beck72

I'm a little late. but when I saw Politte come in with the bases loaded, I wasn't worried. I'm at a point like earlier in the yr that I have confidence the sox will somehow pull out games in the end. Even games they really shouldn't win. Here's to another sox win

The bench probably will be Harris, Perez, Blum, Widger, and Ozuna. The bullpen of 7 should be Cotts, Hermanson, Marte, Cliff, Jenks, Bmac and either Viz or El Duque. If El Duque is healthy, he'll be on. If not he's nursing an injury--like to his knee--Viz will be the last man. No way is BMac held off the playoff roster. A pitcher is needed to go 2 maybe 3 innings to bridge the SP's and late inning bullpen guys. Bmac is perfect for that spot--someone who throws strikes, get K's and can go multiple innings.

I'd rather the sox play either Bos. or the Yankees. The Sox could handle both pitching staffs better than the Angels. I still think the sox could handle the angels staff as well. It's just that the lineup of the angels and their style of play probably would give the sox pitchers a harder time

QUOTE(black jack @ Sep 30, 2005 -> 10:52 PM) Does anyone know who we will play? If Cleveland wins WC? If Yankees win WC? If BoSox win WC? I imagine that if Cleveland wins we probably head out west right? Otherwise we're facing Boston or NY? The sox would play either NY or Bos. if they won the WC. The team withe best record in the AL plays the WC [unless the WC winner is from the same division--which means the sox wouldn't play Cle.] The sox would then play the division winner with the worst record

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 26, 2005 -> 10:04 PM) You have to face the facts that baseball is a business. If these "relationships" were such a huge deal, then how is our release of Shingo perceived? Or how about when we let Frank, and Konerko walk? The fact is, the players on your team are the only opinions that matter. Trading Dye right now is a smart move, Anderson is ready, and we could use the money to get a bigger FA to play 1B or the middle IF. We may also need another bullpen arm. These are pieces of the puzzle that mean more than what someone thinks of you team. Every team makes moves like this, its a business, not high school. What I'm saying is getting rid of Dye could affect the sox ability TO sign other FA's. they and their agents see [in your scenario] Dye traded with time left on his contract, after he was cheap and productive, then it could be them too. Few guys will want to sign if they could play with the sox for one year and be traded to the Reds or D-Rays the next Dye's contract is affordable and he's better than most FA's that will be on the market in '06. My bet is Anderson starts in AAA, and is insurance in case someone gets hurt. The other OFers stay set

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 26, 2005 -> 09:10 PM) a good business move. Maybe it would be a good business move. Whether it would be a good basebll move, I don't think so. The Sox haven't exactly been a free agent mecca. Treating guys like Dye s***ty [trading him while at his "peak value", while he has done everything and more than what was expected of him and been a pro's pro all year], I don't think it would bode well for other FA's who might be looking to come to the Sox. Dye is respected through out the league, and has a really affordable contract. So in the short term could Anderson outpeform Dye? Maybe. Maybe not. But it could have consequences down the line, if Dye got his walking papers. Even though his contract or performance weren't the biggest issues

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 26, 2005 -> 07:17 PM) This is exactly why we should trade Dye. His value has peaked. Dye showed loyalty when he signed as a FA by sticking to his deal even though he was offered more to go elsewhere. If the sox want to be able to sign other FA's in the next few yrs, they won't deal Dye. Esp as he's been a bargain, been very productive and prob. still will be next yr. If Dye sucked, was a headcase in the clubhouse, then they could deal him. He's more than held up his end of the deal. He'll stay in 2006

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2005 @ Sep 26, 2005 -> 01:41 AM) That maybe, but Buehrle, Garland, and Garcia clearly haven't pitched like they did in the first half. No they haven't. But contreras and Bmac have pitched better than the sox 4th and 5th guys earlier in the yr

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 25, 2005 -> 07:09 PM) Again, this may very well be 1 of those cases where the sample size is obscuring the real trend. By saying "September" you include tha t7 game winning streak against Detroit et al. where the offense, and Konerko in particular, was just on fire. But on the other hand...our offense outside of that streak has clearly been struggling, at least until basically yesterday. I wonder what happens if you take just hte last 7 days...although we scored a fairly large number against Cleveland in 2 of the 3 games. While it may be a small sample, seeing how this is the last month, it is important how the hitters are doing. And the over 20 games this month, the sox have shown improvement getting runners on. It's getting the runners in that's been the problem

QUOTE(Sox Hustler @ Sep 25, 2005 -> 07:06 PM) Their pitching definitley isn't as good as it was the first half so I don't know if they have more room for error exactly. Either way, they need to hit better with RISP if they want to win. Actually, the Sept. pitching ERA is close to the season ERA.

