Does the Trojan Loss Help the Buckeyes?
September 26, 2008Are We Okay With “Contending?”
September 26, 2008The Chicago White Sox dumped all three games this week to the Minnesota Twins. The White Sox have a game in hand (a makeup on Monday with Detroit if necessary) and now trail the division leading Minnesota Twins by a half game. Wouldn’t you know it, the White Sox will be up against the Cleveland Indians for the next three games. The Twins, on the other hand, have games against the Kansas City Royals in the dome.
The Indians have a chance to spoil the White Sox season, and it could all come down to a gametime decision on whether or not the Indians put Cliff Lee out there on Sunday. According to Eric Wedge, Cliff Lee has a sore neck that caused him to miss his bullpen session yesterday. With Cliff’s start on Sunday in question, there could be some high drama this weekend for Indians and White Sox fans.
On the one hand, it is nice that the Indians at least have a reason to play this weekend. As we all know with the Colts last season failing to field much of a team against the Titans, the role of spoiler is important in sports. The Indians have the opportunity to respect the game by playing their hardest this weekend when the games mean the most to the Twins and White Sox. On the other hand, we have Cliff Lee’s final opportunity to reach a team record 23 wins.
It seems to me that most baseball teams and their fans wouldn’t have it any other way. I, for one, am looking forward to the opportunity to provide the knockout punch to the White Sox. I am not rooting for the Twins by any stretch, but the White Sox are on the schedule. Will you be rooting any harder this weekend even though the Indians only get to play the role of spoiler?
14 Comments
I would always rather see the Twins get in than the Sox. Hands down.
Yes. That picture of Ozzie to me conjures up all the bad memories and will have me pulling hard for the Tribe this weekend to play spoiler. Hell, I was even more interested in this series with Red Sox because of the lingering bad memories from last year… alas, we still lost 3 of 4.
Oh… and let’s not forget that this series will also see the debut of Jhonny Peralta playing 3rd for the Tribe… a promising development for next year.
Let’s go Tribe! Beat the Sox!
The thing that kills me about that picture is that THEY were the ones that had a 15-game lead…
C’mon boys
I certainly like the idea of knocking out the White Sox, though I’m not of the belief that we can’t do that with any other available pitcher. I think this decision lies squarely with Cliff – he’s shown that he’s running out of steam, and if his neck is sore, and he’s pitched more innings than in any other season in his career (certainly far more than last year)…well, he should be excused the day off if he chooses, especially given what he’s done this year.
You know if Cliff doesn’t play, and that game becomes especially meaningful to the Twins that there will be cries from Minnesota. And based on our anger at Indy from last season in football, it would be hard to argue with them.
also…DET may have the final crack at them if we dont get it done…
I couldn’t care less what Minny fans think. I want Lee to be in good shape next year when Cleveland needs him.
That being said, I hate the f’in white sox and hope we sweep them
Like AMC, I was rooting hard during the series against Boston–I would have enjoyed being the team to end their shot at the AL East crown. Knocking off the Sox would be terrific, just to see Ozzie go thermonuclear afterwards.
And as for Cliff: the guy has been one of the very few rays of hope this season, and he deserves the rest. Sitting an injured guy at season’s end in far different than benching healthy starters, a la the Colts last year. If Twins fans don’t understand the value of protecting an injured soon-to-be Cy Young winner, then they are fools. Besides, I agree that the Tribe should be able to win against the Sox without Lee, anyway.
First off why should we do any favors for anyone? It won’t be our fault if Mn. doesn’t make it it’ll be their own for not playing well enough. HOWEVER i hate the sox and i would love to play spoiler to them. It killed me to see Boston yet again celebrate in front of us… oh how it killed me… so now i would like to pull the rug from under the sox… revenge? maybe a little. With that said i would love to see Lee pitch. But liked mentioned i want him as healthy as can be for us next year. I say leave it up to Lee… i think we would all repsect his decision no matter what… or at least we should.
If Twins fans don’t understand the value of protecting an injured soon-to-be Cy Young winner
They don’t. See Liriano, Francisco.
I know this was a tough year for all tribe fans, but I love this team. They have fought through a lot of adversity, and do not give up. They are now a game over .500 after being 16 under earlier. They are like 5 games back. We have found some new sluggers, have had a chance to see some young pitching. We have also been blessed to watch Cliff Lee have one of the greatest seasons any of us will ever witness. Best of all, Joe Borowski is gone (sorry, couldn’t leave without a little sarcasm). As all of us know loving pro sports in smaller markets isn’t easy. But we got bang for our buck this year. I am sad the 98 season is over, but Wait ‘Til Next Year!