fathom

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Jun 25, 2005 -> 09:17 PM) Rowan doesn't look so hot out there. Wonder why he's in the 3 hole. Rowand makes a great 3rd hitter against lhp, but I don't like him in that spot vs rhp. Against rhp, I'm a fan of Rowand batting 6th, which gives some more balance in terms of speed throughout the lineup.

QUOTE(qwerty @ Jun 25, 2005 -> 09:16 PM) Nope little chopper to second to end the inning. Maddux did a much better job at keeping the ball down that inning. I still will never understand why so many batters take that called 3rd fastball from Maddux that tails back over the plate. If anything, you need to anticipate in and just foul it off.

One thing watching a game without Frank in the 3 hole does is make me realize how good our lineup is when he's batting 3rd, and Rowand is down in the lineup. Our offense in 2nd half of the season should be real solid.

Rowand's swinging out of his ass at the plate today.

We can't continue to take 2 strike pitches from Maddux. He'll get the benefit of the doubt from the umps 9 out of 10 times.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 25, 2005 -> 09:09 PM) Running or hitting or throwing? Throwing, obviously.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 25, 2005 -> 09:08 PM) Momentum, White Sox. Indeed. Cubs fans probably feel like this is the smallest 2 run lead in history.

For fun and games, I'd like to see a radar gun competition between Ozuna and Eckstein.

Better start warming someone up Ozzie! Contreras is pitching like a f***ing pussy today.

Got a bad feeling that H'worth's catch swung the momentum back to the Cubs.

Doesn't it seem so long ago when Everett couldn't hit a thing batting lefty? Anyways, Maddux is up in the zone with everything. He definitely doesn't have his good sinker going.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 25, 2005 -> 08:44 PM) I suspect he is but something is missing. I don't know if it's the game calling or Contreras doing his own thing, or Contreras just missing on location. But he throws way way way too many split finger pitches. From my point of view, Contreras has a very hittable fastball. His command is quite poor on the fastball, so it's hard for AJP to expect him to be able to throw it past a hitter up in the zone. Contreras's strikeout pitch is definitely his forkball.

Sensational defense by Iguchi this inning.

QUOTE(Soxfest @ Jun 25, 2005 -> 08:35 PM) JC is sucking bad today dam His forkball has been MIA for quite a while now. Without his forkball, he's a well below average MLB pitcher.

I predicted to my brother we'd see McCarthy for at least 3 innings today. At least it's more exciting to see him in long relief than it was last year when Mike Jackson would come in for Danny Wright.

If Contrereas doesn't have his forkball, he won't even be worth having a spot on the roster. His fastball doesn't have enough movement, and lacks command, to survive only on that. The main reason Contreras was so successful early on was that whenever he had 2 strikes on the hitter, he was able to make the hitter chanse his forkball in the dirt for the K or weak groundout.

Pathetic ABs by our 3-4 hitters, as they had plenty of good pitches to hit. On the bright side, at least we have a long reliever today if Contreras sucks it up more.

Hawk seems more senile than ever today. Already two plays where he got way too excited off of the bat.

Out of curiosity, why no Frank in the lineup today? I'd much rather have him playing against a pitcher with great control than Everett.

QUOTE(qwerty @ Jun 25, 2005 -> 08:18 PM) Is it because this game is against the cubs it is a big game? Or is it A big game just because it is a game period? I am sick of people classifying every single game against the cubs as a big game. Every game is a big game to me outside of twins games. Then those games are huge. It's a big game because it's a packed house, as well as against one of our main rivals. You're kidding yourself if you don't classify these Cubs games as big games. I don't consider every game as a big game. The season is just too long to "get up" for every game (unless your Rafael Palmeiro!).

QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ Jun 25, 2005 -> 08:16 PM) Contereas basically has to throw a gopher ball to get a called strike. The ump aint giving him s***. Don't worry, I'm sure Maddux will have a huge zone for him. However, Contreras has no one to blame but himself.

QUOTE(Soxnbears01 @ Jun 25, 2005 -> 08:15 PM) been awhile since jose's had a breakdown. bah. It's been two starts since the breakdown. Didn't he give up like 8 runs in the first 3 innings in that Arizona game?

Anyone else think that Neifi didn't pull the bat back on his fake bunt attempt when he got hit? Doesn't matter though, Contreras s*** the bed in a big game.

That 2-2 fastball to Teabag was as good of an overall fastball as I've ever seen from Garland.

Wow, the Pablo Ozuna special! I'm beginning to think that a team should bring in the centerfielder when he's up, and play 5 infielders.