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Sweep!

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* It’s always nice to sweep the Yankees and the Pale Hose finished off New York last night in fine fashion. The Sox are two games ahead of Detroit in the AL Central. Zorn, a Tigers fan, thinks the Sox are for real…

After they lost three out of four to the Red Sox in mid July and were then swept by my boyhood (and still favorite) team the Tigers to fall from first place, I figured they were all but done for the season.

But they won their next five games — and 17 of the 27 games — after that bad patch (including two come-from-behind wins over the Yankees so far this week) and now hold a two-game lead over the Tigers. The pitching and hitting both seem to be there, and though I won’t root for them I certainly wouldn’t bet against them.

They have seven games left against the Tigers — including three away games over Labor Day weekend and four home games in mid September — that will likely decide the race

I agree.

Your thoughts?

* Also, Gov. Pat Quinn was apparently heckled at Tuesday night’s game…

That was Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his friend, Michael Sacks, who heads World Business Chicago, hanging out at the White Sox game Tuesday evening against the New York Yankees. […]

Mr. Emanuel signed some autographs, and the governor drew a crowd wanting him to wish him well and pose for cell-phone photos. The buzz almost drowned out the few hecklers who were likely upset over the state’s fiscal mess.

AFSCME strikes again?

Heh.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 9:55 am

Comments

Zorn is a Tigers fan? I thought he was a Cubs fan, maybe now that the Cubs no longer own the Cubune his true colors show.

I heckled Quinn a few weeks ago at Comiskey 2 when I saw him in our section, I don’t think he heard me though.

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:06 am
This Sox - Tigers battle will go down to the wire, they’ve been a game or two apart the whole season. Robin Ventura is manager of the year regardless of what happens. The 2nd place team will likely make the wild card playoff, but that’s not near as fun as winning the division. Go Sox.

Comment by Stooges Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:06 am
Im a Cubs fan who was a Sox fan in my younger years. Not really sure where i went off the track. I love Robin Venture, and I was not happy with the way his career ended with the Sox. I was happy that they gave him a chance, but feared he was being set up with a failing team for his first season as a skipper. I agree — these Sox are for real. There are a lot of reasons for this, but I give a whole lot of credit to Robin’s love of the game and the purity with which he approaches it. Go Sox!

Comment by anon Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:08 am
I think the AFSCME public antics may backfire on the union. They are in continuous negotiation with Quinn over their new contract and are sounding out their members about possibly striking.

Quinn make take them up on their bluff and welcome a public showdown as a part of his “grassroots” strategy.

AFSCME is playing with fire in goading thin-skinned Quinn who is capable of surprising reactions.

Comment by Cassiopeia Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:09 am
I love all of rahm’s rich, investment banker friends. the fact that this city voted him in as mayor was comical. Carol Mosley braun ought to be locked up for delivering the election to him

Comment by dang Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:10 am
I’m delighted to see the Sox doing so well (though I truly hate the term “Pale Hose”). Just wish the crowds would show up for them.

Comment by LincolnLounger Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:11 am
Congrats to the Sox for winning the World Series this year….oh they didn’t …. all they did was sweep a high profile team in August. Their fans and the media are acting as if they have been crowned the Champs. If you Sox fans want to see how to handle being a winner just look at #2 on the Yankees. Jeter is the classiest guy in baseball.

Comment by Cardinal fan Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:17 am
So impressed with Youkilis.

Plays like he loves the game. Demanding on himself. Leads by example. Gets his revenge at the plate.

Reminds me of another great trade from Boston — Carlton Fisk.

Kudos to Kenny, again. And to Reinsdorf, again.

Comment by walkinfool Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:19 am
Cardinal fan, bitter much?

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:20 am
Rich:

At least us Cardinal fans know what division our team is in. (Re-read your headline)

Comment by BIG R.Ph Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:24 am
If you haven’t tuned in Chris Sale yet, get to the park or make appointment TV. The kid is having a season for the ages.

Last night, that stringbean looked like Steve Carlton in his prime, mowing down an Evil Empire Lumber Company loaded with Silver Slugger Awards, batting champs, home-run kings, perennial MVP candidates and at least two future Hall of Famers.

7.2 innings, three hits, one run, one earned run, one walk, 15Ks. That’s some pretty tall cotton.

He struck out Ichiro three times, one of the hardest batters to strike out in MLB history.

Thank you, Kenny Williams, for stopping Coop from moving Sale to the bullpen.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:25 am
===At least us Cardinal fans know what division our team is in. ===

LOL

That’s what I get for posting before consuming sufficient amounts of caffeine. Thanks!

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:32 am
Excuse me, Sale had 13Ks last night, not 15. He’s 15-4. Big numbers.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:34 am
Is baseball still going on?

Cubs have moved on to the Bears, so I appreciate the baseball update!

(I miss baseball…)

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:35 am
‘Cubs fans’ …sorry

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:35 am
==Thank you, Kenny Williams==
Executive of the year.

Comment by Robert Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:39 am
Cassie - There is no way the vast membership of AFSCME will vote to strike. Unless, of course, Quinn succeeds in stalemating the new contract over a 10% cut in pay along with stiff increases in retirement and health care contributions. When you take away the ability of a person to take care of their family, the rank and file will strike.

