AddisonStSox

QUOTE(Tannerfan @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 03:17 PM) Hey the guy barley had a spring training between the shoulder injury and the groin tweek. Give him some time to find his groove. How much? In a year like this, we don't have time for that. Herein lies the problem.

This dude's a great poster. Have a good one!

Well, I am encouraged to see that at least of few of you have faith this offense and this bullpen will get back on track. Don't get me wrong, in no way, shape, or form am I condemning the long-ball. Hell, Thome was brought over to help out in that area. But, if we don't have the table-setters at the top of the order--namely Podsednik and Iguchi--the big fly becomes the only source of runs and that is when you start getting in trouble. Fathom, excellent point on Ozzie figuring this bullpen out in the early-going. I'm sure that wasn't easy for you. But, seriously, he's fingered McCarthy as his go-to guy in the close ballgames and it looks like he still has faith in the big guy closing things out. The Sox are going to be just fine. They really are. ...I'd also like to take this opportunity to say I truly believe we will be hearing Javier Vazquez's name in the race for the Cy Young come season's end. You heard it here first.

Upon further review, the addition of Bobby Jenks velocity could probably merit an addition to the notes above. The velocity is slowly but surely returning and Bobby is popping the mitt. I don't think the breaking balls are there quite yet, but, he's starting to run-up the gun again and that's a start. His ability to close out close ballgames is going to be crucial in surviving this division.

Very, very seldom will I do this--in fact, this will probably be the only time this season--but, I have four big points worth noting from today's game. I'll list them in decreasing order of importance. Freddy Garcia Whether or not someone talked with him about getting his head out of his ass or not, I don't know, but, what I do know is his velocity was up today. That's a major step in the right direction. While some of you have been jumping off buildings, in this, our second week of baseball, I've maintained that this starting pitcher will come around, and, when it does, I expect a lot of this uneasiness to fade away. I don't know if everyone picked up on it--and it would be awfully difficult not to--but, throughout his first outing, Hawk and DJ were compelled to tell us Freddy Garcia has a new outlook for 2006 and he wants to become a control pitcher, lowering his velocity. In fact, it was clearly visible. The guy wasn't even efforting on the mound. I don't know if he felt he could get buy on "stuff," but, the Tribe showed him nice and early that he can't. Drop the new outlook on life, Freddy. Reach back and fire. You are a power pitcher. Welcome back. Brandon McCarthy While Hermanson is on the shelf, and Cliff Politte and Neal Cotts look like shells of their 2005 selves in the early-going, rest assured, the set-up man is on the roster. His name is Brandon McCarthy. Although he can't be used everyday in both the seventh and eighth--for reasons I assume are universally understood--he should be used in these close one-run games. He is clearly the go-to guy. Give him the ball in the seventh. Give him the ball in the eighth. Until Politte and Cotts get back on track--and, who knows, they very well might--McCarthy bridges the gap. Scott Podsednik I believe most of us are thinking along the same lines here. Podsednik needs to wake up and wake up fast. It's only a matter of time until he hits the shelf playing this way, due to some phantom injury for sure. I need not say more concerning Podsednik. He needs to be on base. He needs to steal bases. He needs to be the catalyst at the top of the order once again. The Return of Corpseball? While Konerko and Crede joined the fun today, it appears the Sox offense is content waiting for the big fly. WRONG. This team won in 2005 due to manufacturing runs--and the Sox were the best around. If the Thome-well goes dry, all of a sudden, we're staring at a very stagnate offense once again in 2006. That can't happen. I think we've all felt this team had such a good chance to win the division in 2006 because they seemed to add some legitimate power in Jim Thome to an already serviceable offense. Why won't this approach work? See White Sox Baseball 2001-2004. I welcome your feedback.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 01:15 PM) He the mop up reliever, secondary LOOGY. I thank you. For a second there, I was worried there were other people besides that guy that were feeling that way. Sanity prevails.

QUOTE(KWs OK for Me @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 01:13 PM) I'm just looking at the box score now, someone explain to me how Pudge got a SB? HOW IN THE WORLD DID MEATHOOK GET A STOLEN BASE? You can run all day and night on a Garcia-Pierzynski tandum. Garcia takes 8 hours to get to the plate and Pierzynski has a horrible arm.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 01:14 PM) You gotta admit, the only reason he made the roster is because they couldnt find anyone else. The guy is a decent pitcher, but he is still behind Polite, Cotts, BMAC, Jenks and Thornton out of the pen. Um...Rock...he's a major-league pitcher, you are missing the point.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 01:12 PM) I won't give you a break but I think you need a Reality Check. Logan made the Roster and earned his spot. He should play whenever Guillen puts him out there. Let's get everyone playing time. I don't want any hurt feelings.

