fathom

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 07:28 PM) No, because it's a poor excuse for professionals to pretend they require a batting coach. They should hit regardless, especially if they're good hitters. Well said

Really bad hitting with RISP the last 3 games.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 07:20 PM) Realize that going "All In" with this rotation is not a wise thing to do. What was he supposed to do, go sign Cliff Lee? Sure, he should have brought in a 6th starter with Mr. Fragile coming back from surgery, but still...there's a lot KW has done wrong the past few years, but this team should be good enough to compete.

QUOTE (TheBigHurt @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 08:18 PM) I believe this has been said the last 3 years, too. And we didn't underachieve last year. However, with the "All In" mantra, anything less than playoffs will be underachieving.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 07:16 PM) Shoddy defense aside, it's going to be difficult to win anything with *this* Buehrle. The blame for that goes on the GM. What did KW do wrong with Buehrle?

Calling for coaching changes now is silly for so many reasons. For the Ozzie/Walker haters, they will be long gone if this team sucks this year. Hope for the best, but take comfort in knowing that if they underachieve, there will be wholesale changes.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 07:13 PM) and what about Jeff Francis? Haven't been able to see it, but what you have right now is a Royals team playing like they expect to win and a Sox team coming off of a bad loss with their worst starter on the mound.

QUOTE (Capn12 @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 07:10 PM) To me, no. I'm less and less excited about each Buehrle start nowadays. If there was ever a pitcher in need of a scenery change to the NL, it's him.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 07:11 PM) The hitting is better as a whole but it is not consistent from game to game. In 5 games Justin Masterson and Jeff Francis have shut the Sox down. That does not bode well in the long run. Well this game is now out of hand. Masterson is a good pitcher, especially if his command is on.

QUOTE (peanut33tillman @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 07:10 PM) Mark "batting practice" Buehrle Shades of September 2010 with him.

Is it blasphemous to say that I hope Buerhle isn't back with the Sox next year?

Can someone describe what happened on the Escobar double? Thanks

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 07:05 PM) but that did happen and just like last year once the bullpen blows a lead the game is over as the bats can not hit the other teams bullpen. Other than the first guy out of the pen in the opener, the other teams bullpens have seemingly shut the Sox down. My issue right now is that nothing has changed from last year except the payroll as far as an approach to the game. The starters and hitting are inconsistent from inning to inning, the bullpen is a crapshoot and the baseball IQ / fundamentals are extremely low. The Twins are losing to good teams and the Sox are losing to crap teams. Disagree...we have the real Gordon Beckham instead of soph slump Beckham. Also, Dunn's had better at bats in a week than Kotsay had all of last year. I'm all for being a pessimist, but this is insane right now.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 07:02 PM) This team sucks at everything. The mojo has definitely deteriorated since the triple play, but just have to win one game, and then things will be fine again.

QUOTE (Capn12 @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 07:00 PM) In Vegas for a week, not sure why I didn't expect the doom and gloom so early though. Is Pods in the majors this year?

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 06:49 PM) but have now not scored in the lst nine innings. 6 runs against Luke Hochaver is not all that impressive. Our hitting looks fine right now. Better approach than what we've seen in recent years during the first month.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 06:48 PM) Just as a note...fathom of course went with 0-5 to make the point, not 5-0. For real? If I said 5-0 and it wouldn't make a difference, then I'd get blasted for being pessimistic.

This KC, in my opinion, is way better than people on here are giving credit to, especially playing with confidence after their Angels series.

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 06:44 PM) If we lose today, that's 2-3 vs Cleveland and KC...new year, same old s***. We could be 0-5, and it wouldn't change the outcome for the season. Doesn't matter who you beat or lose to right now, IMO.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 06:44 PM) I think the pen will figure it out, don't you? No idea what to expect from Sale...Santos looked great last night, but he needs to keep up the consistency and not hit the wall like he did last year.

29 pitches thru 3 innings for Francis. 15 outs before Soria boys!

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 06:39 PM) This is depressing...and the Rays started off so cold, you know they'll be ready for us, their style of play mirrors the Angels and Ozzie usually gets really obsessed with trying to outmanage and out-smallball. Yes, only 3% of the season, I know, I know, but some of the fundamentals mistakes repeating year after year makes you wonder. I'm sure an Ozzie/Cora "baserunning" in-season mini-camp isn't far away if this continues. Which will have virtually no long-term effect on the overall quality of play. I guess the team will get a pass for 10 days with Dunn out by some, but it's so important that we start off decently to have any significant walk-up support in April and May. .500 won't do it. 24-8 is expecting too much, but 18-14 isn't going to get anyone very excited. I'll take 18-14 to start the year, especially with no Peavy, Dunn being out a week, and a bullpen that has no rhyme or reason right now.

QUOTE (TheBigHurt @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 06:33 PM) LOL @ Pierre DHing. It won't cost us, don't worry.

5 outs on the bases in 5 games this year. You absolutely cannot challenge this Royals outfield, maybe the best throwing one in baseball.

Absolutely no excuse to have Pierre as the DH when Lastings has showed no defensive ability this season. Also, might be time to stop letting Butler beat us with an open base.