Ken Griffey Jr. may be a Hall-of-Fame calibur name, but he cannot help the White Sox in the two areas they need the most help - defense and pitching.  To be frank, I think the Sox need a team psychologist more than a new slugger.  I look forward to seeing Griffey in Sox black, but unless this team picks up the ball, hits with 2 outs consistently, and pitches better out of the bullpen, they will not win this division - not even close.  I think what ails this team more than anything is an inability to concentrate 100% for three hours.  The Twins seem to be better able to do that than the Sox.  I believe the Sox beating themselves has to do with their heads.  Their heads are not in the game for the entire game.  They look like they are trying, but not 100% focused.  The Twins are.  That is why they are going to win this division and why the Sox will be sitting at home in October.

Hawk Harrelson's man-crush on Mauer increased to feverish levels as he and Morneau killed the Sox tonight as Sox pitching has let them all series long.  Apparantly Sox pitchers didn't have the ability to make adjustments to them over a four-game span.  All they did was continue to let them beat them - all series long.  If the Sox want to compete with this team, they will have to get their heads together.  They are a headcase now, with or without Griffey. 

I'm not entirely sure how to feel about either event - the acquisition of Griffey and the win over Minnesota last night.  I will talk about the win first.  One of the most positive outcomes of the win is the fact the White Sox are guaranteed to leave Minnesota in first place no matter what happens tonight.  Still, I'm hoping for the split, which is what I hoped for coming into this series.  If the White Sox can do that, I will be happy.  What I'm most happy about was the outing from Gavin Floyd.  I have to admit...I was not counting on a good outing from him.  I expected more wild pitches, lots of hits and runs, but what the Sox got from him was a much needed dominating performance, giving up just 1 earned on 5 hits over 7 2/3 innings.  He needs to continue this, expecially with the question marks that have recently reared their head in the White Sox bullpen.

Speaking of the bullpen, the Sox traded Masset and Richar to the Reds for Ken Griffey Jr., a man who was a great player and did great things, but I'm not sure how much he has left in the tank.  I don't like the idea of surrenduring pitching for old hitting, even if it is a Hall of Fame calibur name, but Kenny Williams knows what he's doing and is clearly going for it this year. I'm not sure how they will work out the first baseman/ outfielder logjam, but I would bet it will be a platoon situation with Konerko being the 'odd man out' with Swisher getting the majority of the first base playing time with Griffey in center field, even though he hasn't played the position since 2006.  It is a risk, but I guess Kenny believes Carrasco will fill Masset's old role of long relief out of the pen.  I believe there will be more bullpen help on the way - possibly Huston Street from the A's.  The Sox need one more piece out of that pen I think, but today's acquisition of Griffey definitely caught me by surpsirse...

 

 

 

 

 

No errors showed up in the box score, but Paul Konerko's inability to throw the ball to the inside part of the bag on a pickoff loomed large.  Brian Anderson throwing home when he had no chance to get the runner allowed another runner to move into second in the garbage 5th inning in which the Sox were essentially put away.  I could get mad at Clayton Richard for allowing the hits, but his defense didn't help him out, and it was just his second outing. 

It's amazing to me how often the Twins with two outs and two strikes get the key hit, and how often the Sox do not.  It's almost at the point where the Sox can just write these games off in Minnesota as losses and do their best against the Twins at home.  While I watched this garbage baseball game, it dawned on me what ails the Sox.  They try to do everything big.  Instead of concentrating on the small things and doing them well, they always try to do the 'big' thing, like hitting the home run or trying to nail the guy at home instead getting guys on base and stringing together hits, hitting the cutoff man to keep the runner from moving into second. The Twins play exactly the opposite.  They do many little things well to result in wins.  This beats the Sox every time, year after year, and it is no surprise the White Sox won the division in '05 when they actually did the little things more consistently than they ever had in ten years. 

I have heard it said many times the team we see now is the team we will see for the rest of the year.  If that is the case - with not so good pitching, an ineffective Paul Konerko, and shaky defense, the Sox will not win this division.  That is a virtual guarantee.  Unfortunately, I don't count on anything changing...except the Sox' place in the standings...

