southsideirish71

QUOTE(JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 07:54 PM) i agree to an extent but any time you score 7 runs you should win 90-95% of those games. how many games do the twins lose when they score 7 runs? just saying But this is the American league and there will be some high scoring games, and some games that are close. The twins you mention, would of put the bat on the ball in the 9th, and made Borowski pitch instead of having 2 strikeouts. The same twins would of probably scored that runner from 2nd, and would of at least have effective outs.

QUOTE(JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 07:40 PM) yes that would be a problem but so far this season anderson is 1-1, erstad is 3-6, uribe is 2-7, pods is 0-4 and pierzynski is 2-7 (8-25 combined) so that hasn't been a problem through the first two losses Our offense then was tits then in 04 because if you look at our overall numbers we scored a lot of runs, and hit a lot of homers. But then again, we got rid of 3 of our offensive punch because we were sick and tired of scoring 12 runs in one game and then getting 2 hit for the next few. We had a chance to score a lot more runs today, hitting a home run is great and all. But to me hitting the ball for a single to drive in the tying or winning runs is just as important. When we fail to score because we give away outs, or more imporantly strike out. We had 8 ks against a bunch of guys who dont strikeout people.

QUOTE(LVSoxFan @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 07:00 PM) I agree with those who have said we have seemed in a funk since second half last season, and I'm tired of it. There seems to be no fire, no spunk, no spark. Everybody seems to get really discouraged and then it bleeds all over the team I'm hardly going to give up after the SECOND game, though. Remember, Houston had an absolutely horrendous first half the year they met us in the WS. And as I've said before, I'd rather start crappy and turn it on second half a la the 2005 Indians rather than almost slide out of it like we did in '05 or all second half last year. Do remember this: we've had a different team since 2005. Even in '06 a key clubhouse guy was gone--Rowand--and it's obvious to me that changes things. Thome's a great guy, but doesn't strike me as the jokester/cheerleader that Rowand was. This year we have Erstad and a lineup that seemed in flux since opening day. Maybe they need time to gel--who knows? I can handle the losing, but let's go down swinging, boys. Take some chances. Not wait around for somebody to win it for us, which we seem to have been doing since July '06. Yes, the pitching is troubling. This has nothing to do with buddies, hanging out, or friendship crap. This has to do with execution. In 05 we pitched like crazymen. Pounded the strikezone and put the hitters on their heels. We made good pitches on 1-2 and 0-2. And we put the batter away. We made the hitter earn a spot on base, and didnt walk everyone. This was the magical formula. In the playoffs our offense went bizzaro, and hit situationally, hit to all fields and played smart. In 06 we had some guys who probably could of used an MRI, we had a few that just stunk, and a we had a few that didnt pitch to their expectations. Our Offense tore up the first half, hitting to all fields, and putting the line drives into the stands. After the boston series right before the allstar break, we fell apart as an offense, and started to press. Started lifting and pulling again, and waiting around for someone else to hit the big shot. So far in 07, we had contreras throw very much like the injuried contreras of 06. Before his injury he was hitting 97 on the gun at Texas and dominating with 13 strikeout perfromances. After his injury, he would try to do something you would see someone with a bad back do, trying different arm angles and dropping down a lot. Now he says he is healthy, but I see the same arm angle drop, and velocity drop. In 06 Garland took a while for his arm to feel strong. Before his arm got strong, he pitched away from contact, and nibbled getting himself hurt. He is a pitcher that needs to pound in, and get ahead. If he continues to get behnd we are sunk in his spot. Our situational hitting is horrible right now. We are back to bang and pray. We need to get back to being selfless. Smartball is not about some silly bunt, its about getting the runner in. Thats hitting a single up the middle, instead of trying to hit the dan ryan. Its about hitting to the right side to advance the runner. Its about line drive hitting, and not trying to hit everything the Jose Valentin, Carlos Lee situational school way. Erstad has had a nice start, he gets on base, and he makes things happen. So far so good. I am going to Danks first start on Saturday, and hope pounds the zone and attacks the hitters.

Coop's philosophy is throw strikes. Fill the strikezone and use your talent to get ahead. The pitchers are not throwing strikes at all. They are nibbling, throwing the ball without any thoughts to were it goes, or having poor concentration. Too many fat 1-2 and 0-2 pitches. Garland is a contact pitcher that needs to pitch ahead and to get hitters to wave at his sinker. He like a lof our pitchers needs to hit his spots. Contreras needs to start throwing hard again. When I see him dipping down a bunch of times, that tells me either he is lazy with his mechanics or his back is still hurting him. Garland needs to man the f*** up, and throw strikes. He cannot live behind in the count. Buerhle needs to pound in on righties. Javy needs to throw strikes, and keep his mechanics in check past the 75 pitch mark. Danks needs to throw strikes, and use his change and curve to be affective.

