A Very Special 3 Up, 3 Down... From Sick Bay

I hope you all don't think I've been conspicuously absent these past few days because the Sox have been taking lumps from the Twins and I'm only back because they walloped Minnesota, 8-3 tonight to assure that, at very worst, they will leave the Little Dome of Horrors with sole possession of 1st place. Nope, just been a busy week; caught the Peoria Chiefs game tonight and no, there was no onfield brawl/felonious assault this time (Editor's note: Drats).

Anyways, let's get down to the nitty gritty...

1 UP - Bobby Jenks' Shoulder

While I have no formal evidence to back this up, I don't believe there's much of a coincidence by the fact that as soon as Bobby Jenks landed on the D.L. and the comfortable positions the rest of the bullpen had settled into became disrupted that everything fell apart. While I can't say if Boone Logan would be struggling, or Scott Linebrink would be hurting, or that Ehren Fucking Wassermann would be back up (Seriously!), but at least since his return Jenks hasn't missed a beat. While he's only pitched in 4 games since the All-Star Break, he's been lights out, allowing a single hit and single walk in those 4 innings for an Opponents' OBP of .143 and 3 saves in 3 chances. True the rest of the bullpen is in various stages of "tatters" right now, at least Jenks has firmly reestablished himself as the rock in the 9th inning that everything builds on from there.

1 DOWN - Joe Crede's Back

On a personal level and team level, Crede's recent stint on the D.L. is very disheartening. For Crede, this injury probably cost him a fortune and perhaps his time in Chicago is truly winding to an end. When he erupted for a sizzling open to the season, there were shouts for a contract extension, but now that Crede's durability questions have raised from "troublesome" to "ORANGE ALERT," the megadeal he was looking to cash in on may never come. Added that, the Sox still have Josh Fields in the background, lurking and waiting to take over at third base, no matter how little sense that seem to make. You really have to wonder if they'd consider talking to a now oft-injured Scott Boras client who still can probably sucker some team into giving him more than he's realistically worth.

However, at the team level, Crede's injury sucks ass because now Fields and his lack of defense will patrol the hot corner (or it will be Juan "No Bat" Uribe). Though Crede says it's no big thing, that's awfully hard to fully believe. We need you back, Joe.

2 UP - Carlos Quentin's Shoulder

Though Quentin has had no injury problems in Chicago, his durability was one of the reasons he was shown the door in Arizona and why he almost missed the bus ride north from Tucson (at this rate, Jerry Owens' groin should be enshrined in the White Sox Hall of Fame). Regardless, Quentin's been a beast all season long, his first full one at the Major League level and shows no sign of letting up. Even before tonight's 3/5, HR, 4 RBI performance that paced the Sox to this important victory, Quentin's been hitting .302/8/18 over his last 16 games with a .397 OPB and a .746 slugging percentage.

Quentin's durability concerns have always been in the back of my mind, especially considering he's been plunked 14 times now, tied for the most in the American League, but his steady hitting has been one of the few constants for the White Sox this season.

2 DOWN - Whatever the Hell is Wrong with Paul Konerko

It's been a rough year for Konerko. From that mysterious thumb injury that he tried to play through for way to long to whatever physical and/or mental ailment is bringing him down now, Konerko's having a season to forget on a personal level. Do you realize now that he's slugging worse than anyone who is still in the White Sox organization and has more than 20 at bats? .351, yikes. As a means of comparison, here's the production the other division leaders in baseball are getting from their first basemen:

• Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay Rays: .236 (eww)/.340/.447
• Casey Kotchman, Los Angeles Angels*: .287/.327/.448
• Carlos Delgado, New York Mets: .263/.347/.497
• Derrek Lee, Chicago Cubs: .298/.359/.495
• Connor Jackson, Arizona D'backs: .321/.404/.507

*I know Kotchman was just dealt to Atlanta, but he played 100 games for LA this year, so he still counts as "the regular."

Anyway, my point stands that the Sox are getting shortstop-quality production out of a premier power position. I don't know what Paul's problems are. Is this still all physical, or does coming up to bat and seeing that .213 season batting average on the JumboTron make you press a little harder than you should? Its seriously time to question whether or not the Sox would be better off placing Konerko on the bench for a little bit, moving Swisher to 1st (in the time he filled in for Konerko at 1st, he hit .256/.366/.474 with 4 HR and 15 RBI in 24 games) and play Anderson or Wise in CF everyday. It's really come to that; Konerko or Anderson/Wise.

