White Sox watch
Posted on September 2nd, 2008 – 1:16 PMBy La Velle
Blogging live from Rogers Centre….and I’m not kidding. I’m grabbing lunch at the restaurant that overlooks the outfield. The grounds crew is really working over the pitching mound, which is odd because the Argos played at Hamilton yesterday. I’ll remember this moment if pitchers complain about the mound during the game.
The White Sox expect key right-handed reliever Scott Linebrink to return from the disabled list this week, which is a development worth tracking.
This smells like a rush job to me. A week ago, Linebrink wasn’t sure when he would pitch again and, judged by the story, his pitches aren’t sharp yet. They claim they won’t use him in late-game situations right away. Really? You wonder if Octavio Dotel hadn’t coughed up a 5.56 ERA last month - that included five homers given up to tie for the most on the staff - would the White Sox activate Linebrink.
Lefthander Matt Thornton was O.K. last month, posting a 3.65 ERA. Rigthhander D.J. Carrasco has been a nice pick up from Kansas City, as he had a 2.30 ERA in August.
Still, you get the sense that Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is a little antsy about the bullpen a carrying leads into the ninth inning - even if he doesn’t say so. He should call Gardy and find out how hard he’s had it.
Guillen told me the last time the Sox were in town that he hoped the trade for Ken Griffey, Jr. would help the struggling Paul Konerko relax. It may have worked, as Konerko hit .333 last month with a 1.074 OPS. Carlos Quentin has thrown himself into the MVP debate, batting .322 in August with eight homers, 17 RBI and a 1.130 OPS. And Alexei Ramirez, their rail-thin middle infielder, batted .308 with six homers and 22 RBI in August.
It’s about time to head over to the pressbox to set up for the game. Roy Halladay is out on the field to warm up for his bullpen session - which will be the only time I see him on a mound this week.
We all know what’s on the line here. But think of how the Sox might view this race if the Twins return from this long road trip either in first place or right behind them. The Sox will have failed to take advantage of the RNC trip.
And it will soon be their turn to sweat out a road trip, as they have four games at New York, three at Kansas City, then end the trip with three massive games at the Dome on Sept. 23-25.
41 Responses to "White Sox watch"
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It will come down to pitching depth, between the White Sox and Twins. Can we get Garza and Santana back for a bunch of crummy players?
Linebrink was joined by MacDougal and Wasserman to be activated by the Sox Monday.
And Dontrelle Willis was called up. His last 3 AAA outings:
12 innings 18 hits 7 walks.
Miggy C a great acquisition, but Dontrelle is still a mess.
I will give you my one Adam Everett for your one Roy Halladay.
W. Sox and Twins have bullpen issues difference is Twin’s starters have been better and White’s offense is better so maybe whatever bullpen can pitch good enough will be the deciding factor
I will give you my one Tolbert for your one John Lackey
you’d think the Whities offense is better but the Twins have scored 5 more runs. They have gievn up 14 more. Basically these teams do it different but are almost dead even.
thanks for your input barak!
La Velle says Quentin has thrown himself into the debate…hasn’t he actually been leading the race? Would love to see another MVP in the Twins trophy case, but I don’t think either of the M&M boys has the numbers to do it this time around. Doesn’t matter - winning the division is most important. And for those talking about the White Sox having a better offense, just check out the numbers - the Twins have scored more runs this year. Now if they could just distribute them more evenly…outscoring the A’s by 16 runs and splitting the series was unacceptable.
StormFan: Quentin has been the “quiet favorite” now that Josh Hamilton (aka The Messiah) has apparently dropped off the face of the Earth. (Or at least ESPN).
But honestly, it’s him or Morneau at this point…with the winner likely being on whichever team wins the Division.
This is because I’m starting to get the feeling that Boston isn’t going to cough up that Wild Card lead.
Why is this called the RNC trip? They haven’t played one game on this road trip so far that would have coincided with the RNC. This is the only series that needed to be on the road. It seems like the schedulers just happened to do a poor job of scheduling a west coast trip right before the Twins HAD to be out of town.
T, 9 of Boston’s remaining games are with TB (6) and NYY (3). Only another 9 games are against teams with losing records. I think Boston is still catchable for both the Twins and WhiteSox.
Btw, those 3 games vs the Yankees are the final series of the season. You just know, at that point, there’s nothing the Yanks would take more pleasure in than pulling the RedSox down in to the “no postseason for you” pit with them.
“Why is this called the RNC trip?”
because this Liberal State’s hatred for anything conservative knows no bounds
Yes, can’t wait for the bitchsox/hanks series. The sox and Twins have essentially the same home/away split stats. So I’m hoping for a sweep in Ruth’s house, as it will be the last meaningful series in Yankee Stadium history.
And don’t forget, the hankies have the 6th best record in the AL (ahead of the 5th place sox) and probably are better than their record.
Now, useing Tom Kelly’s Rule of 5 (5 games out on Labor Day), the Red Sox are still barely in their division race. But I’m still thinking we might see a big fall from the Rays.
In that case, then the WC could come down to the Rays v. the bitchsox. And they have a series together.
Fun fun fun.
BTW, the only game I know I can watch so far in that 4-gamer in NY will be the Thursday game on WGN. Hope ESPN changes its schedule.
I think Sarah Palin would do a great job.
Oops, wrong blog. Never mind.
len 3 maybe you should give gardy the jilian michaels site for him to check out before he has to go on the show! with his temper and family history he needs to mix in a salad or something,
getting worried about him.
Fire I agree 100% on this state being liberal.
MN is liberal? really?
They should call in the LAPD to deal with the protestors.
I didn’t get the whole “twins are on the road because of the RNC” thing either, dont they play in the Dome? not the Xcel?
Well, I assume it’s because of hotel bookings, police force, etc, etc… but whatever.
7-7 is looking like a good prediction now.
yep, .500 on the road is certainly a realistic goal when starting out… you would hope they could pull out a sweep or win more series than they did, but it didn’t happen. It’s just painful that they cost themselves the games rather than being outplayed or over matched in any of the games.
Still holding out for 8-6!
wow. this has nothing to do with the liberalness of the state. The Twins asked for these games to be on the road, and actually had MLB change the preliminary schedule so as not to be home during this stretch. But, go ahead, bring politcs into these threads again.
I’d say it is down to Quentin and Morneau at this point. If either can really explode in September and “carry” their team to the title, that guy will likely win.
No one in LAA or Boston is the clear guy on that team right now, and the Rays are doing it with pitching (and hitting across the lineup, they are like the Twins, but with better front line pitchers).
Pedroia and Yook have both been mentioned in MVP talk
Milton Bradley for MVP possibly if he doesn’t short circuit and get thrown out of the league before seasons end
I’ve seen Predroia thrown out there. But, I read a lot of talk over the weekend, and even the east coast sports programming network says no to that right now. However, if he were to dominate september, and they caught the Rays, he’d be a shoe in, I’d think.
Rob Neyer: (12:04 PM ET ) Pedroia is not a worthy candidate, though he’s of course having an excellent season. I’m surprised to be saying this, but I think Morneau might actually be the most worthy candidate.
I don’t think any player who is not helping a team to the playoffs should really be considered MVP. What is so valuable about gping home in Oct.?
With the media’s drooling over Yankees/ Red Sox it wouldn’t take much.
Carlos Beltran for NL and for AL ???
I like score board watching and White Sox game should be close against Carmona (7-5). Danks is only 10-7 so no big advantage there. This is funny from a fan on a White Sox blog:
“The pennant chase death struggle still has over a month left to go and absolutely no game between now and September 28 can be spared for the Sox push towards glory…..
…..Who cares who Minnesota is playing?”
Check out TwinsFix blog today, interesting take on the MVP award… personally, I dont vest a lot of stock/interest/care into who wins the MVP, or the Cy Young awards, because none of it is based on real performance and no one is ever a clear cut winner…
but as far as AL players this year, you have to mention Ian Kinsler (albeit hurt right now), along with Youkilis, Morneau, and Grady Sizemore…
NL Players, Berkman and Pujols…
Berkman is Fat Elvis
That was his old nickname….he is the Big Puma (Berkman) now….that is why there are people dressed as Pumas in Homerun alley in MMP now
Fat Elvis is better
LEN3. How did you enjoy the Toronto Argonauts 34-31 win over the Hamilton Tiger Cats in the CFL’s Labor Day Classic? I’m sure your eyes were glued to the TV set in your hotel room. (LOL)
“7-7 is looking like a good prediction now.”
Nah. It’ll be 8-7. It’s September, baby!
I mean 8-6. (Had WAY too much fund this weekend!)
As long as it’s This two-party system, Washington will never be TRULY liberal…
