5 Red Sox, 3 White Sox

Hopefully with Bedard coming in this will be one of the last times we see Andrew Miller on the bump with Wake keeping his rotation spot.

It's not that Wake is even a better option than Miller, it's just Wake has the potential to go over 5.2 innings. Last night Miller went 5.2 innings, struck out 8 and gave up 10 hits.

Aceves pitched one inning, giving up a walk, to register the win with now a record of 1000-1. Daniel Bard went an 1.1, and Jonathan Papelbon closed her out for his 24th save of the year.

The offense came threw again in the 6th havng us get the 4-3 lead off of reliever Jesse Crain. Adrian, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Marco Scutaro all had multi hit games.

Tonight the Sox are going to welcome Ubaldo Jiminez in his debut.

Red Sox @ White Sox Preview

The old knuckleballer is on the hill again tonight, but as good as his 2-0 record seems over his last 3 starts, he hasn't been pitching all that well. he has a 6.50 ERA in that span while allowing 28 hits and receiving 23 runs of support in 18 innings. To make things even tougher on the Wake Chicago won 13 of the last 15 meetings with Boston.

Floyd is 5-0 with a 3.26 ERA in six career starts versus the Red Sox, and he's also been stellar in winning his last two outings. Yet, even with as well as he has been pitching one would have to think the he just hasn't run into an offense like the Red Sox.

Boston has been crushing the ball, and I don't think that will stop tonight. Pedroia homered Thursday to extend his hitting streak to 25 games, and is hitting .404 with nine homers during his streak (has been on base in 37 straight game). Add that to what Ellsbury/Ortiz/Gonzalez have been doing on a nightly basis and I just can't pick against the Sox.

Red Sox win 8-6
Player of the Game: Gonzalez
Game starts at 8:10pm

Breaking News: Blue Jays Trade For Edwin Jackson Then Trade Him To Cardinals (3 UPDATES)

"The Blue Jays acquired starter Edwin Jackson and third baseman Mark Teahen from the White Sox for reliever Jason Frasor and starter Zach Stewart, tweets Mark Gonzalez of the Chicago Tribune. The deal also includes a cash exchange of more than $1MM (MLBTradeRumors)."

Man, it seems like Jackson gets traded every year (5th time in his career). Unless the Blue Jays can resign Jackson this deal makes no sense to me. The Blue Jays are 11 games out of the playoffs right now and basically have no shot at making it. Although they didn't give up very much it seems odd, unless like I said they resign him. If they do (and I think they will) then I think this is a very nice trade for the Blue Jays that have a young nucleus to build around.

I also like this deal for the White Sox. They have been riding a 6 man rotation and there is really no need for that. Most likely they weren't going to resign Jackson in the offseason, so getting something for him is huge. Plus, Frasor is a very good reliever and that is something the White Sox have been needing all season. I know the White Sox's bullpen is ranked 3rd in the AL in ERA, but anyone who watches them know they have been needing some help out there.


***UPDATE***

"Jackson could ultimately end up in St. Louis for Rasmus, according to a Cardinals official familiar with the deal. He could take the rotation spot of Kyle McClellan in St. Louis as a result, though the details are still being ironed out (Sportsline)."

Ahh, that makes a little more sense. We'll let you know if this becomes official.

***UPDATE 2***

A trade of Rasmus to the Blue Jays for Jackson, Dotel, and Rzepczynski is imminent, reports Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

***UPDATE 3***

The Cardinals will send Rasmus, Trever Miller, Brian Tallet, and P.J. Walters to the Blue Jays for Jackson, Rzepczynski, Dotel, and Corey Patterson, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney.

White Sox Considering "Blowing Up" Team?

The Chicago White Sox are 50-51 and sit 3 1/2 games off the pace in the American League Central, trailing both Cleveland and Detroit. But per ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney via Twitter, GM Kenny Williams is considering blowing up the team, which may mean they place just about everyone on the trade block this week (ESPN).

