POPPY_HIDALGO

It's always empty when I'm there.

That would be great, but it's just not going to happen.

Because they drew 15,000 in a battle for first place on a Friday night? It was sad last night, but I expect alot of walk ups today. I know I'll be among them.

Ozzie is going to get everyone fired up tommorow. My feeling was that they treaded water in the beginning and I felt the bottom was falling out lately. I felt that once they hit rock bottom they would bounce back and have a good strong run. Ozzie has to pissed after this tonight. They played well enough to win and he's going to get these guys to step it up. If they come out flat tommorow, thats the beginning of the end for me. If ozzie doesn't have these guys ready to kick ass tommorow they just aren't ever going to be ready.

After the dissapointing lose ozzie will have everyone fired up to go. I expect a huge day for the Sox bats. Greisinger totally sucks, this should be another laugher like they had against Baltimore earlier in the week. I'm going to go get tickets before the game this will be my first game of the year. Steve is going to really step it up after his last two starts. Now everyones just going to say blah blah blah he's just sucking up. But there is no way the Sox lose tommorow. No way at all. Prediction Twins 4 Sox 8

The good news is I'm at 500 for my predictions.

They did lose that game. Paul Konerko called Ted Lilly's slider one of the greatest he's ever seen. They won't win tonight. It's just what's going to happen. I've predicted 8 games so far and they've lost 5 of them.

The Sox have everything going for them going into this series. They're throwing there three best pitchers, with the exception of Game one of the double header yesterday they've been scoring. The Twins are throwing out two duds to start the first two games. When everything looks this good, it makes me nervous. Hopefully, Ozzie can keep the team from letting us all down. I predict with everything in our favor Schoeneweis stinks it up tonight. Lohse has struggled all year so the Sox will make him look like an All Star. Maybe I'm just to wrapped up in the old Sox and Ozzie's crew will step it up. But, I just don't see it happening. Prediction: Twins-8 Sox-1

They did great in Toronto when I predicted doom.

I feel worst for Garland. He pitched a great game. This team shouldn't be losing 1-0 Game 2 looks to be awful. Hopefully, Diaz can pitch a strong game. But, he's going to have alot of pressure on him after the Sox lost the first game. Ozzie rested alot of the guys for Game 1 so hopefully, game 2 they come out swinging. Prediction Baltimore - 6 Sox - 5

Orioles have won 4 straight. We might be getting them at the wrong time too. As for Buehrle maturing I've seen no evidence of this at all. If he does step it up I salute him, but don't get to pumped for this one.

Thats all it is. My opinion.

He had a great defensive play in Toronto on Sunday. Blew a double play ball really nicely. In truth I think Willie is an acceptable lead off man with alot of speed and the ability to get the bunt down. He hasn't given me much reason to complain this year. The only thing I worry about is Valentine getting time at short and Uribe ending up with Willie's starts. Harris, Uribe make a great one two punch.

Reed = Lots of hype Like Borchard the expectations will be too high and he'll get called up before he's ready.

I wish they were planning on pitching Diaz in this Baltimore series. An extra day off wouldn't hurt any of the starters and I think throwing him in against our biggest divisional rival is a tough task for a youngster. Especially in his first time out.

Jeremy Reed = The next Joe Borchard I really wish this farm system had something other then outfield prospects. And I don't want to hear about Grilli or Diaz either.

I just got a bad feeling about this one boys. I expect a messy game with a couple of rain delays thrown in. Delays might throw off Buehrle's rhythm. The line up has been in a bit of a slump and I don't think Ponson will be the pitcher they break out against. Prediction------ Sox-1 Orioles-4 I have a bad feeling the Sox are cathcing the Orioles at the wrong time. They've been swinging hot bats since losing that series to the Sox last week. They're riding a four game win streak and they're coming into our park with revenge on their minds. Going into this series reminds me of going into the Blue Jays series Last Friday. We all saw how that one turned out.

I was slightly off in my prediction.

Hawk is one of the worst anouncers in the buisness. He bashes anything and anyone who doesn't love the Sox. The only thing worse than Hawk is Rooney and Farmer over on the radio. I think the last three years Hawk has been nothing more than a sound board with the phrases: HE GONE!, Can of corn, and You know what DJ, all programmed in.

It's not as great as the fantasy world where Willie Harris is a quality second baseman and Uribe is on is way to an All-Star team. The biggest problem with this board is they see everything with eternal optimism like nothing will go wrong. You all sound like a bunch of Cub Fans.

At least they made it through the first month without being swept. The Jays haven't been scoring alot of runs, but they have been going to deep to get their runs in this series. Loaiza has falling in love with giving up home runs this year and today should be no different. Steve's going to have a rough go of it as teams have been hitting him hard all year. The offense has also falling asleep in this series and if Valentine is in the line up they're as good as done. Prediction: Sox-3 Blue Jays-14 Loaiza won't get out of the fifth and will give up at least three long balls. The self proclaimed "Greatest Mexican pitcher of all time" just isn't the kind of pitcher who can be a stopper for this team. In fact they don't have a stopper in the entire rotation. I'll never understand why they didn't try to pick up a pitcher in the off season.

I had a really bad feeling about this game today.

I hate to bring the whole thread down but Garland just bothers me. Especially starting a series. He's been shaky in a couple of outings this year. Expect a big night for Delgado and Sweeney. Final Score Toronto 9 Sox 2

Mercifully, it's over.

Well, I'm off. Stop kidding yourselves, this game is over. That was a fun first month. Let the collapse begin.