A year worth remembering
by The Cheat on Dec 30, 2005 4:00 PM CST
in White Sox News
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PrintWay back in January, back at the old place, we were burnt out on blogging and didn't even make a post for the entire month. A year later, where the place still has that new-blog-smell, we're finding a way to churn out about 10 posts a week. We didn't even know that we had 10 things to say this year, let alone this month. -- Anyway, here is a look back at some of the "best" posts from the past year.
From the Ol' Digs
- Before the season started, I worried about the Sox ability to hit left-handed pitching.
- I was impressed by my first glimpse of Iguchi and McCarthy in spring training, and even more impressed by my second viewing of McCarthy.
- Buehrle broke his foot, but only for about 12 hours.
- I made some pretty bad predictions about the Sox season. They were still markedly better than any of the mainstream media's predictions, however.
- I discovered Win Probability. I didn't discover it really; just stumbled onto Studes spreadsheet somehow.
- Dmitri Young became my whipping boy for some putrid prognostication.
- A couple of games from the Sox hot start [1][2] had me sensing something special on the south side.
- I noted the difference between '05 Garland and the league average hurler who wore his number from '00-'04.
- The Sox had a horrifically memorable series with Oakland, causing me to complain about such things as players being beaned and umpires not awarding first base.
- April/May
- Welcome to South Side Sox. Take off your shoes at the door, and use a coaster under your beer.
- After a particularly brutal bullpen meltdown, I made a handy chart for Ozzie.
- I played 20 questions with myself for Cinco de Mayo.
- The 37-games-in-a-row-with-lead-streak ends. We should have known good things were on the horizon from the company the Sox were keeping.
- Frank Thomas came back, and got hurt again. Timo came up clutch with bloop. And Ozzie must have pissed in Jeff Brantley's Cheerios.
- June
- Eric Chavez was everyone's favorite diary topic.
- AJ's throw-back walk-off.
- A look at smartball and bunting.
- Mark Buehrle was "Awesome," and even Cubs fans agreed.
- Craig Monroe decided to join his teammate in proclaiming the Tigers the team to beat.
- July
- The rumor mill heated up. Roger Clemens, Jason Schmidt, Omar Vizquel, Ken Griffey Jr., Kenny Rogers, and AJ Burnett all get mentioned as possible targets.
- The Sox start the second half in the same fashion they started the first.
- I went on vacation, but Brent kept us busy with "the state of things" Part [1][2][3][4]
- The only Sox deadline move is for Geoff Blum.
- August
- Brian Gorman is the only one who can stop Buehrle's streak.
- We met internet celebrity Studes for a game at the Cell.
- I had a great time at the Pudge game.
- My patience was wearing thin, as evidenced by story titles, What's wrong with Mark Buehrle?, Where did Rowand's power go?, and Twins Sweep Sox even before the games have been played.
- Where Would He Play: The (illegal and now defunct) T-Shirt
- We started checking the rear view mirror.
- The Magic Number started appearing in the headlines of my game recaps.
- September
- McCarthy shut down the Red Sox, and caused me to call for El Duque's head.
- We felt really bad about the way the Sox were playing: Feelin' Green, Disgusting, No words, just pitcures, and The suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked.
- Which led me to start calculating the Sox "real" Magic Number.
- AJ stepped on it, while Crede provided the fireworks.
- A loss to Santana had me standing at the ledge.
- Sox clinch Central, I ask for 11 more wins.
- October
- ALDS Game 1 (Game thread) (recap)
- ALDS Game 2 (Game thread) (recap)
- ALDS Game 3 (Game thread) (recap) (celebration thread)
- ALCS Game 1 (game thread) (recap)
- ALCS Game 2 (game thread) (recap) (Eddings discussion)
- ALCS Game 3 (game thread) (recap)
- ALCS Game 4 (game thread) (recap)
- ALCS Game 5 (game thread) (recap) (celebration thread)
- World Series Game 1 (game thread) (recap)
- World Series Game 2 (game thread) (recap)
- World Series Game 3 (game thread) (recap)
- World Series Game 4 (game thread) (recap) (World Series Champions!)
- November
- Community Prospect List
- Sox trade for Thome -- My reaction.
- Konerko rejects Orioles' contract offer. Hours later, he signs with the Sox.
- December
- Sox trade Marte for Mackowiak
- Sox trade Young, Duque for Vazquez
- Pierzynski signs for 3 years
- Garland signs 3 year extension.