Errors, bad pitching, no offense...all of it was in play tonight for the White Sox who managed to do nothing well tonight.  Buehrle was not helped out by bad defense behind him, but he was unable to pitch over mistakes.  He has to be able to do that, and could not tonight.  This was the best shot I thought the Sox had to win one in Minnesota with Buehrle's pitching history against the Twins.  He, like the whole team was terrible today.  If the White Sox want to win in Minnesota, they have to play near flawless baseball, which is virtually impossible with the numerous holes in the Sox' game.  Their holes are never more pronounced than when they face this team in the dome.  Their defensive weaknesses are absurdly pronounced.  It also didn't help the Sox made Slowey look like Cy Young.  Many a pitcher has looked like the second coming of Cy Young when facing this team.  It doesn't matter who has the better talent.  It's all about who beats themselves less.  The Sox always manage to beat themselves more than the Twins do.  This will be a very long series if things don't change...but I don't see that happening.

As much as I hate to say it, I had a feeling the Sox were in trouble when I saw it was Javier Vazquez who was doing the pitching today.  I suppose it brought back memories of then-Tiger Craig Monroe taking a slider by Vazquez deep a couple years back.  The Tigers would ultimately go on to win that game.  I have no doubt the Sox have heart and want to win.  That is not in question.  What is in question is the strength or lack thereof of the White Sox starting staff.  To be frank, the only guy I trust to be as close to lights out as possible in the starting rotation is Mark Buehrle.  Danks has been good all year, but has shown some cracks in the armour.  I trust none of the righties, one who is on the DL, and the other two unable to consistently command their breaking pitches.  I just don't get a good feeling about the pitching, and while the offense has picked it up, bailing the Sox out in the first two games of this series, slugging to victory doesn't generally win in the postseason.  I like the series win.  It is what the Sox needed to do.  I just don't like dropping the last game, especially to a team following you that could have pretty much been buried with a sweep.  As is, the Tigers are still breathing. 

Javier Vazquez remains the most overrated, overpaid .500 pitcher I've seen.  I'm sick and tired hearing about 'stuff' and all the rest of this unquantifiable mumbo-jumbo.  If 'stuff' is all it took to be a great big-league pitcher, a lot of minor leaguers would be in the big show.  When it comes right down to it, Javier just cannot keep it together mentally over the long haul, which is why he is a career .500 pitcher.  This is a guy everyone says 'should' be better but never is.  Six earned over seven innings is simply not good enough.  Sure, Vazquez ate enough innings to essentially give the bullpen the day off, but the team needs seven strong, not seven mediocre/weak.  If Vazquez wasn't so bad so consistently, I might judge him less harshly.  For now as it stands though, the Sox will be in trouble if he and the rest of the righties don't step up and get the job done. 

There are still two months to go.  Lots of baseball left to be played.  I like our chances with Buehrle going for the Sox tomorrow night against the Twins.  I like this matchup  very much for the Sox.  Still, crazy things tend to happen in that dome, and the Sox will have to play near-flawless baseball to win there.  Errors against a team that makes very few never bodes well.  The Sox will have to avoid playing the sloppy defensive baseball they have played of late if they want to win or split this extremely important series...

Another nailbiter tonight.  The Tigers were in a position in the bottom of the ninth inning with a runner on to turn the tables on the White Sox before the largest crowd in Comerica Park history with a walk-off win as the Sox did to them the night before.  Fortunately for the White Sox, that did not happen.  Instead, the White Sox knocked another game off the schedule while maintaining their lead over the Twins and extended their lead by another game over the Tigers, who tried to scratch and claw their way into this game all night.  Since the Sox had stopped scoring after the fifth inning and the Tigers continued to score a run in the sixth and seventh innings, it looked like the Tigers would come back to win.  I'm happy to see Dotel got the strikeout after the wild pitch got the Tigers within a run.  It was great to see that guy battle back.  He could have let that rattle him, but he fought back.  This team, even not at full strength continues to win.  Bobby Jenks got his first two outs in the ninth on two pitches, but the third took a little longer.  Still, he earned his 21st save on the season.  Excellent job tonight. 

