SportsNation Blog Archives
Chicago White Sox
Philip Humber's stock rose just a bit on Saturday after he threw the 21st perfect game in major league history. OK, it was against the Mariners, but that doesn't make it less impressive -- just more likely. We've seen nine perfect games thrown in the last three decades, after just 12 in the rest of baseball's history. Is Humber's perfecto a sign of the times?
Trendsetter?
Somewhere under this pile of White Sox is Philip Humber, who either accomplished something incredibly rare or something that's about to get slightly less rare.
Bigger factor?
The Mariners are a less than impressive offense, but it still takes a great deal of skill (and luck) to completely shut down an MLB team.
Humber incognito?
Humber's now something of a household name -- he's in a super-elite club with fewer members than there have been U.S. presidents. Did you know his name before Saturday?
Opening Day -- well, Opening Night, really, and we technically already had one of those in Japan, but who's counting? -- is finally here, as the Cardinals will take on the Marlins tonight in the first stateside regular-season MLB game. It's bound to be an exciting season with so many players having changed teams, but has the power structure been altered significantly?
Vote: Pick each division and pennant, and the winner of the World Series
Rank: Baseball's best teams? | Top players in the game?
World Series repeat?
The Cardinals prevailed over the Rangers in the 2011 World Series, but St. Louis lost its biggest gun this past offseason ...
Best player?
... which is a pretty big loss, considering he might be one of the best players of all time.
Odd one out?
The Red Sox missed the playoffs last season after an epic September collapse. Will they be on the outside looking in once again?
AL's best?
Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols were probably the two biggest additions to teams in the American League, meaning the balance of power could shift.
NL's best?
Likewise, the addition of Jose Reyes to the Marlins could give the team a huge upgrade -- offensively with new third baseman Hanley Ramirez, and defensively at shortstop.
Apparently not satisfied with turn-back-the-clock promotions that last a single game, White Sox general manager Ken Williams considered going permanently old-school in naming a new manager. Williams eventually settled on Robin Ventura, but we now know Paul Konerko was also an option. The catch? Konerko is still a player. We haven't seen a full-time player-manager in baseball since the likes of Lou Boudreau, but could it work?
- "I really wish someone would bring that tradition back. I do think seeing your manager leading by example can be a great thing, and Konerko is certainly that type of player." -- SN commenter smartbergeon
- "That would have been interesting. Although if he has to make a pitching change, I dont know what they would consider visiting the mound while he is playing first. We could go through six pitchers in an inning, just by accident. " -- SN commenter The_Crane_Of_Truth
Did the White Sox make the right call?
The guy the White Sox chose isn't that far removed from his playing days, but did they miss an opportunity not going with Paul Konerko?
Will we ever see a player take the reins?
Bill Russell won NBA titles as a player-coach with the Celtics, but even those came more than 40 years ago. Has that era passed?
What makes it so difficult?
Unlike Tom Brady, Russell and Boudreau didn't have to deal with the 24-hour news cycle -- not to mention millionaire egos.
Who could make it work?
A player-manager would presumably need to be a player of some consequence, so we picked five guys among the top 50 in active hits, including Todd Helton.
Terry Francona's resume -- aside from the Red Sox's epic collapse this season, which seemed as much a fluke as anything else -- is the envy of most managers in the major leagues. Two World Series titles and a pretty impressive winning record will do that for you. He's expressed interest in managing next season, which undoubtedly makes fans of struggling teams happy. Who better to add some credibility to your clubhouse than the man who broke the so-called Curse? It remains to be seen which team would be a good fit for Francona, however, or which teams would even have openings. So far, the White Sox are the only squad lacking a skipper.
Vote: Who would be better: Francona with the White Sox or Guillen with the Marlins?
- "Think Florida isn't kicking themselves for not waiting another week instead of hiring ozzie?" -- SN commenter wlvol
A year off?
