5 batters, 1 Grand Slam... Right Where We Wanted 'em

by CatBrains on Apr 21, 2007 5:17 PM CDT Comment 27 comments

The start had shades of openning day: no, not an Erstad homerun, Contreras getting hit hard. The funny thing about it was, he kept getting hit hard, just not quite as hard and/or right to the defence. In fact, Contreras retired 16 in a row after giving up that 1st inning slam. He did this largely by throwing strikes (an impressive 64 of his 86 pitches) and trusting the D behind him. Contreras once again proves he is at his best when he can keep runners off the bases.

The offense is continuing to improve. Our 1-2 were 4 for 9 with a BB and 3 runs scored. Our 3-6 had 6 of the 7 RBIs (You know, like how major league lineups are supposed operate?). Thome is on a tear. Gooch, JD and Crede look about ready to turn the corner. And while Paulie only went 1-5 today he got things started with a double in the game-deciding 10th.

Pablo is looking like a real leadoff hitter against LHP. He has the speed Ozzie loves so and his aggression doesn't lead to nearly as many free outs that certain other "speedsters" tend to give away like candy on Halloween. Given the other choices we have seen trotted out there to leadoff, I would like to see Pablo get most of the starts against lefties.

However, today the real star of the offense was the Detroit defense. The top of the 4th was particularly bad. After a leadoff double to Ozuna, Robertson couldn't find the strike zone for Gooch and Thomer. Then Paulie hit what looked to be a rally destroying bouncer down the 3rd base line. Hawk and DJ were saying that if Inge comes up with that cleanly it could have been the dreaded triple play. With the ball leading Inge right to the bag and Paulie running, I am inclined to agree. As things would have it, Inge did NOT come up with the ball cleanly. In fact, he couldn't recover in time to get even one out. The very next pitch, JD hits one to Casey at first for what should have been 2, but Guillen's throw was off target, and Robertson fell off 1st trying to make the play. There was also an odd attempt at a pick-off by Robertson in the 5th which caught even Casey off guard, allowing the eventual game-tying run to advance to scoring position. And finally, Guillen allowed an insurance run in the 10th with an inexcusable drop.

Other notes:

BA ran for Thome in the 8th and scored another game-tying run. He was promptly rewarded by having Mack hit for him in the 9th.

The 8th inning game-tying run mentioned above came against Zumaya. He still looked devistating at times, but overall there was solid contact off him and he was missing with his curve.

Ginderstad went 0-5. He looked absolutely clueless against Zumaya. UGLY hacks.

Oh and almost forgot... the bullpen. What can anyone say? They are simply pitching amazing. I don't know if Ozzie's handling of them is making them look great, or if their pitching is making Oz look like a genius. Frankly, I don't care as long as it keeps up. Even Boone Logan got in the action today (2 pitches and an out).

bhoov presents the following numbers for the bullpen to backup my gushing:

                IP      H       BB      K
This game:      3       1       1       4
For the year:   53      41      20      53

We lead the league in Bullpen K/9

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great job

I don't understand why jose always comes out like shit and then settles down

like you say, after the slam he was first pitch strike
what happened before the slam cause I missed that part?
did they hit his first pitch?

by The Wizard on Apr 21, 2007 5:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The first 2 hits...

were early in the count... Guillen was all over first pitch for the slam. I was still groggy and didn't really catch if it was his fastball or what.

by CatBrains on Apr 21, 2007 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

jose always comes out like shit and then settles

Like I said earlier:
Winning ugly, part deux....

double , single, and then he hit Sheff....
THEN Guillen hit the slammer - 1st pitch.

But a win is a win, and somehow I think Robertson knows just how Danks felt last night...
:-)

by The Truth has left the building on Apr 21, 2007 5:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The HBP

was the only pitch he didn't throw for a strike in the first.

Sox Machine

by Sox Machine on Apr 21, 2007 6:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I checked on my phone after the second

He had thrown 23 of his 27 pitches for strikes. He had hit a batter and given up a slam. I couldn't figure out what the heck was going on.

I suppose it was a little like opening day. Catching way to much of the plate.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Apr 21, 2007 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great Recap....

Nice job catbrains enjoyed the recap..... i can't believe the shit ozzie is pulling... seriously.... 10 for 59 out of erstad... How did he get to 10? nothing like your leadoff hitter needed 6 at bats to get a hit!

it blows my mind... to think that if he has a 1 for 4 day tomorrow he will raise his average 5 points. (of course a 1 for 4 day would raise a lot of averages on the whitesox)

stupid facts and stats
anderson has less at bats(8) then the team has played games (16)
His middle name is Nikola
He has hit the year ... a double

Erstad has 10 hit's the for the year
1 for extra bases....home run on opening day april 2
his middle name is Charles (is that like charlie hustle?)
He is setting a new bar... and not just for the white sox... these are league standards...

