Harry Chappas

QUOTE (fathom @ May 15, 2009 -> 07:14 PM) If you're referring to Ozzie, isn't he responsible for some of that? If he's supposed to be a great motivator, then how in the hell is this team so flat to start every game. FWIW, this has been Ozzie's best year at handling the pitchers. He's had a good sense of the games we're competitive in. I would say it is the hitting approach. You pointed out the other day and I agree that the cubs draw a lot of walks. Well I think that is a philosophy. Fight off pitches and take pitcher's strikes when you are ahead in the count. The Sox do neither and that is why they get embarrassed on a regular basis by a pitcher that can hit his spots. If Ramirez and Fields are what they are looking for, that philsophy will not change any time soon as neither has any command of the strike zone.

Pitching is not the problem. Teams are able to pin back their ears offensively and pitchers if they execute their game plan are unhittable.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 15, 2009 -> 07:10 PM) Either that, or we will hear in a few months how close he was to quitting but how lucky we are that he be managing longer than players are playing because he has a lot of friends. He is the least of the worries on this team. Losing to Toronto isn't problem. The problem with this team is the corpseball mentality.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ May 15, 2009 -> 07:01 PM) You know based on the first four innings and many other games this season that they may get a run or two later when the game is out of reach after Broadway gets his hands on the game. I thought they would at least get through 5 being close. Guillen may give up on this thign really soon. As pissed as we are he can't be far behind.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 15, 2009 -> 07:03 PM) It just feels like everything has run its course with the Sox franchise. New bleed is definitely needed, as I've never seen a time so lifeless on a regular basis. The sad thing is that every pitcher needs to be perfect every night and that becoems taxing on them. Give up a run or two and you know you are going to lose.

The approach does not change from one game to the next. From the get go this team looks overmatched on certain days and they do nothing to change the tempo of the pitcher. You know based on the first four innings and many other games this season that they may get a run or two later when the game is out of reach after Broadway gets his hands on the game. I will use the Minnesota game yesterday as the kind of game the White Sox are incapable of playing. They look like they just do not care.

QUOTE (tommy @ May 15, 2009 -> 06:50 PM) 2-0. Ballgame?

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 15, 2009 -> 06:47 PM) Before people act as if Cecil is a nonamer, it should be mentioned he was one of the Blue Jays top prospects and is was a #1 draft pick two years ago, IIRC. This isn't a nobody and he has done nothing but pitch exceptionally well in his professional career (shooting through the minors). Yep and after 3 at-bats each the Sox hitters should have seen his arsenal enough to maybe get him next game. Why would you not at least take a couple of pitches the first time through. 3 innings 6 called strikes. Not the way to see what a guy has got.

through two innings against a pitcher they have never seen the Sox took a total of 4 called strikes. You will never see what a guy has got if he never has to throw it.

QUOTE (BearSox @ May 15, 2009 -> 04:01 PM) It's the wise move to let Ramirez develop at SS. He's the best defender we have at SS, and his future is there. He's still a project and still needs to develop. We're not going to throw all of the upside he potentially brings because of a rough start to the season offensively. Nix on the other hand needs to show he can play all these different spots to keep a roster spot. His ability to play good D at 2B and possibly 3B and SS as well only increases his value to the team. Why can't Nix be better at the position than Ramirez? I personally think Nix has a better skill set than Ramirez does for shortstop. I am just getting tired of the streaky all or nothing type of players this organization loves to hold onto for dear life. Ramirez and Fields are becoming those type of players in my mind.

What are the qualifications for being a parent? There are plenty of people that are not bright enough to exist that are having children. While I am not certain of this case at some point the realization needs to occur that there are many parents that are not qualified to be parents.

QUOTE (kev211 @ May 15, 2009 -> 01:00 PM) Richard can't be dead if no two dead people can exist as living. Richard and Jacob are in the same whatever state they are as they can travel to and from the island and retain their island features. So in terms of Locke and Christian dead he can not be this kind of dead. I would still like to know what the deal is with the Others, like where did they come from and what is their purpose? What happened to the people they kidnapped in season 2 and what were they doing with Walt? They lived in Dharmaville for a while and they took up to living in tents again.......

Why is it Nix can be moved all over the Field but Ramirez is entrenched at short? Has Ramirez been all that great out there? He played a good third last year and is suppossed to be a good centerfielder. Is his psyche that weak?

