Postponed Tigers-White Sox game set for July 24
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
White Sox designate MacDougal for assignment
The Chicago White Sox designated right-hander Mike MacDougal for assignment Tuesday and recalled reliever Jack Egbert from Triple-A Charlotte.
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Thursday, April 16, 2009
Perry nearly hits 3 White Sox with high-90s fastballs
BY JON PAUL MOROSI
Ryan Perry's third pitch to Alexei Ramirez nearly hit him on the head. The first pitch to Brent Lillibridge soared past his helmet and straight to the backstop.
By the time Josh Fields ducked away from another wild fastball, Wednesday's eighth inning had reached a flash point.
Fields didn't think Perry purposely had thrown the fastball at his head, but he barked toward the mound just the same.
The tension dissipated quickly -- no players left the bench -- thanks to mediation by the umpires and catcher Gerald Laird.
But one wonders if those events will be recalled during some of the 16 remaining games between the Tigers and White Sox.
"He's just wild," said Fields, the Chicago third baseman, after Detroit's 9-0 win. "The scouting report says, 'Wild.' Everyone knows he's wild -- 98 at your face, you're not going to like.
By the time Josh Fields ducked away from another wild fastball, Wednesday's eighth inning had reached a flash point.
Fields didn't think Perry purposely had thrown the fastball at his head, but he barked toward the mound just the same.
The tension dissipated quickly -- no players left the bench -- thanks to mediation by the umpires and catcher Gerald Laird.
But one wonders if those events will be recalled during some of the 16 remaining games between the Tigers and White Sox.
"He's just wild," said Fields, the Chicago third baseman, after Detroit's 9-0 win. "The scouting report says, 'Wild.' Everyone knows he's wild -- 98 at your face, you're not going to like.
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Signing Podsednik win-win for Sox
Signing Podsednik win-win for Sox
Riding the coattails of their parent club, the White Sox, the Class AAA Charlotte Knights sent a formal invitation to President Barack Obama to throw out the ceremonial first pitch during a game this season.
"We now have the Chicago White Sox’s biggest supporter in the White House. President Obama is a huge White Sox fan and a fan of baseball," Knights director of media relations John Agresti said. “We would be more than happy to host President Obama and his family as they watch the future stars of the White Sox right here at Knights Stadium.”
Good luck with the invite. In the meantime, the Knights will have to settle for Scott Podsednik.
Signed to a minor-league contract by the Sox on Tuesday, Podsednik is expected to be in Charlotte’s starting lineup for the first time on Thursday against Norfolk.
Podsednik was one of the Sox’ World Series heroes in 2005, but injuries took their toll over the next two seasons and the speedy leadoff man was released after the ’07 season.
"We now have the Chicago White Sox’s biggest supporter in the White House. President Obama is a huge White Sox fan and a fan of baseball," Knights director of media relations John Agresti said. “We would be more than happy to host President Obama and his family as they watch the future stars of the White Sox right here at Knights Stadium.”
Good luck with the invite. In the meantime, the Knights will have to settle for Scott Podsednik.
Signed to a minor-league contract by the Sox on Tuesday, Podsednik is expected to be in Charlotte’s starting lineup for the first time on Thursday against Norfolk.
Podsednik was one of the Sox’ World Series heroes in 2005, but injuries took their toll over the next two seasons and the speedy leadoff man was released after the ’07 season.
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Josh Fields finds a home in second spot
Chicago White Sox like his patience at plate
In the midst of the White Sox's search for a productive leadoff hitter, they have discovered an effective No. 2 hitter.
That's Josh Fields, who has thrived in the second spot since Chris Getz was elevated to bat leadoff after Dewayne Wise struggled at the top of the batting order.
"The biggest thing I can rest my hat on was that I was there in 2007 for nearly the entire time I was up," said Fields, who hit 14 of his 23 home runs that season from the second spot. "I've been there before and had success there. [I'll] just keep playing and do what I can do to help the team win."
Manager Ozzie Guillen has been extremely pleased with Fields' pitch selection, as evidenced by his five walks, .308 batting average and .438 on-base percentage.
"He's the type of guy who's not going to chase bad pitches. That's why it's ideal for him there," Guillen said.
In the eighth, the Tigers' Ryan Perry threw five pitches that nearly hit three batters — Alexei Ramirez, Brent Lillibridge and Fields. After the fifth one, Fields glared at Perry.
"We knew he would be throwing it all over the place," Fields said. "He kind of smirked at me after a couple, and I didn't think that was the right thing to do."
That's Josh Fields, who has thrived in the second spot since Chris Getz was elevated to bat leadoff after Dewayne Wise struggled at the top of the batting order.
"The biggest thing I can rest my hat on was that I was there in 2007 for nearly the entire time I was up," said Fields, who hit 14 of his 23 home runs that season from the second spot. "I've been there before and had success there. [I'll] just keep playing and do what I can do to help the team win."
