South Side Fireworks Man

QUOTE (WCSox @ Jun 29, 2008 -> 12:47 PM) People here need to stop worrying about the Cubs. They're not a division rival, and they're not even in the same f'n league. People here are worrying about the Cubs today because that's whom the Sox are playing tonight.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Jun 29, 2008 -> 12:40 PM) In one of the 2005 World Series DVDs, one of the players said that their goal was to go out and win the first two games of each series. That was their focus throughout the regular season. Apparently that strategy works pretty well. Of course. Because you can't sweep if you don't win the first two, and winning the first two guarantees a winning series. That doesn't mean you relax and look past the third game to the first game of the next series. When you win the first two, you focus on the sweep. BTW, winning two games does not atone for losing four.

Time for the 2008 White Sox to put up or shut up.

QUOTE (WilliamTell @ Jun 26, 2008 -> 05:23 PM) Yeah I would prefere him to not be back, and I hate to say that because he is a class act, but I would prefere Konerko to DH with Swisher at CF. You mean with Swisher at 1B, right?

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Jun 24, 2008 -> 10:11 PM) We see success with hitting the ball back up the middle. So lets abandon that. Who said Walker isn't good at making in-game adjustments?

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jun 18, 2008 -> 09:39 PM) This lineup is more diverse without Konerko-black-hole in the middle of it right now. I like the speed, the power from top to bottom, and the line drive guys we have right now. Swish apparently plays better when he's a full time 1B. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Jun 18, 2008 -> 01:05 PM) I like Jim Thome but I think his Hawk nickname should be the Garbage Man. It's funny because it's true.

Did they get the game in tonight? If so, how did Loaiza do? Velocity?

QUOTE (Mr. Showtime @ Jun 16, 2008 -> 09:34 PM) So, Owens is playing tonight and Fields is heading to the DL. I assume we got something else in mind, or PK isn't going on the DL. Well, they did say that they won't know about Konerko until after they evaluate him again on Tuesday so I suppose anyone is possible yet (with the exception of Fields of course).

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jun 16, 2008 -> 02:14 PM) Usually, significant rib muscle strains keep hitters out for longer than 15 days. it just depends on the severity. It's impossible to swing a bat without pain with this injury. The muscles are very short, thick and multidirectional all factors contibuting to the length of time it takes for it to heal. I hope they shut Paulie down until after the All Star Break.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jun 15, 2008 -> 05:07 PM) If Konerko were to go on the DL and Swisher to 1B during that time, who backs up Swisher? Fields doesn't play 1B, even though I think he should be learning that position, and they don't want to use Thome there. Probably either Uribe or Ozuna, and possibly Dye in a pinch.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Jun 15, 2008 -> 04:13 PM) It better be Fields who gets called up Where's he gonna play? Seriously. Call up Owens and start BA in CF with Swisher moving over to 1B.

QUOTE (WilliamTell @ Jun 15, 2008 -> 03:16 PM) I like Thome, I really do, but I've always felt like he clogs up our lineup. Occasionally he'll get a home run or a walk, but normally it's a strike out or some put out with the shift. Thome is a great guy, but as a ballplayer he sucks. Not a winner--doesn't hit in the clutch (or any time, lately) and can't play in the field. And he makes a lot of money too.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 14, 2008 -> 10:35 PM) I used to think Ozuna was an extremely valuable bench player, but now that we're carrying Uribe and Ramirez on the roster, there's just no need for him. I love Ozuna, but I have to agree with you there. I'd like to see Thome and Ozuna replaced on the roster by Fields and Lofton myself.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox15 @ Jun 14, 2008 -> 09:14 PM) Too bad none of our "sluggers" have the balls to put the team on their backs for a while and keep this team in this. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Exactly.

Just like last year, the problem with this team is the middle of the order. The guys making the big bucks who are supposed to be the big RBI men aren't doing their job. The ones who were supposed to carry the offense are the ones dragging it down.

QUOTE (tommy @ Jun 13, 2008 -> 09:49 PM) Juan Uribe! Yep!

QUOTE (quickman @ Jun 12, 2008 -> 08:50 PM) If he ends up being a mop up guy like loiaza then who cares, I just think as the time wears on they will want a veteran guy. they will be available after this month. Paging Freddy Garcia...

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jun 12, 2008 -> 04:59 PM) In short, nothing. He is just having a slight cold spell. And still gets on base and hits a bit. So you're saying he does not have a sore hand?

KW has done an outstanding job as Sox' GM.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jun 8, 2008 -> 03:59 PM) There was a nubber that was behind the plate and foul and he decided to throw it to 3rd for no reason. I was just reviewing the game thread and wanted to comment on this. Since Gomez was running on the pitch and was already around third when AJ threw that ball, I suspect AJ threw that ball away on purpose to fool him so that Gomez would continue running hard all the way home and tire himself out a little in the event that on the next pitch the batter got a hit so maybe they might have a chance to throw him out trying to score from 2B. Hawk seemed to think AJ was just being "Dennis The Menace" again, but I think there was a method to his madness.

QUOTE (Cubano @ Jun 8, 2008 -> 04:23 PM) Those scouts were saying that Alexei was projected to have Julio Lugo type power numbers. Scouts do not see cuban players often. They only see them 5 o 6 games in a year during an international tournament. Yeah, and I remember reading here that Alexei projected to be another Omar Infante or Pablo Ozuna. Keep us posted on the Cuban baseball scene. I appreciate your insight.

It's nice that Hunter's not in CF for the Twins anymore. JD is glad too.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 4, 2008 -> 06:05 PM) So Loaiza's going to be starting now? Hopefully Levine was stating hypotheticals, becase Loaiza would be a huge step backwards for the rotation. I doubt it. If the Buehrle injury story is true, Masset would probably start with Loaiza taking Masset's spot in the pen.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 4, 2008 -> 05:35 PM) Greg Walker is a class act and old school. In his world you don't throw your teammates or coaches or managers under the proverbial bus. If there's something that needs to be said you say it to the individual, not to the press. A general rant is fine, but when specific names get thrown around, that doesn't fly with a lot of people, not just Greg Walker. If Walker was such a class act why did he go over his boss's head and over his GM's head and plead his case directly to his buddy the owner? And why was he so "hurt" just because Ozzie mentioned his name along with his own name? Why is Walker immune from any criticism or accountability for results? Walker may or may not be a "good Coach" depending on how you define and judge that. But going purely by results, his hitters have underperformed for the past two years. Ozzie never made one negative comment about Walker before and Sunday didn't really say anything about him other than mentioning his name once during a frustrated rant. Big deal. If Walker can't handle that, he shouldn't even be there.