Konerko singling on the first pitch he saw today was a good sign. I would have never known he had problems with his thumb, and I love the professionalism and attitude he brings to his game. Nix was impressive to me with the way he cracked the ball with authority. In general, I was quite impressed with the Sox overall offensive approach, with line drives and solid contact. It was also great to see Beckham get his first two RBI of his career. I thought he got his first home run as well, but was caught at the center field wall. Had he hit that to left, it would have been gone.

For the most part, I liked what I saw today, but realistically, in the big picture, I still think this team will need to be a seller in a couple weeks or so. Their infield is in disarray with Ramirez swinging for the fenses with each long whack he takes at pitches both in and out of the strike zone. His fielding, great play today not withstanding, has been shaky at best at shortstop. Beckham is out of position and should be playing shortstop. Ramirez needs to work on shortening his swing on the minors, learning to hit line drives and stop trying to be a home run hitter. This instability in the middle infield between Ramirez and the platoon of Nix and Getz, combined with a center fielder in Anderson who is strong defensively but unable to hit anything but a fastball he knows is coming presents some major problems for this team to win with any consistency. Every time a ground ball is hit in the infield, I hold my breath because time and again I see uncertainty and double-clutching - just bad middle infield defense, with Fields and Beckham having their moments at third base as well. I am a White Sox fan for life, and want them to win. But I think it is time for the White Sox organization to be honest with themselves and with the fans in admitting they need to use 2009 to find out who they are and what they need to become so they can win in 2010 and beyond...

Paul Konerko's words were not profound after today's game, but they certainly were concise and accurate - "We're not good right now."  That's an understatement.  There is nothing this team is doing consistently well.  They will pitch well one game, and be terrible the next.  They will hit one day, and be unable to touch the next pitcher they face. Mediocre to bad teams do this - they are inconsistent.  To bank on Bartolo Colon and Contreras was a gross miscalculation any fan could see.  But with the current economic climate, the Sox went on the cheap and signed Colon instead of signing Jon Garland, whom they could have gotten at a decent price, even if he would have been more than Colon.  With the way this team is now swinging it, I suppose you could argue it doesn't matter who pitches, and Colon has been at least serviceable so far this year, and on the whole, much better than I thought he might be.  Still, the more I watch this year, the more I see what I believe this team is...2007(b).  It's gonna be a long summer, and it hasn't even gotten hot yet...

There was a shot of Ozzie in the dugout after Contreras threw yet another wild pitch.  He had his head in his hands as he shook his head.  The look was priceless and spoke more words than even Ozzie has to say - and that's saying something. Jose Contreras made an amazing comeback from an achilles injury, and got himself in fantastic shape.  Unfortunately, it has not translated in the regular season, and this has almost certainly been Contreras' last start - at least for a while.  I'm not sure what viable options the Sox have in triple-A, but on the big league club, I would be inclined to try Clayton Richard.  Whatever the Sox do, a change is certainly necessary.

After being shut out five times already on the young season, I think the offensive flaws of this team are quite evident.  They are not aggressive like the Rangers and Blue Jays offense - attacking pitches and hitting line drives.  This team too often hits fly balls or ground balls, but rarely line drives in the gap.  This has been the case for years, and I think it is high time for this team to create a new offensive identity.  I know this will almost certainly not happen this year, but I expect a very different looking team next year.  It's sad to say I'm already looking ahead because this is looking like 2007 all over again. The last two nights have been a microcosm of the season - an incredible Buehrle pitching performance, perfect through 7 and 1/3, with plenty of offense, followed by no offense and horrendous pitching.  That is what comprises, among other things, a .500 team.  Unfortunately, I expect little else from this team this year. 

The return of Jim Thome, Chris Getz, and an old friend in Scott Podsednik helped the White Sox in a very nice team victory tonight.  Of course, Mark Buerhle did his part, as he does so often with steadiness and consistency.  I feel priviledged as a White Sox fan to watch this soft-spoken talent go about his workmanlike business with professionalism and poise.  I feel I have been watching a real gift to pitching, a guy who knows how to pitch. A true professional.  Mark Buehrle may not have the blazing fastball, but the guy is as steady as they come.  Fantastic.  I'm thrilled this guy is 4-0.  He deserves it.

I found it incredibly symbolic to have a Sox hero of the past - Scott Podsednik, was driven in for the game-winning run by the young Chris Getz, who does nothing but impress me more the more I watch him.  This kid comes back from a finger fracture, and all he does on his first day back in the lineup is pick up his first career triple, driving in the winning run in a clutch situation.  I was glad to see this was an error-free game as well, a feel-good story with the return of Scotty Pods, and a great night for Thome, driving in a huge three runs with a double, picking up 1501 RBI for his incredible career.  Let's go for the series win tomorrow...

