CWSGuy406

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Aug 11, 2005 -> 05:28 PM) I think he'd be foolish to try to start again unless some team forced him to. Lefty starters are nice to have, yes, but think about what you see in almost every game. How many teams are there out there with 2 out of 3 hitters who bat lefty somewhere in their lineup? Every single team out there needs at least 1 quality left handed reliever...probably 2 if they genuinely want to compete. And especially after watching the Yankees and Red Sox this year...the price for quality relief pitching is about to go way up. Good relievers come and go. They're dime a dozen. If Neal has enough control to start, then you start him. Why limit his value as a reliever? IF he can handle the transition to being a starter again, and be effective at doing it (starting) -- then you have to start him. Of course, if he proves that his control is too wild to start, and that he can't maintain that zip on his fastball for six-seven innings, then of course just leave him in the bullpen.

QUOTE(SoxFanForever @ Aug 11, 2005 -> 06:55 AM) I dunno. I read some quotes from Yawney that said he would like to put Bell at center with Ruutu and see how that chemistry works in camp. Are they thinking Bell would be first line center? Hmm... I read in an article where Yawney was basically quoted as saying that he'd be a nut to break up the RAD line, so he wants to keep those guys together for his first unit. SF1, Calder's the gritty in-the-trenches type of guy. Most of his goals come because he works his ass off in front of the net and gets a lot of tip-ins. Arny, OTOH, has had a reputation of being a little lazy. I'd say he's more talented than Calder, but Calder definitely works a lot harder for his goals than Arny.

I don't think they're looking at the unrestricted free agents. I think they're looking to trade for RFA's. I'm a little dissappointed at the return for Thibault. Only a fourth? Whatever... It gives us about $2.5 million in cap room, so that's a plus -- I would've been happier, though, with a third.

The Birmingham game is still in progress, but they're up 7-5 in the top of the ninth. Young is 3-for-4 with a homer and a double. Honel went five, gave up 1 ER (3 R), 2 BBs, and 8 K's.

I think the 'Hawks are just about done. They'll basically start the season with... Daze - Arny - Ruutu Calder - Bell - Lapointe/Borque Barnaby - Brown - Borque/Lapointe Thorton - Dowd - Holmqvuist (sp?)/Vorobiev/Keith Cullimore - Aucoin Mac - Vandy Spacek - Seabrook/Keith/Babchuk/Barinka I seem to think I'm forgetting someone on the forward lines...? I mean, unless someone has a real outstanding camp, like Barker, I think the team is pretty much set. Yawney just has to figure out line combos. I like Borque on the second line, because I've heard that he's got one helluva shot, and that CBB line could use a guy who can shoot. Then, our third line will really be pretty solid -- a real b**** to play against. The other battle, of course, will be Anderson or Leighton for the backup spot.

SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!

SAFE!!!!!!!!!!

Widger - Uribe - Podsednik. I'm thrilled.

QUOTE(CYGarland @ Aug 10, 2005 -> 07:28 PM) Cruds getting crushed by the Reds again, 7-1 Real good to see your fitting right into the "Sox fans care more about the Cubs than their own team" stereotype.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Aug 10, 2005 -> 07:09 PM) Smalls line so far 4 hits, 1 run 7Ks This is a line I would expect from Mark Prior, Randy Johnson, Johan Santana, etc. Not Aaron Small. What do you think the Yankees are saying of their getting shutout for seven innings against Jose Contreras? Or, seven innings of one run ball against Freddy Garcia? Remember, now, it's all relative. They have guys like A-Rod and Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui. In fact, Matsui might be the best hitter if he were put in our lineup. You only think about our side, never what they're thinking about OUR pitching.

