Pants Rowland

QUOTE(WilliamTell @ Jun 29, 2006 -> 12:45 AM) I like all the J words, haha. But yeah hopefully Cliff can regain his stuff. I looooove alliteration!

I hate to think we have another Jim Parque on our hands. I agree that Ozzie saw a trend as well and acted accordingly, but if the WS bullpen is required to pitch 4 innings every time Jon is on the bump, it could take a toll on the entire staff. The rest of the starters would have to pitch really deep into games and there is no margin for error when someone comes in to relieve Garland. If this is the strategy needed with Garland, it does not bode well for the rest of the team.

QUOTE(MSHAWKS @ Jun 10, 2006 -> 08:13 PM) The only thing he has been good at lately is impregnating his wife. I think he did that a while back. At least that is what my high school health teacher taught me a long time ago.

QUOTE(greg775 @ May 29, 2006 -> 12:16 AM) Is Howry any good? Would the Cubs do a guy a favor and lend us Howry for some minor league stiff? Would they take George Bell back? I heard he has been pumping gas in the Dominican, but if Nelson can make a comeback, maybe Taco can too.

QUOTE(whitesoxin @ May 24, 2006 -> 07:07 PM) When it's $20 for gas, $18 for parking, plus the price of tickets, it's hard for me to give up money for overpriced food. When my parents start giving me money or I get more, then I'll eat more. Plus, I'm as picky an eater as you will find and I don't like anything much other than the nachos and hot dogs. There is nothing better than a kosher WITH topped off with yellow mustard. However, here is a change of pace to save money on an excellent meal. Take the train from where ever you live and hook up with the Red Line at some point. Get off in Chinatown and eat at Penang. Top it off with a few beers (Tsingtao)and then head to the game (your transfer should stil be valid after you eat). It is not the same as the kosher, but I have already been to about 10 games this year and it was a nice alternative the other day and saved me from the lines, high prices, and missing out on the most important part...the game.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ May 24, 2006 -> 11:22 AM) I've now done it a few times when I decided last min. to go down to a game. I actaully found it works better to do it right before gametime, but whatever works... Thanks. That is helpful info.

QUOTE(Rooftop Shots @ May 24, 2006 -> 10:52 AM) There is a way, but it's a little chancey. VIP tickets, (the ones that are behind home plate in between both dugouts) are also the ones that brokers sell.Whatever the brokers don't sell, go back to US Cellular. They are in fact able to sell those at the box office ONLY on the day on which the game is played on. The Cell, then has to sell them at face value.The chancey part is, be at the box office early.....as soon as it opens up, Ask for best of.....for todays game, and if any VIP tickets are available. On Franks Monday return game, that's how I got my ticket. along with others that I talked to that were in my row. I was fortunate to be in Sec 133 Row 25 (BEHIND Home Plqate). Granted, they are not always available, but it has worked for me 3 times in the last few years. Mondays game had 39,000 plus in attendance, and was sold out when trying to get tickets on line or over the phone........but yet......the box office still had the VIP's! I wanted to post a few photos in another forum from where I sat, but the day that my computer/photo imaging skills ever get to the point where I don't drive all the admins nuts, is the day that Paul Konerko and Cecil Fielder outruns Scott Podsednik and Carl Crawford and in a relay race. If your reading this guys......sorry for all of the hassels. Don't mean to be a pain. I have heard this tip before as well. How much earlier than game time does the box office open, anyway? I will need to try this sometime.

If I am not mistaken, DJ called the play just a second or two before the play transpired. Watching at home, I loved the idea before it unfolded. The situation just had that feel that if Pablo decided to go for it, good things will happen. It reminded me of the Seattle squeeze play to end the 2000 ALDS. You just knew it was coming and no one could do anything about it.

That is all fine and good, but the bullpen still sucks. The White Sox have lost too many games that should have been victories thus far. I agree that if Garland starts to get back on his game (whatever that is), Vazquez avoids the big inning that has hit a few of his starts, and BA and Uribe start hitting at a more respectable level, this team will be tough to beat despite the weak bullpen. However, if this team is going to go far in the playoffs, something needs to get straightened out in the pen. Maybe those guys just haven't hit their stride, either, but I see the WS as short at least one quality RHP. Until the pen starts doing their job effectively with a high level of consistency, all those statistics comparing the 2005 pace and whatever else mean nothing. The fact is the WS faced two of the weaker hitting teams in the majors this past week and came out on the short end three times. The bullpen played a significant part in those losses.

