When I think of "White Sox bench players" of the 00's, two names immediately jump to mind: Tony Graffanino and Ross Gload. These two pre-Erstad grinders (being white players of middling ability) provided league-average hitting and defense while hitting a number of different positions and often during clutch pinch-hitting situations. They were both players the Royals were happy to take after we decided they weren't worth starting or paying decently to pinch hit.

In a season where White Sox pinch-hitting is at an all-time nadir, I think the fact Gload has (in August) tied the single-season record for most pinch-hit RBI's (13) has led me to wonder when we'll next get a 28-31 year old journeyman able to provide on that kind of level. A final caveat of irony would be that the only season between 2001 and 2006 wherein neither player was much present on the roster was 2005, the year we won the championship thanks in part to a Divisional Round game two error by Tony G. So while a pinch-hitting utilityman might be useful, I suppose we'll have to resign ourselves to hoping that history repeats itself, and that the complete lack of anyone resembling a quality pinch-hitter doesn't deter the Sox from success.

In the meantime, congrats to Gload for his continued success, he's made me a jealous bitch wishing the Sox had somebody who could OPS+ 95 off the bench.