A Hidden Rivalry

By: Chicago Sports Review

Every true baseball fan knows of the game’s greatest rivalries: Yankees and Red Sox, Dodgers and Giants, Cardinals and Cubs. Recently, another competitive fare has emerged, one that until the previous year or two has flown under the radar, at least everywhere but the two cities in which it occurs.Chicago and Minnesota have uncovered a secret that both have known for some time; a secret of competitiveness and fire, as well as one of tremendous baseball. When the White Sox and Twins oppose one another, there manifests an atmosphere that raises to playoff heights. In fact, the series is finally garnering an overdue recognition in the national spotlight, being featured recently as a Sunday night affair. Yet, the rivalry is one of respect, not venom.

“It’s probably one of the top [rivalries] in the game,” said Twins star left fielder Shannon Stewart. “It’s something special when we play the White Sox.”

Special indeed. Over four of the last five campaigns, one of these two sides has represented the American League Central as division champion, Minnesota taking the crown three times (2002-2004, consecutively) and Chicago once (2000).

“So far it’s always been us one and them two, or us two and them one to win the title,” said Stewart, a lifetime .303 hitter entering 2005. “It’s a rivalry where we go at each other, and we go at each other hard.”

Stewart wasn’t kidding in his assertion, citing a play from last season. “Last year…the Torii Hunter collision at home plate brought some attention to the series,” said Stweart. “It was on.”

The former Toronto Blue Jay was referring to when five-tool center fielder Hunter initiated a bone-jarring home plate collision with Sox catcher Jamie Burke, in an effort to knock a thrown ball lose and score a crucial run. Although both clubs have down-played the incident as merely hard-nosed baseball, fans disagree. Hunter routinely receives roars of boos loud enough to rival even the best of America’s choruses when he visits Chicago. Every time the Pine Bluff, Arkansas native steps to the plate or sprints to his position, he is faced with animosity fit for the most villainous of characters. This coming despite Torii’s fun-loving and free spirited character.

Although inevitable, Hunter wanted to side-step the word rivalry when discussing his thoughts on the teams’ numerous battles. Instead, he focused on the tremendous competition which has produced so many great memories. “When we play each other it’s always intense,” said the 2000 All-Star. “The fans get into it, and when they do, it’s lovely. They’re screaming and yelling. The Chicago White Sox…for years, we’ve been a rivalry, and it’s been fun.”

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen also didn’t like the “R” word, wanting to down-play Chicago’s encounters with their enemies to the North. “When we go there people really get pumped up,” stated the Venezuelan in reference to his team’s Metrodome visits. “I think when you have a good team, and you match that with a good team, everyone has high expectations. We play a different style of baseball because we are a different team. That’s what brings a lot to the match-up.”

Guillen further applauded the Twins’ ability to thrive in a time and marketplace which has its cards stacked against smaller budget clubs. Even recently, Minnesota was tabbed as a possible candidate for contraction. “They don’t beat themselves…and they are always going to find a way to beat you,” offered Guillen. “They have good pitching and are going to stay in games.”

Additionally, the White Sox skipper acknowledged that his team’s approach is getting closer to that of Chicago’s main competition. “I think over the years the White Sox have always had the better players,” told Guillen. “Minnesota sticks together and plays good baseball. That’s why they have had a lot of success. We need to do that as well….You know, chemistry.”

“I think you have to be playing for something. They are the champions of our division,” said White Sox hitting instructor and former first baseman Greg Walker. “To overtake them, we’ve got to beat them. It’s been really good competition the past few years… A great rivalry. I don’t think it’s going to be any different this year. We’ll have to go through them, I guess, is the best way to put it. There is definitely a little extra in intensity and enthusiasm when we play them. A lot of so-called experts were picking Minnesota to win the World Series this year. The country is realizing that. The Twins have a really good team.”

Chicago broadcaster Ken Harrelson also sees the rivalry emerging as a premier attraction. “It’s growing, no question about that,” said The Hawk. “The only bad thing about it the last few years is that they have kicked our butts…but this is a different year. I hope we give them something to talk about.”

Quickly, however, each side is ready to complement the rivalry’s participants, recognizing the needed skills necessary to make this clash one of the industry’s elite. “They have a great outfield, one of the best in baseball, not to mention pitching and defense” stated Guillen in reference to the collection of Stewart, Hunter, and Jacque Jones, from left to right. “But right now we have Podsednik and Rowand, who is playing a great center field. We’re tough too.”

“The best thing about Minnesota is that guy that they have on the mound,” sais Walker about southpaw and 2004 AL Cy Young winner Johan Santana. “Everybody wants to miss him (in a series), but we have got him in the past. We feel like we have a chance every time. It’s not like we are mentally beat going in or anything like that. Their other pitchers are good as well. They were the best in our league last season. We know we have our work cut out no matter who is on the mound.”

Walker also had tremendous regard for veteran Minnesota righty Brad Radke. “I think Radke is very tough, one of the best pitchers in baseball,” said the Georgia native. “He and Santana are definitely gonna’ make it hard on you.”

The Sox coach didn’t forget his hurlers either, including left-hander Mark Buehrle. “Our pitching, obviously, is better this year. The thing, though, that makes Mark Buehrle special is his make-up. The way he thinks, the way he approaches the game… I’d say he has the perfect make-up to play this game, as good as anybody I have been around, and I have been fortunate to be around some great players. He is a happy-go-lucky kid who is ready to compete and isn’t scared of anything.”

The only down-side to this clash has to be the Metrodome, Minnesota’s home turf. With a white-colored roof (same as the ball), distant seats from the playing field, and dim lighting, this park clearly isn’t a favorite of those around baseball. Fortunately, the Twins have a new stadium slated, waiting eagerly for approval and construction. Chicago play-by-play man Harrelson is one of the structure’s biggest critics.

“What a bad place,” stated Harrelson. “The worst place I have ever seen where they play baseball. The fans are great and it’s a great town. It’s a shame that they have to watch baseball [there].”

Metrodome aside, the White Sox and Twins have already given the fans intensity this season, with Chicago taking four of the first five meetings. Don’t think for a second, however, that Minnesota will back down or relent in the pennant race. They are a scrappy team possessing a great deal of pride. Can the White Sox match that intensity and desire? The next five plus months will certainly answer that question in the most emphatic of fashions. Nevertheless, one who ignores this rivalry is really missing something special.

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