Each team has endured a bumpy road since they met in the 2008 World Series and, while the Rays are climbing toward the top of the AL East, the Phillies’ grasp on the NL East is tenuous. What will happen this week at Tropicana field?

Let’s make some MLB predictions.

Tuesday, June 23, 7:08 p.m. ET
Jamie Moyer (4-6, 6.35) vs David Price (1-1, 3.46)
MLB betting lines: Phillies +155, Rays -175

Is it swan song time for Jamie Moyer? It’s been an amazing run, but he may finally be out of gas, as his 6.35 ERA suggests. However, I have a feeling he helps bust the Phillies out of their six-game skid tonight. He has a somewhat useful 5.40 ERA on the road – good enough with the Phillies bats behind you – and he handled the Rays in the deciding game of the World Series. In fact, he held Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena hitless.

David Price is a special pitcher, so it’s understandable that sportsbooks favor the Rays. However, while many fans love his 30 strikeouts in 26 innings, it’s easy to forget his 18 walks during that time span. That’s simply too high for a major league pitcher, and the Phillies will punish him if he doesn’t hit the plate.

Pick: Phillies

Wednesday, June 24, 7:08 p.m. ET
Joe Blanton (4-3, 5.28) vs Matt Garza (4-5, 3.83)
MLB betting lines: Phillies +145, Rays -165

Time for Tampa to strike back. The Rays have to feel confident sending promising youngster Matt Garza to the hill against the Phillies. He’s quickly establishing himself as a big-game pitcher, having allowed just seven earned runs in 33.2 innings in five starts against the Yankees and Red Sox. Joe Blanton must have nightmares about Tropicana field, as he has a 7.64 ERA there. Carlos Pena has sweet dreams about facing Blanton, hitting .571 off the portly hurler. You have to give the edge to the Rays here.

Pick: Rays

Thursday June 25, 7:08 p.m. ET
Antonio Bastardo (2-2, 5.21) vs Andy Sonnanstine (5-7, 6.60)
MLB betting lines: Not posted yet

Oh, boy. Looks like the home run derby starts early this year. Andy Sonnanstine has been a special kind of bad in 2009 – the kind that usually earns you a ticket to Class-AAA. He’s allowed at least one homer in eight straight starts and 14 in total over that span. Is there any way he can handle a prolific power-hitting team like Philly?

Antonio Bastardo has taken his lumps (though I assume his jersey sales remain strong – what’s the price per head on those at Citizens Bank Park?), but only at home. He’s 2-0 with a 2.45 road ERA in his young career and is a good bet to survive on Thursday.

Pick: Phillies

(Stay up to date with latest news on the World Series schedule at http://www.worldseries.com.)

Game 5 of the World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies was suspended due to rain in Philadelphia before the bottom half of the 6th inning began.

The game is currently scheduled to resume Tuesday night at 8:00 and according to Commissioner Bud Selig will not be moved to Tampa Bay under any circumstances. Furthermore, regardless of what day the game is ultimately played, it will begin at 8:00 ET.

Tomorrow’s scheduled start time is obviously contingent on the weather. Click here to stay up to date on the latest Philadelphia area weather forecast. As of right now, according to the hour-by-hour forecast, it looks like rain is expected for tomorrow night as well. The 10-day forecast shows sunshine on Thursday.

As for the game, Carlos Pena came up with an RBI in the top of the 6th inning that pretty much bailed Major League Baseball out of a pretty embarrassing situation. Had BJ Upton not beaten out an infield single with 2 out and nobody, and had Pena not subsequently driven in the typing run, the Major League Baseball rulebook would not have allowed for the game to be suspended. The end result would have been a Philadelphia victory, and World Series championship, in the first rain-shortened game in Major League history.

Interestingly, the MLB rulebook was changed in 2007 to allow for suspended tie games in the World Series. Prior to 2007, the game would have been declared a tie and started over from the first inning. Jayson Stark and his crooked mustache do a great job of breaking the whole situation down in his Playoffs Blog on ESPN.com.

Another interesting note from the Stark blog: the Rays already checked out of their hotel rooms, thinking that they would be flying back to Tampa after the game. Apparently they were still scrambling for hotel rooms as of about 11:00pm because their original hotel rooms were booked.

What a wacky night in Philly. But thank goodness for Carlos Pena, because it would have been a real shame had the World Series ended with the score 2-1 because of the rain. Looks like the exorcism of the “devil” from the Rays’ name has paid dividends once again. Major League Baseball should definitely look into changing that rule. The mere chance that such a result could conceivably occur needs to be eliminated from the realm of possibility.

[tags]mlb, world series, game 5 suspended, tampa bay rays, philadelphia phillies[/tags]

Last night, after an hour and a half rain delay, the Philadelphia Phillies took advantage of the Tampa Bay Rays’ late-inning pitching mistakes to claim victory in Game 3 that ended at 1:47 am. The Phillies took a 2-1 advantage in the World Series. According to the SI.com account of the game, the Rays were also treated to the typically brotherly warm chilly reception given to visitors from the notorious Philadelphia fans.

