FlaCWS

Guillen's the one who got away

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Oct 11, 2005 -> 08:47 PM) How can Podsednik not lay down a bunt? He has zero power, questionable defense, and he currently can't even steal a base. What good is he if he can't even lay down a bunt? I was going to say the same thing. He is no longer a factor on the bases, and if he can't bring that, I say give Timo or Ozuna a start in LF. I have more confidence in them hitting right now.

QUOTE(mkalk @ Oct 11, 2005 -> 03:49 PM) If you are active on the game thread, at least you will be kept up-to-date by the other members. That may be the best you can hope for. While I appreciate that, I will probably go out to a local bar tomorrow (assuming we get Cards-Astros on the main Fox channel).

QUOTE(bmags @ Oct 11, 2005 -> 03:32 PM) which is great since i don't get FX...f*** YOU FOX Holy s***, I don't think I get it either...

I just saw that the ALCS game 2 and NLCS game 1 are both scheduled for 8p ET/7p CT Wednesday night. Does anyone know how Fox is handling this? I live outside the Chicago market and I will be beyond pissed off if our game isn't televised here.

Beating the Yankees would be sweeter, but I can't bring myself to root for them.

Absolutely leave him in. Not even a question. Keep Jenks warm - just in case - but how can you go away from such a hot hand? We've seen Ozzie do it before and it usually doesn't work. I definitely leave Duque in.

QUOTE(BigNDfan80 @ Oct 2, 2005 -> 09:17 AM) You like our chances against the Angels? Are you nuts? You should want to play anyone, but a team from the West Coast. We get our asses handed to us game after game against the Angels or A's. The bottom line is that LA doesn't have Ortiz and Manny. I also think regular season means nothing when the playoffs start. I remember a bunch of years ago the Dodgers beat the Mets in the playoffs after losing something like 11 out of 12 to them during the regular season.

QUOTE(CYGarland @ Oct 1, 2005 -> 05:48 PM) My point is... would you rather face Boston's offense or the Angels pitching? Just my opinion, but I'd rather face the Angels pitching. Mostly because I think it's overrated. Our strength is pitching and, while the Angels have a solid lineup, I just think we match up better against their hitters. Ortiz and Manny are a 1-2 punch like I've never seen. Like I said, I think we can beat anyone out there. I just like the matchup with the Angels better. But hey, what's done is done (almost). Bring on the Bosox. On the plus side, we probably have a better shot at playing in prime-time with the Red Sox instead of the Angels.

I know it's not official yet, but today's events make it very likely that we'll play the Bosox in round 1. That is the one team I wanted no part of. I realize their pitching is weaker than NY or the Angels, but Ortiz and Manny send a shiver up my spine. Plus they are the defending champs. I certainly wasn't rooting against the White Sox this weekend, but I was sort of hoping they would lay down for the Tribe. I like our matchup against LA much better. Now the Tribe will have to win 2 straight and Boston will have to lose 2 straight for that to happen. I still think we can beat Boston, I just like our chances better against the Angels.

I'm sorry if this is an obvious point but I absolutely cannot believe how many opportunities this team has squandered over the last couple of weeks. Never in my 3 decades of watching baseball have I seen so many 1-out, runners-in-scoring-position situations come up empty... never. And this from a team that's in 1st place in late September. It is friggin beyond belief. You have to be able to win these games.

With all due respect, this is a riduculous thread. Go to New York sometime and see how much the Met fans hate the Yankees, and vice-versa. Last I counted, they have 5 championships between them since '86. Somehow it doesn't matter over there.

Freakin' missed opportunities... This is absolutely ridiculous at this point.

The freakin missed opportunities...

I couldn't agree more. If we can go 4-3 against Minny and Detroit (which we better), and then win 1 in Cleveland, that's 96 wins and I can't see us not making the playoffs in that scenario. Like I've said before, I don't care about the division at this point. With Cleveland playing KC and Tampa, you can't count on that. You just have to make the playoffs, period. If we can't go 4-3 against the Twins and Tigers, then you're right, this team has no business in the playoffs anyway.

