Jose Contreras just keeps on winnin'

by The Cheat on Jul 4, 2006 8:00 PM CDT in White Sox News

The fireworks arrived early and often at USCF on Tuesday. Juan Uribe and Paul Konerko each had 3-run HRs in the first hour of the game as the Sox quickly pounded Rodrigo Lopez and the Orioles.

Jose Contreras dropped his three-quarters arm angle and returned to his dominating form that we've grown used to seeing since last August, walking none while striking out 3. In the early going it looked like Contreras might have no-hit stuff working, with the first hit being recorded on a gapper just out of the reach of a diving Brian Anderson.

Uribe had himself a very interesting game. He went 3-5 with 5 RBI, raising his RBI total to 28 in the last 18 game. He collected those 5 RBI despite stranding 4 baserunners in the two plate appearances where he made outs. That probably says a lot about the White Sox offense on this day, as they batted around for the 9th time this season in the third inning, and sent 8 men to the plate in the 2nd.

Surprisingly, Cliff Politte did not make an appearance in mop-up time, where Ozzie turned to Neal Cotts and David Riske instead. They also made quick work of the O's, pitching 2+ innings without allowing a hit.

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sorry if this was mentioned already

but, on reifert's blog, he mentioned that hermanson is going to start a rehab assignment in the low minors soon. i'm guessing he will just mess up his back again but who knows. worth a passing mention, at least.

by larry on Jul 4, 2006 8:06 PM CDT reply actions

Hermanson

If (and that's a big 'if') he has a successful minor league stint, the guy that gets booted in his place has to be Politte, right? I mean, everybody else in the bullpen has contributed in some way, and all the bench guys have seemingly found their roles.

BTW -- speaking about the bench for a second, Kenny really did one heckuva job putting together a real deep team. Here are the numbers for 'Group 5':

Gload -- .304/.310/.393
Widger -- .209/.286/.299
Ozuna -- .432/.468/.545
Mackowiak -- .289/.374/.396
Cintron -- .285/.313/.387

The only one you can really complain about is Widger. Everybody loves The Widge, but for next year (and maybe at the trade deadline), that's one place I'd be looking to improve at. Just gimmie a guy who can play some good D behind the plate -- that's all I want.

Oh, and Kenny's "small moves" this year, again, have been awesome.

Marte for Mackowiak.
Bajenaru for Cintron.
Borchard for Thorton.
Lopez for Riske.

(knock on wood)

by CWSKeith on Jul 5, 2006 12:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Yep

Indeed. KW's "small moves" are the difference between a very good club and an elite club so far for this team.

I just wish Mackowiak could field decently at anything other than the corner OF. His "utility" role is pretty much useless, since he can't play D for crap anywhere but corner OF.

by madvillian on Jul 5, 2006 1:41 AM CDT up reply actions

apparently not low minors

hermanson is pitching in charlotte tonight.

by larry on Jul 5, 2006 8:02 PM CDT up reply actions

except for the fact

that the game was postponed.

by larry on Jul 5, 2006 8:02 PM CDT up reply actions

continuing my round-up of sox blogs...

on whalen's blog, he has some pretty shocking numbers on base stealing against the sox. i realized that freddy was getting run on an awful lot but basestealers are 23 of 24 against him. i'd be interested to see how many of those came around to score. other sox starters:

Contreras 7-of-11; Garland 4-of-6; and Javy 5-of-9.

he quotes ozzie as saying he's reticent to call for pitchouts but, if freddy can't get his act together from the stretch, it isn't a bad idea to put them on to, at the very least, keep the runners a bit more honest and give the catcher a chance.

by larry on Jul 4, 2006 8:19 PM CDT reply actions

Run differential...

The Sox are presently on pace to give up 104 more runs this regular season than last and to score 217 more. That puts us at a better run differential than we experienced last year and likely will get us into the real October. Garland's last few starts and a little rest for Freddy and Javy coming up have me believing the starters are going to get better in the second half. As for the offense, good luck AL pitchers.

by Toonderstrook on Jul 4, 2006 10:08 PM CDT reply actions

RD

I'm happy that the RD numbers are better this year, as it's looking like we're going to need every win possible going forward, and I don't want to be counting on 1 run victories with the bullpen still mediocre.