Game 4 is scheduled for tonight, and the NFL does not have a Sunday Night Football game scheduled to accommodate the World Series. According to Weather.com, the projected forecast around Citizens Bank Park is clear for the entire evening. So the game should start on time, giving more people a chance to watch the finish, which many fans (including me), were not able to stay up and do last night.

The pitching matchup for tonight’s World Series Game 4, scheduled to begin at 8:00 on Fox, is as follows:

Tampa Bay Rays: Andy Sonnanstine (13-9), 4.38 ERA during the regular season

Andy Sonnanstine has only faced one batter currently on the Philadelphia Phillies roster: Matt Stairs; and Stairs did have good success in his 12 ABs versus Sonnanstine, going 4-12 with a HR.

Philadelphia Phillies: Joe Blanton (9-12), 4.69 ERA during the regular season

Joe Blanton has had pitched against all of the Rays primary hitters, as he only came over from Oakland this season. Carl Crawford is 7-22 lifetime against Blanton, while Carlos Pena is 4-7 with two bases on balls. This season, Blanton started once against the Rays and went 6 innings while given up four earned runs. He did pitched well at Citizens Bank Park after joining the Phillies, going 2-0 with a 3.55 ERA in 38 innings and 7 starts. In the three seasons prior to 2008, the Rays hit .315 off of Joe Blanton as a team.

It is hard to pick against the Philadelphia Phillies at home, even though I’d like to see the Rays even up the series; but I don’t see it happening. The Phillies’ offense appears to be waking up, and the Rays might have been a little unnerved by the nastiness at Citizens Bank Park last night. Joe Blanton has pitched well at home during his time as a Philly, and this will be the most difficult start of Andy Sonnanstine’s young career — and it comes in a pretty difficult venue to play in as a visitor. The Rays have had success against Joe Blanton, so I think both offenses will have success. But the Rays’ bullpen proved to be leaky last night, while the Phillies have Brad Lidge at the end of the game ready to shut it down.

My prediction: Philadelphia Phillies 8 | Tampa Bay Rays 6

Check out our World Series Preview for the rest of the World Series schedule, as well as the projected pitching matchups.

[tags]world series, tampa bay rays, philadelphia phillies, mlb[/tags]

No, neither of the Chicago teams that we were rooting for here at Midwest Sports Fans made the World Series. But still, as baseball fans, most of us will be taking an interest in the World Series.

I think that Boston-LA would have made for, at least on paper, better storylines and drama; but a Tampa Bay-Philadelphia World Series definitely features two exciting teams with great young players, and it features the best and most positive story in Major League Baseball since all the steroids madness started: the improbable run of the young, perennially down-trodden Tampa Bay Rays to the World Series.

The World Series follows the 2-3-2 format at all of the games are, of course, televised on Fox (Joe Buck! Tim McCarver!) and while MLB.com currently lists the Rays’ pitching rotation as TBD (as of this posting), ESPN.com at least made an educated guess. You may want to check these on a daily basis though, as the Rays getting stretched to 7 games by the Red Sox may necessitate Joe Maddon switching things up a bit.

Here is the schedule:

Game 1 — Wed, October 22nd, 8:00 ET — Philadelphia at Tampa Bay | Cole Hamels v Scott Kazmir

Game 2 — Thu, October 23rd, 8:00 ET — Philadelphia at Tampa Bay | Brett Myers v James Shields

Game 3 — Sat, October 25th, 8:00 ET — Tampa Bay at Philadelphia | Matt Garza v Jaime Moyer

Game 4 — Sun, October 26th, 8:00 ET — Tampa Bay at Philadelphia | Andy Sonnanstine v Joe Blanton

Game 5* — Mon, October 27th, 8:00 ET — Tampa Bay at Philadelphia | Cole Hamels v Scott Kazmir (projected)

Game 6* — Wed, October 29th, 8:00 ET — Philadelphia at Tampa Bay | Brett Myers v James Shields (projected)

Game 7* — Thu, October 30th, 8:00 ET — Philadelphia at Tampa Bay | Matt Garza v Jaime Moyer (projected)

* – if necessary

As far as predictions go, both teams are pretty significant rolls heading into the series. Tampa Bay has been on a magical roll all season long; and as with the White Sox in 2005 I just think that Tampa Bay is destiny’s darling this year.

I was surprised that they were able to beat the Red Sox in Game 7, and I think they will ultimately take the World Series in either Game 6 or Game 7 at Tropicana Field in front of some very deserving home fans. This is based on nothing more than a gut feeling, and in knowing that the Rays now have David Price at the end of games to ensure that Dan Wheeler doesn’t piss away a 9th inning lead.

All in all, it should be a great World Series (despite Joe Buck and Tim McCarver).

What is your prediction?

[tags]world series, mlb, philadelphia phillies, tampa bay rays[/tags]

Click here for the latest updates on the suspended World Series Game 5

The Boston Red Sox proved that the ALCS is still very much alive with a thrilling 8-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays tonight. Tampa Bay led 7-0 heading into the bottom of the 7th inning, but the Red Sox rallied to score 7 runs over the next two innings and then won the game on a JD Drew RBI in the bottom of the 9th inning.