QUOTE(HeGone! @ Sep 25, 2005 -> 02:58 PM) I'm glad to see these numbers, but obviously it sucks that they're not getting the kind of clutch hitting that would win them games in the first half of the season The Sox hadn't got the clutch hitting even when they were winning. What they did get was solid situational hitting [going to the opposite field, SF's and SH's, hit and runs]. They were playing to win, putting pressure on the defense. They have been playing not to lose lately. But with the better hitting lately, they have more room for error then they did earlier in the yr when a lot of guys were ice cold at the plate

The Sox offense has hit very well in Sept. a big question mark all year. For the year the sox spot in various categories: Runs: 9th, w/ 710; avg: 12th, .262; OBP: 12th, .322 SLG: 8th, .426 In Sept, they have stepped it up: Runs: 7th, avg: 5th, .276; OBP: 4th, .339; SLG: 3rd, .462 I don't have the splits for how the Sox have hit w/ RISP for Sept. But I know the sox were very very poor in that department, something like 6 for 43 in their last 6-8 games before Friday night. For the year the sox last in the AL in Runs, w/ RISP and last with an .260 avg. Yet for the yr, they are 6th w/ RISP and 2 outs, hitting .249 The sox are hitting better, yet not coming through w/ RISP. The Sox are getting more guys on base this month, and should be able to manufacture more runs than in the past. If the sox keep up the solid SP, and give the bullpen some rest, the sox offense should be ready for the playoffs

1. sign PK, AJ and Garland to new deals, locking them up for the next 2-3 yrs 2, sign Furcal [which would mean Uribe would be traded] Furcal at the top moves Pods to the 9th hole, and gives the sox flexibility for moving an OF prospect like Sweeney, anderson or Young in should Pods get hurt, or hit closer to .244 than .290. The sox need to add someone with speed, who can hit for avg, and get on base [another lead off guy], replacing a current regular. uribe's inconsistent bat and low OBP is the one I'd move. [for a SP prospect who'd start the year in AAA but could move into the 5th spot like Bmac was able to] The best spots typically to add a lead off guy are in Cf, SS, 2b [though the FA market is bare here]. Rowand gives the sox some speed, good defense and some pop for a Cfer. Iguchi is fine at 2b. Crede also has the same questions as Uribe. Yet getting more speed , avg, and OBP from 3b......I can't see who the sox could add. Plus, Crede has come into his own this yr, meshing well in the clubhouse. i don;t think Uribe would be missed as much as Crede. 3. Add a DH who can hit .300 and have a high OBP [and who could play another position [Overbay would be a nice bat who could switch off w/ PK a few times a week--the sox could trade Brian Anderson in a deal for him] Frank could come back in a restructured deal but the sox can't count on him being healthy. They should make a move to fill the DH spot. Maybe a guy like Scott Hatteburg or Frank Cattalanotto 4. Add to the bullpen a guy like Scott Eyre or Ron Villone [get another LHP in here, esp as both the Indians and Twins have a lot of LH hitters] 5. Move BMac into the rotation and Duque to the Yanks for something [as long as the sox have a SP or two ready in AAA]

QUOTE(YASNY @ Sep 24, 2005 -> 03:12 PM) But Beck, tagging our pitchers with feminine names is so clever It must my senility setting in that keeps me from laughing at such wit

QUOTE(SnB @ Sep 24, 2005 -> 03:15 PM) sub 250 average? in the 3 hole. no, that shouldn't happen on any team. In the 3 hole now? No. But on Aug. 30th, Carl's line was .269/.323/.475. Now it's down to .247/.307/.434. Even with his slump, Carl is #2 on the sox with RISP and RISP w/ 2 outs. Only Rowand has hit better than Carl in both categories. With the game on the line and hitting in key situations, Carl has come through this year. While he's wrong and Ozzie has every right to move guys around anytime he wants, I can see where Carl's frustrations are coming from.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Sep 24, 2005 -> 03:05 PM) I disagree that unhappy, pissed people, pretending to be happy is better. Clear it up today, don't keep it in. I agree. People get frustrated and say things all the time. The sox are at their lowest point now. It was bound to happen. It happens in families, at work, ball clubs---anywhere people spend a lot of time together in close proximity. As long as it doesn't get personal [which in this case w/ Carl and Ozzie it doesn't seem to be], things patch themselves up rather quickly Carl starts "proving Ozzie wrong", and the sox can start humming the Barney tune once again

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2005 @ Sep 24, 2005 -> 08:24 AM) Girlie, