Controlled Chaos

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 15, 2008 -> 12:40 PM) 100 years in the same sense we have had troops in Europe for 100 years. In all seriousness, this is as absurd as the whole Al Gore invented the internet thing. I honestly can't believe people are using it so completely out of context with a straight face. Well in Athomeboy_2000's defense.....we really can't see his face...

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ May 15, 2008 -> 09:20 AM) Dont worry folks... if McCain is elected president we'll mostly be out of Iraq by 2013. Only 5 more years of dead Americans. No need to worry.. Plus 100 years after the deaths of Americans stop. So, we'll be out of Iraq by 2113, maybe a little later. My personal take on the issue. Dude come on..... In January, John McCain said we should be in Iraq for 100 years. He later amended the statement and said that he meant 100 years after peace in Iraq and no more Americans are dying. He then added we might be there 1,000 years or 10,000 years. Under John McCain's plan, we will be out of Iraq by roughly 2113. Or maybe 3113. Maybe even 12,113. Do you really want American troops in Iraq until 2113? Vote Obama in November. He's the only choice to get us safely out of Iraq and end the needless deaths of hard working American troops

QUOTE (knightni @ May 14, 2008 -> 06:36 PM) 4 days left! I've only gotten one more list since the last update! Cmon... It's not hard to make a list! Knightni...I know Sox related threads are moved right away....but would it hurt to have a thread in pale hose with a link to this one. There are a lot of people who come to this site and never venture out of pale hose talk.

This is like that alternative broadcast experiment a few years ago.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ May 15, 2008 -> 11:00 AM) For Buerhle, its not about his velocity. The velocity police are too worried about radar gun readings. Its more about location, and working righties in. When Buerhle is on his A game, he drives his cutter in on the hands of righties. When he has problems, he pitches away from contact and goes away all the time. If he keeps the ball down, and pounds the ball in he will be fine. I am not overly worried with Buerhle. In his games, he has been dinked a lot, and has had a lot of bad defense and poor run support. That has skewed his line a bit more than we give it credit for. Question....Doesn't Buehrle pretty much throw whatever AJ calls? He rarely shakes AJ off...so if they're going away away...who is that on? I can see if AJ is setting up inner half and Mark is missing outside....but he seems to throw where AJ is set up.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ May 14, 2008 -> 11:48 PM) Carlos Quentin. He is very good. Someone posted this on Cheats site. http://www.southsidesox.com His body needs to be puffed up a bit. It looks to small.... CQ is the s*** though and has the perfect attitude. "I was just hoping to come through for the team,'' Quentin said after driving in 5 runs against the Angels. "The story of the game tonight was Jose Contreras. He threw the ball great.''

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 14, 2008 -> 12:14 PM) Personally I think any topic can be beaten to the ground or a topic can turn into a thing of awesomeness. IT all depends on the posters and everyone doing there best to make sure that no matter what they say they try to add something to the conversation and bring more to the debate/thread. Just my 2 cents and I've been a negative nancy as of late but I still try my best to add something to the discussions or say something and I'm one who is always willing to admit whether I'm wrong and if I say something bad about the Sox I do nothing but hope to end up being right. Hell, at yesterdays game I popped my collar in the 9th inning and tried to create the rally collar. Obviously it didn't work.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ May 14, 2008 -> 09:57 AM) Who said that? I didn't so include everyone else but not me please. I think we all know this team can compete, but we all want them to win 162 games and when that doesn't happen you need to vent or go buy a gun. That's all. I think he was referring to the thread title.

This is like that alternative broadcast experiment a few years ago.

Well this is a whole lot of seeds, but if anybody is coach or on a team you may be interested. 324 Packs of Seeds (.9 oz) $39.80 or $0.12 Each + Free Shipping @ Amazon ORDER HERE Add to cart and apply coupon code SAVESLIM for $25 off. Product Features Case of nine boxes, each containing 36 - 0.9-ounce bags (total of 324 bags) Made from all-natural sunflower seeds; roasted and salted Contains no trans-fat and excellent source of protein and minerals A healthy snack choice at the game, on-the-go or anytime you crave a fun, tasty snack! America's favorite sunflower seed Directions How to eat seeds: First timer, be not afraid. Just take a seed, crack it with your teeth, eat the seed inside and pitch the shell. Ready for the big time? Pop a handful of seeds in your mouth. Store seeds in one cheek, transfer a seed to the other side, crack the shell with your teeth, remove the seed with your tongue, spit the shell, eat the seed and repeat! It takes practice, but there's no wrong way to eat seeds. Seeders unite!

