White Sox frustrated heading into series at the Dome
Posted on April 29th, 2008 – 10:27 AMBy Joe Christensen
Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was not happy after his team’s effort Monday, in a 3-3 game against Baltimore suspended after the 11th inning because of rain.
“We stunk,” Guillen told reporters. “I’m tired to see the effort like that.”
I watched the game, looking to update the numbers in this story, as the White Sox and Twins begin a two-game series at the Metrodome tonight.
White Sox (14-10, stats below count suspended game, too)
Batting average: .242 (ranked last of 14 teams in AL)
Runs per game: 5.2 (1st)
Walks: 109 (Tied for 3rd)
On-base percentage: .338 (7th)
Home runs: 34 (1st)
Twins (11-14)
Batting average: .261 (5th in AL)
Runs per game: 3.8 (13th)
Walks: 51 (Last)
On-base percentage: .303 (Last)
Home runs: 13 (13th)
Tonight, the Twins face upstart White Sox RHP Gavin Floyd (2-0, 2.84 ERA). I spoke to a major league scout yesterday described the way Floyd is coming into his own. His best pitch always has been a curve ball. The difference this year, is he’s been better at getting into good counts with his fastball, allowing him to use the curve as an out pitch. (Are you listening Francisco Liriano?)
Floyd went 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in two starts against the Twins last year. Michael Cuddyer is 2-for-5 with one home run off him, and as La Velle mentioned in his preview box, Justin Morneau took him deep in his first two at-bats on July 6.
97 Responses to "White Sox frustrated heading into series at the Dome"
Lets go get’em fellers
This is very interesting they have a lower average but they walk more and strikeout less then the Twins.
I wonder if this is the Strib writers’ attempt to actually criticize the Twins, w/o actually mentioning the Twins.
proof, once again, that BA is not the most important stat. OBP and Slugging % are much more important.
I went to ESPN and did some sorting on team offense, wow, the Twins are even worse than I thought. All but 3 teams are better than them in OPS, meaning nearly every NL team, with a pitcher hitting, hits better than they do!
But, I’m sure that Terry Ryan is a genius, and this has nothing to do with the job the Twins did drafting and developing players the last 10 years. It must be something else.
So do you think there scoring more runs because they’re only swinging at good pitches? Brilliant
If hunter gets a higher batting avg with more HR’s after leaving Minnie and going to LA can we fire Joe “beat the ball into the dirt” Vavra
if Allen from the vike’s does good and booty is qb and wins will the headlines in the Trib read as follows
“The Vikes win with the help of 69 and Booty”
Current ChiSox against Bonser (BA/OBP/SLG/OPS, career): .284/.324/.526/.850
Current Twins against Floyd (career):
.387/.472/.839/1.311.
Just for the curiosity of it, Livan Hernandez is 3 for 3 against him with 2 doubles and a homer. Do you think he might be available to pinch hit? 
The Sox have almost one more HR per game more than the Twins.
Even if they were all solo HR’s that would mean almost one more run per game.
If half of the HR’s had just one man on, thats a run differential of 1.5 runs per game.
Actual run differential is 1.4.
Gotta love HR’s.
Lets see.
Thome, Konerko, Dye, Crede, Swisher, Quentin, AJ and Uribe.
Can’t understand where those HR’s are coming from.
jimmiebee,
If you think that Torii was beating the ball into the dirt with the Twins, you need to sit closer to your TV.
Nahh Torii doesn’t hit the ball into the dirt. I can see it clearly on the 50 in plasma in HD
Oh great, another start for Boof. I better make alternate plans for this evening
sane- how is that series out there with the Angels vs Tigers. I wish we could get it. Can’t wait for the freeway series.
jb,
Angels won 2 out of 3.
I don’t have time for the Angels because of HS practices and games.
Plus, I’m a Twins fan.
