witesoxfan

Jason, didn't you have a quote in like ESPN for the ranking of the franchises of the 4 major sports, and you mentioned something about having Uncle Jerry spend a little more on the Sox?

It's no longer the worst ballpark, or, at the very least, is not as bad as it was. The new turf slows the ball down incredibly. The Twins cannot take full advantage of it anymore. They are evening the playing field. Funny thing is, I believe they put the turf in to PREVENT injuries from occurring. The exact opposite is happening. It is totally coincidental, but funny nonetheless.

First of all, the first inning wasn't what I would call disasterous. We gave up a 3-run lead. Big deal. Secondly, this team wouldn't quit against the Twins. They aren't a smart team, hell, I'd go as far as saying they ARE a stupid team. But they aren't THAT stupid. They realize what these games mean on the schedule. They did not give up in big games like this with a rival. Do not forget, it was only two years ago they were down 8-0 to the crosstown losers and came back and won 13-9. In important games, those teams did not quit under Manuel. Give JM the credit he deserved. He was not a good manager, and the players did not respond to him at the end of his reign. But he was not the worst manager in the world, and some people make him out to be the worst manager in the world. Be glad Don Baylor wasn't our manager. You wanna talk about a bad manager.

That is a VERY misleading stat. He is playing in a very pitcher friendly park, and, if he were traded to the Sox, would be coming to a very hitter friendly park. His ERA could go from 2.50 to 4.50 in no time. I agree. I want a ground-ball pitcher. If Boston thinks they could use Freddy Garcia, and they are willing to give up Derek Lowe, that's the guy I want. Lowe is a stud and is a hell of a good GB pitcher. A 1-2-3 of Lowe, Buehrle, Loaiza could potentially do damage in the playoffs. I'd like Jason Schmidt too, however, that would cost quite a bit.

:headshake I assume that we all think we're better then the Twins. They are not that good of a team. Very mediocre. We are happy with winning the series and not sweeping because it is not easy to win in the metrodome. Over the past 3 years, we have gotten killed in the dome. Taking 3 of 4 is very good.

Damn Hunter and Jones too. Those were some damn good plays that killed any chance we had of building any momentum. He had some nice defense behind him. We also got lucky on a DP ball. I think Konerko pulled his foot and the runner was safe anyways, and the ump called him out. It was a poor call. I cheered for it though. That's something good to point out. It shows our biggest weakness. Someone who has control over this s*** needs to make a move to help fix the problem. That is not killing the mood at all.

Behind the Sox bullpen on Saturday(sec 116, row 27), behind the Twins dugout on Sunday(sec 133, row 18)

Truth hurts, doesn't it?

This may be true, but he pulled a SamME from game 1 of the NLCS last year against the Cubbies and actually had a huge homer off of Alfon-six-a. We were down 6-4, and Aaron hit a 2-run homer to tie it up. Personally, I don't think Rowand is a garbage, non-clutch player. He just doesn't hit righties worth a s***.

It was a sweet series, I'll tell you that much for sure. Saturday night sucked ass. Konerko missed a 3-run homer by maybe a foot. At that point in the game, it was like 4-1 and a 3-run homer would have been huge. Politte showed why he deserves to be given a one-way trip to Charlotte/the FA pool. You can't get by with 96-97 MPH heat alone(another thing I noticed with him...he throws a slow 97 fastball...some pitchers hide the ball well and 92 looks like 96 coming out of their hands...well, to me atleast, Politte's 96 fastball looks about like 92...it is very hittable). I told my dad that, while it was 9-1, it seemed to be a lot closer then a 9-1 game. Seemed more like 5-1 game or so. Also, I got a foul ball off the bat of Torii Hunter. He hit it in the 8th, and it bounced off a seat or a fan, bounced off my brother's face(he's OK), and I grabbed it. It was awesome. Today was much better(obviously). Garland pitched like s*** right away, but settled down after the 4th. He definately looked a lot better after the 4th inning. It seemed that Johan was very hittable today. The only thing that was wrong was that Frank should have been 1-4...his INF single was not a single at all. Guzman fielded it, and then got stuck in the turf. The bullpen seemed to pitch well enough to get the job done. This definately did feel like 2000. This team is starting to give me that feeling that they can go out everyday and get 6 or 8 or 10 runs. They hit Johan pretty well today. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the way this team is playing. They are past their bad month and are heading into the month they usually play the best in. I look forward to seeing how well this team plays. I still feel they are an ace pitcher away. Garland proved he shouldn't be counted on as a #3 pitcher in the playoffs, though I could see him as a #4...depends on how Scho pitches this year. They look good right now. Keep winning series, and they'll be fine.

Don't be so sure of that.

Oh yeah. Everytime I see her, it's like, boi-oi-ing.

