jphat007

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 04:46 PM) Give it up. I got it the first 1,000 times you said it. I just hate the idea of closer-by-committee, and not for one second do I think Ozzie is going to go with it. - Give it up? - I got it the first 1,000 times you said it. Now there's a concept, except it might be the first 1,000,000 times you said it.

QUOTE(JimH @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 04:42 PM) Marte closed a few games did he not, I also think it bounced between Shingo and Hermanson for at least a week to 10 days, Hermanson closed some games after Jenks was called up, etc. Guillen has always said he'd do it this way, if he thinks there's a better match up he'll use it. Hey, almost identical posts! And you are right. Guillen is never afraid to go to a matchup. He used Marte in the 9th at times at the end of the year.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 04:33 PM) When did we have closer-by-committe? It went from Shingo to Hermanson to Jenks. Closer-by-committe basically means you go with whoever is fresh and pitching well at the time and matches-up well. Having 3 different closers during the course of the season doesn't equate to closer-by-committee. Early in the season Marte, Shingo and Hermy all closed some. Then Hermy and Marte traded off a bit. Then Hermy and JEnks from time to time. Then Jenks. But predict doom and gloom. Cool by me.

QUOTE(JimH @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 04:25 PM) Taken directly from page 43, "Baseball Motivational Strategies 101", by Connie Mack, foreward by Casey Stengel. Exactly. That's how Ozzie motivates people. Tells them that he isn't afraid to put you on the bench if you aren't getting the job done.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 04:25 PM) This is nothing different than what he's been saying the last few days. If we go to a bullpen by committee, we won't make the playoffs (the first of many predictions by me). BTW, I've decided that my key to the season is Brandon McCarthy. Yah, because that closer by committee thing surely didn't work for us last year.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 04:23 PM) WSCR 670 sports update: Ozzie says that he will use a closer-by-committee if Jenks continues to struggle. I guess we weren't blowing it out of proportion if Ozzie is saying this. He said that the last two days. Said he'd use Cotts if he needed to and that's why he put him in the 9th the other day.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 04:20 PM) But is he still fat? haha. I think he's always gonna be "big-boned"

M's win. Tracey gives up a single, bunt, and then they either tried to steal home and they threw it away or Corky MIiller singled him home. PS I'm for real this time.

QUOTE(JimH @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 04:18 PM) Here comes 5 more pages on Jenks. Sorry sorry. I was just joking. Tracey's in. I wouldn't have done it if it were regular season. Trying to lighten the mood re the bullpen. Soxtalk ---->

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 04:17 PM) Haha. That's wrong isn't it?

Juan singles in Sweeney, tie ball game.

Sweeney doubles to right. 3-2 M's.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 04:01 PM) I'm predicting a 10 page thread on how Hermanson is done and should retire immediately. Haha. I wouldn't be surprised. Paul doubles to right.

Hermy gives up a walk and double in 1 IP. 3-1 Ms.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 03:55 PM) It's 2-1 now. I don't know how the Sox scored. Uribe singled, Anderson walked, and ..... I think ...... Scott singled in the run.

QUOTE(hi8is @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 02:23 PM) yeah, i am... dye just flyed out to borchard =P they are saying something about reed... which lead me to believe he got seriously injuried. He's out six weeks with a broken hand I believe.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 01:46 PM) Glad to hear it. It sounds like Iguchi must have been trying to do too much powerhitting in the 6 slot, and I never really thought Uribe was the right guy to hit behind Pods. Agreed. I'd like to see what Iguchi could do in a full season hitting 6th or 7th, but I'm just not sold on Uribe up front. Having 4 straight OBPs over .350 or so to start the lineup will be really nice.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 12:10 PM) I'm not so sure. If KW traded for Cruz, they could keep both Logan and Thornton and go with a 7-man bullpen. Remember, Ozuna has a split contract -- he will earn $500,000 if he is in the majors and $330,000 if he is in the minors. They could send Ozuna to Charlotte for the time being, keep Thornton on the opening day roster, wait a few weeks into the season, and then try to sneak Thornton through waivers to AAA and bring Ozuna back up. Possibly. I don't think they'd send Ozuna down though.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 11:54 AM) Agreed, Levine is a joke. But now I at least have some hope that KW isn't just settling for Thornton in the bullpen. Just thought I'd pass on the report. If the Sox acquired a right hander mop up guy there is a chance that Logan would be sent down and Thorton would be the LOOGY. Logan, obviously, isn't out of options

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 11:48 AM) I trust what you're saying, and I also trust my own eyes. Hitters aren't just barely making contact on his heater like they were doing last year. There's no life on his fastball yet. There's still time for him to get it back, but we have less than 10 days until the games start. Paging Brad Lidge....paging Brad Lidge. He SAID this is the way it was going to be. He is working up to his velocity. As Kush said nobody has a 98 MPH fastball right into camp. Your favorite person to cite Joe Nathan isn't throwing as hard as he will. Before his first year with the Twins everyone was wondering how he was going to get by with a 90 MPH fastball, but when the season started, after his training, his good fastball was there. That's the way many hard throwers do it. Of course they aren't barely making contact. It's March 24. He was getting crushed last year too. I fail to see why people are surprised. He has said this was going to be how it happened.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 11:42 AM) I was sitting in sect. 113 row 12 which is really about the 7th row. The gun is stationed right in front and it was easy to read. A black guy with the Marlins was sitting right in front of me and he had his own gun. He only used it for 2 pitches but it read the same as the one that was hooked up. Buerhle never threw higher than 84 that day, and Politte was about the same as Jenks. The one pitch I saw go to 93 was laced for a double. I wouldn't be surprised if the was a conspiracy within MLB to add a couple of miles per hour to everyone's fastball, much like the NBA with height measurements. I couldn't care less if jphat doesn't believe me, but anyone else, I am speaking the truth. Why would I make up what Jenks was throwing? Who knows what is causing Jenks drop in velocity, whether its his weightlifting, tightening himself up, or lack of conditioning, or something else, the fact remains his velocity is down, his mechanics looked a little off, he having a tough time throwing strikes, and when he does throw strikes he is getting hit hard. It could have been low 90s on some of the pitches you saw. But it's not the end all be all when 3 other places say he is throwing right around 94 consistently. Nobody should be surprised his velocity is down from 97-98 consistently. As Rock said this is spring training and he is getting ready. He said his velocity doesn't come back until the end of the spring and then maybe not totally. This shouldn't be a surprise we they have told us this is the way it would happen.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 09:13 AM) I cant believe everyone is arguing about his conditioning and whatnot. The guy is a fat slob, he was last year, the year before, and the year before. s***, he was even an alcoholic slob at one point. This all never effected his veolocity. He is building up thorugh camp. They havent used him all that much, and when he has pitched, hes been working on different pitches. Almost every pitcher we have is throwing a little lighter, even Mark. Its like people have never seen spring training before. Exactly. That's what I've been trying to say all month. He's been building up exactly like he said he would. He just needs to get his location straight. The velocity will be there. People don't want ot hear that though. They want to freak out. Act like it's the regular season. He has said this happens every spring. Nobody wants to listen to him though.

QUOTE(Steff @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 08:57 AM) LMAO.. I'm sorry. But I just find your defense of their comments completely asinine and naive. But.. ya got spunk so that's a plus I guess. So in other words you are saying you can't ever believe anything that anybody on the team says. I understand how it works, but I think if Ozzie and the staff were truly concerned with the velocity they would say something. They are sitting there saying they are upset that he isn't throwing strikes now, why lie about one thing and not the other. I can understand being skeptical about what FO people in sports say, but there is just no reason not to believe them in this instance. If that makes me naive, which I don't think it does, so be it.

QUOTE(Steff @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 08:48 AM) I was there 3/8 to 3/15. Ask some questions rather then attempting to argue over news articles and I'll give you some responses. That is two legitimate quesitons I asked right there. 1. What reason do they have to lie? There is really no sense to lie about injuries in baseball. The proof is in the pudding and there is no gameplanning. 2. When you were there, which you just answered. All you had to do was answer those questions but you replied with "I love this board."

QUOTE(Steff @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 08:40 AM) Seriously... what's the point? :banghead :banghead :banghead How come you won't discuss the situations. YOu just keep putting up smilies in the place of substance. Were you there at the beginning or end of spring? I know people in the business aren't all that reliable/honest but almost everywhere we have seen that Jenks is hitting 94 consistently except for the Rocky Mountain news, whose story was debunked, and a couple of people on this message board. So who would you advise we go with?