WHAT THE HECK ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT?

QUOTE (Al Lopez's Ghost @ May 13, 2008 -> 12:02 PM) It's not really news anymore when Buehrle is hit around - it's news when he's effective. He was 12-13 in 2006 for a team that was 18 games over .500. Last year he was 10-9. This year we all know. Signing him last year to that contract was a sentimental mistake, a bad baseball decision. The best you can realistically hope for is that he will be a little over or under .500, sort of a fourth starter, through the end of this contract. And I think he's a great guy, great in the clubhouse, etc. Just not a great pitcher anymore. I'm not really the stat guy here...but shouldn't you check his ERA and not his win total from last year?

QUOTE (Texsox @ May 13, 2008 -> 11:42 AM) KW: Estaban Loiza coming and going - bought low, sold high Ozzie: bringin in Jenks with the "big boy gesture" AJ: - Dropped third strike run Crede: - Walk off Konerko: Game ball to JR Buehrle: No Hitter

Let's bounce back here boys. Weaver was shelled in his last start Wedensday, against the Royals, lasting only 3 1/3 innings. He's been stellar against the Sox in his 2 career starts, winning both games and posting a 0.77 ERA. Let's reverse the trend and get to him early.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 13, 2008 -> 10:34 AM) And in both situations, Buehrle should have never been pitching to Vlad or Shannon Stewart. I agree and that's a whole different issue.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 13, 2008 -> 10:34 AM) The definitely werent all his fault but a good pitcher doesnt collpase and start getting rocked as soon as his defense makes a bad play or two. Same thing with the 2-0 loss in Toronto, Crede made a 2-out error and Mark just gave up a bunch of hits in a row and that lost the game. Well the thing for me is Mark doesn't have to overcome his D once in a while. So far, I think he has had to overcome it one way or another, in every single start. That is when it becomes hard to just block it out and not try to be perfect.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ May 13, 2008 -> 09:07 AM) Buehrle's reactions to the 'miscues' behind him (both those last night should have been errors) reminds me of Mike Sirotka. If there was an error behind him, you can just put a 5 spot on the board, because he just lost it. Well if it happens once in a while....you pitch over it...no big deal...and that gives you confidence the next time it happens. Mark has pitched over some mistakes this year, but when it happens almost every god dam start...then you would be inhuman for it not to creep in your mind. Then all of a sudden you're trying to be a bit too perfect, because you're preparing for the impending doom. Mark relies on pinpoint accuracy to be successful, all it takes is a slight change to f*** it all up.

