Roller-Coaster White Sox Game Elucidates Flaws

I'm not going to lie. After the top of the 8th inning of the White Sox-Tigers game, I started to write an article entitled "Terrible White Sox Managing and Defense Hands Detroit Tigers the Victory." I underestimated the power of the 9th inning.

The White Sox won. The top-5 MVP candidates Jermaine Dye and Carlos Quentin saved the game and put padding in between the White Sox and Twins/Tigers. It was amazing. However, the White Sox cannot go through the next 61 games like this if they are to stay atop the AL Central. The White Sox still need to make changes and Ozzie Guillen has to stop making some bad calls late in the game.

My biggest problem with Ozzie Guillen's decision-making skills was in the bottom of the seventh inning. Guillen decided to put in the worst bullpen pitcher of the White Sox - Nick Masset. When he put Masset in, the thought running through my mind was, "Oh boy, they (the White Sox) are gonna lose." Sure enough, Carlos Guillen smacked a solo homerun and I punched the wall. Octavio Dotel, Scott Linebrink, Matt Thorton, DJ Carrasco, or Boone Logan would have been a much better choice.

The White Sox also played terrible defense, which practically handed the Tigers the game. There were two double play opportunities. The first was in the bottom of the first, where a perfect double play was hit to Alexei Ramirez. However, Orlando Cabrera wasn't playing in double play position. This allowed the runner at first (Carlos Guillen) to screw up Cabrera's throw a lot more easier, causing an error and a Curtis Granderson unearned run. The second opportunity was in the bottom of the third, where another double play was hit to Josh Fields, who bobbled the ball. He didn't get a single out, when he could have easily at least tagged Miguel Cabrera running to third. The score at this point was 4-1, when it should have been 2-1.

The White Sox bats were (early) just as cold as the defense. In the first inning, Cabrera swung at a first pitch ball and grounded out. Then, AJ Pierzynski struck out on three pitches (all looking). Then, Carlos Quentin swung and flew out on the first pitch. It took Nate Robertson only FIVE pitches to get out of the first inning. Robertson retired the first six batters. That was a trend for the first six innings. I was extremely happy when skipper Jim Leyland put in the struggling Joel Zumaya to pitch. Alexei Ramirez was a bright spot in the White Sox offense, going 3-for-4 with 2 doubles.

EDIT: I just read this article which explains Ozzie's decision and it's A LOT MORE understanable now why he went to Masset. Linebrink and Thorton were pseudo-injured.