Friend of Nordhagen

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 03:40 PM) Observation, thats how most of our hitters hit on this team. Lift and pull. Southside, I know we agree that's the basic approach for the Sox. But I wonder how much of it for Erstad is batting second.

He's overswinging. I think it's because, batting second, he's gotten into the habit of trying to pull through the first base hole. In the first inning, for example, he took a ball on the outer half and tried to turn on it, resulting in a 14-hopper to second. And this has been happening quite a bit lately, whether a runner is on or not. He looks like he's swinging from his heels. The guy looks totally undisciplined up there.

QUOTE(Capn12 @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 04:27 PM) Man, and I'm not singling you out....but if I have to hear about poor Scott Podsednik's 'fragile confidence' anymore....jesus. He sucks defensively, and the law of averages will catch up with him offensively. You put your team in the best position to win, period. Egos don't get to interfere with that, well in a realistic world. But we all know thats not the case with the '07 Sox anyways. Yo, I didn't say that I thought Ozzie's tactic was a good idea -- merely describing what I think I'm seeing out there.

QUOTE(joeynach @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 04:21 PM) Pinch hit your righty when they have a tough lefty or LOOGY on the mound. THat is almost just understood, its just the way the game works. But no Oz does it different he has to set us up for that taylormade 6-4-3 dp. Sweet. My theory is that Pods is off to a good start, and Ozzie is not going to do anything that might upset his fragile confidence. That's why he left him in the field last night, and that's why he's not pinch-hitting for him in situations that he might have last year.

Maybe -- just maybe -- there's a silver lining in how bad they've been offensively. I thought that last year they became too dependent on big offensive numbers, owing mostly to the big start from Thome and a few others. They got addicted to it. Maybe this year these struggles will keep the focus on doing some little things well. I'm hoping here.

QUOTE(hitlesswonder @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 04:12 PM) Yeah, all that hitting to the right side instead of pulling was terrible. Glad we got rid of that.... Yep.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 04:11 PM) Buehrle has allowed 1 baserunner in the past 4+ innings I believe. I'm gonna say I called that one.

QUOTE(DrunkBomber @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 04:09 PM) Im sure theyre booked with dinner and dancing at Taco Bell With musical guests Slayer.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 04:09 PM) Chris Singleton and Ed Farmer should be illegal...what an embarrasment. The game is an inconvenient backdrop for those two.

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 04:08 PM) Not only that...I think Iguchi hitting in the two hole once in a while will actually be good for his swing. Not if you ask Greg Walker. I heard him a few weeks ago on the radio, saying that Iguchi got into some bad habits batting second. I am not kidding about this.

QUOTE(DrunkBomber @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 04:02 PM) Great Clips sponsored mullet night does a lot to help rid us of our lovely stereotype Maybe we could get the Ligues to serve as greeters.

QUOTE(CYGarland @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 03:49 PM) and why is Thome hitting 3rd against a leftie?........Oz needs to go by the book more, instead of his instincts Better yet, Ozzie should translate his instincts INTO a book: "Talkin' Crazy: The Ozzie Guillen Theory of Management."

QUOTE(CYGarland @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 03:49 PM) and why is Thome hitting 3rd against a leftie?........Oz needs to go by the book more, instead of his instincts Better yet, Ozzie should translate his instincts INTO a book: "Talkin' Crazy: The Ozzie Guillen Theory of Management."

QUOTE(WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 03:48 PM) I wouldn't expect BA to hit .300 but he could resemble Pods/Erstad's production while playing gold glove caliber defense. Today, BA looks like a poor man's Brian Simmons.

QUOTE(CYGarland @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 03:46 PM) Seriously, Anderson should be in AAA working on his swing. We need a 4th outfielder who is an experienced hitter coming off the bench I hear that Aaron Rowand is available.

Solid inning.

I was wrong about liking Anderson batting second. I meant that I like when Anderson never plays.

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 03:43 PM) this is where Farmer will call for a home run. as he does with every batter "A bloop and a blast, and now you can hang yourself."

Rapuano is looking at Pods and wondering how he can get in the way of another pickoff throw.

DJ commenting on the "massive legs" of Molina. He's channeling Hawk. Or Pat Hughes.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 03:27 PM) I honestly wish there was a place where we could all discuss this issue, but I know we can't do that on this site (and I understand why). Actually, fathom, our discussion of this issue is exactly what needs to happen. Perhaps that would invite defamation lawsuits, but it's there, under oath, where these guys would have to put up or shutup -- that is, of course, if they believed they could sue and prevail at all.

QUOTE(The Critic @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 03:27 PM) I'm enjoying Comcast's new interactive feature, Guess What Happens On This Play? I got the last one wrong - I guessed double down the line, it was a popup to Konerko. Hawk recommended this new feature, in order to entertain in his absence. I like it quite a bit.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 03:25 PM) he cut his hair? Nice.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 03:22 PM) Great sig G&T. I just noticed the same thing. Fantastic.

How many years in a row are we not going to be able to hit soft-throwing lefties? Is it our hitters? Or is it our hitting coach, who clearly is unable to get through to these guys?