elrockinMT

I think the problem with many of these announcers are they are so full of bluster and not nearly as informed about issues & trends as they would like to believe. Chris Berman is a leader of the bluster pack in my opinion.

That's why I had to write the post. We got our hopes up again and ended the first half as the laughing stock of baseball losing to the D-Rays and Tigers and then starting the same way against the Tribe. But, hope springs eternal and maybe the all-star break is what we needed to get us thinking right as a team? The second half has a chance to be real interesting in our division.

Tuesday, July 15, 2003 Mustangs take two of three By GEORGE GEISE Tribune Sports Editor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't look now, but the two-team battle for superiority in the Pioneer League's Northern Division has become a three-team skirmish. The Billings Mustangs shut down the Great Falls White Sox 5-2 Monday night at Legion Park to improve to 15-10, just three games behind the Helena Brewers (18-7) and two in back of Great Falls (17-8). And with the White Sox heading to Billings tonight to start a three-game series, the first-half pennant race is still anybody's ballgame. "Great Falls had those two rolls (7-game and 6-game winning streaks) to get out in front, but people forget we lost (four 1-run games) to Provo," said Billings manager Rick Burleson. "And Great Falls just killed Provo. "We've got Great Falls and Helena coming in, and they (White Sox) get Missoula after that, so it's still a race." The Mustangs managed to win on a night when the league's best pitcher and hitter both notched important statistical highlights. Great Falls right-hander Brandon McCarthy (4-1, 1.97 ERA) struck out 11 batters in six solid innings, giving him a league-high 53 strikeouts in 38 innings. Great Falls outfielder Ricardo Nanita (.412 average) extended his hitting streak to 24 games with a third-inning single. He needs to hit safely in his next three games to tie the league's all-time record. But the Mustangs didn't pay much attention to those statistics. They simply waited until McCarthy left the game with the score tied 2-2, then posted three runs in the seventh inning against reliever Paul Moviel. "McCarthy shut us down the first time in here (back in late June), and other than his last outing in Helena, he's dominated the league," said Burleson. "We got some hits (eight) against him tonight, but it was still a game in the seventh." The seventh started harmlessly enough for Moviel (0-1), as Rusty Beale flew out to center, then Luis Bolivar bounced weakly to third baseman Antoin Gray. But Gray made a poor throw to first, allowing Bolivar to reach safely. Habelito Hernandez blasted a double to left field -- his third extra-base hit of the night -- to make it 3-2. Joey Votto and Ben Himes followed with singles, and an error and passed ball moved up the runners. Miguel Perez hit a sacrifice fly to cap the 3-run rally. The White Sox scored single runs in the second and third against Billings starter James Paduch, but couldn't touch relievers Orlando Escorcha (2-0) and Brock Till, who allowed just two hits in four-plus innings, while striking out six. "Our relievers and our starters have been pretty solid," said Burleson. "Our offense has been inconsistent, but when we catch the ball we're pretty good. "Great Falls has a new organization, but they've got good hitters. To shut those guys down, we threw the ball well." The White Sox were limited to a seaosn-low five hits, all singles. Clinton King reached base three times on two singles and a walk. The Mustangs rapped out four doubles, a triple and six singles. Hernandez had two doubles and a triple, and Votto and Perez each had two hits. The White Sox plan to start Matt Nachreiner (2-2) against Billings' Camilo Vazquez (1-3) tonight at Cobb Field, with the first pitch set for 7. The White Sox are on the road for seven days and return home July 21 to face the Brewers.

I still think that Kenny Williams is the General Manager and makes the decisions, but I also believe that he probably has to go to the boss, just like any employee, when making personnel moves. Jerry Reinsdorf would want to be advised and/or consulted before any spending or player trades are finalized. I also think that KW will have to consult with JR before the manager is canned. I don't understand the arguments and criticism on these issues. There is a boss in any organization and you have to make sure the boss is up on whatever moves you want to make. Mr. Hahn may have been on the phone more than KW, but maybe Hahn is assisting Williams, which is what I think makes sense more than anything, and takes the calls or helps work out the multitude of details that go into any player transaction. Why would anyone havean assistant anyway and then not put the guy to work? As far as Manuel getting canned, well I now believe it is a possibility, but not before the week of July 27th, and then only if the Sox continue to slide. If they start winning or show signs of coming back I think Manuel will stay.

Monday, July 14, 2003 Error saves Sox Extra out sparks ninth-inning rally By CURT BACKA Tribune Sports Writer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some errors will just hurt you. And some errors will end up killing you. Minutes after Billings' Habelito Hernandez belted a two-run, ninth-inning home run to give the Mustangs new life in Sunday's Pioneer League contest at Legion Park, the second baseman committed a key error that led to Chris Kelly's run-scoring double, giving the Great Falls White Sox a thrilling 8-7 victory. Hernandez, whose homer tied the score at 7-7, booted Clinton King's sharp two-out grounder, which gave the White Sox one last gasp and Kelly, a 2003 sixth-round draft choice out of Pepperdine University, didn't let the opportunity slip away from him. "You are always looking for ways to help the team," said Kelly, who is from Las Vegas. "He threw me a slider and I was able to hit it hard." Kelly's long fly to leftcenter bounced off the wall and gave King plenty of time to score in front 3,016 fans on Tribune Family Day. "Chris' hit was huge," first baseman Brandon Bounds said. "You never like to give up the tying run or the winning run in the ninth inning. "You always like to come back." The White Sox improved to 18-7 with the win and are tied with Helena, an 18-3 loser to Missoula also on Sunday, for the Northern Division lead. Billings dropped to 14-9. Great Falls' victory evened the three-game set at one game apiece and the two teams meet again tonight at 7 in the rubber game of the matchup. Bounds, a strapping 6-foot-6 first baseman from Arlington, Texas, had given the White Sox a precarious one-run lead with a towering shot to right field in the fifth inning. "It was a fastball and I knew it was coming," Bounds said. Leading 7-5 in the eighth, Bounds had a chance to put the game away with a two-out, bases-loaded situation. "Unfortunately when I had a chance to add to our lead in the eighth, they pitched me outside," Bounds said. "They wouldn't give me anything inside." The White Sox, who had 10 hits on the day, threatened in every inning, except the first. Thanks to five Billings errors and six walks surrendered by Mustang pitching, the White Sox scored single runs in the third, fifth, sixth and the ninth. They took their first lead in the fourth on Ricardo Nanita's clutch bases-loaded triple, which led to a four-run burst and a 5-3 advantage. "It's nice to know anybody in this lineup, 1 through 9, can get the big hit," Bounds said. On this day, with a 30-to-40 mph. wind blowing to right field, no lead was safe. Although the wind did not affect either Hernandez's or Bounds' shots, any fly ball lifted to the outfield was an adventure. "I know the infielders weren't having much trouble, but it looked like the outfielders were really struggling," Bounds said. And the wind was not a friend of the pitchers. Sean Thompson, a lefthander out of Redondo, Calif., got the start for the White Sox. Thompson, after a shaky first-inning start -- he gave up two runs -- followed with scoreless efforts in the second and third inning. He gave up a single run in the fourth and ran into trouble in the fifth. Ben Himes' two-run single ended Thompson's day. Fraser Dizard came in and got the final out in the fifth and pitched scoreless ball into the eighth. Reliever Michael Moat got the last out of the eighth but was the victim of Hernandez's homer in the ninth. Randy Surratt, who got the final two outs in the ninth, benefitted from Kelly's double to get the win and improved to 2-0. The Mustangs also went though four hurlers. David Shafer, who was called on to pitch the ninth, suffered the loss. After tonight's game which wraps up a mini three-game homestand for the White Sox, they head to Billings for three games and onto to Missoula for four. They return home July 22 to face Helena. White Sox notes: Brandon McCarthy will get the start for the White Sox tonight and will be looking for his fifth victory of the season. McCarthy, 4-1, takes a nifty 1.97 ERA in the contest. James Paduck, 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA, will open for the Mustangs ... White Sox batboy Spencer Paul suffered an injury to his ankle Sunday afternoon after slipping on the dugout steps. Paul was taken to emergency room at Benefis. Great Falls starting pitcher Sean Thompson gave up five runs on seven hits.

Pretty much my sentiments too. I like Paul Konerko and I do believe whatever the problem was he has it worked out now. I really felt badly for him because you know he is a good hitter and competitor. He struggled badly the first half, but going 5 out of 10 in his last 3 games make me believe he is ready to start playing regularly again. A post mentioned believing CLee's days were numbered. Maybe so, but only if we keep Everett. I am not sure it will be this year either way. Really I have to repeat: There is nothing wrong with Konerko's hips, Jerry Manuel will not get fired, Kenny Williams is the GM and C lee won't get traded.

