fathom

QUOTE(Wanne @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:42 AM) For someone with supposedly incredible speed...he sure is late to a crapload of balls hit. Pods doesn't have incredible speed. He's lost more than a step this year. Ozuna is our fastest guy by far.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:41 AM) great...now we get to watch k-rod celebrate on the mound. He's worse than Zambrano. Nothing was worse than Pudge's reaction over the weekend. He seriously celebrated more than Kirk Gibson did.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:39 AM) Contreras was 89-91 yesterday. He hasn't been the same since his back injury. Yeah, I'm not saying Contreras stuff sucks now. Rather, I was just pointing out he's another guy who's velocity is down this year.

QUOTE(G&T @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:39 AM) Contreras also had the back problem, but he can still get it up there 93-95. What happened to the extra velocity he had last year? 2 mph can make all the difference between a broken bat grounder or a rocket single. With that velocity at the end of last year, Contreras was able to throw that sinker in on the hands of righties, and they could only hit it to Crede. Now, we see #8 hitters like Aaron Hill hitting rockets to left field to score two runs.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:34 AM) Garland's fine, and Contreras is okay (ie no loss of 'stuff'). Vazquez is what he is; an enigma. He's got great stuff, and he is capable of using that stuff late in games. I still look as him as a guy who can be fixed, and I think he's here for the next year, like it or not. At the end of last season, Contreras' fastball was in the 95-97 mph range, and he typically only threw that and his forkball. I watched the highlights the other day of his amazing Twins start towards the end of the season, and he looked like a completely different pitcher than he is now. QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:35 AM) The thing that really bugs me is that Buehrle was so close to walking off the mound with his second respectable start in a row. I don't even think BMac was warmed up enough yet to come in. Just a pathetic way to lose a game. That's a great point you make about taking Buehrle out when his confidence can remain high.

QUOTE(sircaffey @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:33 AM) I wonder how many 5.1 or 5.2 or 6.1 or 6.2 or 7.1 or 7.2 IP lines our SP have. I bet we lead the league... It's been amazing how many 6 innings, 3 ER starts have become 6.2-5. It's happened like 3 times in the last week, and had happened numerous times prior to this week.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:30 AM) Has Jon at all? His velocity was down earlier in the year. I had never heard this, but the radio said that there was a report he had a bad shoulder to start the season.

QUOTE(G&T @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:28 AM) It wasn't that long ago...and the Btaves pitchers simply got old. These guys aren't old. And there's no proof that any pitchers on either team were on steroids. Not that it means anything, but there's no proof. Then will someone please explain to me why basically every pitcher we have has lost velocity this season? I can't think of anyone who hasn't dropped a few mph. QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:29 AM) Doesn't change my feelings of Buehrle. It's past a "slump." We need our starting rotation, as an entire unit, to collectively string together quality outings. I'd like to believe Garland/Contreras/Vazquez/Garcia can compensate for Buehlre, but unfortunately, I can't. We're going to be in trouble if this is the Mark Buehrle we're left with the remainder of this season. It's too bad the Cards don't have a loaded farm system. If they did, we could get ourselves a "Mulder" package for Buehrle possibly.

QUOTE(Felix @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:28 AM) Yep. It's almost as if they take pride in seeing their team losing just to prove themselves right. I'm a pessimist, but I'll never say this team has no chance. As some of us have mentioned, we'll know a lot more about this team after the next 2 weeks. If we play bad, we're in a lot of trouble.

QUOTE(Felix @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:25 AM) Yes, nothing other than the team is still in the wildcard race. You act as if this team is 40 games under .500, when in reality it is still among the leagues best. The season is NOT over, and if you say so, you are only kidding yourself. This team has enough talent to make the playoffs, now they just have to do it. Anyone who says this team has NO chance right now is just setting it up so they could act like they knew it all along if it happens.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:23 AM) Okay, well you show me and prove to me that this happens year after year after year to the championship teams' pitchers. And, if you do this successfully, you'll probably make yourself a lot of cash along with it, because I'd tend to think that that would be a rather large finding. Mmkay? Till then, your theory stinks of BS. So you disagree that a long postseason run, with a lot of tight games, won't possibly influence a pitcher's ability for the next season? I thought it was a pretty common theory in baseball that these pitchers have a hard time bouncing back the following year after the added innings/stress.

QUOTE(G&T @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:22 AM) The Yankees won 3 WS in a row. The Braves won 15 consecutive divisions. I'm not buying it. That was a long time ago, and the steroid era gave everyone more strength/stamina than they have now. The Braves have seen their pitching deteriorate almost every season for quite a while now. However, they also had the advantage that two of their starters are soft-tossers...and future HOFers.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:20 AM) Yeah, the extra three starts is the reason our pitchers suck this year... :rolleye It happens every year in baseball. It's not just the innings...it's the stress of the outings. It's one of the main reasons you don't see teams excel in two consecutive seasons, in my opinion. Also, if you make a long run in the postseason, you're usually going to have guys that had career years. Someone like Cotts or Politte would have had a ton of value in the market this past offseason.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:18 AM) The next 6 games will be very telling. If they don't pitch any better, you may stick a fork in this season. It just sucks that Garcia's next 3 games are against the Yanks, Tigers, and Twins. Our best chance to win the WC is go 4-2 in our next 6, and then win 3 out of 4 vs KC.

General managers would be wise to look to break up the starting pitching rotation/bullpen if their team had a long postseason run the season before. It's amazing how many guys seemingly lose their stuff from one year to the next in these situations.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:16 AM) If Detroit doesn't win the Central, it will be one of the biggest choke jobs in history. Especially if Liriano is injured.

QUOTE(sircaffey @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:16 AM) I would take anyone in the bullpen in the 7th inning versus any one of our SP...Doesn't matter how the SP are pitching before that. A switch is flipped, and they suck. Do we have a CG this year? The only one I remember off the top of my head was Garcia....and that was a 5 inning game.

QUOTE(CWSOX45 @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:14 AM) I just got off work.....how long did Buehrle go? Someone please tell me that Ozzie pulled him before he imploded....then again I wouldn't be surprised if he kept him in too long.... It was the equivalent of the Titanic captain signalling for help after the ship had already sunk.

QUOTE(tigerfan @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:12 AM) In a way yes, but if you lose, you'll find yourself 10 games back (assuming we hold on) Thanks...I don't know where to find standings, so I appreciate that.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:12 AM) Buerhle was not good, but Ozzie had the bullpen ready when the score was 3-2 and wouldn't use it until the score was 6-2. Utter stupidity. Sandy doesn't move when the ball gets 20 ft. away from the catcher, and then a DP follows. Yep, Buehrle really shouldn't get blamed like he is here. He put this team in position to win. However, he was forced to stay in the game way too long against some guys who had good swings against him. We didn't use our bullpen much at all over the wknd....they should have been in to face Quinlan.

QUOTE(Brian @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:10 AM) Get tossed, OZZIE!!! This ump didn't lose the game for us, but he was still brutal! And get suspended for 20 games....please.

QUOTE(soxunited @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:11 AM) 8-3 Tigers the saga continues. . . Um....that's good news!

QUOTE(Brian @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:10 AM) Get tossed, OZZIE!!! This ump didn't lose the game for us, but he was still brutal! Man, the conspiracy by the umps this year is getting really annoying.

That Brian Anderson CONTINUES to really contribute to this offense.

Sandy walks? That happens about once every decade. Buehrle's ERA is now 4.89.