BrandoFan

Our starting pitching is as good as the Cubs. Not wait....the Jordan4life windsock has changed positions - it's almost as good. No wait again....not even close.

He just needs to pitch inside more.

Ok how about this: How many times have Hawks finished in the Top 4 in their conference - an equivalent making the playoffs in baseball since 1995 and top 2 -- pre-1995.

No, more than Garcia - a 2 time All-Star averaging 19 wins a year and all.

2000 team would have had him in the showers with 1 out in the 1st. I do like that Crede and Rowand and Kong are trying to all-field the ball...for once. Sele might not stay in the game for long, but unfortunately Cy Loaiza has put the struggling Sox hitters in yet another hole.

Guerrero runs like his disc is dust....Deceptive as hell , he ends up covering the ground well.

Didn't Burke also drop Timo's throw that would have gone down Patterson in Wrigley? Also in Loaiza's start? Kong couldn't make the tag. Burke drops the ball. Anyone else willing to give up precious outs?

They didn't see them when me and you told people to STFU before the injuries began. They sure as hell won't now.

You have a point. Bring up, I guess.

Any other great news? Suppose this be the best time to inform us of Buerhle's torn labrum? Esteban Loiaza and his tendonitis? Freddy's 3rd drum fell out, you say? Great. Don't forget about Paulie's hip and Jose's hamstring. Could go at any time. Jaimme Burke as a clean-up hitting DH has a ring to it.

Btw......I'd take Robbie back, too. I figure one of Willie/Uribe will get his s*** together before long, and Robbie can seriously challenge the one who doesn't. Hell, Joe Crede should feel the heat because his swing is as long and slow as it's ever been. In the playoffs, that spells O-fer.

After 2001-2003, I can't bring myself to say I love our chances.....but as of 1 week ago, I sure did like them a lot. But that's if we're talking winning ALC. When it comes to winning WS, then I have very little confidence in this team. I guess I've seen WAY too much choking and WAY too much selfishness from the Sox in the last 2-3 years for my own good.

What about his wife's forehead, doesn't he like to take a swing at that, too?

A few years back I had a tape of Mussina at his most dominant 1997 playoff self.....Suffice to say, the old man who is wearing pinstripes now is just a shadow of his former self. I would say loss of velocity and break affected him alright.

Hey, your countryman Leyton could return, too.... Nothing beats the genius of Federer, though. If this gets lucky and avoids chronic back/knee/ankle/hip/elbow/neck/shoulder injuries and doesn't lose interest in the game like Venus and Agassi did in their prime, he has SPECTACULAR 7-10 years ahead of him. Do you remember him destroying Sampras in the 2001 Wimbly? The last time Pete received such a beating on grass was in 1996 at the hands of the flukey Krajchek.

No kidding. We're talking about possibly (warning: slight exaggeration ahead) life and death of the entire franchise......and people are shoving Ryan "hitting .250 with zero power in A-ball" Sweeeney in my face.

I can bet you anything that the 2003 version of Loaiza -- the guy who had passion and extra bite and jump to his pitches and wasn't afraid of anything -- would have found a way to make that 2-0 lead stand in Wrigley, which would have allowed the Sox hitters to maybe add a run or two and thus put the game out of reach. And once Sox take the first game of the Series, Cubs would have been too desperate, too anxious to win the remaining two to salvage the series that I think Sox would have taken at least 1 more - probably the Rusch start. That's a 2 game swing from 0-3 to 2-1 and a wholalot of emotional momentum heading into the home stand. Even if Sox lose both games to Anaheim, they're still 8 games over .500 instead of 4. But you're right - the team IS playing some atrocious ball.

I wish you'd concentrate on this part of my post instead: We've been talking about Finley since like May, good trade idea for sure. BUT..... This is where Garcia, Buehle, Loaiza, Thomas, Ordonez, Konerko, Lee, Valentin and even Garland have to ONCE AND FOR ALL decide whether they are gonna be big-time winners or merely talented losers they were most of their professional lives, esp in 2002-2003 - 2000 playoffs, too IIRC. This is another point I've always held as self-evident and didn't mention before. Even if the Sox were to get Randy Johnson and Steve Finley......If the rest of the core players, the "stars" of the team lay down under tremendeous pressure as they pretty much have done at various decisive points of 2002 and 2003 seasons.....Then Unit and Finley by themseleves might not be enough. I don't want to know why our Front 3 is getting bombed every other outing lately. I don't want to know why our 3-4-5-6 is getting jammed on mediocre pitches so much and can't handle a good RHP, especially in front of the national TV audience, to save their f***ing lives. JR is doing his part for a change - slowly but surely opening up the purse. But unless the players perform at near 100% of their ability (something they haven't done the last 2 years), increases in payroll won't matter that much - there will be no World Series without great intensity and sacrifice. Period. My patience with the current core runs out with 2004. Fail to make postseason and you're as good as dead to me. Bring on the new blood.

But he doesn't take baths, so he could be an honorary Russian. And two of the greatest returners of all time were American.....Connors and Agassi.

No, let's wait until 2008 when it will be finally revealed that neither of them can hit his weight in AAA, let alone in the majors, instead. In the meantime, Cubs will be winning their second World Series and Sox would be SUCH an after thought....

What else do you expect from a man with no integrity and no spine, to say nothing of knowledge and love of the game -- any game? The word "soul-less" gets thrown around a lot, but that's exactly what Mariotti is. *shudder*

Ever since Loaiza failed to step up as a premiere pitcher he clearly thinks he is on Friday.....This team is 0-5. They were 5-0 coming into that game and he was staked to an early 2-0 lead......Damn you E-Lo.

I hear it's FlaSoxJim's favorite.

No, you build around pitching. Buerhle and Garcia are in place. You use Magglio's money to get a BONA-FIELD ace. If Garland is still here, hopefully he grows a pair and becomes an excellent #4. I LOVE Drew at 4 Mill, but since he's having an MVP (in a world without Berroids, of course) type season, you just KNOW Boras is going to get him a huge contract in the off-season. With his health history, NO WAY.

I don't think the team should be blown up because another Kids Can Play will kill this franchise.......But if Sox don't make playoffs in 2004......I can't even fanthom the possiblity of that happening. Not after 2002-2003 debacles, you'd think these guys have learned that tough lesson. :puke