Chicago White Sox Week in Review (5/18-5/25): Carlos Quentin—Kid in Left Field

Before the MLB season started this year, I was already excited to be a White Sox fan.

Not because WGN put together a great Sox/Cubs montage. Not because the Sox picked up some mid-level role players/gamers/young guns to fill out their roster (see Nick Swisher, Alexei Ramirez, Carlos Quentin, Octavio Dotel, Scott Linebrink). Not because I'm always excited to be a White Sox fan.

I was excited because it wasn't 2007.

2007 was the worst season that the ChiSox have played since New Comiskey Park opened. The Terry Bevington/Nardi Contreras years were difficult, but the Sox were still at least slightly competitive then. Last year, however, was a debacle of epic proportions, and it pushed me to the edge. I quit watching and listening to games and in a moment of severe desperation, had a vision of switching my allegiance to the Cubs.

Yeah. It was that bad.

Now, it's May of 2008. Nothing's going as the pundits and prognosticators said it would. The baseball world is topsy-turvy, which is fine with me, as the Sox are on top of the division.

The question is who gets the credit? Kenny Williams, for making moves like Jay-Z? Ozzie, for managing well and pushing the right buttons? Jay Mariotti, for criticizing the Sox at every turn and giving them the fire to win?

No, the credit in this situation goes to the White Sox pitching staff and a little-known young man named Carlos Quentin.

Carlos Quentin started this year out as "that kid from Arizona." Now, he is known around these parts as "Cansequito," "Team MVP," or my favorite, "A Beast, Like That Mutant From the X-Men." Carlos has carried this team with his clutch hitting (and getting hit by pitches), power, and solid outfield defense. He is, like Cassidy said, a hustler, the likes of which have not been seen roaming Roger Bossard's carefully manicured grass since Aaron Rowand.

Most of all, Quentin is not an attention-hog; he's quiet and modest off the field. He said in an interview that he feels blessed to have made it with the Sox.

On the field, however, Carlos Quentin is the guy your mother warned you about. He plays with fire and passion, and above all else, he wants the team to win. Who else have you seen sprint 'round the bases like that after a home run?

After a 4-2 homestand, the Sox have some holes to fill. The offense still is not up to speed (as the series with the Angels showed), and with Juan Uribe on the 15-day disabled list, second base has become a platoon assignment. But I don't see them falling off like last year anytime soon, solely due to the fact that Carlos Quentin is a beast.

(That will be my answer for most of the problems with the Sox this year. With the world, actually. "Global warming is melting the ice caps! What are we going to do?" "Don't worry, Carlos Quentin is a beast.")

So to end with, Carlos gets my Beast of the Week award, especially after Sunday night's game. 8 for 25 with 8 RBI over the week is good for a .320 average.

Sharing the BotW award with him is the pitching staff, who allowed a paltry 11 runs on the six-game homestand. The Sox lead the AL in the month of May with a 3.02 ERA, 67 earned runs and 12 HRs allowed. They've also allowed 174 hits and 58 walks, both one behind the league lead.

I apologize; I usually put what the Sox need to win in the coming week, but my answer would just be "Carlos Quentin is a beast."

Parting shot: Anyone seen Joe Crede lately?

Until next time, keep waving the Pennant.