Even though the Sox won this ballgame, I'm still concerned about the pitching situation.  I'm not sure the Sox need to make a trade.  I think they just need to get healthy.  If they are certain Contreras, even when he returns will not be quite good enough, then they will probably need to make a move for another pitcher.  Still, with Crede struggling with his back issues, currently on the DL, it makes the prospect of trading Fields essentially impossible.  What they would give up for whom is a difficult question.  I'm glad I'm not Kenny Williams, but I trust him. 

I would have expected the White Sox to have been defeated after Masset gave up the go-ahead homer to Guillen in the 8th.  Normally, that is what I would have expected to happen.  Not last night.  Carlos Quentin continues to prove why he was an All Star by keeping the game alive with 2 out hit in the top of the 9th against Detroit's closer Todd Jones.  When Jermaine Dye hit his is two-out homer and Bobby Jenks looked fantastic slamming the door shut, I was most impressed with the win and the manner in which they won it.  It was the kind of win good teams can produce.  I am very impressed with the way the Sox battled back in this game, and very happy with Jenks performance in the ninth.  Still, I am troubled with news of Linebrink and Thornton's potential injury problems.  The Sox absolutely need these guys.  Whenever guys are forced out of their roles, they tend not to do well.  Whether it's asking Linebrink to close, or Nick Masset to be the setup guy for Jenks, it doesn't seem to go well.  These guys need to pitch in their place, but that is not possible with injuries unfortunately. 

Regardless of last night's numbers for Gavin Floyd, 3 earned runs over 6 innings pitched, he has still not looked good over his last few starts.  His overall inability to consistently command his breaking stuff has been his downfall. Last night he tried to get a breaking ball down and is went for a wild pitch.  The next one he tried to get up and it hung for a shot by Ordonez.  I think it might be good for Floyd to command his fastball and use his breaking stuff more sparingly.  I know AJ is calling the pitches, but Gavin needs to execute, and like all the right handers, I'm not too happy with these guys lack of command. That will have to improve for the Sox to be competitive down the stretch.  They must create more distance between themselves and the Twins and Tigers.   

Another thing the White Sox are going to have to do much better if they want to remain in first place is pick up the baseball.  Two more errors on the night, one of them a double play not turned by Josh Fields continues the sloppy play of the Sox of late.  I know Josh was just called up for the injured Crede, but that is a big league play that has to be made.  He needs to field that ball cleanly, and in some ways I would rather have Uribe there at third, as he was when Jenks was in the game.  I think the best defensive team on the field with Crede out is Swisher at first, Anderson in center, and Uribe at third.  Apparantly Ozzie Guillen agrees with me since that is the defense that was out there when Bobby Jenks came into the game in the 9th to close the door. 

The good news is the Sox keep winning with these pitching and defense problems, Crede now on the shelf, and Konerko remaining a non-factor.  It makes me wonder where this team would be if these guys weren't so banged up and playing to their potential.  I believe they could not only win the division, but go deep in the playoffs.  Some have said Paul Konerko is going to have to matter for the Sox to contend.  If that is the case, then I'm a bit leery of the Sox' chances.  I'm not sure Konerko at this point will ever be right this season, now two-thirds over. He wants to win and he will never quit, but he's not helping the team too much right now by being in there.  It's hard to know how long you stick with a guy, but as a veteran and World Series hero, he has earned that right to work his way out of it.  I only hope he does so as soon as possible because the Sox could really use him.  They will go for the series win tonight...

