TheBigHurt

Great, it's all Rivera now. Game over?

I see your point but there's nothing wrong with going aggressively towards the end of the game. I hate Ozzie more than anyone but you can't blame him for our lack of offensive production... not always, anyway.

I am too but I don't see exactly what Ozzie did wrong there.

COME ON, GUYS! LET'S f***ING WIN A GAME IN THE LATE INNINGS FOR ONCE!!!

Again, I agree. Many people have related the importance of being able to pull off great stuff like the Peavy deal which we have, but in the end we seem to always f*** ourselves because we have no one to use as chips, and when we do we seem to misplay (i.e. Swisher).

I do agree with that. Something should have been done at the deadline. I can't understand how we didn't get anything done as far as a hitter goes.

I really hate to say this, but I honestly feel a majority of people here just shoot down any player regardless of who it is. I do agree Manny probably isn't worth the short rental if we have to give up anything of importance, but this race is NOT over yet, and the fact some people try to make it sound as if Manny is just some random deadline scrub is really hilarious. Manny as our DH would be simply exquisite.

Something I think we tend to overlook around here.

Well so far this is pretty mild for a gamethread. We either need a big inning or for something horrific to happen so we can start some drama!

Agreed. s*** we couldn't even get Hawpe? lol.

We recently lost 3 out of 4 TO the worst team in baseball, so it's not far fetched at all.

I agree, and the answer to your question is no, greg.

No. In fact, I'm historically one of the most optimistic guys on these forums. In fact, last week in the chat Kalapse said if we got swept by Minny that our season was officially over. I laughed. I'm talking about, frankly, agreeing with their point of view on the Sox in general. I really believe fathom might have more sensibility than anyone on this board (not that I'm insulting anybody).

Watch what you say, that's my future wife! I wish. Well, I think him and I have seen eye-to-eye on a lot of things. I think he and fathom are the two guys who's views I generally agree with more than anyone else's.

Good for you.

Well, I've been gone for a year, so now that I'm back I felt the urge to post a short recap of the season and make some points and comments that I haven't been able to make for some time. 1. I was amazed at how well this season started with some guys. The first month or so had me thinking guys like Liney and Jones were going to be amazing as they started off hot. Sad that didn't last. 2. I'm gonna start this off bad considering, but I really don't care. I believe Ozzie Guillen has proved this year better than most that he can't manage worth a lick. The first month ALONE was a massive embarrassment. I honestly believe a good amount of people on this board could manage a team better. I honestly will be surprised if anyone here still supports his managing because as an in-game manager he's just totally clueless. I don't mind the guy going with his gut sometimes, but CHRIST look at a scouting report once in a while, Ozzie! Seriously, if by some FAT chance we get Manny and ANYONE but him DH's for the rest of the season besides him, fire Ozzie on the spot; I'm not even kidding. Watching Kotsay/Jones and even Pierre in the DH spot this year has just been embarrassing. And then what of Ozzie outside the game? Constantly now insulting his own fan base and being condescending towards them? Is there anything good LEFT about Ozzie? I'm sorry, but 2005 is over... it really is time to get rid of him. I've always been blunt about this, but seriously, how can you believe otherwise at this point? I mean, you guys pay attention to the games, right? Do I REALLY need "examples" of his terrible mismanaging anymore? Is the "Thornton for 3 innings" debacle and leaving Floyd in for another inning while he's over 120 in the pitch count and hanging every pitch not enough??? 3. Bobby Jenks has been a roller-coaster this year and frankly I hope we don't have to stick with him next year. 4., Although his start wasn't pretty, I'm pleasantly surprised with what Juan Pierre has done for us. He's shown some promise with his bunting and his stolen base count is obviously impressive (best in the majors, no?). Overall, I think he was at least something we haven't had in a while: an efficient lead-off hitter, which was one of the holes we had for a long time. But... what happens to the leadoff spot next year? 5. I was SO glad that KW finally spent some money and got a couple of studs in Rios and Peavy. Rios has proved himself to be the monster we remembered and even though Peavy got injured (an understatement, I know), he was totally worth the risk and it looked good at the time, so I have no regrets. And nothing says there's no chance he ever comes back and dominates again. Let's have faith. Bad luck from hell, though, right? 6. Paulie has played his ass off and had one of his most consistent years this year. I REALLY hope we can sign him for cheap and he can finish his career here. It would be so nice. 7. I honestly still feel that giving up Hudson for Jackson and getting no bat at all was HORRIBLE and I still feel that way (using my previous logic, whether it looks good now or not... the trade still looked terrible), but luckily if Jackson keeps pitching this way we just might be happy to give him 8 million next year if it is at all possible. 8. Kotsay sucks. That's all. I am really sad that KW gave Ozzie so much power and look what we get. I realize we didn't realize the situation we would have when we got rid of Thome... but I still wish we had Thome, lol. MAN, did that walk-off just SUUUUUUUUUUCK. And going back to Ozzie, hearing all this stuff between KW and Ozzie as far as spats was hilarious to hear. I thought I caught something about Oney or whichever of Ozzie's sons it was that got fired was accusing KW of cheating on his wife or something? Is that really true??? Man, the trouble from Ozzie just seems to shroud his whole family, huh? 9. The bullpen. WOW, what a turnaround. We go from having an elite-looking pen and a rookie with a record-setting run named Sergio Santos... to having Santos off his game, Bobby blowing saves left and right, Thornton and Putz (AS WELL AS Threets) all going from being beasts to Putz falling apart to both going on the DL... and what else? Linebrink being bad as usual, Pena being so-so (although that job he did in the DH was worth a big cap-tip) and whatever else worth noting. 10. The Twins. All I've got to say is that team, if they win the division, better get to at least the second round this year because I'm tired of being narrowly beat by those f***s every year just so they can get sweep in the first round. It seems they never buckle under the pressure down the late stretch while we seemingly always do. 11. Has to be noted that that crazy run in inter-league play started a slew of what... 2 or 3 months were we were playing far beyond expectations? I truly believe this a great team overall that should make the playoffs that for some reason just get mentally tired and start pissing down their leg at the sight of the f***ing Twins. What a shame. 12. Teahan... I dunno... bittersweet? I know he sucked ASS early in the season and ironically we did better without him around. What about now? I couldn't really say. Seems he's done some damage since his return. I dunno, anything else worth noting? I'll add more if I think of anything worth discussing. Good to be back.

