Ok, so I'm 4 heavy Jack-n-Cokes into this (and a celebratory beer slam that I may or may not have spilled all over my face). Needless to say there was no running diary of the Sox game tonight as I couldn't sit down long enough to not spill a drink on my face, let alone type a running diary.
Anyway, I need to get this out first......
WOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
FUCK YOU TWINS!! GOOO SOX GOOO!!!
Ok, that feels better. My hatred for the Cubs is well-known, (unless you don't know me and in that case why are you reading my shit), and as much as I hate those fuckers about 7 miles north of the good team, I'm convinced I hate the Twins at least 3x as much. (Could be more, I'm no mathematician) So seeing them celebrate a division championship on US Cellular Field would have been enough for me to hang myself. Words cannot describe how big this win was for me.
Now let's get into the action.
It was a 1-0 game, so this shouldn't take long.
I don't want to say John Danks is a god, but he was god-like. 8 innings. 2 hits. Most importantly, ZERO runs. I knew this kid was going to be a good one. But I didn't think he'd be this good this soon. He's everything that Javy Vazquez isn't. That makes me even more happy.
And Mr. Incredible (have you seen a side by side pic of Thome and Incredible) hit a Moon-shot. If I had made it to the game (long story, I thought I was gonna get a ticket twice and blew it) that probably woulda hit me in the head. My dad and I love that Concession stand as we can get a Heinekin for 50 cents more than a MGD. (worth the upgrade when paying $6+ a beer) A couple of thoughts about the bomb though.
Thought #1, As much as I hate Hawk and DJ, and least when there's a moonshot like that I know its gone immediately. These TBS announcers fucked with my emotions by not letting me know it was gone til it cleared the fence by about 90 feet. That's just not nice. Don't they know I'm on the verge of a heart-ache (and half-drunk) and can't handle shit like that?
Thought #2, that's Thome's 2nd HR that hit the concourse this year that was a huge homer. The other was a walk-off against the Angels. There might not have even been another homer by anyone to hit the concourse b/c that's an incredible bomb. (I haven't researched this so I don't know for sure) To do this twice, with super-meaningful homeruns is absolutely unthinkable. If I had a vote he just got himself into the hall of fame on his first try.
Speaking of Hall of Fame. Future first ballot HOFer Ken Griffey Jr showed the defense again tonight for the first time in years. He kept the only Twins threat off the board with that gun to home to get some n0-name Twins fuck out. Griffey was always one of my child-hood favorites and to see him come up big in the field tonight was great. (I also saw his first Sox homer in person this year) He's provided some nice memories in that #17 jersey, even if its for less than half a season. I won't forget this.
And finally... Big Bad Bobby Jenks brought it in the 9th. I havent seen that 99 mph fastball since the '05 World Series. I know adrenaline is huge in closers, and maybe he doesn't get his juiced til the postseason. But I'm feeling good b/c if the Sox can get a 9th inning lead, they're gonna win.
Luckily, I've got a day off to recoup before stressing over Thursday's game (and probably swearing while listening on the radio at work). My liver needs this. Go Sox!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Running Diary of the White Sox Game 9/23/08
Sox Game Running Diary 9/23/08
With the season winding down, and DJ being replaced in the booth next year by Steve Stone (who actually knows what he’s talking about), and the battle for the Central Division coming down to these 3 games, I figure there’s no time like the present to run my Bill Simmons-esque running diary.
7:01 Just flipped over to a little pregame from Hawk and DJ. First mistake of the game, DJ says Scott Baker’s ERA is under 3, when in fact it is 3.69 coming into today. This isn’t reassuring to me.
7:04 First commercials and I’m trying to decide where to set the over/under for Tyler Perry’s House of Pain, and the Miller Lite Dr. Cox commercials. I’m thinking about a million, and I’m taking the over.
7:08 Not sure on tonight’s beverage yet. I think I’ll be starting with a beer, may have to move into the hard stuff once the game gets going. Meanwhile, Hawk and DJ just finished talking about something that provided no real information.
7:10 Griffey is in the lineup tonight. I’m going to make him my Pick the Click before Hawk and DJ show me theirs. I’m hoping for a little “Little Big League” magic.
7:11 AJ gets a nice ovation of boos, as DJ tells me how much they love him here. I think he was being sarcastic, but you can never be quite sure.
