2008 State of the Sox

Week in a Box: May 12-18

Player of the Week: Carlos Quentin.  This is the fourth consecutive week he's taken this award, and once again, it's well deserved for the game-breaking grand slam against the Angels and a big two-run shot against the Giants.  He's the only consistent threat in the lineup.

Player of the Weak:  Nobody.  If you want to give it to Jim Thome, go ahead.  But it's hard to justify it when he not only drove in a game-winning run, but picked up a teammate in the process.

Pitcher of the Week:  Jose Contreras.  Dazzled the Angels with his forkball for seven innings in a heated pitchers' duel.

Pitcher of the Weak: Mark Buehrle.  The defense betrayed him during his start against the Angels, though he rebounded to defeat Barry Zito in a must-win start.

Fireman of the Week:  Bobby Jenks.  Four outings, four innings, no runs, no threats.  He hasn't walked a batter in eight appearances.

Gas Can of the Week:  Ehren Wassermann.  Two of his three outings were failures, and he retired a single batter in the successful one.

Super Sub of the Week: Alexei Ramirez.  He drove in the only two runs against the Giants with his first career home run, and filled in well in place of a hurting Juan Uribe.

Super Scrub of the Week:  Brian Anderson.  Everybody on the bench contributed, but Anderson frustrated me with his bases-loaded strikeout after he was ahead in the count 2-0.

Gold Glove: Gavin Floyd.  Hey, if he doesn't glove that smashed comebacker to start the 1-4-3 double play, his start could've gone in a whole different direction with the crap he was throwing.

Hands of Stone: Joe Crede.  Botched a chopper that allowed the Angels to score the tying run, then threw wide to Ramirez at second in a bases-loaded situation.  While Ramirez did get back to the bag and the ump blew the call, Crede could've made a much better throw.  He was also part of the dismal group effort behind Buehrle.