kevin57

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 3, 2005 -> 04:16 PM) Trust me, I know Gload's a better hitter than Timo. However, it's become 100 percent obvious that Ozzie is more comfortable with Timo on the team than Gload. There's no reason to argue about this fact anymore. Once a manager rewards a player for being in a 4-40 slump by putting him in the 5th spot and leadoff spot in the same week, it's time to stop trying to think rationally. Agree 100%. I know we're not supposed to use personal attacks around here, but it is hard to see how Ozzie does not have some sort of weird favortism going for Timo. Very weird.

Garcia, Magnificent after a previous poor start. Buerhle, that's the ol' form. Garland, not too impressive for a while...lookin' like your ol' not-too-confident self. Now is the time, CA boy. I'll refrain from the "S" word , but you know what I mean, boys. GO, DESTROY THE TIGERS!!!!!

Your comment about a strong September being critical to success in the post-season is dead on. Remember the last time the Sox were in the playoffs? Their overall record was good, but the offense went to sleep for at least the second half of September ... and it kept sleeping as they were swept by Seattle. It's too early to tell how they'll look. Those games with Cleveland still loom large in my mind.

QUOTE(marsh @ Sep 3, 2005 -> 12:25 PM) Just to get things straight are the announcers employees of the radio station or the sox? who signs the paychecks? Or does all that change based on the contracts with the stations. As I understand it, the station negotiates its announcers, but management maintains the right to veto or fire them. If this is a question of money only, then it's the SCORE that is at fault.

That would help explain why he's been in a slump of late.

The Papers are reporting that Iguchi was out of the line-up for the second straight day for "personal reasons not related to family issues." Hmm... Reactions?

Yes, it's good to see things clicking again, especially at home where they play like they hate their fans.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Sep 3, 2005 -> 04:28 AM) Back? This team never left. They've been in 1st place the whole damn season and they are still there. Comfortably. They hit their rough stretch and got through it. Now, they roll on to a division title. For starters.... Agree YASNY. I've said elsewhere in Tread Land that one essential ingredient to playoff victories is going through a rough stretch and clawing your way back. I think/hope/trust that August was that time for the Sox, and they'll be the better for it. :rolly One big caveat, though: The PODS must stay healthy...healthy enough to steal. I believe that our phenomenal success up to the All-Star break was based largely on his playing with the pitchers' mind as long as he was one first, or for that matter second base. That was one of the explanations offered by many during the phenomenal stretch, but its confirmation can be seen in how the Sox did while he was out. Case closed. PODS is god.

Kevin Howe

Of the four announcers, Rooney was the best, though I enjoy Ed Farmer a lot too. I wouldn't think this is a Sox management decision. Doesn't the SCORE decide who's going to get paid what based on their bottom line? Speaking of replacements, what about Robin Ventura? I know he did some TV when the Hawk was out. I didn't hear enough of him to make much of a judgment and I heard a few negative comments about his broadcasting skills, but maybe he could grow into the job. Besides, there's hardly a more popular former Sox player than Robin. At any rate, best wishes, John Rooney. You were one of the best.

Anyone catch the attendance tonight? It looked good. A White Sox win with a full house! Will miracles never cease?

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Sep 2, 2005 -> 09:30 PM) Only stopping in for a minute, and glad to see the pitching and offense finally clicking consistently again. I just saw a break down and noticed Harris hit a homer, ha. You know things are going well when that happens. It's too bad the Sox are winning, though, since I hate them so much. Hey Milkman, don't back off the comments. Yeah, your "hatred" for the Sox drives me nuts sometimes, but someone's got to keep us honest.

Marrioti as an analyst? His only advice ever is to pay the most money for the highest priced players. Wow! That takes imagination and insight. Marrioti as a predictor of success. All I remember is last year his predicting that the Cubs would sweep the Sox in their first crosstown series. Sox swept. Two weeks later, Marrioti predicted the Sox would sweep the Cubs. Cubs swept. Case closed.

The reasons for pessimism have all been given (e.g., psychological buffer against "inevitable" disappointment), but you have to have "faith," and faith means something only when it's being tested. Let's face it, almost everyone thought the Sox were charmed the first half of the season. While the pitching has been consistently very good, we often pulled off victories like some guardian angel was watching over us. In August, the tables were turned. No breaks, no guardian angels. I chose to believe that we needed the hard times of these past few weeks. Besides all the other ingredients necessary for wins in the playoffs, there has to be a mental toughness that only losing and scraping back to life can bring. Can they blow it in the first round, or even, perhaps before the season ends? Yup. But I chose to have a different faith.

It's nice to have this problem, especially when a lot of teams are struggling to find ONE solid closer. Hermanson is my choice for #1, but if it looks like it's not going to be his day, I have no problem bringing in Jenks.

QUOTE(tony72 @ Aug 28, 2005 -> 01:59 PM) I would love a sweep..but this is our first west coast road series win since AUGUST of 2000... Even if we don't win today..I am happy with this week-end and the past week... I would love a win today though..but even if they lose this was a great week... True, but a sweep would be so sweet! And we should look forward to it. Garcia, a superior pitcher in day games, has been RED HOT of late.

QUOTE(Leonard Zelig @ Aug 28, 2005 -> 11:08 AM) You guys, please stop talking about this. QUOTE(aboz56 @ Aug 28, 2005 -> 11:53 AM) Who cares, when it happens, it happens. Other than that, no sense in predicting it. Just let the thing play out. QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 28, 2005 -> 01:27 PM) Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, delete this thread. I agree with the above sentiments. Who's looking to jinx us?

What an exciting ... hmm, nerve-racking game! you know, we're all going to be ready for psyche care after this season, no matter how it turns out.

Ozzie can be maddening, yes, no doubt. He's pulled some bonehead moves, especially in the pitching category, but HOW REFRESHING it is to have a manager who doesn't play by the book. Look at the North Side, my Sox brethren. There's a manager who would and has gotten "A's" from all the Talking Heads, but would any of you want to make that managerial trade? This team--when on a winning tear or during these more inconsistent days--has done it not through "Oz Ball" or "Small Ball" but "Heart Attack Ball."

I sure hope he's back playing SOON...and playing to the base stealing form that energized this team. I'm not the first to say it, but PODS is the biggest single offensive weapon we have.

No, you just put the "fan" in "fanatic." I wish I could do what you do, but I already have enough gray hair, and these Sox games, nearly all, have been enough to cause congenital heart failure. At this rate, by playoff time I'll be a wreck...without having been able to watch many a game!

Hawk is a homer, no doubt. He can be insufferable, true. But, he's engaging on a lot of levels, and please, those critical of Hawk, just think, Santo. If that doesn't give some perspective, then do go to the north side. :fthecubs

After Buerhle's last victory, he said that "God is a Sox fan this year." Hmm... I have noticed that Rowand, A.J., and a couple other Sox make the Sign of the Cross before they bat. God power? Anyone know much about the faith of these players? Not nosey, curious...and wondering if we really do have some very special "karma" on our side this year.