Greg Hibbard

Okay, so I just got back from playing a World Series of Poker event (no, I didn't money, but I had fun) in Vegas, and I ended up sitting at the same table with two other White Sox fans. We were commisserating with one another a bit, and one of the guys I end up having dinner with monday in the sports book, while watching the final two miserable innings of that game. So, halfway through the 3rd hour, another gentlemen comes up to this guy and he says "hey Steve (his buddy), this is another white sox fan!" Steve: (to me) "Oh yeah?" me: "yeah, we were just talking about Podsednik..." (I proceed to get into a ten minute discussion about how much I hate pods and basically my entire rant from the thread at the all-star break and he seems to agree mostly with what I say. Anyway, after bellyaching about how nice it would be to somehow land Soriano, he takes off. I notice he has a media pass, but I sort of disregard this. my buddy at the table: "Hey Matt, you know who that was?" "No." "Steve Rosenbloom" I only hear the guy's voice every morning, you'd think I'd recognize it... btw, the next day, I did the right thing and proceeded to the sports book to lay down $60 on the Sox to win the Series at 4.5:1.

taking a starter out after 4 2/3rds...thank you very fishing much Buck Showalter!

I know who this 2006 White Sox team reminds me of they remind me of the 2006 White Sox.

I don't move him up, just like I wouldn't have moved Crede up at any time. Building confidence and building a routine are very important, and moving a player up and down in the order can really mess with consistency, not to mention confidence. If Brian can get up to .230-.240, I'd give him an A+ for the season.

June 8-19, New York Yankees go 3-8 vs. Oakland, Boston, Cleveland, Washington and Philadelphia May 28-June 8, Detroit Tigers go 2-8 vs. Cleveland, NYY, Boston, and Chicago May 29-June 15, Boston Red Sox go 5-10 vs. Toronto, Detroit, NYY, Texas and Minnesota We just got off of a 2-7 stretch against the 3 of the top 5 teams in baseball. Thank god this stretch is over, because it was seriously a nightmare. Remember, we had a 1-8 stretch of similar baseball against the contenders in the middle of last august. Here are the facts: All four of the best AL teams have serious weaknesses, even in their pitching staffs. All four of the best AL teams have some holes in their lineups. All four of the best AL teams have 1 or 2 shaky bullpen arms. All four teams are really close, and over some stretches, some are going to look better than others. Now, the issues that need to be resolved: 1) Widger, DFA now. We all know this, obviously. Anyone would be better. 2) We apparently need a leadoff hitter who can play left field. Seriously, I think this cannot be stressed enough. Podsednik is going south in a hurry and he's adding very little to the team, and Ozuna's value has just about peaked out. 3) We need to run Vazquez out of town and start McCarthy. If we do those three things, I really think the rest of the problems will take care of themselves.

this may be the only time i ever say this there is no one I'd rather have up right here than BA

QUOTE(Frankensteiner @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:51 PM) C. both. Starting pitching is the main problem, but if you can't upgrade that, then get a hitter to upgrade the lineup because the offense was playing over their heads in the 1st half. Wait, today Contreras giving up 2ER today was the problem?

QUOTE(Felix @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:49 PM) Very clearly the hitting. Who's fault is it more, the guy who's sucked all year, or the players that are expected to perform, but just haven't? but over the long haul, every other hitter IS performing (except for Uribe and Anderson, who make up for it with defense). Widger has contributed virtually nothing offensively, defensively, or otherwise to help this team. Even Uribe had a ton of RBIs last month and Anderson is now really hot. The guy does not warrant a starting slot. I'd rather have a piece of plywood up to the plate, because at least the plywood might confuse the pitcher and get a HBP.

QUOTE(Felix @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:45 PM) Yes, I know this. And I also think that he should probably be DFA. But everyone blaming Widger for the games he starts is just foolish. Its not his fault that the rest of the team is doing badly. Its not his fault that pitchers miss their spots. Okay, time for a multiple choice quiz: the problem today was a. the pitching b. the hitting

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:44 PM) You're missing the point. At least those guys have contributed all season. Widger has literally been worthless in his last 10 starts or so. Exactly. If we lose today, we move to 9-13 with Widger in the starting lineup. Which means we are 49-23 with AJ in the starting lineup. That's a pretty freaking big difference.

D. F. A. WIDGE (CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAP CLAP)

we are 9-12 with Widger in the starting lineup, a .429 winning percentage. My bad.

Does Ozzie NOT understand that we have a .333 winning percentage with Widger in the lineup? Could someone PLEASE point this out to him?

just a fly ball you say

CREDE!

yes!

QUOTE(Allsox @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 01:06 PM) Folks, Widger is the BACKUP catcher, AJ can't start every game! Every team in the majors has the same setup as the Sox do so this shouldn't continue to be something to get angry about nor to be fixed so enuff of the ragging! And Ozuna grounds into a double play. Way to go, Pablo Let me introduce you to my friend Victor Martinez. I think he might've missed 5 games this year.

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE freaking KIDDING ME

so guys how bout that leadoff hitter of ours been a real sparkplug all series especially in the first inning

I may be eating some words later on this season, but "I always get dead arm a couple times a year" owes me about 3 more good starts before I start singing his praises.

I'll tell you what I like I like me some Garland in a pitcher's park.

f*** podsednik.

all i can say is, if anyone thinks this guy belongs on radio, the score was right - they could throw literally anyone out there and white sox fans would eventually accept it the guy is frankly unqualified to do the job. Period.

"give Singleton time" WHY? So he can improve to be a below average broadcaster instead of a horrible one? The guy obviously has no clue regarding what the composition of a broadcast should be, he just says stuff when he's called on to do so. On his very best day, the dude is barely, BARELY passable. On his average day, he is an embarrassment to the organization, the fans and this city.

I am way on board this is still not nearly as bad as last august, and I like our chances to win 100 games our starting pitching staff has thrown about as bad as you'd ever expect on an aggregate level, and we are still posting a very good W/L record. I think Garcia/Buehrle/Garland/Contreras can and will be straightened out. Vazquez will not be. Take a look at Boston's last ten if you want to see another team that's struggling...keep in mind they dropped 3/4 to the mighty D-Rays just before coming to our house, which I believe puts them at 4-6 in their last ten. Exactly the same as ours, if I'm not mistaken.