elrockinMT

And that makes sense. Good enough for me anyway.

I just got the chance to log back into this conversation and am appalled at the lack of manners, grace, dignity, respect, proper decorum, etiquette, baseball knowledge, etc, etc, Did I get it all in? Really I wish we could just agree to disagree. It's just a discussion after all and everyone has an opinion to express and they should be respected as such. After reading the posts I think I need some valium with a Jack Daniels chaser. :banghead I do like you all though. Now we should start talking about Bartolo Colon and his great start for the Angels. Jarry Manual

Koch was told he would be the closer and he should be given every opportunity to do so. Ozzie made a gamble, a decision, played a hunch, whatever it was it didn't work and I think Koch should have started the 9th to close out the victory.

At least Koch got somebody out in the 9th. This was not Billy's fault. The job didn't get done by three relief pitchers not one.

I on the other hand still thinks that Koch can get it done. He didn't look bad at all yesterday. The hit by Santiago was one where an experienced batter, and a catcher who had been in that situation dozens of times with is own pitchers no less, had a darn good idea what was cooking between Koch and Alomar. He cheated and got enough of the ball to get the hit. He showed his experience and played the hunch and it paid off for the Royals. Otherwise Koch showed a great cutter and hit 97 MPH on the radar.

My thoughts exactly to echo YAS and Rex. I thought that any trade with the Pirates would include Giles. I couldn't understand trading two pitching prospects for one pitcher with only a fair history. I think it was the KW mentality of that time to trade propects for what was seen as an established player to help right away. Wells was developing and Fogg never had the chance with the Sox. We have seen how hard it is to bring the young arms around to be consistent ML pitchers. Garland took a long time and Wells was right there too. Rausch is an example of how long it takes to develop. I think this year KW held back the urge to trade our top prospects for someone else's "fair" hurler.

All we need is a win on Wed. Right?

Yes, it does! Kip Wells was a #1 pick and was traded becasue of a GM who panicked. There is no Sox fan that ever forgets how we got screwed. And we get screwed every year. Now let's play for a win on Wed!

Rather than quote everyone: (1) I miss Kewith Foulke too. I loved thr guy and think the trade for Koch was not a good move. (2) Koch was looking pretty good today and if he is our closer than let him close. I think he could have done the job. (3) You don't win ga,es when your pitchers walk people. Especially the first two in the bottom of the 9th. Politte should have been taken out and the closer in for the start of the 9th. (4) Ozzie panicked. But, he is a new and will make mistakes. Hopefully he will make more of the right moves and fewer of the poor ones. (5) It's only one game out of 162. Hopefully Wednesday Loaiza is as sharp as Buerhle and we get a win. I would rather go to NY 1-1 and not 0-2.

Maybe but did they quote ESPN? That's the Bible of Baseball isn't it?

I watched the game on WGN today. Absolutely loved everything up till the bottom of the 9th. What a disaster. Watched BBTN where Kruk, Reynolds and Gammons all thought that Ozzie panicked and was too quick to pull Koch in the 9th just because a left handed batter (Stairs) was coming in the PH for the Royals. Score was 7-4 at that time and Koch had just struck out a LH hitter with a nasty inside breaking ball. The analysts think that Ozzie should have left Koch in to establish or reestablish himself as the closer and because he didn't, Koch and the others will be wondering what their role is coming out of the pen. They even went so far as to say that Koch may struggle for a long time because of what appears to be Ozzie's lack of confidence in his ability to close. The rub on Ozzie is the fact he is the new Sox manager with no prior managing experience and that he made a bad decision because he panicked. I was a bit surprised that Ozzie took Koch out so quickly, but the move made some sense at the time. Ozzie got Stairs out, and Matt the Professional Hitter averaged over 20 homers a year, but why stay with Marte against Beltran? Anyway it's only the first game of 162 and fire away please with your comments and twist on what happened.

Koch looked pretty good. Velocity was up there a bit more and he didn't get a close pitch. Marte on the other hand was flatter than a pancake.

I watched the game on WGN today. I was really pumped going into the bottom of the 9th. The Sox had some good hitting and fielding and good starting pitching by Buerhle. Can you believe that Konerko stole a base? Politte looked good until the 9th and everything blew apart. I even thought Billy Koch didn't look that bad. I think Santiago hit a good pitch that maybe had a little more of the inside part of the plate than Koch wanted. Marte simply looked terrible. I can't believe he gave up 2 homers. The curve looked pretty sharp but that fastball wasn't the usual Marte fastball we came to know and love in '03. 161 games left or not I hope this was just a fluke becasue we are in for a long season if our bullpen can't do the job. On another point: It's great to see over 67 pages and 1000 posts. GO SOX!

I always admire those reporters who agree with us Sox fans on the 1st place Sox finish. However, I really don't like listening to any of these guys. BBYN seems to spend too much time on their laughing and bantering and less on sports stories. I like to watch the program for the game reviews and prefer to let the Sox play and win without having to listen to these announcers who act as if they are the "experts". It all boils down to the team playing up to their talent anyway.

He still made a sissy throw in from centerfield on a Baltimore hit.

Paul Konerko will have a real good year. I am betting that he hits .275 to .300 with 30 plus HR's and around 100 RBI's. The Sox have a power laden offense and I think anyone hitting from #2(Valentin) to #7 (Crede) can hit a minimum of 25 HR's with at least 4 hitting 30 to 40 or more. We may need that hitting if the pitching becomes suspect. I am hoping for solid years from the starters.

I have heard the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson whispering in my ear when posting here, but I won't tell you what he says to me...

Marlins can use the $25K for fish food.

I believe we took Will Cordero after he beat his wife and was released by the Expos (wasn't it?). I see he's still hanging around.

Just logged on. Good to see the offense and pitching click together. I have a couple of concerns and that is the fact our pitchers seem to give up a lot of homers maybe becasue they are around the plate a lot, but still we have to cut that down. Also I like Willie Harris and I think that he is starting to get in synch with that bat of his. If he relaxes and plays like we think he can I believe we will have a real good 2Bman.

I think Jon Garland has a chance to be our ace this year. Maybe he can help Wright and his confidence and bring him along too. I really think we are strong 1-4 in the starting pitching and hope #5 steps up soon.

I watched some morning show on ESPN today and their analysts, who were ex-GM Jim Bowden and some other guy both pick the Sox for 3rd in the AL Central. But, Bowden thinks Frank Thomas is the man who will make the difference in the race. He thinks Frank is primed for a great year and with him producing and the pitching stepping up it could mean the Sox win the division. But of course they pick the twinkies to win oblivious to the fact they have no pitching and no real power. The one dude even thinks the Tigers will pass the Indians this season.

I don't understand the skepticism. Jose is a solid SS and very good hitter. he went exclusively left handed this Spring and is tearing the it up. He leads the team in hits and RBI's I believe (or one of those areas). He wil be the SS period and Uribe will be the infield reserve. Now Harris is another story, but I am still hanging in there for Willie.

I hope we don't have that bad of an outfield where we need replacements early. I like Sweeny-Reed-Borchard-Anderson, but let them get their time in at AAA or where ever and maybe get a look in September. I still would like to see Borchard up with the big club first.

The Passion of De Jesus? Forgive me I couldn't resist