Chisoxfn

QUOTE(WilliamTell @ Apr 8, 2005 -> 08:36 AM) Many people think April is meaningless, but I disagree. I think the first few games of the season set the tone for the rest of the season. It'll be interesting to see how to respond after a game like yesterday. Side note: After 3 games last year, we were 1-2, right now we are 2-1. Remember though, a lot of teams have struggled early and went on to have fantastic clubs. The year the Angels won the series they were absolutely brutal the first month. Most of those Oakland clubs the past few years would start off slow and then get on this huge runs late in the season. Minnesota has done the same the past couple years if I recall (getting to the break around .500 and then just pulling away after that). Were 2-1, over .500 and frankly I can't complain. If Contreras pitches even close to the way he did today and Freddy and Mark are themselves I'd already be feeling light years better about this team. I'm already confident in JG to give the club 14 wins or so and a 4.6 ERA out of the 5 spot. Now its time to see what El Duque can do. Unfortunately the freaking game is on CIU and for whatever reason Xtra innings isn't picking up the Twins feed.

To be honest I saw so many positives out of yesterdays loss that I can't be too irked. The club is 2-1 and the offense looked solid. I really think this club is going to have a better offense then most say and a superior bullpen to pretty much anyone in baseball (say for a few games here and there, but thats part of baseball). It stinks to lose a game where for 8 innings this club played quite well. But Contreras pitched fantastic, the offense looked solid (although they did fail a few times with runners on, but the team also executed and seemed to do the little things). You had Hermy look awesome. From what I've seen Cotts is throwing strikes. Marte I'm still curious about to see if he could get back to his form of 2 and 3 years ago. Bottom line, Shingo got roughed up. He lived with the fastball too much, but thats not what really got him, he didn't have command. Last year Shingo didn't have command early on as well, so maybe its a trend with him. I know one thing, when Shingo is throwing strikes and has command (usually he does) he's hella tough to hit. And if Shingo fails as closer, thats why the Sox have Hermy. Hermy can come in and close if necessary and with the way he's looking I'd have zero worries about that. The Sox would still have Viz, Marte, Shingo, Cotts, and Politte behind those two as well. The other thing that bugs me about the game is, that now El Duque is going to need to pitch deeper (or at least I'd like him to) because Ozzie out did himself with the pen (what an awful job in terms of using 3 pitchers in the same inning....I'm just not a fan of it, never have been really).

Good stuff. Too bad about Brice. I am not much of a fan when minor league free agents steal the playing time of potential prospects. At the same time I realize the teams want to win and having a few vets that can hit the ball helps in that regard. Thats also a pretty interesting staff WS has.

During night games I'll be there for sure. Also for the player chats we'll have.

Looking back, I was probably a bit harsh on my assesment of Vizcaino. Come to think of it, he pitched in yesterdays game and then had to go a few innings todays game and didn't give the runs up until he was absolutely gassed. This loss was definately on Ozzie. It wasn't for bringing in Takatsu though, it was for pissing away 3 pitchers in 1 inning. Ozzie needs to have fiath in his guys. Seems like he has tons of faith in Cotts, but he really lacks it in Marte.

QUOTE(Molto @ Apr 7, 2005 -> 01:23 PM) That's usually because the bullpen by committee is first, an idiotic thing to do, second, it usually means you have no quality relievers. By leaving a guy like Hermanson in for the ninth after he pitches the eighth isn't a bad thing in a three-run game, especially after you waisted three relievers for no reason whatsoever the inning before. I'm not agreeing with the point of the thread, just saying why leaving in Hermanson wouldn't be a bad thing. Personally, I would've never used three relievers in the seventh, because that is now a problem with Garland down there. Ya, it was totally ridiculous using all those relievers. I guess it paid off in a point, but all things considering it left Shingo and Vizcaino for the rest of the way. I guess they could of opted with Garland but it wasn't a good position to be in, thats for sure.

QUOTE(Molto @ Apr 7, 2005 -> 01:11 PM) While I agree with you as I'm completely against having a "closer," this game was messed up in the seventh when Guillen used three pitchers, and then a fourth in the eighth inning. He can't just expect Takatsu is going to finish the game without question. You have to leave a couple relievers in the pen. Man, this topic reminds me of all the heated arguments we had on some of the road trips in regards to closers and different baseball stuff. I tend to agree in some instances, but when you have a guy to close the door your typically best off using him, as long as his name ain't Koch. Ugly game though, really ugly, but in perspective. The Sox stole yesterdays game, the tribe stole todays. I'll look at the bright side of things and Contreras looking really sharp (kills me to say it) but the key will be consistency with him. He had insane movement though and good command. On the negative side, this is the 3rd time I've seen Luis pitch (Twice in the reg season, once in the spring) and I got to say thus far I think he's horrid. His fastball lacks the juice it had last year (i've seen him throw with the Brewers on many ocassions and always like him). Plus he leaves his slider up in the zone and thus far I haven't seen him throw one good slider. I'm skeptical simply because he just leaves the ball up and its getting hammered.

Supposedly Spidale is gonna start the year on the DL. I think I heard Rex say it somewhere and then I heard it from another person too. But looking at the Knights outfield Spidale may have some trouble, even though I think he should be playing every day.

