The Trib's David Haugh today...

 

Sure, it's been a summer of angst and hand-wringing on the South Side. But giving Tadahito Iguchi a standing ovation for breaking up Johnson's no-hitter in the seventh of a 7-0 game seemed like an overreaction. It wasn't exactly as bad as the wave on Sunday at Wrigley Field, but Grinder Rule No. 123 should outlaw excessive applause for measly singles.

 

Huh?

 

This comment comes dangerously close to Mariotti-like levels if lunacy. Listen, the White Sox are in a situation where every game is, essentially, a playoff game. Every single game. And the fans know this. So when their team is losing 7-0, yeah, the first sign of life is more than enough reason to get excited, if even just a little. That's why they're there in the first place. To get excited when the Sox do well. Or do something - anything - positive or hopeful. Don't criticize fans for cheering their team. Don't ever criticize any fans for cheering their team. Sox fans or otherwise. I'm not being a touchy Sox fan here. I'm just being a fan - period - and Haugh's assertion is ludicrous.

 

Hey, I don't care what the situation is. As a Sox fan, I don't ever want to see my my team get no-hit. Ever. I don't care if it's a huge game in the middle of a pennant chase as last night's was or if the game is as meaningless as a Paris Hilton song. Sox fans had every right to cheer their team on last night, regardless of the situation, and saying otherwise is to completely miss the big picture. Besides, what has Johnson ever done for the Sox that merit's Sox fans forgetting their deep concerns about the playoff chase to instead worry about his no-hit bid?

 

As for last night's game, I'm looking at the bright side and giving the Sox credit for coming back from a 7-0 deficit in the seventh inning. They showed heart, which is all you can ask. They had runners on first and third with Jim Thome at the plate as the game ended. They were right there. Woulda, shoulda, coulda. There are positives to be found. Of course, they need to win the series tonight.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...cs-sports-print

I saw this too and thought: hey, after how many innings of no-hit, OF COURSE fans are gonna cheer the first hit--they're almost doing in tongue-in-cheek. Kind of like when a pitcher being shelled (God knows we'd know about that) finally gets the third out.

 

Although, the irony disappeared last night when that one hit turned into a romp which damn near won the game for us.

 

This is the way I look at it: the pressure is OFF.

 

We are in third place, people. In a division with one of the sickest teams in recent memory (40 games over .500? Inhuman!) and Minnesota playing great ball after a blip in 2005. Our wildcard chances are against teams like New York, Boston, Minnesota and God knows who else, and nobody has a commanding lead.

 

Point being: for all intents and purposes, nobody is expecting us to win. So let's relax, play the game, and with that 2005 pressure off, let's see what happens. The Yankees are always supposed to win, so are the BoSox, the Twins are now without Liriano and who knows what will happen if Detroit suddenly finds itself on a losing streak after a year of invincibility?

 

To that end, the press needs to STFU and start treating us like a day-in, day-out team and worry about the post-season if we get to it. The constant deathwatch and countdown-to-elimination is just defeatist.

I saw this too and thought: hey, after how many innings of no-hit, OF COURSE fans are gonna cheer the first hit--they're almost doing in tongue-in-cheek. Kind of like when a pitcher being shelled (God knows we'd know about that) finally gets the third out.

 

Although, the irony disappeared last night when that one hit turned into a romp which damn near won the game for us.

 

This is the way I look at it: the pressure is OFF.

 

We are in third place, people. In a division with one of the sickest teams in recent memory (40 games over .500? Inhuman!) and Minnesota playing great ball after a blip in 2005. Our wildcard chances are against teams like New York, Boston, Minnesota and God knows who else, and nobody has a commanding lead.

 

Point being: for all intents and purposes, nobody is expecting us to win. So let's relax, play the game, and with that 2005 pressure off, let's see what happens. The Yankees are always supposed to win, so are the BoSox, the Twins are now without Liriano and who knows what will happen if Detroit suddenly finds itself on a losing streak after a year of invincibility?

 

To that end, the press needs to STFU and start treating us like a day-in, day-out team and worry about the post-season if we get to it. The constant deathwatch and countdown-to-elimination is just defeatist.

 

Completely disagree. The pressure on this team is probably greater now than it has been this entire year.

Completely disagree. The pressure on this team is probably greater now than it has been this entire year.

I agree!!

Give me a break Haugh!! I was watching the damn game, it was a COMPLETELY sarcastic "Bronx Cheer" by the annoyed crowd. Please learn the art of interpretation David.

Completely disagree. The pressure on this team is probably greater now than it has been this entire year.

 

 

Perhaps I should rephrase then: the pressure SHOULD BE off. Because like it or not, we are a longshot right now.

 

Maybe playing game to game without constantly thinking of 2005 is just what we need right now.

Haha blow me Haugh. Getting no-hit would be embarrassing, and I most definitely cheer for it not to happen against my team.

I guess I was way off base - I thought they stood and applauded Johnson on the effort. A tip of the cap to him. Sure some were cheering for the hit. But most were knowledgable fans giving credit to a HOF pitcher.

 

Haugh = tool

I guess I was way off base - I thought they stood and applauded Johnson on the effort. A tip of the cap to him. Sure some were cheering for the hit. But most were knowledgable fans giving credit to a HOF pitcher.

Doubtful. It was basically a mock cheer or a cheer of relief.

 

If it was a cheer for RJ it would be a normal polite type of standing O, not yelling and cheering.

Edited August 10, 200619 yr by WHarris1

Interesting.

 

I was there last year when Ichiro went 5-for-5 against Buehrle (ace Buehrle, not The Thing Buehrle) and we gave him an "O" after he hit the fifth, out of sportsmanship.

 

Plus, Ichiro's kind of hard to not like, even if he's not on your team.

On the radio, Farmer said alot of the applause was for Johnson.

On the radio, Farmer said alot of the applause was for Johnson.

A pitcher would always say that

A pitcher would always say that

 

He then proceeded to say, "If Thome goes yard here, we have ourselves a 7-2 ballgame."

He then proceeded to say, "If Thome goes yard here, we have ourselves a 7-2 ballgame."

He says that every time...what a tool.

He says that every time...what a tool.

 

I like it. It's a unique way of saying the score.

Perhaps I should rephrase then: the pressure SHOULD BE off. Because like it or not, we are a longshot right now.

 

Maybe playing game to game without constantly thinking of 2005 is just what we need right now.

 

No. We are not a 'long shot'.