Monday, August 18 U.S. Cellular Field | 7:11 PM CT

Jarrod Washburn, LHP (5-12, 4.58)
Mariners (46-77) @ Mark Buehrle, LHP (10-10, 3.77)
White Sox (70-53)

Scouting Report:
Mariners: The left-hander surrendered just one earned run in his last outing, but three unearned runs sent him to his 12th loss of the season and 98th of his MLB career. Two of the seven hits he allowed were home runs, the first time since May 10 that he gave up more than one home run in a game. Washburn has had nine quality starts in his last 14 outings and has two wins to show for it. He is 3-4 for a 3.92 ERA in nine career outings at U.S. Cellular Field.

White Sox: Buehrle was outstanding for a second consecutive start Wednesday, throwing seven shutout innings against Kansas City to earn the win. He allowed only five hits and struck out five batters. He also didn't walk anybody, bringing his K/BB ratio to 7-to-1 over his last three starts. Buehrle brought his record to .500 for the first time since April 14, and has truly re-established himself as the captain of the staff. Buehrle has yet to face Seattle this season but owns a 6-4 record with a 3.75 ERA against them lifetime.


Tuesday, August 19 U.S. Cellular Field | 7:11 PM CT

Felix Hernandez, RHP (7-7, 3.04)
Mariners (46-77) @ To be announced
White Sox (70-53)

Scouting Report:
Mariners: The right-hander had another quality start in his most recent outing, holding the Angels to three runs over six innings and four over seven, but had to settle for his ninth no-decision of the season. His ERA climbed over the 3.00 mark, but is still an impressive 3.04 after 23 starts, much better than his 7-7 record. He had gone four starts without surrendering a home run before Mark Teixeira hit a two-run homer to left-center. Hernandez has a career record of 1-1 against the White Sox with a 5.01 ERA in four starts.

White Sox: For Tuesday's start, the White Sox could choose to go with Clayton Richard, called up from Triple-A Charlotte prior to Friday's game in Oakland, but he will work out of the bullpen this weekend if necessary. They have the option of calling up another pitcher from the Minors or going with a bullpen by committee against the Mariners. Manager Ozzie Guillen probably won't decide on Tuesday's starter until Monday.


Wednesday, August 20 U.S. Cellular Field | 1:05 PM CT

R.A. Dickey, RHP (3-7, 4.92)
Mariners (46-77) @ Gavin Floyd, RHP (12-6, 3.75)
White Sox (70-53)

Scouting Report:
Mariners: The knuckleball specialist returns to the rotation just three days after being sent to the bullpen, replacing the injured Carlos Silva (elbow tendinitis) for the time being. Dickey, 2-7 as a starter this season, tied a Major League record during a relief appearance against the Twins on Sunday by throwing four wild pitches in the fifth inning. For whatever reason, his knuckler was moving more than usual inside the Metrodome, compared to the movement it has outside. He figures to get at least two more starts before leaving the rotation again.

White Sox: It wasn't Floyd at his best during Friday's 6-4 loss to the A's in Oakland, but the right-hander certainly pitched well enough to win. He allowed one earned run on six hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking two. Floyd also threw 110 pitches against an extremely patient Oakland offense. Floyd has one start against the Mariners this season, and it was not a good one, as he allowed five runs on nine hits over 3 2/3 innings during a loss at Safeco Park. Floyd has a career 0-2 record with a 10.13 ERA against Seattle, but he has an 8-2 record at U.S. Cellular Field this season.



Would be very nice to get a sweep here, but I think the Sox will lose on Tuesday. King Felix is one of the best pitchers nobody knows about, and I expect him to outduel whoever it is the Sox throw on Tuesday. Gotta do whatever they can to win the next 6 or 7 series, as the Twins embark on that 14 game roadtrip Thursday. Look for Brian Anderson to get the start Tuesday, as 3 of his 12 or 13 career HRs have come off Hernandez.

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Sox should easily win 2 of 3 from the Ms. The only game I would be concerned about would be game 2 with Hernandez pitching.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I'm expecting them to sweep. With the Twins playing the A's, the Sox can't afford to lose to this joke of a team. With the exception of Ibanez and Ichiro of course...

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This is my signature...

This is a total 'trap' series. They just won 2 of 3 for Oakland and have a weekend series against east leader Tampa. I could see them lose 2 of 3 rather easy.

