elrockinMT

Jason, who are you my son? Let us all take a deep breath and let it out slowly... now yell out .... Go Sox! Jarry Manuel

I am going with Frank Thomas.

You'd think for a guy that had just been benched for a couple of games he would wake the f*** up. I say start Harris at 2nd and Rowand in CF, at least those guys will hustle. This is my feelings too. The guy gives an interview, which in my opinion sounded just like he was admitting he didn't play with intensity. He just seemed to think he could go out and play uninspired baseball and get away with it. I would like to see Harris at 2B also. That's his normal position and I think Rowand in CF would be better. DJ is either going to wake up and realize that he has to give it his all with intensity at this level or sit. I am tired of his errors, his failure to turn the DP and his base runnings mistakes.

Like I said Sox fans! Buerhle did his job extremely well and we beat the Red Sox bull pen.

Harris does good at AAA Charlotte. He comes up and is a bust. Let's hope he is ready to produce this time. However, I don't think he is the answer in CF since that isn't his natural/normal position. Maybe Jimenez should be benched and let's try Harris at 2B for awhile. I am getting tired of DJ's errors, sloppy running and now his offense is dropping off.

Mark Buerhle has had some bad outings where he got absolutely hammered thus the high ERA. But, he has also pitched some really good games and not received defensive or offensive support thus the record. Tonight he pitched a gem against the Red Sox and won. I am happy for him and the team. I know that MB is not a 2-10 pitcher. He isn't a 3-10 pitcher either. He will get better as the season progresses. The one's to gain? The Sox.

Yes, but has Carlton Fisk ever been considered for a managers job? Does he even want one? I liked Fisk too, but the way the game is going now I question whether some of these big stars will want to manage. They can take their inflated multi-million dollar salaries and retire at 35 to 40 years of age. They are set for life and don't need the hassle of managing.

I think sometimes he gets hung up on playing the percentages. However, how much can Manuel's moves, or any manager for that matter, help a team that continues to play poor fundemental baseball? I suppose one could argue that Manuel may play unsound fundemental managing though.

Monday, June 16, 2003 White Sox turn on the power at Legion Park By GEORGE GEISE Tribune Sports Editor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It might be a little early to call No. 5 a "home run King," but the sweet-swinging southpaw made a good first impression. Clinton King of the Great Falls White Sox won a home-run hitting contest Sunday afternoon at Legion Park, then went out and hammered another dinger in a 14-0 exhibition romp against a team of local Legion athletes from the Stallions and Electrics. It was the first professional appearance for King, a third-round draft choice earlier this month out of Southern Mississippi, where he tied the school record with 23 homers this spring. "That felt OK," said King, a solid 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds. "I got into a good groove about halfway through the (HR contest), and it stayed with me." King blasted four pitches out of the park in 10 swings as the White Sox outhomered the Legion kids 13-3 in a power contest that began at 2. Teammate Brandon Bounds also hit three homers, and Chris Kelly and Seth Morris clouted two apiece. Josh Talley of the Stallions slugged two homers for the Legion guys, and Electric Jake Wingerter got the other one. About an hour later in the exhibition game, King went 3-for-4 with five runs batted in. His second-inning homer off Danny Williams was a towering blast that soared way over the wall in right field. "I got a slow curve, low and inside," said King. "I got good wood on it and kind of golfed it." The White Sox out-hit the Legion players 17-3 and scored in four of their six trips to the plate. The only Legion pitchers to enjoy any success were Randy Rust of the Stallions and Wingerter. Rust shut down the White Sox 1-2-3 in the fourth inning, and he struck out Bounds -- the lone punchout for the White Sox. "I was real nervous," admitted Rust, who suited up for the exhibition game against the Great Falls Dodgers a year ago, but didn't get into the game. "Those guys can really swing the bat." Ironically, Rust took the loss Saturday in Missoula when the Stallions lost 15-9 to the Mavericks. "I only lasted a third of an inning. They hit me pretty good," said Rust. Stallions manager George Febach couldn't use either of his top pitchers, Ronnie Morales or Ray Cook, because they pitched in Missoula. "Rust kept the ball down," said Febach. "That's what all the guys have to do, no matter how well they throw. You can see what the White Sox can do when you get the ball up. I think they'll be a fun team to watch." White Sox manager Chris Cron was delighted by the chance to play a practice game, which was watched by about 750 fans on a warm, sunny afternoon. It gave the players a chance to see live pitching, and it gave the baseball club a chance to get some game-management issues handled before Tuesday night's Pioneer League opener against the Billings Mustangs. Legion Park has undergone a big remodeling project over the winter and spring, and the entire leftfield grandstand area has been replaced. The park still has a few rough spots, but the White Sox expect no problems handling a big crowd Tuesday night. "This was a very good experience for us," said Cron. "You benefit any time you can play a real game, no doubt about it. "There's no substitute for live pitching, no matter what kind of pitching you see. Everybody got an at-bat and we banged the ball around pretty well." The White Sox expect to get at least one more athlete today, although No. 1 draft choice xxxx Anderson still hasn't signed. The Great Falls Baseball Club, Inc., has its annual meet-the-players banquet tonight at the Holiday Inn, with a social at 6 and dinner to follow. Tickets are $15 apiece and fans can call 452-5311 to reserve seats for the banquet.

We don't have to beat Pedro. We just have to play well enough to beat Boston. If we can at least stay even with the Sox with Pedro in there and then get to their bullpen we can win.

This is so frustrating it is beyond hurting. We have a run of games where it looks like our offense is starting to come around and then we blunder again to lose 1-0. We have a pitcher throwing a 3-hitter and allowing only one run and we can't get offensive support. Rowand makes a base running mistake by not advancing to 3rd on a fly. Ok, he accepts blame, but you know what that doesn't cut it anymore. You have to perform at a level where you don't screw up like that. We will not advance on the twinkies until we play sound fundemental baseball. It is as simple as that. These stupid minor league mistakes have to stop.

Jose Valentin

I belive that Frank is back. Last night convinced me when he turned on that inside fastball and lined it out of the park. That thing was a laser. In the earlier part of this season those inside pitches were getting him out. Last night he put one out. He has worked hard and battled. Let's hope that PK can get it turned around now.

That' we we need my friends. A lot of believing and less negativity. I feel the Karma now. Jarry Manuel

I will go with Frank Thomas on Sunday, 6-15.

I was just a wee little one in 1959, no higher than a grasshopper, or something like that. I can still remember Game One and watching Ted Kluszewski hit a home run. He had 2 in that first game.

Frank has been great. I think the Big Hurt is back. What do you think Old Roman? You know what's bad here? I don't have to ask anyone who is being referred to as "dumbf***"?

I saw that EL was removed because of discomfort. Is it just a muscle carmp or is he hurt? I don't see much on it from the Sox so does anyone have an update? The guy has been our stand up guy when needed. If Buerhle and Colon were pitching like ELo we would be so far ahead of the pack it would be cruise control time.

Aaron played and hit a homer. Rios played Friday and hit a homer. It's great to see offense from that CF'er position. I would almost expect them to platoon and hopefully both can contribute.

Magglio Ordonez

I'll check that out. It's always fun to use something the opposite of all that touchy feely stuff.

I think that The Big Hurt is putting up numbers and a good reason why he might be another all-star pick.

Great picture. Where did you find that Mr. Iguana?

I can assure you Mr. Iguana that Big Sky Country is no trash receptacle. All you would have to do is drive up Going to the Sun Highway or The Beartooth Pass, float Hell's Canyon, view a glacier meadow at Glacier National Park when the wildflowers are in full-bloom, hike up the roaring Stillwater River to Lake Sioux Charlie, or stare out at the white marble markers silently memoralizing the spot where Geo. Custer and his troops were dispatched by the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians to know that. You must be talking about New Jersey, pardner.

It is a good article. I agree that Loaiza is deserving of starting the all-star game. I enjoyed the few times I saw EL pitch. He is a gamer.