Big League Stew - MLB

Not that today's makeup game between the White Sox and Tigers — day baseball, YES! — needed any more drama, but the pitching matchup between Gavin Floyd and Freddy Garcia should be able to fill a few newspapers' worth of sidebars.

For those of you short on memory, Garcia was traded to Philadelphia for Floyd after the '06 season and the emergence of Floyd as one of the White Sox's top starters (combined with Garcia's injury troubles) have allowed GM Kenny Williams to mark the deal under his steals category.

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Garcia won the decisive Game 4 in the 2005 World Series and married into the family of Ozzie Guillen's wife, meaning the two Venezuelans are better friends than another Venezuelan Tiger, Magglio Ordonez. Garcia has pitched in only 13 games over the past two seasons and if there's any way to salvage at least a little part of them, a big performance in a big game (for the White Sox, anyway) would go a long way. 

Need another storyline? How about the fact that Gary Sheffield is sitting on 499 home runs while Floyd has given up 30 homers this season, the second worst total in the American League? 

Oh, and did I mention that Detroit fired its pitching coaches on Sunday, leaving us to figure out whether that's a good or bad thing for Garcia and the rest of the Tigers pitchers?

The game starts at 1 p.m. CT and will be televised on both WGN and ESPN2. If you're stuck at work and don't have the luxury of MLB.TV, fire up Game Channel and keep checking back on the Stew.

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22 Comments

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  1. Roman H
    1. Posted by Roman H Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:07 pm EDT

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    I hope Sheffield hits his 500th.
  2. Evan D
    2. Posted by Evan D Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

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    I hope Sheffield doesn't hit his 500th.
  3. respadatcill
    3. Posted by respadatcill Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:36 pm EDT

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    Is minnesota already on thier way to Chicago?
  4. RobertP
    4. Posted by RobertP Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    I don't care if Sheffield even plays.
  5. iancass@...
    5. Posted by iancass@... Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    I must be short on memory, because i totally forgot Garcia was traded for Floyd.
    Ian
    www.blessyouboys.com
  6. jake k
    6. Posted by jake k Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    Go tigers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  7. James O
    7. Posted by James O Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    Tom b,
    You got the wrong team that chokes. I think the Cubs were in the same position last year before they got swept.
  8. FFL exalted ruler
    8. Posted by FFL exalted ruler Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    Great! There's no conflict of interest here... is there???!! How hard will Freddy be pitching? If he shuts down the White Sox and knocks them out of the playoff race, he is hated by his wife's side of the family. Ozzie joked that Freddy will stay at his house last night. It wouldn't surprise me. I'm looking for Freddy to get lit up for 5 or 6 runs. The first 3 runs because he hasn't pitched for a couple years. The other 3 runs so that he is still invited to Guillen family reunions in the future!!
    Kev
  9. JS
    9. Posted by JS Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

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    Why does any General Manager still trade for pitching with Kenny Williams? You'd think he would be blackballed after he traded an injured Mike Sirotka for David Wells, but no... If you get a starting pitcher from the White Sox, he is going to suck. (Esteban Loiaza, Brandon McCarthy, Garcia, Jon Garland...)
  10. Jay
    10. Posted by Jay Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:28 pm EDT

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    Go sox!!!!!
  11. Jim
    11. Posted by Jim Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    As a sox fan I really don't know why i care about these two games. If they win today, they are unlikely to beat the Twins who play much better than they do. They have no pitching other than 4 starters and a closer. If they don't hit home runs they lose. I'll probably watch game channel, but I honest-to-God don't know why.
  12. Billy
    12. Posted by Billy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:33 pm EDT

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    Sheffield has always been a jerk. My gosh, how many teams has he played for? He'll be on a different one next year. His bat speed has decreased and when it drops a little more he'll solely be a guess-hitter. He'll be gone. Go pale hose.
  13. Quesoclan
    13. Posted by Quesoclan Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:24 pm EDT

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    I hate the white sox!!! I hope they lose, and lose bad. Let's go Freddy!!!
  14. Mike B
    14. Posted by Mike B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    i'm a twins fan. but despite that, i will root against ozzie guillen anytime. he's the human turd, that needs to be flushed.
  15. Darn
    15. Posted by Darn Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

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    "Is minnesota already on thier way to Chicago?"
    No. They are all at the metrodome watching the game with their bags packed. If the Sox win, they'll leave after the game is over for Chicago. If they lose they'll have a celebration, and take off for Tampa tomorrow.
  16. Chris B
    16. Posted by Chris B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    I have a question. What if this game (Chi/Det) is rained out today since it's already in a delay?
  17. charles
    17. Posted by charles Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:22 pm EDT

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    Go sox!!!!
  18. davidk
    18. Posted by davidk Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    Post #16, that's a silly question. They'll move it to Miller park of course!
  19. davidk
    19. Posted by davidk Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    Isn't that where Chicago teams go to play rainouts?
  20. nick
    20. Posted by nick Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    I think they should just call todays game and have the Sox play a day night double header tomorrow against the Tigers/Twins.
    Signed,
    Twins fan
  21. calli
    21. Posted by calli Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    Cubs fan here saying go Sox today and 2moro!!! As for Sheffield, I hope he slightly twist an ankle and can't play! Then decides to retire at 499. Not sure y I feel this way though!
  22. cuffablimp
    22. Posted by cuffablimp Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:34 pm EDT

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    That ended abruptly with Detroit, who looked like a post season lock in April, ending up in last place while the Sox embark on a one game playoff vs. Minnesota. So much for what's on paper... Detriot will have to regroup and hope whatever happened that derailed them this year doesn't happen again. That team is overstocked with enormous talent and a last place finish simply does not fit, but somehow it happanned. After tomorrow we can finally commence the complete 2008 playoffs. May the best teams win.

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