 

I was unable to watch this game today, but it sounds like it was entertaining, even if it was sloppy, with 4 errors, and lots of runs given up on both sides.  Alexei Ramirez' amazing scoop play to the barehanded Konerko is something I've never seen in my life in the almost 30 years I've been watching baseball.  Incredible.  Quentin continues to prove why he is an All Star with a two-homer performance, including the game-winner with 2 out in the bottom of the 8th.  Clayton Richard hung in there for 4 innings, surrenduring 4 earned on 7 hits.  Given this was his rookie start, that's not too bad considering the monster lineup he had to face.  Good to see Jenks and Dotel getting it done again, but Boone Logan is a guy I have never been too high on, as he gave up 2 runs on 2 hits in one inning.  This guy seems to always have control problems and then he's forced to throw the fastball down the middle only to get knocked around.  I sometimes think his control issues has to do with his sidearm delivery.  Whatever it is, he is honestly the last guy I want to see out of the Sox pen. 

The Sox will have tomorrow off, then it's back to work on a very critical road trip to Detroit then Minnesota.  This division race could get very interesting to say the least, over the next week or so.  The Sox faced their early tests quit well against their interdivision rivals.  I hope they pass the test again...

The Chicago White Sox are back to 1 1/2 games over the Twins with their win tonight, and the Twins getting ripped again by the Yankees.  Buehrle was fantastic tonight, with just 1 earned run over 7 1/3 innings.  That is really something against an offense as good as the Rangers.  The Sox got some offense of their own, with Jermaine Dye looking great at the plate coming off his injury to the knee after being hit by a pitch.  Dye hit them right back, going 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored.  Alexei Ramirez continues to prove why he won the starting job at second base with his first Major League grand slam.  Steve Stone believes Ramirez will be good for about 25 homers per season when it's all said and done.  I agree.

Still, the White Sox will have to continue to pitch well and keep picking up the baseball.  I was glad to see an error-free ballgame tonight.  I will be most interested to see what they get from Clayton Richard tomorrow night. 

At the risk of sounding like the voice of 'doom and gloom' I cannot see this story ending happily for the Chicago White Sox in 2008.  Sure, the Twins got slaughtered by the Yankees tonight and the Sox are still 1/2 game in first place, but the White Sox are doing nothing well lately.  They didn't hit tonight, didn't pitch in relief, although Vazquez was pretty good.  Two more errors on the night exposes this team for the sloppy and sleepy team they have been lately.  They look terrible.  I have a bad feeling this could be the season with the upcoming road trip while they play on the road in Detroit and Minnesota.  I believe after the road trip the White Sox will find themselves in second place, and possibly third. I hope not, but all signs point to a decline, not an ascent.  I hope I'm wrong.

Harold Baines was honored before today's game, the Sox donned their '83 retro uniforms, the offense was pretty good, and Bobby Jenks' return looked very solid.  Unfortunately, John Danks had an uncharacteristically bad day on the mound.  Since he has been so solid all season, arguably the best White Sox pitcher this season, it's hard to get too upset.  Still, 6 earned runs over 4 innings is usually not good enough, and it certainly wasn't enough today.  It is troublesome to me how this White Sox pitching staff has been getting knocked all over the yard by the Royals who seem fooled by almost nobody the White Sox put out there.  They hit at will, and that should not be happening to a team that is supposed to be strong in their pitching staff.  They don't look strong and haven't looked it lately.  I'm concerned. 

It won't get any easier with the Rangers coming to town tomorrow.  With Contreras now on the DL, the Sox are going to have to rely on the other guys in their rotation to step up.  This is not a good time for the pitching to falter. They'll have to try starting a new winning streak tomorrow.   

Six innings pitched and one earned run is not a bad line for Gavin Floyd.  He is the guy I was most concerned about coming into this game.  But it was more about Gil Meche being too much for the Sox offense, who were 2-hit at home.  With the Twins winning yet again, the White Sox could easily find themselves in second place after today.  And while the Sox did not hit, the Sox defense did not help them out with Crede's career-high 19th error on the season and the bullpen implosion later on.  It's at the point now with Crede where I'm a bit concerned and I think it's in his head.  He will make the spectacular play, but has made far too many errors. If the White Sox want to keep him, Crede's error-filled season and recent back troubles in a contract year may help them keep him here for a hometown discount. I'm still not sure what the future will hold for the Sox and Joe Crede.  As for today, the White Sox will have to do a lot better against Bannister behind John Danks.  With Danks on the mound, I like the Sox chances.  Still, it might be about the offense and what they do or don't do today. 

