caulfield12

And then Hawk says he looks like a young Max Patkin, the "Clown Prince of Baseball" and they throw up images to make a comparison. Or he just does that because they're both named Max.

Well, that's not good. Pressure goes back to the White Sox, knowing the Tigers are likely to win this game as well.

Going to have to get Reddick or Cespedes to go yard, somehow. 5 hits, nothing to show for it. No clutch hitting with RISP, but that's to be expected going against Verlander in DET, where he's extra dominant. For all the power both those guys, Viciedo and Cespedes have pretty similar HR numbers, although Cespedes has played in fewer games. Dirks with almost a perfect drag bunt to lead off the inning with a single. Uh-oh, Tigers playing small ball to perfection, Anderson tried to scoop it to 1st and Laird showed good speed to beat it out. Jackson bleeder up the middle works like a bunt, 2nd and 3rd, one out, Cabrera looming. Although they can walk him to face Fielder with Anderson, IF they get Infante here.

Not lost in the career-high 40th home run by American League batting leader Miguel Cabrera, a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth to highlight the team's 12-2 win, was the injury to Max Scherzer, who left the game in the bottom of the second inning after 44 pitches. Scherzer, the American League leader in strikeouts with 224, had an MRI during the game for right shoulder fatigue. The team announced that the MRI showed no structural damage and Scherzer would not throw for two days before being re-evaluated. "I noticed it in the first inning, but I didn't have any pain in my shoulder," Scherzer said. "My arm was dead. I was able to finish the first inning. I went out for the second inning and my arm felt good, at least to start the inning. By the end of the inning the pain in the (Coco) Crisp at-bat -- I really ran out of steam. My arm wasn't healthy enough to keep going. I felt weakness in my delt (deltoid)." If Scherzer, arguably the team's best pitcher the last month, should have to miss a start, left-hander Drew Smyly would likely be the substitute starter. "The MRI was fine. You could see the inflammation in the deltoid, so it's treating it and trying to get the inflammation out," Scherzer said. "I might be able to make my next start." www.freep.com/sports Any thoughts?

Don't forget Gates BBQ and KC Masterpiece (which is a bit sweeter sauce). Big fan of the pulled pork sandwich at Oklahoma Joe's, and yes, it's the other side of a gas station/convenience store on the Kansas side of the state line, although it's very close to the border. Gates is one of those famous places (like The Varsity in Atlanta) where the waiters/waitresses are a bit famous for yelling at you or being somewhat aggressive or maybe pushy would be the best word. And yeah, Fiorella's Jack Stack BBQ is very good as well, in the Freighthouse. BTW, thanks for bringing that up, lol, my ex wife worked there as a waitress on the weekends and occasional weeknights when she was attending UMKC.

Orioles in a battle of wills, 15th inning in Seattle, still tied at 2-2. About to go into the 16th all tied up... Balt won 4-2 in the 18th, 20 games over .500 again and tied with the Yankees.

The path through Kansas City won't get any easier for the Sox. Because Luis Mendoza suffered a bout of strep throat, Sox nemesis Bruce Chen was moved up and now will pitch Wednesday night against Chris Sale. Jeremy Guthrie, who hasn't allowed an earned run against the Sox in 232/3 innings, was moved up and will start Thursday night against left-hander Francisco Liriano. Ventura said catcher Tyler Flowers probably would start Wednesday, and that he was leaning toward giving Rios a rest Thursday. So much for the theory that the Royals were deliberately setting up with a match-up with Guthrie because they hate the White Sox and want them to lose. KANSAS CITY -- The Royals' pitching plans for the rest of the week were scrambled on Tuesday when right-hander Luis Mendoza came down with a throat ailment. Mendoza was scratched from his scheduled start on Wednesday night against the White Sox. The Royals didn't play on Monday so left-hander Bruce Chen can move up a day and take Mendoza's spot, with right-hander Jeremy Guthrie opposing Chicago on Thursday night. "[Mendoza] came in today and was feeling horrible," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "His throat was all infected. We think it's strep throat. We sent him to the doctor." The rotation for the weekend series against Cleveland at Kauffman Stadium remained uncertain, pending Mendoza's health and ability to pitch. Mendoza, left-hander Will Smith and just-arrived Jake Odorizzi are in the mix. It's possible that Odorizzi, promoted from Triple-A Omaha, will make his Major League debut on Saturday night or Sunday against the Indians. It all depends on Mendoza's availability. "We may just skip his whole turn, I don't know. We've got to wait and see," Yost said. Mendoza's illness will prevent him from going head to head against White Sox ace Chris Sale for the fourth time this season. Sale topped Mendoza twice on July 15 and Aug. 6, with Mendoza beating Sale on Aug. 17. It sets up a Sale-Chen rematch of Sept. 8 in Chicago. Sale beat Chen in that game. www.kcroyals.com

Am going to go ahead and guess that the Tigers will start Smyly Sunday at home against the Twins and then put Scherzer back into the rotation, giving him a full 10 days of rest and recuperation. But it's a tough decision...as the White Sox might gain another game in the next 2 days, and that would put even more pressure to use Max on the weekend as the numbers start turning against DET and they're forced to play each game like it's Game 7 of the World Series to stay alive in the race.

