The following players have legitimate shots to move into the top 50 with “normal” seasons. The top 50 cut-off point is currently the 390 career homeruns hit by Graig Nettles.

• Jim Edmonds is at #55 with 382 career homeruns. He needs 9 more homeruns to crack the top 50. Probability: High
• Andruw Jones is at #66 with 371 career homeruns. He needs 20 more homeruns to crack the top 50. Probability: Who the hell knows
• Luis Gonzalez is at #74 with 354 career homeruns. He needs 37 more homeruns to crack the top 50. Probablity: Next to impossible, unless he gets back on the juice
• Albert Pujols is at #98 with 319 career homeruns. He needs 72 more homeruns to crack the top 50. Probablity: Low, but let’s all hope and pray he goes two over that total and becomes the legitimate single-season homerun king.

Now, how about the current players in the Top 20 of the career homeruns list, and where they could end the 2009 season:

• Ken Griffey Jr. sits at #5 on the career home runs list with 611. He needs 49 to tie Willie Mays for #4. I’d love to see it happen, but probably not this season. Maybe if he plays two more.
• Alex Rodriguez sits at #12 on the career home runs list. With 58 homeruns in 2009, he would tie Ken Griffey Jr. for 5th. More likely is that he hits somewhere between 33 and 55 and ends the 2009 season ahead of Frank Robinson for 7th on the career homeruns list.
• Jim Thome sits at #14 on the career home runs list. If he hits 32 or more homeruns in 2009, he will pass Harmon Killebrew, currently at #9.
• Manny Ramirez sits at #17 on the career homer uns list with 527. Harmon Killebrew’s 573 might not be out of the question in Manny plays an entire season like he ended last season with the Dodgers. More than likely, Manny Ramirez will somewhere near or above 36 homeruns in 2009 and challenge Reggie Jackson, who is currently #11 with 563.
• Frank Thomas is currently tied for 18th with 521 career homeruns. The A’s recently declined arbitration with The Big Hurt, and his 2009 season is up in the air, despite his stated desire to play two more years. Mickey Mantle at #15 with 536 homeruns is within reach is Frank is healthy and gets regular at bats.

To figure out where the rest of the Top 50 career homerun hitters could end up after the 2009 season, just use the chart below to see where they currently rank:

Click here to see the rest of the top 500 career homeruns list.

And now, I don’t feel out iota of guilt for putting ^ marks next to players’ names who have been implicated, explicit proof or not, for using steroids. Major League Baseball lost its chance to provide players the benefit of the doubt, in my opinion. As far as I’m concerned, you are guilty until proven innocent when credible allegations arise.

What a bunch of cheating liars…

After my misadventure trying to accurately characterize the level of disappointment I felt after hearing that IU had to self-report a minor recruiting violation in the basketball program, and then writing about the rift between Shuan Rogers and Eric Mangini, I feel the need to write something that is decidedly upbeat and positive.

So here they are, the five baseball players that I am rooting for in 2009 who are not playing their home games on the South Side of Chicago.

Joe Crede, 3B, Minnesota Twins

This one is easy.

Ever since Joe Crede was a White Sox farmhand and the heir apparent to Robin Ventura at third base, he has been one of my favorite White Sox players. He was always inconsistent at the plate, but did produce in the clutch — especially during the 2005 World Series run. And what he lacked in consistency at the plate he more than made up for by being one of the best, and most underrated, defensive third baseman of the 2000s.

Questions about Joe Crede’s back and the presence of young talents like Josh Fields and Dayan Viciedo compelled the White Sox to let Joe go, and he ended up in Minnesota. While I feel a natural rivalry with the Twins, I do not hate them like I hate the Indians, Tigers, and Cubs. Something about the way they play and Ozzie’s affinity for the “piranhas” has rubbed off on me. Joe Crede will fit in perfectly with the Twins, and I hope that he stays healthy and has a good season.

Of course, I wouldn’t mind it if he struggles when the Twins play the White Sox, but I hope that he can begin a solid second act in his very solid career. I think all White Sox fans appreciate the many good years that Joe Crede gave us, and I would assume that the majority are wishing him well in his new digs.

