fathom

This is as sickening an example of pull baseball as I can ever remember.

QUOTE(GOD @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:29 AM) I encourage anyone going to the Twins series coming up to boo every player. Maybe that'll get the message across b/c obviously playing the teams you are chasing for the playoffs does nothing to fire up this team. I think you've turned me into an Athiest.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:28 AM) That should be obvious. You can do that in the off-season, its impossible or nearly impossible to do that at the trade deadline. On a sidenote, sorry about being overly harsh, it wasn't really direct at you, rather I'm so sick of seeing a million posters seemingly thinking we could have done that. Fact of the matter is that wasn't an option. We could have tried to get Lidle and some other veteran (like a Greg Maddux) but I still don't think that makes this rotation acceptable. Plus we'd have been stuck with other starters. As you've said, there were no starting pitching moves that were possible. With that in mind, KW definitely should have made a move to upgrade our offense. He was kidding himself if he thought our offense would maintain the great level they were performing at.

It must be nice for the Tigers to have a righty on the bench who can supply so much power against a lefty.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:25 AM) I thought they'd all be worse Fathom, but come on. I'm sure you, like myself, didn't think they'd regress THIS much. If you had in mind a similar regression that I did, the SP's would still be good enough for us to cruise into October with the way the offense has performed. I thought we caught lightning in a bottle with a lot of guys last year (Politte, Cotts, Hermanson, Garland), and I was one of the main people on this board asking last year "what happened to Garcia's velocity?" I expected Contreras to be more of an ace, and I always had confidence that Buehrle would keep us in games.

QUOTE(shawnhillegas @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:24 AM) its time to bench some people. id like to see mccarthy in too. hell haeger is a better option than vazquez at this point. Haeger has no chance in the majors. At least Vazquez keeps us in games.

QUOTE(SoxFan562004 @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:23 AM) the pulling thing is unreal. It is obvious to me why Rogers has been getting hit in the 2nd half, but the Sox are doing exactly what he wants. We've faced him 4 times now this season, and our approach tonight is worse than it's been all year. We've faced a ton of changeups over the last week, and I can only recall one player (Mackowiak) that looked like he had a game plan for that pitch.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:19 AM) These guys all have underachieved,and your a liar if you said "I called them all being worse"

Ugh...this team is playing such awful baseball. Everyone besides Crede should be ashamed of their approach tonight.

We're the worst team I've ever seen at protecting the plate with RISP. Enjoy your last 35+ games with the Sox Mr. Uribe.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:16 AM) Broadway could come up and pitch a 6 ERA, and we'd save 9 million dollars on a pitcher with an ERA that's only 3/4 of a run worse than Buehrle. Not bad. Mark Buehrle won't have a 6 ERA for the entire season, especially in a contract year.

QUOTE(SoxHawk1980 @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:15 AM) Given Contreras's very advanced age, do you really think signing him to a long-term contract was a good idea? Yes, I think he has 3 solid years in him. Of course, I do have concerns that he might require offseason surgery (same with Thome).

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:14 AM) Shame on Williams for trading and signing up a pitching staff that was the core of a World Series Champion, shame on him. Yeah, even I'm sticking up for Sox organization members in regards to this argument.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:13 AM) Not unless he has like a 6 ERA. I know we are going to pick up the Buehrle option, but if your telling me it's a good move I'm going to laugh. He's been figured out and 9.5 million for a figured out, overworked lefty is silly. Every single team in baseball would jump at the chance to have Mark Buehrle for 9.5 million.

QUOTE(Frankensteiner @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:12 AM) Yes, but there's nothing stopping KW from improving a bad situation. If he didn't want to own up on Vazquez being a mistake, then shame on him. The starters haven't performed, but who's the one trading for them and signing them to long-term contract extensions? He's the one that picked them. It's his mess. He signed Garland and Contreras to long-term contracts, and they're are two best starters.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:11 AM) Broadway can't be any worse than Buehrle has been in 2007, and bringing him up, trading Garcia, and putting McCarthy in the pen gives us A TON of payroll flexibility while seeing what we have for the future. I'd MUCH rather do that then keep overpaid dead weight, wouldn't you? Broadway can't be worse than Buehrle? WOW!

We're picking up Buehrle's option, I will bet my membership to this site on that.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:07 AM) I'm not thrilled about picking up Buehrle's option next season, but the truth is, what alternatives are there? I doubt we're going to be outbidding many ballclubs for a valuable starting pitcher. Our system isn't capable of assisting our rotation for next season. Maybe Ozzie will go golfing with a high-priced, mediocre pitcher this offseason?

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:07 AM) The team chemistry is not making the back bone of our team, the rotation, pitch like dogs***. We sure seemed to play great in the posteason when the "heart of the team" was an automatic out at the plate.

QUOTE(Frankensteiner @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:06 AM) I think Kenny has done a great job overall as White Sox GM, however, if this teams fails to reach the playoffs it's all on his shoulders. We didn't make it in '01-'04 but we didn't have a $100 M budget at that time either. You pour this much money into the team, and especially this rotation, you expect something more than a turd. Plus he could have very easily improved the team at the deadline (at least by trading away one of the underachievers). KW put a winning roster on the field. The starting pitchers haven't performed, and there are three members of our coaching staff that have sucked this year. However, our team doesn't deserve to make the postseason if every single starting pitcher underachieves.

QUOTE(SoxFan562004 @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:02 AM) wow, Rogers has retired 10 in a row. His stuff is not anywhere near that good tonight, the Sox are just an absolute joke at the plate right now. I'm starting to see it in their body language. This 3 run lead seems more like a 5-7 run lead right now The whole terrible body language vibe started with the very first batter in that Twins series. Pods looked like he had his eyes closed at the plate against Bonser, and the Twins immediately had all the momentum. I just want to know when these guys are going to start playing like their season depends on the outcome of that particular game?

QUOTE(GOD @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 12:01 AM) The thing that is really bugging me is this team has given up down only 3 runs in the 4th inning. It's sad I'm starting to highly doubt us making the playoffs. KW has ruined this team. KW has ruined this team? Oh boy, I can't wait to hear your reasoning for saying this.

Maybe one of these days, KW will acquire someone that can help our offense against LHP?

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 11:59 PM) Anyone else wondering if this run of bad play might just continue til the end of the season? It's lasted the entire 2nd half of the season...and this starting pitching is showing signs of getting worse, not better.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 11:57 PM) Because you can't throw inside at 85, as Freddy has found out this year. The ball is going to be hit very far if you do. Buehrle at least cuts his fastball, so he might be able to jam a hitter with his fastball.