The White Sox are an interesting little scenario here. On the one hand they have underachieved all year, and they could go out and trade a lot of these "older" guys and revamp their roster. On the other hand, they are only 3 1/3 games back, meaning if they get hot at all down the stretch they could find themselves not only in the playoffs, but in the playoffs with a pretty damn good rotation.

I think they could go a little middle of the road here. They could easily trade a SP without having to give up on the AL Central race, and I think that's just what they will do.

What would you do?

Peavy Back To The DL

Looks like the White Sox 6 man rotation has finally worked itself out, as Peavy looks to be heading back to the DL (shocking), this time with a strained groin. It's actually too bad, because before his outing against the Tigers he had thrown a gem (CG, 3 hit shutout against the Indians), but this guy can't seem to stay on the field. At least this time it isn't his arm, so it shouldn't be too much of a long term injury.

The guy most thankful for this? Well, that would be Mr. John Danks who really deserves to be riding the pine.

White Sox Keeping 6 Man Rotation?

"If it ain't broke, don't fix. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen apparently feels that way about his six-man rotation and may keep the unconventional alignment as long as the All-Star break, reports Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com.

The White Sox, who completed a three-game sweep in Boston Wednesday, have been using six starters in succession since Jake Peavy returned from the disabled list May 11 (ESPN)."

I (along with most people) thought this would fizzle out by now, but Guillen is a crazy man and seems to like it. There are some benefits of it. It keeps Buehrle from being overused, while being able to slow down the innings on Peavy's duck taped arm. Still, I am shocked they are not knocking Danks out of the rotation, as he is yet to win this year. It will be very interesting to see how long they stick with it, because there are not many teams that put 6 good starting pitchers out there every week.

I still say it's gone within the next week or two.

7 White Sox, 4 Red Sox

Well we were swept by the White Sox.

Wakefield pitched very well in the beginning of the game, good enough to win. The Sox even had a 3-0 lead early in the game. The wheels started to come off for Wakefield as he gave up 1 in the 4th inning, two in the 5th inning, and 1 more in the sixth. Wake was pulled after the sixth (6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 1 K), valiant effort.

David Ortiz hit a solo shot in the bottom of the 6th to give Wakefield the no-decision. That was it for the Sox as Chicago put up 3 unanswered runs through the final 3 innings to win this one, 7-4 and pick up the 3 game sweep of Boston. The Red Sox have now lost 4 straight.... gay.

Ortiz and Pedroia were the only ones to pick up multi hit games. Rich Hill left this game in the seventh with a forearm injury to his throwing arm. Looked real bad.

White Sox @ Red Sox Preview

The Red Sox have fallen out of 1st place, and it could get worse as Wakefield goes against Gavin Floyd. Floyd has been impressive against Boston in his career going is 4-0 with a 2.81 ERA in 5 career starts against Boston, and has a 1.69 ERA in his last four. He has lost his last three road outings so hopefully Boston can finally figure him out.

In Wake's last 2 starts he has gone a total of 13 2/3 letting up only 3 ERs. He isn't very good against the White Sox in his career though (7-12 4.93), and I am kind of expecting one of those "bad" Wakefield starts today.

Boston did start crushing the ball at the end of last game, and I think it will be another high scoring affair, but I do think the White Sox are going to get enough out of Floyd to win.

White Sox win 8-7
Player of the Game: Konerko
Game starts at 1:35pm

10 White Sox, 7 Red Sox

It was too little too late. When the Red Sox offense awoke, we already had given up on the game and the lead was insurmountable. Phil fucking Humber and Sexy Alexei Ramirez tore through the Red Sox. Alexei was 4-5 and Philip Humber went 7 innings giving up a home run to Jason Queeratek. But then the 8th happened Humber gave up hits to Josh Reddick, Drew Sutton, and Kevin Youkilis. He was relieved by Will Ohman and he gave up a bomb to David Ortiz for a three run bomb. The good luck continued in the ninth as Reddick and Sutton drove in two more runs to inch the Sox closer but Adrian Gonzalez got caught looking at a third strike to squash any hopes of a comeback.

