The Sports Pages: The Fall of the White Sox

“I always turn to the sports pages first, which records man’s accomplishments. The front page has nothing but man’s failures.” – Earl Warren

The Detroit Tigers have a scant few hours before they open a series in Cleveland against the second-place Indians, but in the wake of the carnage at Comerica Park this past weekend, I thought it fitting to look back on the devastation the Tigers levied on the Chicago White Sox. The series began Friday with Chicago sitting a mere 5.5 games out of first and with their three best starters going against the Tigers. A sweep for the White Sox would announce to the world that Chicago was back in the race and surely send Tigers fans running for cover, screaming about the latest collapse.

Of course, after Justin Verlander wiped the floor with those Sox batters on Friday, a sweep was no longer an option for Chicago. but they could have still taken two of three and stayed in the race. We all know what happened next.

The only thing more satisfying than crushing the souls of those hated White Sox is taking a few minutes to kick them while they’re down. Here’s what the White Sox writers are saying about the weekend that was.

Travis Miller of Southside Showdown provides some mental imagery for his readers. As Miller points out, had this series happened five weeks ago, Chicago could have gotten a head start on re-tooling for next year.

How improbable was Detroit’s comeback on Saturday? Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago tells us that was almost impossible. Sergio Santos hadn’t allowed a run on the road all year long and hadn’t allowed a two-strike hit of any kind against his slider. What pitch did Ryan Raburn tie the game off of? You guessed it, a two-strike slider.

Brian Lutz of Rant Sports throws in the towel on the 2012 White Sox season. The best thing to come of the weekend sweep that puts his club 8.5 games out? That he may not have to see Ozzie Guillen back in the dugout next year, he says.

The Guillen-Kenny Williams dynamic seems to be the only thing of interest remaining on the Southside now. Scott Gregor of the Daily Herald explained the timeline of events that has lead to the idea that Williams and Guillen cannot co-exist any longer. Guillen was courted by the Florida Marlins once before and a trade of the skipper to South Florida wouldn’t be without precedent. Jon Paul Morosi looked at the possibility this morning.

Despite the rumblings that he may be on his way out, Guillen told the Sun-Times that if he was given the same roster next year, he’d happily take it. I can only assume he’s either insane, or that he assumes Williams would be gone.

It isn’t just Guillen that Williams has been feuding with, either. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf reportedly had to get involved to settle a dispute between his GM and the club’s hitting coach, Greg Walker. With all the hitters that have performed well below expectations this year, Walker’s bound to come under some fire. He just didn’t expect it to be so public coming from the club’s GM. Such is life in Chicago under Williams and Guillen, however.

Reinsdorf has some decisions to make for next season involving not only his manager, but his GM as well. Jim Margalus  or South Side Sox attempts to discern who’s really in charge in Chicago, com plete with flow chart. Who doesn’t love a flow chart?

That’s all I got this week, kiddies. Enjoy the demise of the White Sox!

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