What a cruel, cruel bitch this game can be.

3 UP - Jose Contreras' Elbow

No, I'm not celebrating the fact that Contreras has been on the D.L., I'm just wishing that his struggles as of late have been caused by a sore elbow he wasn't telling anyone about. We all know that when Jose is feeling good and mentally sound, he's downright dominating. His run that stretched from '05 to '06 was incredible and for a while this season, he was arguably the Sox's best pitcher, but since June 10, he's not been able to get anyone out, allowing a .366 BAA in 7 starts.

I don't know if Jose has reached the end of his line, but I can hope that there's still a few more games left in his tank.

3 DOWN - Scott Linebrink's Shoulder

Linebrink's been on the disabled list since July 23rd, but he's only pitched a handful of ineffective innings in about a month now. In the same way Jenks' abesence seemed to reek havoc on the state of comfortable predictability that pervaded the Sox's bullpen, the same can be said for the loss of Linebrink. Truthfully, the answer may be the no bullpen can truly recover from simultaneously losing their set-up man and All-Star closer, but the White Sox bullpen has been really, really bad as of late. Hopefully some extended R&R is what Linebrink needs to come back ready as ever for the final push for the pennant.

Don't fuck with the White Sox & Sobering News from the Infirmary (even more!)

Let's get one thing straight before I begin... These are season-defining wins. This isn't just a "flash in the pan." or "give us some hope for next year," type shit that all of us are so used to (remember Kip Wells' audition at the end of the '99 season when he looked like the stud pitcher we'd been waiting for since Black Jack?).

No, the White Sox aren't just finding exciting ways to win, they're finding ways to win that make you want to believe that they're up to something special. I don't like using the cliche "oh, it's 2005 all over again!" line because there are already so many differences between these White Sox and their World Champion predecessors, however, I'll be damned if this doesn't feel like a little like most other championship seasons I've been privy, too. And of course, as a Chicago sports fan, that's like asking a Martian to describe water and I know that despite the dramatics and improbably comebacks, it's only 2 games, but sometimes two games transcend the standings and calendar because of the way they make you feel. The confidence they instill in you that, no matter how terrible the defense may look or how overmatched they may look at the dish, they're not going to go down until they've played every trick in their bag and ace up their sleeve.

If Quentin's 3-run bomb on Wednesday wasn't clutch enough for you, how about JD tonigt? Bottom of the ninth, down by a run, facing Detroit's closer (who, granted can be a gascan, but does have 319 career saves), and one strike away from ending the game. Wow. Wow, wow, wow.

To douse the party with some cold water, Gavin Floyd had himself a so-so game, but the defense has been atrocious in both wins. The errors and mental mistakes the Sox have been making the field need to be corrected ASAP, but for now, everything is good in White Sox-ville.

Wednesday's recaps: B-R.com Box Score & Play-by-Play | Chicago Tribune | Associated Press | MLB.com Wrap | Soxmachine.com

Tonight's recaps: B-R.com Box Score & Play-by-Play | Chicago Tribune | Associated Press | MLB.com Wrap | Soxmachine.com

Clayton Richard looked good in his MLB debut Wednesday against the Rangers. I mean, he didn't look great, but considering he was starting his first game against the American League's best offense, I can't complain too much. The shoddy defense behind him surely didn't help, but he worked very quickly and looked poised enough to throw his fastball and breaking balls for strikes. Ozzie was impressed, and Richard earned a second start against Minnesota.

And now, I need to mention Alexei Ramirez, and not for his 3-4 performance tonight against Detroit but for the play he made Wednesday afternoon against Texas. I'm sure you've seen it, but if not, here it is again. It's jaw-dropping, and as good as any defensive play I can remember someone on the Sox pulling off... From Durham's back-to-the-infield running catch in the home opener of 2000, to Uribe's dive into the stands during the World Series, and Tadahito's gravity-defying assist last season, that ranks up there, and his play has rightfully earned attention and praise both locally and nationally.