QUOTE(Melissa1334 @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 06:04 PM) well in order to do that, you need those kind of players. pods, uribe, gooch, arent exactly grinder/phirana type players. im sure we all wish that everyone played like ersatd but they just dont. i love the twins style of playing, its just great they do everything right when they have to so they can win a game Everyone outside of the big 3 can make contact and hit line drives. In fact our top of the lineup guys should be cut and slash type guys. There is no reason they should be striking out, or having the inability to bunt. Its more of an approach. We have guys taking home run cuts again, with men on when a single can do. That is what Jose Valentin did, and that is what Carlos Lee did. We had this offense before, swing for the dan ryan, and strikeout a bunch of times with men on, or hit major league pop ups that barely get out of the infield.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 05:53 PM) Podsednik needs to go back to his 05' formula of being aggressive. Ever since he started trying to draw more walks (to please all the OBP pundits), he has lost all effectiveness. And if you want to point fingers today, I think you all are leaving one very important man out: Jermaine Dye: 0-4, 3 k's, and terrible defense in right field. He hurt us a hell of a lot more than Pods today. Give me a break. Its not like Podsenik the leadoff hitter has decided all of a sudden to just draw walks to appease some high OBP. He cant hit, he cant steal, he cant run, and he cant play defense, and he cant throw. HE has had multiple groin surgeries, and is on the wrong side of 30 for a speedster. He was just thrown out by the worst throwing catcher outside of Matt LeCroy. And I bet LeCroy pegs him out too. Dye and all of our situational hitting, outside of one Crede AB was horrible. Crede hit a ball up the middle and drove in a few runs very nice. But everyone else was trying to hit cars on the Dan Ryan instead of making contact. KW and Ozzie talked about playing grinder baseball, and playing it the right way. Well maybe they should play twins games in the lockerroom to see how a guy with men on puts the ball in play and doesnt K falling over, or misses several 91 mph fastballs down the middle of the plate trying to be a hero. Its time to walk to the walk.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 05:02 PM) I heard, but you know what, situational hitting isn't going to mean s*** if we give up 10 runs per game. Trust me, I know we need to get better in certain situations but we need to pitch first. Thats true, but this was a winnable game all the way to the last out. The pitching put us in a hole, but I thought our hitting could get a single late in the game. One single was all we needed.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 04:47 PM) I haven't been able to watch either game but I surely wouldn't blame the bats at this point. The pitching gave up too many runs. But our situational hitting was horrid today. We get a man on 2nd no outs late in the game. Gooch bunts a popup. And then next two guys are simple quick outs. No runs. 9th inning, We have 2 of our power hitters Ks with a bad physicall damaaged Joe Borowski on the mound. We needed a single, and we got the home run attempts.

A f***ing single, that is all we need. And we cannot hit a single. Lots of teams can hit singles. But not the softball rangers, who have to hit homers only. Thank f***ing god we hit homers or we would never score.

situational hitting has been grand. Outside of Crede the first time. This guy failed a physical for the Phillies and they nixed his contract. The relief pitching starved phillies mind you. Now Hawk is making him the 2nd coming of catfish.

QUOTE(WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 04:30 PM) A stolen base against Martinez shouldn't count What does that say about groinless's caught stealing then.

We will lead the league in Ks this year.

Thome has a stiffy coming to bat against Mr. failed physical.

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 04:17 PM) He was 1 for 3 with a HR. So he didn't strike out, so what? Just because he is making contact means he isn't going to hit it to short or 3B? Give me a break. Execute the freaking bunt because you are a major league player not batting in the middle of the lineup. BAD EXECUTION RIGHT CALL! Are you watching the game. He had solid contact on his outs one a nice line drive to center. So lets bunt him, so we can put a pinch hitter who sat cold on the bench and prancer. Sure those guys have been known to put wood on the ball. If the man is on first, sure bunt him over. If he is at 2nd, he can score without having an exra base hit, hence the reason to bunt.

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 04:11 PM) How is that a bad call? Move him over, get him in. The basics of baseball. It is Ozzie's fault that the idiot Iguchi can't get the bunt down? Come on now! EXECUTE F-U-C-K-HEADS!!!!! You bunt to move a runner into scoring position, which he already was. A single scores him, a bloop scores him, a hit to the right side moves him up. A guy having a great contact day, and you bunt him. Sure thats the basics, the basics of Dusty Baker winning baseball.

Leadoff double, and we have 3 hitters who cant f***ing hit a simple single. We have to be the worst situational hitting team in the majors. If that was Punto or any of the other twins, that run scores. Because their outs are productive, they know how to bunt and they can hit a single.

Nice bunt gooch.

Now that was a set of balls right there guys. Thats the way to man up.

Now the Indian hitters are trying to hit the dan Ryan.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 03:53 PM) I could care less if we go 0-2. It's just disappointing to see Spring Training carry over into the regular season with this pitching. The LF/CF situation is going to be a joke all season. Remember ST means nothing. Its a magically switch they flip, and pitchers just become good. Hitters are patient. And it all just happens.

QUOTE(knightni @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 03:52 PM) I'm thinking a walk here... Granny is my bet.

And cue the clown music.

Situtational hitting at its best. Joe Crede backs up a solid hitting effort. With 2 count them 2 Dan Ryan swings. And then because he is a sox righty, the catcher sets up low and away and then we get a sad pathetic swing like Brian Anderson circa May 06. That was pathetic. We need a single, and he is going for the Ryan.

Nice swing Kong. Good f***ing lord.

Now we our hitters will be transitioning into gamewinner mode, when only home runs will possibly win the game.