For a good portion of this game, I was frustrated once again watching the White Sox offense do very little against San Francisco pitching.  I was also frustrated watching Gavin Floyd getting himself in trouble with runners almost constantly on base, including hitting Aaron Rowand by a pitch twice.  He just didn't seem to have much control tonight.  Fortunately for Floyd, he bent, but did not ever break, surrendering no runs on 4 hits over 6 innings.  The bullpen was fantastic once again, and Bobby Jenks nailed down his ninth save on the season. 

It was good to see Alexei Ramirez get his first Major League home run of his career - and at a time when it really mattered to the White Sox, winning the ballgame by plating their only two runs.  Ramirez doesn't appear to be a powerful hitter, but all night long, Steve Stone and Ed Farmer spoke of how difficult it is to hit home runs out of that ballpark, and Ramirez was able to do so.  They spoke of how strong Ramirez is and how much better he will be once he adds more weight to his frame.  What has impressed me most about him at the plate is his quick hands. 

The White Sox can guarantee an above-500 road trip with a win tomorrow or the following day.  That would be fantastic, especially since West-Coast trips have not traditionally been kind to the White Sox.  Even though the White Sox split in Anaheim, I'm happy with the fight they showed, and if they tighten up their game, they can still play with any team in baseball because their pitching has been so outstanding. 

That leads me nicely to my next point - Mark Buehrle.  I'm not sure what has happened to this guy so far this year, but I sincerely hope he finds whatever has been missing in his game.  The White Sox need production from him to ultimately be successful.  They also need production from Thome and Konerko, who have really struggled for the most part lately.  Fortunately for the Sox, unlikely heroes like Gavin Floyd, John Danks, Carlos Quentin, and tonight Alexei Ramirez have been carrying this team while veterans have struggled.  I think that for me has been my biggest surprise on this young season so far.  If everyone can get in the act and contribute, I believe this ballclub can do some special things this year. 

 

I have to admit it.  I thought with two outs in the top of the ninth, Jim Thome was going to strike out.  I was so glad to see him hit the ball hard to right field, and after Pierzynski crossed the plate to score the go-ahead run, I could see him point to Thome and shout at him what I'm sure were words of encouragement.  I'm sure this tough stretch for Jim has been hard on him since he was 0 for the series before his big hit. He sure got the hit when it counted, and basically won the ballgame.  I hope for more good things for Jim starting tonight. 

Vazquez had a very nice outing, but was unable to get the win after Joe Crede's fielding error.  What's more important though is the way the team picked him up and picked up Quentin's miscue in left that was essentially responsible for the first two runs of the game.  Quentin almost picked himself up single handedly by missing a home run by about 10 feet.  But that long fly was enough to get Pierzynski to third base, in position to score on Thome's single.  Not a perfect game, but a good, solid victory with a team that picked each other up.  I like to see that.  I hope to see more good things as the Sox play the National League Giants.  Today they met up with their old friend Garland.  Tomorrow they will meet up with their old friend Rowand. 

 

 

Carlos Quentin delivered in the three hole tonight, to the tune of 5 RBI, with two hits, one of which was a home run. The results of Ozzie's latest lineup shake up worked nicely. John Lackey pitched well for a long time, but Shields gave up the bomb to Quentin. Jose Contreras was masterful as well, nearly matching Lackey, pitching seven innings and giving up just 1 earned run on 4 hits. On a smaller note, it was good to see the White Sox hit the cutoff man instead of throwing home when the sac fly scored the Angels' tying run in the fifth inning. It might seem like a small thing, but it is these little things that have killed the White Sox in the past. In this case, it saved another potential run to keep the runner at first and preventing them from advancing into scoring position. A very good win for the White Sox tonight. They will try for the series split against their former teammate Jon Garland tomorrow.

It was not a good move defensively for Nick Swisher and Jermaine Dye to throw home to try getting the runner instead of throwing to second base to the cutoff man.  Still, when you only get three hits on the evening, and score no runs, it almost doesn't matter what plays are made or not made in the field.  This is a team that is clearly searching at the plate, and are pressing in the field, not making the best choices, misthrows, and overall sloppy play.  What is bad to see is how every aspect of the White Sox' game besides their pitching is going south.  Octavio Dotel was responsible for one earned run, but he was very good getting out of a jam in the seventh by striking out Vlad.  I thought that was the ballgame right there, that the White Sox would get pumped up and get some runs. Not to be.  Unless this team can hit at a mediocre level, they will be lucky to be a .500 team when it's all said and done.  John Danks did his job, giving up no earned runs over 6 1/3 innings, and I don't put this loss on the bullpen.  It is a shame once again another stellar pitching performance was wasted.  Hopefully tomorrow the White Sox can find something.  They're going to have to - very fast before this quickly slips away from them.
 

I said yesterday there would be a need for the White Sox offense to sometimes pick up the pitching.  They tried tonight, with a fantastic at-bat by Jermaine Dye to keep the ninth inning alive, and making things interesting.  Still, when you give 8 gift runs to the opposition with poor defense, you have to have a banner evening offensively to overcome that.  Buehrle was ineffective once again, and his defense didn't help him either, with two double plays could not be made as Uribe could not cleanly throw the ball. 