More bad news, as you're probably aware, Joe Crede was placed on the 15-Day D.L., Josh Fields was brought up from AAA Charlotte, and he started at third tonight. Josh went 1-3 with a walk and run scored tonight, but he did commit an error. Hopefully Joe is fine for personal reasons, but it's a shame because this injury probably will cost him a fortune; Crede's stellar play at the start of the year silenced the doubters about his surgically repaired back, but now those questions will be raised. Barring a miracle October (which I wouldn't mind), Joe's wallet will be much lighter.

Joe Cowley is also reporting that Scott Linebrink may join Contreras and Crede on the Sox's ever-growing Disabled List. No decision until tomorrow morning.

Elsewhere around the Central, the Twins dropped a 5-4 decision to the Indians at the Prog. Twins centerfielder Carlos Gomez had to be carted off the field in a neck brace after crashing into the left/center wall in Cleveland while making an outstanding catch in the first inning. Luckily, it sounds like Gomez will be OK (or at least, there's no serious nerve injuries), and I wish him the best. Though we're in a tight race with the Twins, you don't want to see it come to that. Cleveland's win keeps them at pace with the Royals for last place in the Central, as the Royals beat the Rays 4-2 in Kansas City. Both the Royals and Twins are 13 games behind the Sox.

Trade rumors continue to swirl around the White Sox, and it's getting to be too much to keep up with, so here's a quick run down of some stories regarding the White Sox:

• The White Sox are believed to be a suitor for Seattle's Jarrod Washburn.
• Don't expect to see the Red Sox and White Sox make a trade involving Juan Uribe.
• The White Sox are making a push for Justin Duchscherer, but an asking price of Josh Fields and Aaron Poreda is way too high.
• Peter Gammons says the White Sox are also looking seriously at Huston Street.
• Finally, the big deal that was being rumored was a deal with the Dodgers in which the Sox would acquire a pitcher like Derek Lowe in exchange for Orlando Cabrera.
  
• Don't get excited/worried about seeing Damaso Marte return to the South Side. Pittsburgh's LOOGY and Xavier Nady were dealt to the Yankees (I'm sure he won't wilt under the pressure).

Despite Kenny Williams' warning that the Sox might be quiet this deadline, they've been very active behind the scenes, but so far nothing to really report. I guess the Sox cut Esteban Loaiza, but that's not really shocking after watching him pitch a few weeks ago with nothing on any of his pitches.

Sox drop 2 straight to Kansas City, Dye OK... for now, and plenty of roster moves

Yikes.

Two straight losses to the Royals and suddenly a happy-go-lucky weekend when baseball is back has turned into the day before the apocalypse.

In a tight division race that got a little tighter this weekend, the Sox could ill afford to lose a game to the Royals (the fucking Royals!), but to lose the series is completely unacceptable. Did I mention these games were at U.S. Cellular Field, were the Sox had taken something in the range of 60 of the last 70 against Kansas City, and had a 32-13 record (winning percentage .711... I wonder if they can bleed any sponsorship money out of that, too) during the first half of the season?

What makes these losses particularly painful is that the Sox's pitching staff, the rock that carried this team through a prolonged offensive slump early in the year, looked particularly bad. The fucking Royals! A team averaging less runs per game than anybody in the American League except for fellow cellar-dwellers Toronto and Seattle tagged the Sox for 9 runs yesterday and 8 today.

Gavin Floyd took the loss yesterday but he didn't look particularly bad but fell victim of a disease many White Sox pitchers know, the medical term being lackofrunsupportitis. Mark Buehrle has battled with this terrible affliction for the better part of the last few years and John Danks has developed it since being traded from Texas. Symptoms include, but are not limited to, a noticeable lack of wins despite a healthy ERA and going Ed Farmer Crazy. It's a terrible, terrible illness that needs your support to make donations, please call 1-800-SCOR-MOR.

Saturday's Recaps: B-R Box Score/Play-by-Play | Tribune | Sun-Times | MLB.com | Soxmachine.com

Of course, when the Sox pound out 7 runs in support of Danks, he has to go and pitch like crap. He gave up 6 runs in 4 innings on 9 hits and a pair of walks, ballooning his ERA to 3.03 (that's up almost 1/2 run from where it was at the start of today's game). Give credit to D.J. Carrasco, who was recently called back up from Charlotte (we'll talk about that later), who pitched well in extended relief of Danks, kept the Sox in the game, and was even in line for the win when he departed after the 7th inning (which would have been his first win in the Majors since July 24, 2005). Instead, it was all undone by a bullpen which looked very shaky both today and yesterday. Matt Thornton allowed a 2-out, 2-run double to Esteban German that put the Royals up 8-7, though Octavio Dotel was responsible for one of those runs, as he got the first 2 outs of the inning but hit Jose Guillen with a pitch. Thornton was called to pitch to Ross Gload for the lefty-lefty matchup (because we should all be intimidated by the bat of Ross Gload), but he blew that deal by walking Gload and without Scott Linebrink (who was out again... we'll talk about that a little further down), or let Bobby Jenks go for the 4-out save, Thornton was allowed to pitch to German who finished the day 3-3 with 2 doubles, a walk, run, and 2 RBI.

Sunday's Recaps: BR Box Score/Play-by-Play | Tribune | Sun-Times | MLB.com | Soxmachine.com

So where do we stand right now, Sox fans? I think Joe Cowley put it best:

Jose Contreras now on the DL, Gavin Floyd shaky and the Twins closing... It might be time for Kenny "Dee" Williams to do what he does best.

Speaking of that, yes, Jose Contreras was placed on the 15-Day Disabled List before Sunday's loss, and recalled DJ Carrasco from Charlotte. That would explain how Carrasco was able to to pitch and nearly win today's game despite being optioned to Charlotte about a week ago. And, if you recall, at the time the Sox were debating whether to send Carrasco or Adam Russell back to AAA, and ultimately decided on Russell. Well, here we are a week later and Carrasco is back in Chicago while Russell was sent back to Charlotte today and recalled starter, former Michigan backup quarterback, and future Olympian Clayton Richard was called up.

Around the Central, the Twins finally lost, dropping their series finale with Texas, 1-0, to remain ½ game behind the Sox. They'll pack their bags for New York for a three-game series with the Yankees that starts tomorrow. The Tigers beat Baltimore today, 5-1 and move to .500 and 6½ games of the division lead. They're in Kansas City for three games starting tomorrow. Cleveland beat Seattle for the 2nd straight game and are 12 games behind the White Sox.

And in even more health-related news, Jermaine Dye was helped off the field today, after being drilled by Horacio Ramirez, a once promising pitcher for the Braves earlier this decade whose career has fizzled to the point that he's throwing out of Kansas City's bullpen. Dye was hit in the knee and was in obvious pain, but thankfully X-Rays were negative and Dye is listed as day-to-day. Ozzie said he doesn't expect Dye back for a few days. Hopefully the worst that will come of all this is I'll have to listen to Ed Farmer's corny "aren't we all day-to-day?" joke for the better part of this upcoming week, but JD should be fine. The Sox are blessed with a deep and versatile outfield so expect to see Nick Swisher at one of the corners and a platoon of Brian Anderson and DeWayne Wise in center.

And in even further health-related news, you may have noticed Scott Linebrink hasn't pitched in a while. Linebrink has been suffering from what he's calling arm fatigue and tendonitis. Though Ozzie and the Sox were hopeful he'd be ready to go again this weekend, its obvious he's still not there, as he would have obviously faced the right-handed Esteban German in the 8th inning after Matt Thornton walked lefty Ross Gload to put the go-ahead run on base. I don't know when Linebrink is expected to return, but I'll pass it along when I find out. If you must blame someone for Linebrink's continued absence, you may try the Tribune's Dave van Dyck who published this report on Scott's medical woes and the cures he's found in Eastern medication.

Very suddenly, one of the Sox's strengths in their good first-half run, their health, has crept up as a very large question mark. Though Bobby Jenks pitched a perfect 9th (and was reportedly throwing the ball great and in the upper-90's by Steve Stone), suddenly a starter is on the Disabled List, the Sox's primetime setup man hasn't pitched in a few weeks, and their All-Star caliber right fielder is being headhunted by prospects-turned-Royals.

Reportedly, the White Sox are looking for more bullpen help. The Sox have been linked to both Huston Street of the Oakland A's and former Sox farmhand Jon Rauch, now of the Washington Nationals. Hard to tell right now if the Sox are more concerned with the health of Scott Linebrink than they're letting on or if the general bullpen anti-productivity as of late is getting to Williams and the Sox brass.

Finally, Pablo Ozuna has been signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Good luck, Pablo.