Manager Ozzie Guillen has been extremely pleased with Fields' pitch selection, as evidenced by his five walks, .308 batting average and .438 on-base percentage.
"He's the type of guy who's not going to chase bad pitches. That's why it's ideal for him there," Guillen said.
In the eighth, the Tigers' Ryan Perry threw five pitches that nearly hit three batters — Alexei Ramirez, Brent Lillibridge and Fields. After the fifth one, Fields glared at Perry.
"We knew he would be throwing it all over the place," Fields said. "He kind of smirked at me after a couple, and I didn't think that was the right thing to do."
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Detroit Tigers shut out Chicago White Sox
Detroit Tigers shut out Chicago White Sox 9-0
Sox have trouble coping with Tigers' speedBy Mark Gonzales
The White Sox encountered several scenarios against Detroit they are certain to face during a four-game rematch series with American League champion Tampa Bay starting Thursday.
Unfortunately for the Sox, the Tigers exploited them Wednesday in a 9-0 loss in the same manner the Rays can.
For starters, the Tigers stole two bases, including a Josh Anderson theft in the fifth inning that helped snap a scoreless tie.
Miguel Cabrera, who had the other stolen base, ignited a three-run sixth with a leadoff home run off Jose Contreras.
The speedy Anderson also laid down a bunt that extended the sixth-inning rally.
In addition, reliever Mike MacDougal's control struggles resurfaced as the Tigers scored four runs off him in two innings. Manager Ozzie Guillen took the blame for not pulling MacDougal following the seventh after he had allowed only one run.
These are bad omens as the Sox head to St. Petersburg, where they dropped two consecutive games in the AL Division Series last October despite holding leads in each of those losses and stranding 11 runners in the second one.
Unfortunately for the Sox, the Tigers exploited them Wednesday in a 9-0 loss in the same manner the Rays can.
For starters, the Tigers stole two bases, including a Josh Anderson theft in the fifth inning that helped snap a scoreless tie.
Miguel Cabrera, who had the other stolen base, ignited a three-run sixth with a leadoff home run off Jose Contreras.
The speedy Anderson also laid down a bunt that extended the sixth-inning rally.
In addition, reliever Mike MacDougal's control struggles resurfaced as the Tigers scored four runs off him in two innings. Manager Ozzie Guillen took the blame for not pulling MacDougal following the seventh after he had allowed only one run.
These are bad omens as the Sox head to St. Petersburg, where they dropped two consecutive games in the AL Division Series last October despite holding leads in each of those losses and stranding 11 runners in the second one.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Zach Miner battered as White Sox pound Tigers
by Gary BondDETROIT -- The 37-degree conditions Monday afternoon at Comerica Park must have seemed like 80 and sunny to the Chicago White Sox hitters, who pounded out a season-high 16 hits against the Detroit Tigers.
Two of the three White Sox big bombers -- Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko -- also produced major league history in a 10-6 win against the Tigers, blasting back-to-back home runs in the second inning for the first time this season.
That wasn't the history.
The fact the home runs were career No. 300 for each of them made Dye and Konerko the first pair in MLB history, according to Elias Sports Bureau, to accomplish the feat in a back-to-back situation in the same inning.
That meant Tigers starting pitcher Zach Miner also will be a footnote.
Two of the three White Sox big bombers -- Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko -- also produced major league history in a 10-6 win against the Tigers, blasting back-to-back home runs in the second inning for the first time this season.
That wasn't the history.
The fact the home runs were career No. 300 for each of them made Dye and Konerko the first pair in MLB history, according to Elias Sports Bureau, to accomplish the feat in a back-to-back situation in the same inning.
That meant Tigers starting pitcher Zach Miner also will be a footnote.
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Arizona falls to White Sox
By Andrew Bagnato
Chicago White Sox lefty John Danks struck out two men with cut fastballs.
Arizona right-hander Jon Garland is developing a cutter — and one of his ended up on a grassy embankment far beyond the right-center field wall.
Danks gave up one hit and struck out two in two innings but wasn't impressed with his stuff as Chicago defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-1 on Friday.
"I didn't feel real sharp," Danks said after his first spring start. "I think it's more of a case of, it's early for the hitters. The hitters aren't quite there yet. Obviously, the goal going into the game was to get my work in and be healthy whenever I finished."
Danks may not have felt sharp, but he looked it.
He struck out the first two Diamondbacks — Felipe Lopez and Augie Ojeda — with cutters. In the second, Danks gave up a single to Chad Tracy before ending the inning, and his outing, by getting Tony Clark to ground into a 5-4-3 double play.
Danks is set to be the Sox's No. 3 starter, slotted behind Mark Buehrle and Gavin Floyd.
Garland pitched for the White Sox from 2000-07, but the club traded him to the Los Angeles Angels for shortstop Orlando Cabrera in November 2007.
Arizona right-hander Jon Garland is developing a cutter — and one of his ended up on a grassy embankment far beyond the right-center field wall.
Danks gave up one hit and struck out two in two innings but wasn't impressed with his stuff as Chicago defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-1 on Friday.
