So a guy I know came to the end of his college days. He was one of the most talented students, in his field, in the country. 1 company in particular offered him a lot of money to come work for their organization. More than 3 years later, he still hadn’t found his footing at this one place, so they helped relocate him to another company in the middle of the country. 22 months later, he left this new place, hoping for better luck. After a few middling months, the new company, which has been struggling to find good workers, fired him. Not even a year later, he latched on to an up and coming company, but they fired him too! His college resume still shines, along with all of his past accomplishments. So what did he do? He signed with the one organization that might be able to resurrect that past talent. So far, So good.

I’m sure you know that I am talking about Phil Humber. After a stellar career at Rice University, Humber began his career with the New York Mets. After signing a huge contract, he didn’t do too much with the Mets, actually winning no games with the big club. I wonder how many fantasy guys/girls hate Humber? You know someone in the Gower league spent a high pick on him. Anyway, the Mets sent him to Minnesota, where he matched his win total with the Mets. As a free agent in 2009, he hooked on with a team desperate for pitching, the Kansas City Royals. Even the Royals had no use for the former 3rd overall pick in the draft, firing him. The Oakland A’s did the same in early 2011. Up steps the Chicago White Sox, most notably Don Cooper. Coop has taken pitchers, good, and not so good, and made them decent MLB players.

I wonder what the Sox saw? Humber’s 1 career win was against the Sox, but in two 2010 starts vs. the pale hose, the right hander went 8 innings, giving up 14 hits and 9 earned runs. That’s an ERA of 9.00.

Come on, how many of you thought with Peavy out, Humber would still be in the rotation as May approaches? Not only has Humber flourished, he has solidified his spot. His start against the Yankees in the Bronx was a thing of beauty. He kept the Yankees hitless in to the 7th inning. Alex Rodriguez’ ruining the no no with a sharp single to center. If he could have finished the deal, that might have been the most shocking no hitter of all time. And I listened to Joe Cowley and Mike Warren no hit the Angels years ago. The magnitude of New York, and the quality of hitters would’ve made it an incredible feat. The fact that Humber was drafted by the Yankees 3 years before the Mets is another weird, but true fact.

The Yankees, Peavy and the rest of the team gushed over how good Humber looked. If he can keep it up, maybe Humber can stop renting and start looking to buy a place in Chicago.

I told you Sergio Santos should be closing. Lead off single to Granderson, double play by Teixeira, strikeout of A-Rod. Santos has the stones for the job. If he can settle down the bullpen, the team becomes doubly dangerous. And in two years, Santos has yet to give up a run in April. Hope I didn’t jinx that–sorry.

Hey, the offense even scored. It only took 29 innings, but they scored. Pretty boring as Adam Dunn’s groundout plated Quentin in the 4th.

White Sox win 2-0. With Humber pitching well and Santos throwing bullets, could the offense be far behind?