Imminent Panic

The Facts: The White Sox will begin a three game set with the Cleveland Indians tomorrow night at Jacobs Field. That's the good news. The White Sox are two games below .500, 30 games into the 2009 season and are looking for some acceleration. With the Indians' offensive woes, the Cleveland series just may provide that opportunity. With right hander Jose Contreras heading to the minors to work on some mechanical issues, Clayton Richard will come out of the 'pen on Wednesday afternoon in Cleveland. Brian Anderson and Dewayne Wise are still on the shelf recuperating, both fighting for the same job.

Breaking It Down: This division reminds me of my childhood home. You never knew what was going to happen next, and nothing really surprised you. Many "experts" had the Royals positioned for first place and "they" will continue to speculate as long as Greinke is pitching well. Don't count on it. The Royals cannot handle winning games very much longer and Greinke is a nervous breakdown waiting to happen. Sure, the kid changes speeds as good as anybody, but Minnesota, Detroit and Chicago will not allow Kansas City to sit on top of that division much longer.

30 Games from now? For the White Sox, it's going to get worse before it gets any better. Contreras will eventually take the mound again and will get a no decision his first game back. Paul Konerko will fall into his early summer slump, while Thome finally gets into the swing of things. Alexei Ramirez will start warming up with the weather, but don't look for a breakout until Ozzie brings Alexei back to second base. 60 games into the season, look for Detroit to be at the top of the A.L. Central.
Prediction: 28-32

Center of Attention

Are the White Sox truly a team that is moving toward a "youth movement"? They can't be. Not truly, anyway. Along with Chris Getz and Jim Thome, 33 year-old Scott Podsednik will rejoin the Chicago White Sox this evening, when the Sox open up a three game series in Arlington, Texas. Podsednik will most likely be in center field for an ailing Brian Anderson, who is recovering following a strain in his right oblique. Podsednik inked a Minor League deal with the Southsiders on April 14. In 10 games with Tripe-A Charlotte, Podsednik hit .262 and swiped one base.
The Sox have been searching for a reliable lead-off man, since Podsednik went on and off the DL in 2006. "Pods" was very instrumental in Ozzie's "small ball", where he hit .290 in the lead-off spot and grabbed 59 stolen bases. Podsednik joined the Colorado Rockies in 2008. The question many Sox fans are barking is , "Where is Rowand?" Truth is, with Brian Anderson showing promise at the plate, along with his exceptional range in center-field, the White Sox have no room on their roster for Aaron Rowand. While Rowand would be a nice addition for a team lacking character, it cannot come at the expense of the energetic and maturing Brian Anderson. In the meantime, the Sox will get what they can out of Podsednik and hope for the best.

Taking a Halladay

It's quite difficult to locate something you never owned in the first place. That's why for Jose Contreras, finding his first victory of the season has been a bit daunting. In yesterday's 4-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, Contreras appeared to relocate something that has been eluding him this season: command. Contreras (0-3) worked seven innings in the no-decision, tying the most innings pitched by the Cuban right-hander since June of last season. Anyway you break it down, seven innings of three run ball is pretty impressive for a 38 year-old pitcher only seven months removed from a ruptured Achilles tendon. In spite of not registering a victory, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen appeared to be extremely satisfied with his senior hurler.
"Awesome job," Guillen said. "He was more aggressive, [threw] more strikes. He had more confidence today."
Veteran reliever Scott Linebrink was summoned to work the eighth inning of a 3-3 tie. The usually reliable Linebrink gave up a double to Vernon Wells who led off the inning. Former Cardinal Scott Rolen would then single home Wells for the go ahead and eventual winning run. The Blue Jays had entered Sunday's game with a league leading 120 runs scored. It would take an additional four runs by the end of Sunday's contest to best the White Sox.
The Sox got to Roy Halladay (4-1) early, but not often. And certainly not enough. The Sox scored three times before the fourth inning and then went into famine mode. Sox centerfielder Brian Anderson improved his batting average to .349 by tagging the Jays for three hits. Anderson is certainly making his case for full-time centerfielder during the absence of Dewayne Wise. Wise's timetable to return is uncertain, and as long as Anderson is producing, the uncertainty may mount. The Sox start a three game set against the AL West leading Seattle Marinerstonight at The Cell (7:05). The Sox will put John Danks (0.95) on the mound this evening while they look to bounce back from dropping two of three to Toronto. It's imperative the Sox finish the homestand .500, and they will certainly need to be more aggressive at the plate if that is to happen. "Seattle is a good team," Paul Konerko said. "But we just lost two of three and need to try to win at least two of three to make it a good homestand."

What About Bob?

I had just finished my breakfast when I opened up Joe Cowley's most recent article entitled "Bobby Jenks uncensored ... read with an empty stomach." Sanitary and hygiene habits of a 6-3, 275lb roughneck all for the reading. Apparently, Jenks has been known to "go Number 2" anywhere. Literally. During interviews, he is also known to use his shirt or whatever he may be wearing to deposit snot and saliva. Whatever his personal habits are off the field, Jenks makes saving games for the White Sox a habit on the field. And quite frankly, that's all that matters. "That's the type of guy that when he gets out there it's just extreme confidence,'' outfielder Brian Anderson said. "You've got the confidence that there will be a guy throwing four-plus pitches for strikes, not to mention that if he has to throw 100 he probably still could. He defines the closers' role." Jenks has registered three saves in this young 2009 season. Scouts and fans alike are wonedring if Jenks can still hit triple digits on the radar gun. For Jenks though, it has been a learning process. Like Sandy Koufax of years past, he is realizing that overpowering batters doesn't always equate to strong appearances. "I want to sit you as quickly as possible,'' Jenks said. "Going out there 60, 70 times it could wear you down by September. Going out there and being efficient early, that's something you have to learn the more you do it. The goal is to be better at the end."