that scored Chris Getz. Then, Paul Konerko walks up and hits a double in the right field corner, scoring both JD and Thome. To cap it off, A.J. Pierzynski hit a home run, making it quickly 5-0 White Sox.

With Mark Buehrle on the mound, the game was going to move quickly. It sure did. Through the 4th inning, all batters had been retired. And also in the 4th inning, Jayson Nix felt it was timely to hit his first ever MLB home run. It was crushed, and a smile never broke out on his face. C’mon, you only hit your 1st MLB home run once!

Onto the 6th inning. Not much is happening except that the White Sox offense has gotten an early lead and that Mark Buehrle is throwing a perfect game.

Onto the 7th. Nine more batters to be retired and a perfect game. Curtis Granderson lines out to Konerko. Eight more to go! And then, Placido Polanco spoils the bid with a double. Buehrle allowed two more walks that inning, but no one crossed the plate.

Bobby Jenks came on in the ninth to finish the game, as the White Sox went on to win, 6-0.

Thoughts
Overall, it was a good game. The offense came through and the pitching………outstanding. Look at Buehrle’s statistics:

8.0 innings……..1 hit………0 runs………5 K……….2 BB.

Impressive. Meanwhile, Jayson Nix has done a great job thus far. It’s been short, but if Alexei Ramirez continues slumping, Jayson Nix might just take that spot away.

The White Sox are now 13-14.

5-5-09: Chicago White Sox at Kansas City  Royals

“Greinke went 6  scoreless innings, allowing only 3 hits and 7 strikeouts!!! He has a great fastball, and his curveball just fools everyone. Just watching his curve on TV is scary.”

That’s what I said on April 8, 2009, the second game of the season when Zack Greinke shut down the White Sox. I didn’t know he would keep up this success. And look at what he’s done in six starts.

When the Mets acquired Johan Santana, I was a very happy White Sox fan. I wouldn’t have to deal with him shutting down the White Sox anymore. Could it get any better? Well, last year, Cliff Lee just had to replace Santana’s dominance. And is this the year of Greinke dominating the AL Central. I sure hope not.

Yesterday, the pitching was decent on both sides. Bartolo Colon was on the mound for the White Sox, and only alloed runs in the second and third. David DeJesus hit a solo homer in the third, and the Royals went up 3-0.

Otherwise, it was not a fun game to watch. Greinke ended up pitching a 10 K complete game. And by the way, he allowed zero runs. Colon went 5.0 innings pitchign and allowed 2 ER, and Clayton Richard pitched 3.0 innings. His stats look good, but many hitters got on base.

I don’t know how anyone can win with Greinke on the mound.

5-3-09: Chicago White Sox at Texas Rangers

John Danks returned to his home state of Texas to face the team he grew up liking as a kid, and the team that also drafted him.

The game featured a steady flow of runs from the Texas Rangers, scoring 1 in 5 innings. The White Sox were only able to tack on one run through a sacrifice fly.

The problem for the White Sox was the hitting. They could hit the ball fine. Just couldn’t get runs across the plate. They had an opportunity with the bases loaded and 1 out but failed to score.

Also, many of the back-ups were playing………Corky Miller, Scott Podsednik, Jayson Nix, Brent Lillibridge, and Wilson Betimit.

Texas won 5-1, giving the White Sox their 2nd straight loss.

But tonight, the White Sox are facing Zack Greinke, the best in baseball at the time! I feel they will act as spoilers!

Brett Pill went 1-for-3 with a double I believe in Connecticut’s loss.

5-2-09: Chicago White Sox at Texas Rangers

Jose Contreras was getting the start on the hill for the White Sox tonight. The White Sox scored early, but Jose Contreras let in 7 runs in a short amount of time, and quickly, the Rangers went up 9-1.

A.J. Pierzynski hit a grand slam to put the Sox back in the game, but the Rangers won, 9-6.

Brett Pill went 1-for-3 with a double. The Bulls lost. Bad night.

5-1-09: Chicago White Sox at Texas Rangers

Last night in Texas featured the return of a White Sox legend. That legend is Scott Podsednik. No, he’s not destined for the Hall of Fame. He won’t have his number retired by the White Sox. But to White Sox fans, he is a hero.

Pods played with Chicago from 2005-2007. He was acquired from Milwaukee in the Carlos Lee trade, and no one really expected much from him. But this speedy leadoff hitter got on base, hitting .292 that year. And in Game 2 of the 2005 World Series, all he did was hit a walk-off home run, his second of the playoffs after hitting zero in the regular season.

Pods was recently signed by the White Sox and was assigned to AAA Charlotte, and last night, he got the call-up to start in center.

“Once a White Sox, always a White Sox.” Welcome back Scotty Pods!

Anyway, The White Sox went with Mark Buehrle on the mound, against Scott Feldman. In the first inning, the first batter, Ian Kinsler smoked a solo home run, quickly putting the Rangers up 1-0. Into the third, rookie Elvis Andrus (that’s a great baseball name) tripled to lead the inning. Ian Kinsler knocked in Andrus on a sacrifice fly, and Michael Young singled. Then a double by Andruw Jones knocked in Young, putting Texas up 3-0.

Then into the sixth inning, the White Sox were forced into two quick outs. But with two quick singles, a pitching change, and a walk, the bases were loaded for Jim Thome! But he was coming off an injury, so I didn’t know how he could handle it. So he proved me wrong by hitting the ball deep to left center, and it missed being a home run by inches. And that’s no exaggeration. It hit the top of the wall, but it clearly wasn’t a home run. Still, it was a 3 RBI double, and that tied the game up. I

n the seventh, the White Sox did the same. Two quick outs and an infield single by none other than Scotty Pods. A triple by Chris Getz scores Pods and the White Sox have taken the lead. The pitching of Octavio Dotel, Scott Linebrink, and Bobby Jenks held the Rangers for a White Sox winner, 4-3.

Thoughts
Overall, it was a great game played. The pitching was outstanding, and the batting was fairly good. But what really impressed me was the White Sox ability to get two out hits. That really set the game apart.

3 Stars of the Game:

1. Jim Thome: 1-for-4, with that 3 RBI double.

2. Scott Podsednik: A nice return, going 2-for-4, with the game-winning run.

3. Mark Buehrle: Improving to 4-0, with 3 ER in 6.0 innings pitched.

Brett Pill went 1-for-4 on Thursday and 1-for-3 last night. Keep it up Brett!

And the Chicago Bulls have forced Game 7 in Boston, tune in tonight!