LVSoxFan

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/2499...eluca15.article So what do we think of this idea? The upside is he'd be a rental--he's a free agent after this year. No long-term contract to absorb. The skeptics say that he's a fly-ball pitcher which would kill him in The Cell, although I wouldn't say Wrigley Field is exactly a pitcher-friendly park. The Cubs are definitely in sell mode, they've stated it publicly. I personally like the idea. God that would be funny to see him in a Sox uniform. And he could plug the hole left by Peavy which, let's be honest, we need to plug. Unless you really think there's going to be a Miracle with the Hudson...

I'm going with Buehrle's flip play. That will be on the opening jumbotron film next year for sure.

I just read the piece and actually they left Stoney out of it. They were pretty much just talking about Hawk, LOL.

Stoney's great. Hawk, not so much. Although I love his home run call. Best in baseball. That said, publications like GQ are very East-coast centric so it doesn't surprise me that they'd pick on somebody like us. Hey, fun fact: in Texas, the Rangers games are broadcast on FM! I had the Sox/Rangers tuned in as I the game early there. It was STRANGE, it not being on AM.

Some of you have been around longer than I, but I can't ever recall a Sox season where they turned it around so quickly--and to do it, get into first, on the eve of the ASB is just poetic. Just last month I was complaining here that we never seem to ever put any STREAKS together, the past few years. Done, and done. If we can get through the Twins/California road trip with a winning record, I think people should be scared of us.

^^^this Guys I don't want him sent down PERMANENTLY, just to have a less pressurized situation to clear his head and find his swing.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jul 6, 2010 -> 04:08 PM) Ozzie didn't say Lillibridge would be starting. He said he'd be trying to get Lilli playing time, and said that Beckham is his 2B. Not sure where you are getting this. Actually here's what he said: Manager Ozzie Guillen sat Beckham for a second consecutive game on Monday, instead going with the hot bat of Brent Lillibridge at second base. ''[beckham] still is my second baseman,'' Guillen said. ''But right now, the way Lillibridge is playing, I'm going to give him a shot. Remember, if Kenny [Williams] or Jerry [Reinsdorf] told me, 'Here it is. That's the development of my ballclub. This is the team for the future .. So give him that shot. And send Beckham down to get his swing back. Now seems like the best time ever, because there's no hole--right now--with Beckham being gone. Therefore I ask again: what are they waiting for?

OK so explain this. Ozzie today all but acknowledges that Lillibridge is going to be starting at 2B for the time being since he has the hot hand. Wouldn't NOW be the time to send Beckham down to AAA to get his act together? What are they waiting for? Before the argument was that there's not a suitable replacement. Now, he's not even starting, soooooo.... Or am I missing something?

I've been to Kaufmann, Comerica and this summer Rangers stadium. They are all really, really big. Rangers Stadium was massive. It looked like you could fit the Cell inside it. One thing I did notice is that the infield dirt at Comerica seems much deeper than at other parks.

Geez I don't get all the hatred of Pods. Classy guy, World Series hero, had a great year with us last year. Hmph...

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jun 30, 2010 -> 10:15 AM) I actually think the hate on Teahen and Linebrink is a bit unique. The hate for them is also in large part hate on Kenny Williams because both acquisitions were dreaded and expected to fail from the moment they were made by the vast majority of people. Kenny had his reasons to make the moves (the bullpen sucked in '07, wanted to move Beckham to 2nd base this year), but both appeared to be disasters waiting to happen from day 1, and have not dissapointed thusfar. I knew nothing about them prior to them coming here; I assumed they must be good or else why would KW want them? Um... Teahen is just a mystery. I don't get it.

I'm usually not one to jump on whipping boy bandwagons (remember how everybody piled on Rios last year?), but for my whipping boy dollar I'd say 50/50 right now between Teahen and Linebrink. Teahen for the obvious why-did-we-get-this-guy? factor; Linebrink because every time he comes into a game I cover my eyes. But in the past five years I can't think of anybody who exemplifies futility more than: McDougal. Geesh. Which is who Linebrink reminds me of.

Jesus the Mariners won 116 games that year? Wow.

I'm not banking on any more 11 game winning streaks, but taking 2 out of 3 is what we need to be doing, ESPECIALLY against a team like KC. For whatever reason, that place isn't very welcoming to us. Last year we were around .500 there and so far this year we're 1-3.

Oh how a season can turn around. I noticed a distinct electricity this weekend at all three games with Sox fans--a sense that they were excited to see the team play because for the first time this year we feel like we're a good team. So that was extra fun. A comeback and victory yesterday would have been unbelievable, and a total dagger into that lame Cubs team. Oh well. Seeing that KC is our first series now that we're back to reality, I'd say that we're in good shape (although KC always seems to give us fits, especially there). After the Stanley Cup, coming back to a mediocre Sox team seemed anti-climactic. Now it's exciting again.

:headbang Woohoo! Boy talk about turning a season around on a dime! Two weeks ago we're wondering who's gone first, KW or Ozzie. Now we're thinking about winning the division. Nice. Can't wait to pound the Cubs into the dirt starting tomorrow. We couldn't be facing them at a more opportune time.

I'm in regardless. I kind of thought that we couldn't suck like this for an entire season with this lineup. I agree that I won't take them seriously until they start beating up on AL teams--particularly in the division. But hey, somebody: when was the last time we had a six-game winning streak? I cannot even remember. 2006?

Do we really believe that Jerry or KW or Ozzie would purposely cook up a fake drama in the middle of a baseball season to boost a... TV show that nobody's watching? I find that a stretch.

My first whiff that something was up was the Jim Thome affair. That struck me as nothing more than blatantly trying to set up Ozzie to take all the blame for not bringing back a fan favorite. What seems to be happening now is KW looking to set up Ozzie for the failure of this team to deliver even a Central title for two years now. That said, I still don't understand why Ozzie blames the Sox for his son's draft status--as the writer noted, all the other teams passed on him the first 21 times as well. What a mess: you've got a manager who is allegedly un-fireable because of his relationship with the owner. You've got a GM and plenty of fans who want Ozzie gone. Watching the team this weekend, especially their batting averages, again, I ask: why does Walker have a job? I mean, if you're going to send a message (one that many people thought should have been sent years ago), wouldn't that be the obvious, don't-sink-the-whole-boat choice? I hear Ozzie defend Walk--sometimes--but have you ever heard a player do it? That said, let's not forget why we suck right now--EVERYBODY is underdelivering, except for Konerko and Rios. Our batting averages are abysmal, even worse with RISP. Among the starters: Pierre: .248 Pierzynski: .236 Beckham: .204 Quentin: .201 (!!!) Ramirez: .257 Teahen: .255 Nix: .156 Kotsay: .204 Rios: .317 Paulie: .291 With one-third of your batting lineup at or below the Mendoza line, is it any wonder why we suck? What's the mystery here? In 2009, only one player ended up at or below the M.L.: Rios. And whose bright idea was it to dump Pods after having a career year? He's batting .282 right now with 18 stolen bases. And this is BEFORE we get to the pitching staff underperforming, except for Freddy Garcia... our 5th starter. Sounds like a perfect storm of crappiness, but it certainly starts with the hitting. It makes no difference how good the pitching is if we cannot score runs when we need them. And we cannot.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 9, 2010 -> 02:54 PM) Finally a post I can use this smiley for. I hate to say it but, yup, he's right on. Ozzie's gift in the beginning, it appeared, was to keep things loose and playful, and to motivate his players. I can't remember the last time I would ever describe the Sox--on the field or in the dugout--as "loose." Corpse-like, yes. Loose, no. Too bad because I will always owe him, but I think everybody's due for a change of scenery. I feel like I've been watching the same team for three and a half years.

Here's what I'm unclear about: okay, so he's a goner because who doesn't want a good catcher, etc.? What exactly would we get in return for him that would make it worthwhile getting rid of him? Or is it really only just to dump him before the 5/10 kicks in?

As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with most of his points. I'm preparing myself mentally for the inevitable departure of my two favorite players, Buehrle and A.J. I also think Konerko and Jenks are goners, as will be Floyd. THEN I read a blurb about Flowers' hitting woes in the minors and I can't help but think: WT F**** is the problem with this team and hitting for the past four years? How is it that Minnesota can put a contender out there year after year and we seem to be watching the same movie since second half, 2006? Don't get me wrong, Blackout Tuesday was awesome when that happened but let's face it--neither of us was that good that year and it was almost like a contest to see who could give away the AL Central--in fact, it literally became that. I'll be going this weekend to catch some of our stars' last performances. I think there's no way around this.

Yup. I noticed that too. It seems like we've had the same team for the past three years. Weird.

I agree with sending him down to clear his head as well.

Definitely a present surprise, although seriously tempered by the fact that so many other people are underperforming.