fathom

QUOTE (striker62704 @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 06:24 PM) Does anyone know why a pitcher that throws as hard as Vazquez does lives on the outside corner? Isn't that for soft tossing lefties? He should at least come inside one pitch per batter. If I were Ozzie I would start calling his pitches. I think his problem is more pitch selection vs. having the stuff. Thoughts? First, his fastball isn't exactly overpowering. However, the main reason he pitches outside is due to his tailing fastball. When he tries to throw down the middle or inside to righties, it ends up hitting them. His biggest problem is when his fastball tails over the heart of the plate when it's supposed to be on the outside corner.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 05:13 AM) I don't disagree with a lot that has been said. This series was gigantic, and the Sox really s*** the bed. I suppose it could have been a lot worse, but the fashion the Sox lost was pretty devastating. To have 3 of the 4 games in your hands against the team that is breathing down your neck as piss two of them away is inexcusable. With that said, I am going to remain optimistic, especially if this next 3 gamer is a success. The Sox August is loaded with home games. I don't fear any team that comes into the Cell with the way the Sox have played at home. I am one of the last Contreras fans on the board, so my optimism isn't going to be felt by most, but I am encouraged by the sound of the side session Jose had. I expect him to come back strong after a break. Same goes for Joe. This is crutch time, and I expect the guys to step up down the stretch. I pray Linebrink can come back sometime in August healthy, as it will be a tremendous boost to the entire bullpen, and team. Put this series behind us, leave the Dome in the rear view mirror, and hope for another Royal beating. If there's ever a time for Javy to go out and just win a game, regardless of how much our offense scores, it's Friday.

So what happened to the offspeed pitches out of our bullpen? Logan has completely lost his slider, Dotel has nothing on his slider, we know Thornton doesn't have an offspeed pitch, and prior to getting hurt, Linebrink had lost all command of his splitter.

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 04:45 AM) hawkanddj@comcastsportsnet.com Should have asked... I thought it was hawkgomez69@yahoo.com

QUOTE (Wanne @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 03:43 AM) I brought this up a couple days ago...it pretty much reached my melting point tonight. Somehow, someway I'm gonna find that friggin Hawk and BJ email during telecasts on comcast and rip away. I already sent one to Ozzie saying as much too. I'm sick of this s***. I honestly am looking forward to BJ being gone and Stone in the booth to keep Hawk a little bit more in the real world. And for as much as I've defended Swisher this year...I'm sick of his s*** too. Sit. The. Hell. Down. for a while. I've been pissed after games before...but not like this one. I was much more pissed on Tuesday, when we outplayed the Twins.

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 03:40 AM) i agree 100%, unless Griffey is playing DH, or spelling Dye in RF against perhaps a pitcher Dye has huge problems with, he's a liability instead of a strength this year. that trade was pretty much pointless Griffey Jr. was brought in to play CF, plain and simple.

QUOTE (Brian @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 03:36 AM) Just get rid of Hawk and it will end for the most part. or you know, the manager that gave them a nickname to rally around?

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 03:34 AM) Logan is definitely done, I don't think anyone here would disagree with that statement. He is just terrible unless he has that sweeping slider vs. lefties, and can throw it for strikes The problem with why our pen was so terrible, well it was a few specific things 1. they were pitching scared. whether it was playing in the dome, and it being ridiculously loud or playing behind another teams fans, they were scared shi*less 2. the score was close, and they were afraid of the twins taking the lead. 3. as a result of pitching scared, they were falling behind hitters 1-0, 2-0. Thornton had Mauer at fu*king 3-1 for cryin out loud When every single guy you run out to the mound cannot locate his pitches, it's not a coincedence. They're all under the same mindset: Scared of pitching to contact, afraid of giving up the lead. We need guys in our bullpen who have been in pressure situations, and can throw strikes in close games on the road. The likes of Boone "Called up from Single A" Logan, Thornton, and Dotel are not the answer How about our "Gold Glove" shortstop keep Mauer's liner in front of him? Just like the Indians season opener, it led the floodgates to open.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 03:33 AM) Hawk was unbearable tonight. Carlos Gomez freaking sucks. He doesn't hit for average, doesn't get on base, his SB % is not good, he doesn't hit for power. He is essentially a worthless offensive player. I liked when Hawk goes "he has a lot of caught stealings, but I'm sure they were on pick offs".

QUOTE (Allsox @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 03:33 AM) It's a myth we won in '05 with smallball. We won because of awesome pitching and hitting HRs (200 hit in '05). And I thank the Twins for absolutely nothing other than looking like world-beaters against us and looking average against everyone else. And our bullpen was one of the best I've ever seen.

Yep, couldn't agree more. Hawk's attitude prior to the Kubel homer in the 7th was disgusting. If he was on this board, soxfan1 and tony would have definitely told him to stop watching the game if he was so sure something bad was going to happen.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 03:29 AM) I don't hate the Twins. They're a team of largely average and slightly above ballplayers with 2 stars and a great manager that has them playing the right way. A team as stacked as ours should know how to beat them. It's our fault, not theirs. The Twins are the ones we should thank for exposing our one-dimensional anti-playoff baseball prior to 2005 that led us into a WS-winning overhaul. Unfortunately we seem to have slipped back into that 2003 mindset. And their pitchers throw strikes and rarely walk hitters. Something you can also notice is that they make the opposition drive the ball opposite field if they're going to try and hit the long ball in critical situations.

QUOTE (klaus kinski @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 03:23 AM) They've been my most hated-playing in a gimmick stadium-I'd root for the Cubs in WS against them Wow...I'd go out and buy a Punto jersey if they played the Cubs in the WS.

Kudos to Sox fans for the following....I didn't hear one person suggest that the Sox should play PK at 3rd base.

QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 04:20 AM) I didn't even know he was pregnant. Injury, but that's funnier.

QUOTE (Allsox @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 04:20 AM) After this series, how any Sox fan doesn't have the Twins as their most hated team is beyond me. The Sox make all their hitters and pitchers look like Babe Ruth, Lou Brock and Cy Young all into one, it's so disgusting. How I hate the goddamn Twins. I don't mind the Twins. They don't go out and buy players, they don't have guys who you know abuse PEDs.

Probably due to being pissed off, but is there anything worse than having to see one of those AWFUL White Sox commercials after a terrible inning like that?

QUOTE (Brian @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 03:18 AM) I wonder if his elbow is hurt. His slider has zero bite. It looks like he's changed his delivery, and you're right, maybe he's trying to hide a delivery.

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 03:17 AM) we're not winning any playoff series with these guys, sorry but it's not gonna happen Unless Linebrink returns in the next 2 weeks and is healthy, it's hard to see this team making the playoffs.

Boone needs to go to the minors.

Where's Griffey Jr. going to bat in the lineup?

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 03:14 AM) Correct me if I'm wrong, but this was predictable after the Gardenhire meltdown. He's the best manager in baseball, and it's not even close.

Boone's slider is horrible now. I can't remember the last time he fooled someone on it.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 03:12 AM) Can you seriously blame this inning on Boone? No no, not at all. I mean more of the guy to get us from the 7th to Jenks. It's too bad Linebrink is hurt, as I really would have liked to see us trade Dotel for a huge package.

Screw these relievers...we need to see more Carrasco!