2013 Chicago White Sox ( it's OUR turn to WIN ! )

[airspuds]

2 game lead ! 

yankees suck !

[airspuds]

Nice quote from cubs 2nd base man ,  at least we out drew the sox.  In the sun time s   Hahaha .   Nice.    September games that matter to be played.   Sox tigers. Should be good  baseball   

[CEValkyrie]

And just like that the White Sox are on the bubble.

[airspuds]

We will have to wait and see how they respond.
Tigers good team, white sox  1-14  at Comerica last  15.
Home vs Minn and Kc this week.

Meaningful games in Sept.
I do not think Cubs season ticket holders got Playoff ticket invoices.
Barney is looking forward to Oct golf in Az.

[airspuds]

Plenty of good seats available !!!

[Dan Michler]

See AJ Pierzynski's career stats pasted in below.  In bold is his HR totals.  Anybody else find it suspicious that a 35 year old suddenly has that kind of boost in power?

2001 MIN    114 381 51 110 33 2    7     55 16 57 1 7 .289 .322 .441 .763 1.6
2002 MIN    130 440 54 132 31 6    6    49 13 61 1 2 .300 .334 .439 .773 2.1
2003 MIN    137 487 63 152 35 3    11   74 24 55 3 1 .312 .360 .464 .824 4.2
2004 SF      131 471 45 128 28 2    11   77 19 27 0 1 .272 .319 .410 .729 0.1
2005 CWS  128 460 61 118 21 0    18   56 23 68 0 2 .257 .308 .420 .728 2.0
2006 CWS  140 509 65 150 24 0    16   64 22 72 1 0 .295 .333 .436 .769 1.8
2007 CWS  136 472 54 124 24 0    14   50 25 66 1 1 .263 .309 .403 .712 1.0
2008 CWS  134 534 66 150 31 1    13   60 19 71 1 0 .281 .312 .416 .728 0.6
2009 CWS  138 504 57 151 22 1    13   49 24 52 1 1 .300 .331 .425 .756 1.2
2010 CHW  128 474 43 128 29 0    9     56 15 39 3 4 .270 .300 .388 .688 0.7
2011 CHW  129 464 38 133 29 1    8    48 23 33 0 0 .287 .323 .405 .728 0.3
2012 CHW  122 435 63 121 15 4    26   73 25 67 0 0 .278 .325 .510 .835 2.3

[Chainmeister]

See AJ Pierzynski's career stats pasted in below.  In bold is his HR totals.  Anybody else find it suspicious that a 35 year old suddenly has that kind of boost in power?

2001 MIN    114 381 51 110 33 2    7     55 16 57 1 7 .289 .322 .441 .763 1.6
2002 MIN    130 440 54 132 31 6    6    49 13 61 1 2 .300 .334 .439 .773 2.1
2003 MIN    137 487 63 152 35 3    11   74 24 55 3 1 .312 .360 .464 .824 4.2
2004 SF      131 471 45 128 28 2    11   77 19 27 0 1 .272 .319 .410 .729 0.1
2005 CWS  128 460 61 118 21 0    18   56 23 68 0 2 .257 .308 .420 .728 2.0
2006 CWS  140 509 65 150 24 0    16   64 22 72 1 0 .295 .333 .436 .769 1.8
2007 CWS  136 472 54 124 24 0    14   50 25 66 1 1 .263 .309 .403 .712 1.0
2008 CWS  134 534 66 150 31 1    13   60 19 71 1 0 .281 .312 .416 .728 0.6
2009 CWS  138 504 57 151 22 1    13   49 24 52 1 1 .300 .331 .425 .756 1.2
2010 CHW  128 474 43 128 29 0    9     56 15 39 3 4 .270 .300 .388 .688 0.7
2011 CHW  129 464 38 133 29 1    8    48 23 33 0 0 .287 .323 .405 .728 0.3
2012 CHW  122 435 63 121 15 4    26   73 25 67 0 0 .278 .325 .510 .835 2.3

These days one can never make any firm assumptions about whether a player in any sport is or is not a user.  Its a bit easier in baseball than it is with many olympic sports. In those sports there are a variety of PED's and there is a running battle between the sophisticated users and the testers to see who is ahead.  Pretty much the same substances- steroids and testosterone, are the choices for basball and football.  The testing seems to work and they seem to catch the users these days. All I know is everybody gets tested and there are no known positive tests for Pierzynski.  Also, we usually see across the board jumps for users. Their batting averages increase and they often do better in a variety of statistics. Pierrzynski's fielding is about the same if slightly better. That could have a lot to do with his pitchers giving him a better chance.  His average is a bit down which is common when a player sees himself as a run producer and becomes less of a spray hitter.  Pierzynski is up in home runs and has more RBIs. The latter is because of where he hits in the order, the home runs and the fact that the Sox are scoring a lot more runs this year. In short, I don't think he is using but I am never surprised when somebody gets a positive test. The only thing that surprises me is that you took so long to post this. I think your reaction time is down. The conspiracy theororists have been  on this issue all Summer. You are certainly not using PED's. Your fast twitch Sox hating fibres are a bit delayed.  This should ease your pain in the coming weeks. I think you should worry more about Doug than AJ. His fast twitch Cub hating seems to provide ample evidence that he's juiced.I am surprised he has not made the same argument about Soriano.  I'm just saying.

[Tom McManus]

Based on his home run numbers, it certainly is possible.

[airspuds]

not possible , AJ plays the game right !

[airspuds]

First Place White Sox ! 

the hockey strike is getting more press than the Cubs right now !

[Dan Michler]

I'm not saying he did or he didn't.  The general fan base has made assumptions on many players of recent history who had a sudden burst of power that was completely anomalous when compared to the rest of their career (e.g., Brady Anderson and Luis Gonzalez), and other players who decllined into their mid 30's and then were suddently resurrected better than ever (e.g. Bonds and Clemens).  Maybe Pierzynski made a swing change that I don't know about.  I don't think anybody is convinced the current drug testing system works 100%.  A ton of minor leaguers are getting caught, but not too many big leaguers.  I think if you have the resources and $$, your chances of being caught go down.

What we know is there aren't too many starting MLB catchers in their late 30's.  We know AJ had some injury problems last year.  And now after 14 seasons of being a singles/doubles hitter, he is one of the top power hitting catchers in the game at age 35.  Unfortunately, nobody can ever be completely innocent anymore no matter how many drug tests they pass.  There are too many Lance Armstrong's out there cheating the system that we just can't trust anybody.

What to make of Ryan Braun?  He hit his 40th HR the other night.  Having a monster year.  I think most will assume he's probably still doing whatever it was that got him in trouble, but he's just getting away with it.  And if we think he's getting away with it, then why wouldn't we think there are dozens and dozens of other guys also getting away with it.

[airspuds]

Go white sox !

[Clonan]

UGH, it has been hard to watch the Sox's offense this past week.  I wish they would just wake up and go on a terror into the playoffs.  Starting tonight would be nice!

[Chainmeister]

If there was a news story about the tight race between the Tigers and the Whitesox it would likely have appeared in The Onion. All I can say is How about them Twinkies! Hopefully some home cooking will get things going on the south side.

[Tom McManus]

UGH, it has been hard to watch the Sox's offense this past week.  I wish they would just wake up and go on a terror into the playoffs.  Starting tonight would be nice!

In 2005 the White Sox almost had an epic collapse.  That post season turned out pretty well for them. No saying what is going to happen this year, but they are still in first place.

[Clonan]

I remember that fondly.  The Sox were 3 (or less) games ahead of Cleveland with a 3 game series/season finale against them. They went on to sweep them taking that momentum into a 12-1 postseason.  Good times that 2005 was...

Heard that Saturday vs. TB could be the potential clincher?? or earliest possible game..  If they play well this week I think ill invest in some cheap seats to have a chance at experiencing that...

[Dan Michler]

Heard that Saturday vs. TB could be the potential clincher?? or earliest possible game..  If they play well this week I think ill invest in some cheap seats to have a chance at experiencing that...

You've lost 5 straight and are 1 game up with 10 to play and you're talking about clinching 6 games from now?  You Sox fans are a pretty confident bunch.

Difference with the 2005 White Sox is they won 99 games despite the late season collapse.  They were a dominant team.  This 2012 White Sox will be under 90 wins if they don't win 9 of their last 10.  They are a mediocre team.  But hey, recent history has shown mediocre teams can win the WS.  All you gotta do is make the show and then anything can happen.

[Clonan]

Haha easy Dan,  nobody said the Sox are GOING TO clinch Saturday but rather the earliest possible game they COULD is saturday with a Tiger meltdown and Sox surge.  With the way both the Tigers and White sox are playing it wouldn't surprise me if we had another Central tie-break game.

[pdga#7648]

See AJ Pierzynski's career stats pasted in below.  In bold is his HR totals.  Anybody else find it suspicious that a 35 year old suddenly has that kind of boost in power?