Koch closing. That's scary to think about right now, imagine him in the playoffs. One mistake could be the end. He would probably be a better setup guy in the playoffs. Marte is solid enough. He'll come around. He's also a solid setup guy. Shingo is a pleasant surprise...I don't know if I'm happier with him for Uribe, but I'm happy as hell with both. Shingo will be damn good for us. Politte is garbage. Manny will turn him around faster then you can say holy s***. 98 MPH heat is only good if you have another good pitch that is 10 MPH slower atleast. Jackson is not a playoff pitcher. Cotts is probably not a playoff pitcher. I can't say exactly right now. It's still May. Adkins is surely not a playoff pitcher. Wunsch is a good LOOGY. To me, that looks like 5 pitchers top who can be used in the playoffs, and I don't trust any of them to close out a big time playoff game for us. I want Urbina or Smoltz or someone like that. If Atlanta is out of it, like they should be, I would also look to trade Konerko there too. They could use a 1Bman and they could use some offense. He could fit in well down there. And if we got Smoltz, we could have a damn good bullpen settling in there, with Koch and Marte setting up, Smoltz closing, Jackson and Politte providing middle relief, Wunsch and Shingo being specialist types. Given, I believe Smoltz is a 10/5 player and has the right to veto any trade, so he'd have to accept it. Woo him to come over. Guarantee a set of golf clubs or a damn nice car or something like that. If we could get a Smoltz type pitcher, we are set in the bullpen. BTW, if we traded Konerko for Smoltz, Lee could probably be part of the Schmidt trade. I hate to do it, but who else you gonna give up? And then you trade for Jurassic Carl after that.

You post a lot. Almost everyday, and you make 20-30 posts a day. Hell, I average 13, and I know I make a hell of a lot more then that a day now a days. Ask SS2k4 or Jas or Tex or anyone for that matter. This site is additictive. You gotta get your fix.

Agreed. I think I listen to almost all of them on there...including country. But only good country...Garth Brooks, some Toby Keith, that kind of stuff.

I like Grissom. He's a solid player and a gamer. Personally, I'd take him. Here's a question...if the Giants can unload Edgardo Alfonzo, do you trade Crede in a package for Jason Schmidt? Personally, I do. It may(or may not) bite us in the ass some day. And I know we've waited a long time for him. But a talent like Schmidt is hard to pass up. After saying that, how about Crede, Konerko, Rauch, and another solid prospect for Schmidt and possibly Marquis Grissom? And at some point, bullpen depth has to be brought in. I like our pen...Marte, Shingo, and Koch(personally, I can't believe I'm saying that) seem to be good, Jackson is a solid vet, and Politte has a good arm, and Wunsch is a pretty damn good LOOGY...but it is not a playoff bullpen. We need a pretty good pitcher in there yet. I think Politte has to be moved, personally. And I wouldn't mind another LH hitter somewhere along the line, but we don't NEED one from what I can tell. Gload seems like he can be a solid enough player that if he gets regular playing time he could put up solid numbers...maybe 15-20 homers with a solid average and OPS, and Jose is helping that cause too. I'd like a LH hitter, but I think the need for one is growing less with each passing day, personally. I'd like to see Carlos Delgado brought in, but if budget/cost/both don't allow that, so be it. Bring in Jurassic again then. Not sure where he'd play, but I'm sure we could find him a spot somewhere. Maybe trade Lee. Maybe not. Maybe I'm just talking out of my ass to add to my post total? Who knows

You don't have to score in double digits to light up a pitching staff. And Nuke...you think the Twins pitching staff is as dominant as the Royals staff, or is the Royals too good?

It's weak, like most knuckleballers fastballs are. If I had to guess, I'd say high 70s, low 80s. Don't count on that though. Personally...just the thought of facing a good knuckleballer makes me almost want to s*** my pants. When that knuckler dances, I bet it is damn near impossible to hit it. With Shingo, you have a shot, at the very least. Either way...both are tough as hell. Just glad the Sox have both of them(of course, the RED Sox have Wakefield)

It's a sick pitch. I know I'm glad I don't have to face him, that's all. But, just to throw it out there...if you had to, would you rather face Tim Wakefield or Shingo?

Because they usually kick your team's ass.

Are you sure it was a curve ball? His change up is slow enough that it actually starts to arc a little and drops down at the end. Either way...I hope to see Shingo atleast once over the weekend.

The only reason for watching the Twins broadcast is Bremer and Blyleven's wit, especially Bremer. They're both homers, but now and then Bremer will have some smart-ass thing to say like that. I assume it was Bremer that called Konerko's first homer an OF hit, and then Bremer also called Thomas's homer...I mentioned it somewhere else, but from what I remember, it was something like... Bert Blyleven:"And on 2-0, Greisinger has to be careful not to throw a pitch up, because Frank Thomas likes to extend those arms. He's probably looking to do that right here and hit it a long ways." (crack of bat) Dick Bremer: "And that one got hit a long ways." And I'll still never forget Thomas's walk-off against the Twins last year(I know, I've brought it up like 10 times, oh well, deal with it). Bremer started talking, but the crowd noise just muted him, and you couldn't hardly hear a word he said.

I think every fan should boo him. Hell, if he were traded to the Sox tomorrow, and I went to a game, I'd boo his ass. I used to think that Giambi was everything that was wrong with baseball. Now I'm having second thoughts.

This is true. Now it's time for MB to get Guzman and end the inning and hand it over to the pen.

If only I had one. I may just make a couple Sox shirts tonight. Nothing too fancy, but it will get the job done. And then I gotta get a box of twinkies, and squeeze them before the game. Or just eat them. I haven't decided yet.