he is grinding out the worst starting cf stats in all categories.... i guess if he gonna suck.... he is going to be the best at it damn it...

out of 26 cf with atleast 45 at bats he is lowest in
batting average by 20 points
obp by 19 points
slugging by 13 points
ops by 64 points

The guy has 5,312 major league at bats
and Ba has 407

i am past being mad about this issue...i am going insane. the only way that i can get through is by embracing it... With OZ running the show he could set new levels of Ineptitude. Has anyone in history ever gotten 600 atbats and less than 100 hits...? this is the pace he is setting 597 at bats 101 hits

by ElDiablo on Apr 21, 2007 7:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

the best thing this organization could do

is get a real CFer and end this entire CF saga they have going on. I have one suggestion - Chone Figgins - but with all the injuries to the Angels this, he may not become available. If he were, I think KW would be all over it in a second. He wouldn't be great defensively in CF, but I don't think he's Mackowiakian out there, and he'd provide a solid leadoff hitter for the Sox.

I'm just trying to wrap my mind around how much better this offense would be with a guy getting on base at even a .330 clip.

The problem after that would be LF, but Figgins would allow the Sox to get rid of both Podsednik (trade or DFA) and Anderson (minors or trade), while letting Erstad be in the role he was brought in here to be in. Of course, knowing Ozzie, Figgins would find his way to LF, Erstad in CF and Erstad would be hitting 2nd.

by wite on Apr 21, 2007 7:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Figgins would be great...

But I'd unhappy with Erstad stuck in LF. He should be the backup CF (preferably on another team, but that's asking for too much). I'd raher see Sweeney play left if the Sox get a leadoff CF.

by hitlesswonder on Apr 21, 2007 8:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

As much as I love a good Grinderstad bashing...

My only hope is that him or Ozzie actually do something this godawful mess that is our lead-off man. Sometimes I wonder if Ozzie ever reads this or any other any fan commentary, and if he were to, if he would be too pig-headed to change any mistakes he gets called on. Or maybe he really, truly knows what he's doing and all the fans (at least on SSS) are in the wrong.

by fliesinhiseyes on Apr 21, 2007 10:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

some more bullpen numbers

Bullpen ERA 3.05 (18ER in 53IP)
Inherited runners - scored 23-6
Runners inherited from starters - scored 9-2

by ymj0000000 on Apr 21, 2007 7:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice job, Cat...

'nuff said.

It should be called Bill Veeck Park!

by Chiburb on Apr 21, 2007 8:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Why BA didn't start...

Gonzalez (Tribune):

Brian Anderson didn't start Saturday as expected against left-hander Nate Robertson, but manager Ozzie Guillen said he hasn't thought about sending his second-year outfielder to Triple-A Charlotte to guarantee him more work.

"We don't have any idea what we're going to do with him, keep him here all year or if we need the extra pitcher," Guillen said of Anderson, the Sox's first-round pick in the 2003 draft who hasn't started since April 15. "I don't know if he's the guy to go down. We don't know yet. Right now, we're going to see how [Scott] Podsednik does and if we need 12 pitchers when he comes back."

Guillen elected not to start Anderson because he didn't want to start a lineup with him and rookie catcher Gustavo Molina. Anderson and Molina were a combined 0-for-5 on April 11 at Oakland. Anderson is 3-for-12 lifetime against Robertson, but Guillen said he would try to start Anderson, who has had only eight at-bats, in a two-game series at Kansas City starting Monday.

"I have to figure out how many at-bats he's going to get, how long he's going to play," Guillen said. "But in the meanwhile, we think about winning."

Guillen said he likes carrying a 12th pitcher, which the Sox needed because of the current stretch of 13 consecutive games without a day off.

But the recent success of outfielder Rob Mackowiak could make it difficult for the Sox to keep Anderson when Podsednik returns from a right adductor strain, but that's probably in at least another month.

It should be called Bill Veeck Park!

by Chiburb on Apr 21, 2007 8:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What the hell does this even mean?!?!?!

Guillen elected not to start Anderson because he didn't want to start a lineup with him and rookie catcher Gustavo Molina.

...

"But in the meanwhile, we think about winning."

Ozzie, with a straight face, implied to reporters that Erstad vs. Robertson is a better matchup than BA vs. Robertson?

This is so fucking stupid. This situation is so ridiculous. It's time for Kenny to sit down with Ozzie and have a little chat. There's no reason Anderson should be on the team right now -- get Terrero up here.

by CWSKeith on Apr 21, 2007 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The sad thing is...

I think against LHP Terrero would be better than Erstad. And Terrero has a .683 career OPS vs. LHP. Anyway, I think it's a major step forward for the offense that Ozzie apparently has decided not to bat Erstad in the top of the order against LHP.

by hitlesswonder on Apr 21, 2007 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice job catbrains!

I threw my $.02 into the diary before I saw that you were doing a recap too.