Did Mark get some shotty D again last night to lead to the big inning? Edit: found the answer to my own question. One bad pitch dooms Buehrle, Sox 05/13/2008 2:30 AM ET By Scott Merkin / MLB.com ANAHEIM -- The pitch count for Mark Buehrle read 102, of which 63 were strikes, when he exited Los Angeles' 10-7 victory over the White Sox with two outs in the sixth inning Monday night at Angel Stadium. It was one particular pitch in the fifth inning, at least in Buehrle's mind, which really changed the fortunes of this series opener. And according to the White Sox southpaw, the fastball lofted out by Vladimir Guerrero with two runners on and one out, giving the Angels (23-17) the lead for good, 5-4, wasn't that bad of an offering to most mortal hitters. "If I throw that pitch to anyone else, they pop it up, take it or miss it," said Buehrle of the 1-1 inside fastball Guerrero crushed for home run No. 4, which marked his first long ball since April 25. "It shows how good of a hitter he is." "That's Vlad," added White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski. "You throw a pitch to him a foot outside, and he hits a home run to right. You throw it a foot inside, and he hits a home run to left." Guerrero's at-bat might not have mattered if not for two infield hits to start the rally. Sean Rodriguez reached on a grounder that took a bad hop off shortstop Orlando Cabrera, and Gary Matthews Jr. was credited with a hit when second baseman Juan Uribe couldn't handle his grounder behind second. That sort of bad luck has characterized the start of 2008 for Buehrle, who slipped to 1-5 and has not won since April 6 in Detroit. He has given up 19 hits and 13 earned runs over his last 11 1/3 innings, including six earned runs allowed Monday. Yet, appearances can be deceiving. While Buehrle hasn't worked at his sharpest level, he also hasn't struggled like the first half of his 2003 season (2-10 start) or the second half of 2006 (3-7, 6.44 ERA). "This one isn't similar to the one from a couple of years ago," Buehrle said of his infrequent career slumps, after striking out six and walking one against the Angels. "A couple of years ago, it seemed like I couldn't get anyone out. They hit the ball hard against me." "To be honest, they hit some balls in perfect places," Pierzynski added. "He's had some good outings and a couple of bad ones, but he's throwing the ball better. Maybe he's angered the baseball gods, and we have to find a way to change his luck around." Los Angeles actually trailed by 3-0 and 4-2 margins, before Guerrero's blast. The lead grew to 6-4 by the time the fifth inning was complete, and the Angels added on four more in the sixth against Buehrle, Ehren Wassermann and Boone Logan. But the White Sox (18-19) were not quite finished. Trailing by a 10-4 margin in the eighth, the South Siders managed to bring closer Francisco Rodriguez (15th save) into the game to record the final two outs in preserving Nick Adenhart's first big league victory. Rodriguez struck out Pierzynski looking with runners on first and third, dropping the White Sox to 2-2 on this 10-game West Coast road trip. Jermaine Dye led the 14-hit attack with a double and three singles, raising his average to .298. Pierzynski, Nick Swisher, Joe Crede and Uribe added two hits apiece, as the bottom five of the order accounted for all but one of the safeties and reached base 17 times. Cabrera, Carlos Quentin, Jim Thome and Paul Konerko finished a combined 1-for-17 and reached base three times. "We battled, had chances and left a lot of guys on base," said Pierzynski, whose team left eight on base, but finished 7-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Monday's loss dropped the White Sox two games behind the Twins in the American League Central and one-half game in back of the Indians, who split a doubleheader with Toronto. Of course, the standings don't matter at this early stage. What does truly count is getting Buehrle back on track and soon. On Monday, Buehrle felt as if one pitch to Guerrero meant the difference between victory and defeat. It could have been the difference between his present slump continuing or the potential start of a personal winning streak. "Sometimes this game ... it's stupid," Buehrle said. "It's one pitch out of [102]. "I keep on saying it all evens out. I just hope it starts evening out soon."

This is just getting under way. 155 N Wacker. It's pretty cool walking past it every day and seeing the progress. From the demo to the finished product. I saw the UBS tower from demo to finish too....pretty cool stuff.

That catch was f***in sick!!!!! BA you earned your pay. Nice win... I Liked some of the oppo shots the last couple games...maybe these guys are starting to get it.

Well this game is over.

Lets get er done fellas.

Anyone here want to explain to me what shold be going on down there? I mean there is constant b****ing when Ozzie overplays the righty lefty matchup. I'm even one who b****es about it. Now he has Linebrink as the 8th inning setup guy and surprise surprise...calls on him in the 8th inning and a lot of people were b****ing about that? I just don't get it and before someone mistakes me for an Ozzie apologist..let me assure you I'm not. But Linebrink walks Mauer and people are blaming Ozzie? WTF? Then he throws a couple wild pitches...guess whose fault....Ozzie. Linebrink is getting paid to be the setup man...he is getting paid to get big outs....how about a little accoutability on him. And I don't know the stats and I'm sure someone will correct me and post the splits, but I just think Mauer is a good f***in hitter no matter who is throwin it to him. I don't mind the righty lefty match up when the percentages dictate it...but a great hitter is a great hitter. When Ozzie does something moronic like not put his best defense on the field...I can see getting on him. When he doesn't have his players shifted correctly in the outfield..I can see getting on him. Those things are just flat out stupid and you're not putting your players in the best position to succeed. That isn't a judgement call...it's just fact. But something like bringing Linebrink in...your setup man...in that situation yesterday, is a judgement call. It may be right, it may be wrong...could go either way, but for people to so matter of factly think it's wrong, IMO is insane.

