The Critic

I don't do pictures. My words are far too important and captivating to distract with pictures....

Colon gets his first win for Anaheim, over Seattle. Didn't allow a hit after the 2nd inning, if I heard the SportsCenter guy correctly. Good first outing for "Fatolo Balloon".

One start does not a good pitcher make. He had a couple good starts for the Cubs too, but at the end of the year, the numbers will bear out what I know to be true ( REGARDLESS of where he pitches): Shawn Estes does indeed suck ass.

Maybe Danny can close in the future, but not now. Wright had a really good spring starting, and the rotation is a trouble spot this year. Koch should be given a chance to close out a few games before Ozzie blows him up and starts over. Especially based on his first outing - he didn't show me anything to make me believe that he can't do it this year.

But if the Sox lose on Opening Day, the season is OVER, remember???

Remember, Nuke, Florent Robidoux's don't grow on trees!!! It takes a LOT of hard work, sleepless nights and a tragic miscalculation of a player's potential to pick such notables as the legendary superstars you mentioned earlier!!!

HAHAHAHA dumbasses got no luck at all hey, did the lottery pick go to overtime before they lost, at least??? Moral victory!!! Not that it would matter anyway - they'd try to lowball the poor kid and wait two or three years before they signed him!!!

I think BOTH - didn't they happen on the same day?

Best thing to ever come out of Minnesota is Husker Du!!! Bob Mould = GREAT.

Two reasons why I don't think Koch should have been pulled: 1. He had good velocity and movement on his pitches. As mentioned before, Santiago got his hands in on a good pitch for the double and Guiel was frozen by the slider. If he looked like garbage, then pull him, but the fact is that he didn't. 2. Ozzie's own words. All spring he said TWO things that he contradicted yesterday - one being "last year means nothing to me" and the other being "Koch is my closer". As someone else said quite correctly, you don't play percentages with your closer. IMO, Oz had last year's struggles in mind when he pulled Koch. I also felt good about Marte coming in, but I WAS surprised that Oz gave Koch the quick hook, especially after extending Pollitte. I think it's just a bad message to send to Koch this early in the season. That said, I still think that ALL yesterday's game means is that the Sox are ONE GAME out of first and Loaiza's going for a split instead of a sweep. We'll see what Oz does differently next time, if anything.

I only agree with one point - this will be a good test for Ozzie, to see how he can motivate the team to bounce back. I don't believe that the fire burnt out. It's a tough loss, but if the fire can be doused by one game it wasn't much of a fire to begin with. The Royals have to feel good about today, but they don't have all the steam yet. They have a one game lead. Ultimately, that's all this is. Sure, they'll have some confidence in their offense, but with the hitters they have they SHOULD have had confidence in their offense all along. It's their pitching that will be their downfall. Tuesday would have been an off day if the sox had won too, so that shouldn't factor into anything. We really shouldn't let this game get us too down - there are 161 games left and this game is gone. In my mind, here are the lessons learned: Pollitte should only go 1 inning at a time for a while. Koch should be given a chance to hold a 3-run lead if he's your closer and he's in there already. Marte had a really bad day, but it's only ONE bad day. He'll be fine.

The only thing I think Oz did wrong today was pulling Koch. Not because of what happened, but because all we heard in Spring Training was "Koch is my closer". ONE inherited runner scores and he yanks him. NOT good. Let him blow ONE game at least before you second-guess him.

The grey Sox jackets are pretty ugly too.

Oz was serious about running!!! Stolen Bases 2004: Konerko 1 Harris 0 HA!

I dunno..................the site is pointed out by the first and most vocal anti-Ozzie member of Soxtalk.......hmmmmmmmmmm...... cw......just kiddin, bruthaaaaaaaaah........ I didn't even bother clicking on the site.....you don't have to pick up dogs*** to know it stinks.

I have a hard time arguing with Royals fans, because they NEED something to feel good about. They're stuck living in Kansas City, Missouri after all....that's where the FBI sends people for the Witness Relocation Program, for cryin' out loud...

The funny thing is, Maury was STILL trying to get a Purple Heart for staying there as long as he did!! I went with him to the Fog Game in May against Oakland, and we left that game too. Although I was okay with that - not much point in staying if you can't SEE the game! I REALLY hope the Sox get nice weather for the Opener, as well as ALL the early season home games. It's tough enough to get people out to the park...

I tried to click that link, but it redirected me to www.thankGodPortlandchoseSamBowieinsteadofMichaelJordan.org they have streaming audio of Krause mumbling that over and over, but you can't hear it that well because his mouth is full.

It's been better than I expected, but I'm always stunned at how angry Janeane Garafolo seems to be all the time. Franken is decent too. I'd say Air America has earned a semi-regular listen from me. It's at least as interesting as Hannity and WAY more interesting than Limbaugh.

Wright has earned the right to pitch from the 4 slot. Schoenweis has "earned" the right to battle Cotts for the 5th spot.

I'll go optimistic and say 90. The Sox MUST do better against their division rivals this year. I think they're going to be fine this year, but again that may just be my optimism talking. I'm thinking ( hoping? ) that since so many things went wrong last year, this year the Baseball Gods will make things right again!

I really REALLY dislike Honda's voice. WAY too "jive radio guy" for my liking. Plus, I've met him and that just enhanced my dislike.

Best: Marlins, Tigers, White Sox, Red Sox Worst: BLUE JAYS, Devil Rays, Angels, Mets

I REALLY hope you guys get better weather than last year - that was AWFUL. Sorry I can't go - I'd love to see you all again ( and meet some of you whom I haven't yet ) but I've been burning through my vacation days and I have to save some for the Florida trip in May, so ENJOY OPENING DAY!!!

Another fun stat: The Cubs have been one game away from the World Series twice since interleague play began, and lost a combined 5 consecutive games ( the maximum amount any team COULD lose consecutively, since it was best-of-5 in 84 and best of 7 in 03 ) to avoid reaching the WS.