I was always a Twins fan and a Dodger fan. With the acquisition of Torii I now pay a little attention to the Angels. Still think they should call them the Anaheim Angel’s. When I grew up in LA it was not as though the Angel’s even exsisted
I want to invest in the “I WANT BOOTY”
t-shirt business in Minnesota.
If you wear an “I WANT BOOTY” t-shirt, no one will know whether you are a Viking fan or just horny.
Whoever starts that business will become a rich man!
Just give me booty
Booty call
booty or bust
got booty
4th quarter at the Dome.
T-Jack is struggling and the Dome is rocking as the crowd screams the chant:
“WE WANT BOOTY!!!!”
“WE WANT BOOTY!!!!”
“WE WANT BOOTY!!!!”
ha hah hah ah ah ha ha lolololol.
Booty Call anyone?
And still the unanswered question.
Are they Vikings’ fans or just horny?
that would be a quite the investment
“and look off to the left everyone there is the Queen Mary also the Dome where the Spruce Goose used to be and look there off to the left is someone on a compputer blog on a lap top selling “We want Booty T-Shirt’s”
I don’t think the Vikings or the NFL could force you to pay for the rights to sell that t-shirt.
It has nothing to do with football, does it?
Sell them at Venice beach
sane now would you sell these t-shirts out of a booty call wagon or what?
If you don’t mind, I’m not going to make any criticisms of this Sox team prior to this series.
The Baseball Gods taught us a very valuable lesson in humility after LEN3’s article on Sunday.
The Sox are one of the thirty worst teams in baseball.
You know what team is starting to get me noticing them is the Ray’s. Maybe not this year but in a few years
so what is gardys plans to turn these twins fortunes around… i would love to know….
i guess we can only hope that the real season starts tonite…..its not too late !!! start the streak
mj1
Plan? Are they supposed to have a plan?
Interesting note from Rosenthal over at FSN:
Crede’s hot start increases his value, and the White Sox would consider a deal only if they could help their major-league club, knowing Crede is likely to depart as a free agent and that Josh Fields is ready at Class AAA.
A rental-for-rental deal might work if the White Sox needed a starting pitcher or reliever — that way both teams could preserve their rights to draft-pick compensation.
Would the Twins benefit from making a play for Crede? I know his name’s come up here on more than one occasion.
We’ve got relievers, we’ve got starters…still quite a surplus once injuries start healing (though I’d imagine that may be one hamper)
If they’re serious about rebuilding, as well as looking to shake things up…something interdivision may just be in order.
The Sox are one of the thirty worst teams in baseball.
Yeah, but the Twins are in the Top 10! Eat THAT Chi-
Oh wait…
Just to keep up the talk…
Crede didn’t play much last year (injury if I recall), but in 06 (his last full year) he hit .283 with 30 HR and 94 RBI.
I’d say that tops anything the Twins have at 3rd. And his current hot start (as pointed out) would to me be an indication that he was able to recover form his poor season last year.
He’s going to be a Free Agent why would you trade for him?
T
I would love to have Crede but i doubt the Sox would trade him within the division. I would gladly trade them Rincon and Livan as they are both on there last years but being as how they are all rental players it would only benefit them not us. I doubt Cred would resign with us or we would give him the money he wants.
Crede wouldn’t be in the Twins Small ball beat the ball in the dirt budget
Joe C.–I have to call you out a little bit for that fluff job on Joe Mauer in today’s paper…is that really the off-day story that needed to be told?
Personally, as I’ve often stated on these blogs, I think Joe Mauer has failed as a 3-hitter, and nothing that’s taken place in this 10-game hitting streak has changed my mind on that.
Mauer came up multiple times over the weekend in RBI spots and failed to drive in the runs. He has 10 RBI this month–hardly an impressive total for a number 3 hitter, although, sadly, it’s good for third on this squad.
What wasn’t addressed in the “Mauer has found his swing again” story was the fact that “his swing” doesn’t seem to include the ability to stroke for gap power, much less hit one over the fence.