2001 MIN    114 381 51 110 33 2     7     55 16 57 1 7 .289 .322 .441 .763 1.6
2002 MIN    130 440 54 132 31 6     6    49 13 61 1 2 .300 .334 .439 .773 2.1
2003 MIN    137 487 63 152 35 3   11   74 24 55 3 1 .312 .360 .464 .824 4.2
2004 SF      131 471 45 128 28 2   11   77 19 27 0 1 .272 .319 .410 .729 0.1
2005 CWS  128 460 61 118 21 0    18   56 23 68 0 2 .257 .308 .420 .728 2.0
2006 CWS  140 509 65 150 24 0    16   64 22 72 1 0 .295 .333 .436 .769 1.8
2007 CWS  136 472 54 124 24 0    14   50 25 66 1 1 .263 .309 .403 .712 1.0
2008 CWS  134 534 66 150 31 1    13   60 19 71 1 0 .281 .312 .416 .728 0.6
2009 CWS  138 504 57 151 22 1    13   49 24 52 1 1 .300 .331 .425 .756 1.2
2010 CHW  128 474 43 128 29 0     9    56 15 39 3 4 .270 .300 .388 .688 0.7
2011 CHW  129 464 38 133 29 1     8    48 23 33 0 0 .287 .323 .405 .728 0.3
2012 CHW  122 435 63 121 15 4   26   73 25 67 0 0 .278 .325 .510 .835 2.3

You are certainly not using PED's. Your fast twitch Sox hating fibres are a bit delayed.  This should ease your pain in the coming weeks. I think you should worry more about Doug than AJ. His fast twitch Cub hating seems to provide ample evidence that he's juiced.I am surprised he has not made the same argument about Soriano.  I'm just saying.

If I am the Doug you are referring to, how did I get brought up in this conversation?? I never talk about the White Sox?
I think Soriano is an idiot. but juiced?? I could be wrong, but I think he hit HR's as a Yankee and in Texas, but I could be wrong? ANYONE could hit a HR at Wrigley Field. Our high school diamond here in town is 330' down each line and 410' in center. lol

[Chainmeister]

See AJ Pierzynski's career stats pasted in below.  In bold is his HR totals.  Anybody else find it suspicious that a 35 year old suddenly has that kind of boost in power?

2001 MIN    114 381 51 110 33 2     7     55 16 57 1 7 .289 .322 .441 .763 1.6
2002 MIN    130 440 54 132 31 6     6    49 13 61 1 2 .300 .334 .439 .773 2.1
2003 MIN    137 487 63 152 35 3   11   74 24 55 3 1 .312 .360 .464 .824 4.2
2004 SF      131 471 45 128 28 2   11   77 19 27 0 1 .272 .319 .410 .729 0.1
2005 CWS  128 460 61 118 21 0    18   56 23 68 0 2 .257 .308 .420 .728 2.0
2006 CWS  140 509 65 150 24 0    16   64 22 72 1 0 .295 .333 .436 .769 1.8
2007 CWS  136 472 54 124 24 0    14   50 25 66 1 1 .263 .309 .403 .712 1.0
2008 CWS  134 534 66 150 31 1    13   60 19 71 1 0 .281 .312 .416 .728 0.6
2009 CWS  138 504 57 151 22 1    13   49 24 52 1 1 .300 .331 .425 .756 1.2
2010 CHW  128 474 43 128 29 0     9    56 15 39 3 4 .270 .300 .388 .688 0.7
2011 CHW  129 464 38 133 29 1     8    48 23 33 0 0 .287 .323 .405 .728 0.3
2012 CHW  122 435 63 121 15 4   26   73 25 67 0 0 .278 .325 .510 .835 2.3

You are certainly not using PED's. Your fast twitch Sox hating fibres are a bit delayed.  This should ease your pain in the coming weeks. I think you should worry more about Doug than AJ. His fast twitch Cub hating seems to provide ample evidence that he's juiced.I am surprised he has not made the same argument about Soriano.  I'm just saying.

If I am the Doug you are referring to, how did I get brought up in this conversation?? I never talk about the White Sox?
I think Soriano is an idiot. but juiced?? I could be wrong, but I think he hit HR's as a Yankee and in Texas, but I could be wrong? ANYONE could hit a HR at Wrigley Field. Our high school diamond here in town is 330' down each line and 410' in center. lol

Tongue was firmly placed in cheek at that point.  I was chiding Dan for being slow to criticize the Sox (which he likes to do) and comparing him to  your normally quick criticism of the Cubs (which you like to do).  Its a rhetorical flourish called the "double edged sword" where I aim for Dan and recklessly slash you on the backswing.  Alll of this, of course, is in good fun.  Dan and I have known each other for a long time, and for a Cubs fan he's a good guy.  I have been told that the same goes for you notwithstanding your fascination with birds.