2008 State of the Sox

Week in a Box: May 5 - May 11

Player of the Week: Carlos Quentin.  I should want to send him a fan letter for a week in which he hit .400 and drove in seven, including a three-RBI game against the Mariners, but I shouldn't want to type the letter on a death certificate.  Honorable mention to Juan Uribe.

Player of the Weak:  Nick Swisher.  Not a Swishalicious week by any means -- four 0-fers in six games including three strikeouts against the Twins and five stranded against the Mariners.  He also committed his third error the year on a bobble in right, and missed a slightly difficult catch down the right-field line later in the game that would've made up for it.

Pitcher of the Week:  Jose Contreras.  He benefits from only pitching once, though he gave the Sox seven strong innings against the Mariners.  This was Gavin Floyd's award to lose after a near no-hitter against Minnesota, and that he did with a lousy start against Seattle.

Pitcher of the Weak:  Mark Buehrle.  He took out his frustrations on a portable heater after getting knocked out by the Twins in the sixth down 7-0.

Fireman of the Week:  Octavio Dotel.  Dotel struck out five over two innings in key middle-relief work against the Twins, and then worked an inning-plus of scoreless ball against Seattle, although he was bailed out by Uribe and Toby Hall.

Gas Can of the Week:  Ehren Wassermann.  Mike MacDougal could pop out of his chest cavity in any appearance now, and nobody would be surprised.  He was roughed up by the Twins for five runs over two-thirds of an inning, and was knocked around by Seattle as well.  His ERA?  23.62.

Super Sub of the Week:  Brian Anderson.  Hit a three-run homer against Seattle and showed superior range in center.

Super Scrub of the Week:  Pablo Ozuna.  He came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in a one-run game against Toronto and promptly grounded into a 1-2-3 double play.

Gold Glove:  Brian Anderson.  He made the catch of the year in center and nearly pulled off a better one the following night.

Hands of Stone:  Nick Swisher.  I would've given this one to Quentin for dropping a flyball that blew a potential shutout for Floyd, but if he doesn't make the error, maybe Floyd loses the no-no bid the following inning.  So Swisher gets this for some awkward play in right.