Pants Rowland

QUOTE (J.Reedfan8 @ Aug 3, 2010 -> 11:29 PM) I hate seeing Rob Mackowiak as far as a "hated" player. People did not hate Rob as a player. They hated how Ozzie USED him. He was so misused when he was here, it's not even funny. How can anyone hate a baseball player who was born and raised a sox fan AND was misused as a player overall is beyond me. I liked Rob when he was here.. and still do. Believe me, you are not the only one. And if you think people are still stroking him, you haven't read his board recently. I don't always have time to get through all the threads but it is good to hear that the trend is being reversed. QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Aug 3, 2010 -> 11:36 PM) I have liked you ever since I first saw your moniker. Thanks. Nothing beats "Milkman delivers", though. A great tribute to one of the best nicknames (and a really solid hitter) ever. QUOTE (joeynach @ Aug 3, 2010 -> 11:49 PM) Official prediction on 8-3-10 by Joeynach. When Mark Tehean comes off the DL and returns to the Sox active roster, instead of optioning Viciedo down to AAA to make room like everyone thinks, the team will release Mark (.220 BABIP) Kotsay. I hope you are a psychic. Heck, if this organization can unceremoniously release Carlton Fisk in 1993, you would think they could find a nice way to show Kotsay the door.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Aug 3, 2010 -> 10:17 PM) It's not that there has to be a whipping boy. If there were no crappy players on this team, nobody would be complaining. We'd all be happy happy joy joy and I think almost everybody would want that. I don't know how you can't complain about Mark Kotsay. He sucks at hitting and he's is DHing the most games on this team. Chris Rongey brought this point up on the post game show, how there always seems to be one guy the Sox fans hate...well...let's run down this list. 2010 Mark Kotsay 2009 Dewayne Wise 2008 Javier Vazquez 2007 Darin Erstad 2006 Rob Mackowiak 3, if not 4, of the past 5 most hated people on this team are terrible baseball players. Kotsay is a even worse version of Darin Erstad. Ozzie keeps running this guy out there even though he hasn't proven he could hit in the past 4 months. Don't blame the fans for pointing weaknesses out, blame the players for not performing and blame Ozzie for trotting him out there. I know he has to deal with quite a few knuckleheads calling in to the postgame shows, but does anyone else think Ranger is a little full of it/himself? I find his demeanor to be condescending at times and he seems to toe the company line far too often as well. Forgive me (or warn me) if I am crossing the line of personal attacks, but to me it hits home even more when he posts here and gets into arguments with others. For the most part, I think this site is not full of the same post game caller idiots he typically deals with and he shouldn't approach them as if they are. On occasion he beats his arguments to death and appears both stubborn and arrogant. I also have noticed far too many posters on here stroke him because he is a supposed radio personality and they give him a free pass when he is spewing the cliches. I know he can't be held responsible for the actions of fanboys, but they act as if he is really courageous for posting and getting flamed. Well, isn't that a risk we all take? A riskier approach would be if he stated that most of these "hated" players were put into a position to fail too often and that it is understandable when the fans take it out on the player, but the fans should realize the player is only trying to do the job asked of him by the manager. No, he won't ruffle feathers like that, but rather say dumb things like "Kotsay is not going to cost you the division...if the Sox lose the division, it will be because their pitching failed." That is what he actually posted in one topic here the other day and he got some level of praise for posting his opinions. It really burns me up! Again, sorry if this is construed as a personal attack, but if we can flame Hawk and Stone for sugar coating the Kotsay issue, then I think Rongey is fair game, too.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 3, 2010 -> 11:29 AM) Hmm, that's odd. I wonder what makes him so revolting. His physical appearance, for one?

I am glad to see his comments are being debated nationally. Other than PEDs, there have been too many "stories" in the world of sports journalism that are overplayed and overdramatized. Listening to guys like Mike Greenberg, Bob Costas, or any other talking head on TV/radio break down every word and debate the personal lives of so many sports figures is the stuff of tabloids, not real reporting. It is good that Ozzie is not being treated like a clown and his comments dismissed on this issue and even better that it has sparked a healthy debate over a legitimate concern in the world of sports. Whether you agree with his stance or not, I am glad he said what he did and that it has brought this issue to the front of sports pages nationwide.

I was there Sunday as well and think the intensity was just right. There were several keys points in the game when fans cheered and even stood up to cheer. Personally, I think the faux intensity at Wrigley Field is not what baseball is all about. They cheer everything that goes their way and frequently boo when things aren't to their liking. This includes balls and strikes no matter what point in the game it is. It is great that they are supposedly into every pitch, but I say no thanks to that idea. Baseball is a relaxing cerebral event for me. I like to watch and think along and occasionally stand up and cheer if the situation calls for it. That means crucial points in the game and we all know that while every pitch can matter to the grand scheme of things, there is no reason to blown your load cheering throughout the game. It just sets you up for an emotional letdown, which is even more germane if you are a fan of the Cubs.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 09:51 AM) Can you just email this post to Kenny and Ozzie? Funny, before I saw your post, I thought the exact thing, "He should email that to KW!"

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 31, 2010 -> 01:46 PM) See the 1st inning of last night. I called the GIDP and AJ delivered. My 5-year old son is really into baseball, the Sox in particular. He was at the kitchen table eating a bowl of cereal this morning, looks up, and asks me, "why does AJ Pierzynski always swing at the first pitch?" I laughed and assumed I might have said something like that and he remembered. I asked him if that was the case and he said "no, I remember that game against the Indians where he got up with runners on and hit into a DP on the first pitch." Granted, he is really into baseball, but for a 5 year old to notice this really tells you something.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 30, 2010 -> 10:17 PM) That's what I thought. I will keep buying BP hoping they clean the f***ing mess up correctly. Reports are the oil has really dissipated since the new cap was installed. Obviously a lot of cleanup left to do on the costs, but reports are that between heavy storms, evaporation, and oil consuming bacteria, the concentrations in test samples have dropped tremendously in the gulf.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 30, 2010 -> 10:10 PM) I've filled my car up with BP the last 2.5 years. If I change suddenly will it damage the car? Is Phillips 66 a good brand? Thanx. I really want to stop going there but don't want to freak my car out. My mechanic, who I really respect and have used for nearly 10 years now, said to never use any gasoline other than Shell or BP. In particular, he endorses BP. He says their formula is excellent for keeping an engine running well and keeping clean fuel injectors. I still follow his advice despite the spill. The way I look at it, we should keep giving them money to pay for the cleanup. Then put them out of business.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jul 30, 2010 -> 08:24 PM) Gordon, you magnificent bastard Did you read his book?

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jul 30, 2010 -> 02:01 PM) Wow, who really gives a s***? If the fans want to do it, let them f***ing do it. It hardly takes anything away from the game except maybe you miss a pitch. Yeah, most of us on this board are diehard fans, but the majority of the 30,000 fans there probably are just casual fans and just going to game for some fun. I'm not going to let the f***ing wave ruin my day like it does to everyone on here it seems like. And getting embarrassed because your buddy was at a sox game and saw the wave? Grow some nuts! You must not realize that some of the s*** that goes down at wrigley is easily some of the most vulgar and disgusting stuff you will ever see at a pro sports outing. You're taking my post a little more seriously than I did. Yes, I was momentarily embarrassed but I was not about to get into all the embarrassing elements of Wrigley/Cubdom with her. It was no big deal and I let her comment slide. However, I definitely was pissed when the people in my section all got up to wave when a crucial pitch/hit/run scored right at that moment. Missing one pitch due to the wave is usually not a big deal, but it pissed me off this time. The rest of the stuff I said is somewhat true but also tongue in cheek. There is more to being a sox fan than all the stereotypes I threw out but I really do not care for the wave or people throwing back opposing home runs at the cell. I like how knowledgeable our fan base can be about baseball. I know some drunks/fools call Ranger after the games, but the core group of fans are pretty solid baseball people and it shows when talking to fans sitting around you. Russ, I sit in Row 3 of Section 103.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 30, 2010 -> 08:34 AM) The wave just makes you feel like the people at the game aren't giving two s***s. Seattle had just scored off J.J. Putz. What do I see? A f***ing wave. Nice to know you're interested in the game people. I was at last night's game as well and had invited an ex-coworker who is a die hard Cubs fan. When the damn wave started she said "oh, I forgot they do that here." I was embarrassed as a Sox fan but I let it go. Then it got worse, just as J.J. goes into the windup, the wave reaches our section in RF. The ball is hit, I believe for a double, and a run or something scored. I don't know all the details cause all the f***ing morons around me got up to do the wave and I saw nothing after Putz went into the delivery. The wave sucks and it is clear that people were not paying attention to the game. Other than the 2005 trophy, our reputation of Sox fans being into the game is all we got going for us. Otherwise, we are edgy, blue collar, drunk, umpire/KC 1st base coach beating, wave starting, white trash fans from Bridgeport and surrounding areas. I won't stand for it, literally or figuratively.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 11:17 PM) Sweet. I love agreeing with people and them agreeing with me. Peace is wonderful. I'm still not sure you really exist.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 28, 2010 -> 10:00 PM) I don't understand you guys. Even when, er if he blows this we are still tied for first. We won it all in 2005. Closers aren't perfect. I love haiku.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 28, 2010 -> 05:52 PM) You remind me of Glenn Close. From The Natural or Fatal Attraction?

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jul 28, 2010 -> 09:04 PM) Stone seemed to have a chuckle at that. Yeah. Neither Stone or Hawk would pile on, but you could tell it struck a funny cord in the booth.

QUOTE (beckham15 @ Jul 28, 2010 -> 08:15 PM) paulie just missed that one Sorry for the delay, but did anyone catch the incredibly funny comment by Moose after both he and Hawk acted like the last ball off Paulie's bat was a HR only to be caught by the left fielder? He basically called himself out for not being on top of the play and said something like "I pulled a Santo there". He said it so fast that I had to rewind the DVR twice to make sure I heard it right. Priceless.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jul 17, 2010 -> 07:38 AM) The Sox could have Jesus playing CF and they'd be underdogs still. The Sox DID have Jesus playing CF in 2005.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 14, 2010 -> 11:19 AM) I'm a fan of a lot of Joe Posnanski's work, but he wasn't happy with Thornton in the game last night: Good stuff and pretty much how I felt about Thornton being on the team to begin with. As a White Sox fan, I was happy for Matt, but as an AL fan, I scratched my head at Girardi's "genius" in selecting him. To me he over managed with the selection and over managed bringing him into the game. Girardi also used up his bench early and showed that he is not quite the top notch manager that his world series ring might suggest. I hope the Cubs get him for next year.

Like the 2010 Chicago White Sox (at least through May), the AL lost last night's game because they failed to capitalize on the few opportunities they had. Yes, they might have won 1-0 if Thornton could have gotten that last out, but in reality, Girardi made some bad decisions last night. He used up his bench despite history telling him to save some players. Then he decided to save the last player on the bench (to possibly hit a game winning HR) rather than pinch running for Ortiz. He also brought in Thornton to exploit the lefty lefty s*** we all love here but forgot that in an All-Star game there is usually no shortage of quality players on either bench to compensate. So Matt comes out and fortunately gets Young to pop out, but then has to take care of another righty, who he walks. Now the bases are loaded and there is no margin for error. Matt typically can get out of such jams but it didn't happen last night. I know he can be as tough as anyone on any hitter, but maybe there is a reason middle relievers rarely are selected to these squads. I know many will disagree with me here, but I think Girardi outsmarted himself in picking Thornton to begin with. He thought that would be his ace in the hole as he secured home field for his Yankees but forgot that it is a lot easier to counter the tough lefty in the ASG than it is when you have only one or two marginal right handers on a normal bench.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Jul 11, 2010 -> 09:08 PM) The MLBPA monitors that stuff so we'd have to legitimately hurt him first. Maybe we can activate him and start him at 3B on a day when (wink wink nudge nudge) Roger Bossard just happens to accidentally forget to remove a few - shall we say - naturally occurring obstacles in the field around the 3B area. I give up. Dog Poop?

Right around 1:48 - "Never f*** with a winning streak"

QUOTE (StatManDu @ Jul 9, 2010 -> 10:22 AM) A few nuggets from Thursday’s game in which the White Sox defeated the Angels 1-0 at U.S. Cellular Field behind a first inning run scored by the Sox first batter of the game and a complete-game effort from left-hander John Danks. This was the … … first 1-0 win at home since the “Black Out” victory over Minnesota on 9-30-08 (Danks eight innings; Jenks one inning for the save; run scored on Jim Thome’s seventh inning homer) … first 1-0 win with run scored in first inning since 7-14-05 at Cleveland (Iguchi scored on Thomas 2B) … Contreras seven innings; Politte, Marte and Hermanson went the rest of the way with Hermanson getting the final two outs for the save … first 1-0 win with run scored in the first inning at home since 9-13-00 (Thomas and Baines back to back two out doubles) … Parque seven innings, Howry one inning, Foulke one inning for the save. … first complete game by Sox pitcher in a 1-0 victory at US Cellular Field since Charlie Hough on 8-4-91 vs. Baltimore. … Hough outdueled Mike Mussina, who was making his big league debut … Only run came on a Thomas homer … first 1-0 win with run scored by Sox first batter of the game since 8-15-87 at Toronto (Guillen walk, steal, to third on Donnie Hill groundout and scored on Harold Baines groundout) … Dotson six-hitter. … first complete game by a Sox lefty in a 1-0 victory since Britt Burns beat the A’s on three hits on 6-19-83 at Comiskey Park … Run scored when Baines doubled in Kittle with two outs in the fourth … first 1-0 run with run scored by Sox first batter of the game at home since 6-12-78 vs. Cleveland (Garr bunt single and to second on error; third on sac; scored on Wayne Nordhagen sac fly) … Ken Kravec pitched the first seven innings before giving way to Jim Willoughby who earned the save. Good stuff (and memories) but didn't Buerhle throw a 1-0 CG SO v. Cleveland on opening day 2005? It may have been in Cleveland but I thought MB went the distance. EDIT: Just checked and you were right. MB went 8 and Shingo pitched the 9th for the save.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 12:02 AM) Give them Torres, Santeliz, and Blackwood You better hope she is not reading this post...

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:12 PM) The Reds are supposedly interested in Cliff Lee, but they really need to focus on cleaning up their bullpen. Outside of Cordero and Rhodes, they have no one! So, trade Santos and prospects to the Reds for Votto and they in turn package some of their prospects and the ones they get from us to Seattle for Cliff Lee. They should have no problem giving up Votto. He barely made the ASG. ;-) I am obviously joking, but something creative is the way I see the Sox pulling off a way to improve their offense and keep the Twins from improving.