The Passing of the World Champion Chicago White Sox

Born April 2005

Died September 16th 2006.

The White Sox passed on to the great pennant chase in the sky last weekend in Oakland. Sadly they went very quietly. The cause of death was determined as lack of consistency. The team had been suffering from this for the past 3 months.

In lieu of gifts please donate any LF's, a quality leadoff hitter, any quality starters, or any Right or Left Handed Bullpen help to the Team's Spring Training camp in Tucson Arizona (preferably before April of 2007)

It seems long than 11 plus months since this team finally shed its label as the Second Team of the Second City. The team that when people talking about them playing in October. They could only be mentioned that they threw a World Series.
Last season was truly a dream, a dream that nearly turned into a nightmare as they almost blew a huge lead. But they didn't and they erased all the pain most of us have being Sox fans. It was so satisfying to see the Sox be on the top of the heap, all the while the Cubs have to stew in their own juices. It was good to see that the Sox were showing the country that there are two teams in Chicago and that Binge drinking and bad landscaping does not make for great baseball tradition. Sure it might be a cool scene, but I am one of those odd balls who expect its team to try to go out and win.  

Maybe it would have been easier to take if this team got off to a bad start, or if there were injuries. But to see this team play so well and then play like crap was head pounding into a table kind of frustration. But I have to savior the good times

Opening Night - seeing the banner go up and us winning (Ok I was in Belfast at the time, but thank god for the internet)

Sweeping the Angels - Watching the Sox continue their mojo from last year and sweeping the Halo's. I can say I saw Chris Widger's last stand, or at least the last time he was productive in the lineup.

The brutal beating of the Cards.

Paulie going deep on Riveria back when we were still in it. Watching him get the game to extras was awesome. Then seeing them winning it on JD's single in the 11th.

Jermaine Dye or as I like to call him "The Situation" because he is Jermaine to any situation he is in. It was either that of JDMD Jermaine Dye Mashing Dingers.

Jim Thome - Gentleman Jim good to see you back. I miss AR and maybe that other big guy, but you did not disappoint. We got more out of you than expected. Stay healthy and we will still have one of the better 3-4-5's in the game.

Jon Garland - Good to see that even with his bad start, the guy showed us that he was for real.

Joe Crede - can hit before the 7th inning. He really grew up this year and is the player we all hoped to see manning 3B.

Jose's streak - If you take the last half of last season and the first half of this season. That is a Cy Young winning season hands down. But all of you know that.

Coming to Cell - During the ALCS last year I was lucky enough to make friends with some great people from the Windy City. From this friendship they helped get tickets for the Sox/Cubs Series at the Cell. My first time back since 1996. I will say that was a great weekend. Take away the last 2 innings of the Sunday game and it would have been perfect. Almost World Series perfect. Sitting in that stadium, seeing the banner and seeing the Sox beat on the Cubs. That was heaven.

As for the bad times, I think Socrates put it best,

"Why do you have to bring up old shit?"

Okay maybe not that, but I think we do not need bring up what just happened in Oakland, of the lost weekend at the Cell with the Twins, and so and so on. See I am getting angry just typing it.

So in the coming week or so I am going to pop the DVD in and drown myself in the memories and try to tell myself that there was a player strike sometime in June that ended the season before the Sox could defend their crown. Yes I will wintering in Denial. I hear it is lovely.

So where do we go from here?

I think that this team is close. It has enough talent to compete for the division. It needs some tweaking and we are back to be a contender for the World Series Title. Kenny I have faith in you that you are going to do what is best for this team. Hopefully you can find the right pieces for the squad.

Ozzie I still have faith in you, you just need to bring back down a little. Get this team back to what it did best, playing smart baseball. Also have some more faith in the young guys.

Also even if you think I am some nut job, please take the time to thank the Cheat, thewizardsofoz, and all the others who do a great job with this sight. It is good to know that there is a place that has the right amount of Sox fanaticism along with a fair critical eye on this team.

We will be back and we will avenge this season and bring shame and terror to the Twins, Indians, Tigers, any other AL team that oppose us. And we especially bring some special shame and terror for the Cubs.

Please forgive me if there are any typos, misspellings, run-on sentences. If I have made any sense please let me know, it would be a first for me.

Thank you and good night.

Harold Douglas Baines - professional hitter!