Ken Griffey Jr., OF/DH, Seattle Mariners

The Kid’s White Sox career was brief and unspectacular, and is in no way part of the reason why I am rooting for him in 2009. I have always admired Ken Griffey for the all-around excellence of his skills during his amazing first decade in the Major Leagues. It is unfortunate that he was unable to stay healthy in Cincinnati and that he has become “just another guy” since leaving Seattle.

Yet, with each new allegation of steroids that comes to light about baseball’s superstars from the late 90s and early- to mid-00s, Ken Griffey Jr’s accomplishments become more and more impressive. There are very few guys for whom steroid allegations would surprise me anymore, but Griffey is definitely one of them.

Although his skills have eroded and he is not even 50% of the graceful and elegant defensive player he once was, he still has that same sweet (albeit slower) swing and is one of the true, pure legends of the last twenty years in baseball. Now he gets to go home where it all started and provide some nostalgic joy to Mariner fans who may not have much else to cheer for this season. I would love to see Griffey put together an unexpectedly productive season at the plate and every now and then flash the brilliance that made him one of the most exciting young players baseball has ever seen.

Josh Hamilton, OF, Texas Rangers

The real life Roy Hobbs.

I hear that so much living down here in Dallas that it is almost cliche now — but only because it is so exceedingly true.

Josh Hamilton’s story is truly one of redemption and the triumph of the human spirit. I realize that his problems and addictions were almost exclusively self-inflicted, but every now and again it is good and inspiring to see someone lift themselves up after hitting rock bottom, reminding us of just how powerful human will can be when truly put to the test.

Add the backstory to Hamilton’s ridiculous talent and you have one of most compelling figures in all of sports as far as I’m concerned. It goes without saying (although I’m about to say it) that everyone is hoping beyond hope that the redemption story of Josh Hamilton was written without any illegal performance-enhancers and that he can stay on the straight and narrow. If so, he has the ability to become one of baseball’s brightest stars heading into the new decade.

Dontrelle Wills, SP, Detroit Tigers

While living in Miami in 2004 and 2005 I got to witness Dontrelle Willis’ ascension to stardom during his early years with the Florida Marlins. When he first came up with the Fish, he reminded me of the pitching version of a poor man’s Ken Griffey Jr with his attitude and enthusiasm. Yet, Willis’ numbers have always been somewhat up and down — no doubt a byproduct of his unique delivery — and there was the DUI and then the rumors that he and Miguel Cabrera were not exactly the best clubhouse influences during their last year in Miami.

Still, when I think of Dontrelle Willis I think of a guy who is a ball of entertaining energy, who seemed to be maturing as a pitcher before he got to Detroit, and who is renowned for being involved in the community. He is also someone that young African-American baseball players in America can look up to, during a time when African-American representation in the Major Leagues continues to dwindle.

Most of all, I just love watching Dontrelle Willis pitch. Obviously if he makes the Tigers’ rotation he will be pitching for an AL Central enemy of the White Sox, so I hope his control eludes him when the Tigers and White Sox play; but I would like to see Dontrelle make a triumphant return to the Majors and get his career back on the right track.

Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals

Simply put, he is the most consistently great hitter I have seen in my lifetime. Even better than The Big Hurt.

Look at his career stats — they are unreal from Day One. And so far Pujols has avoided any significant rumors of ever being on steroids. You certainly can’t point to any particular season or groups of seasons as showing a Bonds- or McGwire-type pop in production.

If anything, he would have to have been on steroids his entire career, that’s how great the numbers are that he puts up on annual basis.

Albert Pujols also appears to be the ultimate team player. He has led the Cardinals to an improbable World Series and I have never heard him complain despite a steady erosion over the last couple of years of the offensive production around him in the Cardinals lineup. He just goes out every day and proves that he is the best all-around hitter in the game.

I can tell you right now that if I get the #1 pick in any fantasy drafts this year I won’t even consider A-Fraud — I’ll go right for Pujols. I prefer to pack my fantasy teams with players I actually like rooting for, and few non-White Sox players fit that bill like Albert Pujols.

