dasox24 Posted July 28, 2003 Share Posted July 28, 2003 I though it was a pretty good read, but many of you have probably seen it already. Anyway, here it is. Sox on paper need to meet Sox on field by Rick Morrissey We've been hearing for months now that it's only a matter of time before the Royals go away. This is based on the time-worn theory that, OK, every dog has its day, but the yapping Royals—are you kidding me? Yeah, that time-worn theory. That the collapse hasn't happened 103 games into the season would seem to suggest that if the White Sox are serious about the American League Central race, they will need to take care of the Royals this week in Kansas City. A minimum of two victories in the three-game series. A message. Nothing less. "We'd like a sweep," said Mark Buehrle, who will be the starter in the series opener Tuesday. "No mercy," shortstop Jose Valentin said. So, yes, the Sox fully understand what's at stake here. Not just the chance to seriously carve into the Royals' four-game Central lead, but a chance to take a broom to the Royals' spirit and beat it like a rug. The Sox are the more talented team, but you could say that about most teams the Royals have faced this season. This is the chance for the underachievers to finally achieve. The Sox's nine victories in their past 10 games have been nice, but the current success has come against B-list teams and mostly at home. They beat Tampa Bay on Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field, as they should have, to take two of three against the Devil Rays, as they should have. Nothing to apologize for, of course, but nothing that would make the Royals shake in their spikes. Think about that: The Royals, comfortable in their own skin, have no more reason to be worried about the Sox than they would about any other team these days. We arrived at this point how, exactly? Well, the Royals are good, for starters. They beat the Sox three times to open the season, spawning an identity crisis in the Sox that lasted months. But April showers have brought a lot of talking in July. "We're a little different team now," manager Jerry Manuel said. "I think this team has got more of a swagger and attitude now," said Frank Thomas, who homered in the Sox's 9-1 victory Sunday. "We made those trades (for Roberto Alomar and Carl Everett), got two quality veterans added to what we have [and] there's a lot of confidence in the room." This is pretty simple. The Royals seem to understand that the Central games matter more. By beating the Tigers 5-1 Sunday, their record against division opponents is 32-11. No team has a better division winning percentage. The Sox are 27-24 in Central games. Starting Tuesday, that gap doesn't matter so much if the Sox can take what they learned in batting-practice games against Detroit, Cleveland, Toronto and Tampa Bay and apply it against the only team that matters right now. There are any number of reasons for the Sox to believe they eventually will take over first place. The Royals don't have a single player in the AL top 10 in any significant offensive category—batting average, home runs, runs batted in, runs, on-base percentage or slugging percentage. They are third from the bottom in earned-run average. But that's all paper stuff, and the Sox are the kings of looking good on paper. "They play great team baseball, and that's why they're winning," Thomas said. "But we're starting to play good team baseball, too, and hopefully, we're a little more talented." Ah, the talent thing again. The Sox have it. The Royals aren't supposed to have quite as much. The Royals went into a slump in May and the general consensus was that it sure was nice for them to stop by and thanks again for coming, fellas. But they righted themselves, showing the type of resiliency the Sox have been after for two seasons. Are the Royals for real? I have a more relevant question for you: Are the Sox for real? This is a maddening team, up one moment and down the next, like a needle on a lie-detector test. True or false: You believe in this team. If you do, you're a trusting soul. Some of us need more evidence. To know what you're going to get from the Sox from series to series would be a miracle. To watch them take two of three from Kansas City would be enough for now. This is where it starts. Against a serious team. A for-real team. What else matters? The next series matters. In Seattle. Against a really for-real team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hotsoxchick1 Posted July 28, 2003 Share Posted July 28, 2003 the sox on paper should have collided with the sox on the field at the begining of the season....lol... we wouldnt be in second place now thats for sure..........we always look good on paper....geez...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasox24 Posted July 28, 2003 Author Share Posted July 28, 2003 the sox on paper should have collided with the sox on the field at the begining of the season....lol... we wouldnt be in second place now thats for sure..........we always look good on paper....geez...... yea, that's very true. I'm not a big fan of cliches(sp?), but I guess that's why they play the games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg775 Posted July 28, 2003 Share Posted July 28, 2003 One at a time, Mr. Morrissey. We can't get ahead of ourselves or the Sox on the field are gonna continue to get nowhere fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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