OLD Projo SoxBlog DO NOT USE

Main page
« October 3, 2005
October 5, 2005 »

October 4, 2005

FINAL: White Sox 14, Red Sox 2

Cliff Politte now pitching, Geoff Blum playing first base, Willie Harris playing second base, Timo Perez playing right field for Chicago. Varitek flies to Perez. John Olerud, batting for Millar, doubles to left-center. Mueller pops to Harris. Graffanino flies deep to Podsednik.

Posted by Art at 7:01 PM | Permalink

White Sox 14, Red Sox 2, after 8 innings

Bronson Arroyo now pitching, Alex Cora now playing shortstop, Kevin Youkilis now playing third base and Adam Hyzdu now playing center field for Boston. Pierzynski homers to right. Crede walks. Uribe strikes out swinging. Podsednik walks, Crede taking second. Iguchi singles to right, scoring Crede, Podsednik taking second. Dye flies to Hyzdu. Konerko pops to Graffanino.

Posted by Art at 6:47 PM | Permalink

Dye Dives -- 1 for 2

Chicago right fielder Jermaine Dye made a dive going to his left in an attempt to track down a slicing drive hit by Kevin Millar in the fourth. He missed. The ball rolled to the fence for an RBI double.

In the eighth, Edgar Renteria hit a similar slicing drive. But this time Dye was able to make a diving catch.

Posted by at 6:39 PM | Permalink

White Sox 12, Red Sox 2, top of the 8th

Renteria flies to Dye, who makes a diving catch. Ortiz doubles to left-center. Ramirez grounds out, Uribe to Konerko, Ortiz taking third. Neal Cotts replaces Contreras. Nixon flies to Podsednik.

Posted by Art at 6:37 PM | Permalink

White Sox 12, Red Sox 2, after 7 innings

Konerko grounds out, Gonzalez to Millar. Everett pops to Graffanino. Rowand grounds out, Graffanino to Millar.

Posted by Art at 6:29 PM | Permalink

White Sox 12, Red Sox 2, after 6 1/2 innings

Mueller strikes out swinging. Graffanino grounds out, Uribe to Konerko. Damon grounds out, Iguchi to Konerko.

Posted by Art at 6:24 PM | Permalink

A good time for the 1st one

Chicago's Scott Podsednik, known more for his speed than any long-ball prowess, did not have a home run in 507 at-bats this season.

But Tuesday, the White Sox' left fielder crushed a three-run homer off Jeremi Gonzalez to right in the sixth, a no-doubt-about-it blast that put Chicago up, 12-2.

It was Podsednik's first homer since Sept. 30, 2004, for Milwaukee at St. Louis. He was given a loud ovation after he reached the dugout, and answered with the curtain-call the sellout crowd of 40,717 was desiring.

Posted by at 6:21 PM | Permalink

White Sox 12, Red Sox 2, after 6 innings

Rowand walks. Pierzynski hit by a pitch, Rowand taking second. Crede pops to Graffanino. Uribe singles to left, scoring Rowand, Pierzynski taking second. Podsednik homers to right, scoring Pierzynski and Uribe. Iguchi pops to Graffanino. Dye grounds out, Renteria to Millar.

Posted by Art at 6:09 PM | Permalink

White Sox 8, Red Sox 2, after 5 1/2 innings

Nixon flies to Podsednik. Varitek pops to Iguchi. Millar grounds out, Crede to Konerko.

Posted by Art at 6:04 PM | Permalink

White Sox 8, Red Sox 2, after 5 innings

Dye grounds out, Renteria to Millar. Konerko grounds out, Bradford to Millar. Jeremi Gonzalez replaces Bradford. Everett pops to Varitek.

Posted by Art at 5:53 PM | Permalink

White Sox 8, Red Sox 2, after 4 1/2 innings

Renteria grounds out, Iguchi to Konerko. Ortiz flies to Rowand. Ramirez grounds out, Uribe to Konerko.

