Dick Allen

Its 1-2 and he hasn't thrown him a strike

Maybe he knows Juan will swing at anything at his shoe tops and will throw one away.

Berkman deked Rowand with 2 out and it worked.

Thats why Rowand needed to be running.

Rowand should run

Rowand has to recognize the slider and lay off it.

Rowand took one in the dirt.

Paulie had one to hit there.

Now put up 3 or 4 and start chilling the champagne.

This guy is battling. I hope he doesn't hit a bleeder that plates 2.

No wild pitches I said

0-2 Freddy. Put him away.

Freddy got a call there.

Freddy can't let up here. No wild pitches, and get him out. I'm not asking for much.

No walks.

Doesn't Berkman always seem to be batting with runners on? I don't think they will have Taveras steal, because they will just put Berkman on.

If they aren't going to hit his slider, maybe they should consider taking it. Either that or make some other adjustment.

QUOTE(bmags @ Oct 26, 2005 -> 08:19 PM) i'm guessing you mean present day minnie? Either

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Oct 26, 2005 -> 08:18 PM) I love that first pitch swinging, Scotty Pods! I don't mind him swinging at the first pitch if it is an aggressive swing. But to swing at the first pitch defensively is silly.

QUOTE(fathom @ Oct 26, 2005 -> 08:16 PM) I hope Pods gets aggressive and tries to pull the ball again. He's much more dangerous when he swings hard instead of trying to place the ball in LF. And if he gets on first he needs to run right away. Ausmus couldn't throw out Minnie Minoso.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Oct 26, 2005 -> 08:14 PM) Heres a forecast of the 6th inning for Backe: slider slider slider slider slider slider... Until the entire side has either K'd or they learn to adjust. He whiffed Konerko, or Ko Ko as his former teammate Mike Piazza calls him, with a change.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Oct 26, 2005 -> 08:10 PM) I agree bigtime. These guys need to learn to adjust. I mean, it's not like we've won 16 of the last 17 in the last 4 series. In three of those series we faced 3 of the top 5 pitching staffs IN THE MAJOR f***ING LEAGUE. But I agree. We need to light him up too, even if he's locating perfectly. Just no excuse for it really. What AJ and Rowand were swinging at to fan there was no excuse. Everyone else he threw good pitches to. At least Freddy is mowing them down, and judging by Backe's record he should be ready to start making some mistakes.

QUOTE(fathom @ Oct 26, 2005 -> 07:55 PM) We have quite a few guys who struggle mightily against the outside slider/curve by a righty. I haven't seen any effort by guys like Rowand to stay on the pitch and take it to RF. Pods hit the ball hard, and Dye did too. I thought they might start ripping this guy. I just don't know how many low and away sliders Rowand has to swing and miss at before he realizes he must try something new.

Ensberg isn't as open as he was his first AB.

QUOTE(CYGarland @ Oct 26, 2005 -> 07:51 PM) Well we didn't get to Oswalt till the 5th yesterday. Oswald didn't bring anything to the mound with him in the fifth. This guy is getting in a groove. Maybe he will lose it between innings.