With the 2009 season officially coming to a close, it is time for the annual report cards.  Since I am the teacher, I will be the first to turn in my grades on the 2009 White Sox.  

via www.midwestsportsfans.com

Continue reading this post »

With the White Sox eliminated from playoff contention, Ozzie Guillen has promised to play some of the "young players"  vs. the Tribe this week.  Is this really necessary?

Continue reading this post »

My brother and I decided to take our annual Sox road trip 8/24 and 8/25 in Boston.  The results were not pretty as the Sox won both games. Unfortunately for yours truly, it was the Sox of the Red variety.  

Continue reading this post »

After 106 games the White Sox are 54-52.  However, they have taken an interesting path getting there.  Much is being made of the White Sox tough 15 game stretch from August 24- September 7.  While it is a very rugged road during that time (8 games with Boston, 3 with the Yankees, 3 with the Twins and 1 with the Cubs),  judging by the Sox performance this year the more important 15 game stretch starts September 18th vs. the Royals.  

Continue reading this post »

On April 4th, I posted my predictions for the 2009 season. Now that the All Star break is here, I will take a look back at these predictions and see how much Kool Aid I was drinking (or crack I was smoking) when I decided to prognosticate the 2009 season.  

 

KenWo's Pick: AL East

1. Boston Red Sox              101-61
2. Tampa Bay Devil Rays  96-66
3. New York Yankees         89-73
4. Baltimore Orioles            76-86
5. Toronto Blue Jays           73-89

Actual Standings: AL East

1. Boston Red Sox             54-34
2. New York Yankees        51-37
3. Tampa Bay Devil Rays 48-41
4. Toronto Blue Jays          44-46
5. Baltimore Orioles           40-48

AL East review:  Not too much crack smoking here.  I think my predictions still have a chance to be correct.  I still don't trust AJ Burnett or the Yankee bullpen in the long run.  The Blue Jays have played  better than I would have imagined, but now are looking like sellers.  With the Orioles young guys playing well there is no reason to think that they won't eventually overtake the Blue Jays for 4th.

 

 

 

KenWo's Pick: AL Central

1. Chicago White Sox       86-76
2. Kansas City Royals      83-79
3. Cleveland Indians        80-82
4. Minnesota Twins          78-83
5. Detroit Tigers                74-88

Actual Standings: AL Central

1. Detroit Tigers               48-39
2. Chicago White Sox     45-43
3. Minnesota Twins         45-44
4. Kansas City Royals    37-51
5. Cleveland Indians       35-54

AL Central review: I still think my prediction of the White Sox winning the Central will indeed happen.  However, I clearly missed the boat on the Tigers.  I was not counting on them playing as well as they have, especially with Ordonez playing as poorly as he did in the first half.  Injuries have hurt the Royals early season success.  Joe Mauer's injury wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I smoked a lot of crack giving the Indians 80 wins to begin with.  They are a bad team.   


KenWo's Pick: AL West

1. California Angels         93-69
2. Oakland A's                   88-74
3. Texas Rangers             84-78
4. Seattle Mariners           65-97

Actual Standings: AL West

1. California Angels         49-37
2. Texas Rangers            48-39
3. Seattle Mariners          46-42
4. Oakland A's                  37-49

AL West Review:  The Angels are in the lead at the break and I still believe they will win this division with a bit of room to spare.  I clearly was drinking the Billy Beane secret love juice as I had the A's finishing with 88 wins.  They currently sit at 37. Ouch!  I predicted Seattle to be the worst team in the AL and that is wrong (at least for now). Jarrod Washburn and David Aardsma have done well, but I don't see that lasting long. I had the Rangers over .500, but maybe underestimated them a little bit.



KenWo's Pick: NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies        97-65
2. Atlanta Braves                   89-73
3. New York Mets                  85-77
4. Florida Marlins                  82-80
5. Washington Nationals     66-96

Actual Standings: NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies       48-38
2. Florida Marlins                 46-44
3. Atlanta Braves                  43-45
4. New York Mets                 42-45
5. Washington Nationals    26-61

NL East review:  I still have a chance to sweep this division.  However, I think the Marlins will remain in 2nd place.  The Mets suffered through a ton of injuries in the first half, yet they are still only 6.5 out.  Could they make a push? I don't think so, but it isn't out of the question.  I don't think the Braves will come close to the 89 games I gave them, but they still may finish in second as Tommy Hanson looks like the real deal.  I can't believe I gave the Nationals 66 wins.  That was way too many.


KenWo's Pick: NL Central

1. Chicago Cubs                 96-66
2. Houston Astros               83-79
3. St. Louis Cardinals        81-81
4. Milwaukee Brewers       81-81
5. Cincinatti Reds               77-85
6. Pittsburgh Pirates          67-95

Actual Standings: NL Central

1. St. Louis Cardinals        49-42
2. Milwaukee Brewers      45-43
3. Houston Astros              44-44
4. Chicago Cubs                43-43
5. Cincinatti Reds              42-45
6. Pittsburgh Pirates      38-50

NL Central Review:  If there is one team I am glad I missed big time on, it is the Cubs.  I thought for sure they would win this division going away, and that doesn't look like it is in the Cards (pun intended).  This division is still way up for grabs, and don't be surprised if my 2nd place team, the Astros, make a run for it.  They are always better in the 2nd half than the 1st.  If Pujols continues his pace, the Cardinals look like the team to beat.


KenWo's Pick: NL West

1. L.A. Dodgers                   98-64
2. San Fransisco Giants    93-69
3. Arizona Diamondbacks 86-76
4. Colorado Rockies           79-83
5. San Diego Padres           70-92

Actual Standings: NL West

1. L.A. Dodgers                     56-32
2. San Fransisco Giants      49-39
3. Colorado Rockies            47-41
4. Arizona Diamondbacks  38-51
5. San Diego Padres           36-52

NL West report:  The Dodgers, Giants and Padres are all where I thought they would be at the start of the season.  I am proud of my Giants pick, as I took a lot of heat for that one. Hopefully it continues.  I picked the Diamondbacks to be the surprisingly over .500 team in this division, and as of now it is the Rockies instead.  Dodgers are 7 games up, and my 98 wins is within range. TDogg may have to eat his shoe.


My playoff teams of the Red Sox, White Sox, Angels and Rays in the AL are all still in the running.  As are the Dodgers, Giants, Phillies and Cubs in the NL.  I don't think the Cubs will make it, but the other 3 are good bets. 
Manny Ramirez will not win the NL MVP, though he may have if he didn't pee dirty.  My rookies of the year (Cameron Maybin and Chris Getz) aren't looking to good.  Lincecum has a  good shot at the Cy, Sabathia would need a second half like last year.  Longoria has cooled lately but a big second half could still bring him the AL MVP.  

Still a lot of time left.  Enjoy the 2nd half!