OT: White Sox Surrender Season
Taking a break from Michigan preparing to open the season and the Free Press trying (and apparently failing) to run Rodriguez out of town, I remember that baseball season is still going on and the Detroit Tigers are in a pennant race. That makes this news the best news all week (unless you count Devin Gardner's continuing rise):
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4436363
It appears that the White Sox have given up on the season, leaving only the hated Twins to contend with...who are now above .500 and only 3.5 games behind...crap...
September 1st, 2009 at 5:09 PM ^
I was out of town this entire weekend and Monday with nearly no internet access so it was interesting to get back and see that I had 84 stories in Google Reader to go through just in the Michigan football section. More on topic, I haven't checked the AL Central standings in over a week... wow. Last I saw Minnesota was down about 6 games to us. I can see what happened at ESPN but I'm still surprised simply because I expected Minnesota to keep falling back and the White Sox to catch up some more.
Interesting.
Did Minnesota change something that's helped them (did I miss a trade) or are they just on a good streak?
September 1st, 2009 at 5:12 PM ^
And the Twins are going to win the next two games against the Sox (the Sox now being 1-15 in the Rollerdome in 2008-2009) so they'll be even closer if the Tigers don't win both tonight and tomorrow.
This was always the road trip to make or break them. They were in every game in Boston but lost the first three (two close games and one where Contreras fumbled a ball and proceeded to give up a ton of unearned runs to dig them a huge hole). That pretty much sent them down the tubes.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:19 PM ^
I wish the White Sox would have given up after the Twins series, maybe at least they could have one a game.
For the record, I know the trade timing was based on the deadline for being eligible for post-season play and waiting until Thursday to move players wasn't possible.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:12 PM ^
Also, you guys can thank the Cubs for being completely delusional -- the Twins were the ones with a claim on Rich Harden and were trying to work out a trade for him, but the Cubs decided to keep both him and Aaron Heilman because for some reason they think they still have a chance. Harden's been pretty damn good in the second half, he really would have helped the Twins.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:49 PM ^
As a White Sox fan, I'm sad to see them give up, but I also understand it. They had their chance to make a run, but they kept finding ways to lose games. I just hope Kenny Williams doesn't rush Peavy back, since there's really no point in it now.
Also, I had a feeling the Twins were going to creep back into this race, and sure enough here they are. Best of the luck the rest of the way, Tigers fans. I'm definitely pulling for you now, since I absolutely despise (but completely respect) the Twins. Hopefully whoever wins the AL Central represents the division well in the playoffs.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:51 PM ^
I'll be honest: "not getting swept in the first round" would probably constitute representing our crap-ass division well.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:01 PM ^
getting there means you've got 1/8 a chance to win the Series. but holy fuck did the Sox play like shit when it mattered.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:54 PM ^
I'm a little confused. How is trading the DH (Thome) to LA "giving up on the season"? Granted, they're not playing well recently but it's not like they shipped Konerko, Dye, Rios, Beckham and Podsednik to Chula Vista for the LLWS champs.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:59 PM ^
Thome led the team in OPS. You don't send out your most productive hitter for a nothing prospect if you're planning on contending.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:10 PM ^
Sure, the White Sox still have Konerko, Dye (even though he was allegedly available too), Rios, Beckham, and Podsednik, but Thome was the only left-handed power bat in the lineup. They're 6 games back from the division leader and 2.5 back from the second place team. Getting rid of a guy like Thome during a time like this doesn't really strike me that they're still in it to win it. In essence, they have 3 starting pitchers in the rotation (Buehrle, Danks, and Floyd -- Freddy Garcia doesn't count) and Peavy doesn't look like he'll be able to contribute this season. I'd be willing to bet a good number of young starters will be given a chance to audition for next year's 5th starter spot. They're 1-7 on a "make or break road trip," with 2 games left in the house of horrors in Minnesota. You can stick a fork in them.