Chicago White Sox
Posted on Jul 30, 2009 5:40 pm
By Cliff Corcoran
Chicago White Sox
2009 Record: 51-51 (.500)
2009 Pythagorean Record: 51-51 (.500)
Manager: Ozzie Guillen
General Manager: Kenny Williams
Home Ballpark (multi-year Park Factors): U.S. Cellular Field (105/105)
Who’s Replaced Whom:
- Chris Getz (minors) replaces Orlando Cabrera
- Scott Podsednik replaces Nick Swisher and Brian Anderson
- Gordon Beckham (minors) replaces Joe Crede
- Jayson Nix replaces Juan Uribe
- Mark Kotsay replaces Ken Griffey Jr.
- Ramon Castro replaces Toby Hall
- Clayton Richard and Jose Contreras inherit Javier Vazquez’s starts
- Tony Peña replaces Nick Massett
- Randy Williams replaces Boone Logan
25-man Roster:
1B – Paul Konerko (R)
2B – Chris Getz (L)
SS – Alexei Ramirez (R)
3B – Gordon Beckham (R)
C – A.J. Pierzynski (L)
RF – Jermaine Dye (R)
CF – Scott Podsednik (L)
LF – Carlos Quentin (R)
DH – Jim Thome (L)
Bench:
L – Dewayne Wise (OF)
R – Jayson Nix (IF)
L – Mark Kotsay (1B/OF)
R – Ramon Castro (C)
Rotation:
L – Mark Buehrle
R – Jose Contreras
R – Gavin Floyd
L – Richard Clayton
L – John Danks
Bullpen:
R – Bobby Jenks
R – Octavio Dotel
L – Matt Thornton
R – Tony Peña
R – Scott Linebrink
R – D.J. Carrasco
L – Randy Williams
15-day DL: RHP – Bartolo Colon
Typical Lineup:
L – Scott Podsednik (CF)
R – Alexei Ramirez (SS)
R – Jermaine Dye (RF)
L – Jim Thome (DH)
R – Paul Konerko (1B)
L – A.J. Pierzynski (C)
R – Carlos Quentin (LF)
L – Chris Getz (2B)
R – Gordon Beckham (3B)
The White Sox were my pre-season pick to win the AL Central. It was a default choice (I didn’t expect Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson to be as great as they’ve been for the Tigers), but not a knee-jerk one. Yes, the White Sox are the defending division champions (thanks to their one-game playoff victory over the Twins), and the list of player replacements above is uninspiring at best, but they still had one of the divisions best lineups, an impressive lefty duo atop their rotation in Mark Buehrle and John Danks, and a solid bullpen led by closer Bobby Jenks.
So how’s that going? Well, the Sox are right in the thick of the division race, three games behind the Tigers despite their .500 record, and their rotation has been the third-best in the league by ERA despite their hitting-friendly ballpark, but their bullpen has been shaky, and their offense has been the fourth-worst in the AL.
Among the problems has been left fielder Carlos Quentin. An MVP candidate a year ago, Quentin got off to a slow start, then missed two months due to a torn tendon in his foot and hasn’t hit much since his return. Similarly, Alexei Ramirez, the Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2008, has seen his power numbers dip significantly (though his defense at shortstop has been much better than it was at the keystone last year). Mix in gaping holes in center field and at third base (the latter due to Josh Fields continuing to disappoint), and the Sox really only had half a lineup.
They’re working on that, however. They’ve filled their center field hole with a rejuvinated Scott Podsednik, whose .301/.357/.392 line thus far represents a huge improvement over the performances of Dewayne Wise (perfect-game saving catch aside) or Brian Anderson (who was just flipped to the Red Sox for Mark Kotsay). And they’ve filled their third-base hole with Gordon Beckham, who was drafted eighth-overall as a shortstop out of the University of Georgia in 2008. Beckham’s hitting .300/.374/.469 on the season and .329/.392/.541 in July.
With Quentin back from the DL and Beckham and Podsednik in place, the White Sox lineup would seem more dangerous now than it has been, but Quentin is still hurting, Ramirez left last night’s game with a sprained ankle and won’t play tonight, and Jim Thome, the team leader in on-base percentage, has been out with a bad back (though Thome is back in the lineup tonight).
Meanwhile, Jenks has had an awful month. He’s allowed at least one run in five of his seven outings this month, posting a 8.59 ERA and blowing his last two save chances. Similarly, new pickup Tony Peña has posted a 10.20 ERA since the beginning of June and has allowed four runs in two of his six outings for the Pale Hose.
So it all comes back to the rotation, which is weakened, but still high on Mark Buehrle’s record string of 45 straight batters retired. With Bartolo Colon back on the DL, everyone moves up a day, setting up a matchup of ace lefties in Sunday’s finale: Buehrle vs. CC Sabathia. That’s a must-see, as is Saturday’s matchup between Danks, who had a rough May, but has a 2.53 ERA over his last eight starts, and A.J. Burnett. Friday matches up the fifth-starters, Sergio Mitre and tall lefty Clayton Richard, who has aced his last two starts (8 IP, 1 R both times) but had a 5.75 ERA from his other dozen starts this season.
