Al Lopez Ghost (old)

Definitely a win for us.

With 4 off days between now and season's end, Jerry will have the chance to adjust the rotation next month. He could if he wanted match Cotts up with Texas, Detroit, Cleveland, Boston, but then two against Kansas City in the last 10 days. Advantage would be giving the 13 games against Minnesota and the Yankees a diet of our top four. I think that would be wise. Maybe by the time the KC games came around they'd be too far behind to matter. Jerry's gonna have a lot of flexibility in deciding matchups, and that is a scary thought.

Ouch!

Also keep in mind that, like in 2000, we'll probably be scheduled for the off hour games, rather than prime time night games that the Yankees always get. The other thing that affects things is where does the wild card come from? Probably will be from the west division, but it could be Boston. Best record plays the wild card, unless they're from the same division, I believe.

The only game you can win is tonight's. One day at a time is the right approach. As to New York, we have an offday Monday, so if Manuel wants to he can run out Elo, Colon and Buhrle, and save Cotts for the tiggers. You never know with these guys, but it's hard to see losing 3 times in Gotham with those starters. BTW, the Yankee pen sucks.

I heard Farmer say that Walker's been putting extra time in working with Oliva's approach to the dreaded low and away curve ball, and it did look like his recognition was a bit better last night. The guy's already a real asset, and if he hits, an allstar. Love his future.

You say every night. I wouldn't reduce prices on Friday and Saturday nights if I owned the team. Those games are selling well.

Not much to do in Atlantic City if you don't gamble. Whereas in Vegas one hotel looks like Paris, one looks like NYC, one has circus acts, etc. I think there would be more activities of a nongambling nature in Las Vegas.

I'd just like to let everyone know that the bullpen catcher for the Rangers is former White Sox great Don Wakamatsu. If you really have time on your hands, start naming Sox catchers after karko. Scheuler liked to get every over the hill or under the hill for that matter catcher he could every August. Slaught, Borders, Chris Tremie to name a few. In fact, didn't we have Tony Pena?

Royals lose! Only because Carlos Beltran got caught between 2nd and 3rd for the second out in the ninth, in the middle of a seven hit rally. It was pure Dyzbinski. Go get'm Elo.

Duh, here I am answering and the answers are already in. Sorry.

Bobby Bonilla?

I've been there on business 3 times,and I'm going back next week. I'm sure Vegas is better, and way better. We stay at Bally's which is a nice hotel, and there are plenty others up and down the Boardwalk, but that's it. You really don't want to go into the city, per se. So it's nice, but a little limited compared to Las Vegas.

Jose's a hard guy to love, because of the errors, and a hard guy to dislike, because he usually is balls-out on the field. He's a leader with a few flaws. The Sox would be penny foolish to jerk him around in a pennant race, and the team would not miss that signal. So if he's healthy, they better not sit him in situations he would normally play.

I've bashed Garland a few times, and I think he deserved it. But he was great last night, no 2 ways about it. We have a few off days, but if we go with a strict 5 man rotation, he figures to get 7 more starts. He needs to be good 5 of those starts. Four won't cut it. Oh, by the way, with 35 games left, the 5 man rotation would leave Garland making his last start against KANSAS CITY ON THE LAST DAY OF THE SEASON! That would be a relaxing game to watch (but we'll have it wrapped up long before then.)

I think we've drawn a little more than 1.3 million so far. Last year we drew a little more than 1.6 mil. We have 21 home games left, several of which are prime draws. Will we break 2 million? I think we'll miss it by a hair. My guess would be 1.96 million. Any other guesses? We will sellout the post season, however.

I couldn't live in a world that has us out of the playoffs and the Cubs in. Please God no.

Frank is faster than Konerko. Konerko's the better fielder. If you play Frank at first, at what point in the game do you take him out for defensive purposes, and lose his bat? That's a tough decision, and I think Manuel has a problem in that he leaves the offensive guy in too late, trying to squeeze one more at bat out of him. The fewer decisions Manuel has to make, the better. I would only play Frank at first base on the road, to keep his head in the game, and against lefties. Against righties, play Daubach. Also never play Frank at first with Buehrle pitching. Sooner or later, he'll pick someone off, and Frank will throw the ball to Carlos Lee.

Tolly's Ghost - I agree completely.

This has been rumored for like two weeks. Wouldn't you think they've already seen him? Sounds to me like they're on the fence as to whether he can help.

Sharon Osborn is having a talk show on wgn this year, so they have the two of them butcher take me out to the ball game and isn't that so cute. It's all part of the Tribune, WGN, Cubs triangle of evil and it pisses me off. As did their campaign about the Yankees coming to Wrigley, fueled by the Tribune, so they can rip their fans off through their own scalping company. Also, Chip Caray said that the Giants would be coming to Chicago for the first time in August. No Chip, they've been here already. f*** the Cubs, Tribune, and their marketing of the seventh inning stretch.

Any one else have a problem with Manuel having Cotts come out for the sixth inning? He finished the fifth with the lead and had thrown somewhere around 95 pitches. Don't you pat him on the back and say way to go, build on this and let the pen save your first major league win? Then he takes him out with 2 outs in the sixth after they tie it up! Torborg and many other managers would have let Cotts leave the game with a positive vibe.

Apparently they don't like Miles's range at second, so I doubt that he's a shortstop candidate. I'd be interested in hearing from those of you who have seen Miles play what you think. His offensive numbers have been good enough to warrant a look, so the knock must be on his defense, no?

Brijames, you got nothing on me. I have been a Sox fan since 1957, my age of reason. That gives me about 46 years of following the Sox. You wanta give up, give up. They're far from dead. You wanna lead to parade off the clliff, go for it. Don't turn around on our account. One more thing, bri, so that no one misunderstands me. 20 years of Sox fandom, 46 years of Sox fandom, 6 months of Sox fandom, it's all the same. Don't try to pull seniority concerning matters of the heart.