——————–

So now that I’ve given you my list, it’s your town. Who are the players that are not on your favorite team that you will be rooting for in 2009? The comment section awaits.

Griffey’s short stint didn’t leave a lot of memories at the plate but neither did the team as a whole (besides what it took to even make it to the playoffs in the first place). I will always remember that we had him during the 2008 playoff push, and his incredible home plate gun-down in the Minnesota play-in game that helped preserve our 1-0 victory. That was an awesome game. I love Junior Griffey and I wish the first ballot hall of Famer the best.

Losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 wasn’t a major disappointment considering the White Sox ended their season with tough injuries that sidelined Team MVP and Almost AL MVP Carlos Quentin. as well as the playoff perfectionist Jose Contreras. We assuredly could have used Jose Contreras down the stretch when our 4 man rotation was limited to 3 days rest the final weeks of the season.

Word is Contreras’ ruptured 36 year-old achilles tendon will keep him out until the 2009 All-Star break, in which case he would finish the season coming out of the bullpen. That is only early speculation at this point but it is known that Contreras is already working hard to come back as early and healthy as possible.

There is now the starting position opening in CF for the Southside Good Guys and there are a lot of options (in no particular order):

1. Brian Anderson – Brian showed a lot of potential off the bench last year (finally) and was a superb late inning defensive replacement. But the White Sox probably want to find that everyday guy that could possibly be a lead off man in the order. Which Brian is not. I expect the same role out of Brian next year but who knows until after spring training which I believe will be the big question mark entering the 2009 regular season.

2. Nick Swisher – We all know and love Swisher’s presence on the field and in the locker room. Nick had some great power last year but struggled in the batting average department reducing his role to a 7-8-9 guy. He also seemed to be a liability covering ground in CF and his arm is not anything to brag about. Swisher Sweet can take this spot with a more efficient bat but he still won’t be a prototypical lead off guy.

3. Jerry Owens – The young speedster and lead off hitter hit hard times in spring training with an injury and couldn’t find a spot on the major league roster until the 40 man call ups. Owens has a lot of upside and has incredible base stealing abilities being really fast and having a high success ratio, 35 for 44 in his short career. With Orlando Cabrera most likely taking a long term deal somewhere else this could be the opening for Jerry to start in CF and be the more efficient lead off hitter for Kenny and Ozzie.

4. Dewayne Wise – Wise was pretty phenomenal late last season and some would argue that this is his job to lose. The career minor leaguer got his shot late 2008 and took full advantage especially in September and the playoffs.  He may be good trade bait this offseason because I could see the southpaw giving a NL team some much needed experience in a platoon.

5. Bobby Jenks – Hey can’t we double switch this guy in the ninth inning during save opportunities? And I really wanna see the fat boy slide around on his belly in the outfield before I die. I am pretty sure Jenks would throw out EVERY tag up fly ball runner as long as it was hit right to him. The offseason is for dreaming right?

In all seriousness the solution in CF is again within the organization. The four options now are solid and dependent on spring training performance and the direction Ozzie wants his batting order to progress in. Free agency will be used to primarily to fill needs in the bullpen, a replacement for Orlando Cabrera, and even perhaps Joe Crede’s replacement if the health of his back is still an issue. GO GOOD GUYS!

(Stay up to the date with all the latest Chicago White Sox news and note with our Chicago White Sox news page.)

[tags]chicago white sox, ken griffey jr., mlb[/tags]

Game 162 (+1)

Well, it came down to this. Twins vs. White Sox for the AL Central Division championship and a trip to Disneyland.

The air surrounding 35th and Shields was just like that of a World Series game – people milling about bars outside, traffic backups, people trying to make a quick buck with parking, and cops. It was an announced Blackout and anything black that was moving seemed to be gravitating towards the stadium. Frequent shouts of “Go White Sox!” cut through the slightly frigid air. Getting closer and closer to U.S. Cellular Field, the streets became more like sidewalks and movement became stunted.

