Soxhawk13

QUOTE(YASNY @ May 20, 2006 -> 08:22 AM) I say it isn't the players fault because management did not gather enough players with skills. Most of the players on the Cubs are just happy to have a job in MLB. I mean really, I'm 48 years old with a piece s*** arm but if I could make the ML minimum for playing s***ty baseball at Wrigley, I'd do it. Yeah, I do agree that management didn't put together a very talented team, but players like Aramis Ramirez, Michael Barrett, Jaque Jones, Juan Pierre, Todd Walker, Greg Maddux, Carlos Zambrano, Kerry Wood, and Ryan Dempster are better than just being happy being in the league. By no means are they the most talented team in MLB, but they have to play better than what they have been. If I were a Cubs fan, I wouldn't be happy either, but thankfully I'm a Sox fan so I can just give a little smile with the Cubs struggling. But Aramis Ramirez and Juan Pierre especially are performing WAY below expectations.

QUOTE(YASNY @ May 20, 2006 -> 05:12 AM) The press has really got it's teeth sunk into the Cubs this morning and their not looking to let go. Mariotti sums up his column with "Bleep the Cubs" and it's an accurate reflection of the content. They are getting reemed from all directions. I almost feel for the players. This isn't their fault. It's strictly management, or more accurately, the lack thereof. It isn't the players fault? Come on now. Maybe management didn't put them in the best position, but ultimately it is the players fault. Their players aren't hitting, they can't run the bases, their pitchers aren't throwing strikes, and they don't play good defense. The Cubs are very bad, and the players are to blame. If the Sox were playing the same way as the Cubs are right now, we would be all over them. Some of us would even be calling for certain players to lose their starting jobs. That's just the way things go. If a team isn't performing, the fans, the paying customers, have a right to display their unhappiness. If the Cubs don't like that, they are in the wrong business. Baseball is a public display of your skills, and if you don't have the skills or you aren't using your skills, people aren't going to be happy watching you.

The main thing here is that everyone is panicing because the Sox are in second place. Yes, they are in second place, but look at the reason why. Detroit is playing WAY over their heads. They are a slightly better than .500 team. They'll be coming back to earth soon enough. The Tigers are probably a 86-88 win team, not a team that is going to have a chance to win around 115 games, which is their current pace. The difference is the Sox are 26-14 while they haven't really played that well, and the Tigers are 27-13 playing out of their minds. The Sox are the better team, and in baseball, that shows by the end of the season. So one word of advice: RELAX!!!

QUOTE(fathom @ May 18, 2006 -> 07:59 PM) I'm talking about the original, not that crap that came out last year. No way do I want to see Pablo in the outfield on a regular basis. That would be a nightmare. Leave things the way they are. The Sox are in a mini-slump, that's it. They are 3-4 in their last 7 games. It's not the end of the world. The lineup needs to stay just like the opening day lineup, and that includes Anderson in Center. People need to relax. It was only a matter of time before people became this way again.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ May 18, 2006 -> 08:07 PM) I'm pretty sure the Sox suck, doesn't really matter what the date is, this team will not being making the playoffs. Yes, this team sucks. They are only on pace to win 105 games. I guess that's not good enough for everyone.

First of all, this is my first post at this website. I've been a long time visitor to the site, but never actually signed up. I guess I just like to watch! Anyways, I figured what better way to start my post then by making some predictions about the Detroit series that I'm sure I'll mess up. I'll say Brian Anderson will hit his first homer of the season tomorrow afternoon. It's a big stadium, but I just have a feeling. I also will say Freddy has a much better game this time around. I think by this time next week, you'll be seeing one of those comparisions on Baseball Tonight showing the difference between our starting staffs first set of starts and their second. Buehrle got it going today, and I expect Freddy to follow suit tomorrow, and then Contreras on Wednesday. Sox win the series 3-0, with all of our starters earning the victories. That's just the way I feel going into this series. Be kind, remember, it's my first post.