I think it's great. Go out and beat Chen (we did last time) and Guthrie, too. Prove that we belong there in the playoffs, instead of taking the back door route in. Beat their best.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 19, 2012 -> 12:08 AM) I don't think any team would risk paying that kind of money for Rios with his past history of alleged laziness. He's having a great year. He'll remain a White Sox IMO with no offers coming KW's way. We just should be happy he's turned it around. Look at Cubs' Soriano. He's been a waste for years making all that loot. Rios hopefully has reinvented himself. That swing is a thing of beauty now. But really, you're only looking at a down year in 2009 (still had 71 RBI's after only putting up 9 for the Sox in basically 2 months), a very strong 2010 where he did tail off at the end...there's only 2011 that is the outlier, and a lot of that can be blamed on Ozzie and the general malaise around the entire organization, the split between KW's "side" and Ozzie's "side," etc. Also, one has to remember that he was taking playing time directly away from one of the most popular Sox players in Jermaine Dye, and that must have caused some level of discomfort in the clubhouse as well, in terms of the team chemistry, having been jettisoned by the only organization he'd ever played for in the Blue Jays...etc.

Bueno=BAD In this case. Drat. Could have used those 2 insurance runs, tough for AJ against LHP.

Just 2 hits through 5 innings. With Cy Chen and Cy Guthrie looming. This sucks!! Not to mention a dangerous and desperate Angels' team on the road, clinging to playoff hopes. I think I'd rather play the Tigers 2 more times (instead of the Royals), now that they've seemingly gotten over the hump against them yesterday.

Gee, yet another Alex Gordon outfield assist. Not smart baserunning there AJ. Wasn't even really close.

Thought that ball was long gone off Rios' bat. Just missed it, to quote a Harrelson-ism. RISP doldrums continue to befuddle the Sox line-up.

For once we catch a break against KC. Need to take advantage with RISP.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 18, 2012 -> 07:40 PM) Stephen Drew must hate the White Sox. Villarreal is one tough customer though, hard to expect to come through against that guy consistently. 5-1 Tigers now. Momentum shifted quickly from nearly a tie game to this. Smyly would go into the Tigers' rotation if Scherzer is out for a start or more.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Sep 18, 2012 -> 07:43 PM) Can someone fill me in on how we're trailing to the Royals? Floyd? Typical Gavin Floyd brain cramp/brain freeze challenging Sox Killer Billy Butler with a free base and runners on 2nd/3rd, one out (amazingly, Escobar and his 482 BAA the Sox was retired).

Good idea not to hit a ball at any Royals' CFer. Cain, Dyson, Lough, whoever they throw out there seems to be a great defender.

Might as well wake up Hosmer, too! Center cut fastballs tend to do that.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Sep 18, 2012 -> 07:25 PM) It was. Which is why pitching to him was so smart. Except Perez is just as dangerous as Butler, at least against us. It's an argument that has two very strong sides, but you don't want to give up a grand slam in the 1st. Tigers' pen hopefully will get burned up today. The problem, though, is that it SHOULD be well rested with Verlander going tmrw, and Sanchez also pitched well his last time out, carrying a no-hitter late into the game. That A's line-up doesn't test you, other than a slumping Reddick and Cespedes, it's 75% their pitching and 25% timely hits and homers.

Billy Butler, of course! What a nightmare, that Royals' line-up is for our pitchers this year. Hopefully Sale is an exception tmrw.

Escobar with a career 482 average against the Sox coming into that AB.

Undefeated string for Griffin in danger. He and Jered Weaver the only rookies to start 11 games, no losses, sub 2 ERA, in their MLB careers.

Oakland with a schedule from hell down the stretch. DET, Yankees, 2 series with the Rangers.

His velocity was down a bit and he was going a lot more sidearm/three-quarters arm slot...maybe something is bothering him physically. He's had a ton of wear and tear on that arm/shoulder/elbow...both him and Verlander, due to Leyland consistently leaving him in so long.