Tag: Chicago White Sox (Page 11 of 13)

      MLB Playoffs Quick Reads

      October 3, 2008 /

      – Rick Telander of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that the Cubs are a tragedy of errors right now.

      – Chris DeLuca of the Times notes that the Cubs aren’t the only ones in a slump – manager Lou Piniella is, too.

      – Joey Johnston of the Tampa Tribune gushes over Rays’ rookie Evan Longoria’s cool after the third basemen hit two home runs in Game 1 of ALDS against the White Sox.

      – Todd Zolecki of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes that Phils manager Charlie Manuel has succeeded with juggling the club’s lineup so far against the Brewers in the NLDS.

      – John Romano of the St. Petersburg Times likes the fire that Rays’ RP Grant Balfour shows, but also writes how the young pitcher invites trouble along with his success.

      – Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer waxes poetically about Shane Victorino, the “little Philly” who came up with a huge grand slam against Brewers’ ace CC Sabathia in Game 2 of the NLDS.

      MLB

      Rays fans have a fever. And the only prescription is more cowbell.

      October 2, 2008 /

      Grant BalfourFor the past couple years, no prop has ever been more annoying than those obnoxious “thunder sticks” that Los Angeles Angels fans used during the 2002 World Series.

      Until now.

      During Game 1 of the Rays-White Sox ALDS (a 6-4 TB win), the home crowd in Tampa actually broke out cowbells…and used them the entire game. Nothing is more soothing during exciting MLB playoff game than to hear the constant ding of a freaking cowbell. Glad to see Rays fans actually knew where Tropicana Field was after leaving the place largely deserted during the regular season as the club won its first ever AL East Division title.

      Regardless of how annoying the cowbells were, the game was exciting and it’s nice to see a young franchise win their first postseason game. Rookie Evan Longoria (3-3, 2 HRs, 3 runs, 3 RBI) is a stud and James Shields deserves a lot of credit for going almost seven innings after it appeared that he wasn’t going to make it past the third or fourth. The two teams even provided a little fireworks when Rays’ relief pitcher Grant Balfour and Sox infielder Orlando Cabrera started throwing profanities at each other during a heated at bat in the seventh inning. Balfour eventually got the best of the matchup, striking out Cabrera to end the inning with the bases loaded.

      Tampa has a built a nice team over the years and true Rays fans deserve to finally see a winner. They also apparently have a fever. And the only prescription is…

      MLB

      The Battle of Los Angeles

      October 1, 2008 /

      As both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels enter the postseason, Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke fantasizes about a potential freeway series.

      Angels World Series
      This fall is only the second time in those 48 seasons that both of our teams have made the postseason in the same year.

      Yet this fall is the first time that our dreams have a real chance.

      Beginning the postseason today as respective division champions, the Dodgers and Angels have baseball’s two best managers, two of its most dangerous sluggers, two of its best pressure starting pitchers, and two of its best bullpens.

      The Dodgers will be fighting against the vagaries of youth. The Angels will be fighting against the perils of rust.

      But if there was ever a moment in their history that they could both turn this fall into a true Southern California classic, it is now.

      Here are 30.92 reasons it could happen, one for every mile:

      * Mile 1: The Dodgers open against a Chicago Cubs team that hasn’t won a World Series in 100 years and will mess it up again. You know it, I know it, and, most important, they know it.

      * Mile 2: The Angels open against a Boston Red Sox team that they have beaten six straight times.

      * Mile 3: After the first round, the Dodgers would play either the Philadelphia Phillies or Milwaukee Brewers, two teams against which they had a combined winning record.

      The Angels finished the season with the best record in baseball. The Dodgers narrowly won their division. However, they did it with their most talented team in the past twenty years. The city of Los Angeles has always been a baseball town first, despite the many great years Magic and Kobe have given with the Lakers. As Plaschke states, the Dodgers and Angeles have never met in the World Series, whereas the Cubs have played the White Sox (1906), the Yankees and the Mets (2000), and even the Athletics and the Giants (1989). For veterans like Jeff Kent, Nomar Garciaparra, and Vladimir Guererro, a World Series ring would be the icing on the cake of their exceptional careers.

      MLB

      White Sox beat Twins, will play Rays in ALDS

      September 30, 2008 /

      On the strength of a masterful pitching performance by John Danks and a towering home run by Jim Thome, the Chicago White Sox are AL Central Division Champions. The Chi Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 1-0 on Tuesday night and will now face the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS.

      Jim ThomeThome broke a scoreless tie leading off the seventh with a booming 461-foot home run to center off of Nick Blackburn, who was just about as masterful as Danks on the mound. Thome pumped his fist as he rounded first base, following one of the biggest home runs among the 541 he has launched during his illustrious career.

      That slim run total was enough for Danks, who allowed two hits over eight innings. Danks matched his longest outing of the year by going eight, striking out four and walking three. Danks threw 103 pitches working on three days’ rest, giving the White Sox a 3-1 record with their starters going on the short break, before giving way to Bobby Jenks.

      The Sox haven’t looked good the past two weeks, but none of that matters now. Danks was absolutely incredible and playing at home on a chilly night in Chicago was the perfect remedy to quiet the Twins’ bats.

      Looking ahead, it’ll be interesting to see if the Rays will show any rust after clinching a postseason berth over a week ago. While the Sox have a disadvantage having to start on the road, they almost have to feel like they’re playing with house money right now. Momentum is a dangerous thing. Game 1 will start at 2:30 PM ET Thursday at Tropicana Field.

      MLB

      White Sox will play Twins in one-game playoff

      September 29, 2008 /

      The Chicago White Sox just made things incredibly interesting in the American League. With their 8-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Monday, the White Sox have forced a one-game playoff with the Minnesota Twins for the AL Central crown. Alexei Ramirez hit a gram slam during the sixth inning to propel the Sox over the Tigers.

      Alexei RamirezBeginning with Sunday’s series finale against Cleveland, the White Sox knew they had to win three games in order to reach the AL Division Series against the Rays. That magic number has been reduced to one for both the White Sox and the Twins, who enter Tuesday with identical 88-74 records.

      “I don’t think you ever expect a one-game playoff,” said White Sox first baseman and team captain Paul Konerko, who has been talking about this race going down to the final days since mid-August. “It’s an oddity. We are just scrapping, fighting and trying to get to where we want to go.”

      “You get passed feeling tired and forget about all those aches and pains,” added White Sox reliever Scott Linebrink, who struck out the side during an impressive eighth inning. “Adrenaline gets you going. Our situation is great — we fought for this and earned it. One hundred and sixty-two [games weren’t] enough so we need one extra, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

      Isn’t it amazing how teams can go through a 162-game season and still wind up tied at the end? It’s doubtful that either of these clubs can hang with the Angels, Rays or Red Sox for an entire series, but then again, you never know. Momentum is a scary thing – look at the 2007 Colorado Rockies who rode a 10-game winning streak all the way to the World Series last year.

      Nick Blackburn (11-10, 4.14 ERA) of the Twins will take the rubber against Chicago’s John Danks (11-9, 3.47) on Tuesday. First pitch is 7:30 PM ET.

      MLB

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