The Red Sox victory tonight forces the series back to Tampa Bay for Game 6 on Saturday, when Captain Clutch Josh Becket, a consistent playoff stalwart before this season, takes on James Shields. I love James Shields and I love this Tampa Bay team. Once my beloved White Sox were eliminated by the Rays, they became my surrogate team to root for in this year’s playoffs. And I know that Josh Beckett struggled mightily in his last outing. However, if you had a gun to your head and had to pick a winner of this game could you possibly pick against Josh Beckett?

One bad ALCS start does not erase the indelible memories of Josh Beckett dominating the New York Yankees as a rookie for the Marlins, or the many clutch postseason starts he has made for the Red Sox. Tampa Bay has proven that they will not wilt underneath the pressure of the moment, and that they are more than capable of reaching the World Series. Personally, I just don’t think they can do it against Josh Beckett again (assuming he doesn’t, you know, come down with a blister on his finger in the first inning or something — and yes, I still hold some bitterness from past fantasy baseball seasons.)

A Red Sox victory would force a decisive Game 7 on Sunday and pit John Lester against Matt Garza. I’m not making any predictions on a game that isn’t guaranteed, but I have this bad feeling that Tampa Bay missed their shot to close the Red Sox out tonight. The heart and experience of a champion is difficult to overcome once they have some momentum. The Red Sox now have momentum, and it will take everything these young Tampa Bay Rays can muster to close this series out even though they are at home.

Now, you may be asking, what does the Red Sox-Rays series have to do with Midwest sports? Well, let’s get to that.

While doing a random perusal of ESPN.com after the game ended, I noticed the picture to your right, and I have to say that I take exception to the headline used by ESPN.com tonight. The headline: “Don’t Stop Believing.” I’m not quite sure, but if memory serves me correct I believe another baseball team nicknamed “the Sox” already used that phrase to describe a thrilling playoff run.

Yes, the Chicago White Sox — back in 2005. For proof, or just for a pleasant trip down memory lane for White Sox fans, click on this beautiful link right here. You can also see the incomparable Steve Perry singing live at the White Sox World Series rally by clicking on this cheesy, but still exciting for White Sox fans, link here.

I realize that the Red Sox had nothing to do with ESPN.com’s headline choice. But there is a part of me that sees this as some sort of jinx for the Red Sox. “Don’t Stop Believing” will forever be linked in the baseball world to the White Sox 2005 championship run. Who did the White Sox beat in the first round of the playoffs in 2005 during their run of supreme of belief? The Red Sox. And every White Sox fan I have talked to is pulling for the Rays now that the White Sox are out of the playoffs. Thus, the karmic power of “Don’t Stop Believing” is now directed towards the Rays, not the “other Sox”.

If anyone should be branded with label of unyielding belief, it should be the Rays. They believed enough to overcome a franchise history of complete failure to reach the spot they are in now. And I just have this feeling that such second-hand association with this sublime phrase is going to be counter-productive for the Red Sox. Am I making sense? Probably not. But I think the Red Sox may just have won the series with their victory tonight, and I don’t want to see it happen. So now I’m grasping for straws to make myself believe that James Shields and (ugh) Matt Garza can overcome Josh Beckett and John Lester.

Plus, I manage this blog with one simple philosophy: anytime I can pimp the White Sox winning the World Series and justify playing a cheesy video of Steve Perry, I do it. Mission accomplished.

Now let’s just hope the Rays can go out this weekend and accomplish their mission. Because who the hell really wants to see the damn Red Sox and their annoying fans win another World Series?

[tags]boston red sox, tampa bay rays, chicago white sox, mlb, baseball, steve perry[/tags]

It’s hard, when you get no love from your own squad. They barely make Sportscenter and the only thing other fans outside of the Bay say is, “Your team should be in AAA.” I spent my college years in Boston in a sea of Red Sox and Yankees who just laughed at me. It was an amusement, “Wait, are you a Rays’ fan?…..Wow, that’s….That sucks. HA! Man, didn’t think there were any Rays fans.” Well, we exist and we have feelings, thank you. It stung a lot when you got to see AL playoffs that you thought you would never, ever see. There was no tradition of winning, there was not a major Rays’ nation, we played in a dome! Knowing what I know about the Rays, home games and a childhood spent there seemed to pale in comparison to my friends who grew up in Yankee Stadium, Fenway, even Camden Yards. We were a laughing stock compared to the epic ALCS matchups of 2004, 2005. My team was hard to embrace in the face of some best baseball games ever played, games that I would never get to be a part of.

I got over it, I made trips to Fenway knowing I could see my team and get a ticket that wasn’t in high demand on the corner of Yawkey. I kept the talk of my allegiance to the top of my head and paid more attention to the news in baseball. I hate to say it like this, but I faded.

