Drowned in a Puddle

(September 28)  

Short take:  Josh Paul the hitting hero?

How bad is it when your back-up catcher hitting in the #9 spot is your hitting star?  Furthermore how bad is it when he is the star against a pitcher with 16 losses and a personal seven-game losing streak?  You don't need me to tell you how bad it is, Sox Fans.  We all lived the same nightmare together.  Sox lose to mighty Chad Durbin and the anemic Kansas City Royals 3-2.

How'd we ever score two?

Josh Paul has been reduced by Jerry Manuel to a traditional back-up catcher's role.  He is no longer trusted on the base paths as a pinch runner.  Failing to throw out base stealers or block pitches in the dirt allowing runners to advance are now Josh's stock and trade.  So more than a few of us Sox Fans were surprised to see Josh be the one to finally solve the trash pitching slug Durbin was throwing.  It came with two out in the third inning.  As most homeruns go for our Sox, there was nobody on base.

Gary Ward must teach 'em to hit them that way.

Sox starter Jon Garland was pitching well enough to win.  He allowed just one hit across the first four innings.  The lack of support finally got to him, allowing two runs and four hits in the fifth.  The Sox strung together two singles and a sacrifice in the sixth to tie the game again at 2-2.  Garland retired the Royals in order in the sixth and still had a chance for the win.

Not a chance as much as a prayer.  Durbin issued two walks the next inning and the Sox still couldn't get a hit or a run.  Next Jerry Manuel went searching in the wasteland that has become the Sox middle relief staff and found cannon fodder named Alan Embree to pitch the seventh.

Bada bing!  Embree serves the watermelon that makes the Sox losers, a 3-1 dinger to Gregg Zaun.  The Sox manage just one hit the last two innings.  Zzzz... Zzzz... Zzzz...

Ray Durham, Jose Canseco, Carlos Lee, and Royce Clayton were a combined 0 for 13.  Jose Valentin was picked off first base.  Way to mail it in, guys.

More scintillating action from these two teams again tomorrow.

Hey Sox Fans!

Coming Sunday to White Sox Interactive:  a retrospective on the "Improbable Nightmare" of the 1967 Sox season.  They won with pitching and defense and not much else.  Written by Dan Helpingstine, author of the new book...

"Through Hope and Despair -- A Fan's memories of the Chicago White Sox, 1967-1997"  

Another WSI Exclusive!