The B-List: 9/26

Written by Steve Buffum

CC Sabathia kicked dirt on the grave of Ozzie, Thome, and the White Sox last night ... and finished the season with a winning record, 3.22 ERA, and the most complete games in the majors. In todays B-List, Buff analyzes CC's season and performance, Garko's offensive explosion last night and future with the team, and the unheralded but potentially meaningful return of Matt Miller.

Apologies for the short list today, I get to have a root canal!

1) Dominant

C.C. Sabathia did not extend his league-leading number of complete games, despite trying virtually every kind of argument on Eric Wedge except the only one that really works, which is to morph into a four-year-old and begin screaming and crying. (It works on me.) However, in 8 full innings, Sabathia struck out 11, gave up 4 hits, and produced a "Game Score" of 85, good for his second-best performance of the season and tied for the 10th best in the AL this year. (Sabathia's July 7 start against Baltimore scored an 88.)

Sabathia was essentially in control all game: after a perfect first and a leadoff single to Paul Konerko in the second, Sabathia struck out the next four hitters swinging. Sabathia threw 91 strikes in 121 pitches (which is why he was lifted), meaning the White Sox had no alternative but to flail. Sabathia walked no one and only allowed two runners in an inning once (in the 5th). His 6th, 7th, and 8th were all perfect innings, including 1 K in each. Pablo Ozuna was the only starter not to get struck out at least once.

I mean, that's pretty brutal. Sabathia is now 12-3 against the White Sox in his career and sports the third-best (qualifying) ERA in the AL at 3.22.

2) Gark smash!

Ryan F. Garko: 3-for-4, 2 XBH, 5 RBI, 0 K

Everyone Else Who Batted For Either Team: 7-for-56, 2 XBH, 1 RBI, 23 K

Ryan Garko came up a triple short of the cycle (although imagining Garko legging out a triple takes some stretching), during which his double with two outs drove in 2 runs and his home run with 2 outs drove in 3. On a night when Javier Vazquez actually pitched quite well (6 H, 2 BB, 12 K), the fact that he had to pitch to Garko basically eliminated him from consideration. Replace Garko with, say, me (0-for-4, 4 K, wet pants) and Vazquez loses a 1-0 heartbreaker.

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The B-List: 9/26

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