Konerko's 400th in 9th Ties Game posted by Richard Kagan

Paul Konerko hit a game tying HR in the top of the 9th inning in Oakland, CA today.  The blast was the first basemen's 400th HR.  Konerko is going down as one of the great White Sox hitters.  I don't know if this is his last season, but he is a great player who has distingished himself for a team he loves.  Konerko has been with team for what seems a player's career.  He gets the big hit.  Today he has 3 hits and 6 total bases of the Sox 16.  I don't know if he mertis a Hall of Fame nod, but he will join the White Sox best and when he retires, they should retire his jersey.Continue reading "Konerko's 400th in 9th Ties Game"

Tony LaRussa Retires as Cards Mgr. posted by Richard Kagan

A note on Tony LaRussa, deciding to leave the Cards.  He went out on top.  His team did some many great things to even get to the playoffs.  They played great ball at crunch time, coming from out of nowhere to be in the thick of the WC race.

They got there with help of Atlanta's stunning collapse.  The Brave had it sewed up and ready to put on the shelf.  But the package broke and the shelf fell apart, and now the Cards crept in.  Once in the playoffs they were a tough out. 

Chris Carpenter was an ace, and they patched things together and got the big hits when it counted and down went the Phils who had a great season.  The Brew Crew thought it was their year.  But the Cards wouldn't fold.  LaRussa was a maestro in the dugout and again, everyone pitched in. 

Then it was onto the World Series where Texas sought a chance to redeem themselves after losing last year.  They came so close.  One out away in game 6, in an epic game, a game that harkens back to the Series with Boston and Cinncinatti in 1975.  Game six went back and forth.  Josh Hamilton's two run homer appeared to give the Rangers a shot in the 10th inning, when Texas took a 9-7 lead.  But the Cards tied it in their half of the 10th.  And David Freese hit a HR to end the game and send the partisan fans jumpin' for joy.  I bet that new stadium rocked a bit. 

In game 7, The Rangers took an early 2-0 lead but Cardinals answered again.  And scored 4 more times, and took the heart out of Texas.  The final score was 6-2 and this game was decided early not like the other cliffhangers.  Tony LaRussa had a brain lock in game 5 in handling the BP.  Texas took a 3-2 lead going back to St. Louis.  But to win the clinching game is the hardest, especially in Cardinals country.  Hey, Tony, you coached on the 1983 White Sox team that lost to Baltimore, and now 3 World Series titles later, you can hang 'em up.  Great career.

Apparently Ozzie is Out As ChiSox Manager posted by Richard Kagan

Word is coming down that Ozzie Guillen will be out of White Sox uniform as early as tonight.  Reports allegedly claim that Guillen will head to Florida for a player to be named in a rare "trade."  Guillen has one year left on his contract.  The Sox need a new leader and infusion of energy and Ozzie, although a colorful figure, ran out of gas. 

Since winning the World Series in 2005 with stellar post-season pitching, the Sox only made the playoffs one more time, in 2008.  They lost to Tampa Bay in the first round of the AL Divsion series.  Guillen leaves the Sox a winner, having a .523 percentage.  He was also great copy for the Chicago press.  He always had something to say, even if it caused a media stir. 

But his season the Sox underperformed.  With a high payroll, the Sox couldn't get out of their own way.  In a key series with Detroit in late August. The Sox entered the series trailing the Tigers by 5 games.   After being blasted 18-2 in one game, it was all but over.  The Sox trailed by 8 games all but ending their chances. Another series with Detroit, saw the Sox lose 2 out of 3 games to fall  further behind.  In a series with Cleveland, the Sox lost crucial games at home.  The Sox had a below .500 record at home and failed to draw a strong attendence.  With losses piling up, management made a decision, it was time for Guillen to go.

White Sox Woes posted by Richard Kagan

The Chicago White Sox are in one of their funks, on a losing streak and appear to be headed for a loss in Kansas City tonight.  Unless they can score 2 runs to tie the game.  This team is playing out the schedule.  The starting pitchers are getting roughed up and the guys aren't hitting the ball  The power quotient on this squad is pretty tepid.  Paul Konerko has one homer in like 85 at bats.  Of course that blast was a GS to ice a win.  If there was an award for not scoring runs with two outs, the Sox would win it. 

The big question lays with the status of Ozzie Guillen, the manager.  Does he stay or go?  I think time is running out.

Konerko and Morel Connect for ChiSox posted by Richard Kagan

The Chicago White Sox came up with a big seven run 7th inning at home against Cleveland on Thursday night.  Brent Morel broke a 1-1 tie with a 3 run homer and Paul Konerko, broke out of HR drought by hitting a Grand Slam to break open the game.  The Sox took a 8-1 lead into the 8th inning.  Perhaps the Sox can't win it this year, too far behind and too few games, but they can certainly finish in 2nd place a few games over .500.  The Sox are a decent team that looks good when it plays well and looks bad when it doesn't play well. 

They rarely hit in the clutch.  Konerko has the knack, and he comes up big and did so again in this game.  He has 29 Home runs and 96 RBi's and it pretty solid to finish over 30 HR's and 100 Rbi's.  Konerko is having another excellent season.  A real pro at the plate.  He doesn't get the good press that he deserves.  This guy is a star player.  He made the All-star team.  What do you want from him?  Give him a curtain call.  Good going, Paulie.

Almost Perfect Game for Stewart posted by Richard Kagan

Chicago White Sox pitcher Zach Stewart threw a 1-hitter in blanking the Minnesota Twins, 4-0 in the second game of a day-night doubleheader.  Stewart retired the first 21 batters he faced, a perfect game for 7 innings, until Danny Valencia hit a double to lead off the 8th inning for the Twins.  Stewart kept his composure and retired the next six hitters he faced for a 1 hitter in a terrific outing tonight.  Stewart was almost unhittable.  Where was that pitching in the Detroit series?

The White Sox got lambasted vs. Detroit and looked out-classed by a better team.  Then their pitching comes together and this team looks pretty good.  Stewart (2-3) struck out 9 and walked none in his first career complete game.  His effort was almost historic.  And, it was a night he won't forget. 

Sox Still Alive After Seattle Sweep posted by Richard Kagan

There is good news an bad news if you are a long-time Chicago White Sox fan.  The good news, the White Sox moved into 2nd place ahead of the Cleveland Indians by a half game when the Sox won and the Indians lost on Sunday.  Now, the bad news, the Sox face Minnesota Twins, who have the Sox's number in recent years.  The last time they played, the Sox swept the Twins in Minnesota.  The Twins will be seeking to return the favor.

The ChicSox got strong piching from Gavid Floyd who pitched into the 8th inning and left the game with a 9-2 lead.  Chicago got that lead courtesy of Dayan Viciendo's three-run blast, his first home runs as a member of the Sox.  Ty Flowers, the backup catcher to A.J. Pryzienski, hit his first grand slam over the walll in left field.  Chicago scored 6 runs in the inning to take a commanding 9-0 lead.  When you get good pitching and a productive offense, you will win games.  The problem is can the White Sox get enough run production against good teams? 

If they can, this may be a memorable September run.  If not, start looking for golf dates.  The Sox trail Detroit by 6 games and will face them 6 timed before the season ends.

Sox Are Frustrating To Follow posted by Richard Kagan

The Chicago White Sox had three hits in the bottom of the first inning vs. Clevleand Wednesday night, and came up empty.  No runs.  And, they wasted a precious hit from Adam Dunn, who singled with Paul Konerko on base.  Alexei Ramirez came to the plate with two runners on and went down on an infield out. 

This is tough to see.  The ChiSox keep on leaving runners on base.  The other night, they left 16 men on base, but managed to win the game in extra innings.  The Sox had 22 hits in barely getting by the Indians in 14 innings.

This is that time of the year when every base hit is important.  Good teams find ways to score runs.  They can play small ball, and score a run on one hit.  The Sox can do that too, but their offense seems like a bulky aircraft carrier in a small pond, when it comes to getting the key hit.  You can't always depend on a starting pitcher to bail you out.  A team has to put up numbers and hope the pitching can get you to an effective BP.  The Sox are on the fringes of a pennant race and now every game has meaning.  You can't wait until  the last 10 games to step it up.  Wins now give you a chance to play games that count in late September.  The Sox coiuld use some of those 22 hits in tonight's contest.

White Sox Finally at .500 posted by Richard Kagan

The Chicago White Sox gained respectability today when they defeated The Kansas City Royals 6-2, behind a hot John Danks, and a three-run blast by Brent Lillibridge.  Danks is now 5-9 for the year, after starting 0-8.  He's on his game at the right time.  As for the Sox, it has 42 games to get in the thick of the AL Central pennant race.  The Sox trail Detroit by 4 games and Cleveland by 2 1/2.  The Sox will have to up their game to catch the Tigers, who look pretty good in this weak Division. 

The Sox need contributions for everyone, especially Alex Rios and Adam Dunn.  If Dunn can find his stroke, the Sox will score runs.  Rios needs to get on and steal a few bases. He needs to meet the ball in the zone and make some contact.  Even a few sacrifice flies should help.  Paul Konerko is likely to have another hot streak.  Let's hope that is sooner rather than later and his hits count.  Someone on this club is due for a Grand Slam.  That is the kind of hit that can pick up a team, and the Sox now need all the help it can get.

ChiSox Don't Make It Look Easy. posted by Richard Kagan

The Chicago White Sox are a decent to good team and that's the deal.  They just left the bases loaded in the 7th inning and could have broken the game wide open.  The team scored two runs to take a slim 5-4 lead, and it is up to the bullpen to close out the game.  And, that is not a given.  A good team should have had a bigger inning.  The Sox had 1 out with the bag loaded.  Morel struck out and Brent Lillibridge made the third out.  The Sox stranded 3 runners.  That is their MO for the year, leaving runners on base.  The Sox are making it tough against the pesky Royals who play Chicago tough.

Imagine when a good team ten games over .500 comes in?  Given the Sox history, it doesn't look good.  But, they'll battle, make it interesting and then lose late.  That seems to be the tale of the 2011 Sox.  There is time to change that around, but I doubt that will happen.  This team underperforms.

Former MLB pitcher Kevin Hickey dies

Kevin Hickey, who pitched in six major league seasons with theChicago White Sox and the Baltimore Orioles, has died. He was56. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for MLB

Tigers rally, fend off White Sox late

Miguel Cabrera, Ryan Raburn and Austin Jackson homered during aneight-run rally in the sixth inning Tuesday and the Detroit Tigersbeat the Chicago White Sox 10-8. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for MLB

Tigers-White Sox Preview (The Associated Press)

A chance to face the Chicago White Sox couldn't come at a much better time for struggling Detroit Tigers slugger Prince Fielder. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Royals-White Sox Preview (The Associated Press)

If the Chicago White Sox are going to challenge for the AL Central title, they'll likely have to start playing better at home. They can follow the lead of Adam Dunn, who has found his hitting stroke at U.S. Cellular Field after a slow start there. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Indians win first of two vs. White Sox

Zach McAllister pitched six innings for his first major leaguewin as the Cleveland Indians roughed up a far-from-perfect PhilipHumber in an 8-6 win Monday over the Chicago White Sox in the firstgame of a day-night doubleheader. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for MLB