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Pierzynski, Eddings Combine For More Controversy

The circumstances were slightly different, but the principals were the same. AJ Pierzynski, who seems to invent new ways to be reviled by opposing fans, found himself in the middle of yet another bizarre late-inning controversy with his good buddy Doug Eddings, once again culminating in a White Sox victory.

Ajandeddings_medium

With the game tied in extras, Pierzynski started the Sox half of the 10th with a routine single. It was the last routine play of the game. On the very next play, Pierzynski caught BJ Upton giving a lackadaisical effort--what are the chances?--on Carlos Quentin's deep fly ball to center field, and was able to take second base on the speedy, strong-armed, though not always game-aware, young center fielder, setting up the controversial play.

Jermaine Dye hit a routine groundball to short, the type of ball that should cause a runner on second base to retreat back towards second. Needless to say, Pierzynski did not retreat. He charged towards third on contact, and didn't reverse course until he saw Jason Bartlett fielded the ball cleanly in front of him. He tried to stay in the ensuing rundown for as long as possible to allow Jermaine Dye to get himself into scoring position, but Dye is slow, and Pierzynski saw an opportunity. That opportunity was named Willy Aybar, Tampa's 3B, who continued to run alongside and eventually passed Pierzynski after he got rid of the ball. Watching over his shoulder Pierzynski saw Aybar release the ball and continue towards second. As soon as he sensed Aybar about to pass him, he stuck out his elbow, gave a little fake turn, and stumbled to the ground as he tried to change directions.

Pierzynski fell to the ground pointing at Aybar, now nearly at second base, and Doug Eddings, who initially called him out, joined in the pointing soon after. Eddings had called interference. Pierzynski was awarded 3rd, Dye 1st, and the Sox still had just one out. On one play the Sox went from what appeared to be a 2-out, runner on first situation, to a soon-to-be (after an intentional walk to Jim Thome) 1-out bases loaded situation, all because Pierzynski had his head in the game.

Although it didn't seem like the right call at first--I know I thought AJ got away with another one--crew chief Ted Barrett defended Eddings call after the game.

"What Doug ruled at second base was, even though A.J. did kind of stick his arm out to make contact, Aybar was still in his way, so A.J., if he would have turned, he wouldn't have been able to continue on to third," said third-base umpire Ted Barrett, who addressed the situation after the game. "So after making the throw, Aybar is no longer in the act of fielding and he can't obstruct the runner, which is what Doug ruled happened.

"In a rundown, even though A.J. was going back to second, the rule of obstruction during a rundown is he gets his next advanced base and that's why he was rewarded third base."

In addition to the obvious parallel, this was the second bizarre play involving Eddings this season. He was also responsible for Thome's first steal in a White Sox uniform.

As for the game itself, let's just say it was another game with the Rays. Even though the Rays own the best record in the AL, these two clubs are very evenly matched. Heck even their injuries are similar; while the Rays were missing their 3B, LF, and closer this series, the Sox nearly matched them with their 3B and primary set-up man on the shelf. In 10 games this season (Sox are 4-6), the Sox have scored 37 runs to the Rays 35, with 3 games ending with walk-off hits. Sox starters have out-pitched Rays starter, but not by a huge margin, while Rays relievers have out-pitched their Sox counterparts, though again, not by a huge margin. The main difference between the two clubs has been the Sox complete inability to hit with 2 outs, especially with Runners In Scoring Position.

It looked like that trend would continue Sunday, but at the last possible moment, with 2-outs and a 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th, Paul Konerko would change everything. His pinch-hit single, which plated Brian Anderson from second thanks to a gutsy send by Jeff Cox and an assist from Shawn Riggans, was the first 2-out RISP RBI of the year against the Rays. Let me repeat that, because I don't know if it's clear how futile the Sox have been against the Rays with 2 outs and a runner 180 feet or less from home (.036/.069/.036 entering Sunday's finale). In the first 90 innings against the Rays this season, the Sox had exactly one 2-out hit with RISP, and that hit didn't even plate a run.

So yeah, it was a damn fine wave home by the sure to be wrongfully maligned Jeff Cox. The Sox had an opportunity to tie the game, and he took it. It didn't look pretty, and he needed a poor play by Tampa's catcher to come out smelling like roses. But, hoping for back-to-back 2-out hits with RISP didn't seem like a winning proposition for a team who managed just two such hits in 10 games against the best the AL East has to offer.

Alexei Ramirez had the game-winning hit, which was overshadowed by AJ's play and the unlikely end to the season long 2-out drought against the Rays.

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One tough series off the clock, Sox still in first.

Coffee is for closers.

by vince_ on Aug 24, 2008 11:35 PM CDT   0 recs

Its nice to be in first

I wish the lead would be a little stronger… it is nice to see the Angels are mortal though… Twins lucked out and hit them at the right time it seems

by 815Sox on Aug 25, 2008 12:00 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That was a huge win...