Growing up going to games at the Trop was easy, you could get in for 8 bucks and sit 8 rows above the dugout by the second inning. It was even more common because my pops worked for Tropicana. News of free corporate tickets would drift through email chains and my Dad would end up leaving a voice mail at home saying, “Just got four tickets to the Rays game on Saturday, who’s in? Don’t all jump at once.” I loved going, we would drink in the parking lot, buy beer with someone’s brothers’ fake ID, and eat dollar dogs. It was a great way to spend a lazy summer day. I loved my team, but I wanted to taste October.

When I moved to Chicago, I knew I couldn’t root for the Cubs, to me they stunk of the Red Sox and Yankees with fans who were spoiled by tradition and pride of any sort that I couldn’t find in any corner of the Trop. I felt comfortable with following the Sox. They were a team that I could relate to, that I lived near and was surrounded by constantly. You start to follow a team, simply by the city you live in and you grow on a squad. You go to games and you gotta’ cheer for someone, pick the local boys. So, I did. Got plenty of chances to games, went all the time as a baseball fan but the Cell grew on me. I liked that team, they seemed humble like my hometown boys. Especially, in the ’07 season.

I knew that there would only be so many games when I had to pick sides and never thought that it would be in a game that mattered. They never really did, until I went to the Rays series in August this year. The White Sox got tested and the Rays won the series in a commanding fashion. I watched with mixed emotion trying to make sense of it all. Who are you? Who is this team wearing blue and white? Where’s the Devil Rays of purple and green? The team who was a joke. The team who I wanted to break out since I was 11. Now, a decade later, you mean something? When I’ve started talking to another team.

I knew the Rays would win the division but wasn’t close enough to New England anymore to relish it like I would have. I got my digs in on the Yankees and loved dethroning the Red Sox. (I can’t wait till Red Sox fans piss and moan and, then, piss their spoiled ass pants, when the Rays win this ALCS. Fuck Brady. Fuck Papelbon. Fuck Paul Pierce.)

This was different. I like the White Sox. I went to the Twins playoff game alone cause I wanted to be a part of the Sox run. Knowing, full well, that a White Sox win would force a series start in Tampa Bay. What would I do? I waffled and rooted for the series to go deep, just to enjoy the ride. I couldn’t ask for something more fulfilling than to know that I had the luck of being happy with either team going to the playoffs. I felt a huge swell of pride, knowing that the Red Sox were the wildcard and the Twins had to go home.

But I was clearly torn. I stumbled through conversations about my colors during the series. I just changed the subject tried to explain my situation. My father wrote an accusatory text message from Tropicana Field during game 2, “Remember where you were Raysed, boy.” I was torn. I knew game one would go to the Rays and I was good there. Game two was understood, frustrating for the Sox fan in me because a sweep was on the horizon. We got over that hump Sunday and I was glad to know that a game 4 would be played Monday. After Upton’s homerun, though, I knew it was coming. This Rays team is good and we were on the ropes by the 4^th. Even though a number of my expletives expressed frustration with Sox hitting I walked away from the game thinking. Is my Crawford jersey clean? Cause I’m gonna fucking murder some Red Sox fans and lose my voice in bar, send obnoxious voicemails to all my spoiled college buddies wearing their Brady jersey and ’04 World Series hats. Then I’m gonna take a day off work and go see a World Series game in the Trop with my buddies who still live with their parents. Who can’t get excited for that opportunity?

Fairweather, traitor, bandwagon? Yeah, I get it, feel free to launch them all at me but I really don’t care because I’m in love with baseball, and right now, it loves me back.

Just bookmark this link and enter your email address below to be sent a reminder before the game starts. Then plop down on the couch with your laptop and enjoy the game with us, sending in comments whenever you feel like adding to the conversation.
[tags]chicago white sox, tampa bay rays, mlb, mlb playoffs, baseball, live blog[/tags]

ALDS Game 4: Chicago White Sox v Tampa Bay Rays at U.S. Cellular Field

Time: 4:07 CT

TV: TBS

Radio: ESPN Radio

Pitchers: Gavin Floyd (17-8) v Andy Sonnanstine (13-9)

This is an interesting pitching matchup. Andy Sonnanstine finished the year with a 4.38 ERA and two out of his three starts against the White Sox were pretty pedestrian. However, his other start was a complete game shutout in April in Tropicana Field. Now, we all remember way back in April when the White Sox bats were absolutely non-existent and Carlos Quentin was still a part-timer, right? My point is that I am not afraid of Andy Sonnanstine producing any similar pitching gems at U.S. Cellular Field tomorrow afternoon. Neither of his other two starts were awful, but neither was a quality start either. I think tomorrow will be a little bit more like that.

Jim Thome, Orlando Cabrera, and AJ Pierzynski have had the most success against Andy Sonnanstine in the careers. In fact, AJ Pierzynski hased owned Sonnanstine in nine at-bats, generating six base hits. I am calling it right now: AJ Pierzynski is my pick to click for tomorrow. He played well tonight, and he always seems to come up with big plays in big spots for the White Sox. I certainly would not be surprised to see Jermaine Dye or Jim Thome or Alexei Ramirez come through as well, but look for AJ to get that key RBI in the mid-innings that gives us the lead for good.

