YASNY

QUOTE(JoshPR @ Oct 16, 2005 -> 01:12 AM) Votes are already casted casted?

QUOTE(Antonio Osuna @ Oct 15, 2005 -> 10:08 PM) Interesting. Byrd v Contreras is, on paper, the matchup that favors us most. But behold, the one time we saw it, Byrd laid eggs on the scoreboard, and we've actually done better and better as the matchups became less and less favorable. The reverse has also been true. Tomorrow is a must-win in many respects. Another off day might cause the good-hitting team and the bad-hitting team to switch places. It will be necessary to ride this hot streak out -- but recent history is against us. Just STFU!

QUOTE(iWiN4PreP @ Oct 16, 2005 -> 01:07 AM) amazing year. Ya think?

QUOTE(G&T @ Oct 15, 2005 -> 11:38 PM) And there were no playoffs, only a World Series. Though that series was best of 9. Although you are correct, the stat isn't relevent since the newest playoff system was adopted. The last comment I have no complaint about. There's nothing irrelevent about the White Sox winning more games in a year than ever before. There's no asterisks in baseball!!!!!

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Oct 16, 2005 -> 12:54 AM) The rest of baseball did not realize all year, despite the 99 wins, how good this pitching staff actually is. They're getting one hell of a hard lesson. 3 complete games in a row. First time in 30+ years. Wow. We've been saying all year that pitching and defense wins championships. Nobody would listen. Not Cub fans, Red Sox fans nor Yankee fans. They are beginning to see just what the hell we were talking about!

During Konerko's at bat in the 1st, immediately after his check swing and near strike out, I noticed him say something to umpire. I didn't put it together at first, but after the inning it dawned on me ... Paulie told the umpire that Santana's shirt tail was hanging out. He got Santana out of what little rythem he had. Next pitch .... BOOM! I went back on my DVR and watched the AB again just to verify what I thought had happened. You can first notice the shirt tail out as Santana made his second pitch to Konerko. I don't know if Paulie picked his spot or happened to notice just before he said something to ump. The point is that he said something and then got a cookie from Santana on the next pitch.

I was born in November of '57. I was not even two years old when the Sox won the pennant in '59. Needless to say, I don't remember it. 1983 was so awesome, as it was the first time I could ever remember the Sox finishing in 1st place. After all these years, this is something on an entirely different level. This team has been doubted, questioned and disrespected all year. They've used that disrespect to motivate themselves. They've taken that disrespect and shoved it right up the asses of all the doubters. No matter what happens the rest of the way, this team will always have a special place in my heart and I'll never forget 'em.

QUOTE(Lefty Of Love @ Oct 14, 2005 -> 06:10 PM) Nobody has mentioned that even though LA has 3 catchers, that it was a questionable move to start both Molina brothers, one as the DH, because it does leave your catching situation thin...there is a reason Paul was a 3rd string catcher and only played in 30 something games...maybe Scioscia shoulda made sure he had a good player behind the plate. I think they keep players on the bench so the manager can use them when he needs them. That's what he did. Nothing questionable about it.

QUOTE(Be Good @ Oct 14, 2005 -> 04:21 PM) For those who don't know all the games, are starting at 8. So St. Louis and Houston got the shaft, which is pretty suprising. When both Series are going on, which is Sat, Sun, and Wed the NLCS is on at 4. Chicago and LA are bigger markets than Houston and St. Louis. Has anyone heard how the ratings have been? Not that it matters, but I'm curious.

I hope A. J. irritates the f*** out of that writer for the next 3 weeks or so.

QUOTE(ScottyDo @ Oct 15, 2005 -> 12:13 AM) i voted cy! just now! and look, i was right! Way to go out on a limb there.

I really don't think we have to worry about Cooper going anywhere, especially to the Yankees. Hell, he pisses off King George one time and its "Off with his head!"

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Oct 15, 2005 -> 01:52 AM) Playing pissed did nothing for them tonight. With our pitching staff the way it has pitched, it'll be hard to beat the Sox no matter how bad you want to. But having the umps check Donnelly would be bush. You just don't do that in the playoffs, unless you are almost positive they are doing it. That's for damn sure. That would have been embarrassing to the organization.

QUOTE(Adam G @ Oct 14, 2005 -> 07:06 PM) I wish. They had a good stat on the radio...this year when pitchers are on 4 days rest they're 19 games over .500, but when they're on 6 or more days rest they're 9 games under .500. Meaningless stat. Stop and think. What kind of pitchers usually go with 6 or more days of rest? You have you spot starter and some number 5's that only pitch when there is not an off day to push the other starters back to their normal 4 days rest. In other words, generally lousy pitchers.

QUOTE(qwerty @ Oct 15, 2005 -> 03:31 AM) Apparently he is going by what he did this year. On one leg.

