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Friday White Sox blogging

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White Sox ace closer Shingo Takatsu has been getting a little flak lately from some of the talk radio guys who think that he won’t be able to repeat his fantastic performance from last year. He’s been through the league twice now, and batters, they say, are figuring him out.

Maybe, but I love the guy. And it’s always fun when he takes the field. A loud and sustained “gong” is played over the PA system as soon as his feet touch the playing surface. Last year, the Sox took the cheesy route by running footage of a Godzilla fight on the diamond screen. Whatever. It was still fun.

He didn’t do too well on Tuesday night, when I was at the park. But Ozzie seems to have confidence in him. That’s good enough for me.

Closer Shingo Takatsu repaid the faith shown in him by manager Ozzie Guillen by pitching a scoreless ninth inning as the Chicago White Sox edged the Detroit Tigers 4-3 on Thursday.

In Miami, Kazuo Matsui went 1-for-3 and recorded his first hit in 11 at-bats as the New York Mets spanked the Florida Marlins 10-1. In Toronto, Hideki Matsui drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth but went hitless in three at-bats in the New York Yankees’ 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. In Seattle, Ichiro also saw his average drop to .375 after a 1-for-4 outing in the Seattle Mariners’ 3-0 loss to the Oakland Athletics.

Go Sox.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 22, 05 @ 11:45 am

Comments

It looks like you’ve been bitten by that perennial “GoSox” bug, Mr. Miller.

The Sox always look so promising in April, May and June…but the day after the All-Star Break ends, their season goes to hell in a handbasket!

Best of luck…just don’t get too excited just yet.

Comment by Tom DeLay's Mom Friday, Apr 22, 05 @ 12:05 pm
Leaving aside the Cubs as well, relievers, in general, are getting shelled, including vaunted closers like Eric Gagne. Some of it is age, as this crop of relievers are getting a tad gray; but some of it is improvement in scouting that helps the batters.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 22, 05 @ 12:22 pm
Rich:
The season has been great so far. I wish Ozzie would stick to managing and leave the talking to someone else. See my new blog, chisoxblog.blogspot.com/ for more.

Comment by Sammy Esposito Friday, Apr 22, 05 @ 2:03 pm
Ah, hell, even Hawkins could close out the ninth against the Tigers.

The real story is the Ozzie-Ordonez smackdown. That is the funniest story that I’ve read in a long time.

Comment by FlakCat Friday, Apr 22, 05 @ 2:32 pm
If I were the Sox announcer, after every save Shingo got, I’d say:

domo arigato, Shingo Takatsu!

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 22, 05 @ 2:35 pm
My favorite part is when he gives up several runs and the Sox lose. Let’s have more of that.

Comment by Twins fan Friday, Apr 22, 05 @ 5:30 pm
Gee, I wonder who that was… lol

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 22, 05 @ 5:45 pm
I love Mr. Zero. How can you not enjoy a major league pitcher who’s out pitch is slower than the good stuff from a little leaguer?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 22, 05 @ 8:23 pm
Toms mom is a little weak on the facts. The recent pattern is poor starts with strong runs middle or late that cannot overcome the deficit. I agree it is very early, but lets at least keep it factual.

Comment by Anonymous Saturday, Apr 23, 05 @ 10:50 am
SHingo san is using his changeup as his out pitch so much that he may be tipping it to teams that see him ma lot. If you know a changeup is coming, it is nothing but a batting practice pitch.

Comment by Victor Saturday, Apr 23, 05 @ 1:21 pm