Danny Delivers!

(September 10)  

Short take:  A moral victory only.

The pressure is off, so perhaps Sox Fans weren't too surprised our Pale Hose came through in this game.  They needed a four-game sweep but instead manage just a split, 7-1 victors at Cleveland.

Sox Fans, was that all there was to this game?  Not exactly.

If not for a pathetic record against the Minnesota Twins, the Sox would be in fine shape and doubtlessly challenging, if not leading, the Indians for the division crown.  One thing is for sure--the Sox are no longer intimidated by the Cuyahoga Chokes.  For the second consecutive season, our Pale Hose emerge the victors in the season series, 10 games to 9.  

Label this season "What if", Sox Fans.

Rookie starter Danny Wright was brilliant.  His lone mistake of the night was a homerun ball to Jim Thome.  That can happen to anyone; just ask Keith Foulke.  While Wright made Cleveland look silly, Sox bats went to work on the terminally-fat "ace" of the pathetic Cleveland staff, Bartolo "Donuts" Colon.

"Donuts" was chased in the sixth.  Jeff Liefer punched a round-trip ticket in the third, Royce Clayton put the Sox up for good in the fourth.  If you think Colon's 4.21 ERA is pathetic for a starter, you should consider the pile of trash Tribe manager Charlie Manuel sent to the mount for the remainder of the game.  We're talking about a playoff team here, Sox Fans.

The Sox stuck a fork in the eye of Cleveland's pathetic bullpen for another four runs in the final four innings.  It got so bad even Royce Clayton was given a base on balls.

Oh sure, these guys deserve a chance in the post-season.

Whoever it was that stole Alan Embree's uniform, let's hope he keeps coming back. Unlike anyone we Sox Fans are familiar with wearing that uniform, the guy pitched two hitless innings striking out three.  Gotta love that!

So it's a moral victory and we bid adieu to the Cuyahoga Chokes for another season.  Next year ought to be different.  Isn't it always, Sox Fans?