RME JICO

QUOTE(Hangar18 @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 09:34 AM) Fluffy Clouds will say HEY, we have 10 games left, everything is OK. But remember this. The SOX will have to WIN ALL 10 of these games. ALL OF THEM. Going 5-5 Gains them NOTHING. Do you trust the Tiger staff to lose 10 consecutive games to us? And dont forget, the lead is 5 games, and the SOX are sure to only take 2 of 3 from the Baltimores and Kansas Citys of the world, while the Tigers Sweep those same teams. So the lead will be more than 5 games shortly ............. Bottom Line............ the SOX gave too many games away early on and its coming back to haunt us now. that 7 run blown lead to KC in April, the 2 giveaway games to the Cubs ................yeesh. How do you figure the Sox have to win all 10 games vs the Tigers? If they win 6, they gain 2 games, that is going 2-1 at the Cell for two series, and splitting 4 at Detroit. If they win 7, they gain 4 games, which is not out of the realm of possibility.

How many games do the Sox have vs Detroit left? 10. If the Sox can go 6-4 in those games they will gain two games on Detroit. Also, have you seen the Tigers schedule in August? If they still have the Division lead after Labor Day, they will win the Division. Detroit's schedule: 17 Straight games vs Winning Teams / 23 out of 26 vs Winning Teams August 7 - 9 - MIN August 11-13 - @ SOX August 14-16 - @ BOS August 17-20 - TEX August 21-24 - SOX August 25-27 - @ CLE August 29-31 - @ NYY September 1-3 - LAA

QUOTE(vandy125 @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 07:42 AM) A lot of people are talking about pitching being the issue. Could our pitching be an issue because of the way our defense is playing? I remember last year, we seemed to be really solid on defense, and I am sure that helped our pitchers a ton. This year, to me, our defense just seems ehhh. Are there any decent stats that we can look at to compare the defense between this year and last year? Baseball Prospectus has a Defensive Efficiency Stat that had the Sox 2nd last year at .720, and 8th this year at .707. Out of the top 10 teams from the 2005 list, only 3 made the playoffs (Sox, STL, HOU), so there is not much correlation between Defensive Efficiency and making the playoffs, but I am sure it can't hurt. Here are a few other misc factors that are contributing to the Sox struggles: - Sox pitchers are striking out a lot less batters this year, 2nd to last only behind KC, which means more balls in play - The Sox catchers have thrown out the 2nd lowest percentage of base stealers (23%) only behind CLE - Sox pitchers have given up more HRs this year than in 2005 - Sox pitchers have intentionally walked the 2nd most batters (31), 2nd only behind TOR So these factors add up to more runners on base, more runners advancing, and more runs overall for the opposing team. Add that to a lower Defensive Efficiency and the team is going to allow more runs.

QUOTE(T R U @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 04:45 AM) Widger is just about the only reserve that doesnt do a damn thing for this team.. other than that I really dont have a problem seeing Mack or Ozuna out there.. hell even freaking Gload has been solid Not that is matters because everyone already knows that Widger is horrible, but he is the only batter on the team without a Win Share to his credit. 2006 Win Shares Thome - 18 Dye - 16 Konerko - 14 Crede - 12 Iguchi - 10 Pierzynski - 9 Podsednik - 8 Uribe - 6 Ozuna - 5 Mackowiak - 5 Cintron - 3 Anderson - 2 Gload - 1 Widger - 0

The best way to compare it is by asking which team would win head to head, the 2005 Sox vs the 2006 Sox, and what component of the team would make the biggest difference. The main difference to me is the starting pitching. In 2005, the starters went deep into games and had quality starts 90% of the time. That made the bullpen well rested and very effective. The offense in 2005 did just enough to get by, but this year the offense is different with Thome in the lineup. If the starting pitching was close to the 2005 level, the Sox would be a couple games up on Detroit and no one would be questioning the other areas of the team (as much). It seems like the pitching failures are magnifying the rest of the teams shortcomings. One other reason why the Sox are using less small ball is they are better hitters this year (Crede, Dye, Konerko, Iguchi, AJ) all seem to be hitting the ball better, so Ozzie in not going to take the bat out of their hands and make an automatic out with a sacrifice. Then you add Thome into that, and all you have left is Pods and Uribe who are struggling, and BA who is now on fire. The Sox had to win with small ball last year, this year they have more options and weapons. If the pitching wasn't so shaky there would be no complaints about the offense.

The Sox are just trying to make a late season dramatic comeback, it is better tv. They can't do that from only 4 or 5 back.

.213 and rising...

Hopefully there will be a PH for Widger next inning.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:45 PM) Do we have a hit from our 1-2 hitters this series? 1-24, Gooch with only hit.

