Midseason Break Over... Rivalries and Race To October Continues

by ChiSox Fan Forever on Jul 16, 2009 4:29 AM CDT Comment 27 comments

With the All Star Break done and over (and the AL claiming another W over the poorer NL), the season looks to restart as the trade deadline of July 31st approaches and the Fall Classic is in near sight for many teams right now. Teams will begin deciding whether they will be sellers or buyers this year and for the AL Central, the Tigers, White Sox, and Twins all look to be close contenders in this close division. Injuries will play a huge factor in this playoff race. The current standings look like this:

AL CENTRAL:

Tigers-          48-39   GB: --
White Sox-    45-43    GB: 3.5
Twins-         45-44    GB: 4.0
Royals-         37-51     GB: 11.5
Indians-      35-54     GB: 14.0

I still believe that the Sox will be able to take the division, but they do start out against some very tough teams. The Sox will face Baltimore and Tampa Bay at home and will take a 7 game road trip (including a makeup game with Detroit from April 14) to Detroit and Minnesota. It will be a rough start but if the Sox can play well at home for the first 7 games, they may be able to become buyers quickly and find someone to help secure this team together.

The Sox should definitely become buyers and try and secure up the end of the rotation. If they can find a good arm to fill the 5th spot in the rotation, the pitching staff would be complete and with the return of Quentin to the lineup soon enough (he is continuing his rehab assignment), the Sox will have a big bat back in the lineup and that brings up a major question, which is, where does Podsednik go? Of course you need his bat in the lineup and I don't care what Ozzie says about his fielding, I believe Podsednik will be starting in center because of his bat, which helps charge the lineup and you have an everyday center fielder to count on. The Sox will be starting on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles by sending Mark Buehrle (9-3; 3.66 ERA) to face the young Jason Berken (1-6; 5.87 ERA). The Sox will be looking to get the second half of the season started with a bang against this young pitcher. Hopefully the Sox come out strong and can perform well and get right on rolling to try and take that first place spot from the Detroit Tigers

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Comments

well they said pods would be in center

and who the hell considers baltimore to be tough?

" Do you guys know people like you are the reason I wouldn’t come on for exstended periods of time. You rui the baseball blogging expieriance."
by trademaker on May 30, 2009 10:31 PM PDT

by U-God on Jul 16, 2009 6:03 AM CDT reply actions

baltimore always plays the sox tough.

or do you forget hawks dying love for nick markakis and bobby jenks massive struggles vs. the O’s

Kenwo4life=ratings

by KenWo4LiFe on Jul 16, 2009 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions

their lineup is pretty lefty heavy

which normally bodes well for the Sox.

THIS STORY ONLY ENDS ONE WAY

by colintj on Jul 16, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Pods is the CF, that's already been determined. That's why he's been there lately.

by Grinder in Training on Jul 16, 2009 9:12 AM CDT reply actions

I find it very interesting that everyone assumes Quentin will step in and play everyday.

I don’t see it. He’ll probably come up for a week, get hurt and shut it down for the season. I wouldn’t count on anything from him. Which isn’t a terrible thing- i think the sox could win the division without his soft ass anyway.

Kenwo4life=ratings

by KenWo4LiFe on Jul 16, 2009 9:43 AM CDT reply actions

haha

hopefully he doesnt strike out and slam his bat breaking his wrist

I Have Spoken.

by The_Fan on Jul 16, 2009 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions

larry says the same.

talk about an unholy union.

THIS STORY ONLY ENDS ONE WAY

by colintj on Jul 16, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't think we nessacarily have to buy

to win this division. I predict that The tigers will lose thier best hitter inge to the Derby effect.

I Have Spoken.

by The_Fan on Jul 16, 2009 9:43 AM CDT reply actions

too bad he isn't their best hitter

" Do you guys know people like you are the reason I wouldn’t come on for exstended periods of time. You rui the baseball blogging expieriance."
by trademaker on May 30, 2009 10:31 PM PDT

by U-God on Jul 16, 2009 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions

right now he is

h has 20 somthing homers and a higher average than ordonez

I Have Spoken.

by The_Fan on Jul 16, 2009 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions

they do have other players

one being this guy who’s ops+ is 14 points higher than inge’s

but yeah, you’re right

" Do you guys know people like you are the reason I wouldn’t come on for exstended periods of time. You rui the baseball blogging expieriance."
by trademaker on May 30, 2009 10:31 PM PDT

by U-God on Jul 16, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions

Oya

Sorry I totally forgot about Cabrerea, but when Inge falls to the durby curse, they will depend on cabrerea to carry their team

I Have Spoken.

by The_Fan on Jul 16, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions

What derby curse?

Inge didn’t hit a single HR in the derby. It’s almost like he didn’t even participate.

by airnjp on Jul 16, 2009 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions

but

there was this thing on BTB that showed output before and after derby

I Have Spoken.

by The_Fan on Jul 16, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions

I believe he was joking.

We’re a pack of a-holes.
by rhythm on Apr 14, 2009 1:45 PM EDT

by winningugly on Jul 16, 2009 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions

ahh

couldn’t tell the sarcasm

I Have Spoken.

by The_Fan on Jul 16, 2009 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions

There might be something to that

but also there might be something to inviting the guys who have hit a ton of HRs in the first half of the season . . . and then that nasty regression to the mean thing kicks in.

"I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it."

by jc2313 on Jul 17, 2009 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions

you know there are 3 batters hitting better than maggs

other than inge on their staff? and only one with less slugging %?

I just accidentally the Fleshlight.
Accidentally what?
THE WHOLE THING!!

by BoeJouma on Jul 16, 2009 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions

i really hope you're not serious.

fangraphs. it exists.

THIS STORY ONLY ENDS ONE WAY

by colintj on Jul 16, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Right Rail Edition....Believe. It.

Just [expletive] Fuck It.

by homesickalien on Jul 17, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions

Detroit is overrated

I think that Detroit will fall, it may be good now…but the egos are powerful and tend to be their downfall. I say give it a month and they will be chasing us! Just my thought, not based in anything but my bias!

by Stine1120 on Jul 20, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions

Young Pitchers + Sox Lineup = 0 runs

remember the oakland series? uh-oh :(

by stanleygoober on Jul 17, 2009 9:48 AM CDT reply actions

Guthrie is the exception, so I’ll pencil that one in for us

by stanleygoober on Jul 17, 2009 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions

I got my new ESPN mag yesterday

They said that this year there have been the most first-outing wins ever by new pitchers before the all star break (17). I wonder how many of those are wins against the white sox.

by airnjp on Jul 17, 2009 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions