It’s just Game 3 of the second half of the 2006 season and the Chicago White Sox are experiencing what I prophesied four or five weeks ago. They are drowning. I predicted:
(1) They would have to settle for the wild card spot or less;
(2) The Yankees would surge and threaten for the wild card; and
(3) Detroit would gain ground in July on an easier schedule.
Seeing Jim Thome fanned out by Big Unit Randy Johnson the other night at Yankee Stadium proved that this big acquisition can only sustain the Sox for so long.
Unless he’s a mega year old and has superman stats, Thome will fall back toward average. Look for him to hit half the home runs he hit during the first half.
A brainless Ozzie Guillen will soon look back with regret on the games he allowed reliever Cliff Politte to screw up, but that’s only where some of the blame should go. Guillen has mismanaged the bullpen all season. Retiring Brendan McCarthy in a tied Yankees game in favor of a lefty was completely foolish, by the rules let’s be democratic and give everyone a chance, stupid.
The Yanks are on their way, today, to a three-game sweep of the Sox, which advances my theories mentioned above, in points (1) and (2).
Despite the fact that in the late innings Kansas City has a huge lead over the Tigers in today’s contest, the Motor City giant continues toward a leading postseason berth.
Last year, the Sox deserved to win because they kept their minds on business. This year they can’t seem to stop mugging on camera, like AJ did during the Home Run Derby broadcast.
Today, the Sox are four and a half games behind Detroit. Look for them to end in July at least five years ago or more.
After today, the Sox will only have a three-game lead over the Yanks in the wild card.
That lead could easily evaporate by mid-August, putting the Sox in retirement in October, unless they wake up, and soon!