"I didn't feel real sharp," Danks said after his first spring start. "I think it's more of a case of, it's early for the hitters. The hitters aren't quite there yet. Obviously, the goal going into the game was to get my work in and be healthy whenever I finished."
Danks may not have felt sharp, but he looked it.
He struck out the first two Diamondbacks — Felipe Lopez and Augie Ojeda — with cutters. In the second, Danks gave up a single to Chad Tracy before ending the inning, and his outing, by getting Tony Clark to ground into a 5-4-3 double play.
Danks is set to be the Sox's No. 3 starter, slotted behind Mark Buehrle and Gavin Floyd.
Garland pitched for the White Sox from 2000-07, but the club traded him to the Los Angeles Angels for shortstop Orlando Cabrera in November 2007.
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White Sox reach deal with Podsednik
by Ken Rosenthal
The White Sox have agreed to a minor-league deal with Scott Podsednik, one of the heroes of Chicago's 2005 World Series team.
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Justin Verlander returns to form in win
By JON PAUL MOROSI
For all practical purposes, Justin Verlander has the same delivery now that he did in 2006, when he was the American League’s top rookie, and in 2007, when he threw a no-hitter. He stands tall on the mound, raises his left leg with a snap, and coolly releases one of the game’s most blistering fastballs.
On Saturday, though, he made a slight adjustment – so small that he mentioned it to reporters afterward.
As he rocked on the rubber during his windup, he let his hands drop toward his belt; then he raised the glove back to the Olde English D on his jersey before pulling the ball from the webbing.
Before, he had kept his hands even with his chest throughout the delivery.
Was this a big change? No. But while his glove moved only a matter of inches, the tweak yielded immediate results.
Verlander allowed one earned run in five innings. He took a no-decision but was thrilled to watch the Tigers’ bullpen earn a taut 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park.
“It’s nice to see us win ballgames like that,” Verlander said. “I don’t think I’ve seen us win too many like that in the recent past.”
Now, the Tigers can comfortably say that they are off to a decent start. They have a 3-3 record, just as they did after six games in 2007 – the year they entered the All-Star break with the second-best record in baseball.
More important than one victory, their young ace showed an ability to make a quick, successful adjustment – something many Detroit players (Verlander included) were unable to do in 2008.
“I felt like it gave me some good rhythm,” Verlander said afterward. “Everything felt good.”
Let’s be clear: Verlander has not adopted the old-style Paul Byrd windup. He does, however, believe that the glove movement will make it harder for hitters to pick up the ball. He also hopes it will keep him from tipping pitches – something the Tigers once believed Verlander had done against the Chicago White Sox.
The White Sox are due in to town this week, but Verlander won’t face them. (Too bad. An encounter with his most familiar foe might be particularly telling now.)
Two unearned runs in the fifth inning – after errors by Brandon Inge and Adam Everett – prevented Verlander from earning the victory himself. But he didn’t seem perturbed by that afterward. Instead, he talked about how happy he was for the relievers who pitched so well.
“We showed a lot of guts today,” he said. “A lot of teams could have folded after an inning like that. A lot of players could have folded. I don’t feel like any of our guys did, especially Inge and Everett. They put it behind them and just played from then on.”
On Saturday, though, he made a slight adjustment – so small that he mentioned it to reporters afterward.
As he rocked on the rubber during his windup, he let his hands drop toward his belt; then he raised the glove back to the Olde English D on his jersey before pulling the ball from the webbing.Before, he had kept his hands even with his chest throughout the delivery.
Was this a big change? No. But while his glove moved only a matter of inches, the tweak yielded immediate results.
Verlander allowed one earned run in five innings. He took a no-decision but was thrilled to watch the Tigers’ bullpen earn a taut 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park.
“It’s nice to see us win ballgames like that,” Verlander said. “I don’t think I’ve seen us win too many like that in the recent past.”
Now, the Tigers can comfortably say that they are off to a decent start. They have a 3-3 record, just as they did after six games in 2007 – the year they entered the All-Star break with the second-best record in baseball.
More important than one victory, their young ace showed an ability to make a quick, successful adjustment – something many Detroit players (Verlander included) were unable to do in 2008.
“I felt like it gave me some good rhythm,” Verlander said afterward. “Everything felt good.”
Let’s be clear: Verlander has not adopted the old-style Paul Byrd windup. He does, however, believe that the glove movement will make it harder for hitters to pick up the ball. He also hopes it will keep him from tipping pitches – something the Tigers once believed Verlander had done against the Chicago White Sox.
The White Sox are due in to town this week, but Verlander won’t face them. (Too bad. An encounter with his most familiar foe might be particularly telling now.)
Two unearned runs in the fifth inning – after errors by Brandon Inge and Adam Everett – prevented Verlander from earning the victory himself. But he didn’t seem perturbed by that afterward. Instead, he talked about how happy he was for the relievers who pitched so well.
