champ

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 02:44 PM) I swear I've seen this same post 100 times in the last month. That's nice, and it still holds truth. Why the hell does he need to go to the bullpen right away? He doesn't, no matter how much you say the 6th inning sucks. That's not exactly true, because he gets beat up in the 5th inning as well, should he have taken him out then? No, right? Because he got the outs that inning...since he doesn't get the outs in the 6th, then you're the genius. The job of Cotts was to come in and get those outs...that's what he's there for. He gets the outs when his teammates get into jams...and he did NOT do his job. I don't think he should have been the one in there, but he was, so he needs to get those fishing outs.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 02:39 PM) I bet you that Vazquez will be back on in the 6th inning next game. Ozzie is stubborn. I'm sure he will, and it's not because he's stubborn. It's because Vazquez was cruising...you don't just go to the bullpen for the sake of going to the bullpen. That's a fishing waste. The problem comes when Ozzie puts Cotts in there, when he can't even get a fishing out lately. And continues to let him pitch, just like McCarthy yesterday. They get an out, and they're in there for one guy, they get smoked and they're in there for 2 innings. Get a fishing clue sometimes, Ozzie. It's NOT all about matching up a lefty and a lefty, or a righty and a righty, it's about putting a guy in there that you know can get outs.

Stupid, stupid, stupid move for Ozzie to put Cotts in right there. He's the weak link in the bullpen right now, wtf Ozzie? And now, typical of late, they quickly go 1-2-3 after the opponent takes the lead. Dammit, this team pisses me off sometimes.

QUOTE(knightni @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 12:36 AM) I know Paulie's been hurt... But, Gload has certainly been looking deserving of a starting 1b job on an MLB non-contender of late. Perhaps he'd be part of a trade for a cf or rp before the deadline. The bullpen is pretty solid now, and so is our centerfielder. If I could have it my way, the Sox would make one more trade to get a backup outfielder that can play center, when Anderson gets days off. That's it, because this team is solid all around.

QUOTE(Chet Lemon @ Jul 29, 2006 -> 01:31 PM) What would it take for the Sox to trade for Carl Crawford? I am thinking they should try to pull this in the offseason as he won't be available now: Vazquez-Starting pitching is a huge need for T.B. Vazquez's best years were w/ small market Montreal, so he could be more successful in Tampa than NY and Chicago. Further, NY and AZ are still paying part of his contract, so it wouldn't be a substantial salary increase. Podsednik-OK, this would break hearts, but we need the upgrade. With the forgone conclusion that Lugo will be gone plus the trading of Gathright, TB will benefit from Pods' ability to steal bases. In addition, he can hit leadoff for them. Also, not a big salary for Tampa to take on. Like Vazquez, he is another veteran teams would like to have. Rogowski-With a logjam at 1b, it only makes sense to move the best 1b prospect in the Sox system. He is going to be 26 next season, leads the Charlotte Knights in RBI's, can play 3b, and is ready to start for a big league team. Unless they have someone better, and last time I checked they were running Travis Lee (who is awful) out as their first baseman, he would be an immediate part of their lineup. If the Sox gave up the aforementioned players, would it be enough to get Crawford? Could they also get another minor-leaguer in the deal as well? This would be a tremendous upgrade for the Sox. It also allows the team to set up their rotation w/ Mac in it. Crawford is very young, and I believe his best years are in front of him w/ a new team. That's a bunch of crap, for a stud...I think TB would laugh in their faces.

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Jul 29, 2006 -> 09:26 AM) I would love to get Coco and have him in CF and BA in Left....that would improve the defense majorly... Coco is not a centerfielder...if you saw him at all during that Boston series, he gets terrible jumps off of almost everything, the only thing that keeps him alive out there is his speed. Just think Mackowiak with some speed, and you have Coco Crisp as a centerfielder. IF they did get him, he'd play left, where he should be (corner outfield).

QUOTE(Jake @ Jul 29, 2006 -> 12:22 AM) More of an assumption, considering it's likely known around the league that those two can be had. Garland has no-trade of course. I doubt he gets many inquiries on Buehrle and Contreras. Although I suppose they could have been meaning McCarthy. That would make the deal quite interesting, and tempting. It'd be a tough call. That's why I'm glad I don't sit in the big office. By who, the dumbspiffs that cloud the airwaves on the radio everyday? No one has ever said that those guys are on the market, besides the NY Daily News, who was just dreaming about getting another pitcher because they know that team won't be worth a damn once the playoffs roll around.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 29, 2006 -> 12:13 AM) We need more than Linebrink for Fields. I'm willing to deal him, but we need more than that. That's all I have to say here. Our bullpen is pretty solid now. We don't need anymore relief help...so the Padres can keep dreaming. I really don't care what anyone has to say, this team is solid, from top to bottom. There's really no need to make a deal, this team can win.

