Chicago White Sox

In his first start of the season for the White Sox Triple-A affiliate, RHP Carlos Torres made a very strong pitching appearance. He threw six shutout innings with four hits, a walk, and eight strikeouts to earn the win for the Charlotte Knights.

The 26-year-old pitcher from Santa Cruz, CA was drafted in the 15th round by the Chicago White Sox in 2004. In 2009 his impressive numbers gave him a chance to play with the major league team last September.

Chicago White Sox left-handed pitcher Matt Thornton's pitching line for Thursday night's game against the Cleveland Indians looks messy:

1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 3 K

Thornton pitched the eighth inning, surrendering Chicago's slim 3-2 lead and setting up the eventual 11-inning loss the White Sox would suffer. He earned a blown save for his efforts.

But the numbers could not more starkly misrepresent the game Thornton had.

The Cleveland Indians took the rubber match of their three-game series with the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, winning 5-3 in 11 innings.

In the game, Sox manager Ozzie Guillen sent Andruw Jones out for his first start in a Chicago uniform, penciling him in as the center fielder and moving regular center fielder Alex Rios to left.

But while that move worked out fine (Jones reached base twice and stole second base off Jamey Wright in the sixth inning), others of Guillen's decisions should draw vigorous criticism.

Jake Peavy's first start of the 2010 season was if anything to me, concerning.

No, I am not calling for Peavy's head, wishing the White Sox did not acquire him, or anything of that nature. I was just concerned with the way the start went. 

The Sox had a wildly entertaining season opener filled with great pitching, excellent defensive plays, and a few long balls. The Sox won the game the way they are supposed to win this year: with great pitching and just enough offense.

However, I couldn't help being annoyed by what happened after Paul Konerko reached base.

On two separate occasions, Mark Kotsay stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. There was one out the first at-bat and no outs the second one. On both occasions, Mark beat a ball into the ground for a relatively easy double play attempt.

It was a tale of two Opening Days for Chicago's two Major League Baseball teams.  One club impressed in every way possible, the other not so much.  All of it took place before the sun even went down.

The White Sox were the first team to show off their 2010 selves and their premiere couldn't have been more perfect.  A combination of solid pitching, hitting, and defense translated into an easy 6-0 win over the Cleveland Indians.  Every Sox fan in the stands at sold-out U.S. Cellular Field would tell you afterwards that they got their money's worth.

On Monday, Mark Buehrle re-defined the phrase, "kick save, and a beauty," with his spectacular fielding play in the top-half of the fifth inning on the way to a win over the Cleveland Indians.

Buehrle was downright masterful in his seven innings on the bump for the Sox (still, the best pitcher in the Sox rotation was sitting on the bench,) and that dominance extended to the bats of the South Siders, as they struck for a total of six runs across four Cleveland pitchers. 

After game one of 162, the White Sox couldn’t look better.

Buehrle and the 'pen made the Cleveland Indians look like, well, the Cleveland Indians.

The lineup showed a perfect combination of power and speed.

And last, but not least, Ozzie made it through one game without starting Omar Vizquel. Kudos all the way around.

The question that comes to mind now is, how excited should we as White Sox fans be about the season?

South Side fans had a reason to be happy on this beautiful day in April.

The sun was shining, the weather was wonderful, and Mark Buehrle pitched seven strong innings in his record setting eighth opening day start for the Chicago White Sox, en route to a 6-0 victory.

In his first opening day victory since 2005, Buehrle had a solid pitching line, walking only one batter while striking out three, and giving up just three hits in his seven innings.

The White Sox have made wholesale changes over the course of the last twelve months, acquiring RHP Jake Peavy, 3B Mark Teahen, and OFs Alex Rios, Juan Pierre, and Andruw Jones, while introducing 2B Gordon Beckham to his first big league action.

While the organization traded a couple of its better prospects in the Peavy deal, they managed to obtain a staff ace without gutting the minor league system.