Compelling Baseball

Tomorrow's game is at 2:10, don't forget. It's an afternoon game.

Ok so, it turns out that after scoring 15 against the Royals, the Tribe had a bit of pep left in them and were able to play a May-caliber game against Chris Sale who's having a really great year.

Also our Zach McAllister was on the ball today, man! Six innings, 2 runs scored (quality start!) He struck out 7. Man that kid is a striker - he's got 101 strikeouts in 112 innings, or about a 90% strikeout/inning ratio. Jiminez is under 80 and Masterson is just over.

We were lucky because we got to use Smith and Pestano as God intended, and Smith didn't let us down. But I'll be damned if one Vinnie Pestano didn't give up the game! I could hardly believe it either! But he got 2 on base and that Adam Dunn - yes the very Adam Dunn that was so utterly, utterly bad last year - came in and hit a 3-run dinger on 2 outs with 2 strikes. Jaws dropped.

We were down by 2 by that point, and could only make up 1 run in the 9th so in the end we lost. But we did have 13 hits and 3 walks, as well as 5 extra base hits, and only lost by 1 so I'll be darned if that wasn't a great game!

Choo had a mediocre night (1 for 4) until he got this MONSTER double making him 2 for 5 on the night with an awesome RBI. (Yeah awesome RBI!) He's got a 5-game hitting streak going on with 2 hits in each of his last 3 games! CHOOOOOOOOO!

The JK Kid, Jason Kipnis, was also feelin' it in his hometown tonight, also going 2 for 5 and coming in to score a run with a ton of hustle in his feet. If you watch that video, Asdrubal stood and watched the ball for a second while Kipnis hustled his ass off. WTF Asdrubal? (No I won't be making a companion sign for "OMG ASDRUBAL!!!" Although that'd be funny with all his errors this year...)

Kipnis has a 7-game hitting streak with 11 hits in those games!

Speaking of Asdrubal, that double WAS pretty sweet. He went 2 for 4 on the night with 2 doubles. He had 2 hits yesterday too, so all top 3 of our lineup has had some great games lately!

Carlos Santana, coming off 2 homers last night - either they are afraid and just throwing him junk today or he's got laser vision because he went 1 for 1 on the night with 3 walks. Seriously! Poor guy only got 1 run out of it and no RBI but you know what? He didn't have any LOB!

Did Michael Brantley hit tonight?

I wasn't in, baby!

Ha ha fooled you, all you people who said "Of course he did!" But in his stead, good ol' Russ Bus Canzler got himself a 2-run homer. He is still the real deal, I'd say, hitting .269 thus far. Him getting a hit anymore is almost as exciting as Brantley. Almost! Half smiley :]

You know what's crazy? Canzler got 2 RBI, the most of anyone on the team tonight, but he left 5 on base, also the most.

Other Vinny Rottino didn't get a hit BUT he was showing off his awesome arm again. Maybe not Choo-like but every time he's been in the outfield he's making big throws. Observe: Out at the plate!

The Chiz Kid Lonnie Chisenhall is still sayin' alive, although he's been cool lately. They want him to play now and face all the good Major Leaguers he can, and he had a good chance against Sale. He ended up going 1 for 3. They took him out later and put in Jack at 3rd and Kotch at first, and I'm pretty sure Kotch saved another hit, maybe a run, so ALL HAIL KOTCH!!

Sweet Lou Marson was the catcher today and he was over-achieving on the bases, because he got caught stealing twice. It wouldn't surprise me if catchers wanted to steal off AJ Pierzynski just for the thrill of it, and Marson thought this might be his last chance. He did not succeed! He did go 1 for 4 on the night.

Zeke has been pretty hot stuff lately, getting on base, making things happen. Tonight he went 2 for 4 with a run scored and has hits and runs in his last 3 games. That's interesting....can a dude be a good number 9 hitter? Is that a strategic spot? I think he's there for a reason, otherwise Lou or someone would be down there. I guess when you've got a guy as productive as Choo batting first, you do need to be careful who you throw in at 9th. And Zeke it is!

Anyway it was refreshing to hear a real solid two-sided baseball game tonight, with some good pitching and even better hitting. Good game, everyone! Line up for butt pats...? No...?

Tomorrow's game is at 2:10, as I said. Don't forget! The printed schedule says differently, the Google Calendar schedule says differently. I had to scratch it out with a pen to make sure I got it right.

The game will feature Corey Kluber versus LHP (5.09). Hmm...well we got 3 runs off LHP 2.82 today so I have high hopes for these guys if Kluber can keep it in check. It could turn out to be awesome!

I only have one Radio Chatter item for you today. I was listening but I was distracted by budgeting. Thinking of all the money I'm going to save by not going to baseball games all winter, or something.

It's at 2:10 - don't forget! See you there!

Radio Chatter:
"There isn't a White Sox heart that isn't in their throat right now."
- Tom Hamilton after the final play