IlliniKrush

Would changing my name back to Koch This and adding a pic of Koch help any?

Cubs 6 Sox 2

This team needs to fill some holes. The starting pitcher needs to be done right away, a relief guy or two can come later. Perhaps a Finley type closer to the deadline as well. But i'm not tossing in the season yet. Can this current squad take the division? I say doubtful. A few moves can fix that, especially with Magglio coming back. I don't think Minnesota is anything special. Fine, they've been winning the division lately, but that's because no one has challenged them for s*** for the most part. I mean, what have they done in the playoffs the last few years? Minnesota's pitching after Radke and Santana is pure garbage as far as i'm concerned. That lineup isn't over-imposing. Hell, they are due for a few more DL stints too - How much longer does Koskie hold up? That lineup isn't as good as ours. From the schedule stuff i'm reading, i haven't looked at the Twins yet, they have a tougher road coming. They aren't that great of a team, but they'll win the division "by default" if we don't do something soon. This team needs a kick in the rear and some added confidence from KW. Ortiz would be real nice at this point. But for the time being, we have to tread some water and hope to play .500 the next week through the Cubs game and be right there going into the break and/or when a move comes to help this squad out. There's just too much talent laying around on this team not to take a weak AL Central. Way too much. And if this all turns out to be crap and we are 9 games out at the deadline, then i'm wrong about everything and go sell some stuff and retool for next year.

I simply just want him to pitch through adversity better than he has/is right now. That's all. It just seems that whenever an error happens or something of the like, he is quick to go into a shell and make some bad pitches. That part is all mental. I'd like him to improve the mental side of his game. I don't think that's an unreasonable expectation. Walking a 9 hitter on 4 pitches? I don't know if i need to say anything more about this.

Valentin leading off? No thank you.

I'll take Ortiz for the right price. We can't go much longer with Mark-ELo-Judy-Rauch-Diaz)? And we can't afford to keep skipping the off day and skipping the 5th starter, these guys are tired. Deal is imperative right about oh say NOW. With Schoe now on the shelf, we need a quality starter in here as soon as possible. I wouldn't mind giving up Konerko and his 8 mil salary. This team is going nowhere fast without another top of the rotation starter in here, and fast. We have to win some of these games in the next week before we find ourselves 6 games out at the all star break.

I b****ed and ranted about Garland the rest of the game there. Hollandsworth hit made me go "damn". Big deal, we get out of that right? He's been rolling all game, looking phenomenal against that lineup. No, he throws a pickoff throw away, gets a drop in the outfield. Alright Jon, let's limit the damage. What's done is done, the dropped ball f***ed me. Let's not be Juan Cruz and crumble on the mound when my team makes an error. Let's keep the team in the ball game. Let's get our head straightened on, and get out of this thing. Let's make some pitches.... Let's walk the f***ing 9 hitter. Ramon Martinez. Oh, and how about on 4 pitches. That's inexcusable in little league. Let's lay a meatball into Grudz he can park onto the Dan Ryan on the first pitch after Coop talks to me (what the hell did he tell him?) Game. Over. I don't want to lay it all on Garland, but if he's going to s*** himself every time something doesn't go his way, he's never going to get any better than this. Terrible.

That error was absolutely priceless. Cubs fans must be longing for RGutz or AGonz back at SS

I think this is Hunsicker's (sp) last stand, he has to go for broke. The one thing (or biggest thing) that i think can hold them back - Jimy Williams. The guy sucks.

The one thing i like about Saturday is that Sox players are still pissed off about him showing them up last year with his little dances off the mound after strikeouts. Hopefully it's enough added motivation to get to him. By the way, i heard this from Bruuuuuuuuuce Levine so i'm not speculating...though it makes perfect sense to be jacked up a bit because of that.

Just leave me the keys to your car, no problemo

Because we have enough hitting (or so we think), but not enough pitching. You trade from strength.

Pretty much right on. I don't think anyone can say he's "overrated" or "due to slump" or "getting lucky" if you've watched him as much as I and it seems Brando has.

I'm working another hour, then i'm off to the game. I have a bad feeling about this game, hopefully that will change when i get inside the ballpark.

Rowand is on the score NOW.

Seattle needs to realize there's no way in hell they are going to win that division, they are way behind all 3 teams. The likeliness of them playing 10 games better than tex, ana, and oakland is not very good, not with that roster.

Door is still open on his end as far as Maggs goes Until he goes elsewhere, it's not over. It doesn't have to get done during the year. Could be a case of he wants to test his market value and just flat out won't sign anything during the year. "We're going for it, and he's part of that equation" However he said he's tradable if the right offer comes along that would improve the team, but said it's unlikely at this point.

9:08

The only thing i can find is Campbell vs. Sarver, and that's on www.collegesports.com. I wonder where they got that from? Anyplace i could look?

Mixed feelings as well. It's a tough line to draw; but i think this one crossed it. You can't throw the blanket phrase "it happened in the context of the game" over everything.

Popped up. Nice.

If he's hitting a first ball fastball that has a lot of the plate, i'm fine with it. Sure, patience is nice, but sometimes the first pitch is the best one you will see the whole at bat. I played baseball in high school this way. I know it's not the majors, but pitchers at both levels like to get ahead on hitters, and sometimes that first pitch is a nice fastball to try to drill. I've never believed in taking pitches for the sake of taking pitches.

Well for one, pitchers have to throw you strikes, more fastballs, etc.

No idea, all i have is radio at work HOME RUN VALENTIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

2 on, 2 out