600, But Who Gets The Ball?

Congratulations to Ken Griffey Jr. on his 600th career home run. Griffey joined the exclusive 600 club after hitting a 1st inning homer off of Marlins pitcher, Mark Hendrickson. It was Griffey’s first home run since May 31 against the Braves.

The first inning homer was a 3-1 curveball that once connected with the bat, it was gone. Meeting Griffey at home plate was his 14 year old son, Trey, who had been sitting in the dugout waiting for that moment.

Anger Management? Maybe…Anyone?

We have all heard when I manager gets fed up with his team losing, however, Mariners manager John McLaren has raised the bar. Being a White Sox fan I never thought that anyone could lose his cool like Ozzie Guillen. It seemed like only a matter of time before McLaren would have this conversation when his team is 18 games under .500 and 15.5 game out of first place. Though this team has not handed in the towel and look towards 2009.

Mariners GM, Bill Bavasi, is the main supporter of his club.

“That’s going to be a long time,” he said. “That’s going to be quite a while. Because we’re not giving in. It’s going to be real tough for us to give in. If we give in, it will be at the last minute, I’ll tell you that.”

Party at Fenway

Last night the amazing story that Jon Lester is writing for himself just got another chapter. The 24 year old has survived cancer, pitched game four of the World Series last fall, has a Championship ring, and now has a No-Hitter to his name. Only even more proof that Boston is the center of the sporting world. Lester through a career high 130 pitches in his dominating 7-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals. Last night also was Lester’s first complete game.

 

More on Lester’s historic night…

Monday Treat- Brandon Backe

I know I have gone kind missing for the past few days, but that is what happens when you move. I hate having to move during baseball season because then you are guaranteed to miss a few games. Well, I am back now in time to present this weeks new man of the week. It is the right handed, starting pitcher for the Houston Astros, Brandon Back. Last season he returned to the Astros starting rotation after coming off of Tommy John Surgery. But all seems well after coming through with a home-run in Saturday’s 6-2 win over the Brewers it seems only fitting that Backe be our man. How many times do you hear of a pitcher hitting a home-run? Not very often. Backe your arm and your bat have won you this weeks honors.

Don’t hide Brandon. More pics to follow.

All-Star Game Voting

Here we go again. Yes, it is that time of the year where we start the voting for this years Major League All-Star Game which will be held in beautiful New York City. One small problem though. The game is still about 2 MONTHS away! Everyone can start their 25 vote limit now, but come May 13 you will have already finished a week ago.

Monday Treat- Aaron Rowand

Rowand I know that I am still not speaking to you ever since you ditched Chicago and Philly to go to the Giants, but I can not ignore that you are still my favorite center fielder. I have always been in love with your all out style of play, whether it be running into walls or driving your motorcycle off of cliffs. You were an instrumental part of the 2005 World Champion White Sox. With that devilish appearance you can’t be forgotten. Yes you are a little over excited half (more then half) of the time. Everyone I present the hotness that is Aaron Rowand.

There is more of Rowand coming right up for your viewing pleasue…

Rounding the Bases

The Forgotten Milestone

Not many people have heard, and quite frankly I have just realized myself, but there is a huge milestone getting ready to be reached by Ken Griffey Jr. The Reds slugger is three homeruns away from launching his 600th homerun. This is one man that can be counted on as being one of the clean players in the past several years, or the steroid era as it has been come to be called. Last year we watched Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds reach milestones with constant interruptions with every at bat, but why is it that this is different. Is it just because that Griffey is not under the steroid cloud and there should be no questions about how he achieved his 600 homeruns. If it had not been for the injuries during his career what milestone would he be reaching for or would it be that Ken Griffey Jr. would be receiving the media attention that he deserves.

Chicago Bans Water from Dugouts!

We all know that Gatorade is a major part of American sports, but has it ended up going to far. This week at U.S. Cellular Field the players were greeted by signs hanging up in their clubhouses informing them, “No Bottled Water on the Bench.”  Since when did water become banned by Major League Baseball?

We know that Major League baseball has had a problem with steroids, HGH, and other banned substances, but when did water join the list of banned substances.

Should’ve been only 90 years?

Everyone knows that this year marks the 100th anniversary since the Chicago Cubs last World Series Championship. However, there is a possibility that it should only be 90, yes 90 years not 100.  According to the newly-found sworn affidavit by 1919 White Sox Pitcher Eddie Cicotte the Cubs had given the “Black Sox” the inspiration to throw their own World Series a year after the Cubs did it. Even though there is no smoking gun to prove if that there was actually a fix that caused the Red Sox to win the World Series in ’18, but it does raise a lot of suspicions about that series.

Chicago in a New York state of mind

For the first time in more 11 years we are going to experience having two teams from one city played the teams in another city on the same day, however it is the first time in roughly 28 years that this occurrence has involved Chicago. With the Pope’s recent visit to Yankee Stadium the Yanks have been pushed on a road trip.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi commented on the road trip stating, “Who’s going to argue with the Pope?”

Each time that this scheduling event happens the teams will be playing their games at the same time. With the Cubs playing at 1:20 and the Sox taking on the Yankees at 7:11 it would be very possible for a fan of the Mets and White Sox, like myself, to see both games. It would have been amazing if not for school. Though this is the only night someone would be able to attend both games because like in New York, Chicago is better when both teams are not at home at the same time. After all, they are only a quick ride away on the L-train.

Monday Treat- Joe Crede

Every week one athlete will be featured as the guy of the week. Of course the selection will be based on the player’s ability on the field and looks, but mostly on how much he makes you drool when you see him. This will be taking place every Monday, since after all you need something to start the week off well.

This week’s piece of eye candy is none other then White Sox 3rd baseman, Joe Crede. Why this man is so overlooked is beyond me. I mean Joe is a gold-glove caliber 3rd baseman that should hae been voted to an all-star game already. So Crede here is your five good minutes of fame. This country boy from Westphalia, MO has everything we are looking for. He is perfect in other words! Hello, he has an awesome arm, great looks, nice personality, and did I mention he is HOT!? No wonder they call 3rd the HOT corner. Enjoy the awesomeness of the South Side’s Joe Crede, with al little humor thrown in. After all Joe is known as the joker of the clubhouse.

Defensive Blunder: Deje Vu

  

 Wow, another night and another run down gone bad. St. Petersburg, Florida must be a cursed place for the Sox. Yet once again O.C. happens to be involved in another botched play. In the second inning the defense folded behind Buehrle, who was not showing his usual control. Jonny Gomes was caught leaning to far by the south paw, and what should have been the third out led to three more runs. Gomes was credited with a stolen base. The defense was not the only thing that was not in attendance last night at Tropicana, but so was the offense which was credited with three hits against Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine. 

With the defensive mistakes that have been made this series Ozzie must be wondering what happened to his team. I know a lot of us up in Chicago last night must have felt like it was Deje Vu seeing Orlando Cabrera be involved with yet another misplay. Hopefully, the guys can pull things back together before we are invaded by the Yankees on Tuesday. Enough of this Deje Vu!