“We showed a lot of guts today,” he said. “A lot of teams could have folded after an inning like that. A lot of players could have folded. I don’t feel like any of our guys did, especially Inge and Everett. They put it behind them and just played from then on.”
Man sues White Sox over T-shirt toss; Are these gimmicks worth the risk?
By Kyle Koster
One of the things I've never come close to understanding is the outrageous levels of excitement for between-innings promotions at the ballpark. It seems completely out of whack that a crisply turned double play will garner a polite golf clap, but an animated bagel participating in a race against a cup of coffee and a doughnut can work the crowd into a frenzy.
Usually, these little gimmicks are over in a minute and then the silliness is immediately erased from memory.
But for one man who attended a White Sox game, there's an alleged painful reminder of one of these time-fillers.
David Babusiak of St. John, Ind., suffered a permanent back injury when he was shoved to the ground at a June 8, 2007 game, when members of the Chevrolet Pride Team fired a T-shirt from a "launcher cannon" into Babusiak's section of the stands between innings, his attorney, David Holub, said.
Assuming this is really what happened, it boggles the mind that someone would discard their fellow fan to the ground in pursuit of a cheaply made XXXXL T-shirt that will probably used to wipe off the dipstick during an oil change in a matter of days.
What is the attraction? Is it the momentary thrill of being part of the action? Is it the chance to get your mug on the Jumbotron?
I'm all for fun, and if diving after trinkets in the stands is your idea of a great day at the ballpark, then I can accept that. But perhaps someone out there can explain the draw of having to tote around an ill-fitting T-shirt the rest of the day and then never wear it.
The suit filed in federal court in Hammond, Ind. this week also names U.S. Cellular Field and the Pride Team as defendants.
The defendants are liable for more than $75,000 in damages because they were "engaging in an abnormally dangerous activity, namely, shooting free T-shirts as projectiles into an unsupervised crowd of spectators, some of whom may not have been sober."
Then arises the question if suits like these have merit. Are risks like this knowingly accepted when a patron takes their seat at the game?
Clearly, acting some level of decorum would alleviate incidents like this, but do teams need to eliminate these promotions to keep fans safe?
I'd say that would be a bit of an overreaction, but can also recall a time several years back when I witnessed firsthand an elderly man being struck square in the face with a soaking wet nerf ball. His day, and his hot dog were ruined.
What do you think about the suit and these gimmicks in general?
Source: suntimes.com
Usually, these little gimmicks are over in a minute and then the silliness is immediately erased from memory.
But for one man who attended a White Sox game, there's an alleged painful reminder of one of these time-fillers.
David Babusiak of St. John, Ind., suffered a permanent back injury when he was shoved to the ground at a June 8, 2007 game, when members of the Chevrolet Pride Team fired a T-shirt from a "launcher cannon" into Babusiak's section of the stands between innings, his attorney, David Holub, said.
Assuming this is really what happened, it boggles the mind that someone would discard their fellow fan to the ground in pursuit of a cheaply made XXXXL T-shirt that will probably used to wipe off the dipstick during an oil change in a matter of days.
What is the attraction? Is it the momentary thrill of being part of the action? Is it the chance to get your mug on the Jumbotron?
I'm all for fun, and if diving after trinkets in the stands is your idea of a great day at the ballpark, then I can accept that. But perhaps someone out there can explain the draw of having to tote around an ill-fitting T-shirt the rest of the day and then never wear it.
The suit filed in federal court in Hammond, Ind. this week also names U.S. Cellular Field and the Pride Team as defendants.
The defendants are liable for more than $75,000 in damages because they were "engaging in an abnormally dangerous activity, namely, shooting free T-shirts as projectiles into an unsupervised crowd of spectators, some of whom may not have been sober."
Then arises the question if suits like these have merit. Are risks like this knowingly accepted when a patron takes their seat at the game?
Clearly, acting some level of decorum would alleviate incidents like this, but do teams need to eliminate these promotions to keep fans safe?
I'd say that would be a bit of an overreaction, but can also recall a time several years back when I witnessed firsthand an elderly man being struck square in the face with a soaking wet nerf ball. His day, and his hot dog were ruined.
What do you think about the suit and these gimmicks in general?
Source: suntimes.com
American League Game Capsules
Final Score: Chicago 10, Detroit 6
Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Carlos Quentin homered twice and Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko went back-to-back for each's 300th career home run, as the Chicago White Sox pounded out a 10-6 victory over the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a three-game series at Comerica Park. Quentin added a single and a walk in five plate appearances, drove in four runs and scored three times in the victory. Dye contributed three hits and Konerko finished 4-for-5 with four runs batted in and a pair of runs scored for Chicago, which banged out 16 hits. Gavin Floyd (1-1) went the first five innings and notched his first win of the season for the White Sox. Detroit starter Zach Miner (1-1), who surrendered just one run in 5 2/3 innings of a win against Toronto last week, didn't make it out of the fourth inning and took the loss Monday. He was roughed up for eight runs on nine hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings. Ramon Santiago went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer and Josh Anderson drove in three runs for the Tigers, who were coming off a three-game sweep of Texas this past weekend.