Comment by lincolnlover Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:45 am
@ Oswego Willy 10:35 am, yes, White Sox fans say that all the time, Cubs fans sorry.

oh the joy of sweeping the Yankees. the 1950s were a good time for the Sox, park filled when Wrigley was upper deck sleeping, but a better time for the Yankees. so my earliest memories of the Sox included hating the Yankees. That Yankee hate included a love of Carl Yastremski, the best stance until……YOUK! ah, the slam on Tuesday. ah, the Sale long arm and long leg try and hit this pitching style.

pretty interesting on Baseball Tonight was the analysis of Ventura as the new desired managerial example. while one could point to Girardi as a sort of that….and the Cubs should have made HIM manager long ago….Robin is baseball’s surprise leader. Comment from one of the talking heads was “Jason Varitek, better sit by your phone.” Lucky for us the Red Sox made a big mistake with Valentine and Youk stars for the first Sox!

Comment by amalia Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 10:47 am
Go go Sox. Good for them for having a good year. Quinn wasn’t the only one who got heckled. Apparently Joe Girardi got into it with a Sox fan too, although it was clear if it was a member of the Ligue family.

Sweeping the Yankees is always huge. First time the Sox have done it at home in 21 years. Too bad it comes on the heels of getting pants’d by the Royals. Ouch.

And what exactly does it take for Sox fans to actually go to a ballgame? They get a premier team, they’re in a great pennant race, and yet good seats are still available.

From ESPN Chicago.com:

“The White Sox drew 27,561 for Monday’s game and 24,247 on Tuesday. With a chance for the first home sweep over the Yankees in 21 years, the Sox drew 26,042 Wednesday for a series average of 26,319.”

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/white-sox/post/_/id/11735/even-with-yanks-in-town-soxs-attendance-low

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 11:07 am
Sorry, it WASN’T clear if it was one of the Ligues.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 11:08 am
I think there are more former Sox fans out here than Reinsdorf realizes. My problem with the MLB is Bud Selig. He’s ruined the game for me and I won’t be back. Which I said last time, and the the Sox won the World Series, which helped. But this time I mean it.

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 12:51 pm
Another great game by Cy Youn-, I mean Chris Sale. I loved the Beckham defensive play late in the game. What a year Rios is having. Wise has new life and is doing great filling in, and I’ll never forget his catch that saved Buehrle’s perfect game. Kenny Williams has done a fantastic job. This team should be vying for the playoffs and possibly the World Series.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 12:59 pm
I thought Sacks was at Grosvenor Capital…nice that the 1%ers can still afford to go to a baseball game.

@lincolnlover: wanna bet on your assertion? The union members at my agency are fed up with being treated like the scum of the earth responsible for the pension mess. Maybe folks need to see that state employees are integral to a decent quality of life in IL. Stay tuned.

Comment by Loop Lady Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 1:30 pm
my Brewers swept the Cubs too. Looking forward to doing it again next week

Comment by matty Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 1:34 pm
Dear Cardinal fan:

From one Redbird fan to another: Please stop typing. You’re an embarrassment to Redbird Nation. Lecturing folks about ‘Classy”?

Last time I checked, St. Louis still had more World Championship titles than any team except the Yankees. Next time you are feeling bitter, depressed or jealous, remind yourself that.

The White Sox are leading their division. That is something to be proud of. They’re a good ball club, a good bunch of guys, and their fans are far from the most obnoxious in baseball.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 2:09 pm
The Mayor was also at Mondays game with a daughter, left at end of 7th inning.

Comment by Stevie Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 2:19 pm
Sorry got my day mixed up, that was also Tuesdays game.

Comment by Stevie Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 2:20 pm
Texas Rangers now have the best record in the American League. Just sayin’

Comment by Doug Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 3:02 pm
I don’t have a great feeling about the Sox chances this year. Detroit seems to have their number. But as noted above, watching Chris Sale pitch has been a joy this year. The resurgence of Rios to a peak level has also been great fun to watch. Addison Reed’s closing numbers are among the best in the league, although he seems to young for the job.

A good baseball season is one where you check the standings every day, counting the remaining games, figuring your chances for the postseason. Even one that ends in disappointment like the 2000 season, was engaging and involving every day. The chase ended earlier in 1972 and 1977 but into August each was full of possibility. (For stat heads: Last day in first place 1972 August 28, 1977 August 15.)

Comment by DuPage Dave Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 3:49 pm
===Detroit seems to have their number. ===

Well, if the rumor mill is right, then at least one very major Detroit player could be gone for a while.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 3:50 pm
Just loving it! Up by 2 games over the Tigers.

The other team in town 28 games out of first, so sorry Season over…., and the Sox have just begun!

Comment by 3rd Generation Chicago Native Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 4:41 pm
Regarding the Sox inability to draw….it’s probably the worst uppppppppper deck in baseball. If you want to watch the game, you have to sit in the lower level and those seats aren’t cheap.

Lol. Bud Selig has actually a done a really good job, especially since the strike back in 1994. No play interruptions (NFL last year, NBA and NHL twice since then), year over year attendance increases, interleague, wildcards, new stadiums in almost every city.
OF course, he should have been harder against the union regarding steriods and PEDS (Bartolo) and please for the love of God instant replay!

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 6:55 pm
Sox winning something like 12 out of their last 13 one run games has a lot to do with it. Good teams find ways to win whether it’s Sale or a good bullpen or Youkilis finding something we thought he had lost.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 6:56 pm
Chris Sale is good. Real good. Maybe the best young pitcher the Sox have had in a half-century. And so much fun to watch.

Comment by Boone Logan Square Thursday, Aug 23, 12 @ 7:02 pm