QUOTE(hammerhead johnson @ Oct 15, 2005 -> 03:23 AM) His mere presence on the mound to begin with suggests that he's a defender, though. Really, it sounds simple, but what is the common theme amongst the major sports? It's offense vs. defense, period. If a pitcher is anything, he is a defender, and easily the most important one at that. The ultimate defensive game, to me, is a perfect game, followed closely by a no-hitter. Yes, spectacular plays will be made by position players, but the pitcher trumps all in a defensive sense. Whether it is inducing weak grounders and tailor-made double play balls, jamming guys and inducing weak pop-outs, striking guys out, etc, pitching rules all. I am not disagreeing with you. I was just trying to give you an answer to your query.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Oct 15, 2005 -> 12:57 AM) Haha, am I ever glad that you're not the GM. Nomar? He might just retire after this year because I can't think of a decent team that will offer him a starting job, and I think he's too proud to sign with the likes of Colorado, Tampa Bay, etc. I guess maybe he can sign with the Marlins. And Frank is done. He can't really be an asset anymore, even if he can get healthy enough to play. He'd bat .220 with a bunch of homers, and we don't need that. I think it's time for people to understand that he's gone. It sucks, but it's likely true. What makes you think a healthy Frank Thomas will only hit .220? That's ludicrous.

QUOTE(hammerhead johnson @ Oct 15, 2005 -> 02:14 AM) Wite, wouldn't you agree that the pitcher has the most control by far over an opposing team's offense, and therefore, is the primary component of defense? I'm just trying to figure out why people don't regard them as one and the same. If you could break it down in terms of "defensive impact" ratio, I'd favor Contreras 75 to 25 in the second half. Spectacular plays are made behind him, but the offense is clearly his b**** because of what he himself brings to the table. Right now, he is our Patrick Roy, our Ben Wallace, our Ray Lewis, etc. People don't always regard them one and the same because they can be separated and looked at individually. For example, once a pitcher releases the pitch, he is instantly transformed into an "infielder" and is part of the defense. That's why when a pitcher throws a comebacker down the RF line that he is not charged with an earned run. He, as a person, may have "earned" it, but as a pitcher that's not the case.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Oct 14, 2005 -> 06:56 AM) Anyone who agrees with Sox fans is an instant fan favorite, anyone whose opinion disagrees is an idiot. It is so easy to sucker in Sox fans. We go nuts as soon as anyone says something nice about the Sox and write 50 post threads if it's negative. My opinion of Sandburg hasn't changed by his obvious bandwagon jumping. Just another loser pandering to Sox fans. The only reason he said this was to jump on the Sox popularity. That doesn't sound like you, Texsox. Here's my opinion of Sandburg. Damn good ballplayer that is correctly enshrined in the Hall of Fame. He handled himself with class and dignity through good times and bad. Loser? Not in my eyes. He may not have won a ring, but the guy was no loser.

The butt with the pimple speaks: Harry Wendelstedt's opinion

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Oct 13, 2005 -> 08:07 PM) Why not dedicate the award to some HoF, to make it more prestigous ala the Cy Young award? Wouldn't hurt. Oh, and congrats to Cliffy who I believe was the only non-closer canidate. It would not shock me to eventually see it be named the Mariano Rivera Award.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Oct 13, 2005 -> 06:09 PM) I still like Dan Patrick - his show is pretty damn great. I really don't give a rat s*** what ANYONE thinks - Joe Buck, Dan Patrick, ESPN, etc. who cares? The best way to smack them all? WIN IT ALL!! I couldn't agree more. Winning it all will be the ultimate "Up Yours!" to whole lot of them.

QUOTE(JoshPR @ Oct 14, 2005 -> 02:28 AM) If they put it n baseball they'll put in basketball. HELL NO. The game has been already stained by steroids. Keep the game pure, f*** Instant Replay's Ump are paid good money to do a job which bad or good they give it they're 100% to do it I agree. And for the most part, the umps are extremely accurate and operate with a great deal of integrity.

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Oct 13, 2005 -> 02:03 PM) I'm not going to put any words into anyone's mouths, but i'll leave you this to ponder. Throughout this thread, Rex and I (and a few others) have thrown around some great observations and reasons for our lines of thinking. Now - reverse the teams. This EXACT same thing happens to us, and we lose because of it. What do people honestly think? My posts would stay the exact same as would Rex's, and some others. Let me put my take on this in perspective for you. To begin, I didn't just jump on Soxtalk after the play and post my opinion. I was watching the game at home and heard the tools at FOX give their pov's. Then I switched to ESPN and heard what BBTN and SC crews had to say. I then listened to ESPN radio on my way work. Once arriving at work, I read everything I could find on the Trib's website. Having had all this input and after seeing the replay numerous times, I was of the opinion that the ball hit the dirt. Yet, I took into account the possibility that the ball could have hit the webbing. In Eddings mind, the ball was not caught. The other umps could have straightened that out if they had a definitive view, but they did not. So, it is Edding's opinion that counts here. Given the fact that no one will ever really know exactly what happened there, it comes down to one question. Did Eddings call AJ out or not? Based on the fact that he utilized the same "mechanics" on strike one and two calls, the fact that AJ stated he never heard an out call and Paul's never mentioning that he did hear him called out, I have to believe that Eddings pump to signal the strike and never called AJ out. If this is the case, then play resulted as it should have. I am not taking this stance because I'm a Sox fan. I'm nearly 48 years old and I have seen a lot of different scenarios develop in the game of baseball and I feel like I judge these things fairly. For example, while watching the replay of Crede's dive back into second base, I jerked my arm in an upward motion signifying "out". It was very close, but I thought he was out, and said as much. Still, this has been a great thread.

QUOTE(DonkeyKongerko @ Oct 13, 2005 -> 05:41 PM) If he makes a call like that against the Sox, there will be about 40,000 William Ligues that have something to say about it. Maybe you'd stoop to that level. The thought wouldn't even enter most Sox fans minds.