Tonight, the Yankees and Andy Pettitte face Glavin Floyd. A 17-game winner a year ago, Floyd seemed headed for a fall given his high home-run and fly-ball rates and low strikeout rate and BABIP. This year, however, he’s reduced his home runs, increased his strikeouts, and avoided a major correction in his BABIP (up to a still-below-average .284 from .259 last year). The result has been another solid season. In fact, Floyd was awesome in June (5-1, 1.28 ERA, all six outings quality starts), and got back on track in his last two starts (13 2/3 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 14 K, both quality starts).
Andy Pettitte has had a nice start to his second half as well. Yes, he took the loss in his last start after a sore Alfredo Aceves melted down in relief with one out in the seventh, but he had a quality start prior to that and in two starts has struck out 15 against just three walks and 11 hits in 13 2/3 innings.
Jose Molina catches Pettitte tonight and hits ninth, everyone else is in the usual places.
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OK, I tried this on another thread, but it was swallowed up by various steroid and political discussions. Two observations:
1. The Blue Jays have an off day, so I get to watch the Yankees on Rogers Sports Net tonight. Yay! Hen the Jays have an off day or play on the west coast, it’s like Christmas in July!
2. I have come around to the idea that the Yankees should call up AJax for a couple of weeks, to replace Gardner and give the team some bench depth.
[1] “…When the Jays…”
[1] so what do you think steroids have to do with the Jays having an off day?
[3] You gotta buy your PEDs sometime.
Those outside of NYC/NYS lacking EI/MLB.TV – tonight’s game is on MLB Network. And, apparently, FiOS at least carries WGN America, which will tomorrow night’s game and Sunday’s game as well. 4 straight days of watching the Yanks – woohoo!
Tyler Kepner just tweeted: “Wang out ‘up to 12 months’ until return to MLB”
Scott Podsednik is one of those players that irritate the hell out of me. Not because he’s any good, but because people think he is
[3] All the available evidence indicates that teams with fewer steroid users have just as many off days as teams with more steroid users.
[6] I just hate his name. I also hate Jhonny Peralta for the same reason.
I really should hate Buehrle, but for some reason I don’t. Sue me.
[8] I filed a complain with the District Court of Rhode Island. You should be served soon.
[9] brrr. complaint. not complain.
[5] My God, what language is that?
I must be getting old.
[11] tweeting is something to watch, for sure.
I’m still not sure what Kepner was trying to say. Sounds bad, though.
I just tweeted making fun of John Henry
[12] Actually, it was the following that I found amusing:
Those outside of NYC/NYS lacking EI/MLB.TV – tonight’s game is on MLB Network. And, apparently, FiOS at least carries WGN America…
It sounds like the way my HS buddy started talking once he joined the Marines.
I’m ready for those fuckers to grab a whole lot of bench!
Bring it on, I’m fired up.
[9] I should hope I’ll be served soon. I ordered more than 45 minutes ago. The service here is terrible.
Per Pete:
I know it doesn’t matter a whole bunch, and the team keeps winning, but is there any legitimate reason that the team continues to carry 13 pitchers? I mean, I am starting to ind the daily “right handed bat” batch somewhat humorous.
[14] “Excuse me sir. Seeing as how the VP is such a VIP, shouldn’t we keep the PC on the QT, because if it leaks to the VC, you could end up an MIA, and then we’d all be put on KP.” – Robin Williams as Adrian Cronauer in Good Morning Vietnam
: )
[17] Jesus, I gotta proofread more…
…”find the daily ‘right handed bat’ watch somewhat humorous…”
[16] Hey, RI, you went the the NewStadium last week, no? How was it?
In SI this week there is a 3 frame picture of Dewayne Wise’s catch. It’s him with his glove over the wall. What caught my eye was a dude in the first row. It’s happening right in front of him and isn’t even looking . He is either staring face down or is passed out. Nice work, brother. I still cant’ get over that play. And it was the 1st time Beurhle and the catcher ever worked together. Amazing.
We’re going to get a good start from Andy tonight.
I can feel it in my bones.
Do a significant number of fans actually like–or even prefer–announcers such as Kay and Sterling? Or do networks simply enjoy mocking their audience, knowing that we’ll watch/listen no matter how bad the announcers are?
Tarp = Bollocks.
[23] I wish I knew. Kay is so much better than Sterling, at least. Sterling’s homerism is repellent. All we ever hear about is how great the team is, how many tickets they sell, how terrific it is that everyone across baseball gets jazzed up when the Yankees come to town…
I wish the guy could just get another show, devoted exclusively to propaganda, and let an actual play-by-play person call the games.
Good broadcasters call things like this: “And there’s a long drive to center, Cabrera turns to his left, turns to his right, reaches up, makes the catch.” And then the other guy talks about where Cabrera was positioned before the play, what kind of jump he got, why he had to twist and turn…
Sterling: “Hit in the air to center, Melky…makes the catch. As I was saying, I know the Yankees aren’t selling quite as much as they would like, but hey, there is a recession going on, so I mean, they’re doing pretty terrific, all things considered.”
Oh, fuck, a rain delay?
