The Ginger Kid

There are some great historical perspectives on the White Sox. Back in 1919 they were the most popular team in America -- in fact, the Yankees were nothing but a struggling franchise renting space at the polo grounds from the Giants. What a turn of events; a few months after the Sox "lost" to the Reds in the '19 series, Ruth was sold to the Yankees. One team went one direction, the other another. The Sox aren't cursed but winning a world series would go a long way toward finally, after all these years, overshadowing a disastrous turn of events in the history of the franchise. Keep in mind that in 1984 you could pick up season tickets to the Bulls for a song. Oh how winning can change a thing.

the post mortem on the radio was pretty funny -- of course AJ was out because he ran outside the baseline and that changed the game. But finally they had to concede that the Sox are a better team, although they said they'd like to have another shot at them with a healthy team. whatever.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Oct 16, 2005 -> 10:34 PM) I've put this post away, to be brought out again in the future if need be. can't i just be drunk and happy and....delusional, just tonight?

no matter what happens in the next two weeks I will never be down on a single player from this 2005 team for as long as I live. They are golden, in my book, from here on out.

Just got back - I'm in heaven. Go ahead, Lord. Take me now.

I really had no plans to go to this game until I was at tonight's game. That group get together after the game was electric - no way I'm missing this one.

To any of you that were behind the dugout tonight after the game I say THANK YOU. That was awesome, I had a great time and didn't want it to end. I'm going to the game tomorrow as well - this could be special.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Oct 15, 2005 -> 09:31 AM) Actually I believe I was technically correct...I said we have not been LESS than 2 games away since 1959, which is exactly the case. We are currently tied with that mark, set in both 83 and 93. 1 more win and we enter territory uncharted in my lifetime...hell in almost 2 of my lifetimes stacked on top of each other. Nice try, Balta. Hey, are you going to the game today? I'm counting down the hours right now until 2pm when I head over to west LA, pick up another Sox fan and start the trek down to anaheim. If they win tonight I'm going tomorrow for sure (I won't elaborate for fear of the jinx).

I think the fatigue factor catches up with the Angels today. That or the Angels blow them out!

Dye = PTC low ball hitter

I feel better about Garland, I think he'll keep them in the game. The real question for me is the bats. I hope they have a much better approach against Lackey than they have in the past. edit: I do like the fact that it's 95 degrees outside right now. Hopefully the bats will warm up with the weather!

Wake and bake. Party on, hi8is. Is that Castro reaching out to touch El Duque? I'll be looking for you tomorrow night at the Ed.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Oct 14, 2005 -> 11:12 AM) With all do respect to Go Go White Sox, nothing compares to Steam's Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Hey Goodbye. I have so many great memories of the late 70s and singing with Nancy. Didn't even mind occassionaly spilling a beer (never my own) while screaming the lyrics. Remember the way channel 44 used to let the crowd sing without interruption from Harry and Jimmy - so brilliant.

Lackey walks 4-5 batters an outing. Must make him pay. Watch out for Iguchi - Japanese players love hitting curve balls, the pitchers are more crafty over there.

I think we can still get Nardi back if Coop leaves.

Every other person in the media that I've read or heard has given AJ credit for a heads-up play to run to first since he never heard the ump call him out and he thought the ball was in the dirt. But get a load of this pile of crap from Bill Plashke in the LA Times: The perfect storm refers to a 3rd string catcher, a novice umpire and a "smirking batter" aka, AJ, coming together at the wrong time. I'm sure he was running to first to piss someone off, not to win the game. Plaschke has amazing insight. Here's his email: [email protected]

Quinlan actually made a bad throw - at least two feet toward the infield side of home plate. Molina had to step to his right, make the catch, then come back and tag out Rowand. Had the throw been on line he would have been out by a mile. Oh well. Glad it didn't cost us a game but the point is the Sox are not doing the fundamentals too well right now, and that's troublesome to me.

Had "the call" not happened in the 9th which led to the win, and had the Sox lost in extra innings, is there any doubt that Joey Cora would be the new Wendell Kim in Chicago? No outs and he sends the runner from third after he just ran his ass off and slid into 3rd? As was pointed out on the radio, unless you're 99.9% sure, you don't send a runner from 3rd with no outs. I think Cora dodged a bullet - AJ, Pablo and Crede saved him some serious grief.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Oct 13, 2005 -> 04:22 PM) I'm feeling that too. I feel an ALDS-esque offensive showing Friday. Also, Garland's the only reason anyone should feel nervous about this game. And if Garland struggles, everyone in our pen is fresh and available. We'll do this. 7 more. Thanks - I'm on board!

ESPN in LA just had Bob Boone on to get his opinion - he blamed Josh Paul, not what the DJ's wanted to hear. They're already telling listeners what to do tomorrow when Eddings goes into right field. this is fun!

I still like Dan Patrick - his show is pretty damn great. I really don't give a rat s*** what ANYONE thinks - Joe Buck, Dan Patrick, ESPN, etc. who cares? The best way to smack them all? WIN IT ALL!!

QUOTE(whitesoxmanager @ Oct 13, 2005 -> 03:59 PM) OK so lets all meet at the hooters just across the street. it is located just behind the amtrak station, literally steps from the park. that should be a pro anaheim angels place to get obnoxious! I'm taking the Amtrak from downtown LA - just tell me what time. I'll be the loud, obnoxious guy in the Sox hat and an "Eddings for Governor" t-shirt.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Oct 13, 2005 -> 01:44 PM) You know as well as I do that sometimes being "Fired up" can be a detriment when you're playing baseball...you try to make the great play and end up throwing the ball away, you try to lead off the game with a home run and pop out, you want to be the hero and do something stupid. This game will come down to what every game comes down to...the performance of the pitchers and the hitters facing them. It won't matter which team is more "Fired up". For crying out loud, it's the playoffs. If you're not fired up, there's something wrong with you. They'll be angry, sure. But that doesn't translate to anything. The question is...will big Jon be able to do his job on 12 days rest. That's the thing that matters. Hell, they can all be angry, fired up, and swinging for the fences for all I care...if they try that and Jon has that sinker working they'll be beating the ball into the ground. hmm. I think being angry and being fired up are two different things. Angry would be bad - using this "incident" as a motivational factor, with a crowd you know will be rowdy and loud, is another thing entirely. I smell blowout if Garland gets rattled and a huge momentum shift. Hope I'm wrong.

There are some very funny things being said on sports radio today in LA - this guy is getting skewered! As I've pointed out about 20 times today to Angels fans, the call put a runner on first base with two outs. It didn't bring home the winning run. It didn't put a man in scoring position. "GET. OVER. IT." has been my refrain.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Oct 13, 2005 -> 12:12 PM) Key to game 3: match the intensity. I'm nervous. listening to talk radio in LA you can bet the angels are going to come out fired up - they feel like they had one taken away from them and they're not happy. I'm nervous as well.