Ya, Phil Rogers is in love with him. He says he throws an "easy" 95. Its so damn far fetched. At most he's 90 MPH and like you say he never pitches in that regard. The other problem is he has absolutely zilch when it comes to break pitches. He did a nice job the time I saw him pitch, but I walked away eerily dissapointed soley because Rogers and BA had hyped him up as this special talent. I remember the first time I saw Reynoso. I figured career minor leaguer, then I took a look at the guns and was like holy s***, are these things broken, cause I had never heard anything about him. Didn't realize he was a converted infielder at the time, but I really think he's got a shot to turn into a pretty quality reliever. Looking forward to hearing you first hand accounts too Randy. Also yours Bham.

QUOTE(Stephk @ Apr 7, 2005 -> 09:08 AM) I've known Rylan for 2 years now and he's an amazing man!! He is a wonderful person and a great friend. He's struggled with so much but if you talk to him he's always so positive ... it's inspiring. i miss ya Rylan Welcome to Soxtalk. ; Also more and more it sounds like Rylan is just a total quality person. All the best to him.

I saw Borchard had a good game. Other than that I decided the hell with it. Hopefully they'll fix the box scores for tomorrow.

Ya, he was insane. The guy breaks his hammate and just picks up hitting from the other side of the plate. Guy is going to be a very very high selection. And I do remember you talking aboug how good he was going to be, I think its safe to say your right.

QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ Apr 6, 2005 -> 08:36 PM) All they have to do is feed him a steady diet of lame ass curveballs and he'll probably do just that. I was at the game against the Rangers when he K'd 4 times on that very same pitch. The last time he was up I screamed at him from about 100 feet away......... "Don't swing at the curveball!!!!" He K'd on the very next pitch........a curveball. I'm with ya Nuke. For about 3 years I have been wondering why any pitcher ever throws him a fastball. Its quite simple, he couldn't hit a curveball if his life depended on it. Just give it time till the NL figures it out. Then again, he was in the AL for the past few years and even last year pitchers were stupid enough to try and sneak a fastball by him.

QUOTE(BridgeportHeather @ Apr 6, 2005 -> 08:34 PM) I love driving my Soxmobile; 2003 Saturn Ion 2. I'd highly suggest an Ion! Didn't it used to be called a Blackhawk mobile??? So my question is, has your car went on strike?

I wonder if they will do some other us vs them commercials just before the interleague matchups.

I think its [email protected] Don't quote me on that, but thats off the top of my head. I'll look at my address book tomorrow to verify that.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Apr 6, 2005 -> 02:28 PM) They've earned the right to make fun of the Sox. I thought the Us vs. Them ad the Sox had last year, making fun of the Cubs was pretty funny. I also thought the AM 1000 ad on a building outside of Wrigley Field several years ago which stated major league baseball was played 8.1 miles south was hysterical. It probably did go a little too far, and the White Sox ask AM 1000 to change it. So if you are upset about it, remember our team has used the same kind of thing. Agree with ya. As far as I'm concerned thats great advertising by the Twins and pretty damn funny too.

QUOTE(danman31 @ Apr 6, 2005 -> 07:09 PM) I think I have to wipe a tear from my eye. I never thought I'd see the day that this would get posted. Haha, you'll be absolutely sobbing when I get the remainder of the top 10 I have to write done tomorrow Actually you may just fall over dead. Oh one thing Dan, by any shot if your online can you send me the top 10. I'm at my moms now and don't have the list with me. Otherwise I'll just edit a few of mine (they are about two months old by now, lol) to update them and then just have like 3 new ones to write.

Test

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Apr 6, 2005 -> 06:30 PM) Jas, just to let you know in the 4th paragraph on wes in the last sentence I think you guys just made a typo, "although he’s still a few years ago." Not trying to be picky or anything, just letting you guys know if you want to fix it. EDIT: Great writeup by the way. I'm really excited to see how Wes progresses this year and hopefully Lumsden comes back and is strong also. Unfortunately I don't consider Honel much of a prospect anymore but hopefully he's prove me wrong. Thanks, fixed it I also don't consider Honel much of a prospect. To be 100% honest, he probably wouldn't rank on my top 30 until he proves otherwise. He's on soley based on his previous status and the fact that he was so good for a few years. If he doesn't get it in gear, he won't be on the next list.

On a sidenote, people may have trouble getting onto www.futuresox.com until your cache kicks. I got rid of a redirect script in it and unless you clear your cache it will forward you when it really shouldn't. A back way in is http://futuresox.com If you clear you cache you'll be good to go regardless, otherwise in a day or so it should be cool too.

Head is supposed to be quite the player, I know a lot of services have him going quite high in the 1st round. At this time of the year I can't comment on many of the SEC guys other than stuff I've read or heard. Looking forward to watching the games as more get televised, both on ESPN and on the Fox Sports college stations.

QUOTE(qwerty @ Apr 6, 2005 -> 05:56 PM) I like hinrich outside of his brick fest most nights. Once he gets over at least 42% he will be just wow. He ahs the shooting ability to shoot up to 45% but i just don't understand why he is not nailing his shots. Agree with you on all accounts.

You know it...but luckily an unrelated Ray is gonna be a hell of a White Sox. Ray did a nice job in eight men out though