elrockinMT

QUOTE(CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Apr 22, 2007 -> 11:30 PM) Waiting doesnt play well around here. But you've been around long enough to know that. There are always the know-it-all, stat head , fantasy baseball geeks who think they know every facet of a game most of them have never played and wouldnt know a good team player, bad defense, or the difference between good n bad baserunning, or leadership if it jumped up and bit them on the ass. I have said before that we don't value our own players enough. Less than one month into the season and we are ready to scrap the whole bunch. You have to have players who not only can run-hit-throw-field, but also lead. They can motivate other players to perform at a higher level. I would get angry with Santo=Dorf, but I like his girlfriends picture too much

ESPN2 has the Tigers and Sox from Chicago on Wed night. However, I heard the weather channel saying temps into the 40's. Anyone have the skinny of rain chances?

It's too early to be bashing our players and manager. Let's wait till September.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 22, 2007 -> 08:44 PM) Anderson's was huge in a few games his first two years. Right now, he's just a waste of what could be a valuable roster spot. We simply don't hit lefty pitching, and it's no shock that Ledezma shut us down. I was hoping to see more from Brian Anderson. You have to make the most of your chances when you are trying to hang onto that roster spot. Lackadaisical play is what we saw. But todays game is what we have been used to in the past: runner on second with less than 2 outs and we always see a K and then an easy third out. Our big hitters grounding in to the DP is another one. Hopefully they get out of this. Definently the relief corp failed today though big time. We did have enough to win this one.

Toby Hall can really help if he is able to comeback healthy. Molina calls a good game, but offensively he just isn't ready for the ML's yet

Joe Crede is a gold glove caliber thirdbaseman period. He is playing stellar defense. The bat is cold right now, but so it is with most of our hitters. Listen to the so called experts on the national sports media and they tell you Crede is a gold glover.

Mark Buerhle pitched a no-hitter and we had some real fine defensive plays behind him and we still gripe. I don't think this is right.

Three home runs given up by the pitching staff and no offense from Sox hitters. Kind of reminds you of the good old days don't it?!

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 16, 2007 -> 12:55 AM) He's talking velocity. Fair enough, but I love the results. It doesn't seem right does it? You hear from other so called baseball exspurts that the Sox management is enamored with pitching speed and then everyone is about 5-7 MPH off where we were told they were capable. Bad or improper off season conditioning? Arizona baseball? The horrible weather conditions? I hope we see this improvement pretty soon especially from Jenks, but overall the bullpen has really been strong and that kind of surprises me in light of all the talk. I think if they are still in the mid to lower range at mid-season we might have some troubles.

Erstad has a good glove and some speed. He is the kind of player that Ozzie likes if for no other reason then he talks a good game. I am still open on him being played in front of Anderson. Brian didn't excatly burn up the basepaths early last year either. What I didn't like is Iguchi being moved down in the order, He is a real effective #2 hitter and why mess with success? Erstad should hit lower in my opinion.

Pathetic offense equals frustrating loses. But, it's not the end of the world. The hitting will eventually come around. I just hope it's not September 30th when we finally start getting some timely hitting.

Esrtad talk the good talk. Everything is for the team, etc, and he plays hard and doesn't make excuses. Everything that Ozzie loves to hear he hears from Erstad. I may be wrong here, but I don't know of much Anderson has said in making excuses for his poor play. I think Anderson deserves better and I can already see a game or two where he should have been in for his defense if nothing else. But, it's so early in the season to be pointing fingers, changing line ups, etc. We have a good team and when we start hitting as a team things will look much better.

I think Erstad will come around. There are a lot of bad swings and misses by Sox hitters. Remember Erstad once had 240 hits in a year so he knows a bit about hitting. However, I do like Iguchi in the #2 spot also.

I'll be watching on WGN

I see today that even Ozzie is expressing some concern. If you are the closer you need to be able to shut the door and I don't see the consistency from Jenks in fact its his inconsistency that is too visible.