So we all agree, the inning sucked on many levels. I was not surprised by Ozzie pulling Contreras. Jose may have gotten out of the jam but he put in a good day's work considering he had missed 2 or 3 starts. No reason to risk him getting the loss or worse, aggravating his condition. I will trust those who say Mack got a good jump, but I still think you have to have your top defense out there in those situations. Anderson also gets such a good read off the crack of the bat that his jumps look more effortless. Anyway, it is over now. I was surprised as all hell that Cotts stayed in to face Barrett. Also couldn't agree more that the guy we needed was not Politte, but Jenks. I don't care if it is the Cubs or the Rays, when you have a victory in your grasp, don't f*** around. Jenks had not pitched in several days. There was no excuse not to bring him in once Uribe botched the double play.

I hate second guessing managers during the course of the season, but I have to ask...What Ozzie was thinking in the 8th inning today? It was a smart move to keep BA out of the lineup today for several reasons. However, with a 2 run lead and 2 innings to go, I was baffled that Mackowiak was still in center field that late in the game with a decent lead. It was bad enough that he left Cotts in for two batters too many but I do believe the Sox still could have gotten out of the jam with a one run lead if they had their best defense out their in crunch time. Mackowiak did not stand a chance to catch Barrett's eventual triple. If they keep putting BA's struggling bat in the regular line-up because of his stellar defense, shouldn't he definitely be in there late in a tight game to help hold the lead?

I was wondering what the hell went wrong in the 8th today and then it came to me. That goddamned "C" on the uniform must be contagious. Pile them up in the parking lot and burn them like they are covered by lice and pestilence.

QUOTE(KevHead0881 @ May 21, 2006 -> 11:07 AM) Thats the funny thing. Mariotti basically justifies Barrett's cheap shot because of AJ's reputation, yet says nothing of Barrett's tendency to lose his cool and overreact to seemingly harmless situations. But my favorite part of Mariotti's story is his dopey argument of Barrett being "deeply religious", as if he has more credibilty because of this. I don't want to turn this into an argument of the virtues of faith or whatever, but since when are "deeply religious" people void from making stupid decisions or acting like jerks? Either way, maybe Barrett simply forgot about God right before he punched AJ in the jaw. Thats ok, since he's deeply religious, well, he must have been in the right. Give me a f***ing break. Maybe Barrett is a good guy, and from his reaction after the game, I think he handled it the right way. But what he did on the field shouldn't be defended. Unless you feel like you have to defend yourself, there is absolutely no justification for punching somebody in the face. And if AJ's reputation was indeed the reason Barrett punched him, then I think its Barrett's reputation that should be in question. Well said. On the whole religious note, more wars have been started/justified in the name of religion that the history books have time to discuss. It is like my favorite bumper sticker says, "Who would Jesus bomb?" or in this instance, who would he punch? I don't trust anyone who starts using one's faith as justification for violent actions. It is what leads this country into places like Iraq.

QUOTE(YASNY @ May 21, 2006 -> 10:47 AM) Just consider the source. I agree, although it is not just Marriotti. Comcast was pretty direct in their assessment of Barrett being at fault, but just about every other media outlet I watched tried to spin it that "AJ must have done something". Kevin Kennedy even alluded that AJ was going toward to Cubs dugout to rub it in but made no note of the location of his helmet. It seems the consensus outside the White Sox world is, way to go Michael, you screwed up but AJ had it coming since we all hate him.

What's amazing in all of this is for the past few years since the Cubs picked up Barrett, all I have heard about is what a tough, hard-nosed player he is and how he is a throwback to the old tough catchers of yesteryear. Meanwhile, he doesn't even know the rules of baseball and took a cheap shot at AJ in the process. Further, he pulled another classless stunt several games back and no one mentions his reputation as a punk. Yet, AJ basically fits the hardnosed description always given to Barrett and is looked at as a pariah. It jus doesn't make sense to me.

At risk of overlooking my White Sox fan bias, can somebody PLEASE explain to me how anyone can say AJ was at fault in any way, shape or form for what happened yesterday? I have watched replay after replay and fail to see how slapping home plate is worthy of getting decked. I think almost all fans and players in Chicago know it, too. However, for some reason, guys like Kevin Kennedy and Marriotti are trying to find ways to spin this against AJ. This bulls*** about AJ's supposed reputation is way past stale. I am trying to figure out what his "reputation" is, anyway? The only reputation I can think of is one of a championship player who knows how to play the game of baseball. He also knows the rules better than these supposed experts. This false controversy is getting really tiring. I stopped acknowledging the Moron's existence a long time ago, but when folks on Fox and ESPN start up with AJ again, it is totally unfair. By the way, does anyone think that Barrett might have been able to knock Pierzynski down if he had a championship ring on his right hand?

