Thursday, March 26, 2020

Buehrle Perfect Game Replay Recap



                This was actually my first time watching this whole thing through. Didn’t even find out it even happened until days later. I was in high school and this was the week of our annual cross country camp, where no phones were allowed. Haven’t left my phone ever since so definitely had the opposite effect there.

                What struck me most about the Groundball Guru’s actual pitching performance was the lack of times it was left up to the umpires. No close plays on the bags at all, and maybe one close call in the strike zone. Shoulda been a called third on Zobrist in his last at-bat – whatever came of that guy anyway?

                Some other quick hits (or lack thereof… so sorry) from the game:

-          This was almost a complete look of White Sox prospects that could’ve been. Josh Fields should’ve been a 35 homers a year guy and Gordon Beckham was supposed to be the next Ted Williams. The 2010’s left me with tempered expectations of basically every single White Sox draft pick, and fittingly basically ended with us trading for other teams. I’ll go easy on you, Madrigal.

-          Don’t quote me on this, but I think that Rays team go no-hit twice that year? Or at least in a very short span? Either way made it into the playoffs on the best day ever that following year.

-          Since I don’t remember Ramon Castro’s batting mechanics off the top of my head (some fan I am), did basically every base hit he had in his career come off of what’s essentially a cricket swing?

-          Love Hawk for a lot of reasons, but him being completely brash and unconcerned about jinxing the perfect game is one of them. Everything from “call your neighbors” on is pure Hawk gold. If you ask me only the Wegner rant and Crede’s walk off against the Indians come ahead of it.

-         Far and the away the best thing to come from this game is Southpaw holding that “0” made out of what I can only assume is the level above toilet paper. Imagine being that marketing intern who’s only there because they went light on Tuesday-Thursday classes and had the afternoon free. Gets a call on his walkie talkie to cut a 0 sign out of pieces of paper taped together. “Trust me, Southpaw will storm the field with it and it’ll get put in the Hall of Fame.”. Couldn’t even use the posterboards they have dozens of on the concourse because those are for the kids, goddammit! Absolutely hilarious.

If you want to know how I’m doing, I’m so desperate for baseball that I have last year’s Game 7 on before Adam Eaton drives in a run and will keep it on for the Cubs World Series win, because that game was just a little too short for me. So, not well.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Latest MLB Developments: June/July Start Date w/ Doubleheaders, Neutral Playoff sites, Transaction Freeze

          Source: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28951069/mlb-union-weighing-variables-related-potential-restart-season

         "MLB and the MLBPA have worked toward a potential agreement over the last 10 days, acknowledging the inevitability of a shortened season that both parties hope would begin by early June and would guarantee players a prorated salary that would depend on the number of games played, according to sources. Multiple players told ESPN they are willing to play a significant number of doubleheaders -- as many as two a week -- to make up for lost games and try to get as close to a full 162-game schedule as possible."

          Hot damn, love the idea of scheduled doubleheaders from a fan perspective. Bake in the bleachers for the day game, beer and a catnap at Shinnicks after, then onto the night game. Absolute Chicago summer overstimulation.
 
          From the players' perspective, I'm guessing it's almost entirely to do with the prorated salary, but I'm surprised they're this willing to do this setup. Trying to come as close to 162 as possible between July and October is going to be an absolute grind and the doubleheaders are going to be very tiring come late September. But, hell, if they can do it they can do it.

          The transaction freeze is the right thing to do. But also #freeRickHahn.

          The neutral site playoff games is the most interesting aspect. My initial thought was hell no, there are middle schoolers now who have never seen a White Sox home playoff game in their entire lives. Been personally chasing that dragon for a solid decade now. The Blackout Wednesday World Series promo just writes itself.  All this and Florida (the most likely contender for a neutral site playoff game) is the least likely place I would want to have any sort of gathering of humans whatsoever right now. We're expecting this...


Big Twins guy

            ... to possibly be hosting the World Series in 8 months? But then I'd sort of see it as travelling to see your alma mater in the NCAA tournament wherever they go in more extreme fashion. Ever thought you'd see a 7 game ALCS at Chase in Arizona before moving on to Tampa? You are now. Would be absolutely crazy no matter who's in it. 

           If it does happen let's make sure to not say things like "The White Sox are moving onto St. Petersburg!". That's a whole thing for us. 

Thursday, March 19, 2020

6 Classic Fighting Illini Basketball Games on YouTube to Get You Through the Day We Should Be Playing

          Too sad to write an intro for this one. Should be tipping off against USC in the South region per a simulated bracket, though I think we would've gone far enough in the Big Ten tourney to get a higher seed than that.
     
          Here are six games to distract you from your online lectures or the job that mighty UIUC degree got you on the day we should be watching Underwood's squad start the true March Madness.

          (Note: not a lot of retro games available, i.e. Flying Illini era, if you happen to know of any that are available in full let me know.)