How am I so sure that he’ll be giving us the lead for good early? Two reasons:

1 – Gavin Floyd is on the hill. I don’t see him totally shutting down the Rays, but something in the 6-7 inning range with 2-3 runs given up. Floyd has not been light’s out over the past few months, but he has pitched consistently well at home, and he always gives the White Sox a chance to win in big spots. Plus, the Rays hitters have not seen Gavin Floyd this season. I always give the edge to the pitcher when there is an absence of familiarity. The White Sox hitters, on the other hand, have seen Andy Sonnanstine three times. And each time they performed a little better than the last. Have we figured Sonnanstine out? Certainly moreso than in April. And certainly more than the Rays have Gavin Floyd and his nasty stuff figured out.

2 – The White Sox bullpen has pitched very well ever since every game became life-or-death critical for our season. Today put me over the edge: I am back on board with having confidence in the middle relievers. There is no way Ozzie will trot Boone Logan or Ehren Wasserman or Horacio Ramirez out there, and thank God for that. However, Octavio Dotel and Matt Thornton are doing a great job of bridging the gap to Bobby Jenks; and Bobby has been light’s out. I think the Sox can get 4-5 of Sonnanstine in the first six innings of the game, and Floyd will be able to hold the Rays to 2-3 during that same time period. I can see our relievers letting maybe one run slip through, but no more.

Official prediction: Chicago White Sox – 6 | Tampa Bay Rays – 3

Winning Pitcher: Gavin Floyd (Save for Jenks)

Pick to Click: AJ Pierzynski

A win would move the series back to Tampa Bay for Game Five, to be played on Wednesday at 5:07 on TBS (as of right now, anyway. These times appear to be subject to change). My prediction is that Mark Buehrle will start Game Five, because it definitely will not be Javier Vazquez, and I will have the utmost confidence in our chances to steal that game on the road and move on. We have to get to Game Five first, but I think the battery of Gavin Floyd and AJ Pierzynski will lead us there tomorrow afternoon.

[tags]chicago white sox, tampa bay rays, mlb, mlb playoffs, baseball[/tags]

Dewayne Wise lead the powered-down offense with a double, two RBI and a stolen base as the White Sox scored five runs off of Matt Garza using something that hadn’t been present in the first two games – smallball.

Looking more like the Rays on the bases, the White Sox swiped three bases, usually their two week total, and scored all their runs without the aid of the home run. Danks, coming off his tiebreaker gem against the Minnesota Twins, pitched well enough to hand the ball over to three relievers who then sealed the deal.

Akinori Iwamura (2-5, .385 for the series) got the scoring started off with an infield single that Danks wasn’t able to get over to the base in time. Despite having a first and third, one out situation in the first and runners on second and third in the second, Danks pitched out of both innings with only one run managing to score. He settled down after that, not allowing another runner to second base until the 7th inning homer by B.J. Upton. His ability to hold the Rays runners on was crucial to his quality outing.

The White Sox, however, were all over the bases. After a Garza walked leadoff man Wise in the 3rd inning, the station-to-station White Sox offense kicked in, with Juan Uribe lining out and Orlando Cabrera striking out.

Then something funny happened. On a 2-1 pitch with Pierzynki batting, Wise stole second. This set the tone for the rest of the evening. Pierzynski singled on the next pitch, scoring Wise, trying up the game. Brian Anderson, pinch-running for Griffey in the 6th after a walk, also stole second, keeping out of the double play, and eventually scored on Juan Uribe’s single.

But the Slow Sox reared their ugly head again in the 4th. Jim Thome doubled to leadoff the inning and Paul Konerko walked. Griffey singled to right, but, true to form, Thome didn’t score and the bases were loaded. After a sacrifice fly by Ramirez scored Thome and advanced both Konerko and Griffey, who almost got tagged out at second, Wise promptly smacked a double just over the reach of Evan Longoria, scoring Konerko and Griffey and staking the Sox to a 4-1 lead they would not relinquish.

The Rays added two on Upton’s homer in the 7th. Dotel, Thornton, and Jenks worked 2 1/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit ball. Jenks earned his first save of the postseason.

The Sox will send Gavin Floyd (17-8, 3.84; did not face Rays in 2008) up against Andy Sonnanstine (13-9, 4.38; 1-0, 3.00 vs. White Sox in 3 starts) with the Sox hoping to send it back to the Trop for another game.

Sunday’s Pick to Click: Dewayne Wise. Set the tone early with the stolen base. Also went 1-for-2 with a double and 2 RBI.

[tags]chicago white sox, tampa bay rays, mlb, mlb playoffs, baseball, dewayne wise, john danks[/tags]

John Danks pitched 6-2/3 innings in today’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays in another blackout at U.S. Cellular Field. Danks was not as sharp as he was on Monday night against the Twins, getting into significant trouble in both of the first two innings. Yet, he battled and was consistently able to make the necessary pitches to get himself out of jams. Other than B.J. Upton’s 7th inning home run that cut a 5-1 lead to 5-3, none of the Rays hitters could really make solid contact off of Danks. For the game, Danks gave up three earned runs, seven hits, walked three, and struckout seven.

Rays pitcher Matt Garza appeared to be on his game early, consistently hitting 96-97 MPH with his fastball and blowing through the White Sox hitters during his first time around the order. However, in his second time around, the White Sox veteran hitters, led by Jim Thome, made adjustments and played enough small ball to manufacture the game-winning runs in the 4th innings. Alexei Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly to score Thome from third, and Dewayne Wise hit a bases clearing double to drive in the other two. The Sox left the 4th inning with a 5-1 lead and Danks and the bullpen combined to complete the Game Three win.

The bullpen was a pleasant surprise for the White Sox. Octavio Dotel came in to pitch for Danks in the 7th and got out of a jam against the only batter he faced. Matt Thornton pitched a solid 8th inning and then handed the game over to Bobby Jenks. The White Sox flame-flowing closer provided a tad bit of drama by allowing the tying run to reach the plate in the person of Carlos Pena after a two-out single by BJ Upton. But Rays hitters were 4-33 combined off of Jenks coming into the game, and left the 5-37 with only a 1 game lead now in the best-of-five series.

The White Sox and Rays will resume their ALDS series tomorrow afternoon beginning at 4:07 CT. Gavin Floyd is scheduled to pitch against Andy Sonnanstine. No one knows what Ozzie will do with the lineup, but one thing is for sure: the White Sox play their best baseball when their backs are against the wall, and when they are playing in front of the crazed blackout at home on the South Side in U.S. Cellular Field. The pitching matchup, the venue, the fan support, and the history of White Sox veterans coming up big in elimination games should place the smart money on the White Sox tomorrow. A White Sox win would send the series back to Tampa for a decisive Game Five on Wednesday, with ace Mark Buehrle most likely on the bump.

We have to get there first, but after our performance this past week, my confidence is sky high. Well done White Sox!

[tags]chicago white sox, tampa bay rays, mlb, mlb playoffs, john danks[/tags]

[tags]live chat, chicago white sox, tampa bay rays, baseball, mlb, mlb playoffs[/tags]

(Read this article and then head on over to White Sox – Rays livecast)

The White Sox go into their Game Three matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays in U.S. Cellular Field this afternoon with their backs firmly against the wall. This Sunday, Chicago finds itself in the exact same position it was in last Sunday: win or go home. Assuming the White Sox can win today (and I am) they will be in the same position tomorrow: win or go home. The question is, can they take today’s game? Before we look at some reasons why they can, here are the particulars:

Date/Time/Venue: Today, October 5 – 3:07 Central Time at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago

TV: TBS

Radio: ESPN Radio

Next Game: Monday, October 6 – 4:07 Central Time

So, why am I so confident that White Sox will win today?

1 – First off, the White Sox are at home, where they went 54-28 during the regular season. Included in those 54 wins were two back-against-the-wall triumphs over Cleveland and Detroit, plus a game 163 1-0 thriller over the Twins. Tampa Bay was a decent road team this year (40-41) but the White Sox had the 4th best home record in majors this season. (Coincidentally, do you know who was the best home team in baseball this year? The Rays.)

2 – We have a distinct advantage in the pitching matchup today. John Danks, who was brilliant against the Minnesota Twins in the one-game playoff, has been similarly brilliant against Tampa Bay this season (unlike Game Two starter Mark Buehrle, who has actually struggled against the Rays his entire career). Here are the numbers for John Danks against Tampa Bay this season:

2-1 1.86 ERA 20:3 K:BB .219 BAA

Not too shabby. How about Matt Garza against the White Sox? He did not start against them during the regular season this year, but has faced the White Sox in the past while a member of the Minnesota Twins. The stats:

1-1 4.97 ERA 14:8 K:BB .386 BAA

3 – This team and its fans never stop believing. And I firmly believe that the incredible atmosphere of U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday against Minnesota contributed to our 1-0 victory. I anticipate the same type of atmosphere today, as does John Danks (according to quotes from Chisox.com):

“I’ve been riding a pretty high confidence level right now,” Danks said. “I feel good going into the game. Obviously, it’s a new game, anything can happen. But experiencing the atmosphere and pitching well, I think it helped. We’ll see how much it helps on Sunday, but I feel really good going into the game.

It will be difficult for a young team like the Rays to come into Chicago and get a W either today or tomorrow. They have proven their postseason mettle by winning two straight against a veteran team at home. This Rays team is a good, solid team that is built for now and for the future. But I will be both shocked, and extremely impressed, if they can get out of the South Side with a win. All bets are off once we have to travel back to their place, but for today and tomorrow it is hard to find reasons suggesting the White Sox will lose.

My pick to click? Paul Konerko, the captain. He is 3-5 with a HR and three RBI versus Garza in his career and he usually steps up when the White Sox really need it. I’m anticipating a pretty good offensive outburst from the White Sox today, and I think Paulie will lead it; and, lead the White Sox to a 7-3 victory and renewed life in the ALDS.

Who is your pick to click?

[tags]chicago white sox, tampa bay rays, mlb, mlb playoffs, baseball[/tags]

I’ve had a few beverages (BJ’s monthly microbrew this month is Octoberfest…it’s good. I have a lot of them, I should know.) so I am probably not in any state to provide any type of objective or coherent analysis on the game. No, I’ll leave that up to the experts. If you want a recap of tonight’s game, here are some links:

Chisox.com Game Two Recap

Chicago Tribune Game Two Recap

Sun-Times Game Two Recap

Here are my quick-hit thoughts from tonight’s game:

1 – Scott Kazmir outdueled Mark Buehrle. Look, I gained some respect for Scott Kazmir tonight. He gave up two runs in the first inning and it could have been much worse. And he found himself in trouble on more than one occasion after the first. But he made pitches and got outs against experienced and talented hitters. Scott Kazmir made a few more pitches than Mark Buehrle did tonight, and it led his team to a 2-0 victory. Well done Scott Kazmir. You proved me wrong.

2 – Our station-to-station offense has not been productive through two games. And I don’t think we are magically going to turn into a run-manufacturing, small ball team for games 3-5. Our boppers need to get hot and crank a few out of the ball park or our 2008 playoff experience will be a short one. The White Sox without Carlos Quentin are only as good as Jermaine Dye-Paul Konerko-Jim Thome are in the heart of the order. They need to step up once we go home. I don’t doubt that they will.

3 – Tampa Bay’s young guys are stepping up to the plate in pressure situations. They are hitting in the clutch, pitching in the clutch, and proving that “experience” is probably overrated. What I forgot in my last post was that most of the White Sox key players in 2005 were playing in their first postseason games. What do you want from me? I’m a die hard White Sox fan who supports my team to the last out and never will be apathetic about our chance to win (the complete opposite of a Cubs fan, as this year’s playoffs have proven). I was hoping our experience would give us a huge advantage. So far, it has not.

4 – This series is going back to Tampa. I have no official prediction right now for Game 5. But I do think there will be a game 5. John Danks and Gavin Floyd have already proven their mettle in true “must-win-or-the-season-is-literally-over” games. I trust them in Games 3 and 4 and I think our hitters will be more comfortable at the U.S. Cellular launching pad in front of a crazed and supportive Blacked Out crowd.

That’s it for tonight. I will have more coherent thoughts tomorrow. I have not stopped believing and none of the Wrigley Apathy has washed over me. I will support the White Sox until the final out, and if pressed to place money on the subject, I would place my dollars on the final out being Bobby Jenks striking someone out in the World Series. As long as we have Ozzie Guillen, Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko, AJ Pierzynski, Mark Buehrle, and Bobby Jenks, I will not lose faith in the White Sox until their season is officially over.

Our backs are now firmly against the wall. The problem for Tampa Bay is that the White Sox play their best baseball in their most desperate times. I already can’t wait until Sunday.

[tags]chicago white sox, tampa bay rays, baseball, mlb, mlb playoffs[/tags]

So why will the White Sox win Game Two? Here are two key reasons as we preview tomorrow’s game:

1 – The White Sox have the better lefty. Game Two features a tremendous pitching matchup between White Sox ace Mark Buehrle and Tampa Bay ace Scott Kazmir. Both pitchers have had up-and-down seasons, and can be erratic throughout a long, 162-game season, but they would be each team’s first choice to be on the bump if their teams absolutely had to have a win. It will be a great matchup. Who has the edge? Well, let’s look at some numbers.

Scott Kazmir Stats

Season: 12-8 | 3.49 ERA | 166:70 K:BB | 1.27 WHIP

vs White Sox (2008): 1-0 | 2.08 ERA | 13:5 K:BB | .163 BAA

in September: 2-2 | 5.19 ERA | 26:15 K:BB | .240 BAA

Playoff Experience: None

Mark Buehrle Stats

Season: 15-12 | 3.79 ERA | 140:52 K:BB | 1.34 WHIP

vs Tampa Bay (2008): 0-1 | 4.58 ERA | 15:6 K:BB | .316 BAA

in September: 4-1 | 2.29 ERA | 30:10 K:BB | .267 BAA

Playoff Experience: 3-1 | 3.42 ERA | 13:1 K:BB | 1 World Series Title

So, what do the numbers tell us? Well, their overall stats for the year were relatively similar. Scott Kazmir obviously had greater success against White Sox hitters than Mark Buehrle did against Rays hitters. However, I think the bottom two rows of each stat line are the most telling. When his team needed him most this season, in September, Mark Buehrle was outstanding after really struggling in August. That is why Mark Buehrle is an ace in the truest sense of the word: he knows how to turn it up a notch when his team needs him. And Mark Buehrle has successful playoff experience. He has won a World Series and has proven he is capable of pitching big in big games.

Is Scott Kazmir?

