Friend of Nordhagen

QUOTE (Real @ Sep 1, 2010 -> 12:54 PM) My thoughts on why bunting guys to 2B or 3B in this offense doesn't work: We have a team of tightass mental midgets. When you force a guy like Rios or Konerko or Alexei or just name somebody, they get tightass when the pressure is on them to HAVE to get the run in, because the bunt implies that Ozzie wants the next two guys to come through with a hit. Let the hitters swing the bat with a runner on first or second with no outs and they play loose because there's no f***ing pressure on a single player to get the run in It sucks that we have a lineup of chokers but it is what it is. Here's another thing: the Sox are actually ahead of the league average on getting guys home from 3rd with less than 2 out. The league average is an astoundingly low 53%, which tells you that (1) a lot of teams struggle to bring home those runners; and (2) all things being equal, you have a slightly better than 50% chance to bring home the run that will still leave you 2 runs short, with few outs remaining. Not so hot.

I think it's great how we have to pinch-run for Kotsay. I thought the idea was that we didn't want base-cloggers at DH.

Dear Lord, Carlos.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 31, 2010 -> 06:49 PM) Yeah, advancing a runner to third isn't ideal for Pierre because if he hits the ball in the air, chances are the runner isn't going to score. It's frustrating to not get the man home, but I saw the statistic last week for success in bringing men home from third with less than 2-outs in the entire AL: it's a shockingly low 53%, I think.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Aug 31, 2010 -> 06:48 PM) bad habit maybe since he was coming off that foot injury? Interesting point.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Aug 31, 2010 -> 06:41 PM) It is a confusing thing for sure. He has shown some good moves out there and at other times just like this one he has been real bad I know; he was supposed to be a good defender. I don't know if he used to, but he seems to run on his heels a lot. That's a big no-no, fundamentally, for outfield play.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 31, 2010 -> 06:40 PM) Alexei has the GG locked up. His improvement moving to his right, this year, is unbelievable. He's so good out there.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Aug 31, 2010 -> 06:38 PM) taking his bat into the field with him, that's what. He ought to be pulled. Glad that Carlos could add to Jackson's pitch total. That's good for the whole team.

Now that's the defense of a playoff team! At least Carlos didn't take another crappy at-bat of this into the field!

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 30, 2010 -> 09:52 PM) Kotsay keeps the perfect season vs LHP in tact!!! The first baseman made a miraculous play to snare that screamer. Yes, he had to "lay out" to corral a vicious topper from Malicious Kotsay.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Aug 30, 2010 -> 09:46 PM) Bullpen bad, Ozzie smells. And Beckham may have broken his finger or hand or wrist or something.

QUOTE (TheBigHurt @ Aug 30, 2010 -> 09:41 PM) Man, the nicknames people create out of vitriol here... Remember Neal Cocks? But was it wrong?

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Aug 30, 2010 -> 09:40 PM) I don't know what's worse, this f***ing game or those f***ing lame ass Miller Lite commercials that they play 100 times a night. Oh look... It's SCOTT LINEBRINK!!! SaaWEET! I'll see your Miller Lite TV commercial and raise you one "Mike Rowe for Ford talking about millions of things" radio ad.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Aug 30, 2010 -> 09:37 PM) 2010 Whitesox baseball, snatching fail from the jaws of victory. So true.

Crazy. Looking like a team of, ahem, losers. Honestly, our starting pitching has to take some blame here. Danks on Saturday being totally terrible, Buehrle having to throw 115 pitches to get through 6 innings tonight. These guys are supposed to be the strength of the team, the big equalizer with Minnesota. They've been needed with the bullpen struggling -- and generally haven't done real well.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Aug 30, 2010 -> 09:34 PM) Now the battle of wills. A guy who has no control, against a guy who has no patience. Unstoppable force, immovable object. That sort of thing.

That was a good at-bat by Jones.

Bad news: we sorta seem like a team that finds ways to lose. Not a recipe for making it to the playoffs, right?

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Aug 30, 2010 -> 02:37 PM) They didn't have the DH when Hitler played. The Designated Hitler?

QUOTE (Real @ Aug 29, 2010 -> 04:41 PM) This team has no balls. Joined with the mediocrities who dot our lineup and pitching staff, and you get 5.5 games out.

Everyone, I have a feeling, and I just have to see if anyone else shares it. Is there something about this team -- the stubborn player evaluation, the lineups, I don't know, something -- that makes this a completely maddening Sox team to follow?

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 29, 2010 -> 03:22 PM) And people will link a clip to The Club in which Ozzie confirmed to KW that he thought his plan would work. Both deserve a lot of blame...and I'm sorry, but FINALLY acquiring Manny when the team is possible 5 or 6 games out of first place is just a bunch of crap by KW. Talk about being late to the punch. The time to acquire a hitter was at the trade deadline when this team still had momentum. And this, too.

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Aug 29, 2010 -> 03:20 PM) years from now people are going to look back at this season and wonder what the hell Kenny was thinking when he essentially went with the equivalent of a Royals DH platoon and felt he could win with it This.

Teahen's like Thome: throw it up and in within the strike zone, and he's a Mendoza-level guy. Of course, Thome's 10 years older, has light-tower power, and no other blind spots. So, there are a few differences.

QUOTE (Real @ Aug 29, 2010 -> 02:17 PM) They aren't the only guys who left their guy parts at home against the yankees. Thornton flat out choked at YS when he gave up the lead in an AB vs. Jeter It's the uniforms. Nunez. Cervelli. Kearns. We've made them look like Mantle, Maris and DiMaggio.