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MLB Gameday says Josh Hamilton left the game with a back problem. So, maybe he could be out the rest of the series? Awesome.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 3, 2010 -> 10:26 PM) Capps continues to be a godsend for the Twins. Twins still lead 4-3 afer top of 8th is over He's due to blow one. Or two. Particularly when he's pitching more than an inning.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 1, 2010 -> 10:57 PM) Exactly. I can't believe the Twins blew that 9.5 game lead early and yet are firmly in command again. Though I've believed the Twins are the better team (all year), I do think a couple of points are important about the Twins lack of invincibility, guys: (1) The Twins DID blow that 9.5 game lead. They're good, but they're not a super-team, by any stretch. (2) With all the lamenting about the Twins always playing the right way in the second half, let's not forget how they absolutely CHOKED during the last weekend in 2008. After we played our usual lousy series in the Metrodome, handing them the division, they gave it right back against THE ROYALS, then couldn't score a run against John Danks, who hasn't pitched well against them ever again, in Game 163. (And that happened because our 38-year old centerfielder threw a guy out at home.) Just some things to remember when we're slobbering all over these f***ers.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Sep 1, 2010 -> 12:59 PM) What a terrific line. 1 Run on 5 hits and 3 errors. Glad they were ready for the early start . . .

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?