So even though Harris has been a bright spot, hitting over .300, I still don’t see why you would keep Mauer in the 3-hole, and I really don’t see why one would feel the need to write a feature story on his hitting when there seems to be many more questions on the fans’ mind.
This is especially true considering you don’t get the feeling as a Twins fan that we have a lack of Mauer-driven hype in this town.
And that whole rant and I believe it was LaVelle’s story….sorry Joe C….comments directed at LaVelle. Please accept my apologies 
Crede is to expensive for “stingyball”
If the White Sox trade Crede, its not going to be another team in the same division.
He’s going to be a Free Agent why would you trade for him?
It’s only if they’d be thinking to sign him. Which is what I was asking. Would it be worth it to bring him in assuming they’d resign him at the end of the year.
(I’m sure that’d be one of the conditions)
Doesn’t matter because he would cost to much and they wouldn’t get rid of him to the same division
If the White Sox trade Crede, its not going to be another team in the same division.
If the Twins approach with a good offer I’m sure they’d consider. Though I will admit I can’t think of any notable inner-division trades.
Anyone notice that Zito has been demoted to the bullpen? Love those big money, long-term pitcher contracts!
Anyone notice that Zito has been demoted to the bullpen? Love those big money, long-term pitcher contracts!
Barry Zito, proving more and more with each passing day the Twins were smart to let Silva walk.
T-Barry Zito, proving more and more with each passing day the Twins were smart to let Silva walk.
And Torii and Santana and Tyner and Ford and ……..
It’s easy to look at the Zito signing now and say it was a huge mistake but at the time he was one of the best pitchers in baseball. Thats the chance you have to take sometimes and for the Twins they could afford to gamble on one year of Hernandez but not five years of Silva. I guess you could also say the Cardinals got a steal when they signed Lohse but it’s ealry yet.
And Torii and Santana and Tyner and Ford and ……
You mention Torii and Santana, which implies lingering bitterness regarding their depature.
But then in the same breath you mention Tyner and Ford, which leaves your post looking like an agreement.
Which would then fly in the face of your last four or five comments about tightwad this and thrifty that.
Has anyone ever sat in the Upper Box Seats behind home plate at the dome? I’m looking to go to the game this Saturday and was wondering if these seats are any good
Mauer was so incredibly touted (#1 pick in the draft, Minor League Player of the Year shortly thereafter) and when he won the batting title in ‘06 it set expectations for him thru the roof. He’s laid an egg since then, and now a lot of people are saying we really shouldn’t expect that much from him. What kind of logic is that? A 22-year-old former batting champion now settling into being Slightly Above Average Joe? You don’t go from .347/13/83 to a defensive specialist/punch and judy hitter the rest of your career. Come on, Joe, get it going! How are you different than 2006? You should be getting better, not getting worse as you enter your prime.
Robert: If you’re referring to the seats behind the net, I’ve sat there a few times.
You get a good view of all the action without having to turn your head, and you can get a feel for inside/outside on the pitches (high/low not so much)
It was way back last season though, so my memory may be hazy.
Those seats are very good, Robert…
But I don’t believe you’re telling us the truth…remember, Patrick Reusse proclaimed two Sundays ago that commenters on these blogs are not paying customers. Therefore, you must not be seriously contemplating buying a ticket to a Twins game.
T yes there is still a bad taste in my mouth over the Torii thing and Tyner I thought was a great little ball player. Tyner and Gomez would have drove opposing managers crazy if they were on the basepaths at the same time. Sorry for venting T I should have more control.
Thanks guys, I appreciate the input. Reusse can go to hell…
baseball insighter,
“He’s laid an egg since then…You should be getting better, not getting worse as you enter your prime.”
Hitting .305 is not laying an egg.
If you wanted IMPROVEMENT from being the first AL catcher to win the batting title and IMPROVEMENT from hitting .347,
maybe you set your sights a bit high.
