Bobby Jenks and Cheat's Homecoming Date

by The Cheat on Sep 4, 2008 1:07 AM CDT in Recaps

Bobby Jenks, missing slider and all, earned his first 5-out save since 2005, using just 10 pitches to turn two key double plays and help the White Sox avoid a sweep at the hands of the Indians. It was only the 8th time in his career that Jenks has earned a save while entering in the 8th, and over two years since he was last recorded a save of more than 3 outs.

I missed most of the game, supposedly golfing, and didn't even realize there was an early start until I got in the car and turned on the radio to find the Sox up 2-0. Which brings up a feeling I've had for essentially the entire road trip. I don't know if it's just me--judging by the site's recent stats, I don't think it is--but I've been questioning my own lack of enthusiasm for the Sox lately.

I don't even think that's the right way to put it, but I'm lacking any hope of concise eloquence tonight. I'm still a huge White Sox fan, obviously, but there are things that I would normally be able to rattle off at will--the upcoming schedule, for instance, or the rotation probables for the next week--that I just don't feel like keeping on top of. So, when you didn't have a gamethread this morning, it was because I just plain didn't know that the game was at 11 in the freakin' morning. I hadn't bothered to check.

I don't watch the scoreboard religiously, and don't have any idea who Twins are facing on any given night. I don't care. The White Sox control their own destiny, and that's all I'm really interested in. Perhaps, it's a fear of what lies ahead--a fear of disappointment--that has prevented me from being as excited as I have been previous division races.

I'm reminded of a young Cheat, staring at his shoes, as he reluctantly asked Elizabeth Bennett to the homecoming dance, sure that she would turn him down with his friends watching in the distance. She may have said yes, but I hardly noticed as I shuffled away as quickly as possible in the hopes that no one would notice.

I've already gone on record as saying I think the Twins will take the division, and even gave a time frame for their inevitable clinching. So, there's that same sense of dread, with Danks hitting the wall and Quentin on the shelf for some not-insignificant period of time, that any hope of success will only lead to more pain in the end. But while I may be fearing the worst, I can remember back to that night in '95 when young Cheat got to touch his first booby.

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We went to the zoo

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Sep 4, 2008 1:19 AM CDT 0 recs

I didn't realize you were old enough and fictional enough to ask a character from Pride and Prejudice to a dance.

Why so serious?

by reardenmettle on Sep 4, 2008 1:50 AM CDT 0 recs

So now the question is, are you a closet Jane Austen fan

or creepy SSH-style googler?

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Sep 4, 2008 2:07 AM CDT up 0 recs

can't it be both?

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

by colintj on Sep 4, 2008 8:28 AM CDT up 0 recs

More like a former Scholastic Bowl player who knows lots of information about books he hasn't read.

Why so serious?

by reardenmettle on Sep 4, 2008 10:05 AM CDT up 0 recs

Lizzie Bennett = Keira Knightley in my mind

Quite the homecoming date, I’d say

by hitlesswonder on Sep 4, 2008 2:28 AM CDT up 0 recs

Not a tittie lover, are ya hitless?

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

by rhythm on Sep 4, 2008 10:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

Sure, she's skinny

But showing up to homecoming dance with someone who looks like Keira would be a win in my book.

by hitlesswonder on Sep 4, 2008 11:27 AM CDT up 0 recs

don't be fooled. showing up to a homecoming dance with anyone other than his aunt trudy would be a win for rithum.

"maybe we could stop and pick up some tabasco?"

by Toonderstrook on Sep 4, 2008 11:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

But Aunty Trudy kills on the Mashed Potato!

...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.

by homesickalien on Sep 4, 2008 11:41 AM CDT up 0 recs

the twist as well

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

by rhythm on Sep 4, 2008 11:53 AM CDT up 0 recs

That's close actually

though I’d say she was more of a Natalie Portman

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Sep 4, 2008 10:28 AM CDT up 0 recs

free brian anderson!

by larry on Sep 4, 2008 4:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

and yet another SSS'er casts his vote on the pro-titty side of the ledger.

we are growing and we will not be denied.
everyday our numbers and our strength grows.

MM, furbs, WU, larry, cheat, illini

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

by MarketMaker on Sep 4, 2008 1:54 AM CDT 0 recs

i obviously will be voting for the MM/furbs ticket

boobs and ass in 2008!

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

by colintj on Sep 4, 2008 8:19 AM CDT up 0 recs

that's what i'm talking about!

change is happening people! and it’s effin’ beautiful.

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

by MarketMaker on Sep 4, 2008 8:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

yes yes and yes!

takes some real stones for the one certifiable cocksucker on here to jump into this convo.-mm

by furby2056 on Sep 4, 2008 10:26 AM CDT up 0 recs

?? pro what?

Sox fan from England, marching on together

by hoodlight on Sep 4, 2008 8:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

i'm confused. wasn't pro-titty and ass the default here?

"maybe we could stop and pick up some tabasco?"

by Toonderstrook on Sep 4, 2008 10:58 AM CDT up 0 recs

I'm still rallying the 10-inch penis campaign.

