Pants Rowland

QUOTE(soxfan3530 @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 12:31 PM) the play was actually a lot harder than it looks in that clip. He was sprinting straight backwards trying to get there. bobby blew the game not pods. Without a doubt. The slow motion with the goofy leap, followed by the ball hitting him on the head and then his uncontrolled collision with the wall/ground make him look exceptionally bad. Pods had very little time to get in position to make a controlled catch. However, BA or Erstad make that play in their sleep. Ozzie screwed up with his lack of outfield replacements in the 9th, no matter how ineffective Bobby was.

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 12:30 PM) It helps him get laid. It's not easy if you're a AAA player, but when your in the bigs....chicks just be throwin themselves at you. Be sure to wear your batting glove Brian!! He looooves the big league honeys.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 12:24 PM) We are criticizing moves made by the current manager, not comparing him to other managers. No doubt. Besides, if we are going to compare to other managers, let's not set the bar an inch off the ground. Being better than Jerry and Boom Boom is comparable to being the world's tallest midget. FWIW, I typically like Ozzie for all the intangibles he brings to managing his club, not just his in-game decisions. He did f*** up last night, though.

Last year the offense was great in lopsided games. However, the sox lost a handful (at least 3, as many as 5 or maybe even more) of games due to poor OF defense. They also were very average in one-run affairs. They also lost a playoff spot by 5 games. Baseball is a game of inches and every little thing that we try to dismiss as irrelevant typically matters over the course of a season. Even the best lineups have to play tight low-scoring affairs. It is the championship teams that find ways to win when the offense has a down night or the closer is missing his fastball. Last night was a a classic example of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. I commend Bobby for accepting the blame for the loss, but I believe Guillen put his team in a less favorable position to win the game. They could have overcome Bobby's pitching last night.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 11:27 AM) I'm merely suggesting Ozzie is trying to get the best out of his players at times by rewarding them for their efforts, even when perhaps it is not the best strategy in that situation to win the game. And if that's truly the case, I support him in doing so. Although I loved your reference to Ivan Drago's trainer, I am going to take exception to your overall point. I agree that sometimes you need to massage a player's ego in certain situations to boost his overall game. Pods does have a tendency to get down on himself and also take poor offense into the field with atrocious defense. However, Ozzie has more than rewarded Scotty with significant playing time thus far. To his credit, Pods has produced splendidly at the plate. If Ozzie really wants to keep Pods confidence up, he would have started him against CC and Johan as well. I doubt he was trying to massage his ego by leaving him in left last night. If anything, he jeopordized it with a new blooper for ComCast and ESPN to replay. As bad as the big boppers have been thus far, I am encouraged that this could be a really nice season to watch with the table being set at the top and bottom of the order and a talented bullpen getting stronger as the season progesses. I also think the defense in the field and on the bench is going to be really solid, especially if Hall comes back healthy. The fact is, players sometimes have bad nights. You keep running them out there to help them work through it. I am certain Ozzie will do that with Jenks after last night and keep his ego in tact. However, Ozzie did not give his team the best chance to win last night by keeping Pods in LF. If Pods' feelings would have been hurt by letting the defensive specialists close out the game with Bobby, then he is not the team player that Guillen adores.

QUOTE(TitoMB345 @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 11:08 AM) Personally, I feel terrible for Brian. He is a sack full of talent rotting away on the pine because somewhere in Ozzie's f***ed up head, he decided he didn't like the guy, with absolutely nothing to back it up. Poor Brian. I hope we trade him. I hate to say it, but I think you are right. I feel Ozzie put him on the 25-man roster to prove a point to KW and BA. Basically, BA "I am the boss and you will neither play in the majors or work out your kinks in the minors. Unless you start kissing my ass in a major way, I will continue to ruin your career."; KW "You are forcing me to work with a 24-man roster because you did not give me enough OF to choose from for the last spot. Fine, I will put BA on the roster but never use him. If we lose some games as a result, so be it." He did the same thing with Billy Koch in 2004, which I actually agreed with, until KW got the hint that he needed to be moved. He also did it last year by consistently playing Mack in CF despite how brutal he was out there. I was far less supportive of that policy since the Sox missed the playoffs partly due to poor OF defense throughout the year.

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 10:17 AM) to play centerfield. Which he will be doing today. Thanks. I am glad we can end the discussion now. The fact is I have seen all kinds of blame thrown around from the offense not being able to get more runs, to Jenks losing his fastball, but the fact is this team is built to win different kinds of ballgames. Last night's game is the reason I love to watch baseball. Great pitching and crisp defense, with your starting pitcher playing his position. 1-0 games are great wins and confidence boosters for a team. They show you can win even when the opposition holds down your offense. If BA is supposed to play CF, then he should have been in there last night. Defensively, the Sox have no better OF combination than Erstad in LF, BA in CF and Mackowiak in RF. There are virtually no gaps with those guys patrolling and they all have decent enough throwing arms to keep the other team honest. I hate all the second guessing on this board, but last night Ozzie lost the game by putting out a lesser defense in the 9th inning. Jenks will blow saves during the season. All closers do, even Nathan/Papelbon/Rivera. You can only give him a pat on the back and say "we'll get 'em tomorrow." However, if you bring out your closing pitcher, you should also bring in closing defense to complement his effort. Like I said, the Sox may still lose that game last night, but the fly ball that ended the game would have been caught by either Erstad or BA. At the very worst you are tied going into extra innings.

I am not saying Jenks would not have blown the save last night, but if Brian Anderson replaces Pods in the 9th, or at least moves into CF with Erstad in LF, there is a decent chance the Sox come out on top 1-0. Jenks would still give up the two singles and get the next two out and then Todd Walker comes up and laces the single to LF. Here is where the questions come. Does Bradley test the arm of Erstad/Anderson as readily as he does with Pods? Maybe, maybe not. If so, is he out at home? Good chance (game over). Say he is safe, do the other runners advance as they were able to with Pods' lousy airmail throw? Possibly not. Let's just say it all happens exactly the same and the Sox issue the IBB and the next batter hits the fly ball that Pods grossly mistimed so it hits him in the head and the game ends. If BA or Erstad are in there, there is no doubt they catch it and the game goes to the 10th tied at one. You are on the road, but you still have a chance. Even if you lose, you can not fault anyone for using your closer in his designated role. So back to my original question. If you don't use BA last night, when do you use him? Today in the getaway day just to give someone rest? I agreed with Ozzie putting him on the roster because that is what makes the team better, but you can't be better if you don't use his best asset, defense, when you need it the most. I am sure this has been debated in the post game thread but I thought the horse should be beaten to a bloody pulp in its own thread. Really disappointing loss. Pardon my french, but it was Cublike.

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Mar 30, 2007 -> 01:22 PM) Theres a Hawk Harrelson chat room? Dont Tease. I know he and DJ are interactive sometime but I confess that I invented the idea of a full time Hawk chat room. Sorry to get your hopes up.

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Mar 30, 2007 -> 01:13 PM) concern's are one thing. Every team has concerns. Take a look at our division rivals. They all have concerns. The Indians have Cliff Lee and CC banged up. The tigers have Kenny Rodgers banged up. The Twins lost one pitcher to retirement and another to Tommy John surgery. The Indians lost probably there best relief pitcher to retirement. There closer is Joe Borowski for christ sake. Are you worried cause are pitchers have had a bad spring? Lots of pitcher some cy young winners have had bad springs. Spring training is not about ERA's and strikeouts. Remember this team in the past two years has won more games than any other team in MLB. More than the Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, Cardinals. Stop acting like all the sudden this team is gonna be the next Expos. Everyone should be Optimistic. Its spring, baseball is starting. Its supposed to be fun. Everyone around here is acting like the team has already lost. Its depressing. Maybe you should quit this site and go to the Hawk Harrelson chat room for a pep talk.

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Mar 30, 2007 -> 12:59 PM) I honestly don't see this team winning a game this year. Funny stuff. I wish you ended your post right there. I would still be laughing. 0-162. Book it.

Vazzy? The title of this thread sounds like a retread of New Edition.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 27, 2007 -> 05:40 PM) Jason Jennings: 212IP, 206H, 17HR, 85BB, 142SO, .258 BAA, 3.78ERA Freddy Garcia: 216IP, 228H, 32HR, 48BB, 135SO, .267 BAA, 4.53ERA What is the age difference between the two? How many years left on JJ's contract? What is the annual salary? I could look up myself but am too lazy. Just curious if we are really comparing two apples here.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 27, 2007 -> 05:32 PM) Not with the same hate for this organization that is being shown on this board day to day. When you do not like anything about the team anymore, you arent a fan, thats how it is. I have spent enough time and money in my life on the White Sox that I should have the right to say anything I damn well please about this team. At risk of being condescending, fan is short for fanatic. The fact that people continue to spend countless hours discussing every aspect of the White Sox organization pretty much makes them a fanatic, for better or worse. You can sell all that other garbage about not being a fan to George Bush and his "patriotic" lemming supporters.

QUOTE(Soxy @ Mar 27, 2007 -> 11:43 AM) I can eat 50 eggs. Why did you have to go and set the bar so high, Luke?

QUOTE(ptatc @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 08:23 AM) I've often wondered how this board would have reacted to the Cruz acqusition that year. "Hemond called Bernazard our heart and soul and now he trades fora player to replace him in the middle of the season." "There is no loyalty, he was my favorite player and the most fan freindly." Tony was a good players and oneof the best guys around the team at the time. Everyone scratched their heads at the trade of Bernazard, although no one argues with the results. With Cruz and Rudy Law setting the table, Fisk, Kittle, Luzinski Baines and Paciorek were able to do some serious damage the rest of the way.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 02:36 PM) True. Except for Detroit, we should be able to steal on every catcher in our division, pretty consistently. Mauer is no slouch either, although I heard he may be hurt.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 05:25 PM) Its a slam!!!! Tagged and Bagged! Light it Up!

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 04:31 PM) it's a valid point. Mark Grant, the color guy for the Padres, says pitching in Tucson is like "pitching on the moon." Similar terrain and vegetation, too.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 04:17 PM) Well... Javy has given up 3 runs, but two of those were from botched defense. He's given up 1 run that is really his, in 4 innings. Javy has a way of giving up runs that aren't his fault. Until the 6th inning that is. Then he takes full control of opening the flood gates.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 04:17 PM) especially when you compare it with what other staffs in our division are doing this spring. Don't know if it matters, but I believe all 4 division opponents still train in Florida. I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.

QUOTE(Middle Buffalo @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 12:42 PM) The Brady Bunch is not crap! Take that back. There are exceptions to everything.

The Sox have plenty of backup CF and not enough starting CF. If you trade Mack, I would sooner package him with one other player of value such as one of the excess relief pitchers now on the roster to get something more formidable in return.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 09:59 AM) You know, I really enjoy the bottom of the ninth in game three in Houston. El Duque, again. Not as good as his Boston outing, but still, amazing. Bottom of the 14th (or whatever the last inning was) was also a good time with Buehrle getting the save although I am not sure it qualifies as a best pitched inning in WS history.

QUOTE(WSoxMatt @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 07:25 PM) I remember Burns giving up a single to California in the 1st and then retiring everyone else...it was 11-0...Back to back to back HRS for Fisk, Paciorek, and Luzinski in the 1st Inning off Tommy John http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores...id=198309090CHA You are correct sir. Don't why I thought it was 12-0 v. KC although I could not find confirmation of when the hit came. The box score shows Burns faced one over the minimum that game and the hit came from the number three hitter.