joeynach

QUOTE(Steff @ May 29, 2007 -> 04:27 PM) Noted, agree, though I think that's a different animal. To Rock's point, many fans refuse to lay the blame for the current crap on those responsible. I think everyone realizes KW lack of viable players at positions like SS,LF,CF, etc. Everyone in this town wanted an upgrade at all those positions and we got nothing and Erstad. Thats on the GM. Pods is fragile and a bad fielder and streaky, and Uribe is terrible and sports the worst OBP in baseball and KW does nothing.

Dollars and Sense bro. The sox know that if they bring up the farm and trade away the vets nobody will show up and it will destroy their projected income and budget. At least they know they cant do it now, they can wait 2 more months and then do it if they have to. The sox aren't dumb they are in the business of selling tickets and merchandise, etc. If they sell off now and play the no names they will lose out on business and profitabilty, more so than if we just stand pat and continue to be .500.

QUOTE(Wedge @ May 29, 2007 -> 10:46 AM) In the past, Ozzie has perhaps demanded almost too much from his starters. In 2005 it worked, in 2004 it did not. In 2006 and 2007 it is working reasonably well. As was previously indicated, I believe that Ozzie is relying so heavily on the starters this year is because he knows his bullpen isn't worth a s*** (or that is his belief which isn't unfounded). If he can't squeeze an extra out or two from his starter, he believes he's going to lose the game anyway. Thats defiantly true I wouldn't trust the pen either. Although Masset is a bright spot despite his ERA. He usually doesn't work from behind in the count and doesn't give up a lot of HR. Yeah I dont want to auto replace our starters with the clown car or AArdsma/Sisco/McDougal/etc if those guys show they cant get anybody out, but there is always an alternative. Masset, Logan, are not that bad and can be better alternatives than a Contreras laboring to get by who as already given up 8 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and a hit batter through 5 innings. Ozzie is just trotting him out there and crossing his fingers, just hoping he can make it through the inning without surrendering the lead. Thats still a good way to lose.

Its not just the sox that have trouble up there, we just go up there 3x as much as other teams. Other teams get Humphy domed by the twins too. Lost balls in the lights, ground balls goin all the way to wall on the turf, turf hits, high infield choppers for hits,etc. All the weird fluky garbage that the twins do to the sox in that dome they do to other teams too. I have seen it from Red Sox and Yanks up there, I saw it from cle too. Its just that team in that dome. They dont make "dome" mistakes and we dont take advantage of "dome" only hits. At least the dome is coming down in a year or so.

QUOTE(JohnCangelosi @ May 29, 2007 -> 07:45 AM) Ok, this is not meant to be an "Ozzie bashing" thread even though it may turn out to be... But after watching him manage, there are a few specific things he does that I find myself screaming at the TV that I wanted to share, and hear other things from other Sox fans on where you think he could improve as the manager. First, let me say that I think his players like him, and play hard for him. I would want a guy like Ozzie to play for if I was a ball player, for sure. My issues with Ozzie are purely on field decisions that he makes during the game. BTW, I can careless about any media crap that happens either, it's hyped overblown crap that doesn't affect our performance as a team (at least I'd like to believe we're stronger than that). 1) Ozzie overplaying the "lefty on lefty" scenario, even when, as an example, Neal Cotts was better against righties (AND EVEN SAID SO HIMSELF). Cotts couldn't hit the strike zone against lefties unless it was right down the middle in 2006. We have similar stuff going on with Thorton this year, although to not that degree. What happened to the "feel of the game" where you feel someone could close the door on an inning or game? Last night I wanted to see Logan finish off the inning against Hunter. I am not sure why, but I did. I felt he could get the job done. I wish we saw a bit more of this from Ozzie. 2) Leaving in the starters too long. Leaving in Contreras last night is a perfect example. After the first guy gets on, pull him! This was one of those times I was screaming at him last night! I'll leave the rest of the comments for you guys- interested in where you think Oz could improve as the White Sox manager, and PLEASE, be specific!! My problem with Ozzie is similar to yours with the way he handles the starters. I know he tries to get a lot out of them, but we shouldn’t be trying to get extra innings/outs from our starters when its obvious they are getting hit pretty hard and don’t have it. The whole "try and get extra outs out of him" theory only works if your guys are not giving up 10 hits and 3 walks through 5 innings. When you pitchers arelaboring to get through innings, no matter if we are winning, losing, or tied why keep trotting him out there just waiting for the other team to eventually stack the hits and walk together and lead to a big inning. It only works when your guy is keeping the hitters off balance, getting ahead, scattering a few hits, etc. The last two games with Vazquez and Contreras it was obvious our guys didn’t have their “A” stuff. They were consistently pitching behind, having a little trouble locating, and getting hit hard (weather the ball was a hit or an out). That’s the point, that you should make your determination if your starter should be trusted to get through an extra inning or so by the ebb and flow of the game. It was 100% obvious both Sunday and Monday that at the point in the 6th inning in both games if you left your starters in there was going to be base runners. And the only way you would get out of the innings unscaved is if the defense makes a play, the sox got lucky, or the hard hit balls get hit right at somebody. Unfortunately for the sox it usually come right at the wrong time. Right after we tie the game, get the lead, or right when the other team gets to their big hitters or top of the lineup. Like in the Sunday game a 4-4 tie goin into the 6th. The whole game Javy is laboring and giving up a lot of hits. The 5th inning you get out facing the bottom of the order. We all know once the good hitters come up with Javy on his “b” game his gonna get hit. And then your going to be forced to bring in your relievers in bad situations with runners and base and no room for error. Same thing with Jose yesterday. He was getting hit pretty hard all game, behind in most at bats. In the 6th inning the sox take the lead. If you bring Jose out there in the bottom of the 6th its not gonna be an easy inning, its not gonna be 1,2,3 if he hadn’t been pitching his "A" game the whole game. Jose is gonna labor, hes gonna give up some hits/walks and he is gonna put the sox in position to lose the game. Once again forcing the pen to come in with bases loaded no out and no room for error again. If you keep doing that u are going to fail and lose games period. My problem is Ozzie is rather reactive to his use of the bullpen, changes pitchers after a guy gets knocked around or fails, but never before. When the game was 4-3 in the 6th yesterday Ozzie should have brought Logan or Masset or anybody else before the top of the twins lineup comes up, before the Jose labors and gives up a couple hits or walks and has to face the quality hitters. We just don’t see the mentality off this from him and its really a shame..

QUOTE(fathom @ May 28, 2007 -> 08:26 PM) - I'd like to give kudos to Mackowiak for playing through pain right now. It's obvious that he's in pain with almost every baseball move he has to make. However, he's out there busting his ass more than anyone. - For all the talk of how good Uribe has looked this year, he's having a worse year statistically than last year. His average is almost below .200 now. It's really looking like we need a new 2b/SS combo next year. - What is up with the velocity drop for Santana and Carlos Zambrano this season? Are they trying to addition for a spot with the White Sox in future seasons? I definatly agree with your assesment of our 2b and ss combo. I think its pretty weak. Uribe offesively is a joke. Hes just doesn't have good at bats period, and yeah every once in awhile he will pop one out of the park. Iguchi is done in my opinion with this team. Hes getting older, slower, less agressive at the plate and in the field, and doesn't seem to know if he wasn't to hit for power or try and shoot the ball the other way. At any rate Id take Mark Loretta over Iguchi. Ennough of the most inconsistent 2B and SS in baseball.

QUOTE(Nokona @ May 27, 2007 -> 01:59 PM) I fear this could be the beginning of the end for Pablo... I agree if the sox make a move to get some speed at the and this injury spells pablo for 2 months or more hes done here.

I think it might have something to do with Min being pretty crappy against LHP this year.

QUOTE(Heath @ May 24, 2007 -> 06:44 PM) Hi all - Not a Sox fan - but like to travel to watch baseball games. I have tickets for Sat. July 7th against the Twins. I'm looking for public transporation help. I usually go the Dan Ryan and park - but I've heard the Dan Ryan is a mess. I'm coming up from Indiana - without taking the Skyway over - I figure I have these options- 1 - Dan Ryan traffic is overblown - go for it. 2 - Take a Pace bus -Go Go White Sox Shuttle 3 - Take the Metra Electric from Hazel Crest to Roosevelt or to Downtown and transfer to a Red Line going south. Which one is the best option? Thanks for the info and see you at the park! They skyway moves fine. And your really only on the Dan Ryan for like 2-3 miles before u get off at 35th street. You can get off the skyway at stoney and that north and then hope on lake shore drive at 67th ish street. Lake shore has exits and 38th and 31st I think to get over west towards the ballpark. I live in flossmoor I have taken the metra before to roosevelt then walked to the red line and taken it to the ballpark its a pain in the ass.

QUOTE(SoxFan562004 @ May 23, 2007 -> 11:03 AM) we'll have to see if the Sunday line-up is imposed. (although Pablo should be at 3b because Crede won't be ready until the weekend, and having Toby over Gustavo is an upgrade offensively.) I doubt Hall plays tonight. Tough righty on the mound and the finale of the series is a night game not a day game, plus tomorrow is an off day. Id say AJ plays, but he wont play when we face Kazmir this weekend.

Dont know if anyone heard the last caller of the postgame show was me, Joe from Flossmoor. I brought the point on the boards about the free spot on the 40 man roster and the possibility of filling that in with Brett Prinz, and possibly demoting sisco as well. I thought it was an interesting catch RME JICO earlier with the whole roster spot and this guy Prinz who looks damn good. Anyway, on the postgame show Chris Ronge thought it was a good point and something to keep and eye on and awarded me a $50 gift card to triple threat sports. So you see soxtalk does pay off. Props to RME JICO and the rest of the gang I owe u guys a brew after the softball game on saturday.

I dont understand why do we need to clear a spot on the 40 man roster to bring somebody up. Isn't it possible the person we bring up is already on the 40 man roster so say we send Sisco down and bring somebody up off the 40 man why does the 40 man need to change. The 40 man would only need to change if they want to bring in a guy who is currently not on it right? Which would be strange at this point.

Dont forget about the Jay Mariotti logic. Jay sees 1 Sox fan root against the cubs = All sox fans for all eternity root against the cubs. Jay sees 1 piece of concrete fall at Wrigley = All concrete will always fall at wrigley all the time I believe there is a personality trait for this in most psychology books, hes like an extremist or something. Can never take anything for what its worth, always has to equate everything on a grand scale and for something larger. I wonder how he ever scores chics then, he probably assumes every time a woman says "hello how can I help you" he thinks they wanna screw him.

My dad had disc fusion surgery in his upper back vertebrate about 7 or 8 years ago. Its a very bad surgery to have and very serious. Now he is way way better than he was before, it got so bad he could hardly move his neck and hardly walk before he got the surgery. The scary part is permanent nerve damage. The discs need to be replaced because they continuously swell and move and push against the nerves causing pain and deadening the nerves. My dad was in so much pain he was forced to have the surgery and now has 2 titanium discs in his neck area. The surgery took about 6 months to recover. Since his recovery he is 200% better than before. His life had become unlivable, but since his recovery has has been 100% back to normal. For he Crede he still seems like he can cope, but surgery might be needed if the pain gets unmanageable. My dad suffered permanent numbness in a few spots on one of his hands from permanent scarring of nerve damage. I really hope Crede doesn't deal with same things. But the one thing I remember is that you can prevent the permanent numbness and nerve damage by having the discs replaced earlier rather than later.

Get Thome back and Crede goes down possbily to the DL. Man can we ever just get all our guys goin at once and actually see what this lineup can do. Everytime u remove an important piece of the puzzle the rest kinda shakes a little bit, like the game Jenga. Until every man on this team contributes TOGETHER they will continue to be a roller coaster of inconsistency. What is this just bad luck?

Did I miss something Why are we talking about skipping starts or bringing somebody up, we have 5 solid starters dont we? Tue (played Wed) was Danks Wed was Contrertas Thu was Garland Fri is Buehrle Sat is Vazquez Sun back to Danks What gives?

Yeah it sounds great but isn't it like $300 per person. I dont really think thats a realistic scenario for most of us to consider when attending a sox game. I make good money and support only myself and I got no problem paying like $60-$80 to get a good seat to a good game, but $300+ is a little extreme. Seems of more of like a b-day, graduation, fathers day present thing.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ May 14, 2007 -> 05:03 PM) Marcus Giles has a $4M team option for next year that will almost certainly be picked up. Kent also has a $7M team option which vests at $9M with 550 PA this season so I doubt either of them hit free agency. Luis Castillo would be a fantastic pickup though. He's an excellent hitter who could thrive in the 2 hole with his consistently high OBP and ~20 stolen bases. Agreed. Iguchi to me looks 100% lost at the plate. Its like he cant decide if hes goin to be a right handed pull power hitter or the situational hitter the ball to all directions hitter that made him a success here. In any event he looks like me at the plate in little league when I was 10; stepping in the bucket, grounding out to 3rd all the time, long flaly swing. Either way there is really no tolerance for this garbage at the big league level. You got something to figure out then u can do so on another team or in AAA. I would love to bring in the switch hitting castillo.

QUOTE(RME JICO @ May 11, 2007 -> 08:24 AM) Trap series. Sox need to get up for this series. I hate when they play down to the competition. Need a sweep here. I believe its called a sandwich series.

QUOTE(Hideaway Lights @ May 11, 2007 -> 12:06 PM) it matters in terms of betting MLB futures There you go....the silver lining.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ May 10, 2007 -> 02:46 PM) Thome will probably be back Tuesday, so a move will have to be made by then. Upcoming Probables: TUES: Mussina ® WED: Wang ® THUR: Rasner ®/DeSalvo ® FRI: Guzman ® SAT: Lilly (L) SUN: Marque ® The Sox then face Oakland who only has one lefty starter (Kennedy) and Tampa who has Kazmir and Fossum That's 5/6 games vs righties then possibly 1 lefty in the next series and who knows who Tampa will throw out there so no that's not a legitimate excuse at all. Thats actually really good cuz we average 1 run more per game against RHP and we do against LHP.

Check this out. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/ps_odds.php

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ May 10, 2007 -> 09:38 AM) The ball Crede hit in game 1 was CRUSHED and only made it to the 2nd row. My commented to my friend I was watching the game with immediately after it landed that "Crede hit that one through a stiff breeze, so I'm really impressed". So I can see Ozzie's thought process here. Yeah at least Ozzie noticed and didn't cover it with some political mumbo like most do. Heck hes even got eveidence if there is some tape from the broadcast of the flags only blowing (out) when the twins are batting. Well it wont be an issue for sure in a couple years when the twins finish their new outdoor stadium.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ May 10, 2007 -> 08:39 AM) Color me confused on this. I keep reading Guillen's various quotes and it doesn't add up. Okay, how is Thome who is a DH, going to affect Sweeney who is a LF's playing time. The only person on the roster that could possibly come back on the active roster to affect Sweeney is Pods. Last time I checked he is targeted for June. So the real answer is, why wouldn't you play this kid ready or not and see what you have until Pods comes off the DL. Is sending him down, and putting the horror show of Ozuna/Mack in LF a good thing. Mack coming off the bench, being a pinch hitter. This is what I thought we picked him up for. Not to be a platoon match for LF. He was originally picked up to backup Crede at 3rd. Funny thats the position he has played the least. You play this kid until he either proves he is over matched, or a better option comes along. He works the count, puts the ball in play and makes things happen. For me this is a non issue. Maybe he means in relation to matchups. Sweeney being a Lefty Ozzie is probably talking about the schedule ahead and if we are slated to hit against a lot of righties or lefties. Over the last 6 games it has been all righties and a lot of sweeney. Im sure if we are supposed to face your Robertson, Cliff Lee, Sabathias and such Terrero would play instead of sweeney. So hes probably going to take a look at what kind of matchups are possible in the near future.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ May 9, 2007 -> 11:06 AM) Lets face it. There are only a handful of relievers in all of baseball that are dominating year in and year out. We have some pretty solid guys in our pen but none of them are elite. Speaking of which has anyone else noticed our two supposed fireballers in sisco and thornton are throwing like 91-92. Aren't these guys 95+ easily, what gives.