Francona seemed absolutely exhausted from his time as Red Sox manager, capped off by one of the worst collapses in baseball history. Do you think he can recover in time for next season?
We can understand if you don't want to take the time to grade your tech-support help on the other end of the telephone, but when we're talking about the dollars and emotion you've invested in sports, we think it's worth the effort. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.
Take part in the 2011 MLB survey
2010 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 3)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 6)
3. Colorado Rockies (Overall: No. 13)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 14)
5. Atlanta Braves (Overall: No. 15)
Take part in the 2011 NFL survey
2010 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. New Orleans Saints (Overall: No. 1)
2. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 4)
3. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 9)
4. Arizona Cardinals (Overall: No. 19)
5. Baltimore Ravens (Overall: No. 20)
Take part in the 2011 NBA survey
2010 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 2)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 7)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 10)
4. Dallas Mavericks (Overall: No. 24)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (Overall: No. 25)
Take part in the 2011 NHL survey
2010 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 5)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 8)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 11)
4. San Jose Sharks (Overall: No. 12)
5. Chicago Blackhawks (Overall: No. 16)
- Vote: Will Manny Ramirez be an asset or a liability? | Hall of Famer?
- Rank 'Em: Are the White Sox in your Power Rankings top 10?
- Quiz: Can you name the right-handed hitters with 3,000 hits?
Chicago has seen its fair share of memorable duos. Mike Ditka and Jim McMahon. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Mrs. O'Leary and her cow. Al Capone and Elliott Ness. Oprah and Stedman. But for pure entertainment potential, would anything really top pairing Manny Ramirez and Ozzie Guillen under the pressure of salvaging a playoff bid?
The details of how Ramirez will move, be it by trade or straight waiver claim, were still unclear Tuesday afternoon, but it appears a lock that the aging slugger will next suit up for the White Sox. Questions of AL Central supremacy aside, that would also place Guillen and Ramirez within approximately 300 miles of Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco in Cincinnati. Caught in the middle, can Indiana survive?
“Of course it was a desperate move on the White Sox, that isn't some super secret realization. They are falling out of the race fast and need a shot in the arm. Manny can do that as long as he is interested. They are taking a chance, but I would do the same since it is only a month or two the White Sox have to put up with him.
” -- AlMightyIronfist
“manny will rake in chicago. he can hit when he wants to. and he will want to. and i dont really blame him for getting tossed from that game. the dodgers spit on him and them wanted one last bit of production from him before they threw him out with the trash.
” -- pbigby
It's just like the census, only this one is fun and doesn't come in the mail. And nobody from FOX News or MSNBC will yell at you about it. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.
Take part in the 2010 MLB survey
2009 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 1)
2. Milwaukee Brewers (Overall: No. 7)
3. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 16)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 23)
5. Philadelphia Phillies (Overall: No. 24)
Take part in the 2010 NFL survey
2009 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (Overall: No. 3)
2. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 13)
3. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 14)
4. Tennessee Titans (Overall: No. 15)
5. New England Patriots (Overall: No. 19)
Take part in the 2010 NBA survey
2009 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 5)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 9)
3. New Orleans Hornets (Overall: No. 12)
4. Houston Rockets (Overall: No. 17)
5. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 18)
Take part in the 2010 NHL survey
2009 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Carolina Hurricanes (Overall: No. 2)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 4)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 6)
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 8)
5. St. Louis Blues (Overall: No. 10)
Not since fantasy baseball owners haggled through the summer of 2003 have Jim Thome, Jose Contreras and Billy Wagner mattered this much in a trade market.
Of course, even as Thome and Jon Garland headed to the Dodgers and Contreras made his way to the Rockies, their old employer was left with a smoldering reminder of the perils of trading. Alex Rios? Hitting worse than .200 with the team. Jake Peavy? Might not pitch until 2010.
A month ago, voters picked the White Sox to win the AL Central. As recently as three weeks ago, SportsNation still had them neck and neck with the Tigers. Now? Well, at least 58 percent of voters think Ozzie Guillen should keep his job in the Windy City.
- 55 percent of SN thinks Contreras won't help; 72 percent of Colorado disagrees.
- 51 percent of SN thinks Wagner won't help; 61 percent of Massachusetts disagrees.
- Is Jim Thome more a Hall of Fame lock than Manny Ramirez? SN voters say yes.
“I think Williams intended to go for the win, but Guillen's mouth and attitude killed this team. In the end, Williams decided to get something for two players that would not have returned next season. Let's hope Guillen goes too.
” -- GSaggese
“I really believe John Kruk when he says the Dodgers signed Thome so the Giants wouldn't get him. It makes absolutely no sense for Thome to go to the National League on a team that has a solid firstbasement who should be an everyday player. So my thinking is there going to have Thome play every here and there to give Loney a rest and be available in the 8th or 9th inning off the bench when there down by one and need a homerun.
” -- AjP_
They say you can't get something for nothing, but the White Sox did just that in adding outfielder Alex Rios for the stretch drive. All they had to do was agree to pay a minimum of $61.6 million. Only in baseball, which seems to have roughly the same effect on the laws of economics as black holes have on the laws of physics, could that make some sort of sense.
Taking advantage of the loophole that the trade deadline isn't, in fact, an actual deadline on trades, the White Sox landed the two-time All-Star after claiming him on waivers from the Blue Jays, who were probably looking to trade Rios but willingly handed him over without compensation given the opportunity to escape his contract. Got all that?
The upshot is the White Sox now have another bat, and possibly Jake Peavy's impending return, to chase down the Tigers in the Central or claim the AL wild card.
Of course, with a crowded outfield, Ozzie Guillen just has to find a place to play him. Just what Guillen needs, another mouth to feed and another batter to protect.
- With a healthy Peavy, SN says White Sox would have better pitching than Tigers.
- Rankings: Are the White Sox a top-10 team? Weigh in on MLB Power Rankings.
- Beyond the Nation: ESPN Chicago's Jon Greenberg on Kenny Williams' gamble.
- Groups: Chicago White Sox | White Sux Haters | American League Central
“This is a genius move by Riccardi. Now during the off-season he can afford to sign an all-star outfielder with around a .300 average who has some power and speed. Sweet. Hey, wait a minute...
” -- daphins23
“I agree with whoever said Rios might thrive in a change of scenario. Playing meaningful games for the first time in years might result in a drastic improvement in play and attitude.
” -- NumberThirtyFive
Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd promise not to retaliate against each other with anything more than words on today's edition of "SportsNation" TV.
Argue the hot topics, vote on the biggest stories and chat during the show, on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. and midnight ET.
Note: Broadcast voting results as of afternoon ET.
Do you consider Alex Rodriguez a clutch baseball player?
A-Rod hit a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the 15th Friday to beat Boston 2-0. He hit another home run last night. Is that clutch?
Would you use some of your trick plays during an NFL preseason game?
Titans punter A.J. Trapasso faked a punt and then scored on a 40-yard touchdown carry. Should you save tricks for a real game or test them?
Does Ozzie Guillen's warning protect his batters?
Does Guillen's warning mean any player can now take a shot at the White Sox and the Sox won't be able to respond without getting in trouble?
Are the Red Sox too old to win a World Series title?
The Sox senior players, Jason Varitek, Mike Lowell and David Ortiz, went 3-for-33 with one RBI against the Yankees. Are the Red Sox too old?
Would playing a round of golf with Tiger Woods bring out the best or worst in your game?
Would you be so in awe of Tiger that you'd use a driver instead of a putter? Or would you play your best?
Is Tom Brady's best football ahead or behind him?
Tom Brady led the Patriots to a perfect regular season and a near-perfect postseason. Can he ever do better? (Vote below!)
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