Chisoxfn

Now Bobby needs to do his job cause this isn't over yet.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 06:52 PM) I know I'm negative by nature, but was I the only one worried Terrero would rob that? I saw him running and I was just thinking drop drop drop drop (thinking double) than it cleared the fence and I went nuts. I loved the approach, works 3-0 count and he swings at ball 4 to hit the grand slam but he didn't try to pull it or anything.

Yes, I knew there was a reason I had a man crush on Gloadie GLOAD!!!! ROSS fishing GLOAD

Well with PK down its going to be up to Gloadie the Roadie right here. Come on Ross

That was a tough pitch to bunt but Guchi got the job done.

Having Pods face Ray is the right move. Tough righty coming in so have the lefty up.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 06:38 PM) I think its the pitching. Last year they won a lot of low scoring games. It really is what separated 2005 from recent seasons. It wasn't that the offense was more consistent, it was that they were able to win a lot more often when they didn't score much. I agree and I always laughed at people who said it was the offensive changes that made the difference. It was more so the pitching staff, however, last years offense was better than this years when it came to executing and getting the guaranteed runs (I'm talking about getting a leadoff double home, getting a guy in from 3rd base with less than 2 outs; you can't just be swinging for the fences in those istuations and we've had a few guys that have been doing exactly that as of late).

QUOTE(JimH @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 06:36 PM) And if the starter has around 100 pitches and are doing ok it probably shows they know how to adjust to the hitters and/or have the ability to get them out. What it comes down to is this, how is the pitcher throwing, does he have control and command? Is he making the proper adjustments to hitters? When they sit on fastballs in certain counts, are they able to throw an offspeed pitch for strikes? My point is, it's nowhere near as black and white as this board seems to think it is. But that's ok, to each their own. I think every situation calls for something different. You got to look at the starter and say does he still have it. Some starts a guy may have a lot of pitches but those pitches may not have been "high stress" pitches and you can see he's still got solid mechanics and some stamina left. Other times it may be really hot out or humid and you can see that he's tired earlier than he usually would be so you know you got to get him out sooner. I have no problem sticking with my starters, but at a few times this year you could see Ozzie had the philosphy if he gives up a hit he's gone and I think at that point its too late, the guy shouldn't be out there. Its one thing if were winning by a good chunk of runs, but its another if its a close game. If you dont' have faith in him throwing the inning why have him out there (in a starters case) unless its to have him face one batter cause he matches up well against him.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 06:34 PM) The White Sox have only won 5 games this season scoring 3 or less runs. I'm sure some of that has to do with our pitching not being very good, while other parts have to do with our lack of being able to find creative ways to score.

QUOTE(SoxHawk1980 @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 06:28 PM) If there's nothing he can do, then what good is a manager? If there's nothing he can do, then apparently he didn't do anything last year either, and he deserves no credit for the Sox championship. Of course, in reality, there are things he can do. He did things last year that helped this team win. He's not being effective this season. I don't see him doing much at all. I see no fire, no urgency, no intensity from him. I don't see him even acting like this is unacceptable and it has to change immediately. We both totally agree on this line.

QUOTE(DABearSoX @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 06:26 PM) So on the orioles brodcast they said that in the last whatever number of games were 14 of 84 with RISP. That comes out to be .16666666667 fishing TITS Ya and that wasn't counting tonights game in which we've once again lacked a hit with RISP (well I guess Ozuna hat a hit with RISP, but BA didn't come around to score on the single...he did score on Guchi's sac fly though).

QUOTE(Butter Parque @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 06:25 PM) the reason it isn't pissing him off is because he knows that there is nothing he can do with this team. Last year we were great for 5 months, then when we struggled, he said we stunk, he expected more. I think he knows at this point there isn't much to expect with a one dimensional offense and below average pitching. If that was truly the case than Ozzie should resign because it would make him hopeless as a manager. Note: I don't see that being the case, but i'm just responding to the idea that Ozzie doesn't think he can do anything to help. Of course he can, doing nothing could be doing something if he feels he's been getting in there way. But in this case it isn't the answer, he's been doing too much of nothing as of late and now he needs to start being creative with the baserunners.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 06:20 PM) So ... you think relievers should be allowed to get out of their own mess but not a starter. OK. So when a reliever comes in and doesn't have it, he should just let them stay in and you won't complain about it? Why do I doubt that? Cotts out and MacDougal in to face Mora, Tejada, Conine. He should just leave Cotts in? I can't speak for fathom, but usually I say if your plan is if a pitcher gives up a hit he's out of there, than he probably shouldn't be in there in the first place. I think thats exactly what Ozzie was thinking so why have him throw to a lefty when you have a fresh pen and guys more suited. In terms of Cotts/Jenks/Thornton I think they've proven they can get lefties and righties out so I have no problem being a little more leniant with them. In general I don't tend to matchup my relievers (if they have proven themselves capable) based on whether a lefty or righty is at the plate. An example of this was a few games ago, Bmac came in and gave up a hit (It may have been the game Buehrle started against the Twins) that scored one of Mark's run and than pitched great for a couple innings and we could have kept using him but instead a lefty came up and Brandon was takne out and Cotts got into trouble. Now whether or not Cotts got into trouble is nothign to me, but Brandon was the hot arm and I ride that arm, especially when in the back of my mind there is no harm stretching it out a bit considering the team just gave me another reliever (MacDougall) and the fact that maybe I could use this arm as a starter. Basically put if Cotts is looking goo against 2 batters and gives up a bleeder and than righty is coming up I wouldn't pull him (assuming Cotts is really looking good) cause you never know how the next guy out of the pen is going to react(you know what you got right now). The only exceptoin to this rule is when you talk about facing premier hitters (all star, game changing players) than I got no problem going to your very best in clutch situations.

I'm to the point where I don't care if we get a guy or two suspended, but if any dirty play happens to us, the player involved needs to just throw down to try and create a spark, suspensions be dammed. Teams used to try and do this stuff in the olden days and while teams shy away from it now due to suspensions, If I were Ozzie I wouldn't care about that. Any type of thing to wake this team up and get them to forget about the losing baseball and go back to just playing baseball would be a blessing.

QUOTE(danman31 @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 06:10 PM) I'd be willing to give up all of them. Honestly, there is no Chris Young on that list this time around. Then again, I was reluctant to give up Jeremy Reed too. I've never been a huge fan of Sweeney. Fields would be the one of the bunch I'd want to keep most, but he doesn't have a clear spot so losing him is no huge loss. I like Broadway but have doubts. We don't have any top tier prospects right now. Very good call here.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 06:12 PM) Ozzie leaving in Freddy for what reason? WHy have him pitch to the lefty. Our pen is relatively fresh, take him out and put it on the pen.

QUOTE(SoxHawk1980 @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 06:12 PM) FYI, the Royals are teeing off on Padilla in Texas. 6-1 in the second inning. I don't think we can count on the Royals laying down like they did earlier in the season. They are playing better. And we are playing much, much worse. Its not like we have a history of destroying the Royals when we need to anyway. I remember feeling rock bottom last year when we were going to play the Royals and figured that would give us some hope against the Tribe and we really laid and egg. At that point, the Sox reached an all time low but somehow things got better and well the rest is history. Sometimes new hope can come in the most unlikely of ways. The question is if that will happen this year. And if it does, what will it be.

QUOTE(iguchi=dank @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 06:09 PM) When things were going good, Dye would crank one out right now. Its been weeks since we've taken advantage of another teams mistake, or so it seems. Its why we need to start being extra agressive (even if it costs us at times) because than we can try and create more mistakes and create our own opportunities.

QUOTE(danman31 @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 06:01 PM) Sure, if the playoffs started today the Twins would be a good pick. What it comes down to is who is hottest at the right time, which at this point in time is a crapshoot as to picking who is hot. Liriano will almost definitely drop off, if only down to solid numbers. Put me down as saying there is no way the Twins win the World Series. I just don't see it happening. Put me down as buying your notion. All I"ve said about htem being tough makes one major assumption, that Liriano and Johan are as dominant than as they are now and I don't think that will be the case with Liriano. I feel the same way about Verlander but neither of these guys will maintain with that amount of innings pitched deep into the playoffs. If the Twins do it, Radke, Silva, Baker and whoever else will have to majorly step up, imo.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 06:05 PM) Does anyone know anything about the minor league catcher the Sox have, Lucy? I saw him in Spring Training, and he has an unbelievable arm. Highly touted player when we drafted him out of Stanford. Great athlete, very raw and he supposedly calls a great game. The pitchers we've interviewed at FutureSox have all raved about Lucy's game calling ability and well defensive prowess. OFfensively he's still building his game and he had some troubles early in his minor league career but he's done better as of late. Still he's a few years away from the show, but the upside is definately there as he's a top notch athlete.

Vazquez is not the guy that should be replaced. He at least has hope since the stuff is there. Before we even consider moving Vaz, you better find someone better than the Garcia and Buehrle of 06.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 06:00 PM) The thing people forget is that his velocity decreased pretty drastically from his first year with the Sox to last season. People act like he was throwing 95 mph constantly for the Sox last year. He was more in the 91-92 range. When we first traded for him, he was absolutely electric in his first start at Minnesota. It's pretty sad how far his stuff has fallen. His K rates are extremely evident of this. Ya, that first start against the Twins was one of the more impressive starts I've seen out of any Sox player. I realize he ended up giving up a few that game, but early on he was a strikeout machine and on the stuff o metor he was flat out disgusting. He wasn't as nasty last year, but he still could rare back and fire early on. I've long said it was work ethic but maybe he's trending downward due to some other reasons, whether he just can't maintain with age or if he had some help. I'm not about to make accusations, but regardless, something hasn't been right for this guy and given his lax attitude and the fact that he looked "bigger" this off-season I go with laziness.

QUOTE(Frankensteiner @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 05:58 PM) Bottom 6TH B:0 S:0 O:0 Defensive Substitution: Ross Gload replaces first baseman Paul Konerko, batting 4th, playing first base. Can anyone explain? Paulie was quite sore after fouling a ball off his foot two AB's ago. Maybe his next AB he was still feeling it and Ozzie said thats it, he's coming out (It would have to be pretty bad for Paulie to call himself out).

QUOTE(zenryan @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 05:58 PM) I dont understand why Ozzie must always have Pablo in there against lefties. he isnt a platoon type player. he is a nice spark to have about once a week or in later innings as a PR. As far as I'm concerned, we need his speed out there since Pods won't run and we should be utilizing it. Pablo has reached base twice tonight, how can we possibly slam him?

I should add part of my strategy would be to place Freddy on the disabled list or move him to the pen and insert McCarthy into the rotation. I think this team needs a serious shakeup and with no pitchers available on the market (I'd happily deal Freddy or Vaz and prospects for a good starting pitcher but that isn't going to happen) the best way to shake up this rotation is using the prospect we rave about, Brandon McCarthy. It will send a message that we won't tolerate mediocrity and out of everyone I'm convinced Freddy is the one that works the least. He always has his brain cramps in the first inning and while Vaz has gotten shelled late, at least he gives the taem a few innings to potentially get some runs on the board. In Freddy's case we are already in a major hole. Hopefully the team can find a way to create its own spark though, since Ozzie appears unwilling to make the agressive calls necessary to create some runs that could lead to us pulling out a few games that we may not have won otherwise. As soon as we find a way to start winning games we weren't supposed to, we'll start taking care of business the games we are supposed to and really get moving in a positive direction. I just fear that spark won't happen till too late.