QUOTE(Dan Pasqua @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 09:43 PM) not convinced either. Left 9 on base. 0 fer from dye, crede, konerko until he got a bruise and had to come out. Cant count on ross gload grand slams in the 9th every game That's not the point. They won the game, and those kinds of wins can completely turn everything around. See: Crede's walk-off last year against the Indians...which I think was the turning point in our season, as well as the Indians, even if they did salvage the last game of the series the next day. Big wins can do big things.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 10:29 AM) Mench really isn't all that good. Nix has not done much at the major league level lately and Cordero has been getting rocked. CLee is by far the best hitter in this trade, and eventually Cruz probably will be the second best. I'm glad CLee is staying out of the AL Central, but I don't see where the Brewers got all that huge of return on him especially because Cruz is a good prospect. Put all those guys in the NL Central, and you've got 3 very good players.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 10:18 AM) Right about now Bowden just blew his load. Jackpot city for any Soriano deal. The spiffload for Carlos Lee Alright...next: Someone else take Soriano that isn't the Tigers, Twins, or Spankees.

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 09:07 AM) On the radio this morning they were saying this Alfanso Soriano - Tigers C. Lee - Twins just fishing great. The Sox are better than both of those teams, with or without those guys. They need to just worry about themselves, and not whatever the Tigers or Twins are doing...and you should too. I don't give a spiff what the Tigers or Twins do, the Sox don't need any help...just win, and everything else will take care of itself. All you should care about is W's right now.

QUOTE(Hangar18 @ Jul 27, 2006 -> 10:33 AM) I broke out my 92, Jack McDowell jersey to the game to help with this funk. but didnt work. Next game, Im going with the 83 LaMarr Hoyt jersey for the Yankee game I'm thinking about changing hats tomorrow. I got a new one in September of 05, and they broke out of their slump and went on to a championship. I have another one waiting, but I'm not sure if I bust it out now, or wait till the postseason. I have a real tough time changing hats...you could say I get too attached, that and it takes a couple of days to break it in. I think they really need it, though. Oh, and I'll be wearing my Shingo shirt tomorrow, hopefully the luck hasn't run out of that. I need to shave as well. So...I think I'll shave, put on the Shingo shirt. If that doesn't work, I'm breaking out the new hat for Saturday.

QUOTE(whitesoxin @ Jul 27, 2006 -> 08:27 PM) To each his own. I'm sure hoping he can turn it around, but I don't think he'll ever be dominant for a long period of time anymore. And your reasoning behind this is what? Because if, by off chance, he never did not pitch well again, you can say that you told us so? That's the only reasoning I can think of, and I can't believe you seriously believe that. This is a guy that's a proven winner, and all of a sudden he sucks. GMAB...

QUOTE(LVSoxFan @ Jul 27, 2006 -> 03:17 PM) My co-worker thinks Mark is injured and asked about his velocity. When I saw him last Friday, he was hitting 88 with regularity on the gun, and I've never seen him top that when I've been at games (I know once in a while he'll get into the 90s), so I told him: it's not velocity. You could make the argument with Freddy, but Mark? Naw, it's something else. But I have never seen a pitcher collapse so quickly after years of realiability. Unless, as my co-workers says, those years of tons of innings are now coming crashing down on him. Give me a break...collapse? He's in a funk, and it's not the first time he's been in one in his career. You just have to wait it out and hope he finds his groove sooner rather than later.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jul 27, 2006 -> 04:23 PM) Damn it. Vazquez and/or Garcia have to go. We can't go into the stretch with a powerless power pitcher and a headcase. Who's to say that these two are not our best pitchers in September? Don't utter this bullspiff...neither HAVE to go. Yet, this doesn't mean he's done. He flies under the radar, and if a deal comes up that he can't pass up, he'll make the move. This article really doesn't mean much at all...I like that he talked to Thome, Konerko, and Dye about it though, that's pretty cool. This is going to be a fun next couple of months, lets get it started tomorrow with a W and move out from there.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jul 27, 2006 -> 02:39 PM) Hope you're not a betting man/woman. What I was saying is, I'll take the postseason right now, and worry about how much gas they have left in the tank then. Right now, there's no time to just give some guys time off, it's getting to the time where Ozzie needs to put the starters out there, and get the team into the postseason. Once they're in the postseason, anything can happen...the goal right now is to get there, not worry about them running out of gas when they do get there.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 27, 2006 -> 11:45 AM) He is going to get worked over in prison. Looks like the Numa guy...just turn that frown, upside down.

