longshot7

1998 against the Cubs at Wrigley. This is the infamous game where Maggs hit the double into the ivy and got screwed. However, let me set the stage. Tied, bottom of the 11th, potential winning run in scoring position (I don't remember which base) and only 1 out - Manuel has Matt Karchner intentionally walk TWO men to load the bases to face who else - Sammy Sosa. Karchner K's Sosa - all the Sox fans in the place go nuts, but there's still one more out to go, and the batter is Jeff Blauser. Karchner goes to 3-2 on Blauser and I was so tense I thought I would have a heart attack. Final pitch of the at-bat - a ball wins the game for the Scrubs - and Karchner throws the most picture-perfect strike I have ever seen. Right at the knees, inside corner, Blauser buckles and the ump yells "Steeerike Three!" It was simply perfect. Unbelievable. Of course the next inning, Tony Castillo throws a meatball down the middle of the plate for Brant Brown who hits a home run to win the game for the Northsiders, but that memory of Karchner's two K's will last with me forever. It was probably that game that made the Cubs trade Jon Garland for him. The best game I have ever seen live.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Aug 5, 2005 -> 12:02 PM) That was a quote...from another song I got it. Nice one.

pre-emptive merged thread???

I think I missed something here.

Playoff experience is overrated. The Angels of 2002 had no playoff experience hardly anywhere. And last I checked, how many postseason series have the A's won in the last 5 years?

Well, you definitely want to have some DL players on the list - so you can add a rookie or two if they're having a hot Sept. The Angels did this in 2002 - I forgot who was on the DL at the time, but it allowed them to bring K-Rod into the playoffs with them, even though he only came up two weeks earlier. I love the idea of Frank pulling a Kirk Gibson.

QUOTE(knightni @ Aug 1, 2005 -> 11:40 PM) Does his cap have a huge Jheri Curl greasemark inside it ala Coming to America? "Sexual Chocolate, ladies and gentlemen! Sexual Chocolate!" "That boy is good!" "Yeah, good and terrible." Ha! No, it doesn't have Jheri-Curl grease, but it did have his kids' names on the brim. In case he forget them, I guess.

I have Jamie Navarro's cap from 97 - it's my good luck cap, believe it or not. Too bad it didn't work for him. The CD single "3-5 The White Sox Got 'Em Open Up Wide", sung by some unknown person but featuring Frank Thomas (at least his name is on the insert), and released on his then record company. Weird.

Awesome! Thanks!

anyone made one? I like them.

QUOTE(SpringfieldFan @ Aug 1, 2005 -> 10:36 AM) I can see your point too. By the way, do you think there will be any tension if the boys on both teams wind up at the same Dairy Queen when they go for after-game treats? Unless Mazzilli's one of those guys that give his kids fruit..... I always hated fruit as a reward.....

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jul 31, 2005 -> 08:56 PM) Rooting for Oakland to win the West. No way do I want to have to face Harden/Zito in a five game set. I'm perfectly fine going up against Colon/Washburn (or Lackey). And, their lineup is good, but it's not as good as everyone makes it out to be. Guerrero is great. Anderson is good, but he's posting his lowest OPS since 1997 (.750). After that, there's some decent hitters, like Figgins, Molina, Erstad (using 'decent' very loosely with him). Then there's Cabrera (four years, $32 million ) and Finley. Both are overpaid, and Finley seems to be fading fast -- .289 OBP this year. Yeah... I'm perfectly fine facing Anahiem in the first round. ESPN is all over Anahiem -- that's all I hear, "Angels are the best in the AL". They're 1.5 up on Oakland. Sheesh, you think they'd be undefeated for how much they're slobbered over... The Angels have been scuffling lately, but they've got that "it" factor - I would rather face them in a 7-game series than a 5-game. Don't count them out - like the Sox, they do the little things very well. Colon, Lackey, and Escobar (who should be back by then) will be tough, even against our big 3.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Jul 31, 2005 -> 01:27 PM) For the last time, Adkins is up because he has MLB expierence in the midst of a pennant chase. You do not want two rookie arms in your bullpen when you are trying to clinch an AL pennant. uh, see Rodriguez, Francisco - 2002 Angels. Thank you.

ugh - the game's not on Extra Innings???

Your comment about Gammons is pretty uncalled for, whether or not he's full of s***. and you're totally wrong about the Angels - Colon has been pretty on this year, and could have a very competitive series with the Sox.

QUOTE(bulokis @ Jul 28, 2005 -> 07:29 PM) Where did you hear that? Shacon to the Yanks, not a bad deal for them. They desperately needed help, still dont know why other teams help the Evil empire. SD padres acquired catcher David Ross from the Pirates for J.J. Furmaniak. I believe I heard Hernandez is injured that's why Pads needed a catcher. Seems like the trades are coming now. Cant wait to see what moves we can make. Furmaniak went to Bolingbrook High School, my alma mater. It's a shame - I had hoped to see him play in SD.

QUOTE(Steff @ Jul 29, 2005 -> 12:19 PM) IIRC Frank is right now at his slimest in 5 years. And I don't think it would matter. His body frame is what it is, and the damage has been done. For a second, I thought that said slimiest. Ha Ha!! Now I'm gonna cry.....

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Jul 29, 2005 -> 10:15 AM) I'm going to of course throw some stats at you before you decide. ER:earned runs against, UER:unearned runs against WSox Apr 05 17W-07L, ER 076, UER 5 WSox May 05 18W-10L, ER 101, UER 6 WSox Jun 05 18W-07L, ER 089, UER 9 WSox Jul 05 12W-11L, ER 103, UER 12 The point: Defense is the biggest factor to this team winning & losing. If a trade for a bat is going to weaken us defensively I say no. Crede is a major part of the defense so I say no to moving Crede. We've lost 3 games alone in Jul because of errors. We'd be 15W-08L otherwise. If we're trading for a bat then it's got to be for a DH or reserve role. Otherwise the bullpen remains the top priority but we should not trade any of our core position players to upgrade it. The same theory applies to the rotation. Good analysis. I definitely agree about how bad it would be to weaken the defense - especially during the playoffs. Improving the bench is a good idea - and we know how tired some players can get near the end of a pennant chase. If we're up by a lot, then KW should bring up quite a few guys for Sept. And as for trades - Let's hope they can strengthen the bullpen.

QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Jul 28, 2005 -> 02:06 PM) The only team who would take him is the Yankees... Somehow I don't see that happening.. It would be great if they did - but can you imagine Boston whining for another 86 years about "The Curse of Manny Ramirez"?????

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Jul 28, 2005 -> 12:35 PM) BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Phil rogers basically read benmaller.com outloud in vague terms. I want those 7 minutes of my life back. You read that site? Maller is an idiot.

Wouldn't it make sense if Kenny trades Politte & McCarthy for Burnett, that we'll have one too many SP's we can trade for bullpen help?

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jul 26, 2005 -> 05:19 PM) Hasn't he been good one start, then bad the next this year? I haven't even paid attention for a while, but that's how it was about a month ago. I saw RJ last week in Anaheim - he looked awesome, but the Angels came back - Vlad hit a grand slam against Flash Gordon IIRC.

This is the worst interview I've ever heard. Sure, bring on Paulie and ask him about the Red Sox. Blechhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jul 24, 2005 -> 05:54 PM) Lopez sure screwed up with that decision. Pierce was a gamer. He was just as good, if not better, than Whitey Ford. Lopez was a great manager, but that was just dumb. I was looking back at the stats and game logs last month - man, that decision pissed me off. Why not even towards the end of the series? Lopez, supposedly, was a stubborn dude - and his refusal to start Pierce is 1 of the worst blunders in Sox history IMO.

QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Jul 24, 2005 -> 02:25 PM) Happy about the win... Great job by Jose... But what on earth was wrong with Marte... I mean that deal is looking better and better, thats if the Marlins even still want it... Iguchi had a great game though... He pitched in all 4 games in this series, right? Maybe he was tired.