fathom

QUOTE(Sox Hustler @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 03:30 AM) Don't be so sure of yourself, our offense has been even worse now that hes not on base. Not trying to take any credit away from the pitching but you can't take any away from Pods either. I'm not saying Pods isn't a valuable player. However, the reason that every run he scored was highlighted was because our pitching was incredible.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 03:30 AM) Oh. sorry. DIdn't realize managers got dumber when the calendar turned. Do they have a chip in their head? No, because maybe it's when the players are tired and the games mean more, our managers have been bent over by guys like Gardenhire. It's easy to manage a team when everyone is fresh at the start of the season, etc. The great managers find a way to get their team up for every game at the end of the season.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 03:27 AM) If thats true we must have an unbelievalbe amount of talent to have the best record in baseball to win in spite of our manager. While you were busy fellating Timo, we were discussing our managers in August the last few years.

QUOTE(ottawa_sox @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 03:26 AM) We need a healthy Pods getting on....stealing........being advanced by Gooch.....being plated by the big boys. End of 1st, we are leading and excited. This is the way it was drawn up and when Pods comes back (healthy), we should see more of the same. Pressure offense ...... make the other guys play scared. Pods impact on this team was overrated the first half of the season. It was our pitching that carried us. Pods doesn't have a very high run scored total this season.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 03:22 AM) This is what happens to this team over the last few years when we tick past August 1st. Corpseball The team starts kicking the ball around alot. Everyone starts trying to park every single pitch into the stands. Lots and Lots of warning track shots, or high high pop ups. You will never see so many pop ups. When men get on in scoring position with less than 2 outs. They will K swinging for the fences or GIDP or pop up to the catcher or 1st baseman. Pitches will give up big innings. Guys will admire what they think is a homer and then after realizing it was in the park, they run like madmen to get to second because they realized they f***ed up. Carlos Lee did this like 3 times last August, and Pauly does it for the first time tonight. Don't forget our managers get severely out-managed by the opposition.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 03:20 AM) I 2nd that. Prepare for the flamers to come out. I don't give a s***. I've been saying that this slump was bound to happen once we started to play good teams during this stretch, and people called me an asshole because of it. Our offense has been struggling so much at home, and when you play teams with good bullpens, the game can get late fast.

QUOTE(Sox Hustler @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 03:15 AM) I see "I love this f***ing team" being posted so damn much and I don't see why. They do need to get their s*** straight. I'm a diehard Sox fan, but I'm also a baseball "expert". I'll say this (and I'm sure I'll be bashed): I have absolutely no clue how the Sox are 12 games up on the Indians, and 15 on the Twins. It's one of the most pleasant surprises I've ever had in sports, because this is not a great Sox team we're talking about.

Yeah, he's good. Thru 5 innings, 1 hit and 9 K. I know, I know...it's against KC. Remember how great our pitching phenom did against the Royals?

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 03:11 AM) But thats exactly my point. As I have stated numerous times he is useless as a leadoff hitter and regular player, but he is just fine as a first player off the bench. He should be the last player on the bench, and only used (if your dumb enough to have him on your team) in late inning situations when you need an RBI, and not someone to reach base. The problem is that our dumbass manager thinks he's capable of playing every day. You'd never see Lenny Harris start more than one game every 2 or 3 weeks.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 03:11 AM) Great to listen to Ozzie's excuses in the locker room right now. Saying how Pods and Iguchi weren't in the lineup.....reporter said 'what does those 2 not being in the lineup have to do with your team playing lethargic today?" And why wasn't Iguchi in the lineup? I'll say this: If the Sox don't make the playoffs, I'll ban myself from this site. My season-ending rant on Ozzie would not be pretty.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 03:07 AM) I'd much rather him go 0-3 with nobody on in his first 3 ABs, and then come on and get a base hit with men on 2nd and 3rd in the 8th inning. ANd if you disagree about that, then I don't even see why we are arguing about it. So basically, he's only useful if other players get on in front of him? Thank god that we have him batting leadoff then

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 03:05 AM) This team has looked completely flat since the trade deadline....IMO. I guess Blum didn't give us that shot in the arm we were looking for. My brother, who's the complete opposite in terms of me regarding optimism/pessimism, goes to me after the deadline passed "we're screwed. It's been obvious this team was going to need offensive help, and we did nothing. We had a chance to do something to support these players that had done so well to give us a big lead. Instead of giving them a push, we decided to put more pressure on them to play at a high level". Sounds pretty legit to me after 3 weeks of pop ups and gaffes.

QUOTE(Sox Hustler @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 03:02 AM) Does everyone feel this energy?? Thats what happens when you play a team you should come in going 100% at only to be given a piss poor lineup and effort... Starts at the top. If everyone's going to credit Ozzie for our spirited play, he needs to take the blame when we're flatter than Lara Flynn Boyle. We should be playing loose and energized, since the Twins are the ones with their season on the line.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 03:02 AM) I would've just said f it and taken the waiver on him because that may have been the only way we got him. Now that won't happen, we have injuries and some psoters think everything is just fine and dandy. It's not just the injuries that scare me. I don't think our talent level on offense is good enough to win the World Series. The scary thing now is that Everett and PK are on fire. Just imagine what it will be like when the middle of the order is struggling.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 03:01 AM) I hope we don't sellout for the playoffs. We'd have no chance. Considering we're going to have large crowds for the rest of the season, if we continue to suck in front of big home crowds, we won't have to worry about the playoffs.

I said this last night, and I'll repeat it again: KW needs to get an answer from the Reds about whether or not they'll ever trade Griffey Jr. during the season, no matter who's involved in the trade. If they say no, then he needs to move on to someone different. This team is not good enough to consistently win at home.

Spirited effort tonight boys!

Man, we just flat out suck at home now. We never get opposite field hits at the Cell. But, we have the best record in baseball, so I guess there's nothing to worry about.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 02:56 AM) Hawk can be wrong though. Remember in 2003 after the Sox made the Robby Alomar and Everett trades? Hawk claimed that there was going to be a deal made that was even bigger than those combined. Was that supposed to be Schoenweis? I doubt it. Scott Sullivan, you mean?

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 02:51 AM) Hawk's thoughts have no bearing on what Williams is going to do. Where would he play? DH? LF? Rotate him and Everett? Sorry, Hawk, you make room for guys with .850 OPS'... Hawk is the mouthpiece for the organization. He knows what's going on in terms of personnel moves more than just about anyone. They definitely seemed to stress the fact tonight that Griffey Jr. wouldn't fit in with this team.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 02:51 AM) I feel we're just not playing to our strengths anymore. Our offense needs to stop living and dying by the home run. I agree. The thing is, we have a bunch of hitters who are home run hitters. For a team that's supposed to play smallball, we don't have a lot of line drive hitters/good situational hitters. It was just a matter of time before our pitching faded back to above average numbers (what the pitchers did in the first half was simply amazing). Quite simply, we just need to win some games. That's one of the reasons that I hate how some people say stuff like "All the Sox have to do is go 23-24, and they'll make it easily". Since when is it guaranteed that we're going to go .500? We don't have that amazing talent level that would allow us to just coast and rack up wins no matter how poorly we play that night.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 02:49 AM) Agreed. This isn't as fun to watch the past few days. I just don't feel like we're the same team we were in the first half. We need a spark. Is it because we're slumping, or we're playing to our talent level?

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 02:47 AM) Alright, enough is enough, as one of the board optimists, I can't make any more excesses. This team needs to wake the f*** up, or a major shake up needs to be made. Kenny Williams best be calling O'hare to see when he can get Jr. to Chicago.... Tony, we never agree on anything. Would you agree with me that we've taken our proverbial foot off of the accelerator way too early? It starts at the top, and as much as Ozzie says we're not letting up, his actions sure seem like that of a manager who thinks we can coast the rest of the way. And judging by Hawk's statements tonight, the Griffey Jr. trades seem like a longshot.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Aug 16, 2005 -> 02:46 AM) I am glad we dump our load everytime its August and we play the twins. Thankfully we have such a working margain, it would take an utter collapse for the Twins to catch the Sox.

You hear that sound? It's the Joe Crede for Gold Glove bandwagon coming to a screeching halt. How many misplays is that for Crede lately?