Someone who fails to prove his own point asking someone to prove his. Kind of cute. Sadly, I don't have the time to backtrack records of hitters in history under Walker. For all I know you're correct and I would admit it. All I'm saying is that if the hitters being dumbfounded at the plate is an epidemic for YEARS, isn't the hitting coach somewhat to blame? Why the f*** do we even have a hitting coach, then?

I understand your point and agree to a certain extent, but how do you and others get the idea that because we are barely contending in an absolutely terrible division that that means everything is clicking correctly. It's not; this team is horrendous with RISP and simply can't back up their pitching. They just never seem to click. Obviously this isn't true 100% of the time, but quite often. It has been like this for a long time, and most people agree... because it's true. And I never said anything CLOSE to suggesting the Sox aren't getting pieces. I was only questioning the direction of hitting on this team. You are changing the subject and putting words in my mouth.

Whatever my insult was, I made my point with some actual insight. I never said it was 100% Walker. But apparently you and others think it's 100% the players, and that's equally as absurd.

Exactly the type of lazy, ignorant post I'm talking about. Looking for any way to try to bash an actually insightful post with no effort whatsoever. I'm not saying he's preaching that. I'm not gonna find a video of it. But I would love to hear the theories of those opposing me of why this type of laziness and lack of IQ at the plate is an epidemic with this team. I'm sure ALL of our hitters are just stupid. And it's been like this for years. Seriously, I'm not saying it has to be all Walker's fault... but do some thinking, people. If our hitters are simply dead at the plate almost all season every year, how is the hitting coach not to blame at all? So many of you defend each and every bit of the coaching staff that you seem to forget that they have purposes on this team. Some of you are a real headache to try and have a logical discussion with.

Probably a lot of them. BS? Then why does it seem our most veteran hitters seem to always attempt to knock the ball out of park rather than string hits together? Why does this offense CONTINUOUSLY fail to score runners with as little as 0 outs (a considerable amount of time we have guys at 2nd and 3rd no outs and CANNOT score). I'm sure you'll tell me it's entirely the players' doing. Bulls***. It's been like this for years now and it's getting old. SOMEONE needs to get this through to these players; apparently Walker isn't doing it. It's not like I'm making this s*** up. I do not understand this common mentality on this board with people arguing around an argument. So basically you are convinced Walker is the best possible hitting coach we could have right now, correct? I don't know why I even bother. Always lazy excuses; never an intelligent, thought-provoking argument.

You really think this experienced and talented a lineup can't learn BASICS of hitting? Because that is essentially what they "can't do" as you say. I thought this was the Majors. Sorry, Dick... but you're not going to tell me a lineup half full of veterans can't figure out how to actually hit the ball without the lift and pull approach. I don't buy that. That's nothing but a ridiculous cop out. If Walker is the problem, a new hitting coach eventually will do a better job. It's time for a damn change already. We can't sit on the same guys forever just for the "old gang to stick together."

Really? You think the reason there's no production is because NO ONE is listening to Greg Walker? Riiiiiight. This team has been almost offensively dead for most of... what, 5 seasons now? Especially post-ASB. Seriously, I don't partake in the Walker debacle often, but I really wish we would hire a new hitting coach. At some point someone has to be held responsible. Either trade away all these hitters who are underachieving (no easy task) or fire Walker. Something needs to change. But knowing the Sox organization, nothing will, most likely.

The White Sox are just not a good team.

f***.