The AL Central Belongs to the White Sox
by The Cheat on Sep 30, 2008 11:28 PM CDT
in News
77 comments
On May 16th, The White Sox won a game 2-0 in San Francisco. It was Alexei Ramirez' first game as a starting second baseman, and he provided the winning (and only) runs. The win that night put the Sox tied with the Twins, a half-game back of the Indians. The Sox, despite all their flaws, despite a serious September slide that featured a 5-game losing streak in the season's last week, have never looked back.
At no point after May 16th did the Sox find themselves any more than a half-game behind first. I'm sure this is where some wise guy is going to come in and provide a link to Baseball-Reference, or some other site, proving me wrong thanks to the retroactive application of the April 28th-August 25th loss to the Orioles. But that's not how it happened in real time. That's not how we lived it.
We lived in an AL Central that featured the Tigers stumbling out of the gate, a very good Cleveland team getting zero production from two of its top offensive threats (and shipping out their best pitcher), and a Twins team that could never seem to take advantage of the Sox obvious flaws. How many times did SportsCenter show a fact bar showing the Twins dismal record when they had a chance to move into first? It was a flawed division, ripe for the taking. And since you can't win the division by a half-game, it was the White Sox division.
It has been since May 16th.
Yes, Cleveland is a very good team. I stand by that statement. They could be scary good next year with a little more health, some luck, and a shrewd move or two. I'll have some more posts on the final three games up tonight and/or tomorrow sometime.
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Anyone else kinda wonder . . .
Why Tampa chose to play on Thursday?
I remember hearing that they got to choose whether they wanted to play tomorrow or Thursday.
The thought must have crossed their minds that a tie breaking game might have had to be played.
Wouldn’t you think they would have rather faced the Sox or Twins on no day’s rest?
by Option27 on Sep 30, 2008 11:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
i thought there was always an automatic travel day before a playoff game?
by BoeJouma on Sep 30, 2008 11:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, no way
they got to choose.
Pitching and defense win baseball games in September and October.
by ballyb on Sep 30, 2008 11:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Must be
always an automatic travel day before a playoff game.
Gotta be fair
Pitching and defense win baseball games in September and October.
by ballyb on Sep 30, 2008 11:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
la got to choose
i think they picked the longer of the two series, even though it starts a day early…but i could be wrong
by The Scoper on Oct 1, 2008 12:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
WHO CARES OPTION?
THEY ARE ROOTING FOR THE SOX 2!
"term: pussy, user: larry, count: 11
term: pussy, user: all, count: 83" - wiz
by Where Triples Go to Die on Oct 1, 2008 1:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
incredible play
that guy is just fun to watch. perfect in his imperfections.
nothing gets ‘em wetter than infrequent postings on the city’s second favorite team
by colintj on Oct 1, 2008 12:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
out
"term: pussy, user: larry, count: 11
term: pussy, user: all, count: 83" - wiz
by Where Triples Go to Die on Oct 1, 2008 12:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Completely agree with you on Cleveland
Them trading CC turned out to be one of the bigger bone-headed moves of the year. Although, they were so bad when they let him go, you could see why they did it. Hindsight is 20/20 though.
Looks like Longoria is already afraid of the Sox.
Rays Rookie of the Year candidate Evan Longoria said he would have rather played the Twins.
by El Duque's Raft on Sep 30, 2008 11:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
he's scared of alexei
takes some real stones for the one certifiable cocksucker on here to jump into this convo.-mm
by furby2056 on Sep 30, 2008 11:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Che
ACTUAL rookie of the year.
he replaced the teams (and league leading candidate for) MVP, in september.
che wins, even a very close 2nd
by BoeJouma on Sep 30, 2008 11:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
why do we call him che again?
i must have taken a chicagopete break during this discussion.
"term: pussy, user: larry, count: 11
term: pussy, user: all, count: 83" - wiz
by Where Triples Go to Die on Oct 1, 2008 12:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t want my beer to taste like fruit or honey. I want pussy to taste that way.
by thatshortkid on Oct 1, 2008 12:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
?
I AM SLOW REMEMBER? I PICKED THE SOX TO WIN THE DIVISION.
"term: pussy, user: larry, count: 11
term: pussy, user: all, count: 83" - wiz
by Where Triples Go to Die on Oct 1, 2008 1:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I believe it's spelled, "askeert" -- he's askeert of alexei.
Oh, and this is just bulletin board material for Punto and Gomez for next year. Gomez in particular will be working on special bat-kissing / unnecessarily flamboyant flyball catching routines designed just for the Rays. FEAR THEIR TERRIBLE WRATH RAYS.
by The Actual El Guapo on Sep 30, 2008 11:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
what a fucking game....johnny danks...JI hitting a shot that just went through my dorm window in evansville...
hell yeah dudes….remember the four horsemen piece on danks….vintage what i wrote about there…using the change and working with the slider and curve and sporting a plus fastball today i love it!!!
takes some real stones for the one certifiable cocksucker on here to jump into this convo.-mm
by furby2056 on Sep 30, 2008 11:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
9 am - rundowns.
10 am – holding runners.
11 am – rundowns.
12 pm – holding runners.
1 pm – rundowns.
2 pm – holding runners.
3 – 8
REPEAT
Pitching and defense win baseball games in September and October.
by ballyb on Sep 30, 2008 11:46 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
Think Alexei got a few decent c-gars into the locker room?
Pitching and defense win baseball games in September and October.
by ballyb on Sep 30, 2008 11:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
omg literally
double plus win
nothing gets ‘em wetter than infrequent postings on the city’s second favorite team
by colintj on Oct 1, 2008 12:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Crede celebrating in LR.
Good to see.
Pitching and defense win baseball games in September and October.
by ballyb on Sep 30, 2008 11:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think he's about ready to dump Boras.
Pitching and defense win baseball games in September and October.
by ballyb on Sep 30, 2008 11:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only thing I regret is
they couldn’t have won it with Hawk doing the call. Lord knows that bastard doesn’t have that much time behind the mic. He certainly would’ve been better than Dick Stockton. I’m glad he clarified for me that the Cubs actually won the series in 1906.
by El Duque's Raft on Sep 30, 2008 11:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Noticed that too - Fielder Jones is gonna be one seriously pissed off dead ex-Sox manager when he hears about this.
Also anyone notice Ron Darling’s comment that it was ironic that the Twins have so few homers when they play in such a great home run park? Anyone want to guess which park is dead last in the AL this year in homer-friendliness? Literally, dead last?
by The Actual El Guapo on Oct 1, 2008 12:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh wont you please divulge this information TAEG????
by BoeJouma on Oct 1, 2008 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I always wondered about park factors...
Aren’t they heavily dependent on how good the home team is at hitting homeruns? I never thought the twins had a bunch of power hitters who were stifled by the dome. They just don’t seem to have many guys that would jack one. And I don’t think Morneau would hit like 50 if he played half his games at USCF.
Lurking since 2006
by boyonthedock on Oct 1, 2008 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know it's a bad announcing team
when you turn on the game and are actually disappointed Chip Caray isn’t doing it.
by El Duque's Raft on Oct 1, 2008 12:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
watch yo mouf
HR is the shit. the other two dudes were puds, though
I don’t want my beer to taste like fruit or honey. I want pussy to taste that way.
by thatshortkid on Oct 1, 2008 12:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry should've specified
I meant Darling and Stockton. HR’s talent is wasted with those two guys.
by El Duque's Raft on Oct 1, 2008 12:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
HR is a dick. he couldnt stop kissing MIN ass
by The Scoper on Oct 1, 2008 12:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
neither does hawk and ozzie
HR is still solid overall. too bad he got shitcanned from twwl. good to see him back on nat’l tv after the mlb.tv ghetto.
I don’t want my beer to taste like fruit or honey. I want pussy to taste that way.
by thatshortkid on Oct 1, 2008 12:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He definitely knows his stuff
he was all over Span not being able to read Danks’ move.
by El Duque's Raft on Oct 1, 2008 1:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Lord knows that bastard doesn’t have that much time behind the mic. "
what gives you that impression?
Pitching and defense win baseball games in September and October.
by ballyb on Oct 1, 2008 12:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
but your mouth to God's ears
Pitching and defense win baseball games in September and October.
by ballyb on Oct 1, 2008 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Contract is up in 2010
I believe, and he’s not getting any less senile
by El Duque's Raft on Oct 1, 2008 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Surely you jest.
Gotta be somewhat open ended.
He’s horrific and always has been, but he’s there.
Pitching and defense win baseball games in September and October.
by ballyb on Oct 1, 2008 12:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's not going to be there forever
I think you might see them start to phase him out over the next few years especially with Stoney coming aboard
by El Duque's Raft on Oct 1, 2008 12:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
By phasing him out
I mean bringing a real play by play guy in for a few innings like they used to do with Caray.
by El Duque's Raft on Oct 1, 2008 12:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
they like ex ball players.
Pitching and defense win baseball games in September and October.
by ballyb on Oct 1, 2008 12:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just don't think he's going to have the stamina to do 150 some games
for all 9 innings for that long. He won’t be able to take 2 inning bathroom breaks like he did with DJ.
by El Duque's Raft on Oct 1, 2008 12:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
forever - agree.
next few years – disagree.
Pitching and defense win baseball games in September and October.
by ballyb on Oct 1, 2008 12:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Coin flip should be changed to head to head record.
Next year.
Pitching and defense win baseball games in September and October.
by ballyb on Oct 1, 2008 12:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
according to gardy, never has been and that's the way it goes.
