Chicago White Sox

On Sunday the White Sox made a move that some think was a little overdue. The team optioned struggling right-hander Jose Contreras to their AAA affiliate the Charlotte Knights. Contreras has been struggling since his first start of the year. In six starts this season, Contreras has a record of 0-5, an ERA of 8.19, and only 17 strikeouts in 29.2 innings this year. On last Friday, Jose went just 3.2 innings giving up 8 hits and 6 runs in a loss to the visiting Texas Rangers, whom the Sox have beaten just once this season.

Continue reading "White Sox send down struggling Contreras; ..."

  John Danks, had only given up 2 runs all season and had held Ichiro to 1 hit in 8 previous at-bats. This sounded like a good situation for the Sox and chance to sweep the Mariners in Tuesday's doubleheader.

Continue reading "Danks comes back to earth........"

Well, the White Sox got another quality start out of Bartolo Colon, in their 2-1, game 1 win on Tuesday.

Although Colon is no stranger to success in the major leagues, he was a reach for a reliable starter, and indeed was slotted as number 5 in the rotation. His start to the season has to have the club excited, and patting themselves on the back, for acquiring the veteran righthander.

Continue reading "Colon is up to the task"

With the MLB playoffs set to begin, there is a subtle difference in the air compared to start of any other postseason. In the NHL, fans can potentially look forward to a great Canadians/Bruins series that is not only exciting, but has a historical kick to it. Likewise basketball fans always have the chance to see if the Suns can finally get past the Spurs and football fans love seeing the rivalry of the Eagles Vs the City of Philadelphia when the Eagles so much as get tackled for a loss.

Continue reading "The Ups and Downs of the MLB Playoffs"

Just picture it: it’s the top of the ninth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays are holding a slim 2-1 lead over the New York Yankees. Up to bat is Derek Jeter with Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez on deck. Cito Gaston, in order to shut the door on the game and the series gets on the phone and brings in the big gun, Pedro Luis Lazo, winner of two Olympic Gold medals with Cuba and current closer of the Blue Jays. And even if he gives up a run its okay, because leading off the bottom of the ninth for the Jays is Alexei Bell, who hit 30 HR with 100 RBI with Santiago del Cuba last year.

Continue reading "Part Time Jays: How to add a little ..."

Whether you choose to root for the big-money, big-market, big-name Chicago White Sox or the small-money, small-market, little-name Twins depends on your tastes, I suppose.

If it weren't for

Continue reading "Twins in First"

A few trades of note for Mariners fans--the ones made, the ones not made, and the ones made by other teams. Here are the Top 3 Seattle Deadline Stories:

1. Rhodes is now a Marlin. This was the guy everyone figured the Mariners would deal, and it came through. It makes complete sense, as the Mariners don't need Rhodes down the stretch, for a handful of lefty specialist innings, while the Marlins do. In return, Seattle gets Gaby Hernandez, a once-well-regarded starter who's scuffled at Albuquerque (where every pitcher scuffles), and he'll get a fresh start with Tacoma and the Mariners. He's nobody special, but Rhodes is an aging lefty in a one-year deal, so Lee Pelekoudas got who he could. Nice job, Lee.

Continue reading "Mariners Deadline Analysis"

One of the All-Star Break traditions: Reassessing our predictions from the first half of the season. Some of mine have changed, some have stayed the same—and some were just damn wrong. Living in the West, I will take the contrarian position and roll from west to east in my choices.

Continue reading "Second Half Predictions"

A very successful manager with the Chicago White Sox, Manuel was replaced by the outspoken Ozzie Guillen, in a change of personality that seems deliberate. Under Manuel, however, the White Sox seemed lackluster, perennial second-placers that only once managed to break through the glass ceiling atop the division, in 2000, only to be swept by the Mariners. If the Mets need to have a fire lit under them, Manuel seems like an unlikely source.

Continue reading "Two Brief Bits"

Well.

What a run!  The White Sox went 7-0 in their last homestand.  You know, the seven games after the famous tirade Ozzie went on.  Everyone says he lit a fire under them, it was a calculated move by a shrewd manager, and he gave them just the kick in the pants they needed to start producing some runs.

Continue reading "Thanks, Margie!"

It has been a while since my last post, which was bitter to say the least. A month and a half later I can hardly find much to complain about when it comes to the Cubs. They look like the best baseball team in the National League right now (obviously their record doesn't disagree), and after a 7-0 homestand this week, my baseball excitement is at its peak. I can't miss a Cubs game anymore. I make a point to try to watch or listen to every game, and I went to two games during the undefeated homestand. They have just been so entertaining to watch. Their play has been solid all around, and their offense has just been hilarious. Geovany Soto has been incredible, and he looks like he is going to be a legitimate NL all star catcher for years to come in the shadow of Mike Piazza.

Continue reading "Cubs Tearing Up the National League"

Well, we won a game.  We ought to start feeling better about this team, don't you think so?  Well, the relevant question, actually, is do you feel better about it?

All I know is, I'm not convinced.

Continue reading "Sox-ual Healing"

Here are the key questions facing each team this season.

Chicago White Sox

Will ‘more energy’ be enough to help the White Sox rebound from a disappointing 2007?

Last year the South Siders won only 72 games, a sharp decline after two consecutive 90-win seasons, including a World Championship. They finished last in the American League in runs scored and 12th in ERA. Really, it’s a wonder they didn’t lose more. This past off season, Ozzie Guillen and the front office cited a lack of energy as the reason for the dismal season. Operating on that belief, they went out and acquired the hyper active Orlando Cabrera and boisterous, fun-loving Nick Swisher via trades with Anaheim and Oakland, hoping they will re-energize the team.

Continue reading "MLB 2008 Season Preview: AL Central"

As we enter this new baseball season, there is nothing better to do than predict what will happen this year.  Below are my predictions of each divison of what the final standings will be.  I also posted what the playoff picture will be and who will be the World Series Champ

Continue reading "2008 Baseball Preview: Final Standings"

With players set to report to Arizona for Spring Training 2008, the Chicago White Sox still have numerous questions to be answered. Who's playing third? Who's leading off? Who's at second? 4th and 5th starters? Most importantly, will Jim Thome ever make it to Cooperstown to deliver his 500th Home Run ball? Let's start from the top of the order.

Continue reading "QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED IN UPCOMING WEEKS"