fathom

Malholm must not like pitching with the lead.

Great start, as we're all over Santana's fastball. Have a good AB Thome.

Alexei has such potential in the 2nd spot. Sure seemed like Pods could have scored, but no reason to risk it with no outs.

Chone would be signed to play CF.

Mercy, Laroche bailed Dempster out. Swung at ball 4 about 2 feet off the plate.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ May 26, 2009 -> 01:30 AM) I didn't realize the Pirates were +7 in runs scored versus allowed yet still four under .500. This ump has a huge zone against Soto. He did bail out Theriot on a pitch that should have easily been strike 3.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ May 26, 2009 -> 01:12 AM) 1-0 Pirates on an Rbi single by Laroche. Top of the 1st. Don't worry, Pirates remembered they're the Pirates. Laroche booted a grounder at 3rd base, allowing Theriot to get a "double" to score a run.

I believe Anderson would probably be faster, but I'd also give Pods the advantage over Anderson in terms of hitting for average. However, anyone who's followed the Sox since 2005 should know who Ozzie favors in this situation.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 25, 2009 -> 11:52 PM) I still can't figure out how that roster has turned out that poorly. Chris Young has just been awful, Y. Petit is one of the worst pitchers I've ever seen, and Eric Byrnes should give a refund on his contract, as it's obvious he was a juicer.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ May 26, 2009 -> 12:48 AM) I've adopted the Diamondbacks as my (sorta) National League team. I really like the concept of a moneyball team actually hiring a moneyball manager. It was a bold move, and i love that kinda stuff. Yep, and they suck. It's too bad, as they have the best announcer in baseball, Darren Sutton.

Thanks Balta!!

QUOTE (Kalapse @ May 25, 2009 -> 11:51 PM) He's hitting .268 with 2 [real] extra base hits and has displayed some atrocious baserunning, the fact that he's getting the most PA on this team is just sickening. And before anyone mentions it Pods is hitting .231/.286/.308/.593 in the leadoff spot. I feel like I'm falling back into t la-la land again just as I did at the end of spring training. It's like I'm watching a different f***ing game. How come Hawk's not getting on Pods for all the weak fly balls he's hitting? The funny thing is that Pods is showing more ability to bunt now than he ever did in 2005 and 2006.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ May 25, 2009 -> 11:48 PM) He pitched the day before (18 pitches)? Aside from that I have no idea. Am I the only one who would have pulled Jenks and gone to Thornton with Niger Morgan at the plate after the game had been tied? In that situation you just have to get to the bottom of the 9th with the game still tied, Jenks didn't have it and Morgan has less than no chance against Matt's fastball. That's the thing...why pitch Linebrink in a 4 run game in the 9th if it means you can't use him in a closer game the next day? You might as well let Carrasco start that inning then and if he's in trouble, bring in Jenks. As for pulling Jenks, as soon as he gave up the homer, I told my wife that they weren't done scoring that inning. He's had a history of when he blows a save, he usually blows the lead as well. Of course, Fields playing even with the bag with a runner on 2nd might be even dumber. You give up the infield single in that situation.

KW and Ozzie don't have the same view of BA as the other one does.

Just listen to Hawk: the Sox think Pods is doing great on offense. Nevermind his OPS around .635 and the fact he should be 0 for 4 on the bases. He's not striking out much, but he's not drawing walks either.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ May 25, 2009 -> 04:05 PM) I would make them the favorite, but not as confident as I was awhile ago. Alot hinges on when and how strong Ramirez comes back for them and if they can get another good bullpen arm. A big issue is that the Cards and Brewers can't hit either right now. The Cubs complain about injuries, but the Cards have 3 starters out in Ankiel, Ludwick, and Glaus. Weeks is a huge loss for the Brewers.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ May 25, 2009 -> 11:38 PM) From what I can tell they're pretty much interchangeable. Question: why Dotel and not Linebrink in the 8th yesterday? We're paying Linebrink a ton of money to get 3 outs in the 8th inning.

I'm fine with Anderson not playing tonight, as he'd have no chance against Santana's slider. With that said, once this team is out by double digits (and there's a good chance of that happening after the next week), we have to start playing Anderson every game to see if he can be in our plans next season.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ May 24, 2009 -> 09:27 AM) I would say there's a good chance. The three hitters are nearer the end of their careers, Gallaraga might turn it around but he kind of had a freakishly good season last year. 5 games in four days vs. the boys from murder city, starting June 8th. That will be big for the Sox. Ordonez will hit over .300 again. He's raised his average nearly 40 pts in the last 2 weeks.

Vlad's back for this series.

So I know the draft starts on the 9th, but what time does it start that day? Wondering if I should take that day off from work.

Twins just swept the Brewers. Gardenhire going out to argue a HBP/foul call just got his team 4 more runs.

Crede's really hitting well for the Twins now. Great move by Gardenhire batting Mauer 2nd, as they're rolling right now.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 24, 2009 -> 10:01 PM) He was in the top 6 in catchers in OPS in 2008 a typical season for him. He calls a good game, and the guy who doesn't ever shake off catchers, Mark Buerhle, is far and away the White Sox best performer on the mound since AJP has been a White Sox. He doesn't throw well, but nobody is going to throw out most of the basestealers against the White Sox. Floyd and Contreras do not hold guys on. Before him, we had to deal with guys like Ben Davis, Brook Fordyce, a 100 year old Sandy Alomar Jr., Mark Johnson. AJP has been a godsend. Its too bad a lot of people don't recognize that. Get rid of him and the Sox will spend the next 5 years looking for someone to take his place unless Flowers suddenly shows he can stop a ball. Its yet another example of be careful what you wish for. Josh Fields all of a sudden doesn't look better than Joe Crede. He suddenly doesn't look better than Juan Uribe. Great post. I think AJP is slightly overrated, but compared to what else we have, he's a lot better. Some people on here beg for Donald Lucy, and he's hitting .230 with no power in AAA.

It sucks to come home and see this. Makes a 4-2 homestand feel almost disappointing. What ever happened to in a one run game, making the opponent do damage to the opposite field instead of laying it in there for them to hammer? Oh well, the Pirates terrible hitting this series masked how awful our hitting was.