Milkman delivers

And Freddy's ERA continues its meteoric rise.

I just looked it up, and Garcia's ERA is now 5.04. We have three, count 'em, THREE starters with ERA's over 5. That is absolutely pathetic. We have the worst rotation of any AL playoff contender basically. Jaret Wright is better than most of our rotation. Think about that and die a little inside.

Has Garcia's ERA reached the mythical 5.00 yet?

Hawk is really tearing into the pitching today. I mean, in Hawk's homeristic way of tearing into any part of the team. It's quite obvious that he's extremely disappointed in them. And we still haven't thrown anyone out at home this year.

Now you can go buy some cigarettes legally.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Jul 15, 2006 -> 05:35 PM) Thanks for the memories, Cliff. You were a large part of this team's success last season and are a class act. Get that surgery, get healthy, and sign with another team next year. I'd hate to see your career end now. He's Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn. He'll do mop-up duty for now. As long as he's not Rick "Wide Thing" White.

QUOTE(RibbieRubarb @ Jul 15, 2006 -> 05:31 PM) Yet, you told the rest of us to put our collective heads back in the sand? My comment was made towards the general idea that everything will solve itself, not at anyone in particular. I'm not about to start arguing back and forth personally to cause the entire thread to be closed.

QUOTE(Felix @ Jul 15, 2006 -> 05:26 PM) You mean the team with a better ERA out of their starters than the Sox? That makes me sad.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 15, 2006 -> 05:24 PM) Kyle has about 2 inches and 50 pounds on his brother and from what I remember Kyle's also got about 6-8 MPH on him. All I knew about him, I got from The Dugout. http://www.progressiveboink.com/dugout/arc...ugout3-5-06.htm

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 15, 2006 -> 05:22 PM) Either he is coming up, or he is part of a trade. I hope trade. QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 15, 2006 -> 05:22 PM) During the AAA all-star game, he was around 90 mph with his fastball. He's pitched in the majors before, and wasn't impressive. He was in the AAA all-star game?

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 15, 2006 -> 05:19 PM) If we have to use a minor league pitcher, it will either be Hermanson or Farnsworth. I stand by my source that says he'd be stunned if Tracey plays for a Guillen managed team again. What does Farnsworth throw? It'd be nice if he had the gas his brother has.

Unfortunately, we're probably going to have to go through the same garbage with Hermanson now. I just hope they decide he's done faster than they did with Cliff, and we make a trade.

QUOTE(soxunited @ Jul 15, 2006 -> 05:04 PM) There isn't much of a choice now, is there? Who do you honestly expect to get for Garcia and Vasquez? You are certainly not going to get two quality pitchers in return. You would need to get a SP and a reliever in the deal if McCarthy is to come out of the bullpen. McCarthy I agree, should have been starting long ago. It is a disgrace that he has been left to languish out in the bullpen. I don't follow. McCarthy would take the spot of the traded starter. So, all we would really need is a good reliever in return.

As much as I wanted this to happen, it still saddens me. He was so integral to last year's run, and he was a class act while trying to get through this year. It's sad to see him go. Good luck wherever you go, Cliff.

Henry Blanco (the crappy hitter who calls a good game) is now batting 36 points higher than Chris Widger (the crappy hitter who calls a bad game).

QUOTE(soxunited @ Jul 15, 2006 -> 04:45 PM) First things first: Cliff Politte has to go. I don't know what else the man can do to re-emphasize that he doesn't belong on an MLB club. I'm sure there is a much more deserving individual in the system who could be called up to take his place. The starting pitching will come around, be patient. Buerhle wasn't doing that bad until a few blunders behind him occured. Vasquez I think is just having a difficult time adjusting to the AL, he will come around. Even the relief has been reasonably good. Neal Cotts may have struggled last night, but he is the same Neal Cotts who struck out 2 straight Red Sox last weekend. Back-up catching: Most teams have a reliable catcher who they can call upon if the starting catcher goes down for whatever reason. They are either solid offensively, or can perform well behind the plate. The White Sox do not have this at all. If AJ becomes injured, there is going to be a serious problem. It's at least something the White Sox should be thinking about, because Widger should not be put in that position. This phrase should be banned. We are more than halfway through the season. It's about time to realize that they're not all just gonna come around. To be patient, must we wait until we fall short of the playoffs or get our asses handed to us in the playoffs because our starters can't give up less than 5 runs a start? No, there's no time for patience anymore. We have a few weeks left to make something happen on the market. That is the only way this rotation will get any better. McCarthy or someone from outside of the organization has to be starting in place of Garcia/Vazquez.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Jul 15, 2006 -> 04:22 PM) Agreed, however it shows you good teams go through slumps, and how quickly things can turn around. We've seen this story before. It was in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. Bad pitching (which we have) loses in the playoffs if they even get there.

QUOTE(elrockinMT @ Jul 15, 2006 -> 04:13 PM) Maybe Politte goes on the DL and Hermanson comes back? He seems to be pitching well in his rehab assignmetn and I think Politte is still hurt. Dustin Hermanson is a non-factor. Please, everyone, get this through your heads.

I voted none, because I don't actually see them trading a starter. I really hope they do trade Garcia, though. I've seen enough "fast"balls, showing up his teammates, pitching down to bad teams, and I just don't like his attitude in general.

QUOTE(AWhiteSoxinNJ @ Jul 15, 2006 -> 03:47 PM) Javy and Cash for Gordon....thats all i'm willing to offer....It would be a HUGE mistake to trade Freddy. I'm sick of hearing that. Garcia is awful and getting worse. He should be the one to go.

It's gotten to the point where even the most optimistic posters have to be concerned with the starting pitching. Besides Contreras, the lowest ERA is now something like 4.47. That's pretty terrible for what they're making and what their expectations are.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Jul 15, 2006 -> 03:30 PM) Then why don't you just call it a season and move on? I'm not gonna get in a personal argument over the fact that our starters are horses***.

After our performance against the AL East this year, people are going to start saying we're overrated. And they might be right. The only AL East team we've been any good against is the Orioles.

I'm discouraged that we've lost our series with the Red Sox and Yankees. And I believe we split with the Blue Jays?