My First Beckham Auto

The group breaks from I Am Joe Collector continue to amaze me. I pulled my first Beckham certified autograph, which is something that I thought I never would do. Every time I think I'm going to get squat, something like this restores my faith in the breaks.

Who Knew?

Apparently Baileys is better than Bacon.

At least according to the AL Rookie of the Year voting.

Congrats to Andrew Bailey for beating Gordon Beckham.

Maybe I should celebrate by combining alcohol and bacon?

Beckham Makes A Push

A combination of a superb Jake Peavy, an uncharacteristically great bullpen, a Brandon Inge error and a Beckham home run culminated in a win for the White Sox, staving off elimination for another day.

While it's still, amazingly, statistically possible for the White Sox to win the division, realistically it's over. The Tigers and Twins have a four game series left. If the Tigers win at all, the White Sox are eliminated. If the Twins end up winning all four of those games, the White Sox are eliminated. The writing is etched on the wall. This season is ovah!

There's still a lot of positives to be found. In last night's game, Jake Peavy continued to make Sox fans salivate for 2010. Gordon Beckham broke up a no-hitter by belting a two run homer. It will be moments like that home run that will propel Beckham to the American League Rookie of the Year.

I have a much better feeling about 2010. The pieces are falling into place and I'm beginning to see what needs to be taken care of and what just needed to find footing during this season. The infield needed this season to gel. They are finally ready for everyday play. The outfield needed to be solved, especially center field. I think that's been solved, despite the recent plate struggles.

If Podsednik is retained, he will have to go to baserunning classes during the winter. If not, expect Figgins to appear in a White Sox uniform. We will finally see what a healthy Carlos Quentin can do for a full season next year. Freddy Garcia has pretty much locked up the fifth starter spot for 2010, with a few rookies waiting in the wings.

As for the offseason, moves will be made. What those moves are, only Kenny Williams knows for sure. The one thing that definitely needs to be done? Fumigation. Something has to get rid of that virus that permeated the clubhouse causing the batters to operate daily without hitting. If they exorcise the hitless demons in the clubhouse, they will prevail in 2010.

He's Coming!

The Chicago White Sox have announced that prior to tomorrow’s game vs. the Oakland A’s they will purchase the contract of infielder Gordon Beckham from Class AAA Charlotte and designate infielder Wilson Betemit for assignment.

Beckham, 22, was the White Sox first-round selection (No. 8 overall) in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Georgia. He will reach the major leagues just 364 days after being drafted on June 5, 2008.

The 6-foot-0, 190-pounder combined to hit .326 (57-175) with 23 doubles, four home runs and 25 RBI in 45 combined games this season between Class AA Birmingham and Class AAA Charlotte. He appeared in 32 games at shortstop, eight at third base, four at second and one at designated hitter. Six of his seven starts at Charlotte were at third base.

He will be the fastest White Sox No. 1 draft choice to reach the majors since Alex Fernandez was selected fourth overall on June 4, 1990 and made his debut on August 2 of that season at Milwaukee, a span of 58 days. Beckham, a native of Atlanta, also will become the fastest Sox position player drafted in the first round to debut since shortstop Lee Richard was taken No. 6 overall in 1970 before making Chicago’s Opening Day roster in 1971.

Beckham entered the season ranked by Baseball America as the No. 1 Prospect in the White Sox organization. He was named the SEC Player of the Year and a First-Team All-America in 2008 after hitting .411 with 28 home runs, 77 RBI and 97 runs scored to lead the Bulldogs to a runner-up finish at the College World Series. Beckham’s 28 home runs were a school record and tied for the NCAA lead.