Firing On All Cylinders: Game 127 Thoughts

Sox clean up shop 10-0, baby!

The Sox were really firing on all cylinders. They were hitting well, batting well, fielding well; they were excelling in basically all aspects of the game. I've just got to cite a bunch of stats from the game. It was truly spectacular.

I'll start with hitting, because that gaudy 10 really stands out.

• Every Sox starter had a hit except Ross Gload.
• Brian Anderson had a 2-hit game. Pablo and Dye had 3-hit games.
• Dye had two homers and Juanny pitched in with his own three run job. All three homers came with two outs.
• In fact, now that I'm looking at the box score, 9/10 runs were with two outs.
• AJ even broke out after slumping and got himself a hit and got on base twice (although he did strike out twice)
• Anderson hustled his ass off on his way to a three-bagger.
• We tagged Robertson for a career high 10 runs. This is good news considering how badly we've struggled against starters and lefties.

Time to wax poetic on Jon's pitching

• CG game shutout!
• He looked completely relaxed throughout the game. Sorry to use an old cliche, but he was really just playing catch out there.
• Jon was pretty efficient. He threw 98 pitches through 8 innings and finished with a total of 111.
• After Granderson's 2 out single in the third, Jon didn't give up a hit until the ninth.
• Garland got his 15th win of the season, and now has the most wins (33) in the AL over the last two years.
• Garland really is the ACE of the staff.
• With the complete game, Ozzie was able to rest the 'pen for our oh, so crucial series coming up against the Twinkies.

The Sox really flashed some leather. I'll check out youtube and the internet later to see if I can find some clips for those of you who missed them.

• Brian Anderson had a beautiful diving catch, robbing Casey of a double in the second inning. He covered an insane amount of ground to get to it. That will definietly be a Sportscenter top 10 or a web gem. Hopefully that's enough to convince Ozzie to leave BA alone in CF.
• Gload had a nice diving stop at first. Paulie definitely would never have been able to get to it.
• Juan had a good stop as well. He ranged far to his left, slid, turned over and fired to first. It was very controlled and very smooth.
• Then of course there was Pablo's play. He threw out Casey at first base, from left field. It was a decent play.

You didn't think that's all I was going to say about it did you? This is seriously a once in a lifetime thing. It's rare enough that you see someone thrown out at first from RF, but this was aaaaall the way over in left. I think everyone that saw this game will remember it as the game that Might Casey was gunned down. So the play, Casey lines one to Crede. He leaps and it brushes the top of his glove and rolls to left. Casey meanwhile, assumed that he was out and started to take his helmet off and walk to his dugout (he stayed on the basepath, luckily). Pablo exhibiting his first bit of pixie dust in some time, charged the ball and fired to first. While Pablo was tracking down the ball, Casey broke for first. He was really chugging hard, but it was in vain. He was out by a hair; Pablo had a beautiful throw and Gload streeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetched for the ball. 5-7-3.

The running was good too. No we didn't have any stolen bases or any great running, but we didn't make any blunders!

I should have known we were in store for a crazy game after seeing Alice Cooper throw out the first pitch of the game.

Good job ChiSox! Lets see you bring it against the Twinkies.

Onto the awards...

Bad Ozzie Move of the Game - none. I can't think of anything bad that he did.

Good Ozzie Moves of the Game - Pablo in left. Not only was Pods out, but Pablo was very productive today. Leaving in Garland for the whole game. He rested the 'pen for the Twins.

Big Ups of the Day to the offense for tearing it up, especially Dye, Pablo, and BA.

Video Clips of the Day - Anderson's diving grab, the 5-7-3

Sox Player of the Game

Jon Garland (7)

Jermaine Dye (14)

Both the offense and pitching were so fabulous, I thought we needed a played to represent each aspect.

Sox Record: 75-52...A full game up on the Twins! (At least until they play later today)