Posted by Art at 5:46 PM | Permalink

Clement's Downward Turn

As Matt Clement trudged off the mound, knocked out in the fourth inning and serenaded with the sellout crowd's loud rendition of ``Na, Na, Na, Na, Hey, Hey, Good-bye'' chant, he could have pondered some awful numbers he has put up recently.

In his last six starts, Clement's earned-run average is 8.90 -- 28 earned runs in 28 1/3 innings. Since the All-Star break, his E.R.A. is 6.40.

Tuesday he was tagged for eight earned runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Posted by at 5:45 PM | Permalink

White Sox 8, Red Sox 2, after 4 innings

Pierzynski doubles to right. Crede flies to Nixon. Uribe homers to left, scoring Pierzynski. Chad Bradford replaces Clement as Boston's pitcher. Podsednik grounds out, Bradford to Millar. Iguchi called out on strikes.

Posted by Art at 5:31 PM | Permalink

Wrong Play? Great Result

Kevin Millar was on second with no outs, and the White Sox were ahead, 6-2, in the fourth.

Bill Mueller hit a sharp grounder to second baseman Tadahito Iguchi, who was shaded up the middle.

The conventional play for Iguchi in such a situation, especially given the score, would be to throw to first base for the out, allowing Millar to move to third.

But when Iguchi fielded the ball, he looked up, saw how far from third base the slow-footed Millar was, and threw to third baseman Joe Crede. The throw was in the dirt. Crede, though, deftly scooped the ball and applied the tag on Millar for the first out of the inning, defusing the Red Sox' uprising.

Posted by at 5:28 PM | Permalink

White Sox 6, Red Sox 2, after 3 1/2 innings

Nixon singles to right. Varitek hits a bunt single to third, and takes second, with Nixon taking third, on an error by Crede. Nixon scores, and Varitek takes third, on a wild pitch by Jose Contreras. Millar doubles to right, scoring Varitek. Mueller reaches on a fielder's choice, Millar out at third, Iguchi to Crede. Graffanino reaches on a fielder's choice, Mueller out at second, Uribe to Iguchi. Damon strikes out swinging.

Posted by Art at 5:18 PM | Permalink

Flashback for Clement?

In the third, Chicago's Carl Everett scorched a line drive right back at Matt Clement.

The ball ricocheted off the inside of his right thigh and glanced off the inside of his left thigh as he completed his follow-through. The ball landed near the mound. Clement reacted quickly, picked up the ball and threw out Everett at first.

The training staff visited Clement, who shook it off and stayed in the game.

On July 26, Clement escaped serious injury on another liner back at him hit by Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford. The ball struck Clement on the right side of the head, just above his ear.

Posted by at 5:18 PM | Permalink

No patience for Manny

Maybe Manny Ramirez was double-parked. Maybe he had an early dinner reservation.

Whatever the reason, the Red Sox' cleanup hitter had no patience whatsoever at the plate in his first two at-bats Tuesday. And in each case he was batting with a runner in scoring position.

In the first, with Edgar Renteria perched at second base with two outs, Ramirez bounced the first pitch from Jose Contreras to third baseman Joe Crede for the final out of the inning.

Ramirez was maginally more patient in his other two at-bats, a pair of three-pitch groundouts to shortstop.

In the third, with runners at first and third and two outs, Ramirez again swung at Contreras's first pitch with the same result, a routine grounder to third, this one converted by Crede into an inning-ending forceout at second base.

Posted by at 5:07 PM | Permalink

White Sox 6, Red Sox 0, after 3 innings

Dye flies to Ramirez. Konerko homers to left. Everett grounds out, Matt Clement to Millar. Rowand lines to Ramirez.

Posted by Art at 5:07 PM | Permalink

White Sox 5, Red Sox 0, after 2 1/2 innings

Graffanino doubles to left. Damon called out on strikes. Renteria flies to Dye. Ortiz hits an infield single to shortstop, Graffanino taking third. Ramirez hits into a fielder's choice, Ortiz out at second, Crede to Iguchi.

