5* Chicago White Sox -105
1st things first: Psychological Factors. Nothing gets a baseball team more excited to come out to the yard when a potential brawl is ensuing. (I'm going to assume you know the events that took place yesterday with the Pierzynski, and rookie demotion to AAA.) So, we know neither of these teams are going to come out tonight and give a half-assed energy performance and go through the motions. So, now I want the better team, the better team is the WhiteSox.
Because of the above, every Texas Rangers hitter that comes up to the dish today is going to wonder if they are the retaliation bullseye. Just that mental seed in the back of their minds, should keep the slightest hint of doubt and keep them honest from diving over the dish to the outside corner. (Over analyzation? Maybe. :>Grin> )
But more importantly, we do have a White Sox team that has shown it looks after it's players from the top to the bottom. Not only did they take the rookie out of the game when he didnt retaliate for the AJ plunkings, but he got chewed out and demoted to triple A. Players love it when they know their coach and organzation are looking out for them, and if anything is going to kick-start this team to get back on the winning track after dropping last night's game 8-0, you just found it.
Finally, I love playing a team after they get their ass-kicked the day before. Especially when they are the better team. So many times this year, a team will score 14 runs, and the next day score 2. Or beat a team 8-0, and then lose 5-1. I'm looking for that again tonight. Plus, the last time the ChiSox were shutout, it was to the Indians. They came back the next day, put up 8 runs, and beat the Tribe.
Enough psycho-babble. Let's break this thing down. Rangers beat the streaky right-hander Vasquez yesterday, tonight they'll face a good lefty.
Mark Buerhle
Buerhle is the kind of guy who pitches solid 3 games in a row, and then gets ripped. Solid 3 more game, and then gets ripped. It's those games where he gets ripped, that people remember, and that's what prevents this guy from being on the level of a Tom Glavine. Buerhle had that game 2 starts ago. Had his typical bounceback game, and I look for him to put together another strong outing tonight, giving about 7 strong, and giving up 203 runs and giving his team a solid chance in this one. Buerhle enjoys pretty good success vs. this Ranger lineup, particuarly against some of their key outs in the lineup: Young (.188), Blalock (.111), and in 21 ABs has never given up a homerun to Teixeira.
Reinhecker
The rookie has been off to a solid start. He actually defeated Buerhle in this left-handers duel a few backs back, and he'll look to do it again. This is the 2nd time around this ChiSox lineup will face Rheinecker, and you have to think they'll be better. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. I also can't see Rheinhecker out-dueling Buerhle again, especially under the conditions listed above.
Bullpens
White Sox have a well-rested bullpen right now. They were losing pretty bad yesterday and used the rookie mentioned in one spot. Tonight, the have a rested Bobby Jenks who has 19 of 20 save opportunities, as well as situational left-handers Neal Cotts, and Matt Thornton. Most likely to pitch afterthe left-handed Buerhle would be RH Reliever Brandon McCarthy, who shut Texas down for 2 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 2 Ks on 28 pitches. So he has also had a day of rest and should be good to go tonight.
Rangers should have a well-rested right-handed pen. But as has been a problem for them, they don't have any reliable left-handed relievers to go to . Rick Bauer has thrown 3 straight days and should be spent, if not, incredibly sore, Feldman is young and only used in situational circumstances which he hasn't excelled in, Wilson has an ERA over 5.00 and hasn't been used since May 31st, everyone else has a terrible ERA.
Bottom Line
Overall, I'll take the better team, pumped up from their manager, trying to claim this road series 3 games to 4, behind their solid left-hander who can be streaky vs. a young Rangers pitcher trying to hold down this outstanding White Sox lineup after they were shut ouyt the day before.
1st things first: Psychological Factors. Nothing gets a baseball team more excited to come out to the yard when a potential brawl is ensuing. (I'm going to assume you know the events that took place yesterday with the Pierzynski, and rookie demotion to AAA.) So, we know neither of these teams are going to come out tonight and give a half-assed energy performance and go through the motions. So, now I want the better team, the better team is the WhiteSox.
Because of the above, every Texas Rangers hitter that comes up to the dish today is going to wonder if they are the retaliation bullseye. Just that mental seed in the back of their minds, should keep the slightest hint of doubt and keep them honest from diving over the dish to the outside corner. (Over analyzation? Maybe. :>Grin> )
But more importantly, we do have a White Sox team that has shown it looks after it's players from the top to the bottom. Not only did they take the rookie out of the game when he didnt retaliate for the AJ plunkings, but he got chewed out and demoted to triple A. Players love it when they know their coach and organzation are looking out for them, and if anything is going to kick-start this team to get back on the winning track after dropping last night's game 8-0, you just found it.
Finally, I love playing a team after they get their ass-kicked the day before. Especially when they are the better team. So many times this year, a team will score 14 runs, and the next day score 2. Or beat a team 8-0, and then lose 5-1. I'm looking for that again tonight. Plus, the last time the ChiSox were shutout, it was to the Indians. They came back the next day, put up 8 runs, and beat the Tribe.
Enough psycho-babble. Let's break this thing down. Rangers beat the streaky right-hander Vasquez yesterday, tonight they'll face a good lefty.
Mark Buerhle
Buerhle is the kind of guy who pitches solid 3 games in a row, and then gets ripped. Solid 3 more game, and then gets ripped. It's those games where he gets ripped, that people remember, and that's what prevents this guy from being on the level of a Tom Glavine. Buerhle had that game 2 starts ago. Had his typical bounceback game, and I look for him to put together another strong outing tonight, giving about 7 strong, and giving up 203 runs and giving his team a solid chance in this one. Buerhle enjoys pretty good success vs. this Ranger lineup, particuarly against some of their key outs in the lineup: Young (.188), Blalock (.111), and in 21 ABs has never given up a homerun to Teixeira.
Reinhecker
The rookie has been off to a solid start. He actually defeated Buerhle in this left-handers duel a few backs back, and he'll look to do it again. This is the 2nd time around this ChiSox lineup will face Rheinecker, and you have to think they'll be better. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. I also can't see Rheinhecker out-dueling Buerhle again, especially under the conditions listed above.
Bullpens
White Sox have a well-rested bullpen right now. They were losing pretty bad yesterday and used the rookie mentioned in one spot. Tonight, the have a rested Bobby Jenks who has 19 of 20 save opportunities, as well as situational left-handers Neal Cotts, and Matt Thornton. Most likely to pitch afterthe left-handed Buerhle would be RH Reliever Brandon McCarthy, who shut Texas down for 2 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 2 Ks on 28 pitches. So he has also had a day of rest and should be good to go tonight.
Rangers should have a well-rested right-handed pen. But as has been a problem for them, they don't have any reliable left-handed relievers to go to . Rick Bauer has thrown 3 straight days and should be spent, if not, incredibly sore, Feldman is young and only used in situational circumstances which he hasn't excelled in, Wilson has an ERA over 5.00 and hasn't been used since May 31st, everyone else has a terrible ERA.
Bottom Line
Overall, I'll take the better team, pumped up from their manager, trying to claim this road series 3 games to 4, behind their solid left-hander who can be streaky vs. a young Rangers pitcher trying to hold down this outstanding White Sox lineup after they were shut ouyt the day before.
ope:
