White Sox Making Some Changes
Nov 17, 2009 Baseball
The off-season started quick for Chicago’s American League Ball Club as GM Kenny Williams got out of the gates fast
changing the landscape for the 2010 White Sox.
The Sox traded second baseman Chris Getz to the Kansas City Royals along with struggling third baseman Josh Fields, for versatile Mark Teahan who will start at third base for the southsiders. Switching to second base will be rookie great Gordon Beckham.
You ask yourself why not move SS Alexi Ramirez to second and put Beckham at shortstop? Well Ozzie and company feel that Alexi gets to the hole quicker than Beckham and see him as their everyday shortstop even with the abundance of errors.
There are rumors flying like Angels that Paul Konerko is headed to Los Angeles with prospects, who in turn will send prospects to the Padres with the Sox coming out with first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. If that can be pulled off, do it. Everything regarding any rumors is circulating swiftly. Hold everything with a grain of salt right now.
One last thing. Leave it to the writers to screw Gordon Beckham on the AL Rookie Of The Year award. This kid id the next Ryne Sandburg or Chase Utley. Great season for the young man whose upside is steep and climbing.
2009 World Series Game #6
Nov 4, 2009 Baseball
Andy Pettitte on 3 days rest has got to be more vulnerable than Pedro Martinez right now. Game #6 is the biggest game of the year for Philadelphia, and its in The Big Apple. So appropriate for such a big game. The New Yankee Stadium could end it’s first year as the “House That A-Rod Built” or as a curse for the rest of the century. Imagine the New York Yankees as the Chicago Cubs for the 21st century.
Well I don’t think the latter will ever happen, but it could be postponed one more day if Philadelphia has a little more cheese left for that steak.
Tonight’s game should be exciting or the biggest blowout in the series. Which one will we get? I say the dramatic is going to happen. As long as Ryan Howard and Chase Utley have a good game, this one is going seven. It has to go seven. The playoffs have been so exciting this year that there is no other way to play this game. Even if the Yankees win tonight, I hope that it takes a big comeback to do so.
Where’s the stadium? How much are these tickets? Eleven dollars for a beer! Those could be the cries of Philly fans making their way up to the Bronx tonight. But wouldn’t it be worth the trip to have such a victory over the Mighty Pinstripes.
“Go back to Philly ya jerk!” I can hear the Yankee faithful now as Nick Swisher is spraying champaign and shaving cream all over the clubhouse. Oh to be a Philadelphia fan in the middle of section 542 surrounded by some guys named Vinny, Tony and Dominick. You better turn those Jimmy Rollins jerseys inside out by the eight inning if your getting your ass kicked.
I’m staying with my pick of the Yankees in six games, but am hoping for a lopsided Phillies win tonight. Both Andy Pettitte and Pedro Martinez could pitch their final game of their careers tonight. Enjoy the game and have a beer. Go Phillies!
Today’s Game of The Day is Game #6 of the World Series on FOX tonight. New York Yankees host the Philadelphia Phillies.
2009 World Series Game #5
Nov 3, 2009 Baseball
The one that almost got away last night was salvaged by the Phillies as the place went nuts in the ninth inning. Were the Yankees really coming all the way back to win it all? Not a chance, but they almost did! What a great game by the hitters yesterday on both sides of the field. Talk about not such an easy game. Both pitchers were not at their best, however Cliff Lee was better than A.J. Burnett, but the hitting of the Phillies came out ahead and forced a game #6 tomorrow night in New York.
Who is pitching for Philly? Well the son of the Yankees Pedro Martinez is. Can he get it done, or will Nick Swisher beat him
to the pie in the sky? So many questions with only possibly one game left. I can’t see the Bronx Bombers blowing it back at home, that’s not to say Philly doesn’t win and force a one game winner take all. That would be fantastic, with C.C. Sabathia going hard against Cole Hammels? Speaking about Cole, he may just be the guy to end the season. He was spectacular in the 2008 playoff run and has dipped a little this year. He blew up after his last start, but sometimes that becomes the story line to success. We’ve seen it before.
Today is the last day off of the 2009 season, which makes me sad because I know baseball for the year is ending this week no matter what. Maybe I’ll just hum Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer” in my head through Christmas. Enjoy the day and get ready for a great game tomorrow night on FOX.
I’ll be watching the Chicago Bulls tonight even up their record at 2 and 2.
2009 World Series Game #4 & #5
Nov 2, 2009 Baseball
Could it be coming to the end for the defending champs? Well after last night it looks like the Yankees have an idea how to win this thing. Even after coming back and winning, they acted like it was just another game.
A-Rod has got to be more sore than the Philly fans after getting beaned over and over for the last few days. He and Johnny Damon just crushed the Phillies even after Pedro Feliz’ tying home run in the eighth off of Chamberlain. The Yankee power is just too much for the Phiilies pitching and look to win the World Series tonight behind A.J. Burnett.
If anybody can stop them tonight, it would be starter Cliff Lee who is as cool as it comes when he’s on the mound. The Phillies have no choice but to play loose, and see if they can win three in a row against the Bronx Bombers. It is a taller task than the Empire State Building, but if any team could do it this year, Philadelphia has the best chance. I thought maybe the Angels could survive, but they just didn’t have the will that these Phillies have. Jimmy Rollins is starting to figure out how to get on base, and Ryan Howard is stealing them.
I’d hate for tonight to be the last game of the 2009 season. I’d also would not be too pleased to watch Nick Swisher party with his fellow teammates, he is the luckiest hotdog in baseball. One thing for sure is that at least its not Orlando Cabrerra and the Minnesota Twins.
Today’s Game Of The Day is Game #5 of the World Series on FOX.
2009 WORLD SERIES GAME #3 and #4
Nov 1, 2009 Baseball
Tonight’s game is a must for the Phillies, especially after being up by three runs at home and then imploding. Nick Swisher came out and shut the rain soaked fans of Philadelphia up with a home run and a few hits and RBI’s. Not only did he stifle the fans, but he shoved it down my throat too after all the criticism I’ve given him recently. Well I guess even the worst player can have a good night. Let’s hope that last night’s haunting doesn’t continue this evening.
The flu bug is going through the Philly clubhouse now, and they were sure bit last night by A-Rod and Company. Can Mariano Rivera be any better, wow he’s cool under the pressure. The Yankees really came back grabbed not only the series lead, but the attention of the fans of Philadelphia. I don’t know what’s bigger for them today, the Eagles beating the Giants or trying to knot this series up against the New York American Baseball Club? I vision both.
What a sports day for both these east coast cities. Watching football all day eating pizza slices, chugging beer, puffing on cigars and screaming at the T.V. set. Then tonight you are cautiously watching the World Series knowing that this is the biggest game of the year. I’m sure there will be a lot of sports fans calling in sick tomorrow.
Today’s Game of The Day is Game #4 of the World Series tonight on FOX. I’m going to go with my gut, and say the Yankees win this one and go up two games. Which means the opposite will probably happen and Ryan Howard clobbers the ball. Happy Sunday.
One last thing. Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears died 10 years ago this day, and as a lifelong Chicagoan, there was nobody in sports that was what Walter was as a player and person. God rest his soul. We will always love you Sweetness.