That was not the typical sure-handed, strong-pitching, fundamentally sound Minnnesota Twins team last night. Yet, they came back from a 6-1 deficit to put a nail in the season coffin for the White Sox.
The Twins were trying to give it away with botched defensive plays.
Although Minnesota got huge breaks by horrible umpiring. That third-base umpire looked so far in over his head. Hawk was dead on in calling him out.
But when Alexei Ramirez tried to turn a double-play after recording the third out at second, I wondered where in the world the heads are for some of these guys. You're in a pennant race and don't know how many outs there are? Matt Thornton pointed to his head as they left the field.
Bad loss, and it's possible it was a loss to the better team. Carlos Gomez was unbelievable.
And with an 0-2 count, why didn't Jenks throw that biting curveball? Mental mistakes.
I said a while ago the Sox were going to make the playoffs, and I'll stick with that despite Cleveland coming to town and Kansas City tanking it in Minnie.
Still, that prediction lost some juice yesterday.
Why did Ozzie put Dewayne Wise in the lead off spot?
He isn't ready for that pressure in a critical series.
That was a huge miscalculation.
The Sox are still alive however and I expect them to be in first place at least one more time this season. But Minnesota could
sneak in on the last day as they did a couple of years ago.
A lot has been written that the Sox have been choking. I don't agree apart from Javy Vazquez. I just think they're not as good as the Twins from top to bottom. Say what you want about the bad calls and the dinks and doink hits. Nevertheless, the Twins had that aura like they were going to do whatever it took to win the game.
Moreover, the Twins can score in so many different ways unlike our beloved. Just keep the ball down with movement and our lineup is cooked. We don't have "hitters" in the pure sense of the word. In that sense, we stink.
The Twins also have a better future in my opinion. They apparently have a much better farm system for one thing. Where do they get these guys? Slowey, Blackburn, Perkins, Span, et al. The list goes on and on. They have a bottomless pit of farm talent. How did getting rid of the "best pitcher" in baseball hurt them? The GM really knows what the heck he's doing. Moreover, most farm systems in the majors are quite a bit better than ours. How many teams this year have brought up young pitchers who have consistently done the job? I tell you many! What do we have? Clayton Richard. I like the kid, but he's not produced anywhere near where these other young ones have. Kenny makes moves, and I'd much prefer an active GM over an inactive "I'm afraid to make a move" GM. However, he still needs to develop his farm system especially in the pitching arena. Pitching trades are rare and the free agent blue-chip pitchers require an arm and a leg to get (see the Seattle Mariners post-signing of Eric "the soft one" Bedard).
Next year, I expect at least a .275 avg. from Nick "Moneyball Man" Swisher in order to justify the colossal amount of talent unloaded for him. I actually liked the trade at the time, but I never expected him to be this bad at the plate. He certainly hasn't been the answer to our low average hitters. I also expect a balanced lineup with someone like Figgins at the top. An ace "lights out" starter and healthy Linebrink and consistenly competent Dotel would be nice also.
I still think the sox will win it. can't believe the twinkies are going to win anything, can't believe they're in first place. So now they have to lose to kansas city, there is a power house team. But they've actually been playing decent lately so should give the twinkies some trouble. Plus all the sox has to do is beat the tribe and they've been phoning it in since may or so. Should be an easy series for sox so if they sweep, just need kc to win one in the cities. that dosn't seem so difficult. should be a done deal.
Roman, you're a fool.
I am going to the game tonight, so I guess I'm a fool, too.
Just how will they make the playoffs? Are Crede and Quentin coming back?
Did someone kill Grady Sizemore and Cliff Lee?
Do you have pictures of the umpires with small barnyard animals?
What do you know that I don't?
Have never seen a team, from the players, to the manager, to the GM who are completely wigged out at the prospect of playing in another teams stadium. It was 3 weeks ago when they started dreading this trip.
Told a friend if they lost the first game, they'd get swept - what do you know.
Not ready to throw in towel yet but it's close.
All I know is...
I got a text from my Buddy E. HUGE SOX fan.
and it read...
--I concede the Sox choked the cubs are solid dont
bring it up again--
Damn!
Damn!
Damn!
Damn!
Damn!
What is it about playing in that DAMN dome stadium which makes the White Sox NOT play well?
Damn!
Damn!
Damn!
Damn!
Damn!
Man, I be glad when the Twins move to their new stadium.
Did I say DAMN already?
Come on White Sox, don't pull a 1969 on your loyal fans. Don't do it! That is all we need for these partial media guys to IGNORE the team even more.
Come on now!
Come on!
Yes, I am pleading with the White Sox players, I hate to beat up a Cub's Fan this year.
Oh ye of little faith, verily I say unto thee:
The Sox shall smite thine enemies with their mighty bats. And as good prevails over evil, the Twins are soon to reside in the Ninth Circle Of Hell.
So it is written ....
They kicked our donkeys!!!!! Give credit where its due. They looked like the 05 whitesox!