elrockinMT

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 26, 2006 -> 12:40 AM) Crede looking like poo on a stick at the plate lately. Nice fishing swing Joe. Just put the bat back in the rack and come up with a better game plan than that. Try hitting it to right instead of pulling everything. We've been seeing that a lot haven't we. They never just go with the pitch to right. Overswing on everything when they have a tough one on the mound.

I think that for the time being all we can worry about is holding on to the Wild Card. If we cathc Detroit great, but otherwise we have to worry about just staying in competition. I keep hearing from the braodcasters about how the Tigers are due for a down streak, but it might not happen so we need to be concerbned about just beating the Twins and Yankees and Red Sox, et al, right now.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Jul 26, 2006 -> 12:36 AM) I'm a big Sandy fan for some reason. He's got lots of experience and is a true professional. Maybe that's why? I like the move in bringing him back.

Just logged on. I had Thome as my pick to click and changed him t the last munute because of lefty Santana and lefty Jim. Why oh why did I do that?

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jul 25, 2006 -> 03:40 AM) Most would say Javier imploded, I would say the Twins just hit good pitches and than in the 6th you could make a case for him imploding with Cotts almost getting out of the jam but giving up a 3 run Hr to Mauer (who he threw a 3-1 FB to, and it was questionable why we threw to Mauer at that point instead of walking him). True. There were more culprits than just Javier Vazquez last night. Watching this guy pitch when he is on is a true thing of beauty. He is absolutely great. Trouble is it only lasts 5 innings. I don't think his stuff goes South as much as his approach to the hitters. He doesn't seem to throw the best pitches or alter his routine when he gets in trouble and that's why big league hitters clobber him in the 6th and 7th. It is quite possible that he and McCarthy need to be the pitching team. One goes 5 or so and the other finishes it up.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Jul 25, 2006 -> 02:55 AM) i think its between leyland, leyland, leyland, or leyland. or Jim Leyland

I am hoping that we sign Crede to a long term deal soon. That's SIGN him to a deal soon not DEAL him soon. B)

What amazes me is that Ozzie continues to leave Vazquez in there to see the opposing hitters for the third time knowing his history. It's madness to expect anything dfferent from this guy. 5 innings he is great and then he blows it everytime yet he is still left in there to pitch in the 6th or 7th. Plus the post on Pods arm is right. he is a weak thrower, but Soriano is not even a fair outfielder and it's doubtful he could do better than Pods. Hitting wise yes, but not close on the fielding

If Vazquez can get it done for five innings then let him go five inninbgs and bring in McCarthy. Maybe ebtween the 2 of them we can get a CG victory. Otherwise trade Vazquez.

I didn't see the same Widger this year as last either.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 02:08 AM) Uribe is safe. Maybe Podsednik isn't, but there's no way Uribe is going to go. Was the Garland-berating shown on Sportscenter? It'll probably be on BBTN or on Sportscenter later, right? Uh, I'd intended to post that about Garland in the Sox Catch-All, but accidentally clicked this, so I'll just leave it unless someone else decides it's better elsewhere. Listening to Farmer and Singelton on XM today it sounded like Ozzie was telling Jon Garland that he din't want him hitting anyone and that the Sox needed him. If in fact Garland was going after the hitter at least he was showing support for his team. I don't think Ozzie was yelling at Garland for NOT hitting the guy. What is everyone elses take on it?

I don't think one can argue the need to keep an upgrade at back up cathcer, but how much longer does Sandy Jr have and how much left to offer? We give up a prospect that I don't know much about. but reports are that he will probably make it to the bigs. Anyway it's the win now mentality and I can't argue with it. He can help the pitching staff I think.

QUOTE(TLAK @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 02:05 PM) Guys, it's just baseball. --Good thing this board wasn't up for the 1970 season. Or all the years we lost to the hated Yankess and finished second with Al Lopez managing, or 1967 when we couldn't score at all or 1968 or... or ... 1977 when we had lots offense and no pitching or.. or...

Mark has gone through some rough periods before and rebounded. Hopefully he has got it figured out after Friday's 3rd inning fiasco. We'll see, but there is history on his side.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 22, 2006 -> 03:49 PM) I think the biggest thing we can do to help jump start the offense. Is to back to hitting line drives and stop trying to hit home runs when we have RISP. All I am seeing is either our guys rolling over on an outside pitch, or popping it up. This is what we saw time in and time out from the 2001-2004 whitesox. If they start to keep a level swing, and just try to keep the line moving instead of clearing the bases with one swing we will see better results. Back to playing fundamentally sound baseball. Go the other way when needed and laying down the bunt. You got it Southside!

These guys are professionals and went through a dream season last year. They know what it feels like to win it all, and I don't this stretch is much different then the last part of the 2005 season when the Tribe pushed us. The only difference obviously is we were in first place then and in second this year. The Sox have the kind of team that when they quit moping around and start playing like we know they can they can leave the others in the dust. We can still rebound from this slump.

I think it's a slump and that's all. Or at least I hope so. All hitters go through it. He still pokes one out and he has taken a walk once in awhile too. Hopefully he will satrt cranking them out again on a regular basis. He and Konerko and Dye too for that matter can carry a team when they are hot.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 10:38 PM) The Sox are 2-7 in their last 9 FWIW. Your right on the numbers. I was trying to figure out the number of games we had lost in the last 3 series. I barely passed math. QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 10:41 PM) He was simply referencing the original post in the thread. Thank you. Now it makes sense. And I agree with him. (unless that get's me in more hot water )

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 10:35 PM) I find it more difficult to follow your response than his original post, which was very clear. Today's lost cost us a two game swing -- I wouldn't say under any circumstances we "needed this." Regardless of how many games remain, no one needs a loss against a divisional rival ahead of us. I didn't know what he was referring too and I still don't. Was he referencing my post or something else? I agree that we don't/didn't need a loss. I am not criticizing him for his comments I was asking a question to clarify them. Thanks!

We can overcome this deficit with better starting pitching and playing better fundemental baseball. However, pitching wise we did pretty good with Garland and Contreras. Vazquez gave up his usual bad inning though. I saw a lot of missed bunt attempts and failure to bring in the runner from scoring position.

Widge didn't get the bunt down either (Ozuna failed also)

QUOTE(bmags @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 10:28 PM) really? Cause a win would've put us at 3.5 games back instead of 5.5, i'd say we needed the former more. I am not following you. Is your comment out of order with what you were referring too? I don't think loses are going to help us. We need to win games. We are now what 3-6 or 3-7 in out last games? We are in a slump for sure, but can still make up the 5.5 games behind.

We need to play better fundemental baseball. Major reason we didn't at least have a 2-2 tie at the end of nine was when Brian Anderson got on 2nd base and Pablo Ozuna could not lay down the bunt to advance him to third. Iguchi's ground ball would have scored him. The Tigers got their 2nd run with aggressive baserunning to cancel the DP attempt. We did those things last year.

It is amusing how we now are considering BA's bat to be leadoff caliber. He is doing much better though for sure.

I watched the game on ESPN last night and Vazquez sure looked good for 5 innings. As soon as runners got on base his arm angle changed and he started hanging pitches and leaving them over the plate. The Tigers got a couple of lucky hits, but even the ESPN broadcasters were commenting about how he was an entirely different looking pitcher under the stress of baserunners being on.