Opinion

Before the season most experts pegged the White Sox to finish fourth in the AL Central and some even said last place, and after the first month-and-a-half of the '09 season it looks like they will be correct.

During the offseason, Kenny Williams realized the Sox had to get younger and he had to cut some payroll, as most teams did with the struggling economy.

Williams dealt headache Javy Vazquez for powerful catching prospect Tyler Flowers and career pinch runner Brent Lillibridge. Williams also dealt Nick Swisher for Jeffrey Marquez and utility man Wilson Betemit.

The Pittsburgh Pirates more than batted around, scoring nine consecutive runs in yesterday's game against the Colorado Rockies in the seventh inning before making an out, and 10 runs in the whole inning in an 11-4 victory. That's a record of sorts.

Altogether, the Pirates outscored the Rockies 19-11 over the weekend. It could have been enough for a 3-0 sweep.

But it wasn't. The Rockies won the first game 3-1, wresting away in the ninth inning what could have been a 1-0 victory for the Pirates. And therein lies the problem.

Sometimes, a slump ends quickly.  Sometimes it takes awhile longer.

After a sixteen-year slump, perhaps the Pittsburgh Pirates are finally ready to right the ship.

They are certainly trying to right the 2009 incarnation of it, going from an eight game losing streak to consecutive series victories. 

Pittsburgh is not yet ready to be crowned a contender or even an also ran, but the Pirates do seem primed to pack up and leave the National League's basement after sixteen seasons of less than mediocrity.

I was at the gym the other day (these pecs aren’t going to wail on themselves) and I happen to catch a segment of one of ESPN’s talking head panel shows on one of the standard-issue muted flat-screen TVs placed every five feet around the wall of any self-respecting personal fitness facility. The following discussion topic was written across the screen:

“Who hurt their Hall of Fame chances more, A-Rod or Manny?”

Inter-league play is about to begin and the San Francisco Giants are in need of a DH. Who else but to bring up but slugger Jesus Guzman?

Any Giant fan who knows our farm system, or has been reading the San Francisco Chronicle, knows who and what kind of player Guzman can become.

Not only is Guzman hitting over .354 with 31 RBI, six HRs, and a .954 OPS as of right now in AAA Fresno, but he has been hitting over .300 in all Minor League levels.

Sound familiar Pablo Sandoval fans?

Much has been made of Manny Ramirez's suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs, and rightfully so. When one of Major League Baseball's most prominent stars embroils himself in the game's biggest scandal, it figures to get a lot of run in the media.

If you listen closely to the static, somewhere in all the volume are whispers about how the revelation benefits no team more than our beloved San Francisco Giants—about how the 50-game hiatus for Manny has saved the Orange and Black season.

To a degree, the whispers are appropriate.

Someone please pinch me and tell me that I am not dreaming.

What in the world are the Milwaukee Brewers eating for breakfast these days?

Is this the same team that started the season with a 4-9 record? Is this the team that was supposed to take a major step back after losing CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets in the offseason? 

I was wrong.  I was so very wrong.  I want to apologize for my mistake.

When word started to spread that the Phillies had acquired Raul Ibanez I read all the on-line debates that started on message boards everywhere. Many fans were not happy with the signing of Ibanez, and the subsequent departure of fan-favorite Pat Burrell that the signing signaled.  Some said that the lineup was too lefty heavy now. 

A lot has came at Barry Zito since his glory days back in Oakland. A blockbuster $126 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, the high hopes of being the ace for a team wanting to return to greatness, and being a role model for young athletes in America.

How about what has came at him on the field. Since winning the American League Cy Young Award in 2002 with a 23-5 record, 182 strikeouts, and a 2.75 ERA, Zito has found himself in the dumps.

What a week for your Texas Rangers. Seven game winning streak, nine games over .500 and, more importantly, a 4.5 game lead over the Halos from Southern California.

The last time the Rangers had a winning streak this good was nine straight a few years ago, except this time they're winning the close games.

This streak was about pitching and defense, which is as satisfying as a cool breeze during an afternoon game at Rangers Ballpark in August.