Sox Post-Season Roster Set; Umpire Crew Announced

The Sox 1st round Postseason roster was announced this afternoon and Ozzie Guillen decided to keep the likes of Timo Perez, Geoff Blum, Luis Vizciano and Orlando Hernandez instead of Brandon McCarthy and Ross Gload. Personally, I am very disappointed. Not about El Duque being on the roster, but Vizciano. I'll take McCarthy over Vizciano every day of the week and twice on Sunday's, especially in a close ballgame. As far as Gload goes, I'd rather have his left-handed bat over both Timo Perez, also a lefty, and the switch-hitting Blum. Gload hasn't played in the majors much this year, but during his rehab time in the minors he was tearing the cover off the ball, hitting over .400 I believe. Blum and Perez have been hitting around .200 all year. Regardless of Gload having his success this year during his limited time in the minors (against minor-league pitching), he showed more potential there than both of these guys have showed all season with the Sox. You know how the Sox love Timo's "veteran presence" though. In my opinion the larger mistake of the two is keeping Vizciano and leaving McCarthy off.

The umpiring crew for the Sox opening round in the playoffs has been announced. Thankfully, Hunter Wendelstat is not on it.. Crew chief John Hirschbeck will be behind the plate in game one and will be joined by Larry Vanover, Mark Wegner, Bill Miller, Mike Everitt and Dan Iassogna.