Rocked, then rolled

(July 25)

Short take:  Big game, flat effort

Here was another big game.  The Sox figured to need to win at least 3 of 4 from Cleveland in this series and they had only managed to split the first two games.  They figured to need Thursday's finale too, but typical for the 2001 White Sox, they made the point moot losing before they ever got that far.  Rocky Biddle and the Sox get rocked early and rolled into the ditch by the Indians, 7-5 at Cleveland.

Kenny Williams, start dealing.

Rocky Biddle had nothing.  From the very start he was getting lit up.  Whatever slumber manager Jerry Manuel was in, he didn't awake from his comatose state until there was one out in the third inning and his starting pitcher tagged for seven earned runs.

It was truly ugly and the lack of urgency amongst the field staff quite disturbing.  Here's a team you're trying to catch not just for the wild card but the division race, too.  If you can't reach into your bullpen early in this game, precisely when would you ever?  

There is no tomorrow for the Sox, at least not as currently constituted.  As bad as things were on the mound, the Sox still show flashes of what made them great a year ago.  The second inning was beautiful.  Paul Konerko started things with a solo dinger, then three singles by Sandy Alomar, Royce Clayton, and Ray Durham, brought Jose Valentin to the plate.  His drive to right brought home two runs and suddenly the Sox had a 3-2 lead.

Biddle kicked it away the very next inning and the Sox never recovered.  Manuel brought in Jon Garland who was truly the only bright spot of the evening.  He shut down Cleveland's offense with four scoreless innings.  In contrast to the mess Biddle made, Sox Fans can't help but think Garland effectiveness is destined to earn him a spot back in the rotation.  Biddle's would appear to be available.

Corpseball for the rest of the game until Magglio Ordonez got an rbi double in the ninth.  Too little too late.  The Sox managed to out-hit Cleveland 12-9.  Horses and hand grenades-type statistics, really.

We were buried early, just like our entire season.