The offense of the Sox is simply stunning, and beyond my wildest expectations. Guys are having career years all over the place.

Jim Thome is revitalized, on base for over 520 AB, currently with an OPS of 1.054. His last season over 1.000 OPS was 2002 with Cleveland.

Dye on pace for over 500 AB, currently with an OPS of 1.018. Dye has never had an OPS higher than .951 for a season, accomplishing this when he was with KC.

Crede at .868 OPS, career .760 OPS.

AJ's OPB is over 69 points higher than his 2005 total.

...

The team OPS stands at .825. This is 68 points higher than last year. Boston LED baseball in team OPS last year, at .811. Sox are currently 2nd in MLB in OPS for 2006, behind...the Blue Jays!

by madvillian on Jul 4, 2006 11:03 PM CDT up reply actions

the view from left field

Can't complain. Everthing was great. Watching Mack play third was like watching Pablo in the OF. Except Pablo doesn't get that many chances to look bad. Yow!

Any idea why Ozzie didn't put Cintron there and have Mack play second?

Comonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn You White Sox!

by zokmaad on Jul 4, 2006 10:51 PM CDT reply actions

My view from left field...

...was also great. Gotta love sunny July days. He didn't look THAT bad for not having played the infield yet this year...at least on one of those balls down the line he did the splits in a failed effort to make the play.

by Toonderstrook on Jul 4, 2006 10:54 PM CDT up reply actions

I felt bad for him

and I ended up defending him in the stands. He had a lot of hot shots his way. But I'd rather see him at second.

Comonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn You White Sox!

by zokmaad on Jul 4, 2006 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions

They were hot shots

I'm not gonna knock Mack, but those are plays I expect Crede to make.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Jul 4, 2006 11:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow

The Sox went 8-for-20 with runners in scoring position and lead the majors in that category with a .316 batting average, including a .378 mark over their last 24 games.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Jul 5, 2006 1:47 AM CDT reply actions

Dude

We're just getting the breaks dude.

by madvillian on Jul 5, 2006 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions

Politte's No-Show...

Yeah, I was surprised too. If you're looking to "see what he can do", what better time than a 13-0 blowout? Who cares if the final is 13-7?

Maybe they just aren't convinced that Riske is risk-free and a suitable sub for Cliffie?

Wasn't batting practice fun?

It should be called Bill Veeck Park!

by Chiburb on Jul 5, 2006 9:30 AM CDT reply actions

i wasn't

he pitched in two straight games already. i would have thought it was fairly obvious that he wasn't going to be available.

by larry on Jul 5, 2006 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions

The new logo?

I think you should keep it.

Optimist

by Peder on Jul 5, 2006 9:46 AM CDT reply actions

Anybody but me

getting a kick out of Nomar and Corey Patterson enjoying success now that they no longer play at The Shrine?

Dude, I guess they just didn't dig your management style, dude.

by tailgater on Jul 5, 2006 11:30 AM CDT reply actions

Cubs are interesting

In that their whole organization seems to be about 50 years behind the times in baseball philosophy. They overwork their young pitchers, draft mostly "track" style "baseball players", encourage their hitters to be ultra-aggresive, and fail to see the economic value in young and cheap players filling the bench rather than pricey and overpaid veterans.

They place no importance on pitch counts, OBP, and overvalue speed at the cost of power.

Pretty much the opposite way to run things if success is the goal.

by madvillian on Jul 5, 2006 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions

injury updates

Joe Cowley:

INJURY UPDATES: Guillen announced there would be no trip to the DL for reserve infielder/outfielder Pablo Ozuna (left hamstring), who was available to play Tuesday.

As for second baseman Tadahito Iguchi, who left the game Monday with a sprained left ankle after a collision with right fielder Jermaine Dye, he was improving Tuesday but not enough to start. Guillen said it would be a few more days for Iguchi.

Third baseman Joe Crede left Tuesday's game in the fourth inning after he was plunked on the left forearm by a Rodrigo Lopez pitch. X-rays were negative, and Crede is considered day-to-day.

HEY THIS IS JI
JIM THOME
THE PEORIA POUNDER

by The Wizard on Jul 5, 2006 12:03 PM CDT reply actions