LosMediasBlancas

Exactly, it is not exciting enough for me.

I'd go one step further and say skip Garcia and Buehrle once or twice and bring up Grilli and other minor leaguers again. I liked the 'sore forearm wink-wink' on Garcia move. Throw Burke in there too.

I keep hearing about how many more homers are being hit at the Cell this year and how the changes to the park cause the ball to fly out more easily. Is this cause and effect true? It seems like the number of homers at the Cell has decreased in the 2nd half, coincidentally at the same time our offense went into it's coma. So, is it possible that our offense was just hitting the crap out of the ball in the 1st half and not so much in the 2nd half. I know the number of homers for opposing team's is also higher. It just sems like an attempt to undermine this team's success earlier in the year. Does anyone have numbers or stats to prove it one way or another?? Thx.

These are premium seats...they should pull the netting down. I mean, the suits that are going to buy these tickets for their clients should get the full feeling. Perhaps everyone gets complimentary facemasks and chest protectors...and a mitt. All balls that are fouled and caught are considered in play and the batter will be out. Any edge we can get... better than hitting them to Valentin.

That's where our season tickets are - more behind the OD circle than the dugout though - and I agree with you completely. You're very lucky, if you want to unload a game or two next year, I'd buy.

I've been lucky enough to sit right behind home plate for a few games and those are not my favorite seats. Because of the ump and catcher blocking the view of the zone, it's impossible to see pitch location. There's also something very wierd about having to see through the protective netting. The best seats IMO are behind the visitor's dugout, near 1st base and about 10 rows back. Since most hitters are right handed, you can see the zone and point of impact real well. It's especially sweet if there is a lefty on the hill.

Yep, he needs to use the Magg's money wisely, not all on one ace. When you look at our losses this year, do you blame most of them on our starters performance or on our lack of offensive execution? I've written this before on this board, if we trot Uribe, Harris, Valentin, Crede and Borchard out there for 1 more year, it won't matter who is on the hill for us, that team will not win. I'm not a believer of the 'all you need is good starting pitching' theory. It may work, but it's not ideal, a balance is the goal.

Ideally, yes it would be nice to go out and get an ace bump everyone else down. How much money do you think would be left to fix the offense? Maggs is gone. I hate to tell you this, but even with 5 good arms, I see a lot of 3-2 and 4-3 losses. We'd look a lot like like the *gulp* 2003 Cubs. You cannot expect your arms to carry you in every game, for the whole year, it's just too much pressure on the staff. Get a #4 arm and improve the offense.

I agree that we need another arm, but save some cash and get a legit #4 then drop Garland to #5. There is NO WAY that pitching is a priority over offense. If Maggs and Frank had stayed healthy and the rest of this team had played up to it's potential most of the time, the pitching we had would have been adequate.

I'll give it a shot and let you know what I find out, thx man.

I'm not sure if this topic should be in a different section, but here goes. Have you guys seen the CTA Sox-35th T-Shirts? They are solid black and in greyish silver they have an outline of a CTA train and a sign that reads 'Sox-35th' just like the red line. Where can I purchase one?

When they do the Shingo Time piece on the scorebaord at the park, it still reads: 'Mr. Zero' at the end. I think it just stuck.

I hope that worked, Thx guys.

Chaos, I think Garland was quoted as saying he wasn't gonna change anything about what he does when it was suggested that he needs to be more agressive on the mound. To me, that's an "oh well' attitude. I'm new here, how do I post part of someone else's reply into mine??

I don't think you can teach a guy to be lighting fast, but you can teach a guy to run faster. The problem with Paulie is that he has poor form and no agility or athleticism. I'd pay to see him run the tires in a football drill. He has a good glove, but his defensive stats are deceiving, his range and mobility could be better, stats don't measure that.

Frank needs to drop about 20 lbs., It's not like he's gonna lose power. He and Konerko need to work with a track coach. I refuse to believe that Paulie cannot move any faster.

I'm not suggesting we dump Garland or Crede, just pointing out how Ozzie's comments seem to be inconsistent with his actions. Garland will give up 4 runs in 6 innings, that should have been fine with what our offense was supposed to be producing. Crede is a head case who can't get himself together within an at bat. In other words, he'll take that slow, long, uppercut hack (you know, the one he takes at every pitch) and then sulk. Not mentally tough enough to shrug it off yet.

If Ozzie is really tired of the 'Oh Well' demeanor on the team, why the Ef is Garland still here and Crede in the line up every day?

Illini, because despite what everyone has seen this year from Loiza, they still think Loiza is an UPgrade. It tells you a lot about that they think of Contreras.

All your questions are good ones and they only point to 1 answer.....they think/know that Contreras sux. Why would a team which has not only playoff but WS hopes and is also desperate for starters give up on a guy if he was even a decent pitcher? They REALLY think he sux.

I think our best chance is to win the division. In the wildcard race, we are chasing 3 teams. Even though we are closer to those 3 teams than to the Twins, you are still couting on 3 teams to slip a little bit.

Jason, I think that 6-2 vs. Cleve. is optimistic. Both Maggs and Frank have MRIs coming up, we should know then.

Over the weekend I heard that Maggs has another MRI coming up this weekend and then Frank will have one the weekend after that. We should have a much better idea as to if or when those guys will be back this season. I'm hoping at least one of them can get back soon.

Frank Cattalanato, Preston Wilson and Greg Zaun. According to mlb.com, the Sox have been inquiring about these 3 today. Are ya feelin' any of 'em?

3EB, I'm referring to fundamentals, like bunting, baserunning mistakes and poor defense. I don't see how losing Maggs and Frank would have an influenece on those things in other players. At one point early in the season, the whole team was solid in those areas.