This kid, he had his chance last year.

by ChicagoPete on Apr 21, 2007 8:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

much appreciated.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Apr 21, 2007 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

to quote another poster here...

BrentBrookHouse and I were talking on IM during the game and he mentioned how this isn't even about their play anymore, but with Ozzie showing everyone he is in control by playing Erstad over BA.

I would agree.

I wish I had a video of the Erstad/Zumaya matchup. Amazing. I think that said a lot there. He has been worse than I even thought he would be, I am beginning to wonder if he is even good enough to be in the bigs anymore.

Finally, there have been players inducted into the HOF who played during Erstad's last above average season.

Go Badgers!

by shaftr on Apr 21, 2007 11:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, Erstad's glove is fine

I wasn't sure how well he would play CF after the injuries and time in the infield. I expected he would be able to hit for a decent average (.270?) without power or OBP. He may still do it. It's early in the season. It does seem like he isn't doing much besides hitting weak grounders, so it's possible he will hit worse than I thought.

Honestly, it wasn't ridiculous to start Erstad over Anderson. There was/is a significant chance that Erstad will be the better player this year. The real travesty is 2-fold:

Going into the season with Pods and Erstad as starters. That's not a quality outfield.
Batting Erstad in the top of the order.

It will be compounded if Erstad continues to hit worse than Anderson did last season and Anderson doesn't get to play. If someone's going to suck, it might as well be the young player.

I think, as was suggested above, Williams needs to fix the mess by getting a major league hitter that can play center. Guillen is clearly done with Anderson, and the Sox can't carry a dead spot in the lineup in CF with questionable bats already in LF and SS.

Still, whatever happens, at least Sox management hasn't been silly enough to make Erstad the starting first baseman.

by hitlesswonder on Apr 21, 2007 11:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i agree

but I don't see any hope for erstad at this point...and it just seems so illogical that ozzie is treating anderson like this. Erstad isn't just terrible, he is an epic kind of terrible. Even anderson in his worst days of last year, was still OPSing over 100 point higher than Erstad is right now. (Erstad right now .451!!, Anderson April, .554, May .573) Erstad's OPS is 103 points lower than Jim Thome's OBP!!!

I wonder how long he can continue at this pace before ozzie realizes that he is destroying our offense. And even when that happens, I bet it will be a center-field "platoon" with Macko (despite the fact that they are both lefties).

by ymj0000000 on Apr 22, 2007 12:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not quite sure why you think

There is a significant chance he is better this year than Anderson. Ozzie has done his best so far to tank BA.

Either way I do think we are all becoming obsessed with this. Its actually taking a little away from my enjoyment of the season.

I do wish Kenny would just find another fielder so we can be done with this. Ozzie will remain a prick on it until his hand is forced so Im done with it till then.

by Tdogg on Apr 22, 2007 2:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good job, TD

All the focus on DE/BA/Ozzie merry-go-round detracts from the fact that we were 4 runs down to a quality P and won. We've won 2 at Detroit (OK, we always win against Detroit) and have a 4 game win streak.

Winning ugly, yes, means we are winning. I can't believe anyone (Ozzie?) would be deluded into thinking this is a WS (World Series)-winning starting 8. We kicked ass last year in the 1st half, too, and Thomer and the old guys were on fire. What it DOES prove is we're being led by our pitching, and all those who said KW didn't do enough the 2nd half last year to bolster the bullpen may have called it properly.

Big game today - Verlander is looking tough. Stay positive and say the Serenity Prayer whe Erstad-Usted bats.

by winningugly on Apr 22, 2007 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We can keep our chins up

about Verlander. I don't have the stats, but we owned him all last year. Hopefully, that continues.

by southsider80 on Apr 22, 2007 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thome Owned him

the rest were just along for the ride.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Apr 22, 2007 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

JD lit him up just as much

by larry on Apr 22, 2007 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

Just to be clear, I would have rather seen Anderson starting. I won't go back over my old posts, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't excited by the signing of Erstad and I was worried the Sox would make him starter.

That being said, I thought Erstad could post a .700 OPS and it's certainly possible Anderson might not do that. At this point, Erstad looks so bad at the plate that it's hard to see any justification for not giving Anderson more at-bats.

If Erstad finishes with a worse April than Anderson's April '06 while being lionized by Guillen and every sportswriter in Chicago, well...at least we can all enjoy the irony.

by hitlesswonder on Apr 22, 2007 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Florida Jim

Two "get-me-over" pitches and it looks bad but they came back , thanks to Detroit. Jenks looks like he may be returning to 2005 form and, although I always liked Cotts[the 2005 version] he could not make this bullpen.
The swings of the hitters are looking much better, except for Erstadt, and the defense is acceptable, providing the fielders do not have to make quick decisions on who should catch the ball. We are two games over .500 and I am praying for a sweep.

by Florida Jim on Apr 22, 2007 10:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs