elrockinMT

You are an analyzing genius and I complement you. I think I would agree, but the offense gets a bit to aggressive sometimes and I think that gets us in trouble against pitchers who change speeds or are just junk throwers. They need to all take a chill pill when facing such pitchers and lay back waiting for the right one to hit.

The running game against Seattle on Saturday was not pretty. I do agree that at times aggressiveness can work against you as well as it can work for you. I think you need to add being alert and smart in your moves to the aggressive part of running. I am not too certain the Sox have been doing that as a package.

I think it may be possible that Juan Uribe is a flash in the pan. I watched the game on Fox today and they kept making remarks about how Walker is trying hard to work with Uribe. When he swings he tries to hit every ball into the stands and his back foot is sliding around. Psycho Lyons said that all Uribe will be able to do is pop up to left. He said that wa the knock on Uribe in Colorado. I say we trade the bum if he doesn't get that swing corrected.

Perez is a pretty good outfielder. He has made some very fine defensive plays and I believe thrown out a runner or two in crucial situations. Now can he hit? I don't know that answer.

He made the move because Steady Eddie G. is a left handed pitcher. Harris bats lefty. It was a percentage move and as usual the percentages didn't compute in out favor. Remember he sent up a pinch hitter for Valentin also. I just think the problem with the Sox bench with the addition of Burke and Dransfeldt versus someone with some pop in their bat is just that-singles hitters. Hopefully they will contribute in their next appearance though.

I want to see Borchard up with the big club also, but only if he gets playing time. I understand that we have others in the OF right now who deserve to play and have done well. Now, if getting Garcia means trading someone like Perez or Rowand, maybe Borchard will be called up. I just don't think getting Freddie Garcia as a rent-a-player for half the season and have no ability or committment to sign him is worth any of our top prospects and for that matter any of our players on the roster now. We have a good solid ball club and everyone contributes. That is what makes a winner and not a rental. Garcia is a good pitcher, but we get bit everytime we trade prospects. I think we can find that 5th starter in the minors. Granted we haven't seen much yet, but these guys need to realize that they need to step up. Think how we will be feeling when we get that guy that finally puts up a win from the 5th spot.

He got himself in trouble because the A's sent in a pinch runner and Cotts lost his concentration. I watched the game on WGN. The A's got the runner on and sent in the pinch runner who bounced around on the bag. Neal threw over to first right away and the next pitch to the batter was grooved and hit for a homer. You could sense what was going to happen as soon as Byrne came in to run. Neal made a dumb rookie mistake. He failed period, but let's hope it is a learning process.

If Maggs does end up on the DL I would rather see Borchard up and not Burke and Dransfeldt. Kelly is probably only going to sub and I don't think hitting wise he has produced anything but singles. Burke can play cathcer, 3B and the OF, but he is a sub also. Again, it all depends on Maggs situation, but we need a starting OF'er with some pop to his bat. Great chance to see what Joe B can do over the course of 2-4 weeks. But then again I am not the GM or manager so we live with KW's and Ozzie's decision obviously.

I remember when life was much simpler than it is today....

You beat me to this post. I don't want to rub it in, but ok I will... We get FOX Rocky Mountain here and Seattle is the team they broadcast. I will see the Sox on WGN Tue and Wed, on FOXRM on Friday, FOX on Saturday or FOXRM as the case may be as well as ESPN on Sunday. YES!

I am with you on that Mike. I also doubt that he will be traded this season. Kenny Williams has stated he isn't shopping any of the present starting line up becasue he is very happy with the team chemistry and production. Konerko is a very important part of that. Now if one were to mention Wunsch or even Rauch I wouldn't be surprised to see them go, but only if it improves the team.

I think this team has a different attitude about heading West. I feel that they are playing better and more motivated. The pitching staff is performing top notch. Both Oakland and Seattle are not the same teams we have faced in the past, but Oakland still has a great starting staff. I predict we come out of the trip with a winning record on the road.

I don't know much about Strange at all Beastly. What are his upsides?

That would be an excellent thing to look into. You would almost think that with the stature these two pitchers have that they just might have those clauses.

Thanks!

Get a life Webster. Rauch. I have a friend named Rausch. Let's talk Sox baseball anyway, ok?

