Wednesday, July 27, 2011

65

So the very day I write about how the White Sox are 12-6 when hitting two home runs in a game, Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko each slug two-run homers … but the Sox lose to the Tigers, 5-4. I’d say it’s the sportswriter jinx in operation, but I’m not really a sportswriter. Maybe it’s just the fan jinx that my Dad believed in so strongly. He wouldn’t watch games on TV because he thought it was bad luck. He wasn’t really superstitious – well he did say "God willing" and "God forbid" a lot – but he was convinced that somehow his watching could affect the outcome. If only he could have used his superpowers for good not evil ….

Anyway, the most galling thing about Monday’s defeat was that it was Wilson Betemit who singled in the winning run. You remember him, don’t you? The Sox picked up Betemit, Jeff Marquez, and Jhonny Nunez from the Yankees for Nick Swisher and Kanekoa Texeira (not to be confused with Mark Teixeira, although both are currently on the Bronx Bombers after Kanekoa spent time with Seattle and KC before returning) after the 2008 season. Betemit appeared in 20 games for the Good Guys, batted .200, had an on-base percentage of .280 and a slugging percentage of .311, and drove in a total of three runs all season. Those are pathetic numbers and explain why the Sox made no effort to keep him and his $1.3 million salary on the 2009 team. Yet last night he drove in the game winner. The only explanation that makes any sense is that my Dad was watching up in heaven – or wherever the hell he is.

Go Sox! Go Dad!

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