Sox earn Boston's respect

[bjm676]

Finally a team without players talking smack (Casey Blake, Craig Monroe both come to mind)

 

White Sox earn Boston's respect

 

CHICAGO -- Regardless of the results from this weekend's four-game series against Boston, the White Sox are a team to be reckoned with in 2005.

 

If the double-digit lead in the American League Central and their record sitting 30 games above .500 isn't convincing enough, then simply ask the defending world champions for a few educated opinions in support of the South Siders.

 

"They really have proven themselves so far," said Boston center fielder Johnny Damon of the White Sox. "They go out there with little fanfare, and are quietly taking care of business. They have five quality starters and can score runs with the best of them."

 

"This team is playing a different type of game, but they're not fluky at all," added Boston first baseman Kevin Millar. "You're not a fluke anytime this late in the season. They have a great pitching staff and some great speed with [scott] Podsednik. There's no secret why they're up there."

 

Even though the secret is out where the White Sox are concerned, some skeptics still refuse to take their success as fact. They point to the team's struggling offense, ranking second from the bottom average-wise in the American League entering Sunday, a rash of nagging injuries and even the schedule as reason for doubt.

 

As Ozzie Guillen quipped earlier this week, apparently his team has played nothing but Triple-A opponents until the Red Sox's arrival. The first four meetings with Boston were supposed to be a true test, with almost nothing but first-division teams on the schedule for the entire month of August.

 

A four-game sweep by the Red Sox, though, wouldn't have weakened the White Sox's confidence, anymore than a four-game sweep in the other direction would have truly convinced them that a World Series title was in the offing. A number of White Sox players actually believe the best is yet to come.

 

"I think we can be a better team than in the first half," White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko said. "We didn't hit that much in the first half. The offense was very shaky.

 

"We got timely hitting and that's why we won games. But in the next month or so, we need to pick it up offensively and get some easy games to give the pitchers a break. They have been horses all year, and it could take its toll."

 

The White Sox's dominance doesn't mean that Ken Williams isn't looking to make his team even better. Anyone who knows the general manager understands that his goal is to bring the best talent to the South Side and give the White Sox the best chance to win a title -- even if the move appears to be improbable or darn near close to impossible.

 

Last June, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that Freddy Garcia, the market's No. 1 pitching prospect, was headed to the Yankees. By the first week of July, Garcia was part of the White Sox for the next three years.

 

Jump ahead one year and exchange Garcia's name for that of Florida's A.J. Burnett. The White Sox are rumored to be the favorite to pick up the free agent-to-be, even though sources close to the situation believe Burnett would be a rent-a-player for the final 60 games.

 

"We got timely hitting and that's why we won gam

es. But in the next month or so, we need to pick it up offensively and get some easy games to give the pitchers a break. They have been horses all year, and it could take its toll."

-- Paul Konerko

 

Much like Garcia, Burnett is very friendly with Guillen from their days together in Florida. The former Kane County (Ill.) Cougar has a 43-44 career mark, with a 3.80 ERA, and has battled back from Tommy John surgery. But he also features a 94-96 mph fastball, a sharp breaking curve, and according to Boston starter Matt Clement's comments Sunday on the White Sox's flagship radio station, Burnett has the best stuff of any teammate that he has ever witnessed.

 

That list includes the Cubs' Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.

 

"He's one of the best arms I've ever seen," said Guillen of Burnett, who allowed one hit over six innings when facing the White Sox on June 15 of last season. "Not too many people out there can do what he does.

 

"When I see his name in the media when everybody wants him, I feel good about it because he's a good friend of mine. Hopefully, he can do the best for anybody he's going to play for."

 

The Chicago Tribune reported in Sunday's edition that the White Sox might be close to acquiring Burnett, who started Sunday afternoon in San Francisco. The story suggested the club would give up left-handed reliever Damaso Marte and Brandon McCarthy, the highly touted rookie right-hander, who struggled during his five Major League starts this season. The story also added that the White Sox would have 72 hours to negotiate a new contract with Burnett and would have to find a left-handed replacement for Marte.

 

If the White Sox don't close a deal for Burnett, the Red Sox appear to be another strong contender for the 28-year-old right-hander. With Curt Schilling eventually returning to the Boston rotation, he would give Boston the arms to match one of the best offenses in baseball.

 

By the time these two teams face off again the weekend of Aug. 12 in Fenway Park, the Burnett sweepstakes will have been completed and the trade deadline will be a thing of the past. It's a safe bet the White Sox still will be in first place, and it's an even safer assumption that they won't put any higher stakes on that series than they did on the four games in Chicago.

 

"It doesn't matter what happens in this series," Damon said. "It will come down to the postseason, and it seems like they are going to be there."

 

"I don't know what's a good team," a sarcastic Guillen added. "[boston] is 10 games behind us. We have 10 wins more than they do and we're not a good team. I don't know how to explain that."

[greasywheels121]

While I may not have the greatest respect for their fans, their players certainly gained some this weekend. Good stuff.

[GoodAsGould]

That was a very good series. The only game that was really out of their hand was the Garland game but that was still a very good game till the 6th or 7th inning whenever Wakefield exploded.