Results tagged ‘ AJ Pierzynski ’
White Sox Trade Broadway to Mets for Catcher Castro
This trade was kinda of a head scratcher for me. While Corky Miller was OK, I didn’t feel the need to go out and pick up a backup catcher. Broadway has been decent for the White Sox, but he didn’t step up in big situations.
White Sox pitchers do a terrible job of holding runners, so to use that Miller was only 1-for-9 for tossing out runners is horse pucky. AJ isn’t any better. But, the knock that Miller got was his batting average. He only managed to be in the low two hundreds, and I think the Sox looked for a little more run production from their anemic offense. Ozzie wants to use Castro more coming into the summer to keep AJ fresh for a push in September.
I don’t see Castro as a huge upgrade to be honest, and I think Williams traded away a decent trade bait pitcher for little return. I hope I am wrong tho. Time will tell.
Back-to-Back Homers Power Sox to Series Win
After playing a Doubleheader the day before, the Sox have Gavin Floyd going to the mound for the rubber match against the M’s. AJ got the Sox on the board first with a solo shot to Right in the second inning, but the lead didn’t last long when Floyd gave up a two run RBI double to Griffey. At the end of the frame, the M’s managed to plate three runs.
Floyd battled through six innings surrendering three runs on ten hits with two walks and three strikeouts. It was a true blue collar effort, but he managed to keep the Sox in the game until the bats came alive.
Alexei made a sensational catch in short left field to double off Yuniesky Betancourt at 2nd base. It was a huge play that kept the game within reach until the bottom of the frame. The Sox started the sixth with a pair of singles which chased Bedard out of the game. Betemit laced a RBI double which cut the M’s lead to one. Alexei tied the game with a sac fly to right scoring AJ.
Thornton pitched a solid seventh inning, and the bats errupted in the bottom half of the frame with back-to-back home runs from Quentin and Dye; both sluggers were struggling at the plate. Betemit hit his second double of the game. BA left due to injury at his at-bat, and Owens took over with a 1-2 strike, grounding out for the centerfielder.
Linebrink pitched the eighth while surrendering a single to Gutierrez, and the Sox offense was back to work. Alexei coaxed a walk, and he stole second. The M’s stymied the Sox running game so far, but Alexei swiped second with ease. A wild pitch placed Alexei on third with one out when Quentin strolled to the plate. A line drive single to left field gave the Sox an insurance run.
Jenks had a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 5th save. He is 5-for-5 in saves this year.
Defense needed work, but JD made a spectacular catch in right when he fully extended himself in a dive early in the game. The Sox managed two errors in the game. After struggling the day before, the Sox had six runs on twelve hits.
White Sox Spoil Danks Outstanding Outing
The Baseball critics had a lot of love for the Royals this year, and I can see why. They have outstanding pitching. The pitching, on both sides of this series, has been great, but the Royals found a way to win the rubber match today.
Bobby gave up a two run homer to Crisp in the top of the 9th. Eventhough the Sox managed to plate a run in the bottom half of the frame, it wasn’t enough, and the Sox fall in the finale by a score of 2-1.
Ozzie switched up the batting order a little with Getz in leadoff and AJ batting 2nd. Wise was pushed down to the 8th spot – who still looked pretty lost at the plate.
Anderson and Betemit came in as PH in the bottom of the 9th, but both batters struck out. Betiment did so with runners at first and second with two outs.
CQ hit a leadoff double to Right-Center which started the rally in the 9th. It was a very good sign for the talented slugger, and I hope this will ease him at the plate.
Alexei still has a ways to go. He looked just as bad a Wise and CQ, and he needs to lay off the high fastball and stop dumpster diving for stuff off the outside of the plate. He didn’t have a great spring, and he continues to struggle early into the season.
It was a series that could have gone either way, and I always hate to see good pitching wasted. I hope the Sox bats come alive soon. The Twins are coming into town, so this should be a great series.
MacDougal struggled in the 7th, but Matt Thornton bailed him out with a Double Play. Dotel pitched a solid 8th, continuing his strike out dominance. Jenks got in trouble in the 9th when he fell in the count and gave up a double. He pitched a first pitch inside fastball to Crisp who drilled it over the Right Field wall for a 2-0 lead. Bobby just got too much of the plate to Crisp who made him pay.
Ozzie Switches Up Batting Order Already
For the final game against the Royals, Ozzie Guillen has Getz leading off and AJ batting in the two hole. Wise is batting 8th today.
AJ did an outstanding job in the two hole last year, and he really jump started the offense for the club. Getz, on the other hand, is a good move by placing him into the leadoff spot. He is a contact hitter, and he isn’t afraid to get down in the count.
Ozzie said this wasn’t a demotion for Wise. He only wanted to have Wise feel a little more comfortable at the plate. While striking out a lot, he had issues with bunting. Twice he tried to put down the bunt, and twice he failed horribly.
Buehrle Cruises to Win; Sox Pitch Back-to-Back Shutouts
Buehrle continued where he left off from his last start, and he dominated the Royals lineup for his 10th win of the season. The Sox win back-to-back shutouts, and they look for the sweep tomorrow behind Lance Broadway and the first place White Sox.
Uribe’s defense has been spectacular at 3rd and tonight was no different. He made an awesome pick from a sharp grounder off the bat of Butler.
Griffey made a nice diving catch in CF and added an RBI single in the first.
JD continues to get the job done with a RBI double which was set up with AJ’s sac bunt. Situational hitting. Gotta love it!
The night goes Buehrle. The Sox Starters have really picked it up these last few games, and I hope we can go on a nice run.
Getz had a nice hit-and-run in the 5th which set up another run for the Sox. This kid looks solid so far, and I look forward to see more of him in the future.
Paulie has been getting it done as of late; two walks and a RBI single plating AJ.
Another solid win for the pale hose, and lets go get them tomorrow!
Go Sox!
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Twins won today on Young’s three-run blast; his second in two days. The Sox and Twins are in a virtual tie for first place pending tonight’s outcome.
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Buehrle on the mound for the Pale Hose.
Tonight’s lineup:
1. OC, SS
2. AJ, C
3. JD, RF
4. Thome, DH
5. Paulie, 1B
6. Griffey, CF
7. Swisher, LF
8. Uribe, 3B
9. Getz, 2B
Getz gets his first MLB start. He had his first hit and RBI last night against the Royals PHing for Ramirez in the 8th. Quentin is out again for general soreness. He is expected to return to the lineup tomorrow.
Game #1: Extra Innings at the Jake
With clutch hitting by Orlando Cabrera the White Sox won 6-3 in extra innings Monday night at the Jake, err Progressive Field.
The Sox struck first with a RBI groundout by Thome in the 1st, but Javvy’s command wasn’t as sharp as we seen it. Javvy gave up two solo home runs and a RBI single, but he kept the Sox close for Thome and AJ to hit a solo home run and a RBI single to tie the game. Javvy pitched 6 innings, giving up two walks while striking out two.
Dotel pitched 1 2/3 of an inning, but when I saw Dotel come out for the second inning, I screamed at the tv. It seems everytime that Ozzie tries to stretch Dotel more than one inning, Dotel gets himself in trouble. That was no different from last night. Matt Thornton was brought in to retire Sizemore.
Linebrink pitched a flawless inning.
Masset struggled with his command by walking two batters.
Logan pitched an impressive 1 1/3 innings to hand the ball to Bobby Jenks to close out for the win. Bobby gave up two singles, but Jhonny Peralta hit into a double play, and struck out Franklin Gutierrez.
Brian Anderson continues to impress me. He battled back from a 0-2 count to rip a RBI Double down the RF line. He entered the game as a PR-DH for Thome.
Ramirez had a two-hit game, but he failed to execute a hit-and-run in which Crede was tossed out. Ramirez was asked to bunt over the runner in the 12th, but he pulled the bunt back and laced a single to RF, placing runners at first and third with no outs for Orlando Cabrera. I want to see more multi-hit games from Ramirez. With his speed, we can apply more pressure on the opponent’s pitching.
OC has stepped up in the last few games. It looks like he is finally getting comfortable with his new role and team. I am excited to see if he can continue.
Paulie looked better after a few days rest with pain in his hand. It seems his timing is just a little off. He was hitting the ball decent and quite possibly missed hitting two home runs. I think Paulie will have a big few weeks in which we need. Our 4-5-6 hitters haven’t produced a lot in the last two series, and I would love to see Dye-Thome-Konerko get on track. I think Crede has been placing too much pressure on himself to produce. Once those guys get going, I am sure Crede will follow suit.
Observations, Game #2: White Sox vs Angels
Game #2
Torri Hunter Bobblehead night.
The good: Danks had another quality start, and Dotel was able to get out of a jam with the Bases Loaded in the 7th.
The bad: The offense continues to struggle. Multiple times Sox hitters
had 3-2 counts and was able to run up the pitch count on Weaver only to
able to walk away with anything to show for it. Shields pitched better
than his outing from Game #1. He was attacking our hitting and getting
quickly ahead. I wished our bullpen was able to do that than servicing
singles on hitter’s counts.
Stealing Bases: When a catcher steals second, that should tell you
something. While blame does go to the Pitcher, AJ made some bad
choices with his throws. It seemed yesterday that he felt more
comfortable doing nothing for fear of committing an error again.
I wouldn’t have let Dotel pitch that second inning. Sox Relief have issues when they are stretched for more than an inning.
If I could change the lineup, I would have something such as:
1. Quentin, LF
2. Brian Anderson, CF
3. Dye, RF
4. AJ, C
5. Paulie, DH
6. Swish, 1B
7. Crede, 3B
8. OC, SS
9. Uribe, 2B
I would bench Thome for the time being. He is struggling ( mind you, I
thought he was hitting the ball decent last night – I liked the fact
that he was trying to go to LF ). But, with interleague coming this
weekend, there will be no DH.
I would bench OC as well, but I do not know what would be worse: Ramirez or OC at this point.
I would like to see us in more hit and run situations. I can stomach
that more than watching us hit into Double Play after Double Play.
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