elrockinMT

I think this guy has the talent, that when he can gain that confidence he seems to be lacking right now, and the light turns on for him we will have one heckuva a good hitter. I would hate to see us trade him to someone else and have him break out with another team.

I watched both the Monday and Wednesday games on ESPN. Billy pitched both games and as he said had everyone biting their fingernails. My wife kept asking during the Wed game why the devil Ozzie didn't take Koch out of the game. I think that once Billy settled down he made some quality pitches and looked pretty good, but with this guy it all seems to be rhythm, motion and body position and when something isn't quite right he struggles. Last night Alomar Jr. said Koch was moving his head (or something similar to that). I want this guy to make it as our closer. I really admire his competiveness and he isn't one to make excuses as he puts the blame for his struggles right on his own shoulders where they belong, but often you see players make excuses. We know he has the talent, but the ESPN guys (Brantley especially) said he thinks that Koch's confidence is shot and he needs to have that built up more than anything. I also think he was getting squeezed as a couple of pitches that looked like strikes weren't called. Brantley even said this, but then said that when you are struggling with consistency you won't get that one call when you need it or think you should have it. I also liked the fact the other players on the Sox support him and their other teammies the way they do. I think they have come together as a group and I like our chances a lot.

I am going to use that and you are right about me just wanting to be funny for the fans and players, but I thought the announcement that said don't interfere with a ball in play, theow things on the field, etc, would be cool too. I also got your stuff down Steff and will use that too. I'll keep checking here to see if any more gets posted. I still have about an hour before the game. Peace be with you all.

Thanks everyone for helping out. Cheat you owe everyone a free cup of coffee and a donut. I thought I had an old ticket I kept for a keepsake, but I am still looking.

Thanks Cheat, but you have to be in a place that has baseball right now and have an old ticket. I don't and don't. Do you or maybe some else out there has one?

Does anyone know the wording of the opening disclaimer the public address announcer reads before a MLB game? It goes something like "don't reach onto the field for a fair ball, not responsible if your noggin gets whacked by a batted ball", etc. I am a volunteer announcer for an American Legion level baseball team and try to make it fun for the players and fans. I thought it would be fun to read the announcement before the game starts, but I can't find it on the internet. Can anyone help me? I want to use it at tonight's game. Thanks!

The whole offensive display the last few games, but especially in Baltimore, has looked pathetic. Bases loaded and one out and our guys pop up or strike out and last night the old GIDP surfaced again at the wrong time.

According to reports today Dransfeldt helped the Sox make up their mind on who goes down. He does and Jose is with the team on Friday in Toronto. How many teams out there need a back up infielder who only hits singles? And I might add makes errors on easy plays. You have to feel sorry for Kelly, but plays like that need to be made. I do hope he clears waivers and stays in the organization. My guess is he might be up again this year.

I watched the game last night on ESPN2 and couldn't believe how totally inept some of these hitters looked. Crede might have homered but he k'd 4-times, Lee couldn't do anything, Gload looked lost at the plate, Thomas was even looking dead. It was not pretty as far as offense. Bases loaded and one out and they couldn't score. Let's hope they shake off whatever ails them soon.

You are forgetting his 5-0 2-hit shutout in Tampa Bay. But, I agree that you can't give up 7 hits in 4 innings and expect to keep down the opposition. Of course we continue to choke when we need the clutch hit to drive in runners.

If I am not mistaken and Major Leagure club can put someone on waivers and if they are claimed can withdraw them. If Kelly gets sent down first and claimed I would think the Sox can then send down Burke instead. Either one is welcome on the team and can help in their own way.

Who would have thunk it? Coming out of ST Wright looked solid and Shoe looked horrible. What a turnaround. I watched the game last night on ESPN2 and the guy was absolutely sharp as a tack. I am impressed.

Well the game was on TV here (ESPN2) and it was hard to watch. Koch walked the first batter he faced got s K or 2 and then walked another guy. A couple hits later and 2 runs were in and the orioles had runners at 1st and 3rd. That ball hit up the middle was stopped by uribe on a heck of a nice play or it would have ben toed or a loss. I was yelling and biting my fingernails the whole inning. The ESPN guys couldn't believe Ozzie didn't have someone warming up in the pen. Koch will be the closer, but on BBTN old Gammons and Kruk made comments that Billy should be out of a job and that Ozzie will be asking KW to shop at K-Mart for a relief pitcher. Well, it was a nail biter, but we won and that's the bottom line-WE WON! You just hope that Koch doesn't do this all the time.

Jose Valentin will be the regular starting SS. Uribe and Harris may alternate games at 2B, but Uribe will be subbing for Crede, Harris and Valentin. My guess is that Uribe will play at least 4 games a week as a starter. Burke isn't going down. He will stay as long as the 5th starter isn't needed. Dransfeldt will be returning to Charlotte and on call to return, if needed. If and when we need a fifth starter, it will likely mean that Burke goes back to Charlotte. Mark my words, as I have this on good authority and I mean from the TOP.

I kind of think it all depends on the specific game you are in thqat day. Consider the opposing pitcher, how the offense is responding, even the weather conditions, etc. Nothing wrong with advancing the runners on a sac of some type. It opens up a lot of possibilities and giving up the out to advance a runner is just part of game strategy. I think we have seen a real turnaround in the offensive approach this team takes into a game. They can hammer the ball with anybody in the Major Leagues and maybe better than 90% of the teams, but they don't sit back waiting for that long ball. Ozzie managing with that philosophy will give us exciting baseball and more wins.

I don't believe he did THAT! He has rebounded quite well I think, but it will at least be interesting speculation for the next 2-3 weeks on who gets the call to be the 5th starter. I wonder why Munoz was not mentioned in the article?

Didn't read all the POSTS so I don't know if anyone has more info, but it really sounds like the Sox are sticking with Danny Wright as the #5 starter. Ozzie said they don't need him for 15 days so this is the chance for Dan to get things worked out in AAA, if he can. Burke seems to give the team more flexibility and another bat. Now, someone mentioned that maybe something else is in the works. Well, maybe, but doesn't seem to make much sense. We seem to be pretty well settled on who we have except for that 5th starter and that pitcher could most certainly come from AAA, if Wright isn't able to rebound.

I have seen Shingo pitch a couple times or so on TV and he looks good. Confidence is there right along with those nasty pitches of his. I like this dude!

Stop already with the trade Jose Valentin talk! For crying out loud people enough is enough. Heck, it seems that every player on this team who goes 0-4, made an error, blew a save, got caught stealing, etc,etc, gets the hook and a trade demand from some fans. Cooooooollllll iiittttt! Reeee-llllaaaaxxxx! Take a deep breath for pete's sake and be positive about the players we have on the field. We are winning more than we are losing and that's what counts.

I think a 0-4 start to the season and not able to get out of the 5th inning as the longest outing of the year is enough. There is something wrong with Danny either physically or mentally when pitching and I don't think a bullpen demotion is going to straighten him out. I don't know if a player with his time in the big leagues can be optioned to AAA, but I think that is the best alternative if it can be done. Cotts to satrt and Dan in the pen, if the minors is not an option, but I have to agree now that enough is enough.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan56789 @ May 1 2004, 03:34 PM) Well in dannys last start its kinda hard to win giving up 3 runs when your team only scores 1 CWSGUY SAID: Good point, but he's barely getting through four innings in his starts, that's what worries me. I'm not really angry with how Wright has done so far, but I think there's a guy down at AAA (Diaz) who can do a much better job and has earned it. If it doesn't work out you can always send him back down, but I'd give Diaz a shot. Or Cotts Both good points. I agree that Danny hasn't looked REAL bad in his last couple of starts, but he isn't winning games or going longer than 5 innings and that by itself is not acceptable. I fully expect him to get a few more chances though. I think the Sox view it as just too early in the season to be making player moves as we have been suggesting. However, if it does get done I think it will be a flip flop of Wright and Cotts and not one or the other being sent down or someone being brought up.

Rumor has it through the press stories that I have read that the Sox-Orioles games of Monday and Wednesday will be covered on ESPN or ESPN2. I know that tonight's 2nd game with the Jays will be on WGN. I hope all of this happens becasue it's all I have to look forard too as far as seeing the Sox is concerned.

We seem to go through this lame stuff about Jose every week. Jose is a good solid ball player with pop in his bat and good fielding range. He always works hard to improve and is a team player. Uribe has been a real plus, but he is valuable in the role of super sub. He can play all three positions to the left side of first base and can contribute better to the team that way. He will get plenty of at bats. Dransfeldt has stepped up, but is destined to go back to AAA until needed again. Kelly has come through in the clutch, but hasn't shown much pop with the lumber.

SOX WIN! SOX WIN! I LOVE THE SOX!

And you are right about that. But Koch gets the K and I am happy for Billy and the Sox. He is showing something now and I like it.