LVSoxFan

Without a doubt, the most memorable moment to me of 2005 was AJ's walkoff homer against the Dodgers. Yeah, there were plenty of great moments, but I will always remember that. And dammit: I was at the other two games, but not that one. Even so, I LEAPT off the couch and SCREAMED when that happened. Amazing. And with the '59 jerseys, too. It was magical. I will never forget that. And people forget that he pop-fouled on the pitch before and tossed his bat away, thinking he was out for sure. He had to go get the bat back, LMAO! Classic. Hope that's on the DVD after this year.

Sorry, but the Tribune sucks. They have a couple of good sports writers, but the Sun-Times blows them away, even if you don't like Mariotti. Try and have a little perspective here guys. BTW Wrigley Field's scoreboard said last night: "CONGRATULATIONS CHICAGO WHITE SOX: 2005 CENTRAL DIVISION CHAMPIONS". Classy.

I have never seen Contreras smile before yesterday! And you're right: he does look like Michael Clark Duncan.

Wow! Dump Garland for McCarthy? I thought everybody would say El Duque. Although, if he's the playoff ace... Hmm. But DEFINITELY start Contreras first. No doubt. I agree with the lineups. And goddammit Podsednik, start STEALING BASES! I don't care you're hurt. Then RUN FASTER!

Hey now I'm absolutely fine to hear from Tribe fans as long as it doesn't turn into a taunt-fest. And while I do come here to hear from Sox fans, I certainly like the idea of hearing from the "other side." Take the gift, guys! I want to hear how their fans think. So welcome Wiredawg1. And he's right: we're playing like caca right now and I'm sure everybody in the AL wants to play us first, because we're the least intimidating team out there. And the weakest offensively. I'd want to play us. And yes, playing like this we probably won't get past the first round, whereas the Tribe is a complete team. The only caveats are that: 1) Once into the playoffs, it's a whole new--no pun intended--ballgame. The regular season doesn't matter. True, we could do a 2000 all over again, but you just never know. 2) The way everybody's dumping on us (rightly so), we are going to be the underdogs of the playoffs. Nobody's expecting us to do anything, so the pressure is off. The pressure has been immense for the past two months because we were ordained central champions pretty much at the ASB. Anything less and it's a major league choke job. We weren't allowed to lose games, especially teams like KC. If everybody thinks we're out in the first round, then maybe that will change the team psyche for the better. But you're pretty much on the money. I'd hate to see you guys miss out too.

Well you have a point. I guess if they were winning I wouldn't be posting about this. Point taken: that truly is most painful part. It's not like we're going back and forth and losing on their last at-bat. It just seems like we're in a rut of these low, low scoring games and even when they get up on us, like last night, we have chance after chance after chance to come back and/or win, and then... Nothing. You're right, though. It's the lack of execution. And I hate seeing well-pitched games wasted by our offense. But either way, I'm looking forward to next week.

I don't mean the Sox falling out of it; I mean the regular season. We were spoiled first half like never before (at least not in my lifetime). This second half has been an absolute GRIND. Duking it out with the good teams, inexplicably losing to bad teams, and losing that 15-game lead to get neck-and-neck with... well, just about everybody at this point. Watching the past couple of weeks has been traumatic, to say the least. And the last two nights I literally barely smile when we get an HR or a stolen base--because I just want the game to be over with us ahead. What I look forward to is--if we make the playoffs, everything hits "RESET." Nothing matters prior to those games, as some have said: "The best team doesn't win, it's the team who plays best." This entire 2nd half becomes moot and who knows what could happen? I'm at peace right now after this second half with the idea that we might not get very far--so if that happens, it won't be devastating. And if it does, then hey, WTF: a surprise in Chicago baseball for once! And while Ozzie's right--why the f*** are people complaining about a club that's 30 games over .500 (think about that. No really, think about how good that is. And how odd it is that we're even IN a race for first with that record.) hopefully the lesson learned is that the Donald Rumsfeld approach should never be repeated: "You don't go past the trade deadline with the team you want, but with the team you have." Yikes, I hope we never do that again. Although if we win it all this will be heralded as a genius move, LOL. Either way, if we get there, at least that's a few more home games... in October. I'll take it, since I didn't get to go to the final home game. Next Monday can't come soon enough!

I for the life of me could not understand what he was doing up there with his .183 average. I can't remember: was he pinching for Ozuna? If so, why? I'll take Ozuna anytime over this scrub. If it wasn't Ozuna, there's about five guys I'd rather see than Blum in the clutch. Yeesh. That was PAINFUL. There gonna need Noah's Ark to pick up all the men we've left stranded on base this year. 12 last night. That is unbearable.

What I always wondered is what Ozzie does when they meet face to face. Or Hawk, whom Mariotti just savages in print. I remember Hawk bristling at the mention of his name at Soxfest last year.

Hey if he's right--and he has been about some things--right on for saying them. If he's wrong--well hopefully it'll light a fire under the team's ass. I'm seeing win/win here. I'd rather read a columnist who will offend anyone than one who's a homer, if you know what I'm saying. Even if he's not always right.

I cannot take this anymore. This was a problem even in the first half when we were White Hot--I don't think I ever recall a team leaving more people on base than us. Second half it's just been ridiculous--even in the victories of late you're seeing bases loaded/1 or no outs and nobody gets in. Last night no doubt it is what killed us--sure, Garland looked iffy (again) and Inge's two homers didn't help, but OMG with guys at 1st and 3rd and... nada? Then the most painful of all: bases loaded and Dye... strikes out. You could feel the wind go out of me, The Hawkeroo and the entire viewing audience after that strikeout--because then it became a matter of waiting to see how we'd blow it. A scoreless 9th and somehow you just knew that something was going to happen to Politte--when that guy homered it was almost expected. I realize I'm stating the obvious, but is there any sort of scientific explanation as to why we strand so many? Is that a mental thing? Or is it that we just suck in that department--no explanation? Point being, if that's what's been doing us in all season (think of all the 1-run and low-scoring games), how do you correct something like that? BTW let's not forget: all three runs last night came from homers.

QUOTE(The Critic @ Sep 23, 2005 -> 09:46 AM) MMMMMMM......Kooooooool Aiiiiiiiiiiiiid.......... LMAO!

Agreed. Pods without base-stealing ability is worthless. That's the only reason we brought him here. If that's the case, I'd rather see--GASP!--Willie Harris lead off. I'm not kidding.

WOW. Funny you mention that because my superfan, Cub-loving co-worker (who has been watching the Sox lately and is a baseball expert) said the EXACT same thing: Kyle Farnsworth. Has anybody else noticed the absolute coincidence? Bobby Jenks has been lights-out, until he was "officially" named the closer. Since then he has blown every save. Kyle Farnsworth was a 100 mph pitcher too but mentally collapsed. Yikes. And could the timing of all this be any more tragic, what with Hermanson apparently MIA?

Just the thought of Soxfest seems like one helluva grim proposition right now. What should have been a celebration of 2005 and look forward to '06 now looks like it's going to be an autopsy. I don't think I have the stomach for it. My, how things turn. I remember being there last year and seeing Dye for the first time and how excited Ozzie was about the "new" approach and how, during the Q&A (unlike the year before) KW didn't get b****ed out the whole time. It was exciting, because we were taking a big gamble with the whole "smallball" thing. Remember? Seems years ago, doesn't it. I personally was all for it, because whatever it was before wasn't working. And if you're constantly losing to the Twins every year and you don't have a $200MM payroll like the Yankees, yeah: you probably want to build a team more like the... Twins. Which is what we did. It's funny, because for years now we think: what are the Twins doing that we're not? But this year, all I can think about is Cleveland. Not because they caught us, but because they did what you want a team to do: they absolutely killed after the ASB. Like somebody says: you can lose a season in the first half, but you can't win one. We are going to be the poster boys for that truism. What I wouldn't give for a so-so 1st half and then playing .750 ball into the playoffs. Wow.

I'm glad somebody posted about this because I was dying to last night, watching that disaster. There is one GLARING flaw in the White Sox that has been present all season, even in the winning 1st half. It is what is KILLING us. And it's what did us in last night, and countless other times. WE CANNOT HIT WITH MEN ON BASE. I cannot even DESCRIBE how many games I've been two where we've stranded bases loaded, runners at the corners... you name it. Time, after time, after time. Brandon pitched a smoking game last night and we had the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and one out. Nothing. We have been doing that all year. And it's what's killing us. That's if we even get anybody on base, which is the 2 to the 1-2 punch which is burying us. BTW can well all retire the term "smallball"? When the hell was the last time we ever played that? When was the LAST time you saw somebody actually steal a base? Podsednik is completely AWOL--WTF?--and there was Iguchi on first last night... just sitting there. Are these the only two guys who can steal? What about Dye? Uribe? Anybody? It's like we had a great 1st half doing all these "smallball" things and we completely ditched them 2nd half. And like I said before, "smallball" doesn't mean "low scoring ball." Scoring 1-2 runs a game doesn't mean that you're playing smallball, it means that your offense sucks. No wonder our pitchers are worn out--we've been asking them to perform miracles the entire season.

I don't blame Jenks. Marte put those two guys on. I did notice what the thread starter said though: in 1st half, it used to be great to watch all the broken bats caused by Garland's inside pitches--so many it was comical. Don't see that that much--from him at least.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Sep 20, 2005 -> 02:38 PM) I dont think KW will or should be fired. I think the only mistake he made was not having a vet on the bench to keep Ozzie "semi-grounded". Not having Nossek or someone like him on the bench is a big big f*** up. Torborg would of been nice on the bench next to Ozzie. This is something new for Ozzie this managing thing, and he has noone to lean on for advise or experience. I would like to see our hitting coach fired. I would like to see someone who preaches a hit down on the ball, line drive approach over what we have. Everyone that comes here, magically has their power numbers jump and their BA goes down. I would like to see this come from outside of the organization. Get someone who can teach the mechanics of a line drive swing. The indians have nice line drive swings. You are less likely to slump with line drive swings that the dip your back shoulder and launch method we have had for the last few years. Get rid of Walker, hire Torborg as a bench coach and let sleepy baines retire or sleep somewhere else in the organization. Well I can't argue much with this. If there's somebody that should be fired, I guess I'd start here. When you have, as I mentioned elsewhere, so many potentially good hitters who are just sucking, then yeah: I would look at the hitting coach. With the exception of Uribe, who's made an adjustment, I haven't seen any great consistencies anywhere in the lineup all season. The caveat being I don't know anything about hitting coaches and how they work, so I could be off the mark here.

OK now THIS is extreme. If the Sox flame out we fire KW. I was no fan of his until this year. I look at it this way: what they did, everybody hated. Oh, you guys are doomed by giving away Lee and Mags! Small ball will never work! And lo and behold we were the best team in baseball and in first place all year until at least the last two weeks. Sounds like they got it half right: pitching/defense, check. Offense--ouch! But what do you do? Crede is a great 3B but his bat sucks? Uribe is an awesome SS but he's been underwhelming. Rowand was his own ESPN highlight reel in CF but his bat has been awful. So do you dump the solid defenders in hope of better bats? That's a tough call. How many of you honestly thought we'd turn it around this fast? I thought it'd be a couple of years for the "Ozzie ball" to take hold. I didn't think we would dominate like we did until we started to run out of gas. I won't be calling for anybody's head until after next season, if nothing changes.

Hey dude we did this last night: that was one loud-ass crowd. I guess what I would say though is if we get down, don't all of a sudden get quiet. Last night when they scored the go-ahead run, everybody shut down. Keep shouting until the game's over!

QUOTE(Texsox @ Sep 20, 2005 -> 02:02 PM) I usually agree with Jay, but one thing in this column that is just wrong or at least mis leading, who was really available? Who the hell did anyone pick up that is making a difference? What closer did he expect Kenny to pull out his ass? Jenks is as solid as any reliever that may have been obtainable. I agree with you totally. Unlike most Sox fans, I read Mariotti all the time. Sometimes he's full of s*** (can we swear here/!?); but often times he's the one who will say what nobody else will. On this one though, I think he's wrong. From all accounts, KW went after Griffey and a Cincinatti owner squashed the deal, either because he didn't want to let him go or he wanted something exorbinant for him. Sure they said something about they think they can do it with what they have, and there's some truth to that. But I think KW made some bold moves this year, Ozzie's been great (except with the pitchers), and I highly doubt JR said no to some potential season saver--in the record year--because he's just so damn cheap. I think Mariotti is probably disappointed like all of us are--he was talking up the Sox a lot the first half--and it's easier to blame this on management (feels better) than on the team itself. Or Ozzie. But let's look at what's not happening here when you wonder where it's going wrong. I think we can all agree, pitching slump aside, that it has been a terrible year OFFENSIVELY. Sure it was fun to win all those 1-run games and have our pitchers win our games with shutouts, etc. But that masked a problem. That problem was uncovered even back then when a pitcher had a bad outing or we made a lot of defensive blunders--somebody got a few runs on us, we weren't coming back. And forget all the talk about "small ball": small ball doesn't mean low-scoring, it means moving runners around the bases with hitting and stealing instead of homers. We've played sort of a bastardized version of that: small scoring ball. Get an early lead and pray that the pitchers can hold down the offensive lineup of the other team. That's a pret-ty thin line of defense. The other thing about this team that's eminently frustrating is they all have the POTENTIAL to be good hitters--they've shown that. Podsednik: hitting well recently but where oh where are the stolen bases? That's what you were brought here for! Iguchi: great all-around hitter but prone to slumping and striking out Everett: great power, switch hitter... and totally streaky Konerko: great power, but feast-or-famine--also a streakmeister Dye: great power.... streaky Rowand: was great last year, has been AWFUL this year Crede: has shown flashes of brilliance in '04 at the plate, but this year has been AWOL I could go on, but about the only person who seems to always be a threat at the plate is Ozuna. You look at a team like Boston with that middle of the order and it's no wonder they're always winning. It's almost like our talent is there, but everybody needs to go to batting camp for a summer!

QUOTE(The Critic @ Sep 20, 2005 -> 01:36 PM) It was Oakland. I was at that Saturday game. Ouch. With my Cub fan/A's fan nephews. Double ouch. Surrounded by random A's dopes. Triple ouch. Yes indeed, I was at all THREE of those games--a sweep. That was brutal. Even moreso because we always get spanked by them there, but manage to pull games out at home. Not this time. We then swept four games from Cleveland and then things got weird. We lost a home series to the Tigers. I remember being at the afternoon game (long rain delay). Then came Boston, which everybody said would be a playoff preview. We split with them. Barely. After that, it was off to KC. I was at two of those three games. We lost 'em both. We lost a series to KC, who had not beaten us all year! Then things rebounded when we managed a four-game sweep of Baltimore, even including an ESPN game! Yay! Only to erase that by losing a home series to Toronto. I think we lost a home series to Seattle as well. Then it was two out of three--AT Yankee Stadium! Yay! And then came Boston at Boston: lost the first two, then the third was rained out when we were up 5-2. And at that pint we started veering into our awful almost-.500 ball. Minnesota. Yankees take 2 of 3 here (that four HR inning was the only thing that saved us in game 3). Crappy series in Minneota and Seattle and especially Texas followed. And then September came. So I'd say things began to start to wobble with that away Boston series with the game three rainout, even though the cracks began to appear in late July. Either way, in other words: all after the ASB, which was my biggest fear.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? I'm in!

I just appreciate that people here can say what they want, even if it's negative, about the team, and not get banned. Just because you criticize doesn't mean you're not a hardcore Sox fan; if you didn't care you wouldn't bother. And wow has this been a tough past two months to be a Sox fan. Up until the ASB everything was so giddy and can-you-believe-this? Even back then, you're waiting for the other shoe to drop but I did convince myself to enjoy it while it's happening. I didn't think the shoe would drop quite so hard, so this is hard to watch. August was bad and I welcomed September but wow--this has been excrutiating. Not just the Sox' play, either (although I'm really let down by our starting pitchers), but just the sheer TIMING of it all. Just as we start swimming under .500 Cleveland goes on an UNBELIEVABLE tear. If anybody had posted here last month that Cleveland would have to play .750 ball to catch up to us, everybody would have laughed. And that's just what they did. But the reality is this: IT AIN'T OVER YET.

Even though we lost, I was proud of the way we played up until the two-run single. Usually, down 4-0 means that's how it ends, but we came roaring back. Man, was that crowd into it last night too. I've never heard it that loud. But then came the single, and everything went silent. A collective deflation, just like that. If we keep playin' 'em that way, we'll get some wins. The team seemed pumped up, too. And that was with a so-so Freddy outing. If Garland and Buehrle finally decide one of these days they want to start intimidating batters by pitching well, gosh, who knows what can happen?