QUOTE(Misplaced_Sox @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 01:09 PM) Can anybody tell how Garcia pitched? Here we go. This is what game-threads are all about. Garcia looked like he's finding himself out there. Velocity was up. He was popping the mitt at or around 94-96mph and held a pretty potent offense at bay. Oh, and by the way, that's why McCarthy gets both the seventh and eighth.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 01:07 PM) In fact, if we see a Loogy in this series (not likely) it will be Thornton But...but...but...Logan is such a cuddly story. Give me a f***ing break. The only time Logan should be seeing playing time is when the Sox are up or down by seven runs.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 01:06 PM) I didn't say he should go in today. No, here's what you said. There's a time and place for that...it's called High-A ball.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 01:03 PM) I'm not f***ing kidding you. All pitchers need to be put out there to see what they've got. Logan was fine his first time and gave up a homer to Hafner the second time. I think Logan can manage, Baker, and I think he should be given the chance. Go Paul Konerko! Sorry, this ain't little league, buddy. We are playing for wins and losses here. You go ahead and test your 20 year old High-A-baller in a one run game against one of the hottest teams in baseball. Brilliant.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 12:58 PM) No, so we can see what the kid's got and give him a bit more experience. He's a good pitcher, and a good kid, and I'd like to see him out there a bit more, Dusty. You have to be f***ing kidding me. Please. Please tell me you're messing around.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 12:57 PM) I got into a lot of trouble when I suggested the same against the Indians. I don't get it, Richie. McCarthy is the only pitcher in that bullpen I have confidence in to get this game to Jenks--whether or not I believe in him in the ninth is a different story all together. McCarthy needs to stay in. If Ozzie get's cute here with a Politte/Cotts...or...even worse a Politte/Logan tandum, I'm going to lose it.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 12:56 PM) ??? GameDay doesn't exactly capture the full essence of a play by saying: "Brandon Inge bunt pops out to catcher A.J. Pierzynski in foul territory." No, he was far-better served with this gem:

What a tough play made there by Iguchi. MCCARTHY STAYS ON FOR THE EIGHTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who's with me?

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 12:54 PM) anyone going to tell us what AJ did? b****. b****. b****. Watch the game on gameday, people.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 12:52 PM) I want to see Logan tomorrow. Yes, because we should put as many games in jeopardy as possible. Hell of a play, AJ.

I posted this in yesterday's game-thread. What's the over/under on how many games until Podsednik hits the DL?

QUOTE(Felix @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 12:49 PM) I just got home from school.. can anyone recap the game thus far? No. Go to Yahoo. I want to see McCarthy get both the seventh and eighth barring any complete meltdown. He's the only pitcher I have confidence to bridge the gap between SP and CP at this juncture.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 12:18 PM) Freddy looks much better today, velocity is much improved. That's a start. I'm hoping Guillen and Williams took him behind closed doors and slapped the s*** out of him. What the hell is he thinking? You're not a control pitcher, Freddy. You are a power pitcher. If you don't figure that out, you will be out of Chicago a lot sooner than you are expecting. As it stands, he's probably the guy gone next off-season.

Two things: 1) Just got in and saw the replay of Thome's shot. Is he the f'ing man or what? So far, he has been the White Sox offense. 2) What's Freddy's velocity? Is he popping the mitt, or still trying to be cute with his low-speed, "control" stuff?

This is far from newsworthy, but, the guy will have the chance to handpick his employer...we should all be so lucky. If you have the chance to live out your boyhood dreams, you do it.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Apr 9, 2006 -> 07:31 PM) Couldn't agree with you more Betsy. Exactly 100% correct. And by fast I know what you mean. The Indians are quietly 5-1 right now. The story right now is Detriots hot start, and I don't know about some of you, but I don't want to wait during the middle of the season to see if we can catch them. We are already 3 games out. I don't care how early it is, that's never good for any team. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Neither the Tigers nor Indians project to have the starting pitching to last down the stretch. The starting pitching is bound to come around, and then, I expect this to be a much happier place. If we're worried this early, it's about two, nay, one thing. Scott Podsednik. I would say Paul Konerko, but, he looks to have found his swing and has been having some quality at-bats. If Scott Podsednik doesn't come around in the next few series, he's headed to the DL and, before you know it, our "Ozzie-ball," speedy ballclub has no speed at all.