Al Lopez Ghost (old)

Beat them drums!

I hate being left out - can I scrape the barnicles? It'll add years to the life of the vessel!

Loiza pitched on Thursday, so Tuesday is his normal rotation day. there was a little blurb in the paper today (I think it was the SunTimes) that said Garland wasn't thrilled with being put back. We gotta win one at a time, three straight times. We can do this.

The first time you sat in the UD - did you have trouble judging where popups were going or how well balls were hit into the outfield? That was a little different for me, and I always sat in the UD in the real Comiskey Park.

Colon is the go to guy - but we won't know what our choices are until that last weekend. You have to do everything possible to get into the playoffs. If that last KC game is the game that gets you into a tie, then everybody goes into the pen. You sort out who's the best available after that. These would be desperate times; you rule out nothing. You might have to start Elo, go to Garland, use Buehrle for a batter, you never know. Let's hope we get at least that far.

ElRockinMT brought up some very valid points about the '67 Sox and the 4 man rotation. There is another factor that makes it harder now than it was then to go 4 man. The DH. Not only does it put another strong bat in the lineup, it makes the pitcher work harder against the #8 man in the lineup than the pitchers in the NL have to. NL #8 hitters can be given crap to hit if the situation warrants it, knowing the pitcher is up next.

Where did I say "horrible"? Reading is a skill.

It wasn't just his last outing. He pitched poorly against the Indians here, and was fortunate to get the win. So to the extent that you can be slipping for two starts in a row, he is.

My guess is Foulke.

We need more than one more win from Elo.

The thing about Jiminez is that he hurts you in ways that don't always show up in the numbers. the play this week against the Cubs - no error charged as two runs score while he does gymnastics on the outfield grass; the play against Minnesota this year, when in the 9th inning with 2 outs he completely misreads a base hit to right and only advances from second to third - we don't score and lose in extra innnings. There are baseball intangibles, you can't teach them, and DJ's intangibles are all bad.

Parque was always too cocky for his own good. If his career is over, I will always remember that he started the biggest baseball fight I've ever seen, back in 2000.

Good Morale? Good Morale? That's ridiculous. This is a pennant race, not a friggin pep rally. When Daubach hit the foul home run in the first, I turned to Mrs. Al Lopez's Ghost, and said he's gonna take a pitch on the outside corner for strike 3. Which he did. Not cause I'm so smart, it's just I've seen Brian F. Daubach do this all year. Here's a thought: LET'S START THE STARTERS!!!!!!!!!

Elo has been mediocre last 2 starts. He needs to be the Cy Young Elo on Tuesday.

Absolutely right.

The tigers shut out KC on Friday. They'll play hard, but obviously they're not real good. If we finish 2nd in the division, we have only ourselves to blame.

Well, I agree with you. This means that on Saturday, Elo goes on 3 days rest. I think you'll have to watch him carefully, and use a quicker hook if he gets into trouble. When you give these guys a day's less rest, you're gonna have to be careful with their careers. Also, Colon going on Thursday is still 4 days rest, but with 3 straight complete games, again, Manuel has to be careful. A lot of the 4 man rotation has to do with a deep bullpen, which we have, and good management of it, which is....debatable.

I read the thing about wanting to put Daubach in, too, because we're back in Fenway. Jerry, Daubach better go 4 for 4. This is no time to consider players' feelings, or be a nice guy. It's not just every game is a playoff game, it's every inning! This is the season. Now. Manage like it, ghandi.

We now conclude our reverential discussion of the death of Tom Gordon's uncle.

Besides asking where Paulie will be wintering, you might wonder where he'll be spending his summers.

Saturday - Colon. Sunday - MB, Tues - Garland, Wedns - Elo, Thurs - Colon. So the next time you would need a fifth guy is Friday. By then we should know if it even will make a difference. If we're anywhere near in contention, then by all means, you got to go 4 man rotation.

Ya gotta have heart, All you really need is heart, When the odds are saying you'll never win, That's when the grins should start. Ya gotta have hope, Mustn't sit around and mope. Nothin's half as bad as it may appear, Wait'll next year and hope. When your luck is batting zero, Get your chin up off the floor, Mister you can be a hero, You can open any door - there's nothin' to it but to do it. Ya gotta have heart, miles and miles and mile of heart, Oh it's fine to be a genius of course, but keep the old horse before the cart, First ya gotta have heart.

Gee, a Twin edged a White Sox. Who'da thunk it.

L.I.B., you gotta do it. Think of the glory you will have if we win! Cheat if necessary. Find out where Nomar lives. Just do something!

I just hope no refunds are necessary.