CHICAGO -- Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia and Jose Contreras threw out first pitches to their respective children prior to Cleveland’s 6-5 victory over the White Sox in 10 innings Sunday afternoon before 24,680 nostalgic fans, completing the South Siders’ pre All-Star break work with a record of 32-65 and putting them 33 games under .500 for the first time this season.
This quartet’s presence marked the culmination of a weekend-long celebration for the 2005 World Series champions 20th anniversary, with a very popular bobblehead giveaway featuring the four who hurled an unheard of back-to-back-to-back-to-back complete games in the ALCS. It’s a special, lasting team, finishing with 99 wins during the regular season and an almost unblemished 11-1 postseason ledger, a target the current rebuilding group aspires to hit someday.
Even though the record doesn’t show it, progress is gradually being made.
“One thing to take away is we're in every game, it seems like,” said White Sox designated hitter Andrew Benintendi, who had three hits, including his 11th home run Sunday. “We're right there. There's things that we can work on, obviously. I'm sure we'll think about it over the break and come back ready to play.
“Look at where we were last year compared to this year. It's a tough game, and you've got to take your wins where you can.”
After 97 games in the 121-loss rough waters of ‘24, the White Sox sat at 27-70. So, they are in fact improved but again, it’s about more than wins and losses at this point. It has to be for this young group.
Rookies such as All-Star right-hander Shane Smith, catchers Kyle Teel, and Edgar Quero and infielders Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth, to name a few, are gaining valuable knowledge and on-field experience from this first-year stint.
“There's a lot going on every single day: hitters' meetings, pitcher-catcher meetings, you've got to go out for BP,” Benintendi said. “It's learning what makes you the most effective on the field. And obviously, the more you play, the more you learn. Experience over the course of time will make you better."
“Just the competitive spirit and really coming every day to work and compete and play hard has been something that through some tough stretches we've continued to do,” said White Sox manager Will Venable of his team. “Been really proud of the group as they've really connected and built something within the clubhouse that they go out and are proud of every day they go out on the field.”
Close-knit camaraderie was at the heart of the ‘05 champions, feted with Mark Buehrle’s Rate Field concourse statue unveiling on Friday, and a pregame ceremony, where Bobby Jenks, their charismatic closer who passed away on July 4 at 44, also was honored. They did things together off the field, they played well together and most importantly won together.
It seems as if that ‘05 championship gets overlooked. But it doesn’t bother the people who were a part of it.
“I feel like that team was really good. I know we didn't have the star power or the staying power, and that's part of it,” said Paul Konerko, the first baseman on that ‘05 squad and one of the best players in franchise history. “That's what makes great teams like the Florida Panthers right now. It's not just that they won one. Now you win two, you're in a different situation right?
“They went to three Finals in a row … Just in that three-week tournament that was played that October, we pretty much handled everybody about as easily as anybody has handled anybody. Proud to say that. If they don't want to say it, that's fine, whatever. No big deal to us. We've still got the trophy.”
The White Sox have yet to announce their post All-Star break starting rotation, beginning Friday in Pittsburgh. They will need arms to complement their young starting core of Smith, Sean Burke, Davis Martin and Jonathan Cannon, who either have surpassed their single-season innings-highs or are quickly approaching that mark.
Adrian Houser, whose 1.56 ERA ranks third in baseball since May 20, and Aaron Civale, who allowed four runs in the sixth inning Sunday after throwing five scoreless, are part of that front five currently. They both could be trade targets as the White Sox work to build on their youthful core.
Maybe the team could look to Sunday’s pregame hurlers for a little help from the past?
“I caught Jose [Contreras] last year in an exhibition game in Miami. He was throwing like 90,” said a smiling Quero of his 53-year-old Cuban countryman. “He was still pitching hard.”