Maybe one of us can top that in our next lifetime.
Would it be too much to ask him to hit it over the fence more than once a month, sid?
Tyner and Gomez would have drove opposing managers crazy if they were on the basepaths at the same time.
That’s very true, but the downside is that Tyner in the lineup means he’s either DHing (we know how that worked out) or in LF (I know Young hasn’t done much, but he’s got a better chance to developing power than Tyner)
Luis Rivas and Christian Guzman either one had more power then Mauer
Not to mention, Mauer is widely seen as one of the best defensive catchers in the game. I don’t think all those runners he’s thrown out would say he’s laid an egg.
Jason,
“Would it be too much to ask him to hit it over the fence more than once a month, sid?”
If that comes with a .270 average (as with most catchers), its the wrong thing to ask for.
I would ask for a return to the .347 year and continued defensive excellence.
If the Twins want power, get it from the other hackers who don’t have to give up THEIR .347 averages for a once-a-month HR.
T Tyner was always on the base paths. I think without looking that he probably had a higher OBP than Young. Also Young has zero HR’s to this point so looking at it this way I dunno. Though my favorite moment was when Tyner hit a HR
Rivas is washing cars with Dustin Mohr.
Let’s check the lifetime stats:
Rivas: 31 HR, 185 RBI, .260 BA (8th season).
Guzman: 47 HR, 342 RBI, .264 BA (9th season)
Mauer: 35 HR, 226 RBI, .313 BA (5th season)
High HR #’s for each in there career
Rivas 10 hr’s
Guzman 10 hr’s
Mauer 13 hr’s
highest year in HR’s for each
It shows how badly Mauer is underperforming when he’s even in the same conversation as Guzman and Rivas…
I don’t break it to you, sid, but many other No. 3 hitters in baseball manage to hit around .300 while putting 20-30 over the fence and driving in close to 100…it’s quite common, actually…come to think of it, we used to have one, he wore No. 34.
I think the proper comparison for Mauer is to weigh him against other All-Stars (something we all seem to assume that he is) and not the other hacks in our last-place offense.
And on that note, I will refer you to Jorge Posada, Victor Martinez, and Pudge Rodriguez
ES16 don’t make me bring up Randy Bush #’s
1988 and 1989 Bush had 14 HR’s in each season which is higher then Mauer’s High total.
I can also bring up some of Ivan Rodriguez’ #’s or Mike Piazza’ #’s and see how Mauer compares to each.
Do Twins fans want Mauer to become a .270, 20-75 hitter who plays a below average 3B?
Change his position?; change his swing?; decrease his height?
Its like your wife trying to fix all your problems AFTER she has already married you.
sid I dont think anyone is questioning
Mauers value as a Catcher it’s more the fact that he’s hitting 3rd in the order. Mauer is better suited for the 2 spot.
It’s easy to look at the Zito signing now and say it was a huge mistake but at the time he was one of the best pitchers in baseball.
A common mis-perception. He had three very Silva-ish years prior to becoming a free agent. He hadn’t been one of the best pitchers in baseball since 2003 and was showing an obvious decline in skill.
Ivan Rodriguez’ high was 35 hr’s but also had a .332 avg that year. Not to shabby. Piazza’ high was 40 which he did twice while batting .362 and .303.
Mauer is a #3 hitter on a poor hitting team. He should not to be compared to other #3 hitters, except for BA.
He belongs somewhere else in a good teams batting order.
Compare him to other good defensive catchers (Pudge&Posada-OK wait 2-3 years for Mauer to gain experience; Victor&Piazza-VOMIT).
If you judge every player on the number of HRs they hit, you don’t know much about baseball.
BOOTY SUCKS
WORST PICK SINCE DEMETRIUS UNDERWOOD
Hopefully boof gets a quality start and the twins score some runs!!
