When watching the Sox game
last Sunday the announcers cut in to inform the viewers that Kevin Youkilis had
been traded by Boston. The moment it happened Boston puled him out of the game
where he was on base and video showed him saluting the Red Sox fans while heading for the clubhouse. Both White Sox announcers claimed they didn’t know what
team Youkilis was headed to. BUt they knew. I had my guess.
This year the Cubs hired wonder boy Little Teddy Epstein away from Boston to be their G.M. so the logical destination to
me was that Youkilis would most likely show up at the world’s largest urinal on
Clark and Addison.
Was I wrong.
Later in the day a press
conference was held and Ken Williams (Sox G.M.) announced the acquisition of
Kevin Youkilis to shore up 3rd base, their weakest position. After
picking my jaw up off the floor I had to tell the wife. Her: Who’s he? Me: He’s
the Red Sox 3rd baseman, a three time MLB all-star who always managed to eat the
White Sox for lunch on many past occasions. And did he ever.
It’s not often the Sox manage
to acquire a veteran player not only with excellent credentials but a proud gamer who gives his all as well. In the past I recall them signing Jose Canseco, Albert Belle and Manny
Ramierez just to name a few as mid to late season veterans intended to take our
team to the next level. They all failed.
Yesterday I had the time to
watch the Sox play a day game @ Minnesota, a team who for the past
decade ate our lunch consistently. Now the Twinkies are just that, our desert.
Youkilis’ stats since
becoming the new White Sox 3rd baseman are as follows.
3 games, 12 at bats, scored
once, five hits, one double, 2 RBI 1 strike out and no walks for a .417 batting
average, a slugging percentage of .549 and (here’s my favorite) an on-base
percentage of .961!
All said, this is probably
the best mid-season move the Sox have made in decades (IMO) and one that
greatly enhances the chances for post-season play.
Noting gets by him at 3rd
and his presence in the lineup have made the Sox an instant contender in the AL
Central.
Up until now I have been a
casual SOX observer, watching about 1/3 of the games so far this season. Now I
am stoked.
Yesterday the Sox beat the
Twinkies 12-5 to gain a 2.5 game lead in the AL Central. The Cubs lost to the
Mets keeping their worst record in Baseball intact : ) Thank you Sweet Baby
Jesus.
Thank you Mr. Williams. Thank
you Mr. Reinsdorf. And welcome Mr. Youkilis.
1 comment:
I am a big fan of Kevin, as well.
I will be heading over to see the Sox on Tuesday night looking forward to it, they also will have fireworks.
Gerry I have a day game coming up will let you know when - we can go and tailgate and hopefully the sox will still be in the thick of the pennant race.
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