posted on Monday, June 02, 2008 11:50 PM
by
Jim
Week in a Box: May 26 - June 1
Player of the Week: Alexei Ramirez. Yup, somebody took the title away from Carlos Quentin, as Ramirez hit safely in six of seven games. He started the week by failing on a hit-and-run, then making up for it with
a fake bunt single. He also prevented a shutout
by homering off James Shields, and actually came up with a hit with runners in scoring position
in the finale.
Player of the Weak: Paul Konerko and Nick Swisher. Konerko went 5-for-29 and Swisher went 4-for-23. Konerko gets bonus points for being the third Sox hitter to pop out with a runner on third, but Swisher has an edge by
striking out looking to end a game.
Pitcher of the Week: John Danks. Danks' best performance of the season (6 IP, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K) was
the only win the Sox would get in Tampa Bay. Jose Contreras (7 IP, 1 ER) and Javier Vazquez (10 K in 7 IP) were hard-luck losers.
Pitcher of the Weak: Mark Buehrle. Got off on the wrong foot by giving up a first-inning slam in
a loss to the Indians, then followed up by squandering a small lead
against the Rays.
Fireman: Octavio Dotel. Four outings, five innings, zero runs. Tip of the cap to Ehren Wassermann, who
worked a career-long 3 1/3 innings, allowing no earned runs. It was an outing he desperately needed.
Gas Can: Scott Linebrink and Matt Thornton. Both allowed walk-off homers against the Rays, the only damage done off the bullpen this week.
Super Sub: Toby Hall. Ramirez no longer counts, so we'll give it to the guy who keeps hitting and isn't afraid to use the opposite field. He went 2-for-3 with a double, walk and RBI
against the Indians, and had
one of four hits off Scott Kazmir.
Super Scrub: Dewayne Wise. 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in his only start. And thus endeth his White Sox career.
Gold Glove: Alexei Ramirez. Made four sterling plays at second base over the course of the week, as well as a couple key double plays.
Hands of Stone: Paul Konerko. Screwed Ehren Wassermann twice in consecutive plays by failing to record the third out. He dropped a routine Alexei Ramirez throw, and then bounced a throw home on what became the first "triple steal" since 1987, on what should've been a pickoff.