In the World of White Sox baseball … some things stay the same… The last time I spent time on this blog,  the Sox were near the bottom of the basement in the A.L. Central.   NOW about a month into the NEW season, they are virtually in the same place.

 This team was to be OZZIE’S TEAM.  A new kind of team.  A team that can run.  A team that can steal.  A team that can hit.  A team that can pitch.  Not the team swinging for the fences like LAST YEAR.  This team was to be a RE-BIRTH.  The additions of Jones , Kotsay , Teahen , Vizquel , Pierre,  and Putz were to HELP make this team better. The ”sad” subtraction of Thome and Dye were also supposed to make this team better.    It has not turned out that way thusfar!

Many fans are saying that it is still early.  There still is time.  But how much longer must we deal with this? Myself and many other fans have waited SO LONG for this NEW season of 2010 White Sox baseball to  begin, but now we are in a state of shock over the poor start of this team. Pierre is not leading off too well, Beckham is in a slump, the starting pitching is not doing as well as it should be etc. etc.  

I don’t think throwing in the towel is quite appropriate yet.  But if this does not get better soon, we all might have to declare “This season is OVA!”

Even though this season has not been a great one for my boys , there have been wonderful moments such as Burhl’s PERFECTO , PK’s 3 hr game, and Dye and PK’s historical back to back jacks in Detroit.  Other bright spots have been the re-emergence of Pods on the team (and even better than in 05), the pick up of Peavy, and possibly Beckham being ROY !! (Hey , when Josie goes on her vacation far away , please call me !! LOL ) 

I had the opportunity to attend 4 games during this last homestand.  I was able to score some pretty good seats.  I have declared my semi-support for the Kitties.  Why?  I believe Kitty fans are more educated about the game and don’t rub it in your face.  They cheered for their team , but not in an overly obnoxious way.  The players also threw more balls to young Sox fans than the Twins did.  The Twins threw their balls to older fans wearing Twins gear. 

The last days at the park were wonderful.  They were special.  I hope to bottle those memories up for days when the temperature is 8 degrees with a -20 wind chill.  It will be a long off season , but hopefully I can keep myself entertained until mid February “10″. I might go to the big Sox fest in January and who knows, maybe get to Spring Training !!

There is still a week left in the season.  I hope the boys have some confidence to really finish BIG !!    

Go Sox !! Even though you are most likely a third place team this year, I still luv ya !!   

However, I believe that they are going through ”something” and that eventually they will get out of their “funk”.   Maybe, just maybe they will clear their heads in the off season (which makes me really really sad).  The ballpark lies empty and cold.  No players to be found roaming around after weekend games in the hottest spots in the Chi.  No ballgames except the ones that I have DVR’d.    I am not a big Bears fan, but I do wish them well.  Football for me just doesn’t do it like baseball does.  I will really be frumpy come a week and a half !! I will be countiing down the days until pitchers and cathers report down in Arizona!

To fill my mind with great memories of baseball during the offseason, I attended all three games this past weekend versus The Royals.  I scored the most AWESOME seat right behind the duggout on Friday last minute.  I saw Gordon (also known as my future husband lol ) up close and personal (okay okay I WISH).   Vince Vaughn (a Chicago native ) was about 10 seats to my left with his entourage. 

 I LOVED THAT SEAT SOOOO MUCH.  I almost could touch the players as really they were only a few feet away from me!  IT WAS SOOO AWESOME and worth every penny I spent on it.   On Saturday I was given TWO tickets right next to the bullpen from my SO. My bff was my ”date” since my SO took off to St. Louis to follow his team.  WE HAD such a great time !!! We were giggling and laughing all game . My bff was enjoying the view of some attractive pitchers in the bull pen.  Peavy looked pretty darn good.  He kept throwing strikes and kept the Royals down to 3 runs.   Sunday I went by myself and scored a nice tick one row back from the ticks I had on Saturday.  I saw some of the same guys from last night pitch and hang out in the pen.  I was really impressed w Dotel.  He took a picture w me last night (which got erased when I think I hit the wrong button ).  He was taking pictures w people today , he signed a ball , and he was smiling and waving to all who made some sort of contact with him.  I think that is GREAT !!! During the season he got on my nerves w his inconsistent pitching. however seeing him interact w the fans has got a special lil place in my heart.  

I think I may attend a week night game w the Twins and then maybe a game or two next weekend against the Kitties.  I enjoy the CELL, and even though my boys have really broke my heart w their lack of hustle , I still love them !!!!!  They keep me coming back for me.    

* Jim Thome just got traded to L.A.

*Hopefully he will earn a ring and bang out more home runs

* He has been a Sox team member full of grace, pride, and made the game look like alot of fun

*KW raised his white flag and is starting to re-write the book

* He will be interested in speed, intuition, and bringing a whole new look to this team that faded fast in 2009

*It is extremely sad to see “Mr. Incredible”  go , but KW thought it was his closing time

* If he returns to the Cell , White Sox fans will still treat him great for he has 564 home runs under his belt and a lifetime ba. of .278

* Thank You big Jim for your time here on the Soxside    Show them in L.A. that you really are a great stand up guy !!

I hope you all somehow telepathically receive my birthday greetings or somehow read this blog (I assume not though , you all have better things to do with your time in your hotel rooms to read blogs ha ha ) .

May you three have joyful and wonderful birthdays.  Nix celebrated his birthday yesterday with a sloppy loss to the Beantown Bombers. Not too fun , but I hope the shots at the club after the game were good (or if no club, maybe a good room service meal in hiding )?  Thome celebrated his birthday today with a win over those same Beantown Bombers.  I have a feeling the candles on the cake after the steakhouse were blown beautifully.  Hopefully , just hopefully — TCQ will be happily celebrating after a win against the Yanks (Sabathia on the mound and Burhls in a funk — I dunno about this one ). Birthday festivities — You just might need a few sessions in a boxing ring to numb this sting on your next day off — PLEASE no bashing the bat in hissy fit like last year !!

Here is my gift to you all — some Astrological advice/feedback—

 I have studied a bit of Astrology and I like Virgos. You are hardworking , logical thinkers,  very focused, reliable, and REALLY LOYAL ( I know about Virgo loyalty firsthand ).  All three of you boys can dig deeper into your good VIRGO characteristics for the SAKE of YOUR FANS.  TCQ — A batting average of .234 doesn’t scream loyalty and realiability to me !!!!!  Big Jim— It is soo awesome that you have 23 homers to your credit but can you sometimes NOT FOCUS on just hitting the ball out of the park?  Sometimes you get up there to the plate and there is a man on third — just hit a ball through the hole so that he can SCORE !!  Jayson — I am going to cut you some slack as you are rookie and I don’t really know you too well .  Over the past few days you have shown some good promise in Boston with a smack over the big Green Monster and a few hits so continue this !!  I know Virgos tend to over analyze things –please don’t — you seem to be smacking the ball around pretty good as of late and the errors have not been as pronounced —

Happy Birthday from the Soxlady8– When you blow out those candles though — may your wishes be on making the playoffs !!

I also would like you to send me a check in the amount of $700.  Last night I probably threw an 80 mph curve “remote control” ball at Scott Linebrink’s face.  There is a crack now in my television.  He threw a very bad pitch to Jason Bay and BAM — it wenta flyin’ over the green monster in left — After that — there was no hope –   Wait , I am in no hurry — I think maybe you all better hold off as there are 2 more televisions in my household and a Blackberry set up with Fox Sports !!

There are approximately 5.5 weeks left in the season.  This season hasn’t totally been a wash  — there have been some truly beautiful moments — but the biggest and best moment of winning a WS in October just isn’t happening – so I am tired of hearing KW yap his mouth about WINNING and WINNING NOW – this team has too many “holes” in the lineup to even think about it !!

 I have friends and colleagues who have given up on their respective team.  They are now ready to pay hommage to the BEAR and the INDIAN . I wasn’t ready for that yet — I still had hope — Looking at the standings this mere afternoon has dwindled my hope       I was not expecting the Twinkies to be let in on this race and here there are –sharing a tie for second place. I am ready to be a UNITED CHICAGOAN and indeed pay hommage to the BEAR and the INDIAN !!  

In conclusion — I am upset.  I am tired.  I am broke.  My heart aches.   This team has made me feel like a 17 year old gal who got stood up for her junior prom date.  The dress was schmancy , the date was handsome , I was soo excited — and then he drove 45 minutes to the closest nearby town because the captain of the cheerleading team there (named Autumn Tiffany) needed an emergency date for her prom who wasn’t a relative  !!    I throw in the towel and my white flag is pearched high in the sky. I will continue to support my boys from the south.  I do hope that next year’s pasture will be greener.    Thanks for reading my letter and thanks for a pretty .500 year with spoon full of sugar thrown in from time to time.

Respectfully – Soxlady8— ahh and the check can be mailed to my house 1.5 miles away from the Cell —   

Contreras today was absolutely painful to watch.  He pitched beautifully a few days ago against Zach Grienke , but that start did not rub off on him today.  He managed to let the R Sox score 6 unearned runs in a single innning !! The W Sox were up , but could not hold on due to Contreras.  I give him so much credit for coming back after his terrible injury last year . I am not sure if it is his body or his heart that is getting in the way now.  It should be interesting to see what is going to happen to him for the remainder of the year.  I think he will be designated to the bullpen and now Garcia will take his place. However, Garcia was not too sharp last Tuesday but he appears to be the best option for right now .  

Peavy may start as soon as Saturday in New York !!   I do not know how to feel about that.  He suffered a pretty terrible injury not too long ago — is he really ready to start ? Could starting too soon be detrimental in the long run — that I do not know ??? More information should be available tomorrow and in the next days to come.

What I do know is this — I had a great time attending the ELVIS game on Friday.  It was my first ELVIS night experience !! I was invited to go by a lifelong friend (who I had not seen in a awhile ) whose MOM was a big big big big ( and still is ELVIS fan ). I remember spending time at her home when I was a youngin’  and her mom usually was playing ELVIS tunes !!   The concert after the game was really awesome and so were the fireworks.  The Flying Elvi who brought the flag in before the game were sooo fun too !!  Even if you are not a big big Elvis fan — I highly suggest the theatrics and FUN that this game produces. It would have been even better if the Sox could have taken care of business against the O’s , but ohhh well –

Well the jury isn’t officially out on the cork issue — I will let you know in about a week — Hopefully tomorrow things can be better in Boston w Garcia (most likely going to the mound ).  FINGERS CROSSED  and a bottle of some red wine chillin’ in the fridge —

The game started and it started well.  Jose’s forkball looked GOOD from the start.  He appeared confident and relaxed.  He was not struggling one bit. He appeared to have a good tempo going on !!   The game continued and it just kept getting better.   The defense was making some good plays.  The bats were hittin the balls. Konerko doubled to bring Pods home to allow the Sox to score first. There also were great bombs by Quentin , Beckham , and Rios (his first as a member of the Sox ).  The Sox were able to keep the lead for  the entire game . Thornton (who usually is lights out) gave up a homerun towards the end of the game and JENKS was able to record the save.   Greinke still has the best ERA in the American League (2.44) but it was GREAT to see the Sox (and not other teams ) be able to get some love off of him —  Around 9 p.m.. it was even better for a Sox fan — Verander LOST !!

Detroit won tonight against Seattle so at this point in time, we remain 2.5 games out.  I hope the series w Baltimore tomorrow starts off with a bang. The Priests behind my group were a good sign , maybe Elvis can shine down on the boys tommorrow too !!

On a side note — I looked pretty good (and my group too ) on the scoreboard yesterday afternoon   They were able to find our happy smiles and charisma all the way up in the boon docks !!!  Hip Hip Hooray for the wave cam !!

Go Sox — Go Sox — Go Sox —

Today I splurged on yet again an expensive seat.   Now some of you may think that I may be the biggest DORK on the face of the planet with what I am about to say… I ENJOY attending games by myself !!   Why you ask ?  Well I have discovered that some STUB HUB sellers start reducing their prices the closer it gets to game time.  What does that mean for me ?  Well it means a seat pretty darn close to the field !! I was supposed to sit 6 rows back from the Royals dugout /on deck circle.  However, when I got to Will Call , I was given a different seat. I went back to the ticket person (because I am an honest person ) and the ticket person said that the seller left me that ticket , an upgrade !! SWEET !!  This seat 2 rows back from the field on the Sox duggout side near the t.v. cameras !! I got to drool over Gordon Beckham like a love crazed high schooler (what a fine Georgia Peach he is indeed)!!  I could practically touch TCQ as he came in from left field !! I dodged a couple of foul balls !! I could see the sweat off of Freddy’s face when he came in from off the mound !!   I mean for me it is all about location , location , location —  I don’t need companionship when I am there anyways . If I do feel the need, I text — I call — I FB !!  AND when I go the game , it is some ME time . I like ME and do not mind being by myself — I am a pretty confident , strong , and independent lady !! 

The game itself was pretty blahhh – There were a few moments of greatness , but that faded away in the final innings of the game.    TCQ delivered a two run bomb and PK shot a nice one runner !! Freddy Garcia was not that awful , but not that magical either.  I do not think he is the answer !! — The BAND does not need to get back together –  Gil Meche was pretty solid against us. However, when runners made it to base , they often were stranded.  RLOB is a common theme this current team seems to suffer from . Soria (who is a pretty wicked closer ) came into the bottom of the ninth and hurt his ankle . We all were hoping he would be taken out of there and given another pitcher , but nooooo — PK tried to tie it up , but the ball was just short .

KW made a sphiel the other day about this team being “underachievers”. I do agree with him.  However, the tough love approach might not do it for the boys.  There is a great mix of vets and new comers. It is exciting to have Kotsay and Rios on our team now too !   Maybe an approach like Joe Maddon would work ? Maybe we need positive messages in the locker room (as like the Rays ) . The fans have definitely been positive.  The crowd tonight was at 30,000 and it was loud and exciting as heck.   I don’t know.  All I do know is that I felt like a princess (no more like a queen  ) sitting in my expensive seat enjoying a summer evening , the smell of beer (even though I do not drink ), the loudness of the crowd , and keeping an eye on my fantasy ballplayer (hey if Josie is away , I can play … I am a bit older .. he he ).  YEAH I know … big dork !!

GO GO SOX !!!

Tomorrow day game — family style –in the upper tank but still will be fun as heck !! Two games in a row – yipppeee  

Yeah that sounds a wee bit like a song sang by The Four Seasons back in the golden oldie days of music , but here is my take —

Sox Vs. The Yanks ( the evil empire , the team with all STARS , the dynasty etc. etc. )

My bff got tickets back in Februrary for my birthday . She called last night BIRTHDAY PART DEUX. This is always due to the fact that my birthday is in Februrary and I complain alot about it- (the dead of winter = NO FUN ). SOOO I got a summer birthday (well sorta ) this year !!   I was stoked back in February when I opened up the tickets –  I saw bleachers section 163 ROW 2 and I was like a contractor finding all his supplies in Menards or Home Depot !!   

I got beautified in my Sox gear and just a few minutes prior to picking up my bff to go to the ballpark , I got a text about the SOX picking up PEAVY !! SWEET !!  He comes to our team with a career ERA of 3.29 and was the 2007 National League CY Young Award winner.  I hope that with him in the rotation with Buerhles , Danks , Floyd , and hopefully a healthy and consistent Contreras in September will = a playoff run !! As a fan, I was a wee bit concerned /interested in the fact that the deadline was that day and the boys had not done anything significant in terms of the trade deadline, but this was the icing on the cake –IT really couldn’t get much better than this !!! However, props go out to Clayton Richard who did pitch well for us over the past few starts .  He will be missed and wished well in San Diego !! Aaron Poreda looked like he had so much potential during his short stint here with us and I noticed he was very friendly to the fans.

My bff and I made our way into the park and my eyes were wide open and my face was smiling.  The Cell could easily be my second home.  We walked to the bleacher section and made our way ALL THE WAY DOWN to row two !! WOOOOWWW !! Scottie Pods and Mark Kotsay were warming up.  I could almost touch them –  The game started and it was a truly horrific start. Carrasco probably wasn’t mentally ready to start since the Peavy/Richard trade happened so late in the day. Clayton Richard was set to start that evening.   However, once he settled down he pitched allright.  FORTUNATELY the boys bats were hot today and they also took advantage of many scoring opportunities against the Yanks pitching (which theoretically looked pretty solid , except for the starter -Mitre ERA 5+).   

Quintin homered to left , Konerko walked twice/singled, Pierzynski doubled/two singles, Getz two singles/stole a base, Nix stole home (this was soo coool to see !! ), and Bacon and Pods sac’d to get some runs in also !!

The night ended with fireworks set to oldies music. They were displayed beautifully and the full house of the Cell that evening enjoyed them !! There were a few fights (to be expected when the Yanks come to down ) and the crowd in the bleachers was lively , friendly , and really into the game —

Ohhh what a night !! Reinsdorf was stated that the Peavy pickup was for the fans and for the sake of winning !! Hopefully many more wins will happen with the pickup of Peavy, the bats will stay hot, the defense can settle down a bit , the bunts can keep coming, many bases can be stolen, and Jenks can get whatever issues he has taken care of and CLOSE many more good games down —