QUOTE(Heads22 @ May 19, 2006 -> 04:53 PM) Brian needs an AB too. Guillen usually tries to put guys into a situation to succeed and build thier confidence. No better time than against the Cubs.

Another vote for Molina here despite never listening to him. Farmer and Singleton are intolerable. DJ is way ahead of Hawk at this point in time. I definitely think Hawk is getting senile and his act is way stale anyway.

So what you are saying is you have two Cubs fan sugar daddies? You couldn't have just bought your own season tickets, could you? I am not sure many Sox fans are going to be sympathetic to your cause.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ May 19, 2006 -> 01:49 PM) Any word on if the are breaking out the 1908 jerseys? I see Mack has the old hat hanging in the locker.... 1908 or 1906?

I keep reading about how Detroit will fade and how their pitching won't hold up and everything else we can think of to dismiss them. I can't help but think I am listening to commentaries about the Sox from this time last year. Guillen did a tremendous job turning around some bad habits of the Jerry Manuel era, and Coop helped finish the transformation. A guy like Jim Leyland could very well have that same impact on the Tigers. I want to dismiss them, too. I also agree they will come back down to earth a bit. However, the WS bullpen is scary right now. Guillen left Vazquez in too long last night to avoid a long outing by the pen. We need help if we are going to not only win the division but also be ready for a deep run in the playoffs as well.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 18, 2006 -> 11:47 AM) And concubines. I luuuuuv concubines!

QUOTE(sircaffey @ May 18, 2006 -> 03:42 PM) Just wondering how many sellouts the Sox have had this season and what are average attendance is... I think Uribe, Garland, and Iguchi are going to sell out this year but the rest of the team will keep it real. My average attendance is two minutes unless the topic is really interesting.

QUOTE(Texsox @ May 17, 2006 -> 08:01 AM) I would take out Bill Melton and add Wilbur Wood. Other than that, perfect list. I'm guessing, by the end of this decade, I would give strong consideration to how AJ would fit in. How dare you take me out?! I was born in '74 so I am a little young to start pontificating over 1970's players like Zisk and Soderholm. However, since I became baseball crazed by 1982 or so... 1980's - Salome Barojas, Lamar Hoyt, Rudy Law, Tom Paciorek, Greg Walker, Ron LeFlor, Ozzie Guillen, Jerry Koosman, Bobby Thigpen, Greg Luzinski, Bill Almon, Dennis Lamp 1990's - Ozzie Guillen, Robin Ventura, Frank Thomas, Jason Bere, Warren Newsome, Lyle Mouton, Keith Foulke, Bill Simas, Bob Howry, Jim Abbot, Karkovice, Brian Simmons 2000's - Buerle, Iguchi (definite MVP of the 2005 regular season), Cal Eldred, Chris Singleton, Jeff Abbot, El Caballo, Mags, Rowand, Brook Fordyce, Shingo Takatsu

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ May 17, 2006 -> 12:20 PM) hassles? distraction? What are you talking about? Are interleague games somehow logistically more difficult? Are the teams in another country or something? These games are fun. We get to see teams play that wouldn't have before. They are no more/less meaningful than games against AL West or East teams, to me. Plus the rivalry series are fun for the fans. Given that interleague play is, what, 20 games a year per team? I really only see upside to it. Well, I agree with you to a point from a general geographic standpoint, but there are definitely hassles and distractions involved. There is the loss of a balanced schedule as mentioned by TexSox. There is also the problem of no DH in NL parks. Depending on your draw for the year, that could impact you in the year end standings. You are also dealing with ballparks unfamiliar to a lot of the players on your team. This goes even further with different travel arrangements and unfamiliar city surroundings. Finally, the intercity series are way overhyped for ratings and definitely make 6 regular season games way too important. The pressure of the playoff atmosphere can be a good thing, but I think the energy spent trying to win these games to keep the fan base happy has taken its toll on some of these teams in the past. I remember a couple of times where the Sox were all hyped up against the Cubs and then had a week or so letdown after the fact. Hopefully that will not be the case this weekend.