I'm feelin' kinda lazy tonight. I did another Win Probability log again tonight. The Count did his best to put this game in the crapper early, but he finally settled down, and the Sox were able to scratch their way back into it.
Team Player Off Pitch Field WPA
Injuns Wickman 0.000 0.142 0.000 0.142
Sizemore 0.110 0.000 0.000 0.110
Rhodes 0.000 0.110 0.000 0.110
Hafner 0.061 0.000 0.000 0.061
Lee 0.000 0.045 0.000 0.045
Crisp 0.044 0.000 0.000 0.044
Broussard 0.037 0.000 0.000 0.037
Peralta -0.011 0.000 0.000 -0.011
Cora -0.048 0.000 0.000 -0.048
Boone -0.054 0.000 0.000 -0.054
Ludwick -0.119 0.000 0.000 -0.119
Belliard -0.138 0.000 0.000 -0.138
Miller 0.000 -0.160 0.000 -0.160
Martinez -0.246 0.000 0.021 -0.225
Howry 0.000 -0.293 0.000 -0.293
Injuns Total -0.364 -0.156 0.021 -0.499
Sox Crede 0.284 0.000 0.000 0.284
Hermanson 0.000 0.207 0.000 0.207
Rowand 0.168 0.000 0.000 0.168
Vizcaino 0.000 0.153 0.000 0.153
Marte 0.000 0.104 0.000 0.104
Everett 0.098 0.000 0.000 0.098
Pierzynski 0.061 0.000 -0.009 0.052
Ozuna -0.001 0.000 -0.003 -0.004
Uribe -0.037 0.000 0.015 -0.022
Perez -0.024 0.000 0.000 -0.024
Iguchi -0.071 0.000 0.000 -0.071
The Count 0.000 -0.099 0.000 -0.099
Dye -0.148 0.000 -0.004 -0.152
Konerko -0.194 0.000 0.000 -0.194
Sox Total 0.135 0.364 -0.001 0.499
Crede got most of his WPA from two plays. In the 7th, he doubled in Rowand off of Matt Miller, and in the 10th he grounded into a fielder's choice that advance Pierzynski to third while not recording an out.
As I said, I'm feelin' lazy, so here's some bullet point thoughts and observations.
- The Sox are off to their best start since 1991.
- Paul Konerko looks terrible at the plate. In the first five games he looked great. He was taking pitches well. He was driving the ball when he made contact. He was a hitter to be feared. In the sixth game of the season, he had to face Johan Santana. He hasn't looked the same since.
The same thing happened to pretty much the entire team last July after they had to face a string of quality pitchers. Thankfully, the pitching has been good enough to cover for a few guys getting off to slow starts.
- I spit Fritos™ all over when I saw Cliff Lee do his best Chuck Knoblauch impersonation. That throw was about 50 feet from first base.
- I really like what I've seen from Grady Sizemore. He's been very good while patrolling center field, and as he showed tonight, he can hit a little. Plus he's only 22 years old. He could be a thorn in our side for quite some time.
- The bullpen was as advertised tonight. One baserunner in 3.1 innings pitched.
- Injury Roundup
- Frank Thomas has been shut down until Monday. He's still got some scar tissue that needs to be broken up in his ankle. He obviously still has pain in the ankle too, otherwise I doubt he would have required a cortisone shot today.
- Scott Podsednik is likely to be held out of tomorrow's game against the Tribe also. Sounds to me like they are just being extra careful with him.
- Carlos Silva may be back a lot sooner than expected. I know one thing... The next time we see him, we better be bunting early to test that knee.
- Look for Ross Gload to get his first start of the season Thursday. I'd still like to see Pauly in the line-up. With Pods riding the pine for another game, Everett could be moved to left, and Pauly could draw DH duties for the day.
- Dmitri Update -- The Tigers and Indians are now a combined 1-6 against those teams that he "meant no disrespect to." -- I can see Dmitri taking Harold Reynolds' or John Kruk's spot on BBTN when he retires.
- Have you seen that Speed Stick commercial with A-Rod? Even if you haven't this should be pretty amusing.
- I missed this John Kass article in the tribune yesterday, but you shouldn't. It's kind of a fluff piece, but it's the kind that a Sox fan should enjoy.
- Scott Elarton(0-0, 3.38ERA) takes the hill for the Tribe Thursday, while El Duque(1-0, 1.29ERA) gets his second start in a White Sox uniform. The Sox have opened all three series this year 2-0, but have failed to pull off the sweep in the first two.
- I couldn't think of anything witty to use as a title for this entry, so I just used the name of the song that was playing when I started writing.