I had will call tickets and approached Gate 4 attempting to pick them up. A sea of black greeted me and I prepared to wait in the long lines. Salvation came in a sign stating that this was for Stubhub ticket pickup. I thought I had overheard a security guard saying will call tickets could also be picked up at Gate 5; approaching and asking him, I confirmed this. Instead of waiting for my tickets ten plus people deep, I perilously crossed 35th toward Gate 5. The three man line was like water in the desert. I quickly and easily got mine and my friend’s tickets and proceeded to head into the park.

I had heard we were getting black towels to wave around for the park that night, and they weren’t kidding. These were not White Sox towels or “Tiebreaker 2008” towels; no these were plain, simple black towels (which were kind of a let down, considering some stuff they had for the 2006 season). Upon entering the stadium, I began looking for something mentioning the tiebreaker-ness of the game; unfortunately I only managed to find a scorecard which I had to buy with a program.

My friend, after finding the nearest beer booth, found the OfficeMax sign creation station. While waiting in line, we attempted to come up with slogans to write on the board; we eventually settled on “Morneau’s a hoe.” He came up with the saying; I made sure he spelled it h-o-e and even told him to draw a garden hoe on it. Alas, the GSR working the booth came up to him and said, “No profanity.” I countered with, “But this is a garden hoe.” He quickly resolved the altercation by taking out sign away. My friend eventually came up with “John Danks You!”; I with a suggestion to bring our own sharpie to the next game.

We made our way to Section 537, Row 4, only to find (as usual) our seats were taken. We, being the resourceful duo we are, took the empty seats down the row from them. As people filed in (and we eventually strafed to our seats) a blanket of mostly black covered the stadium as if to keep it warm on a cold Chicago’s day. It appeared, by a quick view of the attendees, that about 90% complied with the “Sox Pride Blackout” mandate that was issued after the 8-2 victory against the Tigers. Exceptions included the two guys next to me and the ten or so Twins fans I saw in my section and the one to the left. My friend, seeing all the Mauer jerseys, went back to the OfficeMax booth and came back with, “Mauer’s a flower.”

The game started in the traditional way (the Sox history montage, Thunderstruck), with the exception of Gene Honda reminding everyone that this game was nationally televised on TBS and we should wave our black flags around (which was the prevailing theme of the night, whether it was actually for the Sox or the guy that chose giant lotto ball #3 and yet won all 3). Then the White Sox took the field. I hadn’t been at a game at US Cellular with this kind of emotion, tension, and excitement since Game 2 of the 2005 World Series. The air was slightly let out with the leadoff walk to Span, but became inflated again with the line-out double play and a strikeout of Joe Mauer. We kept riding that wave of excitement through the half-inning and Orlando Cabrera’s leadoff single. Then Dewayne Wise grounded out (instead of bunting) into an interesting double play and Jermaine Dye grounded out. This became the status quo for the evening, as Nick Blackburn would only give up 4 hits and 3 walks, while John Danks countered with 2 hits and 3 walks. Thus the entire season would rest one of the two hits differentiating the teams.

Each hit or walk for the White Sox was met with enthusiasm and high-five throughout the stadium; albeit more so for a hit than a walk. By the end of the fourth, the score was tied at zero; the Sox had 2 hits, the Twins, none. That would change, however, in the top of the fifth.

Mike Cuddyer, the Twins DH, lead off the inning with a double, breaking up the no-hitter. Delmon Young then flied out to Griffey in center field, deep enough to allow Cuddyer to tag up and get to third. So here we were, score tied at zero, Twins with a runner on third and less than two outs. Who would step up?

