fathom

QUOTE(YASNY @ Aug 17, 2005 -> 06:49 AM) I'd say that philosophy is a given. I mean to the point that I wouldn't even be upset, and more find it humorous. I'm sure this board would be in a total meltdown if the Sox don't make the playoffs. However, even as negative as I am, I think it would be one of those train wrecks that you just have to sit back and be amazed at. I pray that this situation never occurs though, and we make the playoffs.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Aug 17, 2005 -> 06:16 AM) Question to throw out there. Would you actually like to see the Sox lead get to about 6 games on September 15th?? While that is number would be very low, it would certainly give the Sox a kick in the ass, and maybe more motivation to pick up the pace. Im not saying I want it to be at 6 games, but would it be the worst thing in the world for this team right now? Also, in a town known to be pessimistic about their own teams, I have a bad feeling that there would be a lot of booing at games, etc. After just taking a nice long shower, it made me laugh to think how a lot of us are so upset right now, even though we have an 11 game lead in the division and 13 over the Twins. Of course, by no means do I think the division is clinched. However, there's still a long way to go before we're in serious danger of blowing the lead. Does anyone else want to join my philosophy that if this team doesn't make the playoffs, then they just flat out didn't deserve to make it?

BTW, Hermanson doesn't seem too pleased about AJP's pitch selection to Cuddyer. In tomorrow's tribune, he states how AJP called for a low and in slider to Cuddyer, and Hermanson said he hasn't thrown many to righty batter. Thursday's day off can't come soon enough.

Very close play. Looks like he might have been out, but it was extremely close.

The one thing that this prolonged slump we've been in could hopefully do is make KW, and especially Ozzie, realize this team is not the greatest collection of talent ever.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Aug 17, 2005 -> 06:16 AM) Question to throw out there. Would you actually like to see the Sox lead get to about 6 games on September 15th?? While that is number would be very low, it would certainly give the Sox a kick in the ass, and maybe more motivation to pick up the pace. Im not saying I want it to be at 6 games, but would it be the worst thing in the world for this team right now? No, I'd rather the lead stays about 8 or 9 the rest of the way. The closer the lead gets, the less I trust Ozzie to actually ever take our a starting pitcher.

I've heard the Mariners want a ton for Ibanez. He'd be a good addition, but I'm not sure Ozzie would want to play him too often.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 17, 2005 -> 06:05 AM) Big time trouble because KW and Ozzie thought they had the whole game figured out and stood pat with a team playing way better than could be reasonably expected. If this ship sinks, they're going down on it also. I said yesterday, and I'll repeat it again: The Sox aren't exactly a team that has so much talent that you think it's their given right to make the playoffs. I look at the Sox team, and compare it with the Twins and Indians, and I have absolutely no clue how we're 11 and 13 games up on them. It would be great just to make the playoffs, cause you never know what happens.

I have the feeling that if Baj was ever acquired in a trade by KW, he'd have a much better chance at making the big league team. There's no excuse to have Adkins on the team. Adkins is the type of guy the Rockies call up, not a team playing for the playoffs.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Aug 17, 2005 -> 05:52 AM) End of Story. Period. Over. Done. WIN f***ING GAMES, GET INTO THE PLAYOFFS, AND BATS WAKE THE f*** UP. Exactly, I'm so sick of hearing excuses or rationalizations coming from the Sox. We knew this would be a big stretch of our season with the games vs NYY, Twins, and Red Sox. So far, our offense has been a total flop. Not only do the Twins seem a lot more focused than the Sox, but they also look like they're playing looser and having more fun. We had a chance to end any Twins thoughts at the division this week. All we've done is wake the sleeping giant.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Aug 17, 2005 -> 05:50 AM) 1.So what do you consider the moves made by Minny, NY, Boston, Aneheim, or Oakland? If we were pitiful, then what were they? There was just nothing to be done, so get over it. I hate Timo just as much as the next Sox fan, but it is not Timo's fault Ozzie uses him like he is a latin Scott Podsednik. In the right situation, on a limited basis, Timo can help the team. I would however have already sent Adkins down for Baj, and see what happens with that. I would say that a lot of our guys blew their load in the first half of the season with the great effort they gave almost every night. The trade deadline would have been a great chance for KW to add a spark or two to the offense. I still want to know when we knew we'd likely put Pods on the DL. To me, it seems like this has been a long time going. If that's true, I can't believe KW didn't try to acquire another outfielder like Eric Byrnes, etc.

QUOTE(ScottPodRulez22 @ Aug 17, 2005 -> 05:48 AM) Had they played sundays game and won I think that would have been huge on confidence and this woudnt be so bad right now we might have actually won yesterday or today. Shoulda, coulda........There was absolutely no guarantee that we would have won on Sunday. We need to stop making excuses, and just win some f***ing games. Buehrle needs to step up tomorrow, and pretend like he needs to throw a shut-out to win.

BTW, I just wanted to thank everyone on here, from jphat all the way to the mods/admins. It was great to be able to discuss this game with fellow Sox fans (sorry benchwarmerjim), even though it was a terrible loss.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Aug 17, 2005 -> 05:35 AM) 'Best Record In Baseball' argument for ignoring our troubles has officially been eliminated tonight with a Cardinals win. I suppose now members, as well as Hawk, will have to actually examine this team rather than rely on this distinction. Good, I hated that f***ing thinking. Even in tomorrow's tribune, it talks about Ozzie wanting the best record in baseball. Hey Ozzie, clinch the f***ing division, and then worry about best record. Even Don Cooper was on the pregame radio this week saying how they want to clinch the division soon so they can get the pitchers some rest. Did I miss something, or is there still a hell of a long way to go in order to clinch this thing?

This team is playing like they're expecting a spark from someone, and I agree that the trade discussions has gotten completely out of control. When every other word Hawk says is in regards to Griffey Jr., something needs to be done. As Calipari said to the Celtics "Larry Bird isn't walking through those f***ing doors". It's becoming more apparent we're living or dying with the core roster we've had all year.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Aug 17, 2005 -> 05:38 AM) There is nothing wrong with entering your 16th inning and finally using the last man in the pen. Think about the Indians fiasco early in the year when Viz got hung out to dry because no one else was available. That was mis-managing your pen. Yeah, I'm not blaming tonight's loss on Ozzie. Even though I think someone really screwed up by not having Crede play the line against Stewart, the hitters and two pitchers deserve the blame for tonight.

Ozzie and KW's ego has hurt our team. I honestly feel like Ozzie would rather play with "his" guys than to have to bring in a new player that could be the star. If I have to read another statement that says how we have a big lead or the best record in the AL, I'm going to puke. The playoffs aren't a guarantee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We've said it all along: With this pathetic offense, our pitchers have to be almost perfect to win. And please don't get me started on not having Crede guard the line. If Adkins is going to continue to throw inside sinkers, the chances of a chopper down the line are greater than almost any other outcome.

Who here agrees with me that we're just trying to coast into the playoffs, and we're playing not to lose too often? I didn't see jack s*** done by Ozzie in order to spark the offense tonight. I don't call having a dead power hitter in Dye trying to bunt as smartball.

QUOTE(ScottPodRulez22 @ Aug 17, 2005 -> 05:32 AM) Ozzie cant manage the bullpen everygame like its going to go into 16 innings that only happens once every 5-10 years. Nope, but he could stop protecting Cotts so much. He hasn't allowed a run in like 17 outings. Let him go 2 innings once in a while, he has the ability to do that. Adkins shouldn't be on the team because he showed no ability to get minor league hitters out, so why would we think he could get major league hitting out? I don't know what games Ozzie and KW have been watching, but we don't have very many blow-outs for or against us.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Aug 17, 2005 -> 05:27 AM) Just to make a point, I'm not being an armchair GM or manager because I've been saying this about Adkins for a very very long time. I never rip a move that I support at the time being. I have a few major problems with Ozzie and one of them is definately his loyalty. Timo had two huge doubles today but there is zero reason he should be leading off or hitting the 5spot.....EVER. Same goes for Juan Uribe in the 2 hole. If the Sox need a leadoff guy, slide Aaron up there for the time being. Also just to make a general comment, I was left utterly unimpressed with Brian Anderson. I only got to see the first 9 innings (I didn't realize this would be a 16 inning game when I recorded it) so I didn't see his ab's in the extra innings, but he got owned alive by Radke. I did like his base hit, but my god he was so far behind on quite a few pitches. Looked more like a pitcher hitting than a hitter. However, just a general comment and you can't judge a guy on one game (trust me on that....any guy on any given day can look like an absolute fool). Hopefully he can ease into a comfort zone. I couldn't agree w/you more on what you say. Anderson looked a lot more comfortable against a lefty pitcher, so that's promising. I even made the remark during the game he looked like a pitcher batting. Am I being a pessimist if I say this "Has an 11 game lead in the standings ever seemed so small"?

You know what's hard to "fathom"? The fact that I don't think there's any solution to our offensive problems. Crede's just a disaster right now, but Ozzie won't bench him for an extended period. Our manager and GM seem to want to live or die with our current roster, which is not nearly talented enough (especially with Frank gone). We've lost Thomas for the year, and we basically decided to rest Pods for a few weeks. The problem is that we've made absolutely no moves to try and replace their offensive contributions.

You hear that noise? It's the ghosts of August/Septemember of the Twins vs the White Sox. I absolutely hate the fact we play them so many more times this season.

QUOTE(ScottPodRulez22 @ Aug 17, 2005 -> 05:21 AM) Konerko is the only one doing good I know Blum made a nice play at 1b and had a few hits, but can we please stop removing PK late in the game? He's by far our most dangerous hitter, and in a one run game, there's definitely the possibility he'll bat again. I've never liked it when a team pulled a player for defensive purposes, especially when they're not terrible at that position.

Tonight's debacle highlighted many of the problems that we've faced recently, as well as some news ones that have been on the verge for a while: - Our offense just flat out blows. We have way too many easy outs in our lineup, illustrated with all the ridiculous first pitch outs we made tonight. How many times did you see the Twins swinging on first pitch? - We're living or dying with the homer. Outside of Timo's clutch hit, we're going up to the plate hoping to hit homers (not just extra innings). The approach by some guys, especially Crede, is sickening. - Hermanson is just not the same pitcher. He's had a tremendous season, and is just as responsible for our great start as anyone. However, he's been getting away with a ton lately, and I can't count how many times people have hit balls to the fence against him lately. He seems to have either lost command or control in his splitter, and his little slider has just been begging to be hit. I'm just thankful tonight was the first time in a long time he blew a save. - Is Ozzie allergic to using a hit-and-run? Maybe, just maybe, it's something like that which will force the player to concentrate more on the pitch. I've been saying this for a while, and I still feel the same way: There's absolutely no guarantees in sports, and there's nothing saying this team is destined to even play .500 ball the rest of the way. We have got to get better performances from everyone on this team, especially from our manager.