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* I bought a couple of great seats for last night’s White Sox vs. Cardinals game. It was a perfect evening for baseball, and we witnessed a heckuva pitching duel.
The hardcore Cardinals fans in front of us politely tolerated my occasional whoops of joy, despite warnings from my friend to tone it down, especially when I less than politely derided those around us for giving their pitcher a standing ovation for striking out our pitcher. I mean, really. How hard is it to strike out Peavy?
The redbird boosters behind us were another story. Cardinals fans always claim that they have the best crowds in baseball. But the idiots behind us talked loudly about golf and took calls on their cell phones all night. Not good. We moved over a few seats to get away from them.
I saw a bunch of friends at the game as well, including one very good buddy from Chicago. We were wearing the white and black in an ocean of red, so it wasn’t hard to spot each other. We hugged and laughed and talked about old times. Then he went back to his seat and I resumed watching intently as the pitchers kept shutting down the other side. By the 9th, the Cardinals had managed just one run. The Sox couldn’t get on the board. Every time I thought we’d score, we wound up with the goose egg. I never lost faith, though. Our team has hitters. No way do we get blanked. And our pitchers can definitely handle them. We got this. Heck, the top of the order is up in the 9th. It’s all good, baby.
* But tragedy struck.
There we were, top of the 9th, one out, men on first and third, Paul Konerko at the bat. Sox were still trailing 1-0. Three balls and one strike to the big guy.
I’m figuring, hey, this is exactly what baseball is all about, man. We’ve got the best hitter in the Major Leagues up to bat and he’s got a hitter’s count, so I’m feeling really comfortable. Not nervous at all. At the very least, we’re going into extra innings. How perfect would that be?
The person I’m with is a Cardinals fan. Rabid, even. My friend is terribly nervous. I’m smiling. All is well. My friend can hardly watch.
And then Konerko hits into a double play.
Game over.
Cardinals win.
1-0.
Shut out.
My friend is jumping up and down with unadulterated joy. I’m literally in shock, slouched in my seat. How could this happen? All the way back to Springfield I have to listen to my friend crow about the game. I guess that’s only fair. I crowed pretty loudly after Tuesday night’s game.
* We stopped at a gas station on the way back to Springfield and there’s a guy wearing a Sox jersey just inside the door. I’m wearing a Sox shirt as well. The two of us stand there and look at each other for a long time with sad faces. And then we bond. His name is Tony. He also lives in Springfield. We talk about how good the pitching was. We talk about our team’s missed opportunities. Neither of us blames Konerko. He’s the best. How can you ever be angry at Paulie? He’s there for us, so we’re there for him. And, frankly, if the Sox hadn’t blown so many other opportunities, the game wouldn’t have been on Konerko’s shoulders.
There aren’t many Sox fans in this town. I wanted to buy a new hat for the game, but finding Sox paraphernalia in Downstate Illinois ain’t easy, man. There’s Cub and Cardinals stuff literally everywhere you go. But almost nothing for us Sox folk. I think about that as I leave the gas station and joke with my friend that Downstate Sox fans are kind of a cult.
* We’re going back to Busch Stadium tonight. We have to win. I made some rather, um, interesting bets on this series during a moment of chutzpah, so I really cannot lose.
Go Sox.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 12:22 pm
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Red: The color of desire!
Black: The color of despair!
May it turn around tonight.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 12:26 pm
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Play hard, Cubbies! I can’t wait for John Danks to return… I am dreading seeing Gavin Floyd pitch tonight. He and Humber have been downright awful.
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 12:26 pm
As a Cards fan, I actually own a Sox hat solely to wear for the Interleague series every year in Chicago with the Cubs. Go Cards!
Comment by Amuzing Myself Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 12:34 pm
@Rich: Pretty sure the fans were applauding Lynn for striking out the side after the lead off man made third. Big difference.
Comment by Peter Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 12:42 pm
this story repeats itself for me every game, except its usually over for us in the first inning, rather than the ninth. I’m a cubs fan.
Comment by anon Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 12:45 pm
as someone who backs a team that has won, you must learn to accept good with the bad. We sat around Sox fans Tues. nite as we awaited a call to a luxury box from a friend who turned off his phone. It was a decent game. Card’s bullpen had Tuesday penciled in as a “Day Off” so we lost.
Wednesday was better
Tonight should be all Red Birds! Never forget Cards/Sox at whatever their field in Chi is called;Cards were slaughtered and we think Edmunds got the first of his 200 concussions.
You should watched Cards post game show as announcers tried to convince themselves the bull pen was back even the game turned on 2 great DPs, slick running by Adam Dunn and well PK not doing much.
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 12:52 pm
Best thing I’ve read all day. Thanks! Go White Sox…pray for Gavin “Pink” Floyd. He’s due for a good game, isn’t he?
Comment by John Etheredge Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 1:03 pm
As I Cards fans, I would have said this even had the Sox won: One of the best games I’ve seen all season, and that at-bat with Paulie is what baseball is all about.
I’ve made my peace with IL play along time ago, but if MLB wants to put things right, Sox and Cards should play every year in one series.
And while I do think STL fans are among the best around, and that STL is a much, much better baseball town than is where I live now, Chicago, I still get annoyed at all the fans in STL who DO NOT WATCH THE GAME (mom, I’m looking at you; why must you use the game as an excuse to make a bunch of new friends and gab about everything but baseball?!!???!!!)
With the pitchers going out tonight, I fully expect a more AL type of score.
Comment by vise77 Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 1:06 pm
I was also at last night’s game. Let’s not forget to praise the pitching of the Cardinals’ Lynn (how many K’s did he record last night?) and the Cards’ defense up the middle late in the game (talk about robbing Dunn). Stellar.
Comment by It's All Good Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 1:06 pm
===talk about robbing Dunn===
Thanks for dredging up a particularly painful memory.
Ugh.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 1:10 pm
Cards have Westbrook pitching tonight. He’s not been consistent, so I’m really afraid that the Sox may have something to crow about tonight when it’s all said and done. Not that I would like to see this happen, I’m just saying….
Comment by Interested Observer Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 1:23 pm
As a Cardinals fan since childhood and a Sox fan by marriage… a 1-0 Lynn/Peavy duel was as good as I could ask for.
Comment by whetstone Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 1:27 pm
Go Sox–I’ll be there tonight as well, Rich. Going with my 2 boys and brother. Hope to see you.
Comment by Tom Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 1:33 pm
I’m with you Rich. Only difference is that the Cards are my 2nd favorite team after the Sox. Great couple of games but we need the rubber match tonight!
Comment by Stones Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 1:43 pm
The pitching was great but Rich - what about some of those defensive gems on the part of both teams. As a Cards fan I don’t watch the White Sox often. Konerko and have always bee solid but I think Beckham is pretty impressive at 2nd. You gotta admit that the Card fans give opposing players their due for great plays.
Comment by Kerfuffle Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 2:14 pm
Should read Koerko and Dunn have always been solid!
Comment by Kerfuffle Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 2:16 pm
The Cardinals have always been a powerhouse in the
inferior National League.The only League without a DH.So the American League always plays at a disavantage. In spite of this American League teams have a winnig percentage.I would expect the ST.Louis fans to be rude,after all they are from the boonies. Lets all pull for the White Sox to take this series.
Comment by mokenavince Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 2:20 pm
I’ll be there as well wearing my Sox cap!
Comment by David W. Aubrey Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 2:21 pm
Great game played by two good teams and won by the “Champs”
Comment by Magoo Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 2:27 pm
Cards BP dodged a bullet with the 1st and 3rd and one out in the ninth. That’s baseball. As Joaguin Adujar use to say” There is one word you can say to describe baseball “You never know.”
Comment by Reggaeman Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 2:39 pm
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.
Go Rangers!
Comment by Doug Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 3:03 pm
Rich -
“Tragedy?”
For either team, it beats losing to the Cubs.
YDD
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 3:07 pm
I think Floyd will pitch better tonight. What a joy it would be to draw those kinds of crowds at the Cell every night, oh well.
Comment by James the Intolerant Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 3:07 pm
catch me at home, Rich. I have some Sox cloth grocery bags that Meiiers was selling and I’ll give you one.
Give yourself time to look through my collection of every Topps White Sox baseball card since the modern age of baseball cards began in 1952.
Other Sox fans who would like to see my collection can reach me through Rich. I also have lots of duplicates, if you want to start your own collection.
Comment by Capitol View Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 3:25 pm
“TRAGEDY STRUCK” That says it all. The real tragedy will be losing the rubber game of the series. Tragedy always strikes twice in the same spot.
Comment by Jerome Horwitz Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 3:58 pm
The pendulum has swung. A lot of really good pitching around baseball this year.
Comment by mark walker Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 4:34 pm
On our way. Backed up construction around Litchfield.
Comment by SoxFans2 Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 5:01 pm
people talking through games, concerts….the worst! why are they there if they are just yakking on. much of a concert was ruined the other night because three yahoos could not just dance without talking at the same time. and they were in their 20s/30s which made me want to yell about them not getting the right upbringing about how to have fun with tunes. infuriating. losing makes me snappish.
Comment by amalia Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 5:39 pm
For once, I hope the Sox win. I’d hate to think Rich would lose any of those, um, interesting bets.
Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 5:49 pm
I don’t think Schock will run for governor. I think he likes the D.C. life.
When you’re in the majority in the House, you’re treated like a king and funders throw money at you. And you don’t have to do anything, if you don’t want to.
A governor’s job is one g-d thing after another with lots of heavy lifting.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 9:36 pm
“go crazy folks”
cards 5, rich’s boys 3
Comment by Matt jones Thursday, Jun 14, 12 @ 9:56 pm
I predicted 2 of 3 by the Cards. Great pitching Wed night, indeed. The bullpen came alive again. Freese a hero tonight.
I heard Pat Quinn on w/John Rooney on KMOX. I take it Rooney was a W Sox broadcaster and knew Quinn a long time. Quinn was promoting Operation Homefront to help returning veterans. He was on in the 4th inning. Rooney had to interrupt him in the top as the Cards got the W Sox out 1,2,3 quickly. It sounded like Quinn helped call a couple of pitches for Rooney. I like Rooney. He was great with (”Froshhhty Mug of BUSSCCHHHHHH”) Mike Shannon last year in the play offs and series.
Comment by Southern Peggy R Friday, Jun 15, 12 @ 12:22 am
Interleague Play - Bah
Started in 1997 and was worst thing to happen to baseball since the Left Coast jump began in 1957. What will 2037 bring ?
Comment by x ace Friday, Jun 15, 12 @ 8:41 am
- I made some rather, um, interesting bets on this series during a moment of chutzpah, so I really cannot lose. -
Rich in a Cardinal red dress?
Comment by Bluefish Friday, Jun 15, 12 @ 9:21 am
Waiting For An Update
Cards win 2 out of 3.
Team from the “boonies” beat team from the “big city”
Rich drove down to see.
Must have stayed up too late, and now he’s feeling s—–.
Comment by Blago's Hare Friday, Jun 15, 12 @ 9:30 am
I was pleasantly surprised with the Gov. He knew his baseball. He kinda forgot what he was there to promote and got into commenting on the game. He added some nice color comments about the Sox and he was calling the pitches thrown. Rooney got him back on track on the Veterans thing but Gov did a nice job calling the game
Comment by Reggaeman Friday, Jun 15, 12 @ 9:49 am