[25] Brilliant impersonation! My favorite is when there is a pregnant silence in the middle of the play, followed by orgasmic shouts of “ohhhh, whaaaattttaaaaa play…did you see that Susan…you’ll never see a play like…you just can’t predict baseball…”
Then about three minutes later, you actually learn that the runner was thrown out….and then even later, after the commercial break, if you are lucky, Sterling actually describes the play. Just in time to not describe what’s going on the following inning.
rain delay?? Unacceptable..
apologies for kicking off a storm of Steinbrenner debates a few threads back! I hang my head in solemn contemplation of my misdeeds..
Sliced Bread, you win comment of the year so far for informing us about the sequal to “Fever Pitch”…”Steroid Rash”…spit up my espresso in uncontrollable laughter when read that!
[27] :)
What are we going to do with them?
And indeed, who actually makes the decision to hire them?
Weeping, yes, I did attend.
I liked it. From my grandstand LF seats, it was redolent of the old stadium but more open, broader. Of course, in that way it’s lost a distinctive element.
The concessions, the space behind the seats, the approach, they’re all great. Those were the things that most needed updating and upgrading, of course.
The restaurants and glassed in spaces I could do without. They seemed weird and out of place, exclusive in a way inimical to baseball.
But overall I did like it. My kids really loved it.
Oh, and, I got to see the divine backward K for the last out, so, perfect!
Of course, it took a Bruney meltdown. I started a “We want Mo!” chant in my section when the second Bruney Bomb left the field.
[23] I watch/listen for the games, not for those who call (or do not call) them.
Odd, isn’t it?
I haven’t enjoyed announcers calling baseball since Scooter retired, which additionally speaks volumes.
FWIW, from ESPN: Trade talks for Toronto ace Roy Halladay are “dead,” but the club remains willing to listen to offers leading up to Friday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline, Blue Jays general manager J.P Ricciardi said in an e-mail Thursday.
I don’t want to trade for Halliday, I just don’t want the Roid Sox to get him.
[22] golden, perhaps?! : )
weeping’s take on good vs bad announcing actually opens up a good topic. Me, I prefer a guy announcing on television, which has – ahem! – images, to just say ‘and … he makes the catch’. I do not NEED someone to tell me he turned left and then right in the play by play. Generally I am LOOKING! After it is over, a commentator can point out that the CF made an easy catch look harder, or showed inexperience with the wind, or got a bad jump … or whatever, if he’s making sense. But I really dpon’t value being told what I can see in such detail.
This is, actually, linked to my pleasure in most UK soccer announcers who will let YOU draw conclusions as to what you are seeing, as often as not just naming the player with the ball. Cano … long ball to Chamberlain. Robertson. Through to Posada. Lovely cross for Jeter!
Radio is an entirely different announcing game.
[34] Note to Girardi:
Use the good (and fresh) pitchers in your bullpen when Andy’s gassed instead of talking to him and listening to his “horseshit,” innings incentives be damned…
That would be “golden”!
: )
[32] exactly! That’s why Sterling’s calls, which force the listener to try to glean a few precious details about what is actually happening on the field, is so irritating. Actually, I never really cared all that much for Scooter (gasp!) for the same reason! He was a great color man, so long as White or Messer was actually telling me what was going on.
[35] I saw a nice interview with Vin Scully several years back where he described the difference between announcing on radio (giving play-by-play) and on TV (where the announcer only “frames” the image, but largely let’s the image do the work).
[30] So glad you had a good experience. I’m working up towards thinking about taking my first grader. He really wants to go, so I guess if I were a good father I’d figure out a way to make it happen this season. It’s not $200 a ticket for the cheap seats, right?
[32] I really liked Bill White, too.
[34] Well…I’m not sure about all that, but “good,” at any rate. Possibly golden, but it’s fucking hot and he might have to labor.
9:15 1st pitch.
[35] Well said. I think whatever the broadcaster can do to let the game speak for itself is optimal. Of course, some commentary (on tv) can always help to deepen one’s appreciation of the game, so long as (obviously) the commentary is juuust right.
As for the radio, I want the graphic details of a novel. I want to know who’s tired, who looks fresh, who flops around, who runs like a gazelle, who lunges at pitches, who screws himself into the ground, who looks scared to be up in a big spot…
All of it. And I want particularly sharp details about each and every play. How the ball bounces, whether the fielder’s feet are set when he throws, who double-clutches (even if the double clutch has no bearing on the outcome, because ideally, the broadcaster is simply reporting the action as it unfolds).
[41] Alleluia.
[41]10:15am here! Got to split at 1:30 so can they finish within 3 hours please?
[44] :)
Derek could have injured himself running to first, there. He took a funny, desperate leap to beat the throw. Good thing he didn’t come up lame.
Man, Dye is good. Still producing.
Very, very nice pitching by Andy. Had Dye very off-balance.
[44] in the meantime, i will soon start drinking beer for you – give you a head start and all that! ; )
No, weeping, they were $50. Still a bunch for a family, for sure.
[46] i remember when he came up as a kid, here in Atlanta. then he got shipped off to KC. he’s been good everywhere. solid overall player w/ good career stats and WS MVP to boot!