champ

So that's what it's like when your backup catcher gets a hit...

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 12:56 AM) Cleveland's a great offensive team. Verlander's the real deal. Uhm, the Sox are a great offensive team, as well. So are the Yankees. Either he doesn't get up for the big games, or good teams have his number. QUOTE(loltrain @ Aug 1, 2006 -> 12:18 AM) Our offense is fine, it's going to have it's bad games (tonight) and it's great ones, as has been said the key is our pitching, but I think that's true of every team in the majors... Alright. I'm not going to disagree with you. BUT, how much longer can an offense that strikes out a TON, and hardly ever walks, keep putting up a bunch of runs. I have to think, that eventually, that free-swinging "philosophy" is going to bite them in the butt. Whether it's now, in a few weeks, September, or in the playoffs. Let's just say that the Tiger offense is centered around a lot of luck, and when that luck runs out, they're going to go into a funk. Some teams can live without their pitching, if it goes into a funk. Case in point, the Yankees...who have a TERRIBLE rotation. Another...the Sox: who's rotation has underachieved all year, but it's offense has picked it up. I don't believe for a second that the Tigers offense would be able to pick up the pitching if it went into a prolonged funk. Maybe a few games, but not for 15-20.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 08:10 AM) Thoughts echoed on Verlander as well. If he starts to struggle though, the Tigers will be vulnerable for the rest of the season in my mind. They're certainly not pitching as well as they did in the 1st half, and I think when you don't draw many walks as an offense like they do, you can't keep hitting so good and scoring as many runs as they have forever. But who knows, they'll probably prove me wrong, like they have for the season so far. And full credit to them for the way they have taken it up to every other team so far. I think their offense is going to make or break the rest of the season. If that pitching fails, I think they're screwed. They strikeout a TON (most in the AL), and do not draw many walks (2nd fewest in AL, 3rd fewest in baseball...only the Cubs and Mariners walk less). That offensive "philosophy" (if you'd call it that), is hard to hold up. That team is definately not the 2005 Sox, and I can still see them stumbling. Maybe it's their year and they won't, then you just tip your hat...but I doubt it. I think the Twins are better than the Tigers are.

QUOTE(Reddy @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 03:23 PM) damnit, lugo to dodgers... not us... not that i expected it... Why the hell would we need Lugo? We don't need a terrible defensive SS...

QUOTE(Reddy @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 03:10 PM) i better be waiting for 3:30 for a reason... Well, considering a Soriano trade hasn't been announced yet (at least to my knowledge)...every trade has not been announced. Soriano has to be going elsewhere, unless the Nats are re-signing him. A lot of these last minute trades don't get announced until a half an hour to an hour after the deadline.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 02:59 PM) You need to eject the world series DVD. The pitching staff you see out there this year is not the same. Yeah, every guy on the staff (outside of Contreras), has worse numbers than their career numbers. Does that mean that they will continue to pitch like that? Let's see: the majority of people, earlier this year, believed that Garland's first half last year was a fluke and we should trade him. How did that turn out? Last year...Contreras was our worst starter at this time. How did that work out? Give me a reason why you don't think Vazquez cannot turn his season around. Buehrle has gone through these slumps in his career, IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME. He hasn't just suddenly "lost it". If you honestly believe that, then I hope you enjoy your crow. Contreras has been great, and Garcia has been pretty good lately. Actually, Garcia has been getting a lot crap this year for being terrible, which he really hasn't been. I'm not an optimist because of last year, I'm an optimist because I have a great feeling about what this pitching staff can do (and know what they're capable of). A few bad outings and you will be all over Contreras. It's ridiculous. This staff is good, and while you're celebrating in October, just remember how much you thought they "sucked" at the deadline.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 02:56 PM) He probably napped through the deadline. Okay... Why do some of you think that you have to make a deal. You don't just make a deal because you can. This team is very good already, and good enough to go all the way, there's no reason to risk something unless it's "can't miss".

QUOTE(TitoMB345 @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 02:53 PM) So, doesn't look like we'll make any moves... There's no way to predict that. And besides, you don't just make a trade for the sake of making a trade. The right deal has to come along.

QUOTE(spiderman @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 01:36 PM) Hawkins also got put on the bereavement list yesterday as well...If the White Sox wanted Hawkins, they can probably get him very cheap. And who knows, he could be another guy that Coop could help out and get him back to his days when he was in Minnesota. It's not out of the realm of possibility...he wanted Thornton for awhile because he KNEW what his main problems were...who's to say he doesn't know what's wrong with Hawkins? If it's mental...I don't think there's a better clubhouse to be in than the Sox. The real question is, who would be sent down? McCarthy (so he could get back to starting)?