It was pretty questionable — Cox got big-time lucky on waving BA with Riggans having him dead to rights but dropping the ball and Pierzynski pulled another Dennis the Menace trick out of his hat but the Sox did legitly tie the game up in the bottom of the 9th. I watched the replay of the Pierzynski play and A.J. quite simply did it again — I can’t believe he coaxed that call. Pierzynski simply stuck his elbow out and then fell down like a NFL kicker trying to draw a roughing the kicker call. Is Eddings a Sox fan or what? Maybe an A.J. fan?

I also have to question the stupidity of Maddon IBB’ing Thome to get to Ramirez. I know Thome is a Hall of Famer and you get the force at every base but I think Thome is more likely to strike out or GIDP in that situation than the guy hitting over .300 and who also has speed. Alexei’s swing-happiness was countered by the fact that the bases were loaded so it’s not like the pitcher could risk throwing him all junk outside the zone. Weird move in my opinion.

I was able to catch the rest of this game and before I left for a family party, I was pissed to see that the Twins were beating the Angels 3-1 in the 7th inning. It sure was nice to see that the Angels came back and won it when I got home. Keep losing, Twins.

"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry

by SSH2005 on Aug 24, 2008 11:51 PM CDT   1 recs

for sure...

If I was a caterpillar and you were a caterpillar I would metamorphosize into a butterfly so that you could see the vast potential of your great beauty. And then you would change, and we would have changed. And it would be beautiful. Change is beautiful.

by furby2056 on Aug 25, 2008 12:39 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

it isn't like they deserve to be there

nothing gets ‘em wetter than infrequent postings on the city’s second favorite team

by colintj on Aug 25, 2008 11:51 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I wonder

How much o time AJ spends reading an MLB rulebook?

Bloggin'

http://bierjournal.blogspot.com/

by Six Pack on Aug 24, 2008 11:53 PM CDT   0 recs

has a copy next to the hotel room bible every night

"as much as i hate dj i don't want him to get molested"- BuehrleMan

by U-God on Aug 25, 2008 8:17 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I clicked on the link from the ALCS game of '05 lore

This little gem was in a comment, thought I’d share it:

Paul made the mistake by rolling the ball. Next year no one will remember the controversy at all.
by Megawatt on Oct 13, 2005 2:25 PM CDT

"would've been a sweep if pablo was here" -Kenwo-

by Hazymania on Aug 25, 2008 12:12 AM CDT   0 recs

lol awesome

If I was a caterpillar and you were a caterpillar I would metamorphosize into a butterfly so that you could see the vast potential of your great beauty. And then you would change, and we would have changed. And it would be beautiful. Change is beautiful.

by furby2056 on Aug 25, 2008 12:40 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

never would have suspected that

Pierzynski could pull off a flop worthy of an Italian soccer player.

vanillablue.wordpress.com

by vanillablue on Aug 25, 2008 12:41 AM CDT   0 recs

i don't get it

nothing gets ‘em wetter than infrequent postings on the city’s second favorite team

by colintj on Aug 25, 2008 11:52 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes

And also at Liar’s Club on Thursdays

-Defoliant

by IceColdFalstaff on Aug 25, 2008 12:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

another great one

grrrr

vanillablue.wordpress.com

by vanillablue on Aug 25, 2008 1:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Whoa

Shoutout to the Chicago chapter of the AARP

Rob

by IceColdFalstaff on Aug 25, 2008 1:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

must confess

i don’t actually own that Defoliants record. used to have a tape but lost it long ago.

vanillablue.wordpress.com

by vanillablue on Aug 25, 2008 1:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Not surprising

I only imported 700 of them into the US. It’s floating around on Soulseek though. (I never ripped mp3s of the LP)

Dig yr blog; you ever read cantstopthebleeding.com?

by IceColdFalstaff on Aug 25, 2008 1:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yes, and

the light bulb just went on and I realized who I’m talking to. always enjoyed your Sox posts at CSTB but never put two and two together.

and thanks for the kind words about my very infrequently updated blog. somewhere i have a board tape of you guys playing at Exit in ‘88. if you don’t have it let me know and i’ll send it to you.

vanillablue.wordpress.com

by vanillablue on Aug 25, 2008 3:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

well at least i know who they are

nothing gets ‘em wetter than infrequent postings on the city’s second favorite team

by colintj on Aug 25, 2008 12:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Tomorrow is fucking huge...

If the Sox could get two wins for the price of one. I don’t expect the Twins to lose with their Francisco Liriano @ Miguel Batista matchup — lol, man the Mariners suck.

"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry

by SSH2005 on Aug 25, 2008 12:46 AM CDT   0 recs

get a half game just for playing an inning

and yeah if Liriano gives up more than a two runs over 6, i’ll be surprised.

nothing gets ‘em wetter than infrequent postings on the city’s second favorite team

by colintj on Aug 25, 2008 11:53 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i thought buehrle pitched a solid game...

he just can’t seem to pitch around defensive mistakes…but as long as the offense can hit with RISP on a consistent basis…i’ll be happy and so will everybody else…but yeah….jenks continues to have a solid year out of the pen…he seems to struggle in non save situations but can get through it…with the k rate down this year it looks as if he’s trying to pitch to contact more and get quicker outs and it’s working for him….uhhh here’s to beating the shit out of baltimore

If I was a caterpillar and you were a caterpillar I would metamorphosize into a butterfly so that you could see the vast potential of your great beauty. And then you would change, and we would have changed. And it would be beautiful. Change is beautiful.

by furby2056 on Aug 25, 2008 12:49 AM CDT   0 recs

the rays got pierzysnki'ed!

aj’ed in the a!

You're on thin fucking ice my pedigree chums, and I shall be under it when it breaks. Now, fuck off.

by MarketMaker on Aug 25, 2008 2:42 AM CDT   0 recs

A-jizzled in the bizzle?

nothing gets ‘em wetter than infrequent postings on the city’s second favorite team

by colintj on Aug 25, 2008 11:53 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

A-jizzled, priceless.

excellent work, colintj!

this isn't hard. you live in a port city. and you're a slut. do the math. -larry

by rhythm on Aug 25, 2008 1:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

win this one for pablo ozuna

when todays suspended game began pablo was on the roster, so this is his last game with the team. it is also his birthday.

brian anderson would've caught that...

by BuehrleMan on Aug 25, 2008 8:08 AM CDT   0 recs

for Pablo

"as much as i hate dj i don't want him to get molested"- BuehrleMan

by U-God on Aug 25, 2008 8:18 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I just saw the replay for the first time this AM.

I think Eddings is, like in “The Godfather”, in KW’s pocket “like so many nickles and dimes”. Gotta be – that was just too obvious.

But you must, must, must love AJ. Let’s see if he sparked something.

"I suck... the Sox don’t." reply actions 25 recs
by SSH2005 on Aug 6, 2008 1:08 AM EDT

by winningugly on Aug 25, 2008 10:03 AM CDT   0 recs

thank Jah we got the breaks yesterday

seemed like we were going to get jobbed by ex-Twins all weekend (Balfour, Bartlett, and even Torii in LA didnt help). Stole this one.

I'm like a laser, six-string razor. I've got a mouth like an alligator

by Nordhagen on Aug 25, 2008 10:20 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

rec'd

thought for sure this would be a WU post

nothing gets ‘em wetter than infrequent postings on the city’s second favorite team

by colintj on Aug 25, 2008 11:56 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Wasn't Hyman Roth the shriveled up old coot?

I’d vote for Jim Leyland.

"Carlos is a hit magnet…if Carlos gets hit the way he gets hit, I don't mind. But if he gets hit the way I don't think he should get hit, then it's a problem."- Ozzie Guillen (8/14/08)

by tailgater on Aug 25, 2008 12:04 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

perhaps jerry reinsdorf.

You're on thin fucking ice my pedigree chums, and I shall be under it when it breaks. Now, fuck off.

by MarketMaker on Aug 25, 2008 12:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Woltz is easy

just pick someone who holds some meaningless grudge against someone, but we ultimately shut up

"as much as i hate dj i don't want him to get molested"- BuehrleMan

by U-God on Aug 25, 2008 12:11 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

not bad

i was tryin to think of like a press person or manager or executive, but mariotti, baker, and no executive i could think of really fit

"as much as i hate dj i don't want him to get molested"- BuehrleMan

by U-God on Aug 25, 2008 12:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

How are the Sox going to approach tonight's first game?

Have they mentioned who is going to ‘start’? Furthermore, what are the rules as far as the lineup is concerned — if Q started in the three spot in the original game, does he have to start there tomorrow? Because if he doesn’t, I’d love to see Ozzie use Q, Dye and Thome as his top three, hoping for a homer to end the game quickly.

Also, do we re-obtain Pablo and Nick Masset for just this game? I certainly hope so.

by CWSKeith on Aug 25, 2008 10:38 AM CDT   0 recs

the game is continued. can't change the lineup order.

at any rate, quentin will leading off the 12th anyway. carrasco or thornton is who is scheduled to continue. all but jenks from the bullpen are available to pitch. griffey and getz are available. ramirez was taken out so not available.

"Suck it up Bunky, we gotta go.'" - ron gardenhire

by larry on Aug 25, 2008 10:45 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

for additional clarification, here is the box score from the game.

quentin was still batting low in the order then so he’s leading off in the 6th spot. crede would be next, followed by BA and then uribe who replaced ramirez. obviously crede needs to be replaced. dye did not play so he would be available to pinch hit but i’d posit that it’s more likely that getz hits for him and goes to 2b while uribe slides to third (if there’s a 13th).

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_04_28_balmlb_chamlb_1

"Suck it up Bunky, we gotta go.'" - ron gardenhire

by larry on Aug 25, 2008 10:53 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Thornton will likely start it off...

Link:

The first three batters due up for the Orioles are Kevin Millar, Aubrey Huff and Luke Scott, who are left-handed. That makes Thornton, a lefty, the likely candidate.

Sucks that the Sox have to face three of their best hitters who are all a threat to homer but gotta win this one.

"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry

by SSH2005 on Aug 25, 2008 11:01 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

By the way, Millar is not a lefty...

Nice mistake by MLB.com’s David Just.

"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry

by SSH2005 on Aug 25, 2008 11:06 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

aubrey huff

was ejected from the game in the top of the 10th inning.

brian anderson would've caught that...

by BuehrleMan on Aug 25, 2008 11:21 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yes. this is why it will more likely be carrasco who starts.

"Suck it up Bunky, we gotta go.'" - ron gardenhire

by larry on Aug 25, 2008 11:23 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Didn't remember that one...

Agreed on Carrasco then.

"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry

by SSH2005 on Aug 25, 2008 11:25 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

which is why i linked to the box score...

"Suck it up Bunky, we gotta go.'" - ron gardenhire

by larry on Aug 25, 2008 11:25 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

O's without Sherrill too.

Plus Huff, Jones, and Fahey have to be replaced in the lineup.

A Cintron sighting tonight?

I'm like a laser, six-string razor. I've got a mouth like an alligator

by Nordhagen on Aug 25, 2008 11:35 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Brandon Fahey being in the lineup would help the Sox...

But Huff and Jones being out sure is nice.

"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry

by SSH2005 on Aug 25, 2008 11:39 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

When Q! hits a bomb to win it in 12

that will be wierd boxscore line:

HR: Quentin 2 (6, 37)

I'm like a laser, six-string razor. I've got a mouth like an alligator

by Nordhagen on Aug 25, 2008 11:11 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

cool though

nothing gets ‘em wetter than infrequent postings on the city’s second favorite team

by colintj on Aug 25, 2008 11:58 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

ha, that's awesome.

You're on thin fucking ice my pedigree chums, and I shall be under it when it breaks. Now, fuck off.

by MarketMaker on Aug 25, 2008 12:04 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I think what happens (correct me if I'm wrong)

is that it would go down as Quentin 2 (6, 7) and then all the others would be bumped up one. I remember reading something about a similar situation when A-Rod had just hit or was about to hit his 500th home run.

by jeeves on Aug 25, 2008 12:08 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

wet blanket.

You're on thin fucking ice my pedigree chums, and I shall be under it when it breaks. Now, fuck off.

by MarketMaker on Aug 25, 2008 12:09 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Buzz Kill.

"I suck... the Sox don’t." reply actions 25 recs
by SSH2005 on Aug 6, 2008 1:08 AM EDT

by winningugly on Aug 25, 2008 12:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'll make it up to you

with the zaniness of Japanese television

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KXviPd0fRA

the first one fails, but it’s good thereafter

by jeeves on Aug 25, 2008 12:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

At work - prohibited from accessing YouTube.

Speaking of Buzz Kills…

"I suck... the Sox don’t." reply actions 25 recs
by SSH2005 on Aug 6, 2008 1:08 AM EDT

by winningugly on Aug 25, 2008 12:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Is it Richard again tonight for the Sox?

Or has there been any word on Broadway who I believe had his last start skipped in AAA?

by jeeves on Aug 25, 2008 11:08 AM CDT   0 recs

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=cws

"Suck it up Bunky, we gotta go.'" - ron gardenhire

by larry on Aug 25, 2008 11:10 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Richard will start the second game...

Broadway is supposedly on his way up if Wise is indeed headed to the D.L.

"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry

by SSH2005 on Aug 25, 2008 11:11 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I love the first related post to this one:

“We, whitesox fans, often, but this year especially, have a lot of opinions and suggestions to Kenny and Ozzie regarding our lineup, team, and the farm system. In all of those suggestions I never hear anyone mention this crucial point: for us to develop our team we must get rid of Jim Thome.”

Chip, chip, chip, chip.
Sox Machine

by Sox Machine on Aug 25, 2008 11:21 AM CDT   0 recs

only 87 plate appearances until the sox are stuck with that corpse for another year.

christ. a guy who is ranked, like, tenth in the league in OPS. who the fuck would want that? can’t we frank thomas him or something?

"Suck it up Bunky, we gotta go.'" - ron gardenhire

by larry on Aug 25, 2008 11:36 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs