An explosion of offensive proportions

(Picture from aarongleeman.com)

I would have called Mark Buehrle's two-run first-inning debacle inevitable. The world was falling down after the White Sox first five games; so why wouldn't the South Side's most consistent pitcher of the last five years not give up a 2-run home run right away? Why wouldn't he give up two more runs later in the third? Why wouldn't he go missing just like the the Hitmen's offense?

Well, simply, Mark Buehrle is a man. I'm not talking the type of man Milton Bradley aspires to be, or the man he has hanging in his room who is holding a sign that reads "I am a MAN!".

I'm talking about a man that can come out and not only will himself to fight with his back against the wall, but a man that has the ability to will an offense that has been seen on milk cartons around the Chicago land area rather than at The Cell. A man that has the ability as a pitcher to affect every single player on his team. A man that has encompassed what it means to be a man: hardworking, blue collar, dreamer. A man that uses his god given talents as best he can. A man so great he deserves the White Sox next commercial to say Mark Buehrle's "MAN-DOM" is black and white.

There is just something about Mark Beuhrle that brings out the best in the other guys. I know he has only had two starts this season, but he's the only pitcher with a win, let alone two. The Sox are hitting .200 in B's first two starts with 15 total hits (while they only have 24 hits total in the other four games). In Peavy's start, the Sox hit .155 with two hits. They hit .186 as a team in Garcia's wonderful first start.

I'm not concluding that the Sox are hitting lights out for Beuhrle because those batting averages speak for themselves, but they are hitting somewhat better when he is on the bump. Even when B got down early, Pauly picked up his good friend by hitting a two run homerun (his third of the season and second two run shot while B was on the mound) to push the game into an early tie. Then after giving up another two runs in the 4th, the Sox rallied behind him again and pushed three more runs across the plate in three innings to give Marky Mark his second straight win.

What am I getting at exactly? I'm not even sure.

But if I had the time to see how much better the Sox hit for Beuhrle compared to other pitchers in the past few years I would do it; and I would bet that eight times out of ten Beuhrle received better hitting and run support than the other members of the Sox starting rotation.

So whatever he is doing, the remainder of the team needs to get on board and do the same. Whether it is buying the big boppers breakfast before the game, or giving personal massages, or getting to play "Five Minutes of Heaven" with Beuhrle's wife before the game, Sweaty Freddy, Gavin Floyd, Jake Peavy and especially Johnny Danks need to do the same.

I'm not going to come out and say that I think this game will ignite the White Sox offense. It is clear that they are missing an essential part to that lineup. They could use a significant left handed power bat, a guy that can drive in runs. But step off the ledge Sox fans, Chicago will be all right.

I trust Ozzie and I trust Kenny Williams. They are two of the best at getting what they need out of their players (even if it is "complaining" or "blaming" slumps and bad play on certain things Tyler!). Ozzie sticks up for his guys and goes to battle with them everyday. He trusts them to do the job they are out there to do. He is extremely loyal, and his players are the same to him and with all biases and favoritism put aside, I would play with Ozzie Guillen in a heartbeat.

He will turn this around, mark my words. Six games don't mean anything in a 162 game season. Pitching and defense are going to be the key for the White Sox to be successful, but once the Oz man figures out the lineup and figures out who fits where (Kotsay is not a five hitter Ozzie, he's not!) the Sox will put runs on the board. It might not be via the home run and it may be less exciting compared to previous years, but they will, and it will be Ozzie's way. The starting pitching is to damn good on this team to be wasted. Rios, Becks, Q, Pierre, 'Druw Jones, and Teahen will figure it out, and when they do watch out.