I don't mind this loss though, Alfredo Aceves gave up a fuck ton of runs. He's on borrowed time and should be his last start until....... Lackey returns. Alfredo Aceves got roughed up against this White Sox offense, giving up eight earned runs in just five innings pitched.

They've lost three straight to end what has been a remarkable May and finish the month 19-10.

White Sox @ Red Sox Preview

The Red Sox have lost 2 in a row, and the White Sox seem to have their number winning for the 11th time in 13 matchups against Boston. If only they could have that kind of success against the rest of the MLB, as the Sox are having a terrible year (25-31).

Alfredo Aceves takes the hill for the Red Sox, and he has been a nice surprise. In his two starts this season he has gone a total of 11 innings allowing only 2 runs. You can't ask for much more out of him, and hopefully he can keep it up tonight. On paper the White Sox should have a very good lineup. I still think they are really good even with Dunn being the worst player ever. Aceves could run into trouble as their is a ton of power throughout this lineup.

Phil Humber has been one of the biggest surprised of the season. He is is 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA in his last six starts, and is basically going to take Danks spot in the rotation. I haven't taken him seriously all season, but I am actually very interested to watch him pitch tonight. It's hard to argue with the numbers he has been putting up, but if the Red Sox are hitting on all cylinders it really doesn't matter who is on the mound.

Red Sox win 7-6
Player of the Game: Ortiz
Game starts at 7:10pm

Adam Dunn Is A Bust

There was a lot made of Crawford's struggles, yet a guy that hasn't got hammered as much as he probably should is Adam Dunn. Coming into the year I thought this guy was a lock for 40+ HRs, and we going to make the White Sox offense one of the best in the league. Yet, he hasn't even come close.

As of today Dunn is batting an anemic .181 with only five home runs scattered amongst 69 strikeouts, and it's not like it's getting any better as he 2-for-22 with 11 strikeouts and one home run in his last 7 games. I have been thinking that eventually he would turn it on, but tomorrow is June 1st, and I have seen nothing that makes me think he is going to turn it around.

Maybe it's just being part of the White Sox, as that entire team is just one giant disappointment. Danks is still winless and might be losing his spot in the rotation, the bullpen is horrid, and as of today the White Sox are 8 1/2 games back on the Indians for first place in the AL Central. That's pretty bad for one of the teams I thought would be challenging for best record in the AL. You have to wonder how much longer Guillen will keep his job.

7 White Sox, 3 Red Sox

5.2 innings 8 hits 7 runs 1 homer 4 walks and struck out 4, that was Jon Lester's number. I guess he wasn't out of the little funk he was in over the past couple of weeks and now is 7-2 and a 3.94 era.

Paul Konerko was able to establish his dominance against Lester with another hr off of him. For the Sox the lone bright spot would be that Adrian Gonzalez hit a hr to make his total in double digits.

The Red Sox had a tough time with runners in scoring position and didn't have many, as they went 1-for-6 on the evening

Box Score

Peavy To Start Wednesday

"MLB.com reports that White Sox SP Jake Peavy, on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right shoulder, played catch on Sunday and is expected to throw a side session on Monday. As along as he does not suffer a setback, he will return to the rotation for Wednesday's series finale against the Angels. "I do want to bring some enthusiasm, some fire, some passion," Peavy said. "I certainly think the ballclub could use a shot in the arm (CBS Sports)."

Shot in the arm is an understatement. The White Sox have been flat out terrible. They are 13-22 so far this season, so maybe Peavy can spark some life into this team. Even if Peavy is good, it hasn't been the starting pitching that's been bad, it's been the offense and the bullpen.

Adam Dunn: .167 3 HRs 14 RBIs
Alex Rios: .213 3 HRs 9 RBI
Alexei Ramirez: .244 3 HRs 11 RBIs

Those numbers are going to cut it. To be honest, other then Konerko no one is hitting exceptionally well. One would think Dunn will get it going, but it's really too bad, because they have a good rotation and it seems to be going to waste.

Liriano Throws A No-Hitter

A day after I threw Liriano under the bus saying that he might lose his rotation spot to Kevin Slowey he promptly goes out and throws a no-hitter against the White Sox. In one for the oddest no-hitter you will ever see Liriano walked 6 guys, only threw 2 strikeouts, and threw 125 pitches to get through 9 innings.

I really don't know what to think. We all know Liriano had the talent, and although what he accomplished last night was impressive I really don't think that his season is suddenly going to turnaround. Maybe I'm wrong, like I said I thought he was going to be making a trip to the DL just 24 hours ago, but you have to look beyond just this game. Even with the no-hitter Liriano still has an ERA of 6.61 ERA (it was 9.13 coming in), and even in this game he had the same kind of struggles that have plagued him all season walks (24 BB in 32.2 inning only 20 Ks).

This game just highlighted how bad the White Sox have been. This is a team I thought could challenge for a World Series, now they are sitting at 11-20 (last place in the AL Central) and 10 1/2 games behind the Indians. I really don't understand why they aren't hitting with a lineup of Dunn, Konerko (who's doing his job), Rios, and Quentin.

Well congrats to Liriano, no matter what they can never take a no-hitter away from you, and I actually hope this does turnaround his season, but I doubt it.

White Sox Using 6 Starters?

"Philip Humber pitched so well in his start Saturday that White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper was talking about the Joy of Six. Humber, the third overall pick in the 2004 draft, allowed one run over six innings against the Rays, earning the right to stay in the rotation until the return of Jake Peavy, hopefully by the end of April. Cooper, never afraid to take a less conventional approach, told reporters Sunday he would not be opposed to occasionally using a six-man rotation (ESPN)."

I feel like this idea gets thrown around by some team every year, but it never ends up happening. Sure I can see them maybe using a spot starter to limit the innings on guys like Peavy, but there is really no reason to have Jackson, Danks, or Floyd any less innings. Even Copper admits that if they were to use this system it would only be for the "short term", and I just feel think is usually an idea that gets thrown around by fans and media more then an actually baseball team.

Adam Dunn Has Emergency Appendectomy

"Tough break for the White Sox as it’s being reported that Adam Dunn had an emergency appendectomy this morning. He apparently fell-ill last night after the Royals-Sox game (NBC Sports)."

The good news here is that this is the less severe surgery then a lot of other appendectomy surgeries. Word is that he could be back in a little less then a week. I think Dunn is in for a huge year. He has a lot of protection in this lineup with Quentin, Konerko, Rois, ect. Dunn has been on a tear already this year hitting .571 with 1 HR and 5 RBIs, so hopefully this time off doesn't throw him off his current hot streak.

Mark Teahen is the likely replacement to replace Adam Dunn at DH while he recovers.

Jake Peavy Suffers Setback

"The remarkably quick recovery of Jake Peavy from shoulder surgery hit a speed bump Sunday when White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen decided to shut down the right-hander following an 83-pitch outing a day earlier.

Peavy has been pitching through shoulder soreness that he discounted as nothing serious, but the latest setback has changed things Guillen told the Chicago Tribune that Peavy might not return until the end of April (ESPN)."

Even though it doesn't sound like he will be out too long, if you're a White Sox fan you have to be a little concerned. This guy can't seem to stay healthy, and that fact it is once again his shoulder is alarming. The good news is the White Sox are one of the few teams with a deep rotation with Danks, Buehrle, Floyd, Jackson. For now they will call on Philip Humber, who has been impressive all spring.

2011 MLB Preview: Chicago White Sox

2010 Record: 88-74

Lineup:

1 Juan Pierre OF
2 Alexei Ramirez SS
3 Adam Dunn DH
4 Paul Konerko 1B
5 Alex Rios OF
6 Carlos Quentin
7 Gordon Beckham 2B
8 Brent Morel 3B
9 A.J. Pierzynski C

Bringing in Adam Dunn I thought was a great move by the White Sox. Dunn has had DH written all over him for years, and now that he is protected by guys like Konerko and Rios he should easily hit 40 HRs. The big thing for the White Sox is not having guys take a step back. Rios and Konerko had great seasons last year, if they do it again then this might be one of the most dangerous lineups in the MLB. Even if they don't think lineup is still going to put up a lot of runs. I am really interested to see if Gordon Beckham is going to live up to any of his hype. I'm personally not sold on him at all, but if he can improve and Quentin can stay healthy this will be a great lineup top to bottom.

Rotation:

1 John Danks
2 Mark Buehrle
3 Gavin Floyd
4 Edwin Jackson
5 Jake Peavy
CL: Matt Thornton

I really like this rotation. Granted that could be because two of these guys are keepers in my AL only keeper league (Danks/Floyd). Danks had a career year last season and seems like he is really making strides to become an "ace". Floyd was great from June through Auguest, then ran out of steam and got lit up. If can he play like he did midsummer that would be huge from this team. I don't really know how much Buehrle has left in the tank, and that makes the play of Floys just that much more important. I have always loved Edwin Jackson, and I see him winning 13-15 games this year for the White Sox. The wild card in all of this is Peavy. As of now he has looked fantastic this spring and should start the year in the rotation. IF he can stay healthy this will be an incredibly good rotation. Their bullpen should be good if Chris Sale lives of up his hype, and Thornton has always been solid for them.

Overall:

I really like this team. They have a lot of power in that lineup, and their additions this offseason only made it better. On top of that they have a very good rotation, especially if Peavy proves to be healthy. I see big things for the White Sox this year.

2011 Record: 96-66

Yankees Fill Pettitte's Spot Via Trade?

The fallout from Pettitte retiring is causing all kinds of rumors on the internet. Most experts seem to think the Yankees will make some kind of move before opening day, instead of banking on guys like Nova, Colon, Mitre, ect at the back end of the rotation. The question now is who would be available?

Grienke already got dealt to the Brewers, the Indians are saying that Carmona is not on the market (though I have a hard time believing that), Felix Hernandez seems to be just a dream, and Blanton just costs too much for what they would get in return. Their best option might be to turn to the A's who love to trade guys for more prospects, and a player that might fit is left hander Gio Gonzalez. Gio is coming off a really nice year (15-9 3.23 ERA) and would fit the mold of being a Red Sox killer, since the Sox have so many lefties in their lineup.

If it isn't Gio I think the Yankees are going to have to wait and see what teams fall out of the playoffs. The White Sox have arms to deal if they falter. Edwin Jackson could quickly be available, and another name to watch is John Danks. The White Sox have been trying to extend Danks for awhile now, but he seems happy to sit back and wait for free agency in 2 years. Since the White Sox minor league system is pretty terrible they could easily move one of these two guys to rebuild it quickly.

There is a lot of panic in Yankeeland recently, and it will be interesting to see if they make some kind of overreacting move before the season starts to calm the nerves of the Yankee faithful.

White Sox Extend Sexy Alexei

The Chicago White Sox have agreed to a four-year contract extension worth about 32 million dollars with Alexei Ramirez.

Good, my Cuban brethren deserves the extension. I didn't realize this but Ramirez led American League shortstops this past season in batting average (.282), slugging percentage (.431), home runs (18) and total bases (252). He is the first shortstop in White Sox history to win a Silver Slugger Award. Pretty good, and he is very consistent with how he performs. He also is good for an awesome web gem here and there too.