I was a little worried about Carlos Quentin when he was hit by a pitch in the wrist.  That could really be trouble no matter how tough you are.  But Quentin later hit Grienke right back with a homer and went on to go 2-for-4 on the night.  The big 6-run first inning was something, with the Sox hitting first-pitch fastballs hard.  I'm pretty amazed with the offensive output in this hotter weather.  I'm glad to see the Sox offense outscoring opponents, but I'm a bit concerned about the right-handers in this rotation since they have gotten worse, not better lately.  Floyd will have his chance at a strong outing tomorrow night.

 

Buehrle was okay, but the three-run homer to Butler could have been a problem.  Fortunately for the Sox, it was not, and Buehrle got the win.  I'm glad Bobby Jenks is back and also glad he got another day to rest which probably can't hurt.  I will be most curious to see how he does in a save situation.  He may get that chance tomorrow. 

I can hardly believe I stayed up for this game, but after midnight, I had to keep watching.  I'm glad to see the American League won again since I'm a Sox fan of course.  Still, if this game did not illustrate the bad idea of 'making it count' by determining who gets home field advantage in the World Series, I'm not sure what will.  Scott Kazmir was on a short leash, and Francona was not going to extend his last pitcher much longer had the game gone on.  One more inning, and this game might have ended in another infamous 'tie.'  Had that happened, how would have Bud Selig responded?  It is anybody's guess, and fortunately nobody has to answer that question. 

The matchup between Quentin and Marmol with the game on the line was intriguing, and I was definitely disappointed to see Quentin strike out.  What I found the most strange image of the night was Carlos Quentin and Justin Morneau embracing at game's end.  I suppose after four-plus hours and fifteen innings, such a reaction is understandable.  It was weird to see nonetheless.  Michael Young did it again as he did in '06 with the game on the line.  Those Rangers really know how to hit and hit big in the clutch.  If that team ever got it together with their pitching, they could definitely contend.  The Rangers did it again.  The Red Sox JD Drew was begrudgingly cheered in Yankee Stadium as the All Star MVP homered and went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI.  Crazy game.  I will be tired when I get to work this morning....

Well...there are a couple ways to look at the first half of the season for the Chicago White Sox.  They are still in first place by 1 1/2 games at the AllStar break with Contreras pitching poorly for the last two months and Konerko being essentially a non-factor.  They are in first place even with Jenks out and Vazquez being inconsistent.  All of this has taken place while the Twins have been seemingly winning every day, with today a noteable exception.  It is in a way, miraculous the White Sox have managed to stay in first place for as long as they have.  Still, I don't see them staying in this position for long after the AllStar break if they continue to get this kind of poor pitching from Contreras and inconsistency from Vazquez and now Gavin Floyd recently.  It is the right handers who I am most concerned about.  The lefties Buehrle and Danks have been very good. 

The bullpen, while good for most of the first half, has suffered in Bobby Jenks' absence.  They desperately need him not just for what he can do in the ninth inning, but how he affects the entire organization of the bullpen.  With eveyone out of place, the difference has been quite profound, at least that's what my eyes tell me without actually crunching the numbers.  The offense has gotten better, but when you need 13 runs to win a ballgame as they would have needed today, that puts the offense in a very precarious position - one no offense should have to be in if the pitchers do their job.  I understand the Rangers have a high-powered offense in a ballpark that plays especially small in the 100 degree heat.  Still, a pitching staff that is supposed to be good as the Sox pitching has been should be able to limit the offense to at least 6 runs or less.  I think that is a reasonable expectation.  The White Sox pitchers have not always fared well against the better offensive clubs and this is a concern for me.  Good pitching has to consistently defeat good hitting and that has not been the case as often as I would like from this team. 

