2007 State of the Sox

April 21: White Sox 7, Tigers 5 (10 innings)

Today's victory was most unusual on many fronts.  Let's list them:

1) The Sox scored all seven of their runs without a homer.  I can't remember one situation where the Sox didn't score when they should've -- and of course, having 10 hits for the first time since Opening Day helps.  Jim Thome and Juan Uribe hit sacrifice flies, and Jermaine Dye hit a huge double in the 10th off Fernando Rodney to drive in the go-ahead run.  And I'm not forgetting that:

2) The Sox managed to score three of them with the bases loaded without lifting a pitch.  The Sox actually grounded into double plays -- the Tigers just couldn't turn them.  Paul Konerko chopped what should've been a 5-3 DP to Brandon Inge, but he misplayed the hop and only ended up with a forceout, soring the run.  Jermaine Dye then hit into a 3-6-1, but Nate Robertson lost his footing and couldn't find the bag falling down for the third out.  Joe Crede then grounded a single between first and second to cut the Tigers lead to 4-3.

3) Joel Zumaya didn't intimidate.  Zumaya was cracking 102 on the Detroit's feed gun, but the Sox seemed to pick him up well aside from Darin Erstad, who went down flailing on three pitches.  Disregard the three strikeouts, and instead look at the three baserunners during Zumaya's 1 2/3 inning outing.  Joe Crede came up with the big hit, driving in Brian Anderson, who pinch-ran for Jim Thome.  More on that later.

4) Jose Contreras was lit up in the first inning despite throwing 16 of his first 17 pitches for strikes.  The only pitch out of the strike zone hit Gary Sheffield in the elbow, loading the bases to set up a Carlos Guillen grand slam two batters later.  Contreras settled down and then some, retiring the next 16 batters until Magglio Ordonez homered to break the tie.  Contreras went seven innings, throwing only 86 pitches and walking zero.

5) Ozzie Guillen burned Anderson.  It wasn't a bad idea to pinch-run for Thome, but using Anderson then, and then pinch-hitting Rob Mackowiak for him when it was his turn to hit, was a questionable call.  First, it left the Sox without a defensive replacement and Pablo Ozuna in left.  Secondly, there's not a world of difference between Anderson and Mack in terms of speed, so if I wanted Mack's bat in the lineup eventually, I would've called upon him right away.  Personally, I would've used Alex Cintron to run, because I can't think of any other situation where I'd say, "Damn, I wish Cintron were out there."

The only thing that resembled a Sox victory was the outstanding work by the bullpen once again.  Ozzie used way too many pitchers once again, but he didn't run into a cold hand.  Boone Logan, Mike MacDougal, Andy Sisco, David Aardsma and Bobby Jenks allowed only one hit and one walk in three innings, striking out four.  And for once, Bobby Jenks closed the door without allowing the tying run to come to the plate.

Record: 9-7 | Box score | Play-by-play