fathom

Humber's command is awful tonight.

Jeez Alexei..that should have been an error. AJP can't catch Humber, as he's dropped 3 pitches already.

Ugh, didn't realize that Tampa's postponed game the other day meant we'll face Price next week. We get Price, Verlander and Scherzer next week, as we can't catch a break with pitching match-ups.

Humber's up in the zone a lot tonight. Seems to be overthrowing, but threw a nice curve to Abreu.

Had no idea we play 30 out of 43 games on the road starting Monday.

Bad weather leading to no one at the game. Hopefully we get some good weather tomorrow and Sunday.

Mauer to the DL

J4L...looks like Cubs will miss your boyfriend, Kershaw, when they play later this month.

Nick Masset has 3 of the Reds 4 losses this season.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Apr 14, 2011 -> 12:34 AM) The Astros shoud be contracted. As a former Astros fan (easily my second favorite team from '97 through '05), it's sad to see what's happened to them. It's basically Hunter Pence, Wandy Rodriguez, maybe Brett Myers and AAA garbage. Myers is a hell of a lot better than Wandy

No problem with pulling Danks, but pulling Buehrle was a dumb move on Monday. Who knows, maybe Thornton has more confidence if Monday night's shenaningans never happen and we sweep Oakland.

QUOTE (Paint it Black @ Apr 13, 2011 -> 10:17 PM) Plus, is Thornton really struggling? 2 of his blown saves the defense gave the opponent four or more outs. Yes, the swings people are getting against him are better ones than we're used to seeing against him.

QUOTE (kapzk @ Apr 13, 2011 -> 11:03 PM) I think there is way too much panic here ... I look at it as a good thing that we have blown these games early so that we can actually iron out the pen and put the guys in the correct places. I know it sucks to lose these games especially in this manner, but i think it may help in the long run of the season. What we have learned is that Thornton sucks right now, so we yank him out of the closers role and put Santos in. This may be a great thing in the long overhaul of the season. Only time will tell how Santos will perform. But again its only April 13th, ton of baseball left to play, and heck we are 7-5 while Detroit and Minnesota are atleast 2.5 games behind us at the moment. On the downside however we have a tough schedule coming up, with the Angels top pitchers up against us. There is nothing positive about Thornton's struggles. If Sale can't be an impact reliever, then we're totally wasting a year of development of his.

Our relievers besides Santos and Crain have given up the same amount of runs as our starters have.

How long before we start hearing that KW is interested in promoting Petricka to help the bullpen?

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 13, 2011 -> 10:45 PM) He's prob next in line. And should be. Has to be...no way you can use Thornton in a pressure situation right now. Wouldn't shock me if we hear about some lingering elbow issue in the coming days. I will say that Jeff Gray is a waste of roster spot, and you might as well bring up someone you think can get you one out. BTW, extremely impressed with Bob Geren this series. He definitely puts his players in a good chance to succeed with how he plays match-ups.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 13, 2011 -> 09:43 PM) I'd imagine ticket sales have completely dried up with the way this bullpen is pitching. Should be a ton of empty seats until the end of May. That's assuming they were ever "wet"

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Apr 13, 2011 -> 09:43 PM) "I don't have a closer" - pissed off Ozzie after the game. Hey dumbass, repeat after me: SERGIO SANTOS

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 13, 2011 -> 09:40 PM) Not worth getting too worked up about. There's a lot of clarity knowing that if this team underachieves, at least it means the likely end of the KW/Ozzie regime. This bullpen is making it very hard to "like" this team right now, as they already have 4 just heartbreaking losses.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Apr 13, 2011 -> 09:38 PM) Matt has been dominant with basically just a fastball for 3 years. Teams haven't suddenly figured him out just because he is pitching in the 9th inning. He isn't locating the fastball as well as he has in the past and his velocity seems down a bit. His slider is also worse than usual and it isn't surprising he is getting hammered. People seem to forget he fell apart physically, and in some ways mentally, last year. Will he ever recover? His next outing has got to come in a non-pressure situation.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Apr 13, 2011 -> 09:37 PM) the following are the things that stupify me about todays game (i know i am being redundant with some of them, but this is irritating me that much) if you come out publicly and say Thornton is your closer, then thornton is your closer If not, and sale is your closer, then ok. But if sale is your closer and you bring him in winning by 3, then he is your f***ign closer and you leave him in there with a men on 1st and 2nd and 0 out up by 2. If you then decide that Sale isn't your closer because he gave up 3 straight hits, and Jesse crain is going to be your closer, and you allow crain to pitch with bases loaded an 0 outs, then you allow crain to pitch with bases loaded and 1 out. More than all that though, if you aren't smart enough as a manager to realize that 3-4 tough games for a reliever (2 of which your LF dropped easy fly balls that would have won the game), isn't nearly as indicative of a guys potential as pitcher as his stellar previous 3 years (and 200 innings) of work, then you aren't smart enough to be a manager in major league baseball Great stuff in here...I'm still shocked Crain didn't start the 9th with two righties starting the 9th inning. It's like Ozzie was more scared of Matsui than anything else.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 13, 2011 -> 09:36 PM) Close and delete this thread. Hit the gym, get a beer, watch the bulls and hawks. Take a breath, back at it on Friday. Can we just skip the Weaver/Haren games? Good stuff in here though Rock, have a fun night tonight!

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Apr 13, 2011 -> 09:35 PM) Jenks was terrible last year and his WHIP and ERA had gotten worse for 3 straight seasons. The only positive sign at all for him was that his K rate was up lst year from the previous 2 seasons. I don't fault the Sox at all for not bringing him back especially at that salary. Jon Rauch had a better chance of returning to the Sox than Jenks did after last season's off the field issues.

QUOTE (kapzk @ Apr 13, 2011 -> 09:35 PM) might as well make Jake Peavy our closer now Awesome, get like 2 relief appearances before he'd get injured again. Thanks though kapzk, I was waiting for this post!!

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 13, 2011 -> 09:34 PM) Plus 1. I wanted him for that role. Unfortunatey he took more money. He'd also be a calming influence on Thornton right now also.