I am excited because WGN will broadcast both games in Oakland. It will be interesting to see how they do on the West Coast. We have 4 starters who are pitching lights out.

How about we don't trade Jon Rausch? Let's step back a minute and I would ask that KW do the same thing. He does in fact seem to have calmed down and is saying something a bit different now. Jon Rausch made a stupid immature move, but he has talent and I think now understands what he did was wrong. But, it's not the end of the world. I think motivation is now the answer. Jon Rausch must be motivated to show the team he made a mistake and has learned from it. He must also want to produce and show that he can be a winner at the ML level. KW is right to say that Jon needs to talk with the other teammates and ask for their blessing for him to continue. I would think they will give it to him and then Jon takes the hill with a fire to show he deserves that chance. Folks it is all about motivation and leadership and don't mistake the importance of character building in developing a winning mindset in a team. I think the cohesiveness of this team will be the thing that gets them to the top after 162 games are played. The demand to trade Jon Rausch is somewhat understandable, but retribution is not the answer. Jon Rausch deserves a spanking and he is getting it, but you don't shoot yourself in the foot after you stick it in your mouth or up your rear. Use this situation for the teams and the organizations advantage to send a message, but also show the willingness to forgive, that's family too. KW can make an important move here and I hope the rush to trade is not it.

How about we don't trade Jon Rausch? Let's step back a minute and I would ask that KW do the same thing. He does in fact seem to have calmed down and is saying something a bit different now. Jon Rausch made a stupid immature move, but he has talent and I think now understands what he did was wrong. But, it's not the end of the world. I think motivation is now the answer. Jon Rausch must be motivated to show the team he made a mistake and has learned from it. He must also want to produce and show that he can be a winner at the ML level. KW is right to say that Jon needs to talk with the other teammates and ask for their blessing for him to continue. I would think they will give it to him and then Jon takes the hill with a fire to show he deserves that chance. Folks it is all about motivation and leadership and don't mistake the importance of character building in developing a winning mindset in a team. I think the cohesiveness of this team will be the thing that gets them to the top after 162 games are played. The demand to trade Jon Rausch is somewhat understandable, but retribution is not the answer. Jon Rausch deserves a spanking and he is getting it, but you don't shoot yourself in the foot after you stick it in your mouth or up your rear. Use this situation for the teams and the organizations advantage to send a message, but also show the willingness to forgive, that's family too. KW can make an important move here and I hope the rush to trade is not it.

Aboz, I couldn't have said it better myself. Plus KW has said he has no plans to trade any present member of the starting team, which includes Jose Valentin. Maybe they are showcasing Kelly Dransfeldt and Kelly Wunsch as a package? Makes as much sense as this drivil of trading Jose doesn't it?

It is 1:20 right now in Big Sky Country and I am tuned to WGN. 45 minute rain delay before game even starts but they are taking the tarp off the field. I am hoping for the best.

I had no clue any of this happened with Jon today. I will have to watch BBTN and see if they say anything. I just thought Jon had headed for Charlotte after pitching the game the Sox needed him for and since there was no need for #5 for about 2 weeks it was back to Charlotte. The question I have though is why all these vauted prize prospect we are supposed to have keep failing?

The Sox didn't handle Jon Rausch properly. The guy deserved the opportunity last year late in the season when they brought up Paniagua. The guy had terrible numbers at Charlotte, but here he was pitching for the Sox and Rausch who was doing good in AAA stayed there. Jon could have had some good experience last year in the bigs and been slid into the 5th spot, but instead was tossed back into the mix and then sent to AAA. I think the idea with Cotts is a sound one-experience in the pen and then start-but he should be stretched out in AAA with a start or two or three and then brought up as #5. They have roughly 2 weks before a #5 pitcher is needed so do it now. Bring Wunsch up as the LH relief guy to take Neal's place. The whole issue with this #5 starter is getting to be absurd now. We have absolutely nothing there as far as productivity. Jon made it 3 innings today and I don't know if they were struggles or good pithed innings, but 10 hits in less than 4 innings and 5 runs in the 4th and it was all she wrote. Once again our #5 guy can't even go 5 innings. Absolutely ridiculous.

The Sox go meekly into the night. Thomas, Valentin and Konerko all strike out in the 9th. See you all tomorrow on WGN!

Valentin caught looking at strike 3. That's 4 k's today and this is not the first time this year either.