Baldwin a bust

(June 6)

Short Take:  Never in this one

The Sox pounded Kansas City for 12 hits but never even came close to winning this game.  A five-run second inning allowed by James Baldwin placed the Sox in a deep hole they never recovered from, 12-6 losers.  The five game win streak comes to a screeching halt.

Baldwin wasn't fooling anyone.  Ten hits and seven earned runs, including a dinger, the 7-0 deficit was the back breaker.  JB had plenty of pitching company in the Sox clubhouse taking early showers.  Jon Garland fared hardly better allowing three runs (and a dinger) in three innings.  Rookies Ken Vining and Matt Ginter each pitched one inning and allowed a dinger each, too.

How come none of these Kansas City bums was ever made to hit the dirt?

While the Sox line up kept putting runners on base, not one of the twelve hits was collected by #3 hitter Ray Durham or Mr. Versatility Josh Paul.  Durham struck out three times in an 0 for 5 performance.  Paul was brutal at the plate looking positively silly guessing at the next pitch, striking out twice.  His performance behind the plate was equally ugly.  "The Luckiest Man in Baseball" might be his next moniker after he barely got a tag on a runner attempting to score.  

If Josh Paul wasn't so versatile, you would have to say he just plain sucks.

Yes, Carlos Lee and Paul Konerko each had 2-run dingers.  Jose Valentin put a jolt into one, too.  Magglio Ordonez collected three hits but still managed to achieve what has become all too common a mistake this season:  thrown out stretching his hit one extra bag.  

If Gary Pettis wasn't such a great baserunning coach, you would have to say he just plain sucks.

Okay, the rubber game is Thursday afternoon.  Take care of business and get some rest for the next series.  Bigger fish to fry this weekend.