11 More

by The Cheat on Sep 30, 2005 12:55 AM CDT in White Sox News

96 victories, more than any other team in the AL, second only to the Cardinals in all of baseball, and yet all we have heard from the media (even yours truly is to blame) is how the Sox were having a historical collapse. Well how about this for history? The White Sox are just the 10th team in the history of baseball to be in first place on every day of the season. (I haven't found print confirmation of this. I saw it on ESPN, and very possibly could have heard wrong. If I knew how to go about checking that I would, but it sounds like a long process -- too long for me to tackle.)

96 victories. The Sox have only won more than that once in my lifetime. I suspect this is the most victories from a Sox team that some of you have ever seen. Heck, I don't even remember the '83 team. -- I remember the '84 Ilini Rose Bowl, and the Bears losing to the 49ers a couple times prior to their Super Bowl run, but no early childhood Sox memories. -- This truly was a historic season.

96 victories, and none of them sweeter than Thursday's 4-2 triumph over the Tigers. Sure, there was the Rowand 3-run HR in San Diego, and the back-to-back HRs on the second day of the season, and AJ Pierzynski slaying the Dodgers, and Timo Perez being the hero in Frank's return to the team, and Joe Crede. It's been a season full of memories.

96 victories. It started with a Major League record streak of consecutive games with a lead, and just rolled from there.

96 victories. How about 11 more?

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Oh

and one thing that I wanted to note from yesterday's game.

I loved the reaction on the field. We've seen more on-field celebration in some of the other games I linked. -- They acted like they had been there before, like this wasn't their ultimate goal. They know there is still work to be done, and even though none of us can remember a the White Sox winning a post-season series, that's when they will let loose.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Sep 30, 2005 1:30 AM CDT reply actions

Congrats CWS nation

you guys really do deserve it.

BUT... do you think you can take it easy on us (Indians) this weekend? rest some of the bats? knock it off with the steals? etc.
After all, unless you would prefer to see both the BoSox and the Yanks in the playoffs, then the most advantageous thing you can do for yourselves is, well, lose.
And give the Central the wild card for the first time EVER...now that's something to play for, isn't it? Keeping one of the East Coast monsters at home for October?
Any word if Guillen is going to give some guys the a day off this weekend?
We need all the help we can get after that Tampa Bay fiasco.

Anyway...nice job finishing it off, and I hope we meet again after this weekend.

DocNo

by DocNo on Sep 30, 2005 7:28 AM CDT reply actions

Cleveland...

I'm just hoping the Sox don't get swept. Taking one at the Jake would be absolutely fine with me. The Sox just have to lock up homefield throughout the playoffs, but I certainly won't be mad if the Indians take two.

by CWSKeith on Sep 30, 2005 7:58 AM CDT reply actions

I would take that deal

...cuz I seriously doubt that Cleveland will sweep.
And better a 1-game playoff (at worst) then sitting on the sidelines.
But 3-of-3 and we're home free...and if NY only takes 1, you have home field. BTW, what happens if you tie with NY (or Boston)...who gets h.f.a.?

DocNo

by DocNo on Sep 30, 2005 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Congrats

Color me impressed, guys. As a lifelong fan of your AL Central nemesis to the northwest, I admit that I was pulling hard for your total collapse. Now that it's wrapped up, I can say that you've had one of the more entertaining seasons of baseball I've seen lately.

From April and May: "There's no way those guys can keep this up"
From June and July: "Are they really keeping this up?"
From August and September: "Hah, I knew they couldn't keep this up."
To September 29th: "Well, they did it."

As soon as the AL WC Situation clears up and the playoffs start, know that you'll have at least one Twins fan pulling for you the whole way.

Congrats again.

Just a Twins fan hangin' with the other guys...

by Megawatt @ South Side Sox on Sep 30, 2005 8:58 AM CDT reply actions

Very cool of you, Mega...

Thanks for the gesture Megawatt. You're a class dude. I just recently left the Twin Cities after living there for 12 years. Imagine the fun of being a Chicago fan (Sox/Bears/Hawks/Illini) in the upper midwest...

I still jaw back and forth with some friends back there, and I have to say that though you guys give a lot of shit (which I willing give back), it was always in good fun.

by beeramid on Sep 30, 2005 1:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Two Questions

If the Sox end up with the same record as Boston or New York, who would have home field advantage in the ALCS?
If Cleveland and Boston each take two of three this weekend (which is probably the most likely result in each series) then there is a three-way tie between the Indians, Red Sox and Yankees for the last two spots. What is the procedure the play-in games?

by Landfill on Sep 30, 2005 10:15 AM CDT reply actions

Answer to #2

Well, I found the answer to my own question #2. If there is a three-way tie, the Yankees and Boston play for the Division on Monday with the loser traveling to Cleveland to play for the wild-card on Tuesday.

That would be fun.

by Landfill on Sep 30, 2005 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions

97 wins = Home field

The White Sox hold the tiebreaker over NY.
If Boston wins out, they hold the tiebreaker though, so we need one win.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Sep 30, 2005 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Home Field Tiebreakers

Thanks. What are the tie-breakers used in this situation?

by Landfill on Sep 30, 2005 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

record vs. Division

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Sep 30, 2005 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions

is the guy on the left end of the picture

the strength and conditioning coach?

alia iacta est - win now

by dyspeptic on Sep 30, 2005 11:50 AM CDT reply actions

He's the clubhouse manager

by chrome on Sep 30, 2005 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Wheres Pods?

i never saw him in the locker room celebrating, and i do not see him in this picture........weird...

AIM: JoeCoolMan24 www.2ksports.com/forums Thats where i spend most of my day

by JoeCoolMan24 on Sep 30, 2005 5:26 PM CDT reply actions

White Sox History

Chicago White Sox (1901 - 2004) - 2 World Championships, 5 Pennants, and 7 Playoff Appearances

This means that in a 104 year existence, Chicago has:
won a World Championship 1.9% of the time
won a Pennant 4.8% of the time
been to the playoffs 6.7% of the time.

Now the Good News:
When Chicago goes the the Playoffs, they:
win a World Championship 28.6% of the time
win a Pennant 71.4% of the time.

In Summary, Chicago rarely goes to the playoffs, but they are pretty efficient when they get there. The first step is done.

AIM: shaftr01

blog

by shaftr on Sep 30, 2005 7:20 PM CDT reply actions

ummm

Chicago hasn't won a playoff series in any of our lifetimes. -- The last was 1917, and I doubt there is anyone reading this blog who can remember that.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Sep 30, 2005 8:24 PM CDT up reply actions