Brendan Harris swung at the first two pitches, resulting in two strikes. Could Danks be the one to step up and get the strikeout? He had been doing it all night, getting Mauer and Morneau (who usually OWN Danks), but it was not to be with Harris. After taking two balls, he hit a fly ball to center field. Griffey got under it. My initial reaction was that it was too shallow to tag up on. Cuddyer got back to third. Griffey caught it and Cuddyer took off. The Mariners Griffey would got the throw to home on the fly – heck, Cuddyer might not have ran if it was Mariners Griffey – but this was White Sox Griffey, 38 years old with an arm to match. The throw two hopped Pierzynski. On the second hop, he caught it and Cuddyer at the same time. Everyone (and I mean everyone) held their breath. Did Pierzynski hold on? What if he didn’t? He got up and showed the ball to home plate ump Tim McClelland, who signaled out. The stadium let loose like a rocket taking off, jumping, hugging, high-fiving and towel waving all over the place; only to be silenced again by Blackburn setting down the Sox in order in the bottom frame. The sixth inning saw nothing spectacular, with a walk for the Twins the only baserunner. This prompted me to say, “The longer this game goes scoreless, the more trouble we’re in.”

Danks set Minnesota down in order in the top of the 7th. Then Thome came to the plate. The at bat was a typical Thome at bat – he took two balls, looked at a strike and fouled a ball off. Then Blackburn made his only mistake.

I saw the ball leave the bat. I saw it in the air over the outfield. I saw Gomez running to the wall and stopping, looking up. I did not see, however, where the ball landed. I think Thome wanted something for his birth city to remember him by, as the ball may have landed in Peoria. Even after I got home and watched the replays, I still didn’t see exactly where the ball landed. All I know is the stadium, once again, erupted. The fireworks were barely audible over the roar of the crowd. Pandemonium ensued. There was no curtain call, as the crowd began to chant “Paul-ee, Paul-ee;” we wanted back-to-back homers. Everyone was standing and screaming. Konerko then grounded out, sending everyone back down to earth and their seats. But Griffey brought us back up with a double, followed by and intentional walk to Ramirez that elicited boos from the crowd. Gardenhire came out and removed Blackburn to the familiar chant of Steam’s “Kiss It Goodbye.” Jose Mijares came in and induced a Pierzynmki groundout and a Uribe flyout, ending the threat.

The top of the eight was upon us. Danks was still out there and Dotel and Thornton were warming up in the bullpen. He was just under 100 pitches to start the inning; he ended up with 103. A fly out, single, and double play ended the top half. The guy sitting next to me asked if I would bring Danks back out for the ninth or put Jenks in. I said I would put Jenks in; after all, if you can’t put your closer in to a one run game, you shouldn’t be in the playoffs anyways. He was fairly adamant about putting Danks back on the mound. The Sox got a single (off Joe Nathan!) in the bottom of the eighth and nothing else.

“Boom!” Everyone was on their feet, clapping and screaming as loud as they could. Jenks came running in from the bullpen, trying to hang on to the slight advantage they had. Kubel, a noted Sox-killer, pinch hit for Gomez and struck out, making the roar even louder. Span grounded out. The whole stadium was a vacuum of black noise and swirling towels. If Casilla, the next hitter, got on base, Mauer and Morneau were next. In a one run game, that would be disastrous. The crowd didn’t have to wait long. Casilla swung at the first pitch. A short, looping fly ball was hit to right-center field. Like so many balls that were hit by the Twins at the Metrodome last week against the Sox, this one looked destined to fall.

Except it didn’t.

Brian Anderson, a defensive replacement for Griffey, dove and made a spectacular catch. As soon as he hit the ground the entire place shook. Jumping, beer spilling, cameras going off (and being dropped), hugging, disbelief, elation – every positive and jubilant emotion to be had was on display at The Cell. It was like one giant, black-coated hug. The players mobbed each other on the field. Hats and shirts were distributed. Danks, Thome, and Pierzynski were all being sought for interviews before heading to the locker room. The jumbotron was showing the scene inside the clubhouse, taped up and ready to be bathed in bubbly (and Miller Lite!). All the players came back out and sprayed each other; some even ran out to the warning track and sprayed the fans there. After clinching everything in 2005 on the road, it was a nice to see them celebrate properly in front of the home crowd. Thome, Swisher, and Konerko each got on the mic and thanked the fans.