7:14 Hawk is goin with Dewayne Wise, DJ is goin with Orlando Cabrera and the crew is backing me up with some Ken Griffey Jr. love.
7:16 Scott Baker resembles Cy Young in the first, setting the Sox down in order while striking out Pierzynski and Dye. Not exactly what I was hoping for.
7:20 Vazquez strikes out Denard Span to start the game. That’s pretty amazing. Even more amazing though is that through 4 outs, Hawk and DJ have complimented the umpiring so far.
7:22 Apparently, Joe Mauer invented hitting. I wouldn’t have guessed that. “The Inventor” grounds out to Alexi Ramirez to end an impressive inning for Vazquez.
7:26 Thome is now 3-15 against Baker after a lead-off single. Now only 3 more singles, or a homer and we’ll have a run.
7:30 Konerko hit’s a perfect “duck fart” broken bat single and somehow Thome gets to third. Griffey is up with no one out. I think I might wet myself. (name that movie reference)
7:32 Hawk and DJ tell me how good Griffey was swinging in batting practice, and that they expect he’ll have a big series playing in a dome. Griffey hits into a run scoring double play to prove that they are morons. At least the Sox lead 1-0. Alexi follows it up with a strikeout and this half inning is over.
7:37 Four straight balls to Morneau to start the inning. And Sox-killer Kubel and his 503 career homers against us is up now.
7:40 It’s probably a good thing Minnesota plays in a dome, as Kubel launches a homer that could have taken down small aircraft.
7:41 Base hit by Delmon Young and I may not make it through this game. After all reruns of the office are on TBS on Tuesdays.
7:47 So after a 1-out first and third situation, we get lucky to get Young in a run-down to get an out, but we botch it and the runners move to 2nd and 3rd. Sox could really use an out or this game could be over in the second inning. Hawk confirms that this a big out after I finish typing that.
7:48 Sox get out of it, but trail 2-1. C’mon offense, we need you.
7:52 Lance Broadway is already warming up in the Sox bullpen. I guess Javy isn’t responding well to Guillen calling him out: [link here: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3602173] Meanwhile, Wise pops up to start the inning.
7:55 Uribe somehow manages a single, but Cabrera makes a quick second out. AJ steps up to another louder ovation of boos (some of the crowd arrived late).
8:00 After a long at-bat, AJ finally breaks his bat and grounds out to end the inning.
8:04 Dr. Jekyl is back as Javy makes quick work of Alexi Casilla (strikeout) and The Inventor (groundout).
8:06 Broken bat grounder by Justin “MVP” Morneau ends the 3rd. I don’t understand why Sox fans cant ever get into the MVP chants. I was trying to start it for Quentin back in early August and no one cared. It’s tragic.
8:13 Three broken bats, 3 outs, boring half-inning. Plus Hawk and DJ didn’t even set me up for a joke.
8:16 Mr. Hyde is back as Kubel leads off with a triple just passed a diving Jr. We may need a doctor as I’m sure he pulled a hamstring or broke something on that effort. Delmon Young flares a double just out of Dye’s reach, so I’m switching to a hard drink.
8:21 While making myself a drink some guy I’ve never heard of reached first on a suicide squeeze. Evidently I can’t pour a drink fast enough.
8:26 A stolen base, followed by another bloop single and its 5-1, Twins. I’m not sure why Javy is still on the mound if he almost didn’t come out for the 3rd. Still only 1 out.
8:30 Another stolen base has me wondering why I decided to put myself through this. On the bright side, the Office starts at 9.
8:33 Vazquez’s 78th pitch ends the 4th inning finally. I think I might strangle Ozzie if he comes out for the 5th.
8:37 Baker issues the “dreaded leadoff walk” to Griffey. I still contend it’s only dreaded when the Sox walk other teams, because its still going to take a triple or a homerun to score a run.
8:38 Fantastic play by someone at third on an Alexi Ramirez rocket, but he can’t make a throw anywhere, so maybe the Sox have something cookin after all. As for me, I’m hoping to be drunk before the inning is over.
8:40 Wise lines out to Young in left, giving us our first “Dag gommit” from Hawk.
8:45 A surprisingly good at bat by Jaun Uribe, (still an out, but a good at bat for him needs to be noted) followed by a Cabrera single has the bases loaded for fan favorite AJ. He’s looked pretty bad so far as the Twins have been jamming him inside. Let’s see if he can snap out of it.
8:47 A mound visit by Minnesota’s pitching coach must have said “throw a strike” as the first pitch is over the center of the plate, and Pierzynski looked hopeless on the second pitch. According to Hawk and DJ, the Twins are catching us at the right time b/c we’re scuffling. Less than a month ago the Twins were in first, not 2 ½ games back, so I’m gonna assume we’re catching them at the right time too. Meanwhile Pierzynski grounds out and we’re in big trouble.
8:52 Clayton Richard is in now, but the results are the same. Lead off single for the Inventor and here we go again. Morneau pummels the next pitch for a double and I’m heading for a refill.
8:57 7-1 now after a broken bat sac fly. I’m too worn out for comments.
9:00 Good news for the Sox. Well their fans at least. The Office is a good one. “The Health Care” Michael promises a surprise to distract the troops from Dwight’s dictorial choosing of a cut-rate health care plan.
9:01 I flipped back to the Sox to realize that Dye has already made an out. Back to the Office I go.
9:04 The inning is over and I probably wont be back (except commercial breaks)
9:16 A commercial break allows me to see it’s still 7-1 in the top of the 7th with 2 outs. Something interesting must have happened though, b/c Hawk and DJ were talking about the science of sounds.
9:17 Meanwhile back on the Office, Dwight has taken away the health care, b/c Pam is suffering from a killer robot epidemic. And someone has Count Choculitis. And Jim locked Dwight in his “workspace” This is much better than the Sox.
9:25 Status update shows its now 9-1. I’m officially done with this diary. If by some chance the Sox get their magic number down to one I might try it again, but I’m done for tonight and probably the rest of this series.
With the season winding down, and DJ being replaced in the booth next year by Steve Stone (who actually knows what he’s talking about), and the battle for the Central Division coming down to these 3 games, I figure there’s no time like the present to run my Bill Simmons-esque running diary.
7:01 Just flipped over to a little pregame from Hawk and DJ. First mistake of the game, DJ says Scott Baker’s ERA is under 3, when in fact it is 3.69 coming into today. This isn’t reassuring to me.
7:04 First commercials and I’m trying to decide where to set the over/under for Tyler Perry’s House of Pain, and the Miller Lite Dr. Cox commercials. I’m thinking about a million, and I’m taking the over.
7:08 Not sure on tonight’s beverage yet. I think I’ll be starting with a beer, may have to move into the hard stuff once the game gets going. Meanwhile, Hawk and DJ just finished talking about something that provided no real information.
7:10 Griffey is in the lineup tonight. I’m going to make him my Pick the Click before Hawk and DJ show me theirs. I’m hoping for a little “Little Big League” magic.
7:11 AJ gets a nice ovation of boos, as DJ tells me how much they love him here. I think he was being sarcastic, but you can never be quite sure.
7:14 Hawk is goin with Dewayne Wise, DJ is goin with Orlando Cabrera and the crew is backing me up with some Ken Griffey Jr. love.
7:16 Scott Baker resembles Cy Young in the first, setting the Sox down in order while striking out Pierzynski and Dye. Not exactly what I was hoping for.
7:20 Vazquez strikes out Denard Span to start the game. That’s pretty amazing. Even more amazing though is that through 4 outs, Hawk and DJ have complimented the umpiring so far.
7:22 Apparently, Joe Mauer invented hitting. I wouldn’t have guessed that. “The Inventor” grounds out to Alexi Ramirez to end an impressive inning for Vazquez.
7:26 Thome is now 3-15 against Baker after a lead-off single. Now only 3 more singles, or a homer and we’ll have a run.
7:30 Konerko hit’s a perfect “duck fart” broken bat single and somehow Thome gets to third. Griffey is up with no one out. I think I might wet myself. (name that movie reference)
7:32 Hawk and DJ tell me how good Griffey was swinging in batting practice, and that they expect he’ll have a big series playing in a dome. Griffey hits into a run scoring double play to prove that they are morons. At least the Sox lead 1-0. Alexi follows it up with a strikeout and this half inning is over.
7:37 Four straight balls to Morneau to start the inning. And Sox-killer Kubel and his 503 career homers against us is up now.
7:40 It’s probably a good thing Minnesota plays in a dome, as Kubel launches a homer that could have taken down small aircraft.
7:41 Base hit by Delmon Young and I may not make it through this game. After all reruns of the office are on TBS on Tuesdays.
7:47 So after a 1-out first and third situation, we get lucky to get Young in a run-down to get an out, but we botch it and the runners move to 2nd and 3rd. Sox could really use an out or this game could be over in the second inning. Hawk confirms that this a big out after I finish typing that.
7:48 Sox get out of it, but trail 2-1. C’mon offense, we need you.
7:52 Lance Broadway is already warming up in the Sox bullpen. I guess Javy isn’t responding well to Guillen calling him out: [link here: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3602173] Meanwhile, Wise pops up to start the inning.
7:55 Uribe somehow manages a single, but Cabrera makes a quick second out. AJ steps up to another louder ovation of boos (some of the crowd arrived late).
8:00 After a long at-bat, AJ finally breaks his bat and grounds out to end the inning.
8:04 Dr. Jekyl is back as Javy makes quick work of Alexi Casilla (strikeout) and The Inventor (groundout).
8:06 Broken bat grounder by Justin “MVP” Morneau ends the 3rd. I don’t understand why Sox fans cant ever get into the MVP chants. I was trying to start it for Quentin back in early August and no one cared. It’s tragic.
8:13 Three broken bats, 3 outs, boring half-inning. Plus Hawk and DJ didn’t even set me up for a joke.
8:16 Mr. Hyde is back as Kubel leads off with a triple just passed a diving Jr. We may need a doctor as I’m sure he pulled a hamstring or broke something on that effort. Delmon Young flares a double just out of Dye’s reach, so I’m switching to a hard drink.
8:21 While making myself a drink some guy I’ve never heard of reached first on a suicide squeeze. Evidently I can’t pour a drink fast enough.
8:26 A stolen base, followed by another bloop single and its 5-1, Twins. I’m not sure why Javy is still on the mound if he almost didn’t come out for the 3rd. Still only 1 out.
8:30 Another stolen base has me wondering why I decided to put myself through this. On the bright side, the Office starts at 9.
8:33 Vazquez’s 78th pitch ends the 4th inning finally. I think I might strangle Ozzie if he comes out for the 5th.
8:37 Baker issues the “dreaded leadoff walk” to Griffey. I still contend it’s only dreaded when the Sox walk other teams, because its still going to take a triple or a homerun to score a run.
8:38 Fantastic play by someone at third on an Alexi Ramirez rocket, but he can’t make a throw anywhere, so maybe the Sox have something cookin after all. As for me, I’m hoping to be drunk before the inning is over.
8:40 Wise lines out to Young in left, giving us our first “Dag gommit” from Hawk.
8:45 A surprisingly good at bat by Jaun Uribe, (still an out, but a good at bat for him needs to be noted) followed by a Cabrera single has the bases loaded for fan favorite AJ. He’s looked pretty bad so far as the Twins have been jamming him inside. Let’s see if he can snap out of it.
8:47 A mound visit by Minnesota’s pitching coach must have said “throw a strike” as the first pitch is over the center of the plate, and Pierzynski looked hopeless on the second pitch. According to Hawk and DJ, the Twins are catching us at the right time b/c we’re scuffling. Less than a month ago the Twins were in first, not 2 ½ games back, so I’m gonna assume we’re catching them at the right time too. Meanwhile Pierzynski grounds out and we’re in big trouble.
8:52 Clayton Richard is in now, but the results are the same. Lead off single for the Inventor and here we go again. Morneau pummels the next pitch for a double and I’m heading for a refill.
8:57 7-1 now after a broken bat sac fly. I’m too worn out for comments.
9:00 Good news for the Sox. Well their fans at least. The Office is a good one. “The Health Care” Michael promises a surprise to distract the troops from Dwight’s dictorial choosing of a cut-rate health care plan.
9:01 I flipped back to the Sox to realize that Dye has already made an out. Back to the Office I go.
9:04 The inning is over and I probably wont be back (except commercial breaks)
9:16 A commercial break allows me to see it’s still 7-1 in the top of the 7th with 2 outs. Something interesting must have happened though, b/c Hawk and DJ were talking about the science of sounds.
9:17 Meanwhile back on the Office, Dwight has taken away the health care, b/c Pam is suffering from a killer robot epidemic. And someone has Count Choculitis. And Jim locked Dwight in his “workspace” This is much better than the Sox.
9:25 Status update shows its now 9-1. I’m officially done with this diary. If by some chance the Sox get their magic number down to one I might try it again, but I’m done for tonight and probably the rest of this series.
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