For your reading pleasure... Guillen comes out swinging in support of Walker By Barry Rozner | Daily Herald Columnist Published: 5/9/2008 12:29 AM All evidence to the contrary, Ozzie Guillen does not actually believe he knows everything. But there is one thing of which the White Sox manager is absolutely certain. "Greg Walker ain't going nowhere. I can promise you that," Guillen said of the team's embattled hitting coach. "I know every time something goes wrong, people want to see someone get fired, but Greg Walker isn't getting fired." Prior to Thursday's 6-2 victory over Minnesota on the South Side, the White Sox had a league-leading 40 home runs through 33 games, but were only eighth in RBI and last in batting average (.233). "It's not fair to blame Greg Walker," Guillen said. "Maybe some players need to look in the mirror and realize what they're doing, and how they're approaching their at-bats.'' Mired now in a little difficulty, Nick Swisher went 0-for-4 and saw his average fall to .200, but he took a big cut at the critics of his hitting coach, and his impassioned defense of Walker was impressive. "What, is Walk supposed to come in the box and hit for me?" Swisher laughed. "I don't get that. It's ridiculous. The man is really good at what he does, but ultimately the responsibility's on us. "Anyone wants to put this on him, have them come and talk to me." Their approach was a hair better Thursday, as the Sox managed 8 hits and 5 walks off six Twins pitchers, but the first 3 runs again came off 2 home runs, and the first was a solo shot by Jermaine Dye, the last in a streak of 11 straight blasts with no one aboard. "We don't have a bunch of kids here. These are guys who have a history of hitting, and they've got a job to do," Guillen said. "I don't worry about Greg Walker. He comes here and works hard. He cares and he worries about them. He tries to help them with the mental side and he's doing all he can do. It's up to those guys to do their job." At least on Thursday there was a blatant attempt at putting the ball in play, as opposed to merely hoping to hit it over the Dan Ryan. Maybe that's why Walker, for one, believes this lineup is going to hit, and that it's going to happen soon. That's not just whistling past the graveyard, which Walker admits to doing in 2007. "Last year, I knew we were in trouble, but you can't say that out loud,'' Walker said. "We had some injuries and it wasn't a good team. "That's not the case here. What people on the outside don't realize is how different this is. This is a good team and we're close to the division lead and no one's running away with it. "We got some guys that are really close to busting out. But the important part is mentally they haven't quit and they're working. "This is the strongest team I've ever been around mentally and from an accountability standpoint." Walker went so far as to compare this team's make-up to the one that captured the flag in 2005. "I'd be worried if I saw any give in this team but I don't. I see them every day and I see what's in their eyes," Walker insisted. "It reminds me of '05 in some ways. I'm not predicting a World Series in May, but I'm excited about how tough these guys are mentally. I know how much they care." Mark Buehrle made that statement on behalf of his teammates Wednesday night when he clobbered a defenseless dugout heater with Juan Uribe's often-defenseless bat. Buehrle unplugged the device when he saw it begin to smoke, and Thursday he autographed it. "The guy who broke it has a lot of money. Maybe we'll get a better one,'' Guillen chuckled. "I'm glad he took it out on that and not one of his teammates, or a wall and break his hand. "It's good for his teammates to see he cares.'' Despite Buehrle's troubles (1-4, 5.31 ERA), the Sox are third in the league in team ERA after finishing 12th last year, which leads Guillen to believe better days are ahead. "I'm really optimistic, the way we're pitching," he said. "I know we're going to hit." The best hit of the day wasn't Uribe's 2-run blast in the fifth that gave the Sox a 3-2 lead. It was Uribe's thunderous take-out of Twins second baseman Brendan Harris in the eighth on what should have been an inning-ending double-play. As a result, the Sox picked up a pair of big insurance runs. The dugout exploded in delight, and Guillen was first out of his seat. "That's the best thing that happened today. We've been missing that,'' Guillen said. "When we don't do the little things, our offense is just a bunch of home runs with nobody on base. "But that play gets the whole team pumped up." It helped the Sox leave for a 10-day West Coast trip in second place, only a game out, but with only a couple games separating the entire five-team division. "It's way too early to get caught up in this slump or that slump, or this win or that loss," said Paul Konerko. "There's about 130 games left. That's a lot of time for us to hit, and we'll hit our share before it's over." And it ain't over until the last dugout heater's been destroyed. Or something like that.

QUOTE (G&T @ May 8, 2008 -> 03:17 PM) Why thank you. I started the game thread, so I decided to bring my "A" game. Successful, I knew you would be.