After the celebration died down a bit, I headed off to the gift shop to get some AL Central champs gear. After waiting 10 minutes in line, I entered to no hats left and shirts going for $35.00 (which I passed on). Walking out and down the ramps, high-fiving and chants of “Let’s Go White Sox,” were on every level; I even heard a “Let’s Go Dodgers” chant get started. Reaching the ground floor, we headed towards the ticket windows to see if ALDS tickets were going on sale. I remembered they had a raffle for them and decided not to waste any more time standing there and left.

The streets were blocked off and fans were celebrating on 35th, in the parking lot, and in front of the 2005 World Series monument. As I walked back to catch my ride, horns were being honked like a wedding was passing through. Residents of the area had some out; their children were all waving and shouting “Go White Sox!” in their cherub-like tenor.

The further away from the ballpark we got the, the horns and random shouting decreased. Now all is left is for the Black Plague to descend upon the Tampa Bay Rays.

[tags]chicago white sox, minnesota twins, mlb, mlb playoffs[/tags]

After the bell rang this afternoon, I started humming “Go, Go White Sox”. I turned to one of my students (Writing here on the site doesn’t really pay the bills. I am a 5^th grade teacher on the Southside.) and said, “You know where I was last night?”

He said, “The White Sox game?” as he stuffed his books away.

“Yes, I was.”

The place was electric. From the moment I crossed 43^rd St. coming north, you could tell that the fans were out and ready. I arrived ticketless but ready to rock and roll. When I stepped off my bike, gearing up to patrol the strip for scalpers my old levi’s tore straight down the front. I instantly became a hot dog vendor. Not a good start but I was dedicated and decided to head back home for new pants, with only a mile to go it was the right choice. Rd. 2. I park the bike, relieve myself from the saddle gingerly, as to ensure the integrity of my crotch and quickly find a ticket out in 507, eye level with the right field foul pole. Thunderstruck rang clear in my ears and the 40,354 fans put out the lights with the “blackout”.

Danks on the mound. The Sox killer from last series Danard Span at the dish. Strike one, looking. I follow with a hearty Tiger Woods fistpump and settle down in my seat. Pitch two, ball. I signal the beer man to help quell my nerves but that was the only beer I needed because from then on Danks took over. He threw 12 first pitch strikes and was ahead in almost every count. That alone kept the fans in the game, the team’s confidence up and Danks on the mound. It felt like he had the Twins one step behind every move he made. Each time they tried to catch up he would step further and at one point in the 7^th inning a guy behind me said, “He’s thrown 6 pitches to get the last four outs.” It was true, between the 7^th and 8^th Danks got Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer and Delmon Young only throwing 6 pitches. That’s two All-stars, a DH and a hot left fielder on pitches 88 through 94.

He was engulfed in flames and proved his mental toughness more than anything, stepping up on short rest in a huge game against a club that you watched shell your team, and gave up 2 hits in 8 full innings of baseball.

Then there was the play. The play that sent beers, cell phones and hats flying (all three in my direction, but welcome). The play that made every cent of Junior’s contract worth it. I would venture to guess that there are only a handful of players who could throw out a runner at home perfectly from dead center field. Even fewer who could do it with the runner coming from third, and only some greats who can do it in moments like the Kid did then. On that 5^th inning flyout from Brendan Harris, the entire stadium gripped their rally towel and clenched their teeth, willing the ball into AJ’s glove. Griffey made the most beautiful connection with a catcher that I will ever see. That was the moment when it seemed that Twins baseball would get under our skin. They roped a double, advanced a runner on a pop out and wanted the lead at the half. They came up empty handed and every ounce of momentum was in our dugout. We felt almost invincible. All we needed was the bats to ignite.

Then there was something in the air. Something was communicated to Jim Thome that hadn’t been there. A sense of reliability and confidence. The fans told Jimmy, “We need you big guy. Do it.” He did it for 464 feet straight down the pike. It wasn’t much but it was a lead. That’s all we wanted. He had been cold, taking his usual walks and getting on base here and there but not lighting it up in any way. Not posing a major threat to any hurler he was batting .240 coming in. He was slightly better after pitch five from Nick Blackburn.

Then, there was the short and round, the boom, the boy from the south. He went one, two, three and on some Bad Ass heroics from BA ended the 9^th.

