Like We Said

Well, that sure didn’t take long. No sooner do we talk about a White Sox player, and he delivers. Clare saw it happen first. A double play and a runner thrown out at the plate on a fielder’s choice had me switching over to Jeopardy!; we former contestants are happy to watch summer repeats even. Clare called just as Double Jeopardy had started. “Are you watching the game?” she asked. I told her No and explained my reasons. Because I could tell something was up, I promised to call her back as soon as I’d answered Final Jeopardy—“What is Yemen?” in case you’re wondering—and caught up with the game (thank you, TiVo). I called back with two out and two on, the just-recalled Gavin Sheets up. “I’m guessing it’s going to happen here,” I said, and, sure enough, Sheets launched a moonshot over the fence in right field for his seventh homerun of the season. His eighth homer came in the eighth, a 424-foot rocket to dead center field on an 0-2 pitch, no less. Sox over Pirates, 6-3. After the game, Sheets said everything a manager and GM would want to hear, how he’s glad to be back; loves the team and clubhouse; just wants to contribute. He even said he went back to Triple-A Charlotte with more confidence. Talk about lemonade out of lemons. Sheets has a smooth swing coupled with good plate coverage and discipline. He was gone, but now he’s back. Amazing.