fathom

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Sep 16, 2005 -> 06:15 PM) Ozzie is losing all credability currently with each critical wrong decision. This guy wants to play and he produces plain and simple. If willie needs to be in there DH Iguchi. But what about the anchor of our great offense, Carl Everett?

Balta....very good post above. Even though I disagree with it, you make excellent points. It's great to see posters actually making points instead of just jumping on someone's back because they have a lower opinion of a player than another.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Sep 16, 2005 -> 04:20 PM) The thing is who replaces Pods as the top of the lineup? I agree that Rowand is good if you've got power players surrounding him in the OF but at the moment we don't. Pods has got 1 year left on his deal at just over a million IIRC. Leadoff position in the AL isn't too important, in my opinion. The only time it's important is if you have a superstar like Vlad in the 3rd spot. Rather, with the likely team we'll put on the field, we need offensive balance throughout.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 16, 2005 -> 04:23 PM) It isn't Sox management, it's a fractured foot. Well, most people on here have argued that Thomas was never part of our plans this season. At least, that's the excuse many gave for why no move was made to replace him when he was hurt. And BTW, Frank is nowhere near a number 3 hitter now. He'd be a perfect number 5 hitter with his approach.

I'd keep Rowand, simply because his defense is light years ahead of Pods. Also, Rowand is able to contribute a lot more than Pods on the offensive end in terms of driving in runs. Rowand has a very managable contract for the next few years, especially compared to other guys in CF like Kotsay. Rowand is a great player to have on your team if he's surrounded by power hitters in RF and LF.

How ironic is it that last year, we struggled all season for a leadoff hitter, so we traded Carlos Lee, our number 3 hitter. Now, this season, we've basically struggled all year to find a number 3 hitter?

I think this team is as pissed off as all us fans are, and Buehrle just spoke his mind. This 2nd half of the season, he's lost control of his mouth and his change-up. He's still one of my favorite players, and it's better to see this than the bulls*** some of the other members of the organization were saying up until a week ago.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Sep 16, 2005 -> 03:54 PM) When a team has a lead of 15 games in late July, it is not a successful season if they don't make the playoffs, no matter where experts predicted they would finish before the season started. The season, no matter how many wins they wound up with, would have to be considered a failure of epic proportions. The Sox still control their own destiny, but playing like they have been playing will not get it done.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Sep 16, 2005 -> 05:11 AM) very true. I like the pitching match ups going in: Millwood vs. Garcia/Bmac Westbrook vs. Buehrle Elarton vs. Garland Lee vs. Duque/Bmac Lee has been lights out and will be tough to beat no matter who we throw out there. Hell, he's a cy young candidate. I can see 3 of 4 if we swing the bats. Cause they are going to score, that's all there is to it. We only play them 3 times next week.

If the Sox sweep the Twins, and the Indians get swept, it will be 7.5! In all honesty, anything over 3, and I'll be content. I'm already getting pumped up for the Indians series. In a sick way, I almost feel like those 3 games are our playoffs.

Also, the Sox have been struggling most of the 2nd half, as they just haven't been playing very good/smart baseball. On the other hand, it was in a matter of about 25 GLORIOUS hours that saw the Cubs choke away Games 6 and 7.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Sep 16, 2005 -> 01:48 AM) The 2 chokes aren't even in the same ball parks of comparison. Yeah....no one cares about the White Sox in the national media, while the Cubs 2003 team was a travelling circus. I think Cubs fans will have a lot harder time getting over their collapse than us Sox fans would if this team doesn't make the playoffs.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Sep 16, 2005 -> 01:46 AM) I'm telling you, this chemistry crap is over. Besides the obvious, something is wrong behind closed doors. So you're saying this team has bad chemistry now? I just want to see our players have fun out there. So many guys look so afraid to mess up out there, that their focus just seems a little off.

QUOTE(JimH @ Sep 16, 2005 -> 01:03 AM) It may be oversimpifying things but the bullpen blew last nite's game and arguably today's game too. No one is doing as well as they should. Guillen brings in Jenks, everybody on this board practically is saying "bring in Jenks, bring in Jenks" and he screws up today too. Who's calling for Jenks to throw sliders? Widger? Cooper? Guillen? That didn't make sense either. To my knowledge the catchers call the game. Well said. Besides Contreras lately, there's no one on the team that can really say they can look in the mirror and not feel responsible for the team faltering. Who in the world would have ever imagined we would say that about Jose? Kudos really go out to Contreras, Cotts, Jenks, and Politte for well above expectation seasons.

And just like that, ARod homers to make it 7-5. I think Lou might have left McClung in just a little too long.

Since the WC race could very well impact the Sox, I thought I'd start a thread dealing with mostly the Yankees. The Yanks were down 5-1 tonight, but R. Cano just hit a slam in the 6th to tie it.

QUOTE(JimH @ Sep 16, 2005 -> 12:49 AM) Maybe this is why El Duque is going this Saturday instead of McCarthy, they may have felt they'd want Garcia to skip a turn. Wow, is it possible there are things going on behind the scenes that this board isn't privy to??????? I understand your point, but if they knew at the time that they'd have to use McCarthy on Monday, then why did we go so long with Garcia last night?

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 16, 2005 -> 12:07 AM) I have been shocked at how few times a manager who says he wants to use speed and defense has actually used the hit & run this year. Yet we continue to let teams steal at will against us.

QUOTE(chisoxt @ Sep 16, 2005 -> 12:05 AM) I need to polish my crystal ball to see what will happen the rest of the way. I hope you have the door shut when you do it.

QUOTE(greg775 @ Sep 16, 2005 -> 12:03 AM) If it's a problem then Coop should speak up. I thought in all the interviews he acts like it's his staff, etc. If there's been a problem and Coop has watched quietly then he should be fired. p.s. If what you say is true, the Cards haven't had much of a problem with their staff. Cooper's the best coach in the organization.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 16, 2005 -> 12:03 AM) Yes, actually, it can...if you're worried about twisting something or re-injuring something, you're going to be extra-tentative in the outfield because you don't want to lose your footing when you hit the track or bang something into the wall the wrong way. The same thing can happen on the basepaths...even if you're not actually hurt, if all you're doing is thinking about an old injury, your technique can suffer. I know it's possible, but if that's true, then he might as well not be playing. Considering he's going to give your team very little offensive production in terms of driving in runs, if Pods is unable to produce on the bases, he's a mediocre offensive player. How about we stop putting on straight steals for him, and try and use more hit-and-runs to create motion on the bases and put pressure on the defense?

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Sep 15, 2005 -> 11:53 PM) Pods has to be injured. Like I told Nuke last night, ever since he came back from the DL, he runs like he has something up his ass. Not only when running on the bases, but when he runs down a ball. He runs really tender. Pods has no confidence on the bases now. I'm not ready to let him off the hook by saying it's cause of an injury. Also, does an injury make you scared to go up against a wall and catch the ball?

QUOTE(greg775 @ Sep 15, 2005 -> 11:52 PM) What does Oz do regarding his pitchers that any manager in America would not do?? Fathom maybe we'll blow the lead and you'll get the wish and Oz will quit. Who do you think will be any better in handling pitching? It's not like Ozzie is reinventing baseball. Ozzie consistently leaves his starting pitchers in for far too long. I don't have any stats in front of me, but I guarantee that our main 4 starters are all among the leaders in pitches per starts. And no, I don't want us to blow the lead. In regards to who could better handle the pitching? About 95 pct of managers in baseball. When DJ is saying that a pitcher isn't being handled properly, you know there's an issue.

QUOTE(greg775 @ Sep 15, 2005 -> 11:42 PM) I love Oz's quotes. We suck. He knows it. You know it. I know it. Can we make the playoffs? Doubtful. Like you all said Cleveland is simply going to rout the Royals; those games will be over by mid-game. We on the other hand will be lucky to win one in Minn. Ouch. Good points. The thing is, there's nothing you, me, or 99 pct of soxtalk posters can do about it. All we can do from here on out is hope for the best.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 15, 2005 -> 10:47 PM) Hopefully, if this keeps up, KW will at least do something about it. If this keeps up...KW goes on probation for me. He gets 1 year to turn it around. We've been saying the same thing about KW after the past 3 seasons.