UC76

I realize A-Rod puts up phenomenal numbers, but I personally cannot stand the guy and would hate to be forced to root for him. I would much rather see Williams concentrate on improving all facets of the pitching staff.

QUOTE(hammerhead johnson @ Sep 18, 2006 -> 09:15 AM) September Stats Frank Thomas: 61 AB, 10 HR, 26 RBI Dye/Thome/Konerko: 161 AB, 9 HR, 29 RBI All I can say is...wow.

I'm very, very, very scared of what we'll get from Thome in 2007. I fear the second half of this year is what we'll get all of next year. The guy is old and falling apart...and that isn't going to get better.

My fingers are crossed for the starting pitching. It looks good. If we can just get in the playoffs, and the starters perform well, we will be dangerous.

I wish the Wolves were expansioned into the NHL. I hate the Blackhawks, while the Wolves do everything the right way.

Fire pasted DC United last night 3-0 in the US Open Cup semifinals. They'll play the Galaxy in the final. Unfortunately, Armas got a red card for fighting and will miss the Final. It would be the fourth US Open Cup title for the Fire, which is damn impressive. It would also be the first step to earning the "double" this season.

Tonight was the worst Sox loss I can recall in years. Years. Kasan Whoeverthef*** shut us out???? This loss feels like the death blow. I'm not giving up, but it feels like the Sox have.

All I'm saying is that McCarthy has not pitched like a phenom. A 4.23 ERA with 6 losses is very mediocre. Yes, I realize he has had to adjust to the bullpen. And yes, Ozzie may not always use him as best he could. But I don't fully buy this argument. If you're a great pitcher, then you adjust. You move into whatever role you're needed in and you pitch your ass off. Can you pitch or can't you pitch? Well, if you can then go out there and dominate if that's what people say you can do. Come on now. Papelbon isn't a reliver. He was brought up as a starter and is expected to be a starter again. But in the meantime, he has pitched lights out. Dominant. That's what phenoms do. Look, for just a second toss aside the role McCarthy has been in and look solely at what he has done WHEN HE HAS BEEN ON THE MOUND. 4.23 ERA and 6 losses. I'm not saying he isn't good. I'm just saying that, at this point in time, I'm a little disappointed in what we have received from the guy who is supposed to be the Chosen One. I was expecting more from a guy who we were told was the Second Coming. If we weren't spoon fed how great he was then I could just chalk it up to him being a young guy. But he's talked about like one of the best young arms in baseball...but there are young guys out there being dominant and McCarthy has been average at best. Maybe when he's a starter again we will see all the greatness we were promised. I hope so. And yes, I'm still pissed off about last night, which is influencing me.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Sep 5, 2006 -> 12:44 PM) So how many years of scouting have you put in? Who do you write for, BA? ESPN? I don't write for anybody. I'm just tired of how we are always bombarded with this mentality that McCarthy is somehow a great young arm. Look, in a few years time maybe he will be a very solid pitcher, maybe even a star. And I certainly hope so. But at this point in time he has been nothing but mediocre at every level. Last night he comes in loses the game within seconds. There are guys out there that I mentioned above who are true phenoms. McCarthy, however, looks more like any other young guy trying to find his way. Which is fine. There is nothing wrong with that. But in the meantime, I'm tired of the star treatment he receives. it's nauseating to hear when the proof has not been in the pudding. Show us something first.

OK, I've been holding off on starting this thread because I didn't want to be accused of being "negative." But after last night, screw it. Brandon McCarthy is not a phenom. I'm tired of hearing how awesome and great he is. The fans, media, and even the Sox/Kenny Williams all talk about McCarthy like he's one of the great young arms in baseball. Any trade possibility always came with the sidenote that McCarthy was off-limits because he was too valuable. McCarthy is not a phenom. He's a mediocre pitcher who is still young and has time to improve and maybe be very solid some day. But he is not a phenom. He has not been dominant at any level. Do you remember his stats at Triple A Charlotte before being called up for good last year? They were nothing special. He had a losing record - I think it was just below .500 - and his ERA was above 4.00. Hell, it may have even been above 5.00. Point is, he was mediocre at Charlotte. And he's been mediocre with the Sox. Granted, he had a few fantastic spot starts late last year, and that was awesome, but he also had some awful starts last year. And this year out of the bullpen he been average at best, and at times he has sucked. So let's stop acting like McCarthy is a phenom destined for the Hall of Fame. Liriano is a phenom. Papelbon is a phenom. Jered Weaver is phenom. These are extremely young guys who have taken the majors by storm and dominated. Hell, Jenks is more of a phenom than McCarthy. McCarthy looks like any other young pitcher out there. Sometimes he looks solid, sometimes he looks awful. Yes, maybe someday he'll mature into a fantastic starter, and I hope he does. But right now he's very average and leaning towards bad. Hopefully, someday this changes. But in the meantime, can we please stop pretending like McCarthy is one of the brightest young players in baseball, or like he's some sort of Golden Boy. He's not. He has not dominated at any level. Let's just call him what he is - young and mediocre with the potential to be good someday. That's it. And there are pLENTY of guys like this in baseball right now.

Any Fire fans in here? After beating Bruce "Man Tits" Arena and New York tonight 2-0, the Fire has six wins and a tie in its last seven games. Not too shabby. If only the Sox could get on such a roll. The Fire plays DC United on Wednesday in the semifinals of the US Open Cup (sorta like the FA Cup, for non-MLS fans). Then the playoffs begin in a few weeks. Hey, maybe the Fire should be thinking about the "double." Anyway, I've been to several games at the new stadium and wish the crowds were a bit bigger. Come out if you're bored. Maybe tailgate. Drink Polish beer! They're playing well and deserve some more love...sorta like the Sox at the Cell last year.

Yup. The Tiggers are giving it away and the Sox won't take it. Wake up, fellas, wake up.

Other than Terrell Owens and Barry Bonds, I can't immediately think of an athlete I hate more than David Wells. No freakin' way I want him in town. Fat tub of goo with a horrible mustache.

QUOTE(3 BeWareTheNewSox 5 @ Aug 26, 2006 -> 04:55 PM) Great game for the SuperCoppa (I guess a good way to explain it is Italy's version of the Community Shield game from the EPL a few weeks ago) Roma suprisingly went up 3-0 in the first half on Inter. Inter salvaged a goal right before the first half to cut it to 3-1. Then in the 2nd half, Inter tied it at 3-3 (including a Crespo goal just after he was subbed in), and then Inter went on to win 4-3 in extra time. I thought they were done, and they come back with 4 unanswered goals. I'm sure Inter paid off the ref or cheated somehow.

Hopefully, the Sox will have already clinched the division by then and the game will be meaningless anyway. Then we won't be missing much. I'm thinking positive.

If you get a chance, look at the photo on page 8 in the Sunday Tribune sports section. It's a photo of Pierzynski swinging with the following caption: "AJ Pierzynski goes down swinging for the final out with White Sox runners on first and third Saturday night." You really have to see the photo to get my point. I mean AJ looks like he was hoping to make the ball land out on the Dan Ryan. Talk about swinging for the fences. He's completely stretched out, all over the place. His left knee is practically scraping the ground. His bat is directly behind him by about three feet and on the ground. his back is arched backwards at a 45 degree angle. He was obviously trying to kill the ball. It was an absolutely ridiculous swing. Ridiculous. But why? You got a runner on third. Two runners on. Just score the run. Move the runners. Keep the chain moving. Why is this concept so hard for the Sox to understand? Why? Why? Why does everyone want to be a hero? Don't be a hero - just be a winner. Be smart. Be smart. Smart! I hate to say, "Look at the Twins" but...look at the Twins. Get on with a single...or a walk...a bunt...whatever. And then move guys around the bases. Steal. Bunt. Single after single if need be. Whatever works. But the Sox just club for the fences like a bunch of neanderthals. Look at Konerko after Dye homered in the ninth. Pop up on the first pitch. Totally stupid. Dumb. And why? Konerko was obviously so pumped up that he couldn't control himself and went for the homer right after Dye that would have sent the place into a frenzy. Yeah, that would have been nice, but I would have been happy with a single or a walk. Just get on base. There was only out. ONE! So make something happen. Don't be stupid. MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN! Same thing in the tenth. Gload, Uribe and Anderson all fly/pop out. $%$%#%$#%#!!!!! Just get on base. Why is this concept so hard for the Sox to understand. Don't be a hero. There is no need to be a hero. Just get on base and make something happen. Be smart. SMART! OK???

Why didn't Jenks pitch the ninth?

F the Twins! I'm sick of hearing about the little guys who could and blah, blah, blah. I respect the Twins and agree that they are a good team, but let's not fear them. Let's just beat the living hell out of them. I want a sweep this weekend. A SWEEP! We did it earlier this year at the Cell. Let's do it again. And let's rough up Santana big time. Rough him the $%@# up, baby! I want some screaming linedrives right past his head. Let's do this.

QUOTE(cgaudin @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 06:01 PM) There's no PHAWKIN' way he will be even mentioned with those pitchers until his ERA gets under 4. He would have to go 22 and 4 AND Halladay would have to end up with 2 or 3 wins fewer to have a shot at it. Yes, I agree. I wasn't suggesting Garland should win the award. I just wish his name would at least be mentioned, especially if he can get his ERA under 4. He has allowed 1 earned run or less in 7 of his last 10 starts. If he can keep up that current pace and reach 20 wins, then I would just like to see his name somewhere on the list of candidates. Nobody ever mentions him. I realize the Cy Young is going to Santana or Halladay barring any huge surprises. Besides, I also just wanted to start a positive thread. There is so much doom and gloom of late.

We should start Garland everyday. I think this is just crazy enough to work. What do you think? But seriously, when will Garland's name be thrown into the Cy Young talk? 15-4, baby. I realize Santana, Halladay, etc. will have to pick up some losses and that Garland will have to lower his ERA, but I'd like to see his name at least mentioned. (Same goes for Dye in the MVP talk.) Garland's teammates can help his cause by knocking around Santana this weekend.

I'm not opposed to Thornton wanting to be a starter. But let's not talk about it until the offseason. There are other more pressing concerns at the moment, eh?

I'm in. Always am. As far as I can see, we just ned to beat out Minny (Boston is fading) for the wildcard and get in the playoffs. Once we're in, anything can happen. So just get in. Here we go now!

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 09:37 AM) One thing I did notice and am pretty upset about is that Contreras' ERA is 4.04 now. That means not a single pitcher in the greatest rotation in baseball history has an ERA under 4. That says so, so, so much. It says everything, really. Starting pitching = everything. Are they tired? The six-man rotation with McCarthy is starting to sound good to me.

QUOTE(LVSoxFan @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 02:13 PM) I've always been an advocate of two out of three is fine by me, but we haven't done that consistently either this year. Actually, before the four-game split with KC last week, we had won five series in a row. (Toronto, Baltimore, KC, NYY, Detroit.) It's true. Look it up. Sometimes things are as bad as you make them. Sing it with me now: WE SHALL OVERCOME!

I'm officially done with Vazquez. I've been patient and hoped he'd find his groove. I've tried to be positive. But the dude sucks. Sucks. I want him gone. Now. I don't know about stretching out McCarthy this year, though I wouldn't be opposed. But it might be asking a lot. But there is no way Vazquez can be back in 2007. Dude is garbage. Absolute garbage.