The second half will be a big challenge for the White Sox, with seven more against Minnesota all in Minnesota, a place where the Sox traditionally have played poorly.  The White Sox are going to have to win as many games against their divisional rivals as possible.  Since they have never been a good second half team, even when they won it all in '05, I'm a bit skeptical about their chances with such a slim lead.  They are in first place now, but they have to play much more like a first place team in the second half if they are going to win the American League Central Division. 

 

John Danks should be an AllStar.  With 4 earned tonight, his ERA is still just 2.67 - very respectible.  I was glad to see him pitch so well against his former team. He ran into some trouble in the seventh inning, but he was great until that point.  He still did his job, and the Sox offense did their's.  I feel great for Paul Konerko who has been taking a lot of heat for his lack of production.  While listening to "White Sox Weekly" on The Score, I was annoyed with callers wanting him dealt or benched.  This is only his fifth game back from the disabled list.  With a 4-for-4 night and a homer, I guess the naysayers will shut up...at least for a day.  I wish some Sox fans would remember this guy is an AllStar, the team Captain, and a World Series hero.  I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt. 

It's good to see Jim Thome continue his tear with another key homerun to center.  Jim is looking very good at the plate, even the way he takes pitches.  I can see he is locked in.  For Jim, the AllStar break might not be such a good thing.  I do believe the White Sox need Bobby Jenks to get back as soon as possible, and the news today of his pain-free bullpen session is very encouraging.  This road trip has proven how much they miss him. Bullpen by committee doesn't work, and the White Sox, even with 9 runs on the evening barely hung on to win.  This game became far more interesting than it should have.  At least tonight's victory will guarantee the Sox will be in first place at the All Star break regardless of what happens tomorrow.  I would like to see them win of course, and finish the first half on a positive...

I knew from jump Gavin Floyd wasn't going to last long tonight.  He didn't.  Once again, he was wild, unable to command any pitch, particularly his breaking stuff, and neither he nor the offense got anything going tonight.  The White Sox were facing Mendoza, who had given up 8 runs the game before.  I wasn't pleased to hear Steve Stone in the pregame mention Mendoza was pitching for his big league survival after his last disasterous outing.  Somehow I knew he would prove himself worthy of another chance against the 'Jeckyl and Hyde' White Sox offense who seems to show up one night and disappear the next. Of course, Gavin Floyd, who leads the White Sox in walks didn't help himself, walking 7 on the night.  I can now say I am officially concerned about the White Sox pitching staff who have quietly come a bit back to earth, at least as far as the righthanders are concerned.  The only guy on the staff who has been consistent all year is John Danks, who will pitch for the Sox tomorrow night.  I can only hope it leads to the start of a new win streak tomorrow.  

Mark Buehrle pitched very well tonight, and a non-turned double-play on a ball Paul Konerko inexplicably didn't catch cost them bit tonight.  I think the real story of the game is a lack of offensive support though.  The pitchers cannot be expected to hold 1-run leads too often, and certainly not with a team that has  been hitting the ball hard all series long, even if they only took one game in this series.  The White Sox have had to cover shaky pitching almost this entire series.  Tonight, they didn't have enough offense to support the stellar Buehrle.  Two out of three is very good, but they will have to continue to win in Texas to keep the ever-charging gants from Minnesota at bay.  The Twins are the most annoying team, winning with no-name pitchers and several other unknowns.  If the White Sox take care of their business, they won't have to worry about them as much.  That's the advantage to being in first place. They need to stay there. 

I have to hand it to the Royals.  They are a pesky team, like a gnat in your face that won't go away until you smash it.  For two nights in a row, the White Sox were able to finally get the better of the Royals after a long struggle.  Any team without lock-down end-of-the-game pitching is going to have problems, and even though the White Sox have more firepower than the Royals, they too have had their pitching problems.  Last night, the problem was Javier Vazquez, while Dotel closed out the ninth with three strikeouts...a day after I said I didn't trust him in that role.  So much for that....at least for a day. 