QUOTE(Beltin @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 02:56 PM) I am not saying Jenks would not have blown the save last night, but if Brian Anderson replaces Pods in the 9th, or at least moves into CF with Erstad in LF, there is a decent chance the Sox come out on top 1-0. Jenks would still give up the two singles and get the next two out and then Todd Walker comes up and laces the single to LF. Here is where the questions come. Does Bradley test the arm of Erstad/Anderson as readily as he does with Pods? Maybe, maybe not. If so, is he out at home? Good chance (game over). Say he is safe, do the other runners advance as they were able to with Pods' lousy airmail throw? Possibly not. Let's just say it all happens exactly the same and the Sox issue the IBB and the next batter hits the fly ball that Pods grossly mistimed so it hits him in the head and the game ends. If BA or Erstad are in there, there is no doubt they catch it and the game goes to the 10th tied at one. You are on the road, but you still have a chance. Even if you lose, you can not fault anyone for using your closer in his designated role. So back to my original question. If you don't use BA last night, when do you use him? Today in the getaway day just to give someone rest? I agreed with Ozzie putting him on the roster because that is what makes the team better, but you can't be better if you don't use his best asset, defense, when you need it the most. I am sure this has been debated in the post game thread but I thought the horse should be beaten to a bloody pulp in its own thread. Really disappointing loss. Pardon my french, but it was Cublike. It was a real shame that Garland didn't get that win. Pods or no Pods in the OF the OF'ers were playing shallow and it was hard to get to. Plus Jenks shouldn't have given up two leadoff hits. The true reliever/stopper gets that first man out.

I was concerned about what I saw. I am concerned about a 5-7 MPH drop in his fastball, which only once that I remember topped out at 93. Probably the worse thing last night was his pitch selection. The A's seemed to be missing the high fast ball and he went with the curve once too often. As far as Pods messing up, well they were playing shallow and he had to go back a long ways. It does make you wonder though why Brian Anderson or Dye weren't in there in the 9th for defense when you have a 1-0 lead. What a shame that Garland's great effort was lost.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Apr 8, 2007 -> 09:30 PM) I understand your point Dick Allen, but if you just sit fastball all game, you at least probably get lucky and get a run or two, and that could have been the difference today. Your not going to hit any of his other pitches, so it's the only prayer really. But I mean, it's not like we're asking for a blow torch being taken to him, we got good enough pitching to win today. Btw, off topic, but I apologize to all those who expected a doom and gloom thread when they saw I started it . I remember a couple years back with Pedro Martinez when he was with the Bosox and someone had written that we were doomed in that game. I posted then that I thought the secret is not to worry about Martinez/Santana/ or some other stud our hitters have trouble with, but just to play them tough and close until you can get to their bullpen. We had a our chance and it's too bad Danks gave up the three run homer. It's a long season though and no reason to get real down about the loss. Danks looked real good.

Saw the game on WGN. Danks was very impressive except for the fact he gave up that homer. Hawk thought it was just a muscle shot that got out. Unfortunant we had to go against the Sox killer Santana. Paiful to watch the flailing away by our big hitters. I couldn't figure out why Anderson didn't get a start. Tuesday night in Oakland is on WGN I believe

I think Contreras pitches Sunday and it's on WGN so I'll get a chance to see Jose in action. I watched the FOX game and was surprised they showed the Sox and Twinkies. I'll tell you what Javier Vazquez was absolutley beautiful.

Maybe we should ask the question after the season? Include Mark Buerehle and others in that. You can't make such judgements based on one game, or even a couple three games. It's over a season or more.

I like what we have and hope we re-sign Dye and Pods. Iguchi is a darn good 2bman and fits in well on this team. We should be happy with what we have for a change instead of looking at a team of 25 free agent signings.

If we had traded Pods over the winter or failed to resign him then we wouldn't have scored that 3rd run

I was hoping for more from Contreras on opening day. He must have forgot it isn't spring training anymore. Estad and Konerko with the long balls was good to see and I don't think the hitters were that bad.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Mar 31, 2007 -> 10:35 PM) Well, at least Dye, Konerko, Ozuna, and Iguchi know how... We do have some good hitters for sure. Probably the real problem is GIDP and pitchers giving up too many gopher balls. QUOTE(BearSox @ Mar 31, 2007 -> 10:35 PM) Well, at least Dye, Konerko, Ozuna, and Iguchi know how... We do have some good hitters for sure. Probably the real problem is GIDP and pitchers giving up too many gopher balls.