Black Sox Blog

The White Sox picked up their options on Mark Buehrle, Jermaine Dye and Tad Iguchi.  Buehrle will make $9.5 million, Dye will make up to $7 million and Iguchi will net $3.25 million.  Dye and Iguchi are solid bargains.  The one I was a little surprised about was the Sox picking up the option on Buehrle but it looks like the Sox did it just so they could trade him.  The organization wants to give Brandon McCarthy a spot in the rotation, which leaves one of last year’s arms as the odd man out.  I thought they might go about that by just not picking up the option on Buehrle but I guess with the $1 million buyout, it made sense to sign him and try to deal him.

This is a pretty good writeup on White Sox pitching prospect Lance Broadway.  Scott Merkin discusses the White Sox top 2005 draft pick’s chances of breaking into the rotation in 2008.  It’s nice that the front office is continually able to produce quality prospects.

The story also talked about how the White Sox WERE going to pick up Mark Buehrle’s option.  I kind of thought he’d be the odd man out, but Merkin speculates that it could be any of last year’s five starters who gets dealt.

I guess I can live with the Tigers in the World Series.  We battled them for most of the season and the series with them seemed more like a rivalry then with any other team but there’s some respect.  I’m glad the Twins are done though.  They deserve a lot of credit for that comeback but I look at them as costing a spot in the playoffs more then I do the Tigers for some reason.  I’m actually rooting for the Cardinals to win it all just to make my brother mad.

In a lot of ways, it looks like Mark Buehrle might be the odd man out in 2007.  The White Sox have an option on him although after a mediocre season this year, they might let him go and finally give Brandon McCarthy his shot as a starter.  This mailbag even speculates we might deal for A-Rod, which is an interesting theory.

And the Arizona Fall League has kicked off.  Here’s a list of the players taking part in the AFL this year.

1906 World Series – Game Six
October 14, 1906 at South Side Park
White Sox 8, Cubs 3  White Sox Win Best of Seven Series 4-2

The White Sox made short work of Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown.  In two innings, the White Sox tagged Brown for seven runs on eight hits.  Brown left with two outs in the second inning and the Cubs never recovered.

In the first inning, Ed Hahn led off with a single and he was forced by Fielder Jones.  Frank Isbell singled and then George Davis drove home Jones with a double.  George Rohe hit into a fielder’s choice and Isbell was gunned down at the plate.  Rohe then stole second to put two men in scoring position and Jiggs Donahue cleared the bases with a two run double to give the White Sox a 3-1 lead.

The second inning was even more brutal.  Billy Sullivan grounded out to start things out and then Doc White grounded out to the pitcher.  Two walks and four singles later and the White Sox had busted this game open with a four run inning, all with two outs.  The Cubs scored single runs in the first, fifth and ninth, but they never came close to mounting a comeback off of Doc White.

White gave up three runs on seven hits and four walks with two strikeouts.  Davis and Donahue each drove in three runs and Hahn had four hits and he scored twice.

The White Sox were World Series champions.  Unfortunately for the franchise, they’d have to wait 11 more years for the next one.

1906 World Series – Game Five
October 13, 1906 at West Side Grounds
White Sox 8, Cubs 6  White Sox Lead Best of Seven Series 3-2

In the first four games, the White Sox scored six runs total.  In game five alone, they scored eight runs and they needed every one of those runs because Ed Walsh was touched up for six runs.  The White Sox almost lost this game on the field because they made six errors which led to five unearned runs.

The White Sox didn’t waste much time in this one.  In the top of the first, Ed Hahn led off with a single and he moved to second on Fielder Jones bunt.  Frank Isbell then doubled him home and just like that, the White Sox had a 1-0 lead on Cubs starter Ed Reulbach.

The Cubs answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning.  Solly Hofman singled and then he moved to second on a bunt.  Frank Schulte then hit an infield single to put runners at first and second before Frank Chance was hit by a pitch to load up the bases.  Harry Steinfeldt then forced Chance but a throwing error by Frank Isbell allowed Hofman and Schulte to scamper home.  Joe Tinker then laid down a bunt but Walsh threw it away and that allowed Steinfeldt to score.  So just like that, an inning had gone by and it was already 3-1 Cubs.

The White Sox picked themselves back up in the third inning.  Isbell doubled again and he scored on George Davis’ double.  Jack Pfiester came in to reliever Reulbach and while he struck out George Rohe, he then hit Jiggs Donahue to put runners at first and second.  Patsy Dougherty forced Donahue to put runners at the corners with two outs and then Davis stole home (Dougherty stole second for a double steal) to tie the game up 3-3.

