Balta1701

I will tell my dad to find a scalper who will sell him at least 1 ticket. I will then literally fly back to Chicago to attend 1 game, blowing probably $500 or more in the process. I will never enjoy spending money more at any point in my life. That is, of course, unless the Sox end up playing the Padres, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, or Giants. In that case, I'll hit up some of the away games out here. Either way...if the Sox make the W.S. at some point in my life...I will be there. Even if its just for one game. I don't care what it takes. I will not miss the first one.

I'll lay you 2 to 1 says Ozzie puts in a bundle of Backups. I'm just hoping Ozzie has realized that A.J. catches Contreras far better than Widger. If A.J. still starts, then I think we'll make a good game of it even if Timo's in there.

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Jun 18, 2005 -> 09:43 PM) http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...t=.jsp&c_id=cws This move would also split up Contreras and El Duque from pitching back-to-back starts and would save our bullpen... Buehrle Garcia Contreras Garland El Duque I've been pushing for something like this all year. Mark Buehrle is averaging over 7 and 2/3 innings per start. Jon Garland is averaging just over 7 innings per start. El Duque is averaging 5 and 2/3 innings per start. Contreras is averaging exactly 6 innings per start. Garcia is averaging over 6 and 2/3 innings per start. There is absolutely no reason why you would want to have the 2 guys averaging 6 innings or under pitching back to back and have the 2 guys pitching 7 innings or over pitching back to back. That way, our bullpen is used basically not at all for 2 out of every 5 days, and then it has to go out and pull over 6 innings on back to back nights. Since we have 3 or 4 guys who are especially reliable, that means that those guys are pitching almost on back to back nights, and it's going to hurt our chances of winning the 2nd game. And if any pitcher does struggle, then when the Cubans hit, we hit them with an already tired bullpen. The 2 Cubans should be split up. It will just make our bullpen more effective. By the way again...when was the last time Hermanson pitched? Hasn't he been sitting for like a week now?

Hell, the one today was even worse than Crede's call...the guy froze, then moved his elbow 6 inches forwards. He even admitted that he was trying that after the game. Like I said at the time...the call on Crede was probably the right call, but it was also a judgement call. In a pure vacuum, that's probably the right call on Crede. But that wasn't the only awful call that series. There was a call at the plate. There was the call at first base. There was Crede getting kicked out for slamming the bat down. The strike zones were horrid. The umps did every single thing they could to screw us over that series. If they had given us a fair series otherwise, then I have nothing to complain about on that call. But with the pattern of behavior by the umps that series...it's just another drop in the bucket.

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Jun 18, 2005 -> 10:23 PM) Doesn't Mauer have a knee problem? He was out most of last year, but he's been fairly healthy most of this year.

Even the worst teams around can have hot streaks. Tampa Bay last year is still my example. Cleveland isn't as bad as they've been playing early this year. But they're not as good as they've been playing this week. They are a middle-of-the pack team in the AL Central, probably just about where they were last year.

Left-leaning blogger Ezra Klein did a series he called "Health of Nations" a few weeks ago. Here is his bit on Canada's health care system.

Just remember this...if you were to pick an issue and then imagine the single worst group of people possible to serve as advocates of that issue, it would probably look something like PETA and animal rights.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Jun 18, 2005 -> 09:32 PM) I can't fault her work ethic. I can fault her carpetbagging though. As long as you apply the same standard to Alan Keyes, we're set.

I'm a bit worried about this one. Freddie has pitched better on the road, and he's pitched better in day games. Freddie's pitching at home at night. It's about time for him to reverse that trend, if you ask me. And as banged up as the Dodgers are...this is as good of a team as any to deal with. Although...you have to like how the offense looks like its starting to click better. And the guy we're facing has been on the DL for a month or so. Quick note...has Hermanson pitched since he blew that save in San Diego? Seems to me like he's had a heck of a rest. If he was tired before that, he's had what like a week off now?

QUOTE(beck72 @ Jun 18, 2005 -> 09:09 AM) The way he's throwing, he could do anything he wanted. IIRC, Cooper and the staff have gotten Politte to trust his stuff more, work on his confidence. The "new" Politte could probably close As dominant as Cliff is right now...I just don't want to risk playing with him. We need people to get outs in the 8th just as much as in the 9th. If Cliff is comfortable in his current role...leave him there. He'll probably end up getting 1 or 2 chances to actually close (like in an extra innings game or something), but wehn a guy finally gets his head in the game, you shouldn't mess with his head. If you want to try him in the closer role...that's something to talk about in the offseason. Not right now. Let him start the year off that way if we're really in the need of one next year. That way, he's not starting as the closer in key series against the Twinkies or something like that when we don't have any games to spare.

If Juan Gonzalez can keep getting people to sign him to contracts despite the fact that he's been constantly hurt every single year since like 2001 or so, then Frank can keep getting people to sign him to DH for at least 5 years. Even if he only ends up playing half a season for whatever team he signs for...he's still probably going to end up with 20 home runs in that half of a season, and he'll give that lineup a major punch. Even if he's getting hurt a fair amount, he's still going to wind up being a dominant hitter. And if he keeps his weight under better control like he is this year (fish diet?), then there's no reason he can't stay around for a long time.

If we do get to the playoffs, we're going to end up with at least 1 guy in the bullpen who's been a starter all year. I'm not sure I want a second guy who has to do that. And again, I'm quite certain that Redman wouldn't be worth the price we'd have to pay to get him.

If we go into the playoffs with a guy who's started 33 previous postseason games (with a 16-9 record), and there's not some health-related reason he shouldn't be pitching, then he better be starting. I'd put him in my playoff rotation ahead of any guy not named Mark Buehrle, assuming he's able to go and not totally falling apart or something like that. Whoever other than El Duque has the worst September goes to the pen.

With any luck...this will just give our guys another reason to completely outduel the north-siders when they visit next week.

The telecast for the Dodgers showed him walking around in the Sox hat signing autographs as well. As far as I'm concerned...if the guy's willing to put on a Sox hat...then welcome to the party!

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jun 18, 2005 -> 04:13 AM) Priorities. It's all about priorities. And that priority is making more money. At all costs.

40 million credit card numbers compromised. Thank Goodness the Credit Card industry is working hard with Congress to make it harder for people to declare bankruptcy and is totally ignoring this problem.

Yes, 2 times to the Astros during a single double header in 69.

Podsednik is right now 1/2 the way to his stolen base total from last year. 35 this year, 70 all year last year. Guess that's what happens when you hit .290 instead of .240.

And there goes the top of the 9th. Ground ball to 1st. Maybe we can get that Twinkies bullpen a little more worn out tonight.

Jackson hits a 2 out double for the Padres...some hope of getting the lead back and getting Hoffman in there for the Pads now.

And if today were an afternoon game, he might have 6 or 7 home runs. His second at bat was a monster to the wall in Center - he needed like another foot on it, and at least the announcers were saying he just missed another one earlier in the game. Just needed the ball to carry a little bit more.

By the way...what is that, 40 or 41 straight games MB has pitched 6 innings? Has he passed Schilling yet? I think he has.

Hmmm, 2 guys say that Romero left with an injury about 5 posts after I said exactly the same thing. Why do I get the feeling you guys don't listen to me at all?