Dick Allen

Don't get too caught up in AAA stats. Didn't Willie Harris hit .400 or close to it at AAA a few years back?

I don't fault a guy for wanting to play, but my God, if Hawk doesn't think there's a spot for Griffey Jr. to play, there isn't going to be one for Ross Gload. Interesting comments by Ozzie in the paper concerning Gload. He says Gload can only play one position, and judging by the flyballs he dropped last season, I would have to agree.

The Orioles most likely will have to pay most of the $11 million they owed him on the contract. The Rockies did the same thing to Denny Neagle and wound up settling with him by paying him $16 million of the $19 million left on his contract. Sidney will probably get at least an $8 million parting gift. I would imagine someone would give him another chance, but with that recent DUI, you never know.

Anyone know why Iguchi showed up an hour before the game?

I must say, I am shocked KW didn't do anything.

QUOTE(Mr. Showtime @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 09:03 PM) That would be good news. That would be bad news. He'd be back on the Sox pre and post game shows next season.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 07:34 PM) So when this team wins 7 in a row, what is this place going to look like? Everyone back on the bangwagon? Or will everyone still be hoping the Sox choke so they wont look like idiots?? I hope they win every game they ever play. That doesn't mean I have to put blinders on and not realize they need some offense.

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 08:25 PM) Think so??? I know so. The guy I have season tickets with knows Jimbo quite well. He likes both teams.

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 08:13 PM) The owner of Jimbo's is a diehard cub fan FWIW. He likes the Sox,too.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 08:21 PM) Maybe it was strictly the bat, DA. I'm not sure, just posing possibilities. While Burke may be good, Casanova could be better? Also, is it me or was Willie Harris missing from that list? Did I miss his name?? Willie's with the team.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 08:17 PM) Perhaps I'll take a stab at it. Sanders has an ERA of 3.02 and has been a key lefty out of the bullpen in Charlotte. Diaz has an ERA of 4.95 and has been very inconsistent this year. Munoz has really struggled lately, including tonight. Perhaps they feel Casanova is a better defensive catcher than Burke?? Burke only played 46 of his 96 games this year at catcher, so it seems obvious to me they don't really see him as a catcher, but more as a utility player that can catch. Note he played most of those games at catcher while Casanova was hurt. Then again, perhaps it is simply because Casanova is hitting .314 with 7 HR and 18 RBI in the month of August while Burke is hitting .244? While I don't always agree with Sox personnel decisions, why is it so necessary to criticize decisions made with input from coaches who see these players daily? I personally don't have a feel for Casanova, but I do know that Sanders is tough against lefties, as evidenced by his 2.45 ERA and .216 BA against them. I thought the big league staff liked Burke defensively behind the plate last season. Maybe he has dropped off, or maybe they just feel Cassanova has passed him up.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 08:10 PM) Ok, so you take two division teams that are 7 games apart and you can make the same comparisons. Pretty out there argument, what if what if what if. It didn't happen so it doesn't matter. Of course it doesn't matter. It goes to show you how important every game is, especially head to head. That's why you shouldn't just piss them away. The Sunday line-up should be disbanded until the division is clinched.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 08:07 PM) BTW the Indians would have split the 4 game set if they played better... quit picking on me

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 08:01 PM) And if Vizcaino didn't give up 6 runs in the 11th against Cleveland the lead would be more. And if we didn't lose by 2 on June 5th it would be even more. What exactly is your point? My point is the difference in performance between the 2 teams is very small. BTW Vizcaino wouldn't have given up 6 if Ozzie didn't make him the sacrificial lamb that day.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 08:01 PM) All in all, a productive day. That's right. Don't lose ground, and take a game of the schedule.

Tribe lose.

2 out man on 3rd 4-3. I am watching on gameday, and here that stupid drum in my head.

Here come the Tribe

QUOTE(infohawk @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 07:31 PM) Actually, I'd love to have Nomar for the stretch run. It would make so much sense. He hits for power and average and the Sox wouldn't have to committ to him beyond this year if they didn't want to. Uribe could slide over to third. Just out of curiousity, is he even available for a trade (waiver process) if the Cubs wanted to deal him? fathom heard he was never placed on waivers. Could be a goodwill gesture to get him to return for next to nothing next season. There has been stories he is building a house on the North Shore.

Do you know how small a difference the White Sox and Cleveland's records really are? If the Sox didn't have that incredible comeback with the homeruns of Wickman early in the season, and if the Tribe just split that 4 game series in Jacobs Field instead of being swept, the Sox would own a .5 game lead at the moment.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 07:23 PM) I am afraid of the collection of crap lineups that Ozzie will envoke with more poor players. Think about the number of times he can rest his starters for next year. Maybe he'll rest some for 2007. Today's line-up was a joke. If they ever have that line-up at a home game, they should offer refunds.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 07:17 PM) Yep, just how things looked so promising after our last playoff appearance. Not to mention how the future looked in 1983 after the tough loss to Baltimore. They added Tom Seaver, past his prime, but still was the best pitcher on the staff in 1984 and weren't even .500.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 07:01 PM) If we lose this lead the team deserves to be the laughing joke of major league baseball. I believe the far more realistic scenario will be a sweep in the 1st round of the playoffs. This team needs to begin picking up the intensity immediately entering Septermber. You can't expect any club, especially one with an offense as embarrassing as ours, to limp into the playoffs and magically turn up the intensity. The way the season has played out is very similar to 2000 where your scenerio took place.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 06:58 PM) Yes, but that's what I'm saying. We've played like s*** the last 2 weeks but we weren't playing bad before that like some of you guys are trying to make it seem. The problem is this terrible play doesn't seem like its going to go away soon. They beat a Minnesota team twice without 3 of its top players, and beat a team that's 20 under .500 twice, once because a rookie outfielder already sent back down had an unbelievable night, before being awful again with the exception of a second game of a DH, with another rookie paving the way with a masterful pitching performance, while the Sox beat a guy making his major league debut. Considering how they have played at home, and they had not done too well at home before the 7 game losing streak, there are a lot of things to be concerned about.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Aug 31, 2005 -> 06:54 PM) We were 7 games over in that time period before this recent stretch, that ain't exactly bad. No its not. Unfortunately these past few weeks count.