LVSoxFan

Will everybody calm the hell down already about Buehrle? We won't know anything until later so quit speculating! And PLEASE give those of us depending on you for the game play-by-play some explanation besides "s***!" Or "Dammit!" Thank you.

Can we get explanation with the exclamations please? What happened?

Yes there is a HUGE difference between spreading hits around the lineup and relying on three guys to jack one to save our asses. REMEMBER? This is how we pretty much played first half of 2005. Sure we hit tons of homers but we were not RELIANT on them for offense. If somebody pulls the stats for '04 or second half last year you can see what percentage of our runs came from homers... and that's not what we want. Sure a run is a run, but it's the difference between being a piranha or living on feast-or-famine, which I never want to go back to.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 10:10 PM) The twins also won by scoring 7 runs without a homer. Scrappy gap to gap hitting. Watch the final out of the sox game. We have men in scoring position, and Crede tries to lift and pull a pitch on the outter half. He is quoted as saying that with the wind he thought it was out. He was going for a dong, and we needed a single or a double. the minute our hitters figure out how to hit a single when we need it instead of trying to hit a 500 foot shot. We will be okay as a situational team. On our pitching staff, throw strikes. We need to do that. If we throw strike and get ahead we will be fine. You win the thread. You're exactly right about the offense. And yes, Cleveland beat our asses by playing like... the 2005 Chicago White Sox.

All the firestorm aside, isn't that what people have been saying here, though, forever? Trading away Freddy and B-Mac for "maybes" is probably going to bite us in the ass? I'm confused...

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 07:20 PM) Well, let's think about this...the last 2 teams that have won the World Series...how have they been built? No matter what people say about Rowand...in 05, there was 1 media darling on the team, and that was Ozzie. One big, all encompassing leader. In 06, how about the Cardinals? Who would you say the leaders on that team were? Carpenter maybe, Isringhausen even though he was hurt, Pujols perhaps, certainly Eckstein. But who were the real big leaders? LaRussa. The Marlins in 03? Pudge Rodriguez and Trader Jack McKeon. The Halos in 02? Mike Scoscia. I don't see a problem with having quiet leaders. An awful lot of the best teams recently have been teams where the leaders were either quiet guys without big egos or a dominant managerial personality. I'd much rather have quiet leaders and one single guy in the manager than the mess of guys they have mashed together in New York where every other week they seem to have someone bashing someone else on the team publically. Just pointing out a difference between '05 and now, that's all...

QUOTE(Wanne @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 07:12 PM) You touched on an interesting point. Our main 3 leaders are Paulie, Thome and Dye. Now I don't know these guys personally....but they are probably THE quietest, most unassuming leaders you could possibly ever have. I understand the aspect of leading by production. The "all-business" aspect is not always the best way to go. I understand being professional and all...but the "can't squeez a greased BB outta yer ass" mentality really has seemed to overtake this team. Just my 2¢. And no...this is not a lobby to bring Rowand back. Exactly my point. We have "quiet" leaders. And...

I agree with those who have said we have seemed in a funk since second half last season, and I'm tired of it. There seems to be no fire, no spunk, no spark. Everybody seems to get really discouraged and then it bleeds all over the team I'm hardly going to give up after the SECOND game, though. Remember, Houston had an absolutely horrendous first half the year they met us in the WS. And as I've said before, I'd rather start crappy and turn it on second half a la the 2005 Indians rather than almost slide out of it like we did in '05 or all second half last year. Do remember this: we've had a different team since 2005. Even in '06 a key clubhouse guy was gone--Rowand--and it's obvious to me that changes things. Thome's a great guy, but doesn't strike me as the jokester/cheerleader that Rowand was. This year we have Erstad and a lineup that seemed in flux since opening day. Maybe they need time to gel--who knows? I can handle the losing, but let's go down swinging, boys. Take some chances. Not wait around for somebody to win it for us, which we seem to have been doing since July '06. Yes, the pitching is troubling.

I like this. Keeps the door open.

It sucks out today but I enjoy going to game like these because the people there are obviously die-hard fans or else they wouldn't be there. Although this is pretty cold, though... brrr. Man 40 degrees in 24 hours. Brutal.

That's a good point. Who in the bullpen probably thought: Contreras is starting and we'll be seeing action in... the second inning?

From the outfield honestly you could tell something was different but it wasn't that noticeable. It looks fine, I just don't think it's as jarring as seeing the green seats for the first time. Now THAT was like: WOW.

QUOTE(danman31 @ Apr 3, 2007 -> 12:14 AM) I'm not sure if this has been said before or not, but did anyone else think Contreras looks like Pedro Serrano (Major League) with his new facial hair? TOTALLY!!!!! Even more so up close. Every time I looked at him (I was standing next to the bullpen while he played long toss) that's all I could think of. I think it looks good. We could have used a chicken sacrifice yesterday, though...

The board at the Cell had Contreras around 91-93 most of the time.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2007 @ Apr 2, 2007 -> 08:23 PM) Looks like I didn't miss much. Were they hittin' ropes all over the place? Any bad breaks for Jose? Also, how did Masset look? How was the velocity/stuff? Jose looked like he had nothing workin. Everything was grooved. Hell, when the first hit of the game was a homer, we all sort of looked at each other like "Uh oh." Hell I think he threw 54 pitches in the first two innings alone, and I can't remember the last time one of our starters was pulled that early. Nothing to panic about; it was just one of those days.

Well, that sucked. At least the weather held out. Contreras? Yikes. Off day--I'll give him a pass. Our offense was anemic. I'm not worried--we have 161 games left. Observations: -The jet flyover was awesome -I thought Nancy Faust was gone--I could swear there was organ going the whole game -Erstad? Nice! -When Jose was like at 54 pitches after two innings we all were asking "Who's the middle reliever?" None of us could answer that. Who is the middle reliever? -The green seats look great! -The beer at the stand did not change price. -You could tell people were bored out of their minds halfway into it because the concourse was packed. -The latest from Jimbo's: April 9th court date, but nobody there (I asked) is holding out any hope they'll survive this court appearance -Contreras looks thinner/more svelte this year. I saw him up close. Sucks that we lost, but GAME ON! -Sabathia is a monster as always. -You knew the game wasn't blessed when the first pitch was hit out of the park.

I can't believe the Sox would do this, especially with Gooch. Makes no sense. Perhaps it's a ploy by KW to get the media focused on the season and not talks.

Now, literally overnight, today's forecast has been moved to... tomorrow. LOL. The storm front must be traveling via Jet Blue.

http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/USIL0225_f.html The 60s part is still there but now it's scattered "strong" thunderstorms. Bring the poncho!

The green seats are beautiful, I agree.

Whoa, back up. Konerko stole a base? What happened, did a sniper take out the KC shortstop before their catcher could get rid of the ball?

Bring it is right. I can't wait. BTW if you guys see a 5'7" dark haired guy walking around wearing a 1959 jersey with #11... that's me. Say hi.

24 hours, boys, 24 hours! I still can't believe it! And we're gonna have nice weather! I will be eating my first polish since last summer TOMORROW. Ooo rah!

90!!! Holy crap. I've never seen him above 88. Nice! This gives me hope. Thanks for the update. I agree with you that as Buehrle goes, we go.

He apparently looked like Buehrle with a capital "B" yesterday I hear?