Wedge

Let's get some runs. Smartball this time, guys!

Dumbball

We have got to get to Byrd.

God damn. The heart of the order needs to get some runs next time up.

Jose needs to hold them down.

QUOTE(robinventura23 @ Oct 11, 2005 -> 04:23 PM) I said this in Game 1 of the ALDS and I'll say it again. Jose needs to try to cut down on the wild pitches. Those are the killers. Especially with guys like Figgins and Cabrera. The last thing we need is giving these guys gift runs. Solution: don't let them on base.

can we make Woo Woo walk the plank?

Sounds like the Angels are just happy to be here. We really need to capitalize and go 2-0 leaving Chicago.

All I've got is...

OK, this has been pissing me off for a bit. What about 5 1/3 IP 3 ER is an incredible outing? It's definitely not even a quality start.

I had heard Game 3 as well, obviously. If Garcia starts Game 3, then the same logic applies, except change the Garland's to Garcia's

Game 3 and Garland is the key. If we emerge from Chicago 0-2, we're dead anyways, but desperately need a quality start. If we're 1-1, Garland pitching well gives us back home field advantage. If we're 2-0, Garland pitching well basically gives us the series.

Paul Byrd has not done well in the post season: 2004 Atlanta Braves 6.35 2005 Los Angeles Angels 9.82 Career Totals 7.71 and also, against the White Sox has done fairly poorly, posting a 7.50 ERA this season.

that demon sort of looks like Michael Jackson...

I'm not going to feel close to comfortable unless we get a 2-0 lead leaving Chicago. Their starting rotation is pedestrian, but that bullpen is damn good.

The best thing to happen for us: Mussina pitches, Johnson pitches, and Rivera pitches 2 and the Yankees win.

Is nobody a valid answer?

QUOTE(chisox72 @ Oct 10, 2005 -> 08:36 AM) For us, its just time to sit back, relax (as-if that will happen ) and enjoy this ride, because I think its FAR from over..... I think you mean that we should sit back, relax, and strap it down. Oh, and I agree entirely with this post. Awesome job!

2nd verse, same as the first

Bullpen pitching is purely situational and there really wasn't much of an opportunity to pitch Hermanson unless Ozzie pulls Contreras earlier in Game 1 or uses him for the 8th inning of Game 2. Once Duque was in Game 3, he wasn't coming out until the 9th. There just wasn't a chance to work in Hermanson, so I have no problem that he didn't get in.

that makes it seem like Garland might not pitch Game 1.

QUOTE(kevin57 @ Oct 8, 2005 -> 10:41 AM) LMAO. I've been saying for a while that something has to give with this Guillen-Marte thing. It defies logic. Why not call on Cotts? Some argue that his delivery style wouldn't be effective against certain hitters. Like Marte is effective against them? I think Ozzie saw the game going a bit differently than it did yesterday. He was counting on Marte to get the outs then would have probably gone to the "regulars" (Hermanson, Cotts, Politte) to bridge until Jenks in the 9th. He found lightning in a bottle when he had to put El Duque in there and wisely stuck with it. If nothing, Ozzie shows he has that unconventional thinking that you have to have to succeed in the playoffs. How many times have we seen a Torres, a LaRussa, or a Bobby Cox go down in a series because he managed the same way he'd manage a regular season game?

the foot is on the throat... now it's time to snuff them out!

It's a dumb stat that just shows that they've been on the brink of elimination a lot over the last few years. By my math, 3 games against the A's (3-0), 2 games against the Yankees (1-1), and 4 against the Yankees again last year (4-0). The teams that compiled that "impressive" record were a lot more talented than this year's incarnation of the Red Sox. Their offenses were much more potent and certainly their pitching staffs from top to bottom were superior. The pitching match-up for each of those games was as follows: Lowe vs. Lilly Burkett vs. Hudson Martinez vs. Zito --------------------- Burkett vs. Pettite Lowe vs. Hernandez --------------------- Martinez vs. Clemens Martinez vs. Mussina Schilling vs. Lieber Lowe vs. Brown While they didn't always "win" the match-ups they faced, I don't think they were ever as outclassed as they are going to be in Wakefield vs. Garcia Schilling vs. Garland whoever vs. Contreras And let's not forget the Achilles heel that is their bullpen.

Counterpoint: I don't want "respect" from the media until this team actually does some thing and a) wins a playoff series B) wins a pennant c) wins the whole damn thing