Wanne

Hell yes. I'll take it!

Bout time we caught a break this series.

In your best Bob Eucker voice..."that's all we got...is one goddamn hit?..."

Sowers looks like he's 14.

typical...hit a bullet...Indian pulls it outta their ass...no runs.

that was complete crap! Ball was right there for a strike...then he has to come back 3-1 instead of 2-2...gone.

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Apr 5, 2007 -> 01:31 PM) Has there ever been a worse opening series for a club in the history of baseball? Ask the Cardinals.

Well that just figures....

Hawk and Dj wetting their pants over every ground ball. Geez....

FACT?!?!? What is fact? Fact 1: Your key caps lock is on. Fact 2: It's only the second game. Fact 3: I don't want to discuss right now. Fact 4: My cocktail needs a refresh. that is all...

I gottta tell ya. I missed the last 3 batters in the 9th...had a client in (in hindsight should have told him to hold his shorts on)...but I just now saw that friggin catch at the end of the game. GOOOODDAMMMMMN! You've gotta be s***tin' me?!?!?!? So basically...this putz fallin on his ass and catchin the ball basically altered the state of the state of affairs with the Sox this season. A gust of wind out...Michaels doesn't pull it outta his ass...all is good in SoxLand today. After seeing that...I don't feel nearly as bad. Still pissed we lost...but not standing on my roof with a knife at my throat like Willie. Calm down big shooter...."all is well" (in your best Kevin Bacon voice). ok...back to my gin and tonics.

Walker goes WAAAAAY before Coop goes.

QUOTE(LVSoxFan @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 07:00 PM) I agree with those who have said we have seemed in a funk since second half last season, and I'm tired of it. There seems to be no fire, no spunk, no spark. Everybody seems to get really discouraged and then it bleeds all over the team I'm hardly going to give up after the SECOND game, though. Remember, Houston had an absolutely horrendous first half the year they met us in the WS. And as I've said before, I'd rather start crappy and turn it on second half a la the 2005 Indians rather than almost slide out of it like we did in '05 or all second half last year. Do remember this: we've had a different team since 2005. Even in '06 a key clubhouse guy was gone--Rowand--and it's obvious to me that changes things. Thome's a great guy, but doesn't strike me as the jokester/cheerleader that Rowand was. This year we have Erstad and a lineup that seemed in flux since opening day. Maybe they need time to gel--who knows? I can handle the losing, but let's go down swinging, boys. Take some chances. Not wait around for somebody to win it for us, which we seem to have been doing since July '06. Yes, the pitching is troubling. You touched on an interesting point. Our main 3 leaders are Paulie, Thome and Dye. Now I don't know these guys personally....but they are probably THE quietest, most unassuming leaders you could possibly ever have. I understand the aspect of leading by production. The "all-business" aspect is not always the best way to go. I understand being professional and all...but the "can't squeez a greased BB outta yer ass" mentality really has seemed to overtake this team. Just my 2¢. And no...this is not a lobby to bring Rowand back.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 06:52 PM) Hell, from what I was tault back in little league ball that is the worst thing you can ever do when you K. I still make my son run when he backward K's. Started that last year. Pisses him off.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 06:47 PM) Even if this team winds up near where BP puts us...I still think you hold onto Cooper for a couple more years. I mean, if nothing else, look at the performance of Mr. Aardsma today. Maybe I'm just grasping at straws, but I've seen as many pitchers turn their careers around for at least a season under Mr. Cooper in the last 2 years as i have under any pitching coach not named Leo. Sometimes things don't work out, and that may well be the fault of Mr. Cooper and whatever conditioning program he puts these guys on in the offseason, but in terms of teaching people how to pitch, he seems like he's had some extraordinary successes. To add to that, if this team winds up near where BP puts us, and we wind up selling mid-season or just letting people walk at season's end...I want Cooper being the guy around coaching the next generation of 3-4-5 starters in our rotation, whoever they might be. Agree. Aardsma could very well be one of Kenny's steals when all is said and done. Much like Thornton. Even though he gave up the dinger today...he's the guy I wanted out there.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 06:44 PM) So, I think I'm going to play Mr. Positive today. Don't know why, but I want to right now. Mr. Erstad, wonderful job. You keep this up and I'm going to be much, much less mad about that whole you getting the starting job without earning it in the spring deal. Mr. Aardsma...most impressive. Mr. Crede, Iguchi, and Thome...couple big hits in this game. They were appreciated, even though things didn't work out in the end. Balta doing his George Costanza "Opposite World"!

That's ridiculous. Not like Coop wouldn't be snatched up in all of 3.5 seconds. Can Coop hold everybody's hand for offseason routines to see if they're are in 100% shape? Can Coop get into guys heads and control their mental states? Does Coop actually make the crappy pitches? Please...get a grip.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 06:12 PM) Perhaps you missed the sentence where I said "he has lost all effectiveness." I think Podsednik still can be plenty effective. But it's obvious to me that he needs to try to put the ball in play, preferably on the ground, instead of "working the pitcher" and trying to draw a walk. It's obvious that he isn't particularly comfortable doing it, whether that's because it is against his nature or what, I don't know. But he was so much more effective when he was putting the ball on the ground to the left side of the infield and drag bunting. I believe if he would focus more on that instead of trying to draw walks. That being said, there is plenty of blame to be passed around today, so enough with the broken record that is blaming Podsednik for everything. and he'll be given every possible chance to justify his $2.9M signing. Pathetic.

QUOTE(DrunkBomber @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 05:34 PM) The 9th inning is really what pissed me off. What more can you want in an opportunity to win a 1 run close game in the bottom of the 9th than having your 2 get on base and having Thome, Konerko, Dye and Crede all have a shot to drive in some runs to win or just tie the game. If you cant take advantage of that situation in a close game youll pick up a lot of losses throughout the year. My feelings exactly. You couldn't ask for a better situation being down one run. Thome is just not a clutch hitter. I hope Oz doesn't wait til August again to move him out of the 3.

QUOTE(bulokis @ Mar 31, 2007 -> 04:16 PM) Why cant we put Dye in the 3rd whole all the time. Dye seems to thrive on that pressure of hitting 3rd i.e 2005 world series. It'll take Ozzie until August again to figure this out like the last few years.

I thought the idea was to try and develop Sisco as a starter...but the problem was it would have left the bullpen thin. Then here you have Logan throwing lights out solving that problem...and he's the one that gets sent down. BRILLIANT. Sisco will be sent down by June 1st IMO.

For as excited as I am for the season to start...I get a little depressed when the end of March gets here. Spring Training is truly THE ONLY thing I like about living out here.

Out of the Pen: Matt Thornton. I honestly think he's the most consistant and possibly the best pitcher on the staff right now carrying over from last year. I understand the question is dictated by situations. Clutch at bat: Paulie. Tough call between him, JD and Crede. I honestly don't think Thome would even be in my top 5. Again...I understand it's subjective to vs righty or lefty...but overall. Starter for must win game: Garland. Geez-us this was a tough one with Freddy gone.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 10:33 AM) I was thinking it was more a reference to our "small ball" and our propensity to get a lot out of one hit. But if the comment was Detroit might not be so high ebcause they might not even make the playoffs this year, I agree. I don't think they will make the playoffs, and if that happens they will be exactly like us. I think that would be giving these morons the benefit of the doubt that they actually knew something about the Sox...or any of these teams besides the Red Sox and Yankees. I do agree about Detroit. It seems like a ton of those guys all had career years last year and everything fell into place. They could repeat...but I'd almost think they're gonna be more like the team down the stretch last year.

What a friggin joke! That's ok though...I don't mind the no love. Gives the Sox a reason to put that chip on their shoulder. I hope they take it to heart.