Well, with his team fighting to win the AL East down the stretch, Kazmir limped home with a 5.19 ERA. Something tells me that might have been artificially inflated, as his K:BB and BAA were not awful. However, team aces and trusted big game pitchers do not produce 5.19 ERAs down the stretch.

Pitching usually dictates all baseball games, and this axiom is especially true in the postseason. Just as I thought Javier Vazquez would be the reason the White Sox would lose today, I can state with the utmost confidence Mark Buehrle gives the White Sox a tremendous advantage tomorrow.

2 – Tampa Bay has a talented young roster. However, for all of their talent, they have only played in one postseason game. Of course, as Evan Longoria proved today, experience isn’t always everything. But today the Rays faced a pitcher struggling with his confidence who has consistently failed in big games (Javier Vazquez). Tomorrow, they face a pitcher in Mark Buehrle who will dictate the pace of the action, pound the strike zone, probably give up some hits but also get some double plays, and will make them earn any run they get.

The White Sox hitters have a difficult task as well if the Scott Kazmir that shows up is not the same guy from September. The difference between the White Sox and Rays’ hitters is the experienced presence in the heart of the White Sox order. Jim Thome and Ken Griffey Jr have loads of experience (though not a lot of successful playoff experience) and were huge in the one-game playoff against the Minnesota Twins. Alexei Ramirez and Dewayne Wise have injected a new presence into the White Sox lineup this year and come up with big hits in key moments.

The key for the White Sox, though, will be the contributions of Jermaine Dye (the 2005 World Series MVP) and Paul Konerko (the White Sox team captain). Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko are the types of experienced veterans who step up in key moments. They always have. Obviously, Jermaine Dye stepped up huge in the 2005 World Series, and was equally as outstanding in 2006 despite the failure of the White Sox pitching staff to allow the team to make a return trip to the playoffs. Paul Konerko has made a tremendous impact during the stretch run for the White Sox. After enduring injuries and horrific struggles at the plate all summer that included a platoon at first base for a time, Paulie rebounded in September to slug .649 with 9 home runs and 15 RBIs.

Tomorrow will be a prime game for these two White Sox leaders to step up and lead the White Sox to a victory. Not only have they proven to be clutch, but they are the two White Sox hitters who have found success against Scott Kazmir. For his career, Jermaine Dye is hitting .333 against Scott Kazmir in 15 ABs, and has hit 2 home runs. Paul Konerko is also hitting .333 against Scott Kazmir, with a home run, a double, and 2 RBIs. I think both of these guys will step up and drive in at least one run, if not more.

With Mark Buehrle on the hill going 8 strong innings and then handing the game off to Bobby Jenks, two runs may be all it will take for (Ed Farmer Alert!) a White Sox winner. I think the White Sox will tack on a couple more than two, and Mark Buehrle will give up two of his own in 8 innings while scattering 9 hits, walking one, and striking out 4. Bobby Jenks…umm, did you see the tenacity in his eyes against the Twins on Tuesday night? He’s dialed in, and not giving up anything. (Hawk Harrelson Alert!) You can put it on the board — a 4-2 White win — Yeees!

[tags]chicago white sox, tampa bay rays, baseball, mlb, mlb playoffs, mark buehrle[/tags]

Hopefully the rest of my prediction comes through, because I thought that the White Sox would lose today and then take the next three to capture the series in four games.

I was only able to escape work for an hour and got to watch innings 5-7. The key sequence in the game was when the White Sox loaded the bases against James Shields but neither Juan Uribe nor Orlando Cabrera was able to even put the ball in play against Grant Balfour. Paul Konerko hit a solo shot in the 9th to give the White Sox momentary life, but Dan Wheeler shut the door from there.

The story of today’s game was Tampa Bay rookie Evan Longoria, who went 3-3 and hit 2 HRs. I’m not sure, and I don’t have time to look it up right now, but something tells me he must have set some kind of rookie record for consecutive home runs for a player in their initial playoffs at bats. Or something like that. Perhaps Longoria got a little upset when people started to mention Alexei Ramirez as a serious contender for Rookie of the Year after his incredible grand slam for the White Sox earlier this week. Either way, Longoria was the MVP of today’s game and gave notice that at least one Tampa Bay youngster would not be undone by the pressure of the playoffs.

Of course, he was facing Javier Vazquez, and we all know how well Javier Vazquez pitches in clutch situations.

I’ll write more later. It’s time to get back to work. All in all, today’s game went about as I expected it would. The Rays beat our fourth best pitcher with their first or second best (depending on how you rate Shields-Kazmir). Nothing for the White Sox to be ashamed of today. Our ace takes the hill tomorrow, and I’m pretty confident that Mark Buehrle will come through just as he has done so many times in the past.

Obviously today’s game does nothing to diminish my confident: White Sox in four. But congratulations on your first ever playoff victory as a franchise, Tampa Bay. I will say this: if the Rays do somehow beat the White Sox in this series, I will be pulling for Tampa Bay to go all the way.

[tags]chicago white sox, tampa bay rays, mlb, mlb playoffs, baseball[/tags]