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Tigers aim for fourth straight win in opener with White Sox
The Detroit Tigers take aim at their fourth straight win this afternoon when they begin a three-game set with the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park.
After dropping three of four in Toronto to start its season, Detroit returned home to sweep the Texas Rangers. On Sunday, the Tigers scored six times in the eighth to pull out a 6-4 win to complete the trifecta.
Brandon Inge went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, while Placido Polanco went 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored in the win for Detroit, which is off to its best home start since winning its first five games at Tiger Stadium in 1993.
Brandon Lyon (1-1) got the win for Detroit after tossing two perfect innings in relief of Edwin Jackson, who gave up four runs on five hits and three walks in a six-inning start.
Heading to the hill this afternoon for the Tigers will be right-hander Zach Miner, who defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in his initial start of the year on Wednesday. Miner surrendered a run and six hits in 5 2/3 innings of that one to nail down the win.
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After dropping three of four in Toronto to start its season, Detroit returned home to sweep the Texas Rangers. On Sunday, the Tigers scored six times in the eighth to pull out a 6-4 win to complete the trifecta.
Brandon Inge went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, while Placido Polanco went 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored in the win for Detroit, which is off to its best home start since winning its first five games at Tiger Stadium in 1993.
Brandon Lyon (1-1) got the win for Detroit after tossing two perfect innings in relief of Edwin Jackson, who gave up four runs on five hits and three walks in a six-inning start.
Heading to the hill this afternoon for the Tigers will be right-hander Zach Miner, who defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in his initial start of the year on Wednesday. Miner surrendered a run and six hits in 5 2/3 innings of that one to nail down the win.
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Monday, April 13, 2009
Chicago White Sox beat Minnesota Twins 6-1
By Dave van Dyck
Buehrle gets support, retires 15 straight
Hidden by their 3-3 record after the first homestand is the exclamation-point start for a White Sox rotation that had question marks attached to every one of its five spots.
After Sunday's 6-1 victory over the Twins, Sox starters have the third-best ERA in baseball at 2.29, helped the last two days by No. 5 Bartolo Colon and No. 1 Mark Buehrle.
Buehrle followed up Colon's six shutout innings Saturday with one run in 61/3 innings Sunday, which he acknowledged was "10 times better than my last game."
"If we continue to pitch like we have, this ballclub will be interesting," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "This division, this league is about pitching and health. Everybody's got a good lineup. You pitch well, you win."
Well, most of the time—though Gavin Floyd is 0-1 after giving up two runs in seven innings and John Danks is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA.
But the Sox have won both of Buehrle's starts, thanks in large part to Jim Thome, who socked a game-winning three-run homer in the eighth on Opening Day and then what turned into a game-winning two-run shot in the sixth Sunday.
Buehrle did the rest, though Bobby Jenks had to bail Clayton Richard out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth with a strikeout of ex-teammate Joe Crede and a double-play ground ball.
"I didn't have any time to think about it," Jenks said. "I had one batter to get ready, and I really just came in and attacked the zone."
Buehrle allowed only two hits, including a home run by Delmon Young, and retired the final 15 batters before Guillen took the ball from him in a conversation-filled visit to the mound in the seventh.
"He was asking me how I do it," Buehrle said. "He said, 'I looked up in the first inning and I see a pitch at 78 m.p.h., and I don't know how you get people out.' We're always joking around with each other."
Said catcher A.J. Pierzynski: "It was awesome to see Mark throw that way and have the movement he had. Basically, he made one mistake. Other than that, he was pretty darn good.
"Without a doubt, our starting pitching has been outstanding. We haven't hit the way we'd like to, but the last couple of days have been better."
The offense actually pieced together nine hits Sunday, including Jermaine Dye's 299th career homer to lead off the eighth.
They even had an impressive small-ball rally that produced two insurance runs in the seventh. Alexei Ramirez singled and was sacrificed by ninth hitter Dewayne Wise, who has four hits in his last eight at-bats after an 0-for-12 start. Chris Getz then was hit in the right hand and left the game.
Josh Fields followed with an RBI single, and then pinch-runner Brent Lillibridge scored on a shallow sacrifice fly by Carlos Quentin. The Sox have just two batters over .300—Fields and Dye—and Thome is at .211 despite his team-leading five RBIs.
"It's just nice to contribute, and I'm trying to have good at-bats," Thome said. "Sometimes it's not happening. You've got to work and get better. The last couple of days we've been swinging the bats well. [But] good teams get good pitching."
After Sunday's 6-1 victory over the Twins, Sox starters have the third-best ERA in baseball at 2.29, helped the last two days by No. 5 Bartolo Colon and No. 1 Mark Buehrle.
Buehrle followed up Colon's six shutout innings Saturday with one run in 61/3 innings Sunday, which he acknowledged was "10 times better than my last game."