Check out the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8sgSSeDKwY

The Twins walked off having been burned, Toby Hall strapped on a ridiculous pair of ski goggles and the champagne rolled. The stands looked like Oktoberfest, cheering singing, swaying. Men were embracing. Old women from Oak Lawn, high fiving Bros making the trek from Champaign and a priest dancing behind me. The concourse to the parking lot were the same. It was like we had won the ALCS. It affirmed so much.

We really wanted to get this far. We wanted to know that our divisional lead that had weathered the year wasn’t going to be robbed from us. We didn’t want to face the meltdown. Everyone saw what it does to Mets’ fans, we don’t need that. Especially with the echo of that ridiculous “Go, cubs, Go” drifting south from Armitage. A win last night let us breathe a major sigh of relief. We didn’t have to face the ribbing of the Northsiders or visions of Twinkies celebrating on our field. It also proved that we can have some stellar performances from some great baseball players. Down the stretch, guys who were labeled question marks and caught the criticism of many fans and media, stepped up somewhere, somehow and did work enough to get us on a plane to St. Pete and like fans at a 163^rd game, we’re just happy to be here.

]]> http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2008/10/white-sox-happy-to-be-here/feed/ 3 http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2008/09/sox-tuesday-we-needed-a-spark-before-the-9th/ http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2008/09/sox-tuesday-we-needed-a-spark-before-the-9th/#comments Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:19:51 +0000 Kaner http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/?p=253 by Sean Kane

Defense in the Metro Dome is tough, that is true. The outfield is freaking huge. It’s like trying to cover a football field, on crutches. If Ozzie knows this, and he must, after all these years in the Central, why then do you put old man Griff in center? While I watched Javy “step up” like Ozzie asked him to and get shelled in the 4^th, I cringed watching Griffey dive after Kubel’s triple. Dye basically had to hop him and then go another forty feet, reaching under the plastic tarp that doubles as a wall in center for the Twinkies just to stop the inside the park. I wondered why it is that in the face of shaky pitching and a fast field you would play the slowest center fielder we have?

I obviously know the answer, Griffey’s bat. But honestly how reliable has Junior been with the wood? Not, is the answer. He’s batting .245 this year and hits .103 career against the Twins. He was consistent in the Yankees series with four hits but I don’t see that much value in him when you know that he moves like Charlie Weis sometimes in center. Not to mention that while I hate to badmouth the Kid, we know he came to the Sox just to see the playoffs before the end of his career. I don’t know how emotionally committed he is to the club. He’s all smiles and a great teammate but he certainly doesn’t have the energy he once had. He hasn’t seen the postseason since ‘97 and hasn’t had that taste in his mouth for so long that you wonder if he knows what it’s like to get up for a game like this. I love to see him on the roster, let him stay here in Chicago till he’s 40. From a baseball standpoint, though, here in September you need someone to give us a spark, like AJ said on Sunday, “‘We’re going to go in there and kick their ass.’ That’s the mind-set it takes, and if we do that and it works out, great; if not, we move on. But we have to go in there looking to play confident.”

Confidence doesn’t run deep in pitchers, infield or anyone when you know Griffey just doesn’t have a chance to get to a ball. He doesn’t have the wheels.

The other choices are not that much better – Nick Swisher and Brian Anderson but there are upsides to the two. Swish can move pretty well and certainly brings some energy to the lineup, more than Griffey. He’s not a threat at the plate batting .221 and he a different haircut every week and watching him talk to Comcast every game is sometimes painful, with his off topic antics but he puts it all out there.

Anderson is not a terrible threat at the dish either – .247 this year – but man he can move out there. He’s a guy playing for his job. He’s not sitting on an 8 million dollar deal, like Griff. He’s young and has something to prove. When better to prove it than now, by stealing a triple from a red hot Jason Kubel, proving to Javy that he could throw a mistake and somebody will back him up?

Effort no replacement for talent but you’ll take the spark from anywhere, before the bottom of the 9^th.

Hindsight is 20/20 and when Baker shreds everyone going 7 innings with the only run in the first, it doesn’t matter who’s on the other side. Javy doesn’t help you either. He blew it. Going 4 innings with 7 hits and giving the Twins an early 4 run cushion. That’s a White Sox recipe for disaster. (Can’t say I didn’t see it coming.)

When all is said and done Griff did put one in the seats for the last two runs in the 9^th. He was O-fer before that. The point is, let’s put a team on the field who can give us a little spark before the ninth, somewhere, somehow. That edge might have to come from the defense, in a huge outfield when Javy starts the game, because the Twins clearly have come to play and clearly want to see October, hopefully not more than Griff, Swish, Brian or Ozzie, though.

by Jerod Morris

Great win for the White Sox tonight. Coming off a tough series against the Twinkies, we needed to get off on the right foot against the Royals. And we did. Javy Vazquez pitched well, which hopefully portends good things from him down the stretch.

But the coolest about tonight’s game was the successful debut of Ken Griffey Jr. I have to admit, it was something of a mind trip to see him in a White Sox uniform. It will take some getting used to…and there is a good chance he just a two-month rental…but I am officially on board and excited. And I think the major media outlets are underestimating how successful this deal will ultimately be.

We have a veteran team filled with guys who have won a World Series before. As all Sox fans know, we go through slumps and sometimes it seems like the guys get a little too comfortable. Now we have more good hitters than we have lineup spots. Complacency is not an option. And I think seeing Kenny Williams make a move like this proves to the vets that management believes in them and will do anything to give us a shot to win another title. I see Junior providing a huge spark, and if the pitching can regain its consistency…well just don’t stop believing.

Ken Griffey Jr’s first AB as a member of the White Sox…an RBI

Nardi Contreras…just for fun.

News and commentary from around the web on the morning after the Chicago White Sox made a huge and surprising splash just before the trading deadline by dealing for Ken Griffey Jr. This should be interesting…

Follow the “Read More” link for White Sox news links…

From the Sun-Times:

Griffey approves trade to White Sox

Computer geeks confirm that Griffey trade a positive for White Sox

White Sox drop finale against Twins

My name is Jay Mariotti…and I’m a turd.

Crede, Contreras set for rehab; White Sox worried about Linebrink

Elsewhere:

ESPN.com: Keith Law thinks Griffey deal a mixed bag for White Sox

ESPN.com: Fans get unruly during White Sox loss to Twins

More stories

The Chicago Tribune website was experiencing “technical difficulties” this morning. I chalk it up to the fact that the Cubs suck. Speaking of which, can I just express how disappointed I am in the Brewers and former White Sox 2B Ray Durham??? A 4-game sweep at home? Seriously? It doesn’t worry me because I’m fairly certain that the Cubs will choke and find a way to not make the playoffs, but it’s just annoying watching the North Side Fudge Packers win and give their fans hope that “this could be the year.” Right.

But forget about them, the White Sox have their own issues. We need to get back on track and put a hurtin’ on the Royals this weekend. An emphatic sweep or a solid 2-1 series victory is imperative. We just seem to be a tad out of sync and perhaps the trade for Griffey will provide a spark. I will be very interested to see how Ozzie fits all the pieces together. It looks like Griffey, Swish, Paulie, and Curse (that’s Jim Thome, if you didn’t know. I’ll explain later) will be rotating in some form or another each game. Sadly, unless he turns it around and gets hot, it looks like Paulie will be the odd man out at least initially. Ozzie’s stuck with him all year though. At some point, as much as I love him, Paulie has to start producing. We have a team capable of going deep into the playoffs, but we can’t have a .215 albatross around the neck of an offense that relies on power and situational hitting to be successful.

On a scale of 1-10, how excited do you think Hawk was when he heard about the Griffey trade? 17? 18? I think the only player that Hawk loves more than Ken Griffey Jr is Ted Williams. Well…and Rusty Greer. I can’t wait to hear Hawk call Griffey’s first home run in a White Sox uni. His head may explode.

On to Kansas City. We need a big outing from Javy tonight.

Pick to Click: TCQ (it’s the first official Midwest Sports Fans Pick to Click. I have to go with the AL MVP on this one.)