I have no SSS following yet, though Colin did send me an “interested” email.

...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.

by homesickalien on Sep 4, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up 0 recs

commits to obvious

i thought you said you needed one!

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

by colintj on Sep 4, 2008 11:08 AM CDT up 0 recs

excellent.

...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.

by homesickalien on Sep 4, 2008 11:17 AM CDT up 0 recs

you hug your father with those hands?

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

by MarketMaker on Sep 4, 2008 11:19 AM CDT up 0 recs

I was just saying excellent to Colin's response.

I laughed. It was excellent.
And yes, I hug my father with these hands – when I get to see him every few months or so. :(

...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.

by homesickalien on Sep 4, 2008 11:35 AM CDT up 0 recs

you abandoned him. selfish hippie.

"maybe we could stop and pick up some tabasco?"

by Toonderstrook on Sep 4, 2008 11:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

Twist the knife, Toonderstricken!

...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.

by homesickalien on Sep 4, 2008 11:43 AM CDT up 0 recs

i'm just projecting. i did the same thing.

"maybe we could stop and pick up some tabasco?"

by Toonderstrook on Sep 4, 2008 11:45 AM CDT up 0 recs

Our poor parents....

Or at least my poor parents.
I won’t assume that yours like you.
:P

...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.

by homesickalien on Sep 4, 2008 11:47 AM CDT up 0 recs

you can assume they at least don't hate me. they're coming to visit next month.

"maybe we could stop and pick up some tabasco?"

by Toonderstrook on Sep 4, 2008 11:48 AM CDT up 0 recs

at least they said they were going to see me one of the days they were here. i think.

"maybe we could stop and pick up some tabasco?"

by Toonderstrook on Sep 4, 2008 11:49 AM CDT up 0 recs

They might be able to squeeze you in after dinner with Donald Duck at Disneyland.

But don’t expect any souvenirs.

...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.

by homesickalien on Sep 4, 2008 11:54 AM CDT up 0 recs

disneyland? you're talking jeeves' territory. i don't approve of anybody heading south of monterey.

"maybe we could stop and pick up some tabasco?"

by Toonderstrook on Sep 4, 2008 11:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

Good thing your parents don't listen to you...

they follow Ariel’s voice…..

...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.

by homesickalien on Sep 4, 2008 11:59 AM CDT up 0 recs

ew

I rescinded any claim to the evil empire…plus i don’t have a car out there, so i rarely get out to anaheim, so I’ll pass off that claim to one of the other LAers

-Jeeves Life in the Cell

by jeeves on Sep 4, 2008 1:05 PM CDT up 0 recs

Did you leave them, or did they move away from you?

;)

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

by winningugly on Sep 4, 2008 12:23 PM CDT up 0 recs

these are sad times we're living in when that can't be assumed.

so pick a side. we’ll have no flip-flopppers on this controversial issue.

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

by MarketMaker on Sep 4, 2008 11:18 AM CDT up 0 recs

pro T, pro A. to the death.

"maybe we could stop and pick up some tabasco?"

by Toonderstrook on Sep 4, 2008 11:19 AM CDT up 0 recs

a line in the sand has been drawn!

our numbers grow!

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

by MarketMaker on Sep 4, 2008 11:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

No one is going to comment about Cheat's waning enthusiasm/dread?

All we’re gonna talk about is his first feel? Fer Chrissakes, that alone tells me the season is pffffffffffffft, at least as applies to this site.

PALIN UP! GRAB A RIFLE AND FIGHT! FORM TESTUDO! NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE!

Who’s in this with me? Or is this like the Garden of Gethsemane? Will no one wait with me? Toonder, larry, Cheat? (Yeah, I compared myself to Christ. What of it?)

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

by winningugly on Sep 4, 2008 7:29 AM CDT 0 recs

i hear things didn't go well after that shit

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

by colintj on Sep 4, 2008 8:20 AM CDT up 0 recs

wu fell asleep before the end of the book

"Deserve's got nothin to do with it."

by U-God on Sep 4, 2008 9:23 AM CDT up 0 recs

Not sure that I want to "Palin up", but I'll wait with you.

As long as you share your rocks.

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

by rhythm on Sep 4, 2008 10:23 AM CDT up 0 recs

It's a long season

we all have these dips from time to time, I’m not worried, back at the homeground now. We took two on the road from Las Angeles so we shouldn’t fear them.

It will be all over bar the shouting by the end of next week.

regards

Sox fan from England, marching on together

by hoodlight on Sep 4, 2008 8:05 AM CDT 0 recs

Nice calm - pre or post-pub crawling?

But I think the conclusion of our Twinks series is when we’ll be able to exhale, one way or another.

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

by winningugly on Sep 4, 2008 8:14 AM CDT up 0 recs

Pub crawling?

that was last night, i’ve got a business to run during the day, need a clear head.

Sox fan from England, marching on together

by hoodlight on Sep 4, 2008 8:19 AM CDT up 0 recs

Cheat, I hate to share your sentiments on this, but I have also in the past week been dreading that this season may not come to fruition as it should.

This conversation came up on a phone call last night to my best friend in Chicago…a season-ticket holder who already has his play-off tickets secured in case.
we are both scurrrred.

But we also agreed that this last month of baseball is better than 2007’s (or any month of last season, for that matter) – and this stress from a tight division race against our rivals is much preferred over the alternative situation of not even competing.

So no matter what happens, these last couple months are what baseball is all about.
I’m still having fun, even when they lose.
It hurts, no Q!uestion about it….
But we’ve put on a helluva show so far, and no matter what, we’ll all be Sox fans at the end of the day/season.

Cheers to Q! Whether he comes back to dazzle us some more this season is unknown…but his performance thus far has earned him a spot in all of our hearts and memories. What a deity. And so fun to watch.

One last thing – If we don’t make the play-offs, or even if we do and can’t make it past the first round, we at least have the Cubs post-season to look forward to – I can’t wait to see how they may blow it this time.
:)

...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.

by homesickalien on Sep 4, 2008 8:37 AM CDT 0 recs

ive been telling my cub fan friends

the cubs always blow it…just wait

i think zambrano and harden will have something to do with it

by The Scoper on Sep 4, 2008 11:02 AM CDT up 0 recs

or not if they're hurt

but that’s all the cubs talk i’ll contribute for the day.

And very well put HSA

-Jeeves Life in the Cell

by jeeves on Sep 4, 2008 1:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

No team can muddle thru Sept. and be successful in the playoffs

especially when pitching is so rag-tag and our hitters are prone to bouts of somnambulism. the team seems as devoid of energy as i was watching that bitch of an attack dog last night take apart BHO. We are walking down the inevitable path to 2nd place unless we show some sparks at home.

by RoyEgan on Sep 4, 2008 8:42 AM CDT 0 recs

At one time during this season, I thought we had the potential to end up in the WS.

I am one of the least negative people on here, IMO, and even I cannot forsee us able to get very far in the play-offs, especially given our pitching crises and the hot/cold offense, and downright awful outfield defense.

However, the division is still the prize. Shutting down the Twins is a reward in itself.
We may not be reunited with Trophinea this season, but making the post-season is really good enough.

Who cares if we do anything in October? As long as we are there…

...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.

by homesickalien on Sep 4, 2008 9:05 AM CDT up 0 recs

The 05 Sox were 11-10 in September before getting hot. The 2006 Cards were 12-16 in September.
I’m not worried about how the Sox look in September, so long as they make the playoffs. Since playoff series are so short, luck plays a much greater part in the results than it does over a 162 game season.

who knows, Brian Anderson could be the next Brian Doyle.

by vaughan3 on Sep 4, 2008 10:44 AM CDT up 0 recs

agreed

you just got to get in…then its anyones game

by The Scoper on Sep 4, 2008 11:03 AM CDT up 0 recs

Nice idea. Haven't heard that name in a long time.

I bet in larry’s world you are “old”. ;)

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

by winningugly on Sep 4, 2008 11:05 AM CDT up 0 recs

I can't see not wanting to look at the standings...

Even if the Sox had a bigger lead, I would want to check them to see if they are maintaining that lead. Today’s off-day is a good example. If the Twins lose tonight, it’s a 1.5 game lead instead of a 0.5 game lead. Please pitch well, Jesse Litsch.

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

by SSH2005 on Sep 4, 2008 8:44 AM CDT 0 recs

inability to see another's point of view.

yeah. that about sums up ssh.

free brian anderson!

by larry on Sep 4, 2008 8:55 AM CDT up 0 recs

So the Twins losing isn't almost as big as the Sox winning?

Obviously, the Sox can’t control what the Twins do but the Twins losing is a very important part of the Sox success the rest of the way. Just look at the N.L. Central — the Cubs are losing like crazy lately but the Brewers keep failing to gain any ground. I’m sure Cubs players and fans are checking those Brewers scores and are happy to see them losing as well. I can see Cheat’s point of view but in the end, Twins losses are important.

always has to be right and get the last word in.
yeah. that about sums up larry.

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

by SSH2005 on Sep 4, 2008 9:01 AM CDT up 0 recs

flip flopper

I can’t see not wanting to look at the standings… 8:44 am

I can see Cheat’s point of view… 9:01 am

free brian anderson!

by larry on Sep 4, 2008 9:03 AM CDT up 0 recs

Well, I guess Cheat has already made up his mind that the Twins are going to win the division...

That would be a reason not to look at the standings.

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

by SSH2005 on Sep 4, 2008 9:06 AM CDT up 0 recs

there ya go.

free brian anderson!

by larry on Sep 4, 2008 9:07 AM CDT up 0 recs

It is...the smell of...inevitability.

I’m sure other team’s fans feel the same way we do except maybe the twins cause they’re always perfect with there prescient scouting and otherworldly timely hitting and carlos gomez.

Uribe whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you."

by thecip on Sep 4, 2008 8:50 AM CDT 0 recs