I think Porzio did good. I watched the game on WGN and he was keeping the Indian hitters off balance most of the time. I think he just ran out of gas, but he didn't get blown out by any means. Hawk said he was basically a 6 inning pitcher at Charlotte. If he does well the next time out he might stay. I think Sanders needs to go down and get some more work. Plus I think Porzio was looking better than Sanders has anyway.

I'm sorry, but I don't buy this argument. I have played for many years and have never had a manager who I played any harder for than any other manager. I've never dogged it because the manager didn't motivate me. If you are competitive, if you have the drive and desire, you show up to play everyday. You play to win. This team is a group of duds. In any given 4-2 game, if we have 2 guys on base, the next batter is thinking about hitting a home run regardless of what JM or Greg Walker is preaching to them. Everyone on this team wants to be a hero with the long-ball. KC has baseball players, not a group of DH's playing positions. They play all facets of the game. The home run ball is the motivator for many of the Sox players and I think that's exactly the problem. There have been so many times when we get a runner on base with no outs and the next hitters up pop up, ground it into the dirt, usually back to the mound, and into a DP. The unselfish players will try and take it to the opposite field, or at least make the pitcher work and throw more than one or two pitches so everyone can get a look at what he is bringing to the plate and then get the good pitch to hit.

CLARKDOG YOU POSTED A GREAT LETTER. I FELT BETTER, BUT FEEL EVEN BETTER AFTER THE WIN IN GAME ONE. KONERKO CAME THROUGH AND GORDON SHOWED HE IS THE CLOSER. NOW WE HOPE THE REST STEP UP TOO.

PAUL KONERKO, MARTE, OLIVO AND GORDON ARE THE GUYS

FLASH GORDON IS OUR NEW CLOSER. STRUCK OUT THE SIDE

Paul Konerko hits a 3-run home run. YOU CVAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD YESSSSSS!!!!

Maggs double and Lee singles we have them at 1st and 3rd no one out

Marte really stepped up after that lead off walk. You have to love the guy. He is the best.

Miguel Olivo made it happen no doubt. Now, in the bottom of the 9th we have the dreaded lead off walk. Can't these guys just accept what is given them and not make it harder?

I couldn't believe it! Alomar gave up two runs to the Indians with two errors and then with 2 out in the 9th two runs score on an error on the ball hit by Alomar. WEW! Of course with one out and runners at 2nd and 3rd Valentin pops out to LF, which is the 2nd time he has done that in a week.

You have to love Buerhle thouhg. If he could have gitten out of the 1st inning our vaunted offense could have pulled it out for him

Usually don't see a #4 hitter bunt and it's good to see the Indians can't bunt any better than we do

It's good to see our rcent acquisitions that we thought were going to carry us to the promised land have not disappointed

Paulie brings us back down to Earth again with his grounder.

Alright Carlos lee came to play today. A double drives in Thomas and it's 3-2.

I stuck around for the 8th inning. I think Thomas and Ordonez had the strategy of maybe grounding into the DP, but the Indians ruined their chances twice.

I signed on SoxNet and GameDay, but after the 7th inning I think I'll just might have to sign off. You stick with this team through 9 innings thinking maybe, just maybe, they'll mount a comeback. Yeah, right! Well, I am still going to watch tonight on WGN. Maybe Porzio, who the Indians haven't seen yet will do to them what Stanford did to us.

I am in shock over the last seven games. I want to wade in on the arguments and try and stay positive, but I am too depressed right now. Manuel said, "if we don't start winning soon it's time to be worried. We are still in this thing," or something similar. My question is have we ever really been winning consistently? As much as I hate the Twins you have to feel sorry for that team too. They are now 51/2 out and we are 6 1/2 out. The KC Royals for crying out loud are leading the division. They are motivated. What's wrong with our team? I just hope that come Sunday evening we will have started showing we have a heart. If not, I think some heads will roll or should roll. Of course the question is will anyone step up?

Thanks Showtime. I guess it just goes to show that when things go wrong you never get a break. The problem is that almost the entire season has been this way. Like I said I'll be watching tomorrow night on WGN.