I am a bit concerned about Javier Vazquez, as I am Jose Contreras.  These guys have not been pitching great, although Javier's start before last night was pretty good.  The month of June was not a particularly good month for him.  I'm seeing a small breakdown with these righthanders, and I know the Sox will need them strong down the stretch.  At least the offense has been picking them up.  Go for the sweep tonight...

Watching this game late into the night was a bit nerve-wracking. After 13 tense innings, I wonder how the players will feel this morning.  On the positive side, the White Sox managed to pull out a win in a very difficult situation, with just one out and the bases loaded with Mark 'Sox-Killer' Grudzielanek at the plate against Masset, who earned the win.  I was almost sure Grudzielanek was going to dump a base hit into the outfield as he seems to alwyas do against us.  Instead he grounded out right up the middle into a double play.  It couldn't have happened any better. 

What could have been better was the White Sox' play.  Blown leads were the theme in this see-saw battle and this game really could have gone either way.  With a two-run lead going into the bottom of the ninth, I thought the White Sox had an excellent chance to win it in regulation.  Linebrink blew it again, and as I've said before, he is not a closer.  He is a fine setup guy, but nailing down those last three outs is something he just doesn't look comfortable doing no matter how many times I see this guy trotted out there in the ninth.  I know Ozzie doesn't have a lot of choices.  I suppose for me, the guy I would like to see there while Jenks is out is Matt Thornton.  I don't trust Dotel in that role even though he has experience doing it.  There is a reason he is no longer the closer on a team. 

The White Sox need Bobby Jenks back and they need him back strong and ready to go for the second half after the All Star Break.  As Steve Stone says, there are very few guys with the mentality and makeup to hold down that role of closer on a Major League team.  This recent stretch of 'bullpen by committee' the Sox have been forced into has proven the absolute necessity to me for a closer now more than ever.  At least they won, and have a chance at a series win with a victory today.  The White Sox had a lot of fight last night and battled to the end.  I give them credit for that. 

This ballgame got a little too close for my comfort in the last two innings as the Sox let the A's climb back into this ballgame.  John Danks, who was somehow inexplicably left off the All Star Team pitched well again today, surrenduring just 2 earned on 4 hits.  Linebrink earned his first save of the season, but not without making things interesting.  I have to give him credit for holding down that spot until Bobby Jenks gets back.  This is not a job just anyone can do, and I appreciate Bobby Jenks' value even more since he has been gone.  Linebrink is a great setup guy, but not a great closer.  He is being asked to do what he normally does not so, I give him credit for doing that.  The invincible Twins won again.  I knew the Indians' lead would never hold up.  It didn't, but the Sox won again too, maintaining their 1 game lead. 

I was glad to hear Carlos Quentin is going to the All Star Game.  He has been outstanding.  Crede is typically very good, but his defense, including today has not been very good so far this year.  He will be going as well.  I was shocked not a single White Sox pitcher made the All Star Game - not a single guy from this outstanding staff - one of the best in the league.  I know the voting for the All Star Game is really a name recognition contest, but the pitchers are not voted on by the fans.  Very disappointing.  Still, I guess that just means they will have all the more time to rest up for the second half. 

The White Sox used what has worked all season long to help them win ballgames - excellent pitching and homeruns.  Seems simple enough, right? It is - when you can execute that plan on a nightly basis.  The White Sox have not quite done it every night, but they have won enough to give themselves a 50-37 record on the season, good enough for being 1 game ahead of the Minnesota Twins, who only hastened the CC Sabathia Sweepstakes with another smackdown of Cleveland last night, who now sit 13 games behind the first-place White Sox.  I'm not sure what is more remarkable - Minnesota's torrid run, or the White Sox' ability to still be in first place in spite of that run.  Clearly, the White Sox have at least done some work of their own, or they would be looking up at the Twins.  I know Steve Stone and Farmio joke about the Twins never leaving home, but they will hit the road soon.  Hopefully then, the White Sox will be able to create a little distance between themselves and the Twins. 