"If we continue to pitch like we have, this ballclub will be interesting," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "This division, this league is about pitching and health. Everybody's got a good lineup. You pitch well, you win."
Well, most of the time—though Gavin Floyd is 0-1 after giving up two runs in seven innings and John Danks is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA.
But the Sox have won both of Buehrle's starts, thanks in large part to Jim Thome, who socked a game-winning three-run homer in the eighth on Opening Day and then what turned into a game-winning two-run shot in the sixth Sunday.
Buehrle did the rest, though Bobby Jenks had to bail Clayton Richard out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth with a strikeout of ex-teammate Joe Crede and a double-play ground ball.
"I didn't have any time to think about it," Jenks said. "I had one batter to get ready, and I really just came in and attacked the zone."
Buehrle allowed only two hits, including a home run by Delmon Young, and retired the final 15 batters before Guillen took the ball from him in a conversation-filled visit to the mound in the seventh.
"He was asking me how I do it," Buehrle said. "He said, 'I looked up in the first inning and I see a pitch at 78 m.p.h., and I don't know how you get people out.' We're always joking around with each other."
Said catcher A.J. Pierzynski: "It was awesome to see Mark throw that way and have the movement he had. Basically, he made one mistake. Other than that, he was pretty darn good.
"Without a doubt, our starting pitching has been outstanding. We haven't hit the way we'd like to, but the last couple of days have been better."
The offense actually pieced together nine hits Sunday, including Jermaine Dye's 299th career homer to lead off the eighth.
They even had an impressive small-ball rally that produced two insurance runs in the seventh. Alexei Ramirez singled and was sacrificed by ninth hitter Dewayne Wise, who has four hits in his last eight at-bats after an 0-for-12 start. Chris Getz then was hit in the right hand and left the game.
Josh Fields followed with an RBI single, and then pinch-runner Brent Lillibridge scored on a shallow sacrifice fly by Carlos Quentin. The Sox have just two batters over .300—Fields and Dye—and Thome is at .211 despite his team-leading five RBIs.
"It's just nice to contribute, and I'm trying to have good at-bats," Thome said. "Sometimes it's not happening. You've got to work and get better. The last couple of days we've been swinging the bats well. [But] good teams get good pitching."
This day in baseball: April 13
APRIL 13
1914: The first Federal League game was played in Baltimore and the Terrapins defeated Buffalo 3-2 behind Jack Quinn. A crowd estimated at 27,000 stood 15 rows deep in the outfield to witness the return of big-league baseball to Baltimore.
1933: Sammy West of St. Louis went six for six in an 11-inning win over the Chicago White Sox. He had five singles and a double off Ted Lyons.
1953: For the first time in half a century, a new city was represented in the American or National leagues. The Braves moved from Boston to Milwaukee and opened in Cincinnati, where Max Surkont set down the Reds, 2-0.
1954: Henry Aaron made his major-league debut in left field for the Milwaukee Braves and went zero for five in a 9-8 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati’s Jim Greengrass hit four doubles in his first major-league game.
1963: Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds tripled off Pittsburgh’s Bob Friend for his first major-league hit.
1972: The first player strike in baseball history ended.
1984: Pete Rose got his 4,000th hit, a double off Philadelphia pitcher Jerry Koosman. The hit came exactly 21 years after his first hit.
1987: The San Diego Padres set a major-league record when the first three batters in the bottom of the first inning hit homers off San Francisco starter Roger Mason in their home opener. The Padres, trailing 2-0, got homers from Marvell Wynne, Tony Gwynn and John Kruk.
1993: Lee Smith became the career saves leader as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-7. Smith got his 358th save, surpassing Jeff Reardon of the Cincinnati Reds.
1999: Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez drove in nine runs in the Rangers’ 15-6 victory at Seattle. Rodriguez hit a three-run homer in the first, a two-run single in the second and his first career grand slam in the third as Texas took a 13-0 lead.
2004: San Francisco’s Barry Bonds hit his 661st homer, passing Willie Mays to take sole possession of third place on baseball’s career list.
2006: Cody Ross hit a grand slam and a three-run homer, helping Los Angeles beat Pittsburgh 13-5.
2007: Carlos Lee hit three homers, including a grand slam, and drove in six runs, helping Houston to a 9-6 win at Philadelphia.
2008: Joe Crede and Paul Konerko each hit grand slams for the White Sox against the Tigers, the third time Chicago has had multiple grand slams in the same game in its history.
1933: Sammy West of St. Louis went six for six in an 11-inning win over the Chicago White Sox. He had five singles and a double off Ted Lyons.
1953: For the first time in half a century, a new city was represented in the American or National leagues. The Braves moved from Boston to Milwaukee and opened in Cincinnati, where Max Surkont set down the Reds, 2-0.
1954: Henry Aaron made his major-league debut in left field for the Milwaukee Braves and went zero for five in a 9-8 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati’s Jim Greengrass hit four doubles in his first major-league game.
1963: Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds tripled off Pittsburgh’s Bob Friend for his first major-league hit.
