elrockinMT

I like what I have seen from Jon that last few games. He is pitching inside adn challenging the hitters while trusting his stuff again. I also thought it is a confidence thing with Jon Garland. He is good and needs to believe it.

McCarthy is now in the same spot Cotts found himself in last year. The Sox might very well have to two of them in mind for starting roles in a few years. Maybe sooner. The Sox management said they wanted to satrt Cotts off slowly and let him work into the starting role when it became available.

I don't see how we can lose with AJ behind the plate no matter what he does, but I like what he has been doing so far. He delivers on a regular basis

I seriously doubt this is a legit possibility, but if it is I don't see how the Sox could lose. Brian Anderson has a ton of talent, but he is no Andruw Jones, who is without a doubt one of the best CF'ers in baseball. But what else is the cost for him? I agree too that the Braves wouldn't pay a dime of his remaining contract if they were looking to trade. They aren't in some desperation move here.

Pitching usually gets better as the season goes along and I am talking the whole enchilada of a season here. The Sox have 5 proven starters and I have to believe they will finally get it together in a consistent manner and with our offense win a lot of games and overtake the Tigers. It seems right now that you never know whether Jekyl or Hyde is going to show up on any given night. Buerhle gives up 11 runs and tonight Garcia pitches good for 4 or 5 inings and then falls apart. Vazquez continually gives up a lot of runs in one or 2 bad innings, but K's a lot of hitters so his stuff can be good during the game. He must lose his concentration. The amount of homers our pitchers give up is troubling too. We score a lot of runs in the first inning only to see the pitchers give ithem right back up the next innings. Lots of 2 strike hits by the opposition. There's more, but the point I am trying to make is the pitching just hasn't been consistent and tough as nails like last year.

QUOTE(chitownsportsfan @ Jul 3, 2006 -> 11:20 PM) It's all good, and I'll drink to that: Thanks!

QUOTE(chitownsportsfan @ Jul 3, 2006 -> 04:06 PM) Jeesh, give me a break. During the offseason I had several multi paragraph posts over 500 words on player previews, team previews, thoughts on possible trades, trades that did go down, etc. Besides, everyone knows the game threads are the best for getting up a post count. My point was that I thought AJ was being cast in a Hollywood film. He's not; I'm dissapointed. Sorry, I'll forgive you if you forgive me. I don't make a new thread too often, but I have been here awhile now and love the board and post when I have something to say. I think we should have a reunion in the future and all have a beer.

I remember when all you had to read was the Sporting News so you were a good weeks behind on all the bad stuff and the good. Most articles were about players profies and the such. I am not so sure those days weren't better than these as far as just enjoying the game. But, it is a sign of the times where everyone lives in the age of information.

It is the same old broken record every All-Star selection time. You can't make everyone happy and I didn't see any of these characters chime in last year on behalf of the Sox who had the best team in baseball, but not a lot of All-Star recognition. Jenks vrs Liriano? Jenks wouldn't have as many innings because the twins kid is a starter and Jenks a reliever. We know hat so what's the problem with this ESPN guy? Plus Jenks has excelled in pressure situations in his full year in the ML's while Liriano has to prove himslef still. The kid is good for sure, but sp are a lot of others that didn't get picked. Start complaining about how the Yankees and Red Sox dominate the voting, which is the real story with what's wrong with the selection process.

Brian is a real good defensive player and offensively I think he can deliver. It may be that this year he was rushed into the starting role out of necessity more than anything. I didn't think he wa going to be ready based on last years performance, I can really only remember one good offesnive game and that was in Seattle when he hit 2 homers. Maybe one more year of seasoning was needed, but he is here now and the Sox will stick with him so this is his seasoning by fire I guess. He has a lot of upside and I like that we are promoting from within.

QUOTE(chitownsportsfan @ Jul 3, 2006 -> 05:42 AM) Most dissapointing thread title ever. Please clarify your comments. What is wrong with considering we have some TV heroes? Looking at some of your past comments it seems you like one sentence replies to jack up your post total, but they don't have much positive comment to them if any. I see that we have some bad games to go along with a lot of good games and am just making mention of a real good one that kind of makes it a bit easier to have a bad one.

Two things. (1) I agree that the Blum staory was movie scripted also. (2) You write something like this today so you don't get to upset over losing the Sunday game the way we did.

Buerhle has not looked real solid all year long. But for that matter no of the Sox pitcher have been consistent. 11 runs-7 in one inning- allowed by Buerhle yet Ozzie leaves him in when we had a long reliever in McCarthy who could go 3 or 4 innings easy. I have a hard time agreeing with some of the pitching moves Ozzie makes. I understand all the hype on going 6 or 7 and supporting his pitchers, but when you ain't got it for the day then you ain't got it for crying out loud. We have an offense that keeps pounding away and just like when we were down the other day 9-1 and came back to tie it you would think maybe we need to take a pitcher out and give the offense some support. It's not like Buerhle hasn't been hammered hard before though. I seem to remember a game in Oakland a couple years ago where the A's beat Mark and the Sox 19-0. But, tomorrow's a new day and a new game and we have one heckuva a team. I can't wait to get back to the AL games and face the Tigers. I think we can sweep the kittie kats.

I listened to the game on XM satelitte. Sox trailing 6-5 in the 9th with 2 runners on and 2 outs with AJ at the plate. He homers and the Sox win. My thoughts were of the fact Barrett and his cheap sunday punch of AJ and the suck Cubbies fans booing and AJ responded like a professional. I thought the game had to be scripted by Hollywood.

QUOTE(BobDylan @ Jun 29, 2006 -> 09:59 PM) Juan Uribe and Brian Anderson are no longer concerning. 9 game winning streak or not, the White Sox starting staff has been awful for the past two weeks. Two starters with 5+ ERA's, one starter (the ace) has jumped from 1.83 to 3.54. The Sox are down to two consistantly good starters...last year they had four, and for a period, five. If you don't believe pitching is a problem this season, take a look at 2005, then take a look at Detroit now. It is a concern, and it needs to be addressed. (People called me stupid for asking about Smoltz.) I think the analysis should be same pitchers except for the El Duque trade for Vazquez and we have the same or better talent potential. The question is why haven't they performed as their past records imndicate they should? Hopefully they get their acts together in the second half. The staff still has the potential to be super.

Bullpen has been a problem, if anything or any group can be called an achilles heal. Jenks and Thornton have excelled and everyone else is inconsistent. Starting pitching has not be solid either, but the one real constant (good) has been the offense. They have been impressive. This loss sucks but I am not certain it sucks as bad as the bullpen losing the Houston game in 13.

QUOTE(Chisoxrd5 @ Jun 29, 2006 -> 06:35 PM) *shudder* stop that nonsense right now... And Joe Borchard

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jun 29, 2006 -> 06:32 PM) You take out AJ's bat and his hustle and grit, and then his game calling. And replace it with someone who isnt hitting well, and doesnt call a game that well. Got to have a back up catcher though. I wouldn't mind seeing Miggie Olivo back here QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jun 29, 2006 -> 06:34 PM) Does Jose pitch after the delay? I'm sure most of us say no but Ozzie is overly concerned with individual stats. I bet we see Cotts or McCarthy after the rain stops

QUOTE(quickman @ Jun 29, 2006 -> 06:24 PM) i think there is added pressure this year, as the Tigers are a better ball club than us. Falling behind them further makes for anxiety. In addition, we now know that rain was coming, so why would Ozzie stick with contrares? He had an opportunity to tie the game, now he is in a deep hole. Despite the World series, we can as fans second guess. its why we watch. I don't disagree and I second guess and gripe almost as much as some, but on the other hand let's not lose sight of the fact we aren't quite half way through the season yet and are one of the two top teams in baseball. We want to win every game for sure, but it aiin't going to happen. I want us to be in a good position to step over the Tigers when we play them again. We are 5 out of 6 with them so far this season with 13 left head to head?

I sometimes wonder and even cringe at things Ozzie does and sdays, but with 99 wins and the WS last year and second best record in MLB this season so far, I think I will let Ozzie manage.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 29, 2006 -> 06:15 PM) It will be interesting to hear how anyone can support that move. The only one that maters in supporting it is Ozzie. He goes too long at times with the starters and I am sure he wants Jose to stay in there and give up some double and homers versus singles.

I can't even get the score right here. Is it now the Bucs 5 and the Sox 4? This sucks!!

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jun 29, 2006 -> 06:06 PM) Farmer just said "Contreras has not had his best stuff today". Sounds like we hear that every time he picthes lately. Last fe wgames he hasn't been as dominating as he was earlier in the season. But then again none of our starters have been or even consistent from game to game

Ridiculous when we play this way against the Pirates. We arent't hitting when needed and we aren't getting the solid pitching. The Count is being singled to death adn with 2 outs also

Just logged on and trying to follow the game on MLB gameday from my work computer. It is slower than molasses