In the top of the fourth, the White Sox struck again.  Walsh led off with a walk and he was forced out by Ed Hahn.  Fielder Jones singled and Hahn moved to second and then Isbell doubled for the third time today to drive home Hahn to give the White Sox a 4-3 lead.  Davis then cleared the bases with a double of his own and before you knew it, the score was 6-3.  Orval Overall came in to pitch for Pfeister and he walked Rohe, then Donahue doubled and Davis scored to cap off a four run inning.

Tinker scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 7-4.  The White Sox then added some insurance in the sixth inning.  Isbell doubled for the fourth time in the game and he scored on Rohe’s RBI single.  Shulte’s two run double in the bottom of the sixth made it 8-6, but that was the closest the Cubs would get. 

The White Sox were one win away from the franchise’s first World Series win.  And if they did it tomorrow, they’d get it done in front of their home crowd.

1906 World Series – Game Four
October 12, 1906 at South Side Park
Cubs 1, White Sox 0  Best of Seven Series Tied 2-2

The Cubs returned the favor today when Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown completely shut down the White Sox offense.  Brown had a no hitter going with two outs in the sixth before Ed Hahn broke it up with a single.  The only other White Sox hit came in the eighth when Patsy Dougherty led off the inning with a single. 

Nick Altrock was almost as good but he yielded the one run that ended up being the difference.  In the seventh inning, Frank Chance led off the inning with a single and he moved to third on two different bunts.  Then Johnny Evers singled to left to drive home Chance for the game winner.

1906 World Series – Game Three
October 11, 1906 at West Side Grounds
White Sox 3, Cubs 0  White Sox Lead Best of Seven Series 2-1

Ed Walsh was nearly perfect as the White Sox took a one game lead in their series with the Cubs.  Walsh gave up a single and a double in the first inning, but the proceeded to get the next nine batters out before giving up a walk to Frank Chance.  Walsh then mowed down the next thirteen batters out before Doc Gessler reached on an error by Frank Isbell.  Gessler actually made it to third base when he moved to second on a ground out and then to third on a wild pitch, but Walsh buckled down and struck the final two batters out to end the game.  In all he gave up on the two hits and one walk and he struck out twelve Cubs.

The White Sox scored all of their runs in the sixth inning.  Lee Tannehill led off with a single and then Walsh drew a walk.  Ed Hahn was hit by the pitch to load the bases up and then Fielder Jones made the first out on a pop up to the catcher.  Frank Isbell struck out and it looked like the Cubs might get out of the inning unscathed, but George Rohe came through with a huge bases clearing triple to give the White Sox the three runs they needed.

1906 World Series – Game Two
October 10, 1906 at South Side Park
Cubs 7, White Sox 1  Best of Seven Series Tied 1-1

The Cubs came back and whalloped the White Sox to tie up the 1906 World Series at one game a piece.  Doc White was hit hard and he gave up three unearned runs in the second and one more in the third before he got pulled.  Frank Owen pitched the final six frames but even he didn’t go unscathed.  he gave up three runs on six hits and three walks with only two strikeouts.

The White Sox managed only one hit the entire game as Ed Reulbach completely shut them down.  They didn’t score until the fifth inning and they did that without getting a hit.  Jiggs Donahue led off with a walk and he was forced out on Patsy Dougherty’s fielders choice.  Dougherty moved to second on a wild pitch before Billy Sullivan popped out to the catcher.  Lee Tannehill then reached base on Joe Tinker’s error and Dougherty came around to score for an unearned run.

The only hit of the game for the White Sox came in the seventh inning.  Jiggs Donahue singled to center.

1906 World Series – Game One
October 9, 1906 at West Side Grounds
White Sox 2, Cubs 1  White Sox Lead Best of Seven Series 1-0

The White Sox spent their whole season making up for poor hitting with great pitching, hence the nickname “The Hitless Wonders.”  The Cubs, on the other hand, won a National League and franchise record 116 games with both hitting and defense.  They not only led the National League in runs scored, but they also had an amazing team ERA of 1.75.  Led by Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown, Frank Chance, and Johnny Evers, few people in Chicago probably expected much from the surprising White Sox in both team’s first World Series.  Of course that’s why they play the games.

Brown got the game one start for the Cubs while Nick Altrock threw for the White Sox.  True to form, the White Sox pulled it out with just enough hitting, some great pitching and a break or two along the way.

Both Brown and Altrock were unhittable early in the game.  It wasn’t until the bottom of the fourth when Frank Schulte singled that either team got a hit.  And even that “rally” was cut short when Schulte was gunned down trying to steal second base.

The White Sox finally got things started in the fifth inning.  George Rohe led off with a triple for the White Sox first World Series hit.  Jiggs Donahue struck out and then Patsy Dougherty reached first on a fielders choice and Rohe scored on Johnny Kling’s error at the plate.  Kling then allowed Dougherty to reach second on a passed ball before Brown got Billy Sullivan and Lee Tannehill to ground out.

Altrock put the Cubs down in order in the fifth and the sixth looked like it might be a big inning for the White Sox.  Altrock drew a walk and he moved to second on Rohe’s bunt.  Fielder Jones then singled but Nick Altrock was gunned down at the plate.  Jones moved to second on the play at the plate and then he moved to third on Kling’s second passed ball of the game.  Frank Isbell then singled home Jones to make it 2-0 lead.

The Cubs didn’t lay down though.  Kling reached base on a walk and moved to second on Brown’s single.  Solly Hofman moved them both over with a bunt before Kling scored on Altrock’s wild pitch.  The next two Cubs went down in order and the rally was squelched, but the Cubs had cut the White Sox lead to just a single run.

Fortunately for the Sox, Altrock settled down and threw the final three innings without much of a threat.  The Cubs did get a man over to second in the eight, but it was two outs.  Altrock finished the game and gave up only four hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

October 7, 1906 at South Side Park
Tigers 6, White Sox 1  (93-58)

The White Sox went out on a losing note in a meaningless game against the Tigers today.  Lou Fienne picked up the start and went the distance.  He gave up six runs on ten hits and four walks with four strikeouts.

Patsy Dougherty was the only White Sox to get it done with the bat.  He had two hits and scored the only run of the game.

The White Sox got only one day off before they had to square off against the best of the senior circuit.  The Chicago Cubs won a record 116 during the season and they were the favorites in best of seven series.

October 6, 1906 at South Side Park
Naps 5, White Sox 3  (93-57)

The White Sox four game winning streak came to an end in the series finale against the Cleveland Naps.  Frank Owen lasted only five innings and he took the loss.

The White Sox racked up thirteen hits but only three of those baserunners crossed the plate.  Jiggs Donahue had three hits and George Rohe singled and scored twice.

October 5, 1906 at South Side Park
White Sox 9, Naps 5  (93-56)

The White Sox won for the ninth time in the last ten games in their third to last game of the season.  Ed Hahn had four hits and two runs and Jiggs Donahue scored twice in the blow out win.

Doc White and Frank Smith split time in this one.  White was hit hard through five innings but Smith picked him up the rest of the way.

October 4, 1906 at South Side Park
White Sox 3, Naps 1  (92-56)

The White Sox clinched the American League pennant today with a win over the Cleveland Naps and a New York Highlanders loss.  The White Sox will go up against their cross town rivals the Chicago Cubs in a intracity battle for the World Series.

Lou Fiene picked up the win as Fielder Jones tried to rest some of his starters for the big series next week.  Jiggs Donahue homered and scored a run and Fiene doubled.  The White Sox managed only four hits but they made them count.

Well, we tried to help the Tigers out, they just blew it.  I’m sick of listening to people compare the 2005 White Sox to the 2006 Tigers.  Yes, they both came out of nowhere, but the comparison’s will stop once the Yankees roll right over the Tigers in what will probably be a sweep.

On Friday, the White Sox held off a ninth rally to edge the Twins 4-3.  A.J. Pierzynski singled home Ross Gload in the top of the ninth to make it 4-1 but the White Sox ended up needing that run because Bobby Jenks gave up two runs in the ninth inning but he held on to pick up the save.  Freddy Garcia had a really nice start and he picked up his 17th win.

On Saturday, the White Sox doubled up the Twins.  Tad Iguchi homered and drove in three runs and Jon Garland won his 18th in the 6-3 win.

The White Sox couldn’t keep it up and Javier Vazquez was roughed up in a 5-1 loss.  So goes the White Sox season.

I’ll probably stay away from the postseason stuff because it still pisses me off.  In a little bit I’ll continue the Season Lookbacks and the Frank Thomas retrospectives.  Next years diary is the 1917 White Sox so I’m hoping to get the Lookbacks up through that season.  We’ll see how I do.

October 2, 1906 at St. Louis
White Sox 4, Browns 0  (91-56)

The White Sox magic number was down two for their first ever American League pennant after Frank Owen shut out the Browns on only four hits.  He walked two and struck out five.

Back up catcher Frank Roth had a big day at the plate.  He singled and tripled and scored one of the White Sox runs.  Ed Hahn doubled, singled and scored a run.

October 1, 1906 at St. Louis
White Sox 1, Browns 0  (90-56)

In typical White Sox fashion, Nick Altrock was phenomonal and threw twelve shutout innings.  The White Sox didn’t score until that twelth inning.  Patsy Dougherty scored the only run of the game for the White Sox after he doubled.

Altrock gave up only six singles and one walk the entire game.  He struck out five.