I don’t actually hate Thome, it’s more of a respected disdain for all the Tiger pitches he deposits over the fence. Let’s just say I liked him a lot more in the National League. Joe Crede and Thome teamed up to wreck what would have otherwise been a delightful opening day. Alas, it was a repeat of the last game at Comerica from 2005 when the White Sox defeated the Tigers to clinch the AL Central.
My thoughts on Opening Day:
- Even though Joel Zumaya gave up the homer to Paul Konerko, it looks like he’s going to be a bright spot. When he and the other bullpen pitchers were heading to the pen prior to the game, he was receiving some applause. Emboldened by the appreciation, he looked into the crowd and raised his arms as it to ask for more. It wasn’t scripted or offensive or about drawing attention to himself. It was just a kid having fun.
- I really like the Contours rendition of the National Anthem. The sang it very straight and mixed in some beautiful harmonies. And I just can’t help it – I’m always a sucker for a flyover.
- For the second consecutive year the temperature broke 60. You just can’t ask for better weather.
- For some reason, the statistics on the scoreboard weren’t updated. I’m not talking about updated throughout the game, I’m talking through the season. According to the scoreboard, most of the Sox players came into the game 0 for 0.
- I caught a little bit of the replay of the game that FSN Detroit was airing. I picked it up in the 6th inning, and Jeremy Bonderman seemed to really be laboring. He seemed to be breathing quite hard, and having a hard time catching his breath. He also seemed to be topping out a 91mph (at least at that point in the game) where his fastball usually sits 93-97mph. Am I the only one that noticed this?
- After a game and a half of pretty bad at-bats, it was great to see
AL Player of the Week Chris Shelton come back and rip a 3-0 RBI double. - Just when it looked like Craig Monroe might have been getting a day or two off in favor of Marcus Thames, he puts together back-to-back two hit games. He and Dmitri Young are the last cogs in the lineup to get going, but both look like they are turning the corner.
Maggs didnt slide in the 8th when somebody hit into a doubleplay ball. he didnt even try to break it up..
talk about heartless.
I watched the game mostly via the Sox broadcast, although for some reason when I reloaded after shutting it off following Konerko’s dinger, I found myself watching Mario and Rod.
I didn’t notice Bonderman laboring, but I may just have missed it. For some reason the Sox broadcast wasn’t posting pitchspeed numbers as often as is normal, but when they did he seemed to be getting the gun going, and other than the two homeruns–one to a red hot Thome–he looked pretty good to me.
However I’m starting to get concerned about our hitting. Most of our runs are either coming off of solo home runs or from Shelton. It seems that if he doesn’t produce, this team is having problems generating. It makes me nervous that we’re not seeing this team string together hits or move runners along as well as we could.
The moments tpday were really glaring.
DY striking out with one out and a man on second. (Swinging at garbage).
DY double play with a man on first and one out late in the game (Swinging at Garbage).
Inge POPPING UP two consecutive sacrifice bunt attempts with a man on and one no out–the second of which was caught for an out by AJP.
I have to disagree about DY. I think he needs to be moved out of the 5 spot and possibly out of the lineup altogether. I remember when he used to hit .300. I don’t know what happened to the guy, but at some point he made up his mind to go yard every time he comes up. He takes ferocious cuts at garbage, is constantly victimized by the high heat, and has little patience. His at bats just look terrible to me. Maybe I’m mistaken and he is turning the corner and he’ll provide nice protection for Maggs, but I’m guessing that within a few weeks he’s moved down in the order in favor of Shelton, Monroe, Guillen, and is eventually phased out of an every day roll by the end of the season.
I like DY a lot in terms of the energy he brings the club, but I grow increasingly frustrated watching him bat.
I had no problem with Maggs not sliding on that DP. Wasn’t even close and I would rather he remain healthy than slide on a play like that. DY needs to move down in the lineup or sit – even his BP swings (esp righthanded) were weak.
2 F-16’s out of Ohio. They hit the afterburners and were nearing Mach 1 when they were over the Copa. Of course they did not hit Mach 1, but it was an IMENSE display.
I totally forgot that events like this get flyovers, and was thusly scared out of my wits. It was darn loud, man.
I too was initially squicked that Maggs didn’t slide, but about 5 seconds later I decided a play that unlikely was not worth his wonky knee this early in the season.
I have noticed that DY is a very impatient hitter with runners in scoring position. He is notoriously a slow starter, so I am not ready to move him out of the lineup. With him being in a contract year though, I would be willing to part with him for prospects mid year.
-Sam
I was outside Comerica Park, along Adams, when the jets flew over. They set off car alarms all along the street. That was pretty cool (at least if you weren’t an owner of one of those cars).