fathom

I'm just grateful we got the good Thome this season. He's been better and more consistent than I thought he would be this season. People forget how many 3 run homers he hit for us earlier in the year that gave us enough cushion to win.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 01:23 AM) No I don't. The only 2 I find totally useless are Vazquez and Garcia. I have been one of Contreras' biggest supporters since he became a White Sox. Last year when people wanted to trade him for Burnett, I was laughed at for suggesting he could outpitch Burnett the rest of the 2005 season. I'm not a huge fan of Garland, but he's been better lately. He'll fall back from where's he been but probably won't be as bad as he was at the beginning of the year for the balance. Buerhle I like, but he's been so horrible. He'll be back. You've been very consistent in your view of players. I've never seen you switch your opinion of a specific player from one game to the next just because of something they do good or bad.

QUOTE(Whitewashed in @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 01:15 AM) Yeh Gload's a good hitter, he just isn't versatile enough to really utilize him on this squad. He earned his spot on the roster for the rest of the season on Friday night. If Thome has a lingering wrist injury, we're going to see a lot of Gload.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 01:10 AM) Yeah, well, it's an easy way to criticize. Contreras pitching rough in a game doesn't have to do with a rough day. I think we can all agree we've seen too many "rough days" lately. I do agree though, I used a bad word to describe Contreras. I was referring more to the entire starting rotation. If these guys don't want to be remembered as one of the more disappointing collection of starters in the last 20 years, they need to have a strong finish to the season.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 01:07 AM) No guts? This is not directed to you, but just sports in general. How can you tell that? Just because they aren't pitching well? Is it their demeanor? I just always wonder when fans say they have no heart or no guts or whatever just because they are playing like crap. I know, it wasn't a good word. I tried to explain it better by saying stepping up and taking charge. There's only one pitcher who I think has no guts on this team, and we know who it is.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 01:07 AM) That error was costly, but Jose has been crap anyway so it doesn't matter. He needs to start pitching good cause he's been mediocre since a few starts before his streak ended. I will never understand why he was so intent on developing new arm angles while he was injured. Last I had checked, he was pitching great prior to that.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 01:05 AM) Contreras' problem isn't guts. Not every pitcher's problems has to do with "guts." It would be great to see just one of them step up and carry the team during a tough stretch when they need innings.

Our pitchers have absolutely no guts right now.

Our left side of the infield can't throw the ball with any authority for some strange reason. Lets call it the Garcia Effect.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 12:53 AM) Crede does look tired lately, but doesn't he historically hit well in KC? Yes he does. He hit some homers against Byrd that haven't landed yet. That was a fun series, as LTP hit an inside-the-parker. QUOTE(CYGarland @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 12:54 AM) I dont see why he would be tired, he had 4 days off from the all-star break, and a couple more days off since. If anything, he's either aching or ill, or just in a slump He's swinging and throwing like someone who has a back problem possibly.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 12:47 AM) And our offense dies all of a sudden. It's such deja vu of the Pirates game. Contreras will likely struggle all game, and our best chance of winning will be against the KC bullpen. QUOTE(RockRaines @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 12:48 AM) Oh, and BTW, worst night to sit Iguchi. He can only hit righties. If you know so much, why aren't you the manager?

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 12:44 AM) Pods looked like he was playing bounce or fly and he needed to get one on the bounce. He is really pathetic defensively. He wasn't great last year, but the dropoff this season has been tremendous. People say he's supposed to be a decent outfielder because he has speed. However, he's so tentative out there, and he looks slower than hell now. I laugh when people rip on Manny's defense when trying to stick up for Pods. I watched some Red Sox games this weekend, and Manny made 5 throws in those games better than any Pods has ever made.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 12:42 AM) It was the right thing to do. Unless we could have acquired another leadoff hitter/left fielder to replace Pods. There was no excuse for this team to not acquire a 4th outfielder.

Good job Ross....and yes DA, Pods is the worst LF in baseball. He better appreciate playing this season, cause he's going to be a bencher for the rest of his career after this season.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 12:40 AM) This team sucks. And we're living or dying with it....super.

Why does Iguchi continue to get subbed out, while Crede plays every day and looks tired as hell at the plate? His DP could have been the biggest play of this game.

I'm beginning to get worried about Contreras. He's lost that something special he had last 2nd half and the beginning of this year.

I'm sure glad we decided not to upgrade in LF.

This is deja vu of the Pirates game we lost.

Can any of our starters not allow at least 2 base runners every inning?

I like the 3 runs, but that's about the 5th time this season where we hit into a double play in the first inning of a game in which we had the chance to really open it up. Hopefully Jose gets us back in the dugout with a 3 run lead, and we keep getting runners.

QUOTE(shawnhillegas @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 12:18 AM) Thome back in Chicago with wrist tendonitis. Ugh, that doesn't sound good. Hopefully it's just a little inflammation.

I have a feeling Thome might have tweaked something running the bases so much on Saturday. Hopefully it's nothing too serious.

QUOTE(redandwhite @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 09:23 PM) Nady is a feared corner outfielder? He hasn't been very good at all this year, and he plays a corner outfield position which is the easiest position to fill. You don't trade Perez' upside for Nady, and to include Hernandez whom if traded a few weeks could have gotten much more value. Not to mention, they could have used that package to acquire Linebrink, who has closer/set-up man written all over him. Perez has serious attitude issues, as well as the prevailing belief among some baseball executives that his skills might have been "enhanced" in the past. Nady has long been a valuable trade chip, as many believe he's going to end up being a 30 homer player. I never said he was feared...just more valuable than you're giving him credit for. Personally, I think it's a great fit for the Pirates with him out there. Why would the Pirates want Linebrink? They have their closer in Gonzalez, and they have some solid guys in their pen.

QUOTE(redandwhite @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 09:11 PM) He was just an example, and even so thats not far off from what this rotation is doing day in and day out. He would have never approved of a trade to the AL. I don't see how someone can say Hernandez and Perez were had for nothing, as Nady is a pretty solid corner outfielder. He's had a lot of value for a few seasons now.