Posted by Art at 4:59 PM | Permalink

This and That, ALDS Game 1

The five runs scored by the White Sox tied for the second-largest inning in the team's postseason history. Chicago also scored five runs in third inning of Game 3 of the 1993 ALCS and in the fourth inning of Game 2 of the 1917 World Series. The record is seven runs, scored in the third inning of Game 1 of the 1959 World Series . . . The home run for Cranston, RI, native Paul Konerko in the third inning accounted for his first postseason hit. He was 0 for 9 for the White Sox in the 2000 ALDS and he hit into a run-producing forceout in the first Tuesday . . . Juan Uribe's homer in the fourth was the White Sox' third homer of the game, setting a club postseason record. Earlier A.J. Pierzynski and Konerko had homered . . . That number swelled to five when Scott Podsednik connected off Jeremi Gonzalez in the sixth and Pierzynski went deep again, off Bronson Arroyo in the eighth . . . Pierzynski became the second White Sox hitter to bash two homers in a postseason, joining Ted Kluszewski (Game 1, 1959 World Series) . . . In his regular-season start in Chicago on July 21, Clement was tagged for three homers. He also surrendered three Tuesday. In his first 17 starts, Clement gave up 6 homers. In his last 16, he has coughed up 15 gopher balls . . .

Posted by at 4:51 PM | Permalink

White Sox 5, Red Sox 0, after 2 innings

Jose Uribe grounds out, Graffanino to Millar. Podsednik singles to left-center. Podsednik thrown out stealing, Varitek to Graffanino. Iguchi lines to Damon.

Posted by Art at 4:51 PM | Permalink

A jittery beginning for Clement

Unfortunately for the Red Sox, Matt Clement began the postseason the way he finished the regular season.

Clement, who struggled in September, looked jittery right from his first pitch Tuesday in Game 1 of the ALDS at U.S. Cellular Field. And despite a few attempted calm-down meetings at the mound, the seemingly rattled right-hander was losing, 5-0, by the time he shuffled off the mound, three outs finally achieved.

Clement, who was second in the American League with 16 hit batsman, nicked two Chicago batters in the first, but was stung most by two-out hits by Carl Everett (single), Aaron Rowand (RBI single) and A.J. Pierzynski (three-run homer).

Along the way, Clement was visited on the mound. After Everett's single, catcher Jason Varitek, shortstop Edgar Renteria, first baseman Kevin Millar and second baseman Tony Graffanino stopped by for a chat. After Clement went to 2 and 0 on Rowand, pitching coach Dave Wallace sauntered out to the mnound.

After Pierzynski's homer, Jeremi Gonzalez began warming up, but Clement retired Joe Crede on a foul popup to Varitek.

Posted by at 4:42 PM | Permalink

White Sox 5, Red Sox 0, after 1 1/2 innings

Trot Nixon singles to center. Varitek called out on strikes. Millar called out on strikes. Mueller grounds out, Iguchi to Konerko.

Posted by Art at 4:39 PM | Permalink

Chisox' speed a quick factor

One of the Red Sox' missions was to keep speedy Scott Podsednik off the bases.

They weren't successful in the first inning of Tuesday's Game 1 of the ALDS, and it cost Boston the game's first run and contributed to a quick 5-0 hole.

Clement nicked Podsednik, Chicago's leadoff hitter, who was second in the league with 59 stolen bases, with his third pitch of the game.

After a sacrifice and another hit batsman, Podsednik took off for third while Clement was pitching to Paul Konerko and easily slid in safely before the throw arrived from catcher Jason Varitek.

Podsednik raced home with the first run of the series on a groundout to deep third by Konerko, and a seemingly rattled Clement wound up surrendering five runs in the inning.

Podsednik singled to center with one out in the second. But Podsednik was easily thrown out trying to steal second by Varitek. Podsednik also led the league in being caught stealing. He was gunned down 23 times.

He was plagued by a strained left adductor that sent him to the disabled list on Aug. 13. From July 21 until the end of the year Podsednik stole 9 bases but was caught 14 times.

Posted by at 4:30 PM | Permalink

White Sox 5, Red Sox 0, after 1 inning

Scott Podsednik hit by a pitch. Tadahito Iguchi sacrifices, Jason Varitek to Kevin Millar, Podsednik taking second. Jermaine Dye hit by a pitch. Podsednik steals third. Konerko reaches on a fielder's choice, Dye out at second, Bill Mueller to Tony Graffanino, Podsednik scoring. Carl Everett singles to right, Konerko taking second. Aaron Rowand singles to left-center, scoring Konerko, Everett taking third. A.J. Pierzynski homers to left-center, scoring Everett and Rowand. Crede fouls to Varitek.

Posted by Art at 4:21 PM | Permalink

Red Sox 0, White Sox coming up, after one-half inning

Johnny Damon lines to Paul Konerko. Edgar Renteria doubles to right. David Ortiz strikes out swinging. Manny Ramirez grounds out, Joe Crede to Konerko.

Posted by Art at 4:11 PM | Permalink

The Big Hurt's First Pitch

Frank Thomas, who has slugged 448 homers in his 16-year career with the White Sox, tossed out Tuesday's ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the ALDS to Harold Baines, a Chicago coach who spent the bulk of his career playing for the organization.

Thomas, called The Big Hurt for the damage he has inflicted on opposing pitchers, was limited to 34 games this season before having to call it quits for the year on July 21 because of inflammation in his left foot.

Posted by at 4:00 PM | Permalink

Butterflies

Whether the players have playoff experience or not, the anxiety levels had to be raised a bit as the players, managers and coaches prepared for Tuesday's Game 1 of the American League Division Series.

Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen admitted as much.

``Obviously, this morning before the game starts you are anxious, not because you're nervous and scared. That's part of the game,'' said Gulllen. ``I think, on the other side, Boston has a lot of experience, but they have the same feeling we have. That's a natural feeling, human nature.''

Posted by at 3:29 PM | Permalink

Umpiring change

Larry Vanover had to be taken off the umpiring crew yesterday because of a bad back. He was replaced by Mark Carlson.

Posted by at 3:28 PM | Permalink

Francona's White Sox roots

Boston manager Terry Francona once wore different color Sox.

Francona managed in the White Sox system from 1992-1995. In his first year, he managed Chicago's A-ball team in South Bend. The next three seasons, he managed the organization's Double A team in Birmingham.

In 1994, Francona managed basketball legend Michael Jordan in Birmingham in the year Jordan switched sports. Francona was named the minor's top managerial prospect by ``Baseball America'' that year.

Tuesday, though, Francona said that he didn't have deep emotional ties with the White Sox because the players he managed in the minors for Chicago are no longer with the organization.

Posted by at 3:22 PM | Permalink

DiNardo just missed the roster

Left-hander Lenny DiNardo, who pitched five games for Boston in September in his fifth stint with the Red Sox, very nearly made the roster for the American League Division Series.

DiNardo was 0-1, but allowed only one run 13 innings in September, including a four-inning scoreless stint against Toronto on Sept. 28.

Manager Terry Francona opted for right-hander Jeremi Gonzalez over DiNardo for the 10th and final pitching spot, but if the Red Sox do beat Chicago, DiNardo could be added for the ALCS.

``DiNardo did well. He pitched himself into position where he just about made this roster, which is a big compliment to him,'' said Francona. ``He will be an option if we advance.''

Posted by at 3:16 PM | Permalink

Experience in numbers

Of the 25 players on the Red Sox' first-round postseason roster, 21 have previous playoff experience, totaling 531 games.

Manny Ramirez boasts the most experience -- 78 games. He's followed by John Olerud (63), Edgar Renteria (52), Mike Timlin (37), Jason Varitek (36), Trot Nixon (35) and David Ortiz (35).

Jonathan Papelbon and Jeremi Gonzalez are the only two pitchers without postseason experience.

The Red Sox' roster for the series with the White Sox also include five players who were not even in Boston's organization when the season began -- Chad Bradford, Alex Cora, Tony Graffanino, Adam Hyzdu and Olerud.

Posted by at 3:09 PM | Permalink