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It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a goddamn shame.

http://www.TheCommittedIndian.com/

yep.

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This is my signature...

Look at this bullshit!!!!

Easy double play and Buehrle throws it to Ramirez who's backing up the play. I guess it was Orlando's fault.

Then the give up 3 runs!!!

Now Hawk is pissed and will be in a bad mood all game!!!!

We'll probably score a shit load of runs and win this. It's a weak pitcher we're facing. Still, that 1st inning was embarrasing.

Washburn is 5-12 with a 4.58. We're gonna lite him up.

Actually that first inning put me in a bad mood. They got 3 gift runs and Washburn got us 1-2-3 with ease.

Now they get a lead off double in the 2nd.

I'll probably look like a fool, again, and Washburn will shut us out. If we lose this fuckin game I'll probably break something.

Not a good start to this game. 3.92 ERA at the Cell is nothing to slouch at. Give a horseshit team 3 gift runs right off the bat.

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Well, Frank, that ERA at the Cell will go up after this one. 3 runs in 2 innings so far.

Still, like Hawk said, even if you win this you gotta be pissed about that 1st inning. That shit can happen to an MLB team. Especially in a division drive.

Jeez. Washburn sucks. We have 4 or 5 line shot outs. We're close to blowing this up.

When you walk Uribe on 4 pitches you absolutley suck.

Thank you Sox. You didn't make me look like an idiot today. You're killing Washburn. Keep it up.

Final numbers on Washburn: 4.1 innings. 7 hits. 8 runs. All earned.

Buerhle gave up 11 hits and could end up giving up 8 runs. Not real good from him, but you gotta hold on and win this game against a shit team.

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Buehrle didn't have his good stuff, but the offense seems to have brought the hot bats from their 13-1 buttwhipping in Oakland Sunday with them to "The Cell" tonight.

3-0 Oakland bottom 8. Help us out A's!

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Frank, it'll be nice! By the way, the Twins' 14 game roadie starts in Anaheim Thursday, the beginning of the end for Minnesota!

There are funny breaks in MLB. Sox just got one.

Twins play the A's right after the Sox.

Sox got Gio Gonzalez. Young kid who had no shot to beat the Sox. They killed him.

Very next day the Twins get Duchscherer. He's a Cy Young candidate. He shuts out the Twins.

Means a 2 game difference, probably, if you flipped those two pitchers and the teams they face. That's the way MLB works. We got the break.

Except he left the game in the 3rd with hip soreness.

Funny game.

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Oh. I didn't know that. I knew he was pitching and figured he was shutting them out. Hey. He shut them out for 3 innings. They would have hit Gio in 3 innings. So my theory still works.

The White Sox are laying the lumber again!!! They're beating up on the Mariners like a government mule! A 13-5 lead going to the 9th...

Twins lose 3-2!

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Did you guys see that? Toby Hall tried to get Dye with the post game pie. Karry Sayers was interviewing Dye. Dye pushed Toby away and it looks like Toby hurt his shoulder. Toby is a dumb ass. I'm not mad at Dye. Toby is just a weirdo. They're all looking for it. They know it's coming. Stop doing it Toby you idiot.

Back to back 13 run games vs. a bad Oakland team Sunday, and a dreadful Seattle team tonight...Here's hoping Clayton Richard gets that kind of run support tomorrow on WCIU 26 "The U", and resembles a MLB pitcher. Speaking of the A's, they held on for a 3-2 win at Minnesota, so the White Sox lead in the A.L. Central is back to a full game.

Griffey does absolutely nothing at the plate. I have more confidence in Wise and Anderson hitting.

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Will anyone please admit that I was right about this? I crave positive attention.

It's nice that the Sox get to face Seattle for a while. It feels like Minnesota has played their last 19 games against the Mariners.

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Fire Phil Emery

Wow Felix Hernandez is bad. 10 hits and 0 strikeouts in 4 innings. Thats like Maddux.

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Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

It's a bad move because he's in the lineup, taking up space that could be occupied by better players. He's also playing center, where he's making your defense weaker. That's bad.

It doesn't matter what you gave up for him. The White Sox + Griffey are worse than a Griffeyless Sox team unless they sit his ass on the bench and use him as a pinch hitter.

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Fire Phil Emery

They were 60-47 .561 on the day the trade was made. They are 11-6 .647 since the trade. How are they a worse team with Junior??