1972: The first player strike in baseball history ended.
1984: Pete Rose got his 4,000th hit, a double off Philadelphia pitcher Jerry Koosman. The hit came exactly 21 years after his first hit.
1987: The San Diego Padres set a major-league record when the first three batters in the bottom of the first inning hit homers off San Francisco starter Roger Mason in their home opener. The Padres, trailing 2-0, got homers from Marvell Wynne, Tony Gwynn and John Kruk.
1993: Lee Smith became the career saves leader as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-7. Smith got his 358th save, surpassing Jeff Reardon of the Cincinnati Reds.
1999: Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez drove in nine runs in the Rangers’ 15-6 victory at Seattle. Rodriguez hit a three-run homer in the first, a two-run single in the second and his first career grand slam in the third as Texas took a 13-0 lead.
2004: San Francisco’s Barry Bonds hit his 661st homer, passing Willie Mays to take sole possession of third place on baseball’s career list.
2006: Cody Ross hit a grand slam and a three-run homer, helping Los Angeles beat Pittsburgh 13-5.
2007: Carlos Lee hit three homers, including a grand slam, and drove in six runs, helping Houston to a 9-6 win at Philadelphia.
2008: Joe Crede and Paul Konerko each hit grand slams for the White Sox against the Tigers, the third time Chicago has had multiple grand slams in the same game in its history.
Inside the Tigers: Series with White Sox looms
by Steve Kornacki
Who's hot: Cleanup hitter Miguel Cabrera is among the league leaders in the Triple Crown categories (.520, three home runs and 10 RBIs).
Who's not: Carlos Guillen got the game-tying hit Sunday, but it was his lone hit of a three-game series with Texas and he's batting .182.
Play of the week: Third baseman Brandon Inge's all-out run and over-the-shoulder diving catch to rob Texas Rangers No. 3 hitter Josh Hamilton on opening day. Inge ran nearly half way down the left field line on the play.
Matchup of the week: Detroit hosts the defending Central Division champion Chicago White Sox before embarking on a nine-game road trip. Winning the three-game series with a rival before facing the rigors of the road would supply some needed breathing room.
Schedule: Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox, 1:05 p.m., Monday (Zach Miner vs. Gavin Floyd, FSN), 1:05 p.m., Tuesday (Rick Porcello vs. John Danks, FSN), 1:05 p.m., Wednesday (Armando Galarraga vs. Jose Contreras, FSN). Tigers at Seattle Mariners, 10:10 p.m., Friday (Justin Verlander vs. Felix Hernandez, FSN), 9:10 p.m., Saturday (Edwin Jackson vs. Erik Bedard, FSN), 4:10 p.m., Sunday (Zach Miner vs. Carlos Silva, FSN).
Analysis: Getting comeback wins Saturday and Sunday against the Rangers did much for the confidence and mindset of this team, which needed a turnaround after starting 1-3 in Toronto.
Who's not: Carlos Guillen got the game-tying hit Sunday, but it was his lone hit of a three-game series with Texas and he's batting .182.
Play of the week: Third baseman Brandon Inge's all-out run and over-the-shoulder diving catch to rob Texas Rangers No. 3 hitter Josh Hamilton on opening day. Inge ran nearly half way down the left field line on the play.
Matchup of the week: Detroit hosts the defending Central Division champion Chicago White Sox before embarking on a nine-game road trip. Winning the three-game series with a rival before facing the rigors of the road would supply some needed breathing room.
Schedule: Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox, 1:05 p.m., Monday (Zach Miner vs. Gavin Floyd, FSN), 1:05 p.m., Tuesday (Rick Porcello vs. John Danks, FSN), 1:05 p.m., Wednesday (Armando Galarraga vs. Jose Contreras, FSN). Tigers at Seattle Mariners, 10:10 p.m., Friday (Justin Verlander vs. Felix Hernandez, FSN), 9:10 p.m., Saturday (Edwin Jackson vs. Erik Bedard, FSN), 4:10 p.m., Sunday (Zach Miner vs. Carlos Silva, FSN).
Analysis: Getting comeback wins Saturday and Sunday against the Rangers did much for the confidence and mindset of this team, which needed a turnaround after starting 1-3 in Toronto.
Chicago White Sox try to rest catcher A.J. Pierzynski
BY DAVE VAN DYCK
With Corky Miller showing he is a legitimate backup catcher, the White Sox's plan is to give A.J. Pierzynski more games off. Pierzynski, 32, has played 150 games two of the last three seasons.
"Hopefully we've got a little cushion [in the division] to give A.J. more rest," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I know A.J. loves to be on the field. It's a big year for him because he's a free agent. But the fresher we keep him, the more we get out of him."
More rest for Pierzynski?
"[Guillen] hasn't told that to me," he said. "I'm going to try to get out there as much as I can. I feel like I'm in the best shape I've been in a long time, and I've got nothing physically wrong with me.
