October 5, 2008: Rays @ White Sox

October 5, 2008 - Chicago, Illinois

Rays 3 - White Sox 5

The year of living dangerously.

So far, whenever the White Sox have faced elimination, they have responded with a win. They won three straight to make the playoffs. They won their first 2008 postseason game, on the brink of their season ending. Will they be able to pull another resurrection act out of their bag of tricks? Only time will tell.

The only thing that is certain is they are now, with one postseason victory, the most successful Chicago team in the 2008 playoffs. With one more victory, they will be the most successful Midwestern team in the 2008 playoffs. With two more victories, they will move to the next round and pull off another miracle.

The Sox actually took advantage of some key situations. They scored in more than one inning, which drastically improved their chances at a win. The pitching held up, for the most part. The defense did their job. The offense did just enough to hold on to the win. Why do I get the feeling that the best is yet to come? Maybe because they've done it before. If the Sox do manage to win tomorrow's game in Chicago, they would still need to win in St. Pete, under the dome. They have gotten close, but would they be able to succeed if they force a game 5?

The good:
DeWayne Wise keeps the offense going.

The Sox stole three bases?!

The bad:
White Sox pitching is still giving up the long ball.

This is the first game that Bobby Jenks has appeared in.

The ugly:
The middle of the order really needs to improve offensively.

The fans who didn't get the memo on the blackout.

The best part of the game? Matt Thornton fist bumping the batter after tagging him out hard. Something that could have led to more tension was diffused by two classy athletes. As Game 4 looms over the horizon, Chicago can breathe a little easier that this wasn't a repeat of the 2000 playoffs. New life has been pumped into the White Sox. What they do with it is their own choice.