QUOTE(My Dixie Normus @ Jul 27, 2006 -> 02:20 PM) I have never liked playoff teams that had to go through a great run and come from behind to get into the playoffs. They run out of steam. I don't want that to be the White Sox this year. It shouldn't be, thats for sure. I'll take my chances with the Sox going all out the rest of the season, and gaining homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 27, 2006 -> 01:36 PM) Garcia is not the same Garcia from the past, he's lost a ton of velocity on his fastball and sits at around 86 MPH right now. What was the last big game he won this year? (Don't tell me the Cards game because that was a pathetic lineup for a pretty bad team) I see his last start as being pretty damn fluky seeing how nothing has changed with him. Freddy Garcia without the heat is not a big game pitcher. When was the last time he was put in a big game situation? I'd say stopping the losing streak on Saturday would be a big game...and he pitched well. Against the Yankees...without that 'fluky' (as you like to say) first inning, he gave up 3 runs. The Cards problem is not scoring runs (they can), their problem is their pitching sucks. He outdueled a young pitcher (who threw a 1-hitter) with Pujols in their lineup. Why is that game being thrown out? Even without his velocity from years past, when his stuff is on (like against the Cards), he can dominate regardless. If you ask me, Buehrle's recent struggles are a fluke, but that doesn't stop people being all over him, now does it? No, it sure doesn't, but Garland's first half last year was 'fluky', and any time Garcia wins now, that's 'fluky' too.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 27, 2006 -> 01:20 PM) I am still trying to figure out with 3 out of 5 of our pitchers pitching like Danny Wright/Felix Diaz/and Anrie Munoz do we think that we have a .750 run left in us. If you think Buehrle and Garcia (who was good in his last start) are going to continue to not pitch well, then I don't know what you're thinking. Garcia can pitch a big game with the best of them (told Coop the day before Game 4 of the World Series to not worry, because there was no way he was losing that game)...and Buehrle will be Buehrle once again. Anyone who thinks we should rid Buehrle or Garcia is about as stupid as wanting to get rid of Garland earlier in the year. You base this crap (because that's what it is) over a few outings, and I'm sorry, but that's just fishing stupid. I'll take this rotation over any other rotation in baseball for the rest of the year. And it wouldn't surprise me in the least bit if they are the best rotation from here on out.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jul 27, 2006 -> 12:24 PM) I can't think of a single AL team that we've "owned" this year. Detroit (still should have won that series despite struggles), Oakland, LAA... If you think that this is the team (the way they're playing right now), feel free to jump off the bandwagon. Regardless of their record in the last 15 games, I still believe this is, by far, the best overall team in the majors. And I believed that before Kenny improved the bullpen...now that the bullpen is improved, I seriously don't think (if they're not struggling), that any team can beat them in a playoff series.

QUOTE(LVSoxFan @ Jul 27, 2006 -> 09:44 AM) Granted, if I'm not mistaken we had lost a series going in to the ASB but holy sheeeet, did you see the Sun-Times today and how everybody's numbers went over a cliff after the ASB? What I'm looking for--and admit I might never find--is rationale. I'm soliciting theories both realistic and more out there, because again: the ASB seemed to have triggered something in the Sox that we haven't recovered from since. Buehrle was fine if not overpowing until that first game (EDIT) with the Cubs before the ASB he gets rocked like I've never seen before, ever. Yeah, there was that 7-run game at Minny but most of them were unearned, and he recovered and actually won that (ESPN) game. The bats that were racking up 20 against St. Louis went cold. Our bullpen became iffy. AJ now looks tired. Pods seems like a shell of himself. And Paulie, save for the dinger here and there, doesn't seem so .300 anymore (although his fielding has been good). Errors? Uribe, usually a rock, has made a few. Back to that ASB, back to that ASB. What is it about that break? Perhaps the team was tired and running on adrenaline going in, and that four days off (or whatever) physically brought them down to how tired they really are? I realize this is all speculation but what the hell: we have the day off (thank God). What say you, Soxtalk? This funk started before the All Star Break (even before that Red Sox series). It really started way back in Pittsburgh at the end of June. Sure, they were still winning games, but they were winning games against bad teams (a la Detroit). Now, you put a good team out there against a struggling Sox team, and you're in trouble.