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History lesson
Question: did all the comments get deleted from the old site? I was curious to see who had been around before the switch, who the "natives" were, so to speak.
Anyway, congrats on the new site. It's been a lot of fun. Hopefully you won't burn out again. Spring training is right around the corner.
Yeah
Regular commenters were off the top of my head RobW(SHAFTR), 3E8, Tybor, WHarris, a couple of Twins fans, ChiSoxFn, EasyW, Betsy -- That's about it
When you have some time...
Oh, and Brent's "Miss Cleo" skills.
Lots of things like that.
And Cheat, it doesn't get said enough, but you're one helluva writer. I got chills just reading the recaps... Awesome stuff.
And, I hope you've framed that "Studes" sign. = )
My Girls, Revisited
(There's a thought: if we are a neighborhood, who is filling which role? Cheat's the guy who owns the corner tavern and who keeps the benches in front of his place clean. I figure there's a patio to drink beer, eat hot dogs and speakers to listen to the game. CWSKeith is the kid we're all proud of who's about to go off to college. Dyspeptic is the smart, prickly guy who works downtown. He'll argue politics, baseball, whatever but he'll back you to the hilt if you're one of his. Larry is the doctor who's got a practice up the street. Simplesinger is the local with the soul of a poet. Spengler is the pleasant guy who'll talk with anyone. Me, I'm the family guy who lives up the street with the two girls, two dogs and the wife who can wear cut-offs and a Sox t-shirt with authority. There are others I've missed: feel free to elaborate on my musing.)
Anyway, back to my girls. They're doing great. It's amazing to me how the Sox winning it all has become a part of their basic experience. We'll mention it in passing at least once a week and, while they never take it for granted (there is always that undercurrent of joy), they accept that the Sox are winners in a way that I never could.
I actually just used Kenny Williams' offseason as a teachable moment. The nine-year old and I were walking the dogs this morning and talking about all the moves that the Sox have made since winning the Series. I explained that is was like getting an A in school. You could say "Well, I got an A so I don't have to try any harder" (see, Angels, 2002) or you could say "I got an A but that report could have been even better and next time I'm going to try even harder." Obviously, when you're teaching a kid, you want attitude number two, so I explained that Williams wasn't satisfied with winning once and that he's been working hard and taking chances to make the Sox even better. She got it, I think.
And, regarding Cubs fans, the nine-year old mentioned that she hates a boy who lives down the street who she's know for years but who she has never really gotten along with. We asked her why, and she said "Well, we're both pretty smart and we both love baseball. But he's a Cubs fan." We allowed as how that made sense.
Thanks for a great year
Happy New Year!
Some great reads....
Also, had a blast at that Jays game. Im with Keith, that Studes sign was too funny.
Thanks
In late June I said to my wife this is the best team since 1983. I can feel it!
Later in the season I was of the 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' school of thought. I was telling my sox fan friends 'if they can't beat KC Detroit, Minn, Cleveland, they'll get pummled in the playoffs, I don't want them to back in'.
It got so bad I started apologizing to my Cub fan friends for being so rough on them in years past.
But there were plenty of choke signs flashed at me anyway.
I was in surgical post op the afternoon thay beat Detroit to clinch. I kept looking at the celebration thinking how did they clinch? What did I miss? Then I thought 'who cares, woo hoo!'.
I watched Boston from my bed. Then when we got to the Angels I thought hmm I watched from bed and they beat Boston. I better stay there.
When they lost game one I was free to go watch in HD! But I always had the sound down. Even though there was a delay and I was forgoing the surround sound we didn't care.
By the WS my wife was a full blown Sox fan. During the pennent clinching celebration she said
'we have to go somewhere to watch the WS!'. We live on the north side! There is no where! I went to Goose Island Clyborn (NO NOT IN THE SHADOW OF WRIGLEY!!) for game one. I've been a patron there for years. I called the manager and begged for a table by a TV. I got a front row seat!
We took the red line and rode in with several lucky fans who were going to the game and saw some on the way home.
That's as close as I got to getting to go.
What a white knuckle ride this was.
Now for the first time in my life I am a season ticket holder. I'll be happy with a good season and another playoff run.
It's been said...
I'm taking you to a game next season. Remind me once the season starts and we'll figure out a game.
by Brent Brookhouse on Jan 2, 2006 8:05 AM CST reply actions
Had to smile...
by Sullysox on Jan 5, 2006 1:14 PM CST reply actions
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