Missed opportunities... all. night. long. Meanwhile, I think I start the 10th with Marte and let him win it or lose it. I have no confidence in Jenks's control right now.

I probably shouldn't say this again... but I'm still wondering why Politte didn't start the 9th. But what do I know?

I'm sitting here wondering why he didn't leave Politte in for the 9th... but what do I know?

How many opportunities can this team miss? It's inevitable the Tribe will capitalize on one of theirs. Jesus.

This team and the missed opportunities... WTF???!!!

The Sox were pieced together, on a whim and a prayer, for one regular season. The Indians were built for a series of title runs and currently are a model of cost efficiency, with a $41 million payroll that is nearly one-half that of the Sox. Knowing the Sox face intense pressure not to become the all-time chokers, the intruders were only happy to contribute to the squeezing anxiety. I don't agree with this. Yes, the Indians have a lot more young stars than the Sox, but I have no reason to believe we can't compete for a few more years (assuming we retain Buehrle and Garland). We already have Garcia locked up, in addition to AJ, Iguchi and Dye. Sure, we could lose Konerko to free agency, but the bottom line is that this team - right now - is built around those big 3 starters. As long as they are here, we will contend. We may not have the horses that Cleveland has, but we are not a team built for one season.

QUOTE(Punch and Judy Garland @ Sep 19, 2005 -> 10:04 PM) I agree. Losing the division and making the wild card is the kiss of death to me because we would be the only team out of 8 that would go in on a negative note. We MUST win the division to have a chance to do ANYTHING in the playoffs. I actually disagree with that. I know where you're going, in terms of it being a big emotional letdown. But in reality it doesn't mean too much IMO. Win the division and (probably) play the Angels. Win the wildcard and play Boston or NY. I see problems facing any of those teams. With the wildcard we don't get home field. Big deal, we've been a better road team all year long. And it would be better to get away from Chicago if they do blow the division. Besides, the pressure will be off. No one will give the Sox a shot to do anything. Maybe they rally around that. Would I prefer the wildcard? Of course not. I'm just saying it's not the end of the world if it happens. The way this team is playing right now, and considering Cleveland's other series are against KC and Tampa... I'll sign on the dotted line to make the playoffs at this point, regardless of how we get there.

QUOTE(qwerty @ Sep 19, 2005 -> 09:27 PM) I am blaming ozzie. We had at last two better options than vizcaino... followed by marte. One would have been to let cotts got for a second inning of work... I was actually thinking that same thing. I think Oz gets hung up on the lefty/righty thing too often. Cotts looked good. Why take him out?

On a side note, I just read this on CBS Sportsline: The crowd of 39,165 was the White Sox's 11th sellout of the season, a franchise record. Can that really be true? A franchise that has been around for more than 100 years has never sold out more than 11 dates in a full season??? I am not buying that for a second. That stat has to be wrong. Has to be.

I posted a few weeks ago that I'm tired of watching the home run-fests at the Cell. I love the stadium to death, but the configuration just doesn't fit the type of team we are anymore. And I just read the post-game quotes from Garcia, which made me think of it. I really hope they move the fences or home plate to make the dimensions a little longer next year. We need to play to our strengths, not to mention entice pitchers to come here (and our own pitchers to stay!) We cannot become Coors Field East (assuming we aren't already). "Ninety percent of us play better on the road. I don't know why. I count myself. I pitch good on the road, and I don't know why. I try to get that out of my mind and pitch better here," said Garcia (11-5), who is 2-4 at home and 9-1 on the road. "It's weird when you go on the road and play better. Maybe when you're on the road and you're more relaxed and you take it easier." -- Or maybe you're not pitching in a band box where every pop fly goes out... Sorry, just venting.