fathom

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 08:22 PM) So just out of curiosity, now that we're seeing where Gload actually can be useful, given that it's sort of hard to expect Thome to play 150 games a season right now, do we really have a roster spot we could fill with another outfielder? Why do we need Gload? Can't that be Konerko at first base, and then use someone like Mackowiak at DH?

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 08:17 PM) Anderson not backing up is an issue unto itself. It is not related to Ozuna at all. Brian made a mistake, he has made a few today. Ozuna is an entirely different story. He is an ingiter at the plate, a perfect 25th man, but they still need an OF who can handle all three positions defensively ... it is something they've needed all season. Yeah, I don't think we have enough time to count how many times we've said that we need another outfielder on the bench. There was a perfect opportunity to try and spark the bottom of the order, and have Ozuna DH and bat 9th today. He'd be the perfect table-setter for the top of the order. QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 08:19 PM) If we want BMac to get acclimated to the pen, he should be in right here. I think it's good to give him rest, as he's going to be our primarty righty set-up man vs the Tigers. The Tigers don't have many lefties, so McCarthy's going to be needed in the series.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 08:15 PM) Except that the Cubs didn't win the division in 1998. Let's not grasp at straws here. We're having a rough stretch: all good teams do. Listen to KW when he says 2005 is over. That noise is me turning on WGN and rooting for the Cardinals.

Since when did I start watching one-pitch mode? This is disgusting. Ozzie has got to be embarrassed by the mentality this team has right now.

Instead of blaming Anderson for not backing up, lets start with the problem that caused it. Ozuna has got to stop playing in LF. Even when he catches it, it's a f***ing circus. This isn't Spring Training anymore, and his defense has really hurt us this year. I have a lot bigger concerns than Anderson's mental mistakes in the outfield.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 08:06 PM) There's a lot of games in the next two weeks that are pretty important. They need to find their edge, and in a hurry, or Detroit will run away with this division. No one is running away from the Indians.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 08:06 PM) There is a reason why only his option was picked up, i.e. he didn't get a new extension. It was a no brainer to pick up his option for 2006 but note that he has not been extended, he is a FA after this year. The organization knows full well that he gets down on himself way too easily. They thought he was over the hump after contributing to a World Series team ... guess not. I agree about the aiming part. That's why when he's actually tried to go inside this year, he's hit the hitters. I'll say this about Cliff....I'll always appreciate his contributions for 2005.

I think we might have seen Politte's last batter for a long, long time.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 08:02 PM) Why am I still watching this train wreck? How do teams like Toronto and Texas ever lose? Both teams seem like their hitters know every pitch that is coming.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 08:01 PM) Anderson misses the cut off man. Yikes. He has made several mistakes today, not to say he's the only one, far from it. DJ is ripping on him. Today's game is the type of game that will get Mackowiak more playing time. He might not be good on defense, but the organization feels he plays the game the right way.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 08:01 PM) With Pujols hurt? They may be right. That's definitely true...their June schedule is a monster though.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 07:58 PM) The one thing you have to say about Politte is, at this point he is being used in the right role. They are getting their ass kicked, it's basically a blowout, and Politte is in there. I do like the idea of DL'ing him, I think he's got a cranium strain. It (the problem) is all between Politte's ears. You don't think it's physical with Politte? His fastball has lost about 3 mph this season.

QUOTE(CWSOX45 @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 07:58 PM) Anyone know a cure for CUBS? You mean the team that every paper in Chicago tomorrow is going to make it sound like they have a better chance of winning their division than the White Sox?

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 07:56 PM) Personally, I think it's when they stop focusing that becomes a problem. Like in August last year, when they started complaining about attendance again, or Mark started seeing lights, or Iguchi started complaining about having to sit down so often, and so on. It just seems to me like their heads just weren't in the game then, and they don't look like it now. I hate the bickering going back and forth between Ozzie and McCarthy about relieving.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 07:54 PM) No problem and I agree at some level. Personally I am a little tired of all the blanket generalizations, not pointing the finger at you, just an observation. Certain players are not providing good at bats right now. Konerko is a little out of sorts. They miss Thome. Uribe is a mess. Anderson just isn't very good at this point. Iguchi is doing ok but he can rise to another level and give better at bats. Dye has generally had good at bats most of the year. Pierzynski has refined his approach to go more the other way. Yep....this team is just a mess right now, and quite frankly, isn't a playoff team with its current roster constructed this way. I think that the organization needs to make a decision...either keep Anderson in CF and let him play 5 times a week, or make a total overhaul of the CF position. Anderson't not going to get it going at the plate playing once every 3 days. I'm actually thrilled the Tigers are coming to town this week...if that doesn't get the players pumped up, I don't know what will.

Politte needs to be DL'd or release sooner, rather than later.

So, why can't we score after the 4th inning in games? This is meant as a serious question, not rhetorical.

So Hawk says the chemistry on this team isn't what it was lst year. Why is that Hawk? Just because they're struggling, it doesn't mean the chemistry isn't there.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 07:47 PM) No fathom, the point was you said "all" of the righthanded White Sox hitters try to pull "everything". The reality is, no, they don't. Well, it was meant as a general statement about our approach against LHP. QUOTE(jphat007 @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 07:48 PM) Hey fathom, say you'll leave if they score 4 runs this inning I'll save it for next inning.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 07:45 PM) Who decides which games get "God Bless America" sung at the game? Seems random. Sunday games, and holidays.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 07:42 PM) Like Iguchi, who Texiera made a nice play on? Like Anderson, who went up the middle? Like Crede, who went into the gap? Like Ozuna, who went to CF and RF for his hits? I realize it's the popular accepted theory on this board that "all" of the White Sox hitters "try to pull everything" but it's an inaccurate generalization. You know baseball better than to make a remark like that. I understand being frustrated, I am too, but some of the generalizations on these game threads are out of sorts. That's the point though...when those guys stayed on the ball and went the other way, they had success. When guys like Uribe are trying to pull pitches in the Rangers dugout, they've been easy outs. This pitcher does a very good job of keeping the ball down....and we haven't made adjustments (like you noted we're failing to do last night). The reason that Ozuna is our best hitter against LHP is that he takes everything to the opposite field.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 07:42 PM) Aside from the fact that we haven't taken a walk, this guy hasn't impressed me that much. Last inning is your prime example, they barely took any pitches, and got 3 ground balls to the right hand side. With 3 of our good hitters too Yep, I agree. A huge turning point in this game was Konerko's terrible AB against him with 2 on, and 1 out.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 07:38 PM) That's a terrible mentality to have. It seems like when we win, they win. When they lose, we lose. We need to just worry about ourselves and maybe Gary Matthews Jr. That will obviously change on Tuesday. Yep, that's the loser's philosophy to have. Meanwhile, the Indians are getting back into the race, and the Twins seem to have gotten their pitching issues resolved.

QUOTE(Ndgt10 @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 07:38 PM) Just have to hand it to the Ranger's pitcher today. He is very good. He's nothing more than your typical lefty. We've sucked all year against lefties, as our righty hitters try to pull everything.

Keep pulling the ball guys!!!!