BA .209 and rising

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 01:54 AM) If we could get Pelfry or Milledge for Freddy or Vaz straight up I would take it. You have one pitcher who has all he tools, but is a knucklehead that implodes and another one who seems to have problems throwing his fastball. I would hate to do something that lopsided, but it just shows how far Garcia and Vazquez have fallen.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:47 AM) I don't believe we'll make a major trade, because I don't think there is a matchup out there. I agree, the only move will probably be a prospect for some relief help.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 04:09 AM) Which is why the trade pissed me off when it first happened. Arizona just about had to trade him. Arizona raped us when you consider what we had to give up for a guy they were gonna have to trade regardless. ..and they took some of the money that the Yanks paid to them for Vazquez. Everytime he goes out there, this trade becomes worse. So in the end, they get rid of an overpaid/overrated pitcher and gain a top prospect in Young, and two relievers in Vizcaino and Julio, and some cash. So if the Sox do trade him, they will never get back what they gave up initially. I guess you win some you lose some, but I would rather cut the losses now and take what you can get.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 04:09 AM) Which is why the trade pissed me off when it first happened. Arizona just about had to trade him. Arizona raped us when you consider what we had to give up for a guy they were gonna have to trade regardless. ..and they took some of the money they the Yanks paid to them for Vazquez. Everytime he goes out there, this trade becomes worse. So in the end, they get rid of an overpaid/overrated pitcher and gain a top prospect in Young, and two relievers in Vizcaino and Julio, and some cash. So if the Sox do trade him, they will never get back what they gave up initially. I guess you win some you lose some, but I would rather cut the losses now and take what you can get.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jul 19, 2006 -> 04:03 PM) If the Tigers get anyone, I would say it would be Soriano. Of course im not sure how that effects their lineup. If that is the only move they make, and they trading pitching for it, im not that worried. From the Detroit Free Press: Only 3 prospects for Soriano? Wow, that would be a good deal for the Tigers, but I am sure the Nats will get better offers (or at least I hope so).

Willie for Wily Mo and Lopez for Van Buren. Riske was a steal.

QUOTE(Contreras @ Jul 19, 2006 -> 03:47 PM) "Hi." Classic!

Hangar, I don't think the Trib is wasting anytime monitoring this "situation". People are not going to stop buying the Sun-Times because there was a situation with Mariotti that turned bad. Everyone knows he has no credibility and anything he says carries little or no weight. bighurt574 hit the nail on the head. By suspended him, they are not admitting that there was censorship, they are disciplining him for getting out of line and going beyond his scope of duties. I wouldn't be surprised if we've seen the last of him with the Times. He is probably looking for a new job right now, maybe a permanent figure on Around the Horn!

KW is money:

This is your chance to show us what you got Javy. Jon gave you the blueprint for success (location, location, location).

Wow a catcher worse than Widger, now that is bad.

QUOTE(Athomeboy_2000 @ Jul 18, 2006 -> 02:53 PM) If my memory serves me right, over the past 6 years or so the Sox have always had success against top notch closers. It wasn't 2005: 2005 Closers vs Sox Street - 8.1IP, 5H, 2ER, 1BB, 7K, 2.16ERA, 0.72 WHIP, .179 BAA Nathan - 7.1IP, 2H, 0ER, 1BB, 11K, 0.00 ERA, 0.41 WHIP, .087 BAA Rivera - 4.0IP, 1H, 1ER, 0BB, 4K, 2.25 ERA, 0.25 WHIP, .077 BAA BJ Ryan - 3.0IP, 2H, 0ER, 3BB, 7K, 0.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, .182 BAA Total - 22.2IP, 10H, 3ER, 5BB, 29K, 1.19 ERA, 0.66 WHIP Sox did not face Papelbon or Jones in 2005.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jul 18, 2006 -> 10:56 AM) Did you read the "methodology" section? Yes, it uses Zone Rating (ZR), which only accounts for balls hit in the player's "zone" (no zones overlap). Crede makes a ton of plays outside of his zone and he is not credited for them in this metric. The same goes for Matthews, all those over the wall catches are outside of his zone.

I don't know, kind of an odd metric. It doesn't use putouts our assists, so that will hurt Crede's numbers. Doesn't really make sense how Konerko's numbers are that bad, also look at Gary Matthews - he saved at least 4-5 runs on over the wall catches, but he is the worst CF?

QUOTE(Hangar18 @ Jul 18, 2006 -> 10:11 AM) heres another reason Im worried about this series. The SOX needed to shave a game or 2 off the lead BEFORE getting to Detroit. The Tigers playing the SOX with just a 1/2 game lead wouldve had them NERVOUS and looking over their shoulders. Unfortuneately, the SOX had other ideas and now the Tiggers have a 4 1/2 game lead and are playing CONFIDENT and with MOMENTUM (I said momentum, heh heh) The Tiggers will play loose now that they have a lead, knowing that us sweeping them will still have them with the lead Heck, even if we take 2 of 3, we only take 1 game off of the lead. I would have to disagree. This is an important series for both teams. I wouldn't say the Tigers have momentum either or that they are playing well; they beat KC 3-1 in the series, and actually barely won two of those games if it wasn't for the normal KC meltdown. Verlander's game was their only decent game, other than that, they allowed 22 runs in 3 games to KC's Offense. A 4 1/2 game lead is not much with 70 games left. The Sox only have to make up 1 game every 14 games. If the Sox win 2 of 3, they will be 7-2 on the season series and would put the Sox only 3 1/2 back, and only 3 back in the loss column. A sweep makes it 1 1/2 back and only 1 in the loss column. That would be demoralizing for the Tigers knowing that they still have their difficult schedule coming in August.