Reusse Is An Interesting Read

Since I don't subscribe to either of the Twin Cities newspapers, I rarely get the chance to see the sports columnists' work. But now, sitting in my Embassy Suites hotel room (my wife and I are on a weekend getaway: a Twins game and a play) I had the chance to read commentary on last night's Twins game. It was interesting, seeing the game from my perspective only, not having a play-by-play guy influence my views on what happened. It turns out, I saw some things about last night's game (Friday) the same as Patrick Reusse, but a couple things differently.

First, I agree with Reusse's analysis of the Twins defense in general. They aren't being charged with a lot of errors, but they are not making the plays either. Several tailor made double play balls have turned into fielder's choices and the lack of great plays means they aren't making up for it. But Reusse's was a little too hard on shortstop Jason Bartlett for his error in Friday night's game.

Alfonso Soriano shattered his bat and rolled one to short. Reusse is right when he says "Bartlett bobbled the hop, bobbled the ball again, and wound up sitting in frustration on the turf." What he doesn't tell you is the barrel of the bat was flying right in Bartlett's line of vision. Find me someone who can ignore a jagged piece of lumber flying at him and concentrate on a ground ball and I'll be impressed. But Reusse conveniently missed that fact so he could make a stronger point.

The second thing I disagree with only somewhat. Reusse says "Mays drilled David Dellucci in apparent retribution for teammate Jones getting smacked by Texas' Ryan Drese..." Someone in a seat next to me said the same thing: it was Mays getting even. My wife asked if I thought so. I had to think about it, but I decided on "no" for a couple reasons. Yes, there were two outs and no one on, which is always the time to do something like that. But Mays was ahead in the count. He was facing the lead-off batter. Who wants to keep an inning going for the meat of the order? And, as it happens, the next hitter, Michael Young, went yard giving the Rangers their first spark. I think Mays would have more common sense than to hit the lead-off batter when things were going so well in his attempt to put together is first gem in years.

Overall, Reusse does a pretty good job of analyzing the game, and he is an entertaining read. It's just when he tries to make a little more out of something than is there, or leaves out important details, that he misses the mark.

***Coming tomorrow: Why it could hurt the Twins if the current stadium bill goes through.

White Sox Finally Field A Team

In baseball, as in many sports, a team is often not just the sum of its parts. Sometimes it is more, sometimes less. The Chicago White Sox have been both over the past few seasons. With talent like Carlos Lee, Jose Valentin, and Maglio Ordonez, the Sox had the guns to win but could never get over the hump. The team was less than the sum of its players, and would inevitably collapse each September.

Now, it could be a different story. Ozzie Guillen has turned the loss of those three--and other talent--into a gain for his franchise. He still has guys like Paul Konerko, Joe Crede and Jon Garland (who the team had tried to get rid of in the off season but couldn't. Now he's 6-0 with an ERA under 2.50). And the team has added Jermaine Dye for some defensive support and Scott Podsednik for speed at the top of the line-up. Those two examples illustrate how the Sox have become a more well-rounded team. Although on paper it looks like they shouldn't be as good, they are actually better.

But don't worry, Twins fans. It's not yet September.