Reminiscent of last week`s series with the Twins, the one that opened Monday night meant more to the White Sox than to the Oakland Athletics, who began it leading the Sox by nine games in the AL West.
But was a sweep vital?
”If we don`t sweep, the season`s over? No, I wouldn`t say that,” Gene Lamont said beforehand.
For Tony LaRussa, the series was no more-and no less-important than any other.
”You know how when you think your club has a good idea, you get stubborn about changing it? That`s how I feel,” LaRussa said. ”We`ve got a good idea, starting from April to the end of the season-that is, you take every series as if it`s real important.”
The first game, though, can be a tone-setter.
”If you can win the first game, that gives you a big leg up,” LaRussa said. ”That`s going to be true tonight. That`s going to be true Thursday against California.”
On the other hand: Walt Weiss, on the series: ”The last thing we want to do is let the White Sox get back in the race. That`s a good team. We don`t want them in the thick of things.”
Bell honored: George Bell, for the second time this season, was named AL Player of the Week. Bell hit .500 with two homers and 10 RBIs.
He didn`t seem thrilled.
”In `87,” said Bell, ”I won four, five times.”
Grebeck update: Further tests and exams in Chicago on Craig Grebeck`s right foot found a clean fracture above the big toe, which, given the possibilities, was good news, said trainer Herm Schneider.
He`ll be in a cast for six weeks and will miss the rest of the season, but should be fine next year, Schneider said.
No hard feelings: Before the Florida expansion franchise went to Miami and Wayne Huizenga, Sox broadcaster Ken Harrelson was part of a group trying to land it for St. Petersburg.
Now, St. Pete apparently will get the Giants.
”They certainly deserve one in that area,” said Harrelson, still a bit troubled by how all that came down. ”It`s a great area for baseball.
”I`m glad to see them get it-if in fact they get it.”
Nelson gone: The A`s before Monday`s game activated Lance Blankenship, out for a month with a broken hand. Gene Nelson, the former Sox pitcher and for years a successful setup man for Dennis Eckersley, was designated for assignment.
