Two questions with (crappy) video after the least satisfying victory of the season:
No. 1: How could you, Alex Rios?
Rios actually had an above-average day at the plate, collecting a flare single and an ugly sac bunt to raise his average in a White Sox uniform to .157, but he completely obliterated the tatters of his reputation with this play:
(If somebody with MLB.tv and the know-how could make an animated .gif of that play, I'd be forever in your debt.)
I just... I don't know. I had fears that his contract would be Linebrinkian, and it appears those are completely warranted.
At any rate, this is making the case to retain Scott "Four Hits" Podsednik all the more compelling. Although there's a good chance he will revert to his frustrating form next season, there's really no way to dismiss his production, especially considering his competition.
(Oh, and Jermaine Dye? He's now at .174/.271/.273 in 188 plate appearances since the All-Star break.)
No. 2: Can the Sox give Tony Pena back?
I fully endorse calling Pena "Mahoney," in honor of the Buffalo Wild Wings commercial:
Thanks to some heads-up Oakland baserunning and defense, the Sox have now won two consecutive games in which Tony Pena has pitched. Of course, they would've won it sooner had Pena and his 0-2 rollers never entered the equation.
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Let's counter that with two items of good news:
No. 1: Detroit lost.
The Sox are somehow 6 1/2 games back of first place. The blueprint is still intact, even though the Sox only took one from Oakland.
No. 2: The Sox have a real fifth starter.
For at least one game, anyway. Jake Peavy says he's ready to go, which will spare the Sox from at least one Carlos Torres (or equivalent) outing.
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Tuesday's minor league roundup:
- Great Falls 4, Helena 2 (completed game)
- Nelson Curry picked up the win by allowing just a solo homer over four innings, striking out six.
- Nick Ciolli went 0-for-1 with three walks and two stolen bases.
- Weird line for Kyle Colligan: 0-for-4 with three steals.
- Helena 4, Great Falls 3 (Game 2, 7 innings)
- Ciolli went 3-for-4 with a double.
- Trayce Thompson singled twice, struck out twice, stole a base and committed a throwing error.
- Kyle Colligan singled, walked and stole two more bags.
Wednesday's minor league roundup:
- Salem 7, Winston-Salem 2
- Why the minor league playoffs don't matter: Daisuke Matsuzaka held the Dash to one run over 6 2/3 innings.
- Justin Edwards allowed four runs on five hits and four walks over six innings. He struck out four.
- Brent Morel went 1-for-3 and drove in both runs.
- Justin Greene went 2-for-4 with a double.
- Lakewood 4, Kannapolis 2
- Eduardo Escobar went 2-for-4 with a double; Jon Gilmore went 2-for-4, himself.
- Josh Phegley went 1-for-4 with a double; Daniel Black went 1-for-3 with a walk.
- Charles Leesman wasn't sharp: 5 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.
- Santos Rodriguez walked two and allowed a hit in two-thirds of an inning.
- Kannapolis vs. Helena
