Sep 01 2009
Jim Thome and Jose Contreras Latest Victims of White Sox Slide
It has been a terrible month of August for the defending AL Central Champions. We all knew that this part of the schedule would be the most difficult for the White Sox when we first saw the schedule in Spring Training however Kenny Williams must of expected a whole lot more from this team as the Sox are 2 and 8 the last ten games and now 6 games back of the Detroit Tigers. How things have just blown up for the Sox and really it has been the lack of consistent bull pen relief whom have fell apart and a offense that has been lacking the comeback punch of recent Sox teams.
Jim Thome has had a average season and so has Jose Contrereas who in all honesty wasn’t even supposed to be playing baseball until now because of a ruptured achilles tendon suffered late last season. Thome seemed to be the scapegoat on an offense that has been slowed up by big bodies in the middle of the lineup. Sure Konerko, Dye Thome and even Quentin can slug the ball but their lack of speed has really slowed up an offense that is now a station to station team that sometimes needs four hits to get one run in a single inning.
Thome will surely be missed as will Contreras as everyone seemed to be rooting for these guys to have one more good season for the Sox as their careers are starting to show their age. Thome has brought some great memories over the years with some monstrous homeruns including his homerun just recently that put him over Reggie Jackson on the all-time homerun list but other than that it has been a quite year for Mr Incredible and really all of the White Sox sluggers. Meanwhile Jose has had a few solid outings but those have been too far in between as Jose was just sent to the bull pen after his last couple of outing where he only lasted minimal innings.
So now many are saying the White Sox are throwing in the white towel because of these recent moves. Honestly these two guys were not coming back next year and now we at least got something in return for their service. If anything this is only a preview of the next off season as the White Sox are changing from a big power team to a more finesse team that was more like the 05 team. This move might actually get these guys moving in a more positive direction as now the Sox truly are a team that is not holding onto its past but ready to embrace its new future. Lastly if this team just folds up this last month then many fans will be disappointed however this team is still very talented and may still make things difficult for the rest of the American League. September has shown us before that comebacks are not unlikely even for a Sox team that has lacked a true identity this year. Thanks again Jim you are the best and if not with us get that ring in Dodger blue and thank you Jose for that ring in 05 we could of not done it without you buddy!
