South Side Fireworks Man

I watch the games, not the stat sheets. I've seen Thome come up numerous times this year in key situations and fail. Yesterday was one of the few times I've seen him come through in the clutch, especially that late in the game. When was the last time he did that in the eighth or ninth inning of a close game? He may be the tallest midget in the Sox offense right now, but he along with Dye and Konerko are supposed to carry this offense. QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jun 10, 2007 -> 01:17 AM) Why should I or anyone else for that matter take anything you post seriously anymore? And why should I give a s*** what you take seriously or what you think about anything? EDIT: PS Watch Thome have a big day today and come through with a big clutch hit, and a few posters here will sarcastically bring up what I wrote. Well, the fact is, I expect Thome, along with Konerko and Dye to carry this team and come through in the clutch. That's why I'm so disappointed that they heven't been. And regardless of how well they do from this point on, what I posted still stands: The main reason the Sox are off to a poor start this season is the Sox offense, namely the middle of the order, Thome, Dye and Konerko, not producing like they were expected to do.

QUOTE(bigred3535 @ Jun 10, 2007 -> 12:23 AM) Can Thome, Dye or Konerko strike out Lance Berkman? None of them have been performing up to standards set last year (except perhaps Thome) but the blame for this team falls evenly among every single player, as well as the coaches and management. Sox pitching performed well enough to win Saturday. The offense let them down--again. The Sox offense hasn't performed all season. The starting pitching has been solid and the bullpen performed well earlier in the year. Even in recent games that the bullpen blew leads, the Sox offense didn't show up. The responsibility for this team's dismal record falls squarely on the shoulders of Dye, Konerko and Thome. They are paid big money and are counted on to carry the offense. Collectively, they have sucked all season so far.

Thome, Dye and Konerko need to step up and carry this team like they're supposed to. The responsibility for this team's success or failure falls squarely on their shoulders.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jun 9, 2007 -> 06:07 PM) Those weren't straight fastballs from Jenks, they were that cutter-type pitch that moves down-and-in. Last outing against New York he was hitting a legit 96 on the gun -- that's probably the last thing you should be worried about at this point. Boone Logan rocks, and nice game for Fields today. I now await the Jermaine Dye or Mark Buehrle trade. This team is losing games to bad teams in the NL Central. Time to throw in the towel, although I know the Sox can't really afford to white flag it so early in the season. That "hit" to lead off the ninth should have been scored an error on Fields. Jenks didn't pitch that badly. Boone Logan is solid. What a novelty for the Sox bullpen this year. They're not going to get anything for Dye at this point. Dye and Konerko have been killing the Sox so far. I was pleasantly surprised Thome got a clutch hit in the eighth, as he seldom does that so late in a close game. That's what he gets the big bucks for. Well, I've tried to stay optimistic about this season, but unfortunately it looks like the Sox really do suck. Looks like the window has definitely closed. Too bad they won't even be able to rebuild by having a "fire sale" because they won't get much for guys like Dye, Crede and Iguchi now.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jun 9, 2007 -> 10:41 AM) Dye's problem now is that he can't catch up to fastballs. Yeah, but if he can sit on them, maybe he can catch up to them and putting him second may allow him to do that. He'll never get his swing back if he's always caught in between. Batting him second for a while may be what he needs. If he can't catch up to fastballs when sitting on them, then he's through anyway. I doubt if he's through yet. QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 9, 2007 -> 10:43 AM) Keep Iguchi in the 2nd spot, as he's been hitting better and we all know he doesn't really adjust to change well. Let Mackowiak leadoff. Nah.

Here's the lineup I would try for the next few days: Iguchi Dye Thome Konerko Pierzynski Fields Mackowiak Terrero Gonzalez Iguchi is probably our best option to lead off right now and looks like his bat is coming around. Maybe batting Dye second will cause him to see more fastballs and allow him to break out of his slumber. Terrero is the best option to play CF, and it's time to see what Gonzalez can do at SS and at the plate. He can't be any worse than what we've been getting lately anyway.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 8, 2007 -> 07:51 PM) Another start where Danks has little command. Soriano has 3 homers thru 4 innings. It must be nice to have the money to go out and get the top free agents. JR had the money to get Soriano or anybody else that was available. He just wouldn't let Kenny spend it. QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 8, 2007 -> 09:28 PM) Terrible game for Thome. He's been worthless this season against LHP. Last season too.

QUOTE(greg775 @ Jun 7, 2007 -> 11:20 PM) The problem is, what do we blow up? With injuries, we're playing Fields, Owens, Terrero. We got no minor league ss to replace Uribe do we? If we trade starters, we'll just be weak there to go with our weak bullpen. So what do we do? Trade Dye for what? Trade Mark B for what? Remember the talk of dynasty after we won it all? That seems so stupid right now. That's the problem. The guys you would be trading in a fire sale are the ones that are the very reason the Sox currently suck. You're not going to get anything for guys like Dye, Crede and Iguchi now. Who else are they going to get rid of? Mackowiak? Cintron? MacDougal? Bukvich? Who are they going to get for those guys? Best thing that can happen is for the Sox hitters to start hitting like they have in the past. Then they'll start winning games. If around the trade deadline these guys have been producing and they still appear to be out of it, then is the time to trade them off. Hopefully if they start producing soon enough, the Sox can get back into the pennant race and we can be buyers at the deadline for something that can put us over the top. I'm not holding my breath, though.

QUOTE(My Dixie Normus @ Jun 6, 2007 -> 10:19 PM) Opening Day Lineup 2008. Owens CF Crawford LF Dye RF Konerko 1b Thome DH AJP C Iguchi 2b Fields 3b Uribe SS Garland Contreras Vazquez Danks Gio Gonzalez or FA signing? Yuck.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 6, 2007 -> 10:11 PM) Buehrle is the best player possibly available. Even a mediocre GM could get a lot of value for him. Tell me whom the Sox can realistically get for him, and then tell me how much those prospects are going to improve the Sox' chances of making the playoffs the next couple of years.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Jun 6, 2007 -> 10:01 PM) We're now 7.5 games out of the division lead, and after Detroit's inevitable victory, 5.5 games out of the wildcard lead with five teams to jump. If this exact scenario is unchanged in July, I expect Williams to sell off Buehrle and -- to his best efforts -- Dye. This ballclub isn't winning anything, anytime soon. Sooner Williams realizes it, the sooner he can prepare for the future. If they don't turn things around soon, there is no future--at least not for a long time. They're not going to get anything for Dye the way he's playing so far. They probably won't get much for Buehrle either. Prospects are suspects, and nobody is going to give blue chip prospects for guys who are underperforming. If guys like Dye, Iguchi, Crede, Konerko and even Buerhle were performing well, the Sox would be right near the top and there would be no need to sell them off. If they don't begin to perform soon, you're not going to get anything for them.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jun 6, 2007 -> 04:18 PM) Crede's not all-star caliber. Not even healthy. The reason some people are so excited about Fields is they're tired of Crede popping up softly to the right side. One person told me so explicitly, and I know that others agree. I wish Crede were healthy and I'm skeptical about Fields having success at the major league level this year. The only thing I'm looking forward to is to see if he can run as well as his SB numbers seem to indicate. Having decent speed in the order would be a welcome change, if he can get on base and maybe smack a home run or drive the ball in a gap now and then.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jun 6, 2007 -> 04:15 PM) The last time we saw a Crede who wasn't hampered by his back, he was raking the ball. Vlad Guerrero is a great hitter. Albert Pujols is a great hitter. Ichiro is a great hitter (for average). Crede is decent when he's not hurt.

Will Jermaine Dye please show up already?

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Jun 6, 2007 -> 02:49 PM) This is honestly a blessing in disguise. Crede's a great hitter but he's obviously been in pain since August of last year.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jun 5, 2007 -> 10:18 PM) Lovely AB Dye. Why is it that so many of our hitters have their front leg stay still, and their back leg moves towards the pull side. Uribe does it, and now I see Dye doing it a lot. Maybe that's a new technique that Walker is pioneering.

Dye owes Jerry Owens dinner tonight.

Take one for the team, JD.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jun 5, 2007 -> 10:12 PM) Jim Thome is my f***ing hero, all they do is walk his ass in the 9th inning and for good reason. He did get a cookie in that at bat.

Dye coming up --- game over?

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Jun 5, 2007 -> 10:11 PM) We need a clutch walk right here.

Let's see what "Mr. Clutch" Thome does here.

It's nice to see a White Sox player that can get down the line.

A dramatic come from behind victory tonight would really lift this team. I don't remember the last time we had one of those. It would be just what the doctor ordered.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Jun 5, 2007 -> 09:51 PM) We need a 9th inning similar to the Blue Jays' 5 walks, 4 doubles, 6 runs First we need the bullpen to hold them.