          1. Brandon Paul goes off at home, knocks off #5 Ohio State (2012)



         2. Biggest comeback in school history at Clemson (2009)



        3. Tyler Griffey knocks off #1 Indiana, 2013


       4. The "Orange Out" Game: #3 Illinois defeats #1 Wake Forest, 2004




      5. National Semifinal vs. Louisville, 2005


     And, not to go backwards in a story, but this one seemed appropriate to put as last and best:

     6. Regional Final vs. Arizona (aka The Comeback), 2005











Saturday, March 14, 2020

The Official Chicago Sports Corona List: 25 Full Games Available on YouTube Till All This Blows Over

          Well, this was supposed to start up again with White Sox previews and all that, but here we are. Instead of looking forward, we're looking back. Don't really have much to say yet so I'll get right to it: to fill the void we've found ourselves in, here are 25 full games across various Chicago sports teams for you to watch. My qualifications were that it's a FULL game, not just highlights, and will be mostly White Sox games because, well...

Bulls

1990 Eastern Conference Final, Game 3



Just MJ dropping a casual 47 on the Pistons, no big

1993 NBA Finals, Game 4


Considering I was 10 months old for this series I did click on it thinking this was the game with the Kucoc shot. Gotta love seeing Chicago Stadium in its heyday.

1998 NBA Finals, Game 6


Altogether now...

"Chicago with the lead!"

Bears

1985 Super Bowl

Pretty sure they'll take this site down if I don't include this one.

Last year's NFC North clincher vs. Packers


If the Bears can beat a Rodgers led Packers, we can beat this virus

Blackhawks

1990 Campbell Conference Semifinals, Game 7


30 years old but after getting swept in the regular season by the Blues, I'll take it

1992 Norris Division Finals, Game 4


I don't have much context to this series since I wasn't born yet, but

1. It's a playoff win against Detroit, and
2. Every time you watch a Chicago Stadium game for free on YouTube, Bill Wirtz rolls in his grave

2009 Western Conference Semifinal, Game 6


Hot damn, remember when this team was actually trending upwards? Barnburner of a handshake game when the rivalry vs. Vancouver was red hot

2010 Stanley Cup Final, Game 1


Maybe in the additional cleanings of the United Center they'll find the Pronger pucks

2010 Stanley Cup Final, Game 6


If this is the beginning of the end for us play me out to the radio call of Kane's game winner

2013 Western Conference Semifinals, Game 7


"Oh my! He's run into Bolland, right back ahead comes Seabrook with a shot..."

2013 Stanley Cup Final, Game 1


Don't kid yourself, you finally have the time to rewatch this one now. (Side note: wicked annoyed that all of the thumbnails are of the opposing team, but what can you do)

2015 Regular Season Vs. Dallas


Surprisingly can’t find the 2015 Cup winner anywhere, but can vouch for this regular season matchup. Was actually at this one and am happy to see it up. This was the game after the Winter Classic from that year and features Saad scoring on the exact same play he did from that game. Stay until the end for the most batshit crazy scrambling save ever.

Cubs (yeah, yeah, whatever, coronavirus doesn't pick sides of town)

2016 World Series, Game 7


It’s the game of our generation even if the participants are less than ideal for Sox fans. I personally blame this game for the start of what the world has come to, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth watching. At 5 and a half hours, maybe save for your actual quarantine. 

2019, regular season loss vs. Cardinals



Have to be balanced as a Sox blog. Here’s the Cubbies dropping a game in a must win series against the Cards last year.

1996, Opening Day


Of all the Opening Days in baseball, Wrigley’s is one of the most Opening Day-est, though their fans not having work to skip does take some of the fun out of it. Here’s what looks like a sunny day at the Confines in Sandberg’s first game back since retirement.

Kerry Wood 20K Game


Not to be confused with Kopech’s upcoming 21 K game

White Sox

1980 vs. California Angels


Some good Old Comiskey nostalgia

1986 vs. Red Sox


Featuring the sweet 80's unis and a Red Sox team that went to the Series that year

1992 vs. Mariners


A whacky and weird cold April game that we’ll be deprived of this year. Also, Wimpy!

1993 Sunday Night Baseball


A Sunday Night Baseball game NOT featuring Red Sox and Yankees, AND the division winning Sox team!

2005 Opening Day


Actually saving this to watch until what would’ve been this year’s Opening Day to watch. Whod’ve thunk Buehrle’s first time pitching that year was this and last time pitching was closing out a World Series game three sheets to the wind.

2005 World Series Game 1


The actual clincher is on YouTube in full and easy to find, so I’m giving some love to this one. The hype for this game was out of this world. Watch us chase Clemens and sweat out the rest.

2019 Regular Season vs. Indians


Might as well know some of what we have to look forward to when this all blows over.

And finally, the granddaddy of them all...