Rung up

by The Cheat on Apr 4, 2006 4:25 PM CDT in News Comment 22 comments

After the World Series Ring presentation ceremony on Tuesday, not much went right for the White Sox, specifically members of the 2005 team.

The ceremony itself wasn't anything special. Though I did like the front office staff presenting the rings on a silver platters while dressed in Tuxedos. Aaron Rowand got the biggest ovation of anyone, and it wasn't even close. He was clearly tearing up as he accepted his ring and got bear hugs from Jerry Reinsdorf, Kenny Williams, and Ozzie Guillen.

As for the game, Freddy Garcia looked like a junk-baller. He didn't top 86MPH on Comcast's gun (though it's accuracy is in question) until he loaded the bases with 2 outs in the second inning. And he never topped 89. He tried to get the Indians out on a steady diet of off-speed pitches with predictable results.
It was the second straight outing that Garcia's velocity and approach was noticeably different. Hawk and DJ were taking him to task for not challenging guys, and changing his approach.
I'm not ready to write Garcia off completely, and neither is Ozzie, who says he's fine. But Garcia's got a short leash with me in his next outing, and if he isn't picking up some MPH then he needs to go in for an MRI.
Part of the reason I'm not panicking about Garcia's outing is that Comcasts gun was clearly off.
- Boone Logan was throwing 85-86 when he was 90+ during spring training
- Neal Cotts topped out at 87 and he's been as high as 91-92 during the spring.
- Bobby Jenks finished the game, and on his first pitch the Comcast gun read 89MPH. Hawk and DJ said he looked good, that the first pitch was 95, and that his velocity was better than that on subsequent pitches
Logan looked rattled in his first big league game. Half of his pitches were for balls, and he doubled his walk total from the spring, though one of them was intentional.
The HR that Cotts allowed to Aaron Boone matched his 2005 total before he could finish his first inning of work.
A.J. Pierzynski was the only 2005 member of the White Sox to have a hit today. Joe Crede was credited with one, but it was a misplayed ball that was lost in the sun by Jason Michaels.
Paul Konerko is on pace for 162 GIDPs this season. At least Thome will break Bonds' HR record by almost 90. His HR today bounced off of the crowd and then off of the section 102-103 sign on the right field concourse.
For those that missed it, MLB.com has provided some video of the White Sox World Series ring presentation.
With the Sox loss, and because Detroit took a day off from proving that they can beat a AAA team, today is the first day since October 3rd, 2004 that the White Sox have not held at least a share of first place in the AL Central. Detroit also shared first place for 3 or 4 days last season. I'm too lazy to look it up, but it's probably the first time they've been alone in first place in really long time.

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Disappointed

Those look like mood rings.

AIM: i2ockbotm

by 3E8 on Apr 4, 2006 4:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i like them

i think they should have been a bit more square, but i like the simple logo on onyx. i still think it's a bit large, especially since the players wanted something more wearable.

sue me, i like joe crede
Like pizza? Me too.

by FAQ on Apr 5, 2006 1:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thoughts on the game:

Just got home.

-First off, any reason why Cintron started over Iguchi today, rather than tomorrow against Lee? I understand giving Iguchi some time off, but why on the second game of the season, on a game directly after an off-day? Sitting him tomorrow, in my mind, would've made much more sense -- Cintron rakes against lefties (.804 career OPS). But maybe Iguchi was sick or something...

-Freddy Garcia, in my opinion, wasn't throwing a whole lot harder than 91 MPH today, if that. From my untrained eye, I'd guess he was in the 87-89 range all day with his fastball.

-Today was a game where it was noticeable that having Mack in CF hurt. IMO, on the two run double that was hit in the gap (was it by Boone or Blake?), Anderson would've gotten to it.

Again -- I'm all for giving him rest, and easing BA into the lineup, but he needs to be out there for the long haul. Our defense takes a HUGE hit with Mackowiak out there, as opposed to BA.

-I was a little dissappointed with the crowd, too. It seemed to me like half of the 20K that got replica rings just came for the rings and not the game. It looked like by the fifth inning, people were already starting to head home. Maybe that's an incorrect observation by me, though.

-Podsednik is worrying me, and it's not just the fact that he doesn't have a hit yet. I don't know what it is, I just have an odd feeling about him.

by CWSKeith on Apr 4, 2006 4:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

keith

boone hit that double and i couldnt imagine many centerfielders would have caught it. mackowiak made a few nice plays out there and certianly didnt seem like a liability. it does however seem to be a bit early to claim the sox take a HUGE hit when mackowiak is out there. the jury must still out on anderson because hes only played one major league game and the reviews of his defense in the minors have been very mixed.

by godihatemylife on Apr 4, 2006 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll bet...

...that by the end of the season, it's an open question as to who plays the best centerfield in the AL central, between David DeJesus, Brian Anderson and Grady Sizemore.

Anderson's defense should be pretty darn good. Obviously, we'll know more the more games he plays. But it certainly is not a reach to say that Mackoviak is a vast downgrade in defensive skill in center field. That's the truth.

by Stealfirstbase on Apr 5, 2006 12:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh...

...and I should also have mentioned Torii Hunter and Curtis Granderson. My oh my, what a loaded AL central we have. The defense in this division is going to be great for years.

Even when Torii leaves Minnesota, Denard Span might step up and play great ball.

Great defense all around. Take notice that Rob Mackoviak isn't on that list. His omission is not a mistake. He's a nice, versatile player, but not a stalwart centerfielder.

by Stealfirstbase on Apr 5, 2006 12:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also...

...how is something "very mixed?" Either it is mixed, or it is not. It's a binary state. That's like saying someone is very dead, or something is very flat, or that water is very wet.

by Stealfirstbase on Apr 5, 2006 12:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In cooking terms

there are all sorts of variables of mixing...

Fold, homogenize, blend, incorporate, stir, infuse, combine... ;)

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Apr 5, 2006 12:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i apoligize

my grammar is not so good and has been pointed out before. rob m. is not a great fielder but for a backup is just fine. anderson going to need some days off and your are lucky to have a backup that can hit some and not be a liability in the field. BTW why cant pods play center? as an outsider i would think he would be quite good there. you would think he could cover some ground out there.

i jsut wouldn't jump to conclusions on brian anderson, hes played one game. i however do believe there are varied degrees of "mixed." and the reviews of BA's defense are mixed. from excellent to terrible. from watching the first game he looked fine and it seems the worst he could be is average. i imagine you'll agree with that.

tory hunter is by far the best center fielder in the AL central, if not all of baseball

by godihatemylife on Apr 5, 2006 1:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

CF

Pods can't play Center Fielder because he does not get good jumps on the ball. In left, he has enough speed to hide these problems. In center, he becomes a liability.

AIM: shaftr01

XBL: TheMattressMan

by shaftr on Apr 5, 2006 1:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Crowd

-You are 100% correct about the crowd. Official attendance that they put up on the JumboTron was 37,591. People started filing out in the 5th and by the time it came to stretch in the 7th, it got back to what it was early last season... the people who care. I like having the big crowds, but like you said, it's disappointing to see them file out like they did.

-I'm ready to get the championship ceremony stuff done and over with and get down to the grind and focus of the season.

-The flyover was nuts again today though. All games should start with that.

by rebstock on Apr 4, 2006 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

On ebay

there's already over 100 rings for sale and they're going for over $100.

by twoeightnine on Apr 5, 2006 1:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good and Bad

I got MY ring, so I'm a happy camper. For adults, it is basically a pinky ring, which is a little disappointing. While the crowds pushing to get in were pretty tame, why wouldn't Pepsi play "hero" and pop to produce another 20,000 so everyone could get one? They can't possibly be worth more than $2.00 each. I was on the 300 level and I witnessed some very unhappy fan chewing a White Sox "suit" a new one because he didn't get a ring.
Cash parking was not pleasant, even at 10:30 a.m. There was NO traffic control on 38th street, between Lots E and F. Unfortunately, if you cash parked and you were coming from the west, you had to hope not to hit the crowds crossing in front of your car as you made your way around to the Lot L boondocks.
The ceremony and fly over were awesome. Although the jets' timing was a little late...arriving perhaps 15 seconds after The Anthem. Great to see Aaron. Timo was wearing some sort of "train engineer" hat...whatever.
Indeed, lot of ring-coveting fans bailed early. Maybe they wanted to beat rush hour since the Sox were going down in flames.
I got to see a Thome homer in person - YES!

by tailgater on Apr 5, 2006 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ozzie's Lineup Stunk

No reason for BA not to be be out there. Rowand couldn't hit for junk against righties or lefties, but his defense was great regardless--isn't that sort of thinking still on the table with BA? And why was Cintron out there? After on off day, and on the 2nd game of the season,it doesn't make any sense unless Gooch was sick and/or injured.

Garcia needs to find some of that emotion he was showing at the WBC and get his heater back up into the low 90's. Several the people I've heard talk about him today said he was looking like a junkballer, and was trying to spot the fastball rather than just letting go of it. That approach isn't going to work.

I'm still upset Mackowiak was out there today.

by madvillian on Apr 4, 2006 5:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually..

Not that it matters, but Rowand couldn't hit for junk against [..] lefties" isn't true at all. Even last year, when his overall numbers suffered, he hit .303/.354/.474 with 9 doubles, 4 triples, 3 homeruns, and 20 RBI in 152 AB's against lefties.

I agree with your post though, it doesn't make much sense to put in your backups on the second day of the season. There is a reason they are backups in the first place, and unless Gooch/BA were sick with the flu, I don't see why they shouldn't be starting.

by Felix on Apr 4, 2006 11:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Freddy Maddux...

better go back to his old way of pitching. That was disgusting. If Freddy thinks that he can just throw with less velocity to have more control, he has another thing coming... about 7 more earned runs.

by SSH2005 on Apr 4, 2006 6:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

that looked ugly.

-Peder

by Peder on Apr 4, 2006 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ozzie being Ozzie

Its day 2 and he's already an idiot. That didn't take
long. Course had the Sox been on the other end of that score he's a good manager keeping his subs warm and ready.

Comonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn You White Sox!

by zokmaad on Apr 5, 2006 7:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That ring is hideous

Agreed, it's way too early to jump on Ozzie's case. Last year I got on his case because I thought he overmanaged on occasion. But how can you argue with success?

However, I was little puzzled by Ozzie's reasoning for installing Cintron and Mackowiak in the lineup:

"If [Cintron and Mackowiak] don't play, then they would have to wait six or seven days to play,'' Guillen said. "That's not fair for them to sit that long and not get any action."

First, it's game two. Why the concern about getting action for a couple of subs? Second, how can a guy like BA develop if he's only going to play against lefties?

""Is [Iguchi] an every-day player? Yes, he's an every-day player, but he plays when I say he plays.''

Which is not, apparently, every day.

by the wolf on Apr 5, 2006 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Tiggers

Sure the Royals suck, but Chris Shelton is on pace to hit more bombs than Jim "The Mercenary" Thome, and the Tigers aren't giving up first place without a fight, or maybe their trademark April collapse, but ya gotta believe.

p.s. Don't complain about those rings too much, or you run the risk of sounding like those spoiled rotten Northeast Yankee/Red Sox fans who aren't happy unless someone is peeing in their lemonade.

"I want to take a nap, I wanna watch Scarface, I want a turkey sandwich and I want to have sex all day." Sean 'Diddy' Combs

by TigerDroppings on Apr 5, 2006 11:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Felix

You caught me not doing my homework. Maybe Iguchi does have a balky back (or other ailment) and the brass is just hiding it...

Maybe they took lessons from the cross-towners this spring.

by madvillian on Apr 5, 2006 12:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

tuesday

From my vantage point, those leaving before the 9th were in the shadows, where it got very cold. You could look at the shadow lines and see a remarkable difference.

The flyover was, indeed, very impressive. I've never seen one so close to a stadium.

by devils haircut on Apr 5, 2006 12:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs