By Andrew Reilly
Yes, interleague baseball is stupid for many, many reasons, but I will say this: destroying the Cubs never gets old. Ever. But baseball-lite can only last for so long, and now that the Sox have feasted upon the bones of the weak and the wounded, let us get back to the business of taking down the American League.
Remember the American League? They’re the big, scary one with all the teams who aren’t in last place, who aren’t firing their pitchers, who aren’t falling apart in the face of the new mightiest team in the land. Part of me worries that the Sox, faced once more with tougher competition, will revert to the abysmal way they were before, but part of me also remembers hey, they just took out the Braves, who can legitimately lay claim to the title of “best team in baseball.”
So what are we to think of this little blast of dominance? All told, probably not much; imagine the Bears starting the season 1-3 but absolutely crushing the Browns, Raiders, and Chiefs in weeks five through seven. Sports radio callers may disagree, but beating terrible teams within an inch of their life isn’t the same as proving yourself on the field against the big kids. Wins are wins, yes, but when they come at the expense of teams that always lose, one can only take so much from them. The White Sox, for all intents and purposes, just spent the last four series destroying mirror images of themselves.
But let us rejoice anyway then that the Sox, through hard work and a generous schedule, have clawed their way to a place we not so long ago would never have even dreamed of: back in it. It may be fleeting, or it may be the dawn of the next great era in White Sox baseball; it may be cheap and hollow, or it may be glorious and undeniable. By accomplishing the impossible, the Sox’ season, finally, can begin. Let the Royals and Rangers of the world tremble accordingly.
Week in Review: Unstoppable. A trouncing of the Braves followed by a thorough disemboweling of the Cubs made the Good Guys 5-1 on the week.
Week in Preview: Indicative. The three in Kansas City don’t count, but the three in Texas against a comparably sizzling Rangers team will tell us a lot about the 2010 White Sox.
Hawkeroo’s Can-O-Corn Watch: “There’s a kind of way that some teams are, that are just teams put together for the reason of being able to do winning, and that’s what our Sox are doing right now, when teams win 11, 12, 18, 19, 50 in a row – they’re winning games that they’re not letting other teams win first. I remember Gil Hodges, who was managing when I was with the Senators, he used to say that all good teams have that in common, and that’s something that’s become even more true as the game has changed to become what it is today. And you see it now, you look at teams like the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, that’s what makes those teams winners so much is the ability to be winning when they’re out there. And that’s why, in my opinion, our Sox are the best ballclub in baseball this year. Bar none, the best team in baseball, and I’d bet you they can put together a stretch like this two, three, four more times this year.”
Gordon Beckham Hall of Fame Update: Gordon Beckham home runs, age 23: 14. Babe Ruth home runs, age 23: 12. Advantage: Beckham.
Alumni News You Can Use: Formerly promising White Sox power threat Jayson Nix moved to Cleveland.
The “H” in “DH” Stands For: “Harvester of Sorrow” by Metallica. Something about Paul Konerko as a mercenary bat just seems right.
The Q Factor: A known enthusiast of all things barbecue-related, Carlos Quentin was last seen packing for the upcoming trip through smokehouse country. Included among his luggage: camouflage face paint, binoculars, and a crossbow. Not included: a fork. Carlos Quentin eats his fresh kills off the bone.
The Guillen Meter: With non-stop victory assuaging the tensions of his fans and abating the wrath of his bosses, the Guillen Meter reads 1.5 for “Let ’em riot. We’re Sonic fuckin’ Death Monkey.”
Endorsement No-Brainer: The Chicago White Sox for the .500 Jeffrey hunting rifle: great for brutally slaying small bears.
Cubs Snub: As the Sox take the BP Cup, let us note that there have been 82 major oil spills since the Cubs last won a World Series. The White Sox Report hates ecoterrorism, but would be alright with the Cubs waiting for 82 more.
The White Sox Report: Read ’em all.
The Cub Factor: It’s funny because it’s true.
–
Andrew Reilly lives in Chicago and wishes he hadn’t lost that girl’s number. He welcomes your comments.
Posted on June 28, 2010