As a child, I remember watching a program called "You Can't Do That On Television" on Nickelodeon. One of the gags on that show was this thing called an "Opposite Sketch," where everything was the opposite of its norm.
Well, that's how I feel about this 2009 season of White Sox baseball. Put this team up against juggernauts like the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels, and you'll get some impressive victories. Put the Sox up against the lowly Cleveland Indians, and they'll tank. Just the opposite of what you'd expect.
Give Jose Contreras a 6-0 lead against last-place Oakland, and he'll blow the whole thing in two innings. Put Contreras up against the best pitcher in the league, and he'll win 4-2. Such was the case Wednesday at U.S. Cellular Field as "Grandpa" Contreras fired seven innings of three-hit ball and outdueled Kansas City ace Zack Greinke. Go figure.
Right now, the Sox are trying to survive with basically three starting pitchers: Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd and John Danks. Freddy Garcia was ineffective in a loss Tuesday night, and this was Contreras' first win since July 8. It sounds like Jake Peavy is going to need at least two more rehab starts before he can join the major-league club. That makes it almost a must that Contreras start providing some quality innings.
The next time through the rotation, Garcia and Contreras will be pitching at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox, who are fighting for the wild card in the American League this year. There's every reason to believe those games will end poorly for the White Sox. But then again, people though Contreras vs. Greinke would be an automatic loss for the Pale Hose.
I guess everyone forgot this is an Opposite Sketch.
When I watched the broadcast today I noticed the high socks, rumor has it El Duque called him and told him to do it for good luck.