In spite of this loss, I feel good about a few things coming away from this game.  Contreras, who has struggled this season, only gave up three earned over seven innings, which is quite an accomplishment for any pitcher against an offense like this, but especially for a struggling pitcher. It will not get any easier with the red hot Mariners coming to town tomorrow, but I was glad to see Brian Anderson go 3-for-4 and swinging with authority and confidence, against one of the best pitchers in the league.  This is Brian's last chance from what I can see.  This is his final shot to make it as the starting center fielder for the White Sox, and so far he has made the most of his opportunity.  Still, there are no moral victories in baseball, but I would rather have something positive to take away from a loss then nothing at all, like the Friday night disaster.  The Sox were competitive all day.  They did not hit enough, but it was a Cy Young winner on the hill.  They could have lost to a worse pitcher.  They will have to try to begin a new winning streak tomorrow.

With the way the Orioles scored seemingly at will against Bartolo Colon, I'm actually impressed the Orioles were kept to just 6 runs.  The two runs which finally crossed the plate for the White Sox at the top of the 8th after a Jim Thome two-RBI single would not be nearly enough, even if it put the Sox within slam territory.  It was ultimately too little too late.  I noticed Bartolo getting squeezed, and the umpire would not give him the corners when the ball would tail back over the plate.  Bartolo then seemed to aim his pitches, going straight down the middle, and the Orioles hit like they knew what was coming, swinging with authority at his pitches.  The Sox hitters in contrast were tentative and did not look aggressive against Eaton, who has become Cy Young overnight even with a 7.04 ERA.  He was moving his pitches around and the Sox looked like they were guessing.  When hitters guess, they do not look aggressive, and if they do make contact, it does nothing but produce an out. 

Still, it was a winning road trip, with the best part being the 3-out-of-4 series against the Rays in Tampa.  The 5-and-4 trip will end with the Sox returning home to face the best team in the East so far - the Blue Jays.  I'm not sure it will stay that way the entire season, and the Jays have had some injuries already.  Still, the Sox will hopefully find some comfort at home before their fans...

I was much more pleased with both the effort and outcome of tonight's game compared to last night, with Danks proving he truly is a domiant starting pitcher, and an outstanding lefty at that, and some 2-out RBI hitting from Getz and Fields. 

I am overall pleased with not just the potential of this Sox team on the Major League roster, but what they have in the minors as well.  It is clearly a more intelligent and fiscally responsible way to cultivate a winning franchise than big-name franchises who are always so focused to "win now" they lose the bigger picture, throwing bad money after bad and still getting nowhere. A team on the north side comes to mind, as does one in the Bronx.  The White Sox are doing it right - with intelligent trades and draft picks and becoming deep in pitching. Let's go for the series win tomorrow.

After watching the Sox for so many years, I have become accustomed to watching this team struggle mightily against rookie pitchers.  I joke to myself perhaps every rookie should wish their debut be made against the White Sox, since they seem to never fare well against rookie pitchers.  Bergesen was good, but it's aggrevating the Sox make these rookies look like Cy Young.  He wasn't that good. 

The problem is, Contreras was also not good, with 6 earned over 5 1/3 innings, and 6 walks.  His weight loss not withstanding, Contreras simply has not yet been good all year - with tonight being his worst outing on the year.  I have always been aggrevated with this guy's lack of confidence in his fastball.  With his size and strength, I cannot figure out why he cannot reach back and fire his fastball with authority.  Instead he throws his forkball in the dirt to the point where he walks 6 hitters on the evening.  Jose will need to realize it starts with his fastball - not his forkball. Sox will will have to try to get 'em tomorrow.

When AJ hit his two-run homer to put the Sox ahead 2-0, I thought to myself, "This is a nice start.  Let's keep it going."  The Sox did that and more, knocking out 17 hits, scoring 12 times.  It was good to see Brian Anderson go 3-for-5 on the day, with 2 runs scored.  If he plays everyday, it will be interesting to see if he can be good enough at the plate on a consistent enough basis to win the starting center fielder job permanently.  I'm not holding my breath since he has not done it after a few seasons, but he also has not had a chance to play every day since 2006.  With the way the Sox are hitting, I think they can live with Brian Anderson's .273 batting average and his stellar glove in center field.  I sincerely wish Brian could be the guy because he is probably the best outfielder the Sox have. 

Carlos Quentin continues to be the beast he was in 2008, hitting his 7th homer on the season.  It appears he is suffering no ill effects from his wrist injury last year, and I'm glad to feel at ease his power stroke has not suffered.  Gavin Floyd pitched extremely well, giving up just 2 earned over 7 innings pitched.  Kenny has done a heck of a job with his pitching moves for the most part, with Gavin Floyd being no exception. 

Overall, I'm quite pleased with the Sox' 7-5 record.  I like the solid pitching and the offense has been timely with a mix of power and base hits.  Taking three of four from the American League Champion Rays is big, especially in their ballpark.  I did not expect this, and the Sox were just a Zobrist slam away from sweeping this series.  Clearly, the Rays do not pitch as well so far this year as they did last year.  That could hurt them if that does not change. As for the Sox, they will need to continue doing what they have been doing in Baltimore.