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However, at Miller Park in Milwaukee, which is where I was working, hope was kept alive for the Brewers as they defeated the Phillies 4 – 1. It was a great game for a Brewers fan. Made even sweeter, I’m sure, when the Cubs got swept later in the evening. You see, there is a lot of bad blood between the Brewers and Cubs fans. When the Cubs’ take on the Brewers in Milwaukee, the Cubs fans take over the park, renaming it from Miller Park to Wrigley North.

Miller Park is a bit odd. I have been to one other game here when I was working on the Costas Now program. At that game, the retractable roof was open, allowing in the summer heat. Last night, the roof was closed because of the lower temperatures, which makes it more comfortable but a little more sterile. The stadium is very open with plenty of things to do other than watch the game. For example:

You can play baseball video games instead of watching your home team in a do or die playoff game. Huh? Another confusing distraction is tables set up near 19inch television sets where ticketholders can give up their stadium seat to watch the game the same way they could at home. Strange.

Still, there were also genius distractions, like this one:

However, I am not going to bash the fans. They were great. Passionate and very, very loud. See below:

For several innings, this was my vantage point:

And a blurry photo of me working:

Finally, another short video of batting practice:

…because they sure looked like it last night. Oh well, I got some photos from Game 2.

Above, for much of the beating, this was my view from the standing only section. While very passionate fans at the start of the game, the folks quickly quieted, swearing under their breathe. At one point, a highly vocal Dodger fan near me came very close to getting knocked out by a large and liquored up Cubs fan. The Cubs fan told his friends that if he took a shot at the Dodger fan, he would probably just get kicked out of the stadium. His friends disagreed, and said he would more likely spend the night in jail. Either way, the Dodger fan’s cheers were far less enthusiastic.

If you’ve got to use the restroom, you better get in line!

At the end of the game, I was able to get back in those seats in the 10th row! The struggling Fukudome is booed. Ouch.

Another photo-op.

And finally, here is another very short video of batting practice before the game:

WE DID IT!

The Sox have clinched first place in the Central Division! Next up, the playoffs! After a bizarre ending of the season with the Sox and the Twins fighting for first place, the finality of the season came down to a one game tie breaker. Fortunately, we were lucky enough to come out with a 1-0 win. The hero of the game was veteran Jim Thome who homered in the 7th. I say “lucky” because it was a well pitched contest on both sides. Along with Thome, a big thank you goes out to Sox catcher A.J. Pierzunski who tagged out Michael Cuddyer at the plate with an amazing throw from another veteran, Ken Griffey Jr. Bobby Jenks, the closing pitcher who has given Sox fans one too many nail biting finishes this season, gets the job done and protects a well deserved win for starting pitcher John Danks. Even my favorite playing Sox, Brian Anderson (who gets little actual playing time) made the final out with a diving catch in the outfield. And just like that, the Sox clinch!

At the beginning of the season, the White Sox were predicted to finish in fourth place in the division (with most thinking the last place Detroit Tigers would take first place). Instead, the Sox stayed in first place throughout much of the season. And then, out of nowhere, the Twins (or the Twinkies, as they’re known around here) crept up in the standings and threatened to take first place. With seven games left in the season, the Sox only had to win five games to clinch the division. The problem was that the Sox had to play the Twins at the Metrodome in Minnesota, a stadium that the Sox had only won one game in all season long. After the three game series, the Sox still had only one win at the Dome in 2008. And then, the Sox lost the next two home games against the Cleveland Indians. The Twins were now in first place. I thought the season was over. Last Thursday, I literally couldn’t get to sleep because I was depressed that the Sox’s season came to such a tragic end. But it wasn’t over!

On Sunday, the Sox finally won at home (one that I attended) against the Indians in a 5 -1 victory. If they hadn’t won, the season would have been officially over. Now, it should be noted that the ONLY reason that the Sox were able to stay alive for so long was because the Twins kept losing after their sweep over the Sox. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the Kansas City Royals! After the Sox’s win against Detroit on Monday (due to a make up game caused by a rain out), the Sox and the Twins were forced into a tie breaker. Because of the dramatic end of the season, tonight’s game felt like the World Series.

So, the Cubs and the White Sox are in the post season. This is the first time that both Chicago baseball teams have advanced past the regular season in 100 years! Which is also the last time the Cubs won a World Series. So, history was made tonight in Chicago. Speaking of the Cubs, the next two days I will be working audio for MLB online during the first two games of the Cubs vs. Dodgers at Wrigley Field. Hopefully, I will get the chance to also work the White Sox games! Even better, score some playoff tickets!

Expect a upcoming post summarizing the entire Sox season of 2008. Also, I am recording a baseball tribute show for WEVL this weekend. I don’t know when they will air it, but I will give you fair warning.

I was going to end this post with a short video of the last out during Sunday’s game but I’m going to leave that for the 2008 season summary. So, instead, I’m going to close this post with lyrics to the White Sox fight song by Captain Stubby and the Bucacaneers from 1959.

GO-GO WHITE SOX!

White Sox! White Sox!
Go-Go White Sox!
Let’s go, Go-Go White Sox
We’re with you all the way!
You’re always in there fighting,
And you do your best.
We’re glad to have you out here in the Middle West.

We’re gonna root-root-root-root White Sox.
And cheer you on to victory.
When we’re in the stands,
We’ll make those rafters ring;
All through the season,
You will hear us sing.
Let’s go, Go-Go White Sox,
Chicago’s proud of you!

White Sox! White Sox!
Go-Go White Sox!

Root-Root-Root for the White Sox.

We’ll cheer you on to victory.
When we’re in the stands,
We’ll make those rafters ring;
All through the season,
You will hear us sing.

Let’s go, Go-Go White Sox,
Chicago’s proud of you!

White Sox! White Sox!
Go-Go White Sox!
Let’s go, Go-Go White Sox!
Chicago is proud of you!

Are Joe Crede’s days over as a Sox? According to South Side Sox, they are. The rumor/proof seems to derive from the fact that Crede’s name tag is no longer above his locker and that his locker has been emptied out. No official word from the Sox management.

As readers of our blog know, Crede is/was my favorite player in the Sox organization. Last year, he had to have back surgery and missed the majority of the season. This year, he started off strong, went through a slump, continued to have back problems, made a bit of a comeback, and then returned to the disabled list. He has not been seen in a game for a least a month, perhaps longer. The last official word was that his condition was day-to-day.

Of course, this isn’t the first time that South Side Sox have gotten something wrong. Earlier in the season, they had stated that Juan Uribe, who had also spent time on the DL, was being traded. Instead, Uribe came back to take over Crede’s spot at third, and out of nowhere, started swinging the bat like a madman.

Still, an empty locker doesn’t look good. But I ‘m hoping that this rumor turns out to be untrue. Brian Anderson, my second favorite Sox, gets so little playing time.