Some things that I want to put out there. There is a theme that you need to bury the dead on the island. Some poeple that have not been buried or we are not sure if they have. Christian Sheppard, Alex Rosseau, and John Locke. I know there are many others. Dead John Locke tells Richard he must tell Alive John Locke he has to die. Dead Christian Sheppard tells Alive John Locke he has to die. Dead Alex Rosseau tells Alive Ben Linus that he must listen to the now Dead John Locke....who disappears temporarily while Dead Alex appears. Dead John Locke can not kill Jacob but he can convince soembody to kill him who is alive. The loophole discussed in the opening scene that Jacob tells Dead John Locke. At the beginning of the show there is a person possibly dead, possibly alive that wants Jacob dead. That person called Esau may only be that physical body of a random dead person on the island and the physical person is not important as that person's conversation with Jacob. If the no two dead people can not exist as living on the island, which I think, Claire would have to be alive in my theory. Also my thought is that Richard Alpert is dead which is why he never ages....he could be inhabited by another version of Jacob's opening scene friend. I think the bigger story lies in that what are Jacob and his islandmate discussing as the Black Rock nears? Doesn't the BlackRock appear in the middle of the island hence the thought the island disappeared and reappeared under the Black Rock.......... I can't even get into the Egyptian thing......but I still have 8 months to think about it.

Toronto, Texas and Kansas City are all playing as good as anyone in the A.L. right now and the Sox played them 11 of the last 18 games. Harrison for Texas looked good yesterday, real good. I think they take one of the four and hopefully take two. The AL Central is terrible.

QUOTE (Jim Spencer @ May 15, 2009 -> 05:30 AM) At least there's no 9:30pm games With three small kids 9:30 starts are great. I DVR'd game six and saw the end of it an hour after it happened. I had to stay away from the cell phone and the computer. Afternoon games do suck. The funny thing is that WGN will probably not carry any of these games on the radio.

Pinning your hopes on Milt Bradley are like pinning your hopes on Chris Carpenter. Read in an other thread about Maggs. If he goes to the Reds I like their chances.

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ May 12, 2009 -> 10:35 PM) I dont know if this has been posted anywhere else on here, but did anyone listen to Clemens interview with Mike and Mike this morning? He actually said it would be suicide if he took steroids because of the history of heart disease in his family and used his step dad as an example of said heart disease running through his family. Step dad? that is not part of his DNA what am I missing.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ May 14, 2009 -> 11:47 AM) That's kind of my feeling on this season so far too. I've been pretty level during the horrendous play because this division is pretty average and if this team could get their head out of their asses they'll be in it all summer. The one thing that worries me is it's the same old offensive approach and Walker still just sitting on the bench with apparently no job responsabilities. It's scary to see how long Fields swing has become and seemingly no adjustments. Simple scouting report on the Sox must be throw any garbage over for 1st pitch and you'll get ahead, then if you have two strikes throw it away from them and they'll flail at anyting. Also, if you fall behind and it's a hitters count, don't throw them anything to hit because they're not selective and will swing because it's a hitters count. Exactly. Also the Sox historically would have been comparable to the Cardinals/Pirates pre-1980 if they did not have the Yankees in the AL for the last 100 years. If they were in the AL east in the early 90's they would have gone to the playoffs a couple of times. They also had no shot against the Injuns from 95-99. These things move in cycles. It is amazing that sports were even watched prior to 1980 with the dominance of the Yankees, Canadians and Celtics in their respective sports.

Anyone see the end of the Ducks Detroit game? Wild fights I actually think it was the Ducks pounding the Wings 5 v. 6 as the WIngs had a man advantage.

If I was Strasburg I would stopped pitching in April and walked away rom my college team. As s***ty as that is, his work load this season will realistically prohibit him from playing this year which could be why Boras has him not sign then next season he starts fresh and joins a team July 1st of next year. If Washington drafts and signs him to $50M contract the day after the draft how many innings will he pitch this year? How many has he thrown in college? I look at it like this Aaron Crow drops to Toronto and they pick him, he could pitch for them this year especially if theyare in a pennent race. If Strasberg falls, which I doubt in both cases, he will most likely not have an impact his season. Kind of a big bargaining chip for Crow this year and Strasberg next.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 12, 2009 -> 03:24 PM) Cause they play again tomorrow morning. I agree though, with him swinging the bat well and the team struggling, I'm sure he could manage to play tonight and then tomorrow. My schedule says 6:05. While I do not like it I understand. If Quentin is out tonight you need ot play A.J. They can not continue to give games away which is what this would be. Can betemit play left?

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 12, 2009 -> 07:50 AM) So, he was going to veto, Daley said HAIL NO, he said maybe he'd call the board's bluff, and then when the 11th hour hit... He vetoed. Sales tax is staying put, unless the board can come up with a 13th vote (out of 15) to override. Original vote was 12-3, but Cook County has a 4/5 veto override rule. Wow those 3 folks should not be reelected in the real world but I have long stood by my thought that the general population as a whole is to dumb to vote. Most of the dumbest are lazy and don't vote but those with a vested interest will vote.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 12, 2009 -> 03:20 PM) It's like every game, we find a way to make the #8/9 hitters look worse on paper. At least the number 2 hitter has ability. Why can't A.J. play today? He was off last Tuesday and Sunday and is off Thursday. Corky Miller sucks. He makes Colon look fit.

I did not watch last night's game very much but Ramirez had a hit and an RBI........ I am all for him sitting out but I thought the all rightie Lilibridge in center and Nix at second would have been the line-up.....