franchise record: ventura with 10.

AMI cutting-edge research division led by Dr. Daniel T. Callahan has found mustaches increase a player’s batting average by 39 percent. Ankiel, however, is far exceeding that average, as his flavor-saving protective mouth shade has raised his batting average .71 points to .250 as of April 24, and we can only assume there is more to come as long as he does not remove his new furry friend.

It’s ironic that a player like Ankiel has chosen to use a labia sebucula (Latin for “lip sweater”) to improve his batting average, as he plays in the home of the world’s largest mustache — the Gateway Arch. But irony is a fickle beast.

Regardless, the Mustached American community applauds him and the Cardinals organization for its support of our people and we hope this is the beginning of a trend for the team.

Sadly — and this is a little known but true fact — Albert Pujols petitioned and was denied by Major League Baseball to shave his goatee into a true flavor saving mustache. MLB argued that as Pujols is already hitting .339 this season, adding a performance enhancing mustache would give him too much of an advantage and possibly endanger opposing National League pitchers.

It is important to note for fans and economists alike that the upside of Ankiel’s mustache doesn’t just stop with performance. It never does. No, AMI research has shown that the Cardinals can now expect a 17.8 percent increase in female fans at Busch Stadium — important in these tough economic times — and all of the team’s male fans should be thankful for Ankiel’s unselfish, good looking gesture.

http://deadspin.com/5226138/rick-ankiel-is-the-latest-american-mustache-hero

I haven’t seen the last few games, but by the box score he hasn’t been a complete cypher at the plate. Small sample size fluke, or is a .750 OPS actually sustainable for him?

is become a 250/310/430 hitter. If he can do that and make plays in CF he’s about an average everyday regular and would be a huge boon to this team.

I have doubts he can sustain this new found patience and ability to drive the ball into RCF against righties. We’ll see.

and yet, every time he’s in the lineup, things seem to happen. And I’m a little drunk right now so whatever, but whatever. He’s my favorite .125 hitting mofo of all time. That play he made tonight to end that ugly inning was a tide-turner. Maybe. I don’t know. Bye

Che should tape that to his eyes so he can easily remember what a perfect swing looks like. Very sweet.

By Dave van Dyck

      Chris Getz missed his second straight start for the White Sox Sunday while recovering from a bruised middle finger on his right hand. Getz, who was injured in early fielding practice, could be back as soon as Monday when Seattle comes to U. S. Celllular Field.

     Brent Lillibridge again was assigned to second base and as leadoff hitter against Toronto. Jim Thome was also back against Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay.

      Brian Anderson moved back to center and was batting eighth with Alexei Ramirez in the ninth hole.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/04/chris-getz-misses-second-white-sox-game.html

thome interviewed by rosenthal. very extensive.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9488100/Thome%27s-drive-to-win-remains-fierce

The injury suffered during double-play drills by Chris Getz before Saturday’s game was a bit more serious than the originally announced contusion. The White Sox second baseman and leadoff hitter has a fracture at the tip of the middle finger on his right hand.

According to Getz and manager Ozzie Guillen, the injury is still a day-to-day proposition, and Getz does not believe it will involve a trip to the 15-day disabled list.

“No, no, no,” said Getz, who got his throwing hand caught in the glove and was struck by the ball during the drill and said he couldn’t hit as of Sunday. “It’s a day-to-day thing, and I’m thinking whenever I get my grip strength back. … There’s nothing you can do about it. The plan is day-to-day.”

“We are going to wait for him to see how he react,” said Guillen. “I don’t think it’s a one- or two-day thing. When you have that in your hand, it will get you. We have a Plan B. If he can play, he can play. If not, we’ll see what we can do.”

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090426&content_id=4434254&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen delivered some words of encouragement for Wise prior to Sunday’s contest. Guillen stated that the starting job will not automatically stay with Brian Anderson when Wise returns, regardless of how Anderson is playing.

“We will reevaluate it,” Guillen said. “It’s not fair for the kid to work hard, play good and then he got hurt. We see how Brian is when he get back.”

Anderson entered Sunday’s game carrying a .308 average with four RBIs and was 9-for-22 over his last four games. He has totaled seven walks in 14 games, compared to 10 in 109 during the 2008 campaign. Yet Guillen wants more from the 27-year-old veteran.

During his pregame talk with the media on Sunday, Guillen pointed out how Anderson needs to be a bit more aggressive on the basepaths. And with Anderson’s recent development as a player balanced against his less-than-stellar first run as a starter in 2006, Guillen won’t promise anything to Anderson past Wise’s injury absence.

“I wish someone gave me my job like the way we’ve given the job to Brian and [Jerry] Owens,” said Guillen with a smile. "[Anderson’s] playing well right now. He’s playing good for us. Hopefully he’ll stay the same way and make my life a little easier.

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090426&content_id=4434742&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws