Pants Rowland

Gonna add something stupid that I will get beat up for.... Last offseason when everyone got all excited about picking up Jim Thome, I thought, "Wasn't Lyle Overbay available?" Thome kicked ass early in the season but from July on he has been frustrating to watch. He also can not play any position other than DH. What's my point? Toronto got Overbay for a song. Look at his numbers right now (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=4598). He is not a monster like Thome, but his strikout totals are far fewer. He is also way cheaper and would not have cost us the players we gave up to get Thome, particularly Mr. Rowand. I have heard how poor a hitter Rowand was and how he misjudged fly balls sometimes. But if you could have kept Rowand in center, had Overbay and Konerko to share first base and DH duties, thus eliminating the need for Ross Gload and then either had Brian Anderson available to be the 4th outfielder or had the extra money for a quality reserve outfielder, would you do it? Many will say no. Just remember, Kenny's success is usually when he does not go for the big name trade. Last year's success was built on the backs of guys like Iguchi, Dye, Contreras, and Pierzynski. Without those guys this year would be a disaster, too. I wish Kenny would look at the champions of the past and see that too many slugging superstars does not equate to a title. It worked in Boston but their lineup was still far more balanced that what the White Sox have now. Rather than pushing Sox toward more versatility iwth extra speed and defense, he took a big gamble that the addition of Thome would make up for the loss of Rowand and the risk of a rookie center fielder.

Turns out Fisk's feat was not a one of a kind thing http://members.tripod.com/bb_catchers/catc.../doubletag2.htm

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 10, 2006 -> 09:40 AM) My point is that the Iguchi and Uribe plays were definitely better than the Fisk one. I haven't seen that Calderon catch or the one that DA described, but they both sound better, too. Please refresh my memory. Fisk tagged out Dale Berra and......? I always forget the other player.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Aug 10, 2006 -> 09:58 AM) Yeah he would, the teams out there are flat out bad. As opposed to KC?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Aug 10, 2006 -> 09:39 AM) He would own in the NL west. Would he? Based on what he has admitted, he only steps it up against upper echelon teams. I am not sure any NL franchise qualifies right now. Maybe he would pitch better in one of those fantasy tournaments where they match up the best teams of all time.

QUOTE(shoota @ Aug 7, 2006 -> 03:00 PM) Good analysis. The Sox can still hit the 3 million mark by counting playoff games. Did the Sox have a higher attendence than the Cubs last year including playoffs? Very doubtful since they only had 6 playoff games, which equates to about 235,000 tickets. Quite a bit but probably not nearly enough to edge the Cubs regular season mark of 3MM+

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 03:33 PM) Well, Bmac has been Bmac for quite awhile from what I understand. As in, he's been called that from childhood. I thought Bernie Mack had copyrighted that name a long time ago. Now he is damn funny and truly Black Mack. I hate it how Brandon McCarthy continues to live on the coat tails of Bernie Mack. Why can't Brandon be original for once?

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 02:32 PM) I call Bradon "Black Mack" sometimes, or "Black Mac." Why you always gotta be racial?!

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 2, 2006 -> 10:41 AM) But how about the argument all year that we've had enough offense from the other 8 players, and we needed a defensive force out there in CF? Trust me, I cringed at Anderson batting for the first few months of the season. However, time and time again, Mackowiak has proven he's not a CF. If Ozzie wanted to get his offense into the game, there's a spot in LF where we're not getting more production that what Mackowiak has given us this year. And FWIW, the first two games I mentioned with Mack saw those plays absolutely impact the final outcome of the game. I was in the third row in straightaway right field in that Sunday game versus the cubs. I was furious with Guillen for not bringing Anderson into Center for defense to help preserve what would have been a victory. Mack clearly got a bad read and then tried to compensate by making an illadvised dive which took him totally out of the play. There is no doubt in my mind Anderson makes that play and the Sox go on to sweep the Cubs.

QUOTE(JERMAINEDYE4MVP @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 05:45 PM) What? What is that supposed to mean? Bird Man In Nigeria Ate Aardvark

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 04:18 PM) I'm about done with this thread. I think it's clear that I feel Freddy's a bum. Wait! Don't go yet. I want to hear more about your 4th of July injury. Why did it change your perspective on dealing with pain? BTW, I also do not smoke pot, drink much alcohol or caffeine, and avoid taking any kind of medication, in particular pain killers. I did, however, take 2 Walgreens brand "excedrin" about an hour ago for an energy boost. The reason I mention this is the impact of something as minor as Excedrin is considerable and shows how powerful some of the more potent stuff professional athletes take can be. I do not want to speculate on Freddy's lifestyle, but if his reputation of being a partier is well-earned, my guess is he has relied heavily on various forms of energy boosts to get him through his starts in the past. It is very possible he is having trouble adjusting to the new rules and has not given up some of the lifestyle to balance things out. I also agree that pot smoking by itself may not be the culprit of Freddy's woes, but years of abusing your body with various chemicals eventually takes it toll on anyone, every a genetic giant like Freddy. My guess is Freddy is a classic example of a player with a ton of talent who enjoyed the perks of being a professional athlete too much. Those guys dazzle us for several years and then seem to tail off drastically after their early thirties pass. I hope he turns it around but my guess is it is time to find someone to replace him next year.

QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Jul 25, 2006 -> 12:19 PM) What he said. Well, except the stuff he did with his sons. I don't know his sons and was NOT invited to the day in the backyard. Not really upset about that...but to be thought about once in awhile might be nice. Sorry for not inviting you. The whole "afternoon with the kids" was kind of a last minute thing. Everyone expected me to be swearing at the television from 1 until 4. By the way, the phone wasn't ring on my end either, Kid. Something for you to think about.

I wish I shared your enthusiasm. Last year was an unbelievable high. I have never been more excited about sports than when I heard Rooney's final pennant-clnching call for game 5 of the ALCS. The thing is, once the World Series was won, the letdown was huge. I went to Houston and sat in the stands and celebrated the victory as hard as anyone. However, I have realized this year that devoting so much time, energy and emotion to a bunch of strangers who really don't care a ton about my success is a big waste of my life. Last year was great but I realized I should relax and enjoy the game of baseball more and stop letting the ups and down of the White Sox enter my state of being. The Sox were playing the Yankees 2 Sundays ago and I decided I could not watch the game or worry about the score that day. They ultimately lost, which is not material to my point. Whether they won or lost that game did not change the fact that I had one of the better Sundays in a while hanging out with my two sons in the backyard and enjoying the weather. Don't get me wrong, I still prefer that the White Sox win it all. I just can't devote another 25 summers of my life willing the Sox to win another championship. It is just not worth it.

QUOTE(soxpride77 @ Jul 18, 2006 -> 05:43 PM) The World Series is a past accomplishment, besides the title of defending world champions, it has nothing to do with this year. We have the second best record in the best division in baseball right now. To me, that means 2nd best team in baseball. This team is not the same one that won the World Series. Some parts of it are better, some parts are worse. I hate to sound negative, but if we say the Tigers are not the best team right now, then we are doing to them exactly what everyone did to us last year. I think we are a really great but inconsistent team. Until we are in first-place with the best record in baseball, I really don't think we are the best team. Most insightful post of the season. Congrats. I am so tired of reading how the Tigers are weak here or there and how they are going to collapse or how they can not keep up this pace. They are not only in first place in all of baseball, they are leading or close to leading every major important team statistical category in the majors. You do not do that because you are lucky. I hope the Sox spank them in the next three games, but the fact is they are 4.5 games better than the Sox right now. In a game of inches that is a pretty sizable lead. Also, even with the 2nd best record in baseball, there are several teams pretty close to the WS heels in the WC race. I am more worried about Minnesota and NY right now than I am about catching the Tigers.

At the beginning of the season I feared the Twins most. Their struggles perplexed me a bit but they have definitely righted their ship and are now only 6.5 back in the WC. I still fear them far more than Detroit because of their dominating lefties and sound fundamentals. I just hope that Detroit doesn't put a hurt on the Sox the next three days and make me eat these words.

QUOTE(shawnhillegas @ Jul 14, 2006 -> 03:55 AM) the NY times sports guys are amazing. what a sensible, interesting article. In general, the NY Times is one of the greatest daily periodicals in the world. The Chicago papers are an embarrasment, especially wehen compared to the Times. If I am not mistaken, it is one of the few, if not the only, paper written at an 8th grade level of reading. I think the Chicago press is all at a 4th or 5th grade level. That is not a joke, it is done deliberately, supposedly to maximize circulation. Anyway, I really need to cancel my Trib subscription and start getting the Times again. The local tilt just isn't worth it, especially when I can get the business news I really need off the web.

QUOTE(chitownsportsfan @ Jul 13, 2006 -> 03:06 PM) It's about context YASNY. Sure, a black guy can say, "well that Bobby Jenks he's white trash". But that comment does not have roughly 800 years of slavery and oppression behind it. 800 years? If I am not mistaken, the Moors of northern African were dominating a good chunk of the Iberian Peninsula in 1200 AD and Europe was still in the dark ages. This was well before the Age of Discoveries which preceded the colonization of Africa and the ensuing slave trade. Sorry to be nitpicky, but I think 400-500 years is plenty of time without having to exaggerate the years of oppression.

QUOTE(South Side Fireworks Man @ Jul 13, 2006 -> 04:51 PM) And how safe would a white person feel walking in a black neighborhood and hearing words like, "hey cracker" or "redneck" or "white trash", etc.? I actually bike to work from Oak Park to the West Loop everyday. The ride in is usually quiet but the ride home down Washington can get a little tense from Laramie until Austin. I am too highbrow to be white trash but "white boy" is sometimes a term of endearment that I hear. Not a really comfortable situation but I would not put it on par with the organized, institutional racism that became entrenched in our society since the slave trade was revived in the 1500s.

QUOTE(chitownsportsfan @ Jul 12, 2006 -> 01:03 PM) It's Detroit, all they have is sports. Let them have their fun. What about the auto industry? Don't forget all the big healines they get coming out of Flint, MI as well.

QUOTE(Felix @ Jul 12, 2006 -> 09:58 AM) You are very wrong Poppy, just like you were before the season started. I guess we are ignoring the fact that Boston just took 2 of 3 from us in Chicago, right? I think he means five or more games where the entire rotation would be tested.

QUOTE(redandwhite @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 04:18 PM) AL Most Valuable Player: David Ortiz AL Cy Young Award Winner: Francisco Liriano/Jon Papelbon AL Rookie of the Year: Francisco Liriano/Jon Papelbon AL Manager of the Year: Jim Leyland AL Comeback Player of the Year: Jim Thome AL Biggest Surprise: Detroit Tigers AL Biggest Disappointment: Cleveland Indians AL Game of the Year: Yesterday's Red Sox/White Sox game NL Most Valuable Player: Albert Pujols NL Cy Young Award Winner: Tom Glavine NL Rookie of the Year: Dan Uggla NL Manager of the Year: Joe Girardi NL Comeback Player of the Year: Nomar Garciaparra NL Biggest Surprise: Cincinatti Reds NL Biggest Disappointment: Atlanta Braves NL Game of the Year: White Sox @ Cubs, Pierzynski 3-run game winning home run. White Sox specific categories: Best Hitter: Jermaine Dye Best Pitcher: Bobby Jenks Most Valuable Player: Jim Thome Biggest Surprise: A.J. Pierzynski Biggest Disappointment: Juan Uribe/Cliff Politte/Scott Podsednik/Brian Anderson Game of the Year: White Sox @ Cubs, Pierzynski 3-run game winning home run. Favorite Moment: White Sox @ Cubs, Pierzynski 3-run game winning home run. Not so sure about Big Sloppy getting MVP, but your awards are pretty fair overall. The Cincinatti/Cleveland game where the Reds came back big is notable for overall game of the year. Same goes for the White Sox/Astros on Sunday night, although the result was disappointing despite Iguchi's heroics.

QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 01:21 PM) You can't really blame the Sox for how the Tigers are playing though, they're just ridiculous right now. The back end of the rotation is the only major concern I still see, and even there Garland seems to be making strides in the right direction. This team looks like one of the best in baseball and is a major threat to go back to the World Series. I agree with you about the Tigers. I should not even mention them when issuing a grade. I just think overall the White Sox have not been as fundamentally sound all around as they were last year. They have gotten away with it because of the vastly improved offense but they have been exposed at times. I agree about Garland, although I have been way more concerned about Freddy than Garland thus far this season.

QUOTE(tony72 @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 01:00 PM) My grade is an A -..... 2nd best record in baseball.. 26 games over .500... 6 game lead for Wild Card... Great Fan Support....(almost 1.8 million before All Star Break !!) Yes - this team has problems as does EVERY SINGLE TEAM IN BASEBALL..but we are 26 games over .500 - only 2 off of last years pace and I don't even think they have played their best baseball yet... With last year's title and the additions of Thome and Vazquez, I think expectations were higher than second place to the Tigers (not to mention several stinkers from our first, second, fourth and fifth starters). I give them a B+ at this point primarily because I am not really confident of another title if the playoffs started today and the Sox were entering as the WC.

I spent too much of last year waiting for the moment that it falls apart that I did not enjoy enough of the regular season. I agree that we sometimes do not take enough time to enjoy the game. Rather we are concerned about analyzing and criticizing that we forget how fun and beautiful baseball can be. However, the fact is the offense and the wins have greatly masked the poor performance of the starting five this year as well as the lack of fundamentals, in particular during the month of June. With the exception of Contreras early on in the season, no starter has been consistent. Every team endures struggles throughout the season but overall it should balance out. Hopefully between the coaches, the players, and KW, the Sox will enter October in position for another long postseason run and possible title. As far as the optimism versus pessimism debate goes. I have not been posting on this site for very long, but there is definitely a fear of pointing out the elephant in the living room around here. I remember a while back when Contreras went down and Haeger was called up, this board crucified the poster who leaked the story before it became official. The poster brought some of it on him/herself with a rather cryptic message and not enough backup info. But, too much of the discussion was filled with hostility toward this individual primarily because no one wanted to believe the hard truth that Contreras was hurt. For some reason a lot of people would rather beat someone into submission rather than explore the truth. Saying everything is perfect does not make it so. I saw some lethal Cleveland offenses destroy their regular season foes but never win a title in the 90's. The White Sox should make the playoffs and feasibly could win over 100 games. However, without consistency from the starting five the postseason will end in early rather than late October. That is my concern more than anything. Outslugging your opponent does not work in the long haul and it is not what brought the Yankees all the titles they had before they became an overpaid all-star team. Pitching, defense and fundamentally sound baseball is still the formula for success. Even Ozzie has been critical of the lack of fundamentals and consistency from the team. He know that the home runs are nice but they are covering up the flaws that need to be corrected.

QUOTE(J-MAN @ Jun 29, 2006 -> 03:31 PM) For what it's worth - the guy who I split my tickets with says he was sitting next to a friend of Politte Saturday and he told him Politte has bone spurs in his shoulder and should have surgery but wants to put it off till the end of the season since it is his walk year. This doesn't sound like a player with the team's best intentions in mind. Hopefully the Sox can pick someone up soon to fill in Cliff's spot. He is going have to suck it up, have the surgery, and hope to get invited to someone's camp next spring.