2006 State of the Sox

September 30: White Sox 6, Twins 3

Well, the Sox are doing everything possible to help the Tigers take the division, winning the first two games against the Twins.  Unfortunately, Detroit isn't holding up its end of the deal.

The Sox enjoyed their first three-game winning streak in more than a month, and did it with an offense that pounded out base hits, and Jon Garland carrying a shutout into the ninth.  Garland won his 18th game of the year, and will finish the year leading the team in wins for the second straight season.

Since it doesn't really matter how the Sox won, I'd rather talk about the interesting dynamics at play in the field this morning (the game started at 11:10 a.m. CST):

• Tadahito Iguchi packing heat in the lower part of the order.  The Emperor had three hits and three RBI, including his 18th homer of the season, to key this win.  He's already set a career-high in homers, he's improved his walk-rate while reducing strikeouts, cut down on errors, and will finish with a near-identical OPS (he's a few extra-base hits short).

That said, I feel vaguely disappointed with his season, and I'm not sure why.  Some of it has to do with his bunting/situational hitting, which appeared to be less solid compared to his rookie season.  He may have also been streakier, and when he looks bad at the plate, he looks bad.  Most of it is probably due to Scott Podsednik not being nearly as effective, and thus the 1-2 combination lacked punch.  At any rate, it's another solid season in the books, and his option will be exercised.

• Ryan Sweeney versus Brian Anderson.  Pods started today, and I'm not sure why.  Anderson manned center, and Sweeney was in right.  If Anderson and Sweeney are competing for the same job, Sweeney won decidedly today.

Sweeney went 2-for-4 with a two-out RBI single; Anderson went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.  Anderson played flawless defense, but Sweeney made a nice sliding catch by the wall.  Fall and winter ball is going to be crucial for Anderson's future, both short- and long-term.

• Enough with the Alomars already.  Sandy Alomar Jr. started today, and while he had a walk and a hit, there's no point in him being out there, not with Chris Stewart on the bench.  Given the way he threw Grady Sizemore out twice in his last start, I want to see more of Stewart.  We already know Alomar's done.
  

• Ross Gload, .329 hitter.  He had three more hits, including a triple.  Ross, if you're reading this (and I bet you are), please, please, PLEASE work on your outfielding skills so we can play you more.

Record: 90-71 | Box score | Play-by-play