"We're fortunate we have Corky and he can be productive, as he showed [Saturday with two hits]. If we're in the pennant race, I'll be out there every day."
Going home: The three-game series that starts Monday at Comerica Park will be special for second baseman Chris Getz, who grew up in suburban Detroit. He idolized Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker and played at Comerica as a high schooler.
"You dream about something like that," Getz said.
Getz is questionable Monday because he was hit by a pitch in the right elbow in the seventh inning Sunday and removed.
Finding a home: Despite the pressure of replacing Joe Crede, third baseman Josh Fields has reached base safely in every game and is hitting .353. "He's got good enough speed that he can bunt and is patient at the plate," Guillen said.
King K: Nine of the 10 outs recorded this season by reliever Octavio Dotel have been on strikeouts.
"Dotel's the type of guy, you love him or he can break your heart," Guillen said. "This guy is one of the best strikeout pitchers in the game."
Extra innings: Starter Jeff Marquez was shelled in his first start at Triple-A Charlotte, giving up six runs in less than two innings. ... Catcher Tyler Flowers had three hits, including a homer, for Double-A Birmingham.
"Hopefully we've got a little cushion [in the division] to give A.J. more rest," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I know A.J. loves to be on the field. It's a big year for him because he's a free agent. But the fresher we keep him, the more we get out of him."
More rest for Pierzynski?
"[Guillen] hasn't told that to me," he said. "I'm going to try to get out there as much as I can. I feel like I'm in the best shape I've been in a long time, and I've got nothing physically wrong with me.
"We're fortunate we have Corky and he can be productive, as he showed [Saturday with two hits]. If we're in the pennant race, I'll be out there every day."
Going home: The three-game series that starts Monday at Comerica Park will be special for second baseman Chris Getz, who grew up in suburban Detroit. He idolized Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker and played at Comerica as a high schooler.
"You dream about something like that," Getz said.
Getz is questionable Monday because he was hit by a pitch in the right elbow in the seventh inning Sunday and removed.
Finding a home: Despite the pressure of replacing Joe Crede, third baseman Josh Fields has reached base safely in every game and is hitting .353. "He's got good enough speed that he can bunt and is patient at the plate," Guillen said.
King K: Nine of the 10 outs recorded this season by reliever Octavio Dotel have been on strikeouts.
"Dotel's the type of guy, you love him or he can break your heart," Guillen said. "This guy is one of the best strikeout pitchers in the game."
Extra innings: Starter Jeff Marquez was shelled in his first start at Triple-A Charlotte, giving up six runs in less than two innings. ... Catcher Tyler Flowers had three hits, including a homer, for Double-A Birmingham.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox box score – 4/9/09
| Kansas City | AB | R | H | BI | BB | SO | Avg. |
| Crisp cf | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.364 |
| Dejesus lf | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.214 |
| Teahen 2b-rf | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.25 |
| Guillen dh | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.167 |
| Butler 1b | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| b-Jacobs ph-1b | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Gordon 3b | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.2 |
| Aviles ss | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.2 |
| Buck c | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Bloomquist rf | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 |
| a-Callaspo ph-2b | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals | 36 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 10 | |
| Chicago | AB | R | H | BI | BB | SO | Avg. |
| Getz 2b | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.167 |
| Pierzynski c | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 |
| Quentin lf | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.125 |
| Thome dh | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.273 |
| Dye rf | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.417 |
| Konerko 1b | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.222 |
| 1-Lillibridge pr | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Al. Ramirez ss | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Wise cf | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| c-B. Anderson ph-cf | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| d-Betemit ph | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fields 3b | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.429 |
| Totals | 31 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 10 | |
| Kansas City | 000 | 000 | 002 | — | 2 | 9 | 1 |
| Chicago | 000 | 000 | 001 | — | 1 | 4 | 1 |
E: Gordon (1), Fields (1). LOB: Kansas City 11, Chicago 7. 2B: Crisp (2), Dejesus (1), Callaspo (1), Quentin (1). HR: Crisp (1), off Jenks. RBIs: Crisp 2 (3), Dye (1). SB: JGuillen (1), Gordon (1).
Runners left in scoring position: Kansas City 6 (Teahen 3, Guillen, Aviles 2); Chicago 2 (Quentin, Betemit). Runners moved up: Gordon, Getz, Pierzynski, Thome, Dye. DP: Chicago 1 (Ramirez and Getz).
| Kansas City | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | NP | ERA |
| Davies | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 103 | 0 |
| Mahay W, 1-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| Soria S, 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 4.5 |
| Chicago | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | NP | ERA |
| Danks | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 95 | 0 |
| Macdougal | 3-Jan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Thornton | 3-Feb | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| Dotel | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 0 |
| Jenks L, 0-1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 9 |
Inherited runners scored: Thornton 2-0. HBP: by Danks (Gordon).
Umpires: Home, Bruce Dreckman; First, Paul Emmel; Second, Gary Darling; Third, Bill Hohn. Time: 2:51. Announced attendance: 18,091.
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