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Every thread turns into a Konerko thread. Amazing. We get it. He sucks.

Bulls***. Oz's strategy with the staff is fine. The starters have to get their head out of their collective asses and go into the seventh inning. If Clayton can't pitch five, don't start him, but you don't get somebody up after a hit and a walk in the fifth if he has a shutout going. I can't believe so many people refuse to blame the players and not the manager. It's so typical arm chair quarterbacking. If players can't produce, including pitchers, don't start them. They have to be able to go at least six innings.

Blame the recession on Paulie. Blame high ticket prices on Paulie. Blame everything on the Devil, Paul Konerko.

Great post. I have no idea what happened and yes we are lucky our record hasn't been worse in that span.

If we're going to talk about Paulie every single moment, at least respond to Oz's comments in this article http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/wh...soxnt30.article Part One: "I've got to talk to him first,'' Guillen said of telling Konerko he may sit him. ''I'm not going to make a move without telling him what's on my mind. My question is, if I bench Paulie, who's on first?'' When the response was ''Swisher,'' Guillen said, ''And? [swisher's] .226 vs. [Konerko's] .213.'' Part Two: "Guillen was pushed on the issue of whether the team is better when Swisher is at first base and the platoon of Brian Anderson and Dewayne Wise is in center field. After all, when Konerko went on the disabled list in mid-June, the Sox went 13-7 without him. ''People say, 'Put Konerko on the bench, do this with Konerko, do that with Konerko,''' Guillen said. ''Who's going to play first? Swisher? Oh. Do me a favor, check the book first and check Swisher and Konerko's averages, and it's not that much different. ''But in the meanwhile, who do I got in center field, Brian? Hello. Wise? That's why people think it's easy to say, 'Make out the lineup, here's what it is.' I think P.K. needs rest, mentally. If we bench him for a while, just to give him rest, out of the game, just put stuff back together and take extra hitting and stick with one thing, that's the only way we're going to bench him.'' OZ is of the opinion Swish's offensive production hasn't been much better than Paulie's ... walks be damned. At least comment on Ozzie's comments. I think they make perfect sense.

OM gosh. Another comment about Swish's intangibles. His energy in the infield? I think this thread is reasonable. Anderson does show some pop once in a while and he hardly ever gets to play. Paulie can't hit home runs anymore and Swish is not exactly lighting it on fire.

He sucks this season. We know it. Some of us love what he's done for the Sox in the past (like contribute heavily to a World Series title, something that does not occur in Chicago) and refuse to blast him for his current s***tiness. Shoot us, bury us. He has sucked all season. I know that. Oz knows that. Will he continue to suck all season? We shall see. I hope not.

If I knew Thornton would have gotten him out I might back you on that. When are you going to realize unless a starter gets completely raked and abused Jose Contreras-like, he lets them try to get out of jams and at least go five, six innings? That's Oz, love him or hate him. It looks like it's about time the Twins take over the division lead. Let's see how they play atop the division down the stretch. If they win it more power to them I guess. I still think losing 3 of 4 or all four will say something hugely negative about our team even though I got lambasted for saying that yesterday. If the Sox can win two in this series, I'll be very impressed. Uncle Mo is so on the Twins side right now for Game 3 and 4. Terrible loss today after grabbing the early lead. And Ozzie's rant was great. I love when managers/coaches in other sports fight back against the people that blast them daily. Repeat: You can second guess 10 decisions in any loss. It's the way it has always been yet people bag on Ozzie every single loss. He's a damn good manager. Yes he makes mistakes. He has an opinion just like the fan and has the right to express it.

Five runs already in the fifth. My god. This team is maddening. I am out which usually brings us good luck. Geezus!!!

Yup, nobody's surprised, just feeling sick about now. Cmon youngster!

Poor Clayton. Here comes the big bomb.

It would be special to have him get out of this jam.

I wish Oz had never nicknamed them the piranhas. They won't ever go away. I think that was the name.

Thank you. That is the point I was trying to make. No announcers, etc., ever mentioned on base percentage, though they often would point out if a guy had a good eye and drew some walks. But Swish's current BA would have made him laughable. I commend him for getting on base some. Swish hasn't won me over yet. He did help us win some games that one month and for that I commend him.

Do we ever lose just one game when we get beat? I could be way off base but it seems we always lose a couple or three before we get on track again.

So we can't be expected to split with the Twins just because it's in Minnesota? I'm saying if they beat us 3 of 4 or 4-4 it says something negative about our team at this stage of the season when the Sox know it's sort of a "statement" series. Yes it's tough to win in Minnie. We need to win 2 of these games.

You think we got hosed on the Swisher deal now? Didn't we trade Sweeney he of the .310 batting average and Gio for him?

The earthquake is making national news. How bad was it? What's it like to be in an earthquake? On paper, today's game is a massive blowout for the Twins. Hopefully that means we'll win. If they keep kicking our ass, this is a bad sign. The Yankees beat the s*** out of Minnesota just last week. The Twins are not THAT good. If they sweep us or win 3-4 it does say something negative about our team.

I agree. Swisher is lucky he plays in an era where every stat is monitored. He'd have been run out of town back in the day when batting average was the biggest stat for a hitter and not on base percentage. The guy's batting average is a joke. But he draws walks so some will slobber over him all season. It's an unwinnable argument for Dick. I agree with everything Dick Allen has been saying about Swish. And yes Konerko has been equally bad or worse. Paulie's home run totals are so low it does indicate something is way wrong. I still say he should bat eighth the rest of the year or be traded for a change of scenery , not booed. Somebody who has time on their hands should compare Swisher's stats to his dad's. Steve Swisher couldn't hit either. I wonder if Steve also drew a lot of walks.

Funny how the young guys get called out like that. Coop would be in a world of hurt if he said that about Javy. Or if Oz said that about Paulie. Wait ... Oz could probably get away with that though Paulie would probably be hurt.

2-2 on the important road trip. Need to somehow win 2 of the next 3. Gonna be tough in the baggiedome.

Paulie needs to be Billy Butler-ized. A couple weeks rehab stint in AAA to get his swing back. Or he needs to relax or see a shrink or ... something. Swisher also sucks ass right now. The man is hitting what .220? Oh, he gets walks. Good for Swish. Hopefully we'll somehow win with the rookie tomorrow and Paulie will hit 2 bombs and Swisher will get 4 hits. I can dream.

We also cannot survive with our starters pitching like this, with Swisher sucking at the plate and playing a very mediocre D in center field, with OC not playing like he did when we were red hot. Paulie may suck but he's not the only one of late. Personally I'd bat him eighth.

It definitely couldn't have been a worse start to the series barring somebody getting hurt. Offense has been doing well and we can't get a run off Slowey?? Mark stunk by Mark's standards. They kicked our ass. Team has stunk before and come back. It might be a wise idea to get down and dirty the rest of the series if we hope to get a 2-2 split. Wonder how Oz will react to that awful baseball game. Twins are amazing. Yankees beat the s*** out of them and they don't quit. They win last 2 vs. Cleveland and now kick our ass and get the upper hand with 3 games left in the series.

I am not an alarmist but I wouldn't argue with your comment there. Change isn't all bad. Kudos to the Brewers for getting a big deal done a week or so BEFORE the deadline.