The Sox will have to win today to guarantee a split between themselves and the A's in this series.  Hopefully they will do that this afternoon. 

Well, yesterday night for the second straight time, the White Sox could not attain their independence from offensive futility against good pitching.  Blanton's numbers didn't impress me going in.  I understood the isses Sox hitters the night previous, but with Blanton, this should have at least been a competitive game.  The Sox never lead and were never really in it since Buehrle was sub-par, getting squeezed on the corners, then bringing it over the plate only to get hammered, surrenduring 4 earned in 5 2/3 innings pitched.  I guess the new 'camo' jerseys didn't help them much.  There was nowhere to hide on this night - just getting dominated from start to finish.  Jermaine made an outstanding throw to cut down a runner at the plate to keep the defecit at the time to only 2.  AJ really hung in there and took the hit tough while hanging on to the ball.  That was good to see.  AJ is an incredibly valuable player for the White Sox.  It's just a shame the rest of the team could get nothing going, including his batterymate, Mark Buehrle.  Hopefully the Sox can figure out Oakland starting today. 

I never like losing.  Still, you cannot win all games in a long season.  The White Sox started out strong, scoring 2 in the first inning.  They looked like they were going to be able to do more, with some hard-hit balls directly at people, including a line-shot by Swisher to first, doubling off Thome in a double-play. 

Vazquez pitched exceptionally well in the beginning of this game, attacking the hitters and locating his breaking pitches early.  Even though he gave up two homeruns and three runs overall, he was pretty good. Duchscherer was a little better, and Houston Street shut the door at the end.  I never like losses, but I prefer they get beat by the opposition instead of themselves.  They simply got beat by a slightly better pitcher tonight.  I don't like it, but I can accept it.  They'll have to get them tomorrow.

The White Sox and Indians went back and forth the whole night, with Linebrink blowing the save in the ninth on Grady Sizemore's 21st homerun on the season.  That guy is on a tear, with two homers on the night.  Still, AJ matched Grady in the homerun department, which was ultimately good enough to win it for the Sox on AJs walkoff homer just over the fense in right-center.  The White Sox have been perfect on this homestand so far, sweeping the Cubs and now the Indians. They will have a tall order facing Duchscherer tomorrow, who has been excellent with a 1.91 ERA.  Still, they had quite a challenge facing Cliff Lee.  Hopefully they can continue that tomorrow against Oakland.  At 14 games over .500 and with 7 wins in a row, even the red-hot Twins have not been able to gain any ground on the White Sox.  But they do pick up a game on the Detroit Tigers, who are now 7 games back.  Let's keep it going tomorrow...

This was a fantastic ballgame.  When I saw this matchup initially, I wasn't sure how it would go because Cliff Lee came in as an 11-game winner and second in ERA, with John Danks right behind him in ERA.  Besides the homerun to Shoppach for the only earned run off Danks in 8 innings, he was excellent.  Thornton gave up the homerun to Blake, but the team picked him up.  With the Sox down to their last strike, Alexei Ramirez just cleared the left field wall with a homerun of his own to tie the game.  After Wise reached base with a hit and stole second, Cabrera knocked in the winning run for his only hit and RBI of the game.  It couldn't have come at a better time, that's for sure. Timely hitting, home runs, and outstanding pitching is how the White Sox won their first title in 88 years.  What was so beautiful about the way the Sox won tonight is the way they used a variety of offensive tools - the home run, the stolen base, and a couple base hits.  Beautiful. 

And while he didn't get the win, John Danks has done far more than carry his share of the pitching burden this year.  As far as I'm concerned, he deserves a trip to New York in this year's All Star Game.  Danks, Floyd, Carlos Quentin, Wise, and Alexei Ramirez have all been wonderful surprises, enabling the White Sox to be quite deep and consequently, quite dangerous.  They have a variety of tools and have changed the complexion of this team considerably.  Wonderful.  Let's go for the sweep tomorrow.