fathom

MBINAA

I guess this wraps up a perfect weekend for Kerry Wood! I give Ventura and the Sox a ton of credit for keeping their cool the last two games.

If Reed can command that fastball in on lefties like that, it's going to help him out a ton.

Really nice read by Viciedo on that liner.

Who gets the 9th?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 20, 2012 -> 08:58 PM) He went. It was close, could argue either way. Very nice job by Rios of getting his hands in on that sinker.

Whew, thanks ump!

Just got home. Crain looks awful in the pitches I've seen.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ May 20, 2012 -> 04:31 PM) Brandon McCarthy to the DL due to a strained right shoulder BMINAA

To me, this feels like a game for some reason where Viciedo, Alexei and Flowers will have to carry the offense. Maholm will give you a lot of cutters/sliders over the plate to hit.

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ May 20, 2012 -> 03:59 PM) Also, I would be enjoying this a lot more if our young hitters were producing. They aren't? It's been great watching Viciedo and Beckham in May.

It makes absolutely no sense to be playing Fukudome today against a LHP. Last night was the perfect chance to play him for Rios if you wanted to. BTW, Dunn is 3-28 in his career against Maholm.

QUOTE (flavum @ May 20, 2012 -> 01:02 PM) Besides not laying off some high fastballs, he has squared it up a little better. A little better? This is a guy who seemed content to pop it up to the first baseman during April. He has 3 homers this month, could have easily had 2 more, and has hit numerous line drives right at the right fielder.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ May 20, 2012 -> 12:27 PM) Am I the only one who's liked the way Gordon's looked at the plate the past few weeks? He's looked great at the plate all month. I'd hate to see him moved to 3rd, as I want to see him continue his strong focus at the plate. He's someone in the past that seems to have struggled with his thought process at the plate, and moving to 3rd might distract him.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ May 20, 2012 -> 03:47 AM) Good number two hitter, Rather have him batting 9th. Beckham's hitting the ball very well right now, as he's made a lot of hard outs.

Sox paying him the minimum, correct?

QUOTE (jeffro2525 @ May 20, 2012 -> 03:00 AM) I don't know how pathetic Zach is, since in Danks last start before tonight he single-handedly kept the Sox in the game long enough for them to eventually come back and beat the Tigers. I think Stewart stinks and isn't a MLB caliber pitcher, but he deserves so much credit for his performance vs the Tigers. If Sox go on to contend this year, that performance by him can be seen as a turning point in the season.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ May 20, 2012 -> 03:39 AM) Easy to forget when he gets lit up a pressure free situation You hate to see Stewart get beat on his offspeed stuff. His best pitch by far is his sinker, so just rely on it and don't worry about the strike out.

Just watched highlights of the game. Balta, your post about how the Chicago media won't dare call out Wood for quitting on his team mid-May when they were struggling with relievers was awesome. And greg, how are you going to say the Cubs are going to get momentum from the 9th inning after last week when you said "momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher?"

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 19, 2012 -> 11:07 PM) Finally the voice of reason. I am so f***ing mad about Paulie's eye being closed and out a week. You wait, it will be a full week at least. This is outrageous. That f***ing bum Cub hit him on purpose. No question about it. Did he "mean" to hit him in the face? Probably not. At the time in the heat of the moment, who knows? He probably wanted to drill him in the shoulder. The media has blown this. They should be protecting one of the top three players arguably in White Sox history. THIS IS INSANE! I want revenge. Not in the face, but I want both our starters to drill cubs in the first inning. Get the long men ready, baby!! How dare you talk about the White Sox this weekend...it's Kerry Wood Weekend! However, you don't get your starting pitcher tossed and drain your bullpen by getting ejected.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 19, 2012 -> 09:43 PM) The difference in his swing the 2 days right after his cortisone shot was palpable. Then it went away rapidly, and within a few days we're talking about his back again. His back has to be in bad shape right now. Yeah, it's time to DL him and let him get right.

I don't get this signing at all.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ May 19, 2012 -> 09:12 PM) This is so true. It's borderline insane how many members of the Chicago sports media have said Smarja's pitch wasn't intentional. Were they watching the same game? Anyway, it was funny to read LaHair being upset about the pitch behind him. Stuff like you should never throw at somebody's head. (the pitch was at his back, btw) Really? Yep, if Humber wanted to hit him, he could have. Ventura handled that situation perfectly. He knows if Humber hit the pitcher in the next inning after Konerko got hit, he could have gotten tossed.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ May 19, 2012 -> 09:58 PM) The meathead in me thinks, go with fuk against his old team against the slider pitcher I do not think dyan is a good fit I was actually going to suggest Fukudome for Rios, but I saw that Rios is 2-3 in his career vs Dempster

I still can't believe that Kaplan and Hollandsworth were so pissed off on CTL about the Humber throwing a pitch behind LaHair. You hit the unquestioned leader of the team in the face with a pitch in the AB after he homered....I don't care if it's a 15 mph pitch thrown by Gary Sinise, you have to stick up for your captain there. Konerko's injury is a lot more serious than a bruise on the back, etc.