That combo has been rare over the last couple weeks!
shameless,
List everyone you approve of.
I’ll wait.
And on that note, I will refer you to Jorge Posada, Victor Martinez, and Pudge Rodriguez
You mean the Pudge Rodriguez that is posting his 4th consecutive OPS+ below 100? Or the Jorge Posada that has become so awful behind the plate that he’s lost his catching duties to Jose Molina?
Compare him to other good defensive catchers (Pudge&Posada-OK wait 2-3
Posada isn’t a good defensive catcher.
Anyone that didn’t attend the university of spoiled children(USC)
…and the love affair with Joe Mauer continues…
Hit one over the fence or drive in a couple runs with a double and get back to me…the seeing-eye singles and double plays are getting old…
I agreee with you Jason the hitting by Mauer this season doesn’t warrant him hitting in the 3 spot, but who if not Mauer?
good point, shameless…not the greatest of options, but to be honest, I would rather Cuddyer, Kubel, or Young….
Mauer should bat second, if not lead-off…
Of course we’ve finally “Freed Jason Kubel” and come to find we still have a .247 hitter with no speed and marginal power….
Good thing we set him free…
Is Joe doing the lineups today?
Matt Nokes 32hr’s .289
Gary Carter
Darren Daulton
Johnny Bench
Oh god should I even start ripping into Kubel wheeeeeeew………
Gogomez a go tonight?
If so, here’s my lineup:
Gogo
Mauer
Cuddyer
Morneau
Kubel
Young
Lamb
Harris
Tolbert
Excellent lefty-righty mix….although you want to load up lefties against Floyd.
jimmy bee, you are almost sounding like as big of a baby as BC Beneke
jimmy bee, you are almost sounding like as big of a baby as BC Beneke
Only in 1,000 less words.
BC rambles on and on and on and on and on. Right snepp snepp
and on and on and on and on and on…
Yogi Berra. Shall I name more and more catchers I think deserve some of the praise over Mauer. If Mauer wasn’t from Minnesota we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
Only in 1,000 less words.
and with less crying
did I break it?
Thurman Munson
Carlton Fisk
jimmy bee, you are comparing Hall of Famer’s careers against Mauers 4 years in the bigs. Apples to Oranges.
Well Robert the way people carry on and on and on and on like he is one of these players maybe people should come back into orbit ( reality ) and do some comparing of Mauers stats to the great’s. Mauer is has a good eye with no power and with his height will not probably play his entire career as a catcher. Like I have stated in the past he is a Minnesota legend not a sports legend.
It might be fair to compare those player’s first four years to Mauer’s. Got any numbers?
1. Johnny Bench
2. Yogi Berra
3. Josh Gibson
4. Roy Campanella
5. Mickey Cochrane
6. Ivan Rodriguez
7. Mike Piazza
8. Carlton Fisk
9. Gary Carter
10. Gabby Hartnett
11. Bill Dickey
12. Elston Howard
13. Steve O’Neill
14. Ted Simmons
15. Joe Torre
16. Buck Ewing
17. Roger Bresnahan
18. Thurman Munson
19. Jorge Posada
20. Ernie Lombardi
21. Lance Parrish
22. Wally Schang
23. Ray Schalk
24. Bill Freehan
25. Biz Mackey
26. Darrell Porter
27. Bob O’ Farrell
28. Rick Ferrell
29. Jason Varitek
30. Mike Scioscia
31. Bob Boone
32. Jim Sundberg
33. Gene Tenace
34. Tony Pena
35. Johnny Kling
36. Rollie Hemsley
37. Tom Haller
38. Del Crandall
39. Al Lopez
40. Walker Cooper
41. Terry Kennedy
42. Darren Daulton
43. Mickey Tettleton
44. Terry Steinbach
45. Sherm Lollar
46. Jason Kendall
47. Smoky Burgess
48. Johnny Roseboro
49. Tim McCarver
50. Luke Sewell
