posted on Thursday, June 21, 2007 1:09 AM by Jim

Dadgummit!

Somebody better check on Hawk Harrelson.  I think you could hear his veins giving way over the Comcast broadcast of today's game.  I mean, I'm not really a fan of his, but I'm genuinely starting to worry.

If you missed today's game, he sounded close to jumping out of the booth.  The first clip is after Juan Uribe failed to catch Jon Garland's slightly difficult throw to second, and you can hear him stewing.  When Brett Carroll made a diving catch of Uribe's liner with the bases loaded to end the eighth, he may have had a small aneurysm.

Either way, I hope he's wearing a LifeAlert bracelet.  (C. Everett Koop is a handsome man, by the way.  That picture can sell anything.)

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Ranking the White Sox All-Star candidates, from most likely to least likely:

1) Bobby Jenks.  Today's blown save notwithstanding, Jenks is 18-for-20 in that category with a sub-3.00 ERA.  Worse closers have made All-Star teams.
2) Mark Buehrle.  His WHIP (1.09) and ERA (3.45) are All-Star caliber, and he has the no-hitter as well.  The record is going to kill him.
3) Jon Garland.  See Buehrle, minus the no-hitter.
4) Jim Thome.  Among league leaders in OBP, but doesn't qualify for the batting title, so nope.
5) Darin Erstad.  Leads league in grit, hustle and redness of ass.
6) Luis Terrero.  Is there anybody else?

And Scott Merkin has to write about it.  I really hope he earned a degree in PR, because this has to kill a reporter.

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After today's game, Jerry Owens was demoted to Charlotte.  While the corresponding roster move has yet to be determined, I'm guessing it's a guy who plays the role of "food" in The AL Central Trail.

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Minor league round-up:
  • Norfolk 6, Charlotte 1
    • Heath Phillips turned in a performance for the ages: 8 IP, 14 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 3 K on 120 pitches.
    • The Knights only managed three hits, but one of them was a triple by Danny Richar, playing his first game for Charlotte.  Another was an RBI double by the slumping Brian Anderson.
  • Chattanooga 1, Birmingham 0
    • You think the White Sox's offense is bad?  The Barons haven't scored in 27 innings, and only put up five hits today.  Ricardo Nanita had two of them.
    • The offense spoiled a tremendous outing by Jack Egbert -- one run on two hits over seven innings.  He walked one and struck out 10.  The only problem was that he walked both batters and hit one in the same inning, forcing in a run.
  • Winston-Salem, Birmingham OFF

Comments

# re: Dadgummit!

Thursday, June 21, 2007 1:34 AM by Gregory Pratt
I despise him. But I've gotta ask: do you know why Boston management/Boston fans hate him, too?

# re: Dadgummit!

Thursday, June 21, 2007 2:28 AM by zolthorg
I wonder what triggered the comment explosion. Anyway...

The Sox seem to have taken on the personality of Vazquez. Despite being put in a situation to succeed and being talented enough to do it, they just keep finding a way to lose. I read on SSS that a few fans are now actively cheering for losses. I don't think I could ever fall that far, but I certainly see where they're coming from.

Also, at one point Hawk commented that the only pitch Gregg was throwing was a fastball. I knew we couldn't hit RP, but RP that only throws one pitch? I guess to be fair, we did actually get a couple hits off him. So then the correct phrase would be our hitters can kinda, sorta, maybe do something if they know what pitch is coming.

We just keep finding ways to lose. I'm sure there are more inventive and depressing methods the Sox just can't wait to try

# re: Dadgummit!

Thursday, June 21, 2007 3:00 AM by quartz77277
I was watching the game today... I'm not even sure why anymore. When I heard Hawk's reaction to the caught ball in centerfield ("Dadgummit!"), I actually thought he was going to walk out of the booth and never come back. The only way to describe the emotion that Hawk displayed would be the polar opposite of his reaction to Crede's infamous home run at the end of the 2005 regular season. I guess I am happy that we have an announcer who cares this much. I just hope it doesn't give him a heart attack.

# re: Dadgummit!

Thursday, June 21, 2007 1:44 PM by Dad
Even though I knew the outsome, I couldn't resist watching the encore coverage of the game from the 7th inning on. Radio call-ins wanted to string up Uribe, but Garland's throw could have been better. As already said, the team finds some way to self destruct when the pressure is on. The "Dadgummits" are increasing in intensity, and Hawk may have to be iced down after games to prevent him from going on the DL. He's doing his best from the booth, although many of the "stretch-stretch" fly balls are barely making it to the warning track. But his and DJ's silence (and stewing)after the Sox miscues says it best.

# re: Dadgummit!

Thursday, June 21, 2007 11:38 PM by Jim Margalus
I don't really know why Boston fans hate him. I know he did some broadcast work for them, but at the same time, he had his best years in a Boston uniform. So I don't know.

For some reason, it's actually easier to listen to this version of Hawk.

# re: Dadgummit!

Friday, June 22, 2007 8:00 AM by Gregory Pratt
Nobody knows the answer. :(

Probably because he wasn't a huge part of the Red Sox back then but he's always talking about it.