Any time you give up 10 runs, you usually don't win.  If Mark Buehrle is on, the Sox win this ballgame.  Regardless of bad calls, and missed offensive opportunities, this story of the lost day was Mark Buehrle.  When Buehrle showed he didn't have it today, surrendering 7 earned runs in just 48 pitches, I thought I would see the same thing all over again - for the rest of the game.  Not today, and perhaps not at all this season.  In spite of this disappointing finish, the White Sox look strong offensively, with Thome blasting two homers, in answer to ignorant Indians' fans boos, Dye homered, and Pierzynski and Konerko hit for RBIs.  I like the fight and the personality I already see it this team, and I'm glad the White Sox have been counted out.  That's usually when they do their best. 

Nick Masset looked great out of the bullpen, as did Boone Logan.  Dotel gave up the Blake double, but I still like how this team looks.  I look for a better result on the scoreboard Wednesday.  If nothing else, I think the White Sox have shown in a day they are no pushovers, and will be fighters.  If the Sox must lose, I would rather see them lose as they did today - fighting and with heart....

 

Sign up for my newsletter. It's FREE! Send a blank email to whitesox@aweber.com

Especially in Chicagoland, where we are enjoying weather in the 40s at best, and grey skies, it is hard to believe Opening Day is coming Tomorrow.  The Chicago White Sox will open up in Cleveland, which should be just as cold, but it will be most interesting to me to see how Buehrle matches up with Sabathia. 

I am cautiously optimistic about 2008, and believe the White Sox will likely have a decent season, if not a championship one.  A lot will depend on how Danks and Floyd develop as starters.  Not many expected Jon Garland to have the breakout season he had in 2005 when the White Sox won it all, and something like this will have to happen to either Danks or Floyd, and hopefully both to give the Sox a chance to win the division.  Of course, which Jose Contreras shows up will have a lot to do with the White Sox' success of lack thereof.  Let's hope for the best!

 

Sign up for my newsletter. It's FREE! Send a blank email to whitesox@aweber.com

I was actually reading the 'Inside the White Sox' blog when I learned Chris Singleton will be leaving the White Sox radio broadcast with Ed Farmer to persue a sports television position, with Steve Stone agreeing to call games with Ed Farmer on the air.  I for one and thrilled, and would love to have Steve Stone on the White Sox broadcast team full-time indefinitely.  Still, I'm glad he will be around for the 2008 season, and always enjoyed hearing him in the booth with Hawk during some of the TV broadcasts last year with Darrin Jackson was out for a time. 

To be honest, I was never a big fan of Chris Singleton's broadcasts.  He did not sound very comfortable to me, but I suppose following up a veteran like John Rooney was a tall order for anyone, much less a rookie to radio broadcasting.  I wish Chris Singleton the best, and am glad to have Stoney with us...hopefully beyond 2008. 

While reading other blogs, I discovered Bartolo Colon has signed a Minor League contract with the Red Sox.  Even though he has been injury plagued over the past couple years, I still think that it would have been good to have a veteran like Colon around the White Sox.  I think the White Sox are asking a lot out of Gavin Floyd and John Danks to carry two-fifths of the rotation, but if Buehrle, Contreras, and Vazquez are strong, then the starting rotation should be decent.  the bullpen upgrades of '08 will hopefully go better then the so-called 'ugrades' of '07.  I'm still predicting a third-place finish for the Sox, but hope I'm wrong.  Either way, I look forward to Opening Day, as I do every year.