While the defense was poor, Buehrle was always unable to overcome any errors.  He could not pitch over them, and earned his fifth loss on the year.  I never thought Mark Buehrle was going to be the weak link in the starting rotation, but that is what has happened.  It was as if on cue if a bad play was made, the next pitch was laid in over the plate and it was hit hard where a Sox fielder wasn't.  I appreciate the fight in the White Sox offense at the end, but this is a game the Sox should have had.  They beat themselves.  They hopefully will not tomorrow. 

I'm not going to bury a guy who has two almost no-hitters on the young season for having a bad outing today.  Gavin Floyd lasted just three and two-thirds innings and surrendered five runs on nine hits.  Masset was good in relief, but the bats, once again, played 'Jeckyl and Hyde,' stranding 13 runners on base.  I was especially upset with the sixth inning when the Sox, down by two with a couple runners on and just one out, failed to bring any runs across. 

I had a feeling the Mariners were on the verge of breaking out offensively after last night's game.  I wish that break out would have come a day later, and the Sox would have gotten the sweep.  A series win is fine, but opportunities were missed once again.  I realize good teams are built on solid pitching, but every once in a while, pitchers need to be bailed out by the offense.  Sox pitchers have been left out to dry several times by the Sox offense.  Today would have been nice payback if the offense could have bailed out an off day for Gavin Floyd.  Not to be.  I believe the most difficult and telling challenge for the White Sox on this West Coast road trip lies ahead in their next four-game series in Anaheim.  The Angels have been schooled by the suprising Rays and will be home looking to right the ship.  It will be a battle to be sure. 

Vazquez was fairly solid tonight until the sixth inning when things got a little scary.  I actually thought it might have gone the way of the Mariners when they started gaining momentum, but the Sox bullpen did wonderfully preserving the lead.  Vazquez was not at his best, but it was good to see the White Sox bullpen pick him up and keep the Mariners at bay. 

It looks like Brian Anderson wants to stay in the lineup with his 3-run homer and a valient attempt to replicate yesterday's heroic catch in center.  Giving Thome a night off was a good idea I think, and it was good to see Swisher get a couple hits and an RBI after his night off.  He has heart and wants to excel.  The pickoff play with Dotel faking to third, throwing to second, then Uribe firing the ball home to nail Ichiro was electric. I wasn't sure how Dotel was going to get out of that inning, but the way he did it was not at all the way I expected.  Very exciting. 

Overall, I'm glad to see this offense reawakening.  I'm hoping the pitching can continue as they go for the sweep tomorrow.

It was good to see the White Sox get a much needed victory on the road after all the problems they had in Toronto scoring runs.  I believe this trip will be a big test for the White Sox, and will probably tell us much about this team by the time they return home.  Today had pitching, offense, and defense - a solid ballgame for the Sox.  Good to see Paul Konerko looking more comfortable at the plate, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBI, including a nice double that was hit perfectly down the line in right.  Good to see Jermaine Dye continuing his good at-bats tonight, and Jose Contreras pitching very well, with just 1 run on 6 hits over seven innings.  If the Sox can continue to pitch like this, they should be right in the thick of things, so long as they keep their offensive struggles to a minimum.  Excellent way to start the road trip tonight...

It would have been ideal had the White Sox swept the Twins to reclaim their spot in first place in the American League Central, but winning the series against their division rivals is not too bad.  Good to see Jermaine Dye's bat getting hot again.  His plate presence looks different, perhaps 'showing the swagger' as the slogan for '08 says.  He is taking good, authoritative swings on the ball.  John Danks pitched well again, giving up just 2 earned runs on 6 hits in 5 innings.  Dotel's stuff looked electric, and he too appeared to regain the 'swagger' if you will, as he pitched with authority and confidence. 

This long west-coast road trip will be quite a challenge for the White Sox, and we shall see what this team is made of after this trip I think.  I know the White Sox don't do well traditionally on the West Coast, and the 4 games against the Angels I think will be an especially difficult test.  Still, hopefully the White Sox will get comfortable in Seattle, as I read several of them like Safeco Field best of all the ballparks where they play during any given year.  It will be a late one tonight, but hopefully they will start things off with a win. 

The White Sox pitching has been fantastic of late, but not so tonight.  Buehrle surrendered 7 earned runs on 9 hits over 5 and 2/3 innings, and to add insult to injury, Wasserman was unable to prevent Carlos Gomez from hitting for the cycle.  Since the pitching has been so good, I expected there would be nights like this at some point.  Still, the story for me is the complete lack of offense once again.  It seems unless a pitcher is a fastball pitcher, the White Sox have little chance against them.  If the White Sox want to take advantage of what has been some excellent pitching, with some exceptions, including tonight, they will have to be able to hit something other than a fastball.  I am sick of watching this team unable to square up anything but a fastball.  The one-dimensionality of this team offensively is not just their inability to manufacture runs or steal bases, it is in their inability to hit offspeed and slower pitchers, like Livan Hernandez.  If Greg Walker could work on anything with these guys, I would hope it would be that.