"well, i'm sure i'd feel much worse if i weren't under such heavy sedation."
by Toonderstrook on Oct 1, 2008 12:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Anyone catch Ozzie and Gardy's exchange in the tunnel after the game?
It looked Fredo and Michael on New Years Eve
by El Duque's Raft on Oct 1, 2008 12:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
if Ozzie is Michael
then managing a baseball team can’t be that hard. Actually, same goes if Gardy is Michael.
nothing gets ‘em wetter than infrequent postings on the city’s second favorite team
by colintj on Oct 1, 2008 12:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There was so much hugging and kissing
and Ozzie grabbing Gardy’s chubby cheeks, I felt awkward just watching it
by El Duque's Raft on Oct 1, 2008 12:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Danks finishes 5th in ERA in the AL
Behind Lee, Halladay, Matsuzaka, and Lester.
Absolutely amazing year from both him and Floyd.
by hitlesswonder on Oct 1, 2008 12:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Not bad huh?
Considering most thought what the hell was the team going to do about starting pitching at the beginning of the year.
The SSS motto should be the answer to "What is our deepest fear?". Or maybe just Prozac.
by Tdogg on Oct 1, 2008 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm sure all those twins fans are gonna have a restless, sleep-deprived night.
and with that in mind, i’d like to offer them a cup of coffee tomorrow morning.
oh wait, i’m sorry. COFFEE IS FOR CLOSERS.
CAU-FEE is for CLO-ZERS.
You're on thin fucking ice my pedigree chums, and I shall be under it when it breaks. Now, fuck off.
by MarketMaker on Oct 1, 2008 12:17 AM CDT reply actions 6 recs
double rec if i could
"well, i'm sure i'd feel much worse if i weren't under such heavy sedation."
by Toonderstrook on Oct 1, 2008 12:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
good time for the sox only 1-0 win of the season (so far)...
"well, i'm sure i'd feel much worse if i weren't under such heavy sedation."
by Toonderstrook on Oct 1, 2008 12:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
we channeled 2005 tonight
nothing gets ‘em wetter than infrequent postings on the city’s second favorite team
by colintj on Oct 1, 2008 12:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
tbs playoffs
Can these games be watched on mlb.tv?
by shaftr on Oct 1, 2008 12:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
CHICAGOPETE YOU SON OF A BITCH!
IF IT WASN’T FOR YOU DOUBTING MY ASSESSMENT OF THIS CLUB WE WOULD HAVE NEVER WON! WU! I DRANK A BOX OF WINE IN YOUR HONOR TONIGHT! TOONDER WE HAD OUR DIFFERENCES BUT ONCE I FOUND OUT U CARED MORE ABOUT THE INTANGIBLES OF GAME THEN STATS WE ARE COOL. CHEAT, THANKS FOR NOT BANNING ME. OSIB THANKS FOR REALIZING I, INDEED, WAS LOGIC. JRE THANK YOU FOR REPLYING TO SOME OF MY POST (SEE BALLYB AND COLIN) IT HAS BEEN AN UP AND DOWN SEASON BUT WE GUTTED IT OUT. WHAT AN AWESOME FUCKING YEAR OF BASEBALL AND QAPS!
"term: pussy, user: larry, count: 11
term: pussy, user: all, count: 83" - wiz
by Where Triples Go to Die on Oct 1, 2008 12:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
LARRY MARIOTTI.
YOUR MY FUCKING NINJA!
"term: pussy, user: larry, count: 11
term: pussy, user: all, count: 83" - wiz
by Where Triples Go to Die on Oct 1, 2008 12:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
SORRY CHEAT
I AM SURE THIS IS UNIVERSALLY REGARDED AMONGST THIS BOARD, THANKS FOR BANNING SSH!
"term: pussy, user: larry, count: 11
term: pussy, user: all, count: 83" - wiz
by Where Triples Go to Die on Oct 1, 2008 12:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
EMINEM
U R THE SHIT 2 MY FRIEND.
"term: pussy, user: larry, count: 11
term: pussy, user: all, count: 83" - wiz
by Where Triples Go to Die on Oct 1, 2008 12:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
NOW CAN SOMEBODY SELL (OR GIVE) ME THAT WHERE WOULD HE PLAY T-SHIRT?
"term: pussy, user: larry, count: 11
term: pussy, user: all, count: 83" - wiz
by Where Triples Go to Die on Oct 1, 2008 12:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I remember my first box of wine...
"I suck... the Sox don’t." reply actions 25 recs
by SSH2005 on Aug 6, 2008 1:08 AM EDT
by winningugly on Oct 1, 2008 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Start at www.whitesox.com
this isn't hard. you live in a port city. and you're a slut. do the math. -larry
by rhythm on Oct 1, 2008 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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