No, Hawk, this series has been dominated by you saying that pitching is the first line of defense.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Aug 10, 2005 -> 06:55 PM) God damn, now I know why I hate game threads. This is a f***ing crybaby fest in here. OH WE SUCK, BENCH EVERYONE!!!! Jesus Christ people do you enjoy this at all? God if I freaked out this bad over every stinking pitch, I would never watch any baseball... Go do something that makes you HAPPY. Shush, quit being so positive about everything. Not allowed in here.

First Pitch Strike ™.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Aug 10, 2005 -> 06:48 PM) With Hunter on the DL and the national media watching, ARow may have just earned himself a gold glove. He or Kotsay should get it...

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Aug 10, 2005 -> 06:35 PM) He's signed through next season... I believe he makes 1.2M next year. Okay. That's reasonable IF he can keep his OBP up in the .350s-.360s like he has the majority of the season. Unfortunately, it's been going down -- or it's seemed that way -- since April. I know for sure that he's walking a whole lot less. Small should be nicknamed First Pitch Strike ™.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 10, 2005 -> 06:29 PM) When the One Dog and Ray Durham and Tim Raines were leading off, they all scored 100+ runs a season. Its not his fault he doesn't score all the time, although he could hit a homer every now and then. I think its a flaw in the smallball or smartball philosophy. I always agreed that stolen bases were undervalued, but I'm beginning to agree with the Billy Beane guys that they are overvalued. Pods isn't even in the top 50 for runs scored, and considering how many times he has been caught stealing and picked off where it was not ruled a caught stealing, his OBP is distorted. In reality it should be about 40 or 50 points lower. I just hope that he doesn't get a big fat contract in the off-season. I'm Ok with him as our leadoff man, but at the right price.

QUOTE(Brian @ Aug 10, 2005 -> 05:56 PM) I thought Charlie Steiner did Yanks rado, or did he leave? He does Dodger road games now, 'cause Vin Scully doesn't travel off the West Coast, IIRC. Ack, I see it's already been answered.

We know what happened in our game, but to recap a night of some real oddities in the baseball world... -Fan falls from deck in New York. Everyone here knows about it. -Cleveland scores 11 ninth inning runs to beat KC 13-7. In the inning, Berroa botched a ball in short center (a popup), and with two outs, Ambres dropped a fly-ball in the LF corner. -Mark Grace apparantly said some not-so-nice words on-air. I haven't found exactly what he said anywhere, but Cheat alluded to this in ATM. -(EDIT) One more thing... Watch this catch by David Wright. Play of the year? Really, a wierd night yesterday.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Aug 10, 2005 -> 05:59 AM) You have grasped the concept quite well. Yas... don't even bother wasting your time.

QUOTE(HoosierSox @ Aug 10, 2005 -> 02:49 AM) I just dont understand the hate for Timo. Yeah his batting average sucks but hes been awesome with runners in scoring position and as clutch as anybody. Just wait till he gets a big pinch hit in the playoffs like he did with the Mets a few years back and then you all can shut up about Timo. Timo Perez, with RISP -- 25 ABs, .200/.276/.320. Timo Perez, with RISP and two outs -- 12 ABs, .250/.308/.333 Timo Perez, Men on, two outs -- 25 ABs, .200/.286/.280 Timo Perez, runners on-base -- 51 ABs, .255/.339/.392 http://sports.yahoo.com/mlbpa/players/6568/situational

WHITE SOX f***ING WINNER!!!!!!!!

HE GONE!!!!!!!!!!

One out. Marte, come on -- one more batter.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 10, 2005 -> 02:15 AM) You have a closer for a reason...to get three outs in the 9th when you have a lead. Not only that, but why Marte instead of Cotts here? See, I don't get dragged into the whole 'closer' stuff. Use your best reliever in crucial situations. I'd say that Politte vs. A-Rod is a better matchup than Hermy vs. A-Rod, just 'cause, IMO, Politte > Hermanson. Didn't work out.

I'm in total agreement with Ozzie's move. Politte has been, in my mind, the best righty reliever the Sox have had this year. Better than Hermy. Didn't work out. Oh well.