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 08:10 PM) So basically, this is statistical proof that the division is over? Fantastic. No...this means nothing. For all we know the Tigers could go on to win 120 games, or 90. You can't predict how many games they will win, or how many any team will win. All it takes is a small slide by the Tigers (and the Sox taking advantage of it), and you can throw all this garbage out the window. There is absolutely no way to predict they will win this or that many games...you're never out of the race until you're mathematically eliminated from it.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 08:46 PM) The Soriano talk is stupid? Yeah, this team definitely is strong in LF. And Anderson is showing improvement, but he's far from being considered a "damn good one" right now. Let me rephrase then...he WILL BE a damn good one. Right now, there's no need for an upgrade, he's probably our hottest hitter right now, and been hitting while the rest of the team has slumped. And yes, the Soriano talk is stupid. I'm not ready to give up McCarthy (or other prospects) for a 2 month rental that we do not need to win. This team is good enough to go all the way...whether they play like they can, and do it, is another story. But filling holes, that are not really holes (like LF), and ruining the future of the organization is not what you want to do. You can only go so far with other teams' talent, you need to develop your own players as well (just look to the Yankees). And I want to win this year, but I also want to win in 2007, 2008, 2009, and beyond. In order to do that, you need to keep your young talent, and trade them only if it is a NECESSITY.

QUOTE(redandwhite @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 01:41 PM) With the Braves flopping this week, there is a good chance Jones could be dealt. He'd look real good in a White Sox uniform. For the last time, we have a centerfielder and he's a damn good one. He's probably best in the game defensively, and his hitting has come around, so...THERE IS NO LONGER A HOLE IN CENTERFIELD. Get over yourself. You'd give up prospects for a guy we don't even need? This is just like the Soriano talk, stupid.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 03:43 PM) And Jenks lost it. Not excuse for Bobby. spiffty spiffty pitching performance by him. Hits a guy that winds up being the tying. Well, he's tired. Sox need to blow the Royals out the next couple of games to give him a rest. And also: this is only his second blown save of the season. He's going to blow some saves, you can't think he's going to save every game, even the best blow some. It's impossible not to. Tip your hat to the Orioles for getting a couple of clutch hits and go get the Royals tomorrow.

Bobby needs a day or two off. We stole one from them on Friday, and they took it right back today. Go get the Royals.

When things aren't going right...nothing goes right.

Unbelievable. Good pitch by Jenks, and Gibbons just dumps it into center.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 03:32 PM) No one is saying he's Soriano II. Rather, he'd be a nice upgrade we can play against lefties over Ozuna, who is a liability on defense. AND, center when Anderson gets days off. But, definately, do not replace Pods with Clark.

QUOTE(Whitewashed in @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 03:23 PM) Speaking of the bullpen, whats been up with Hermy? Still cannot pitch without discomfort. The MacDougal trade pretty much sealed that he's not coming back.

QUOTE(CYGarland @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 03:21 PM) Juan better get the freaking bunt down here, he's been BUTT useless lately That's a load of BS if I've ever heard one. Juan has been heating up again.

QUOTE(CYGarland @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 03:14 PM) This is a scary thought, but could you imagine where we would be if Crede and Dye hadn't both stepped it up BIG time this year? Yikes This is a scary thought for the rest of the league: could you imagine if our pitching was pitching to their potential? That's scary.

QUOTE(SoxFan562004 @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 03:10 PM) like the agressive base running, may or may not have caught a break, but Sox are in a good position He was safe. If Mackowiak can do one thing right, it's running the bases...he's very good at not only running them, but sliding around tags, as well.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 03:05 PM) Thank God for our offense, yet again bailing out our pitchers. That's what good teams do, they pick up their teammates. EVENTUALLY, the pitching will return the favor and pick up the offense when it's not going well.

JD AGAIN!!!! TWO CLUTCH HITS TO GIVE THEM THE LEAD!! fish YEAH.

Anderson better be coming in because Mackowiak + Pablo in the outfield = disaster.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 02:53 PM) I think the offense has just gotten tired of bailing out Vazquez when he CONSTANTLY puts them in deficits. There has to be a point, which I believe they've already hit, where they realize he's just going to give all the runs back and they just don't care to try as hard anymore. What gives you the reasoning that they would never give 100%? You don't have any, so why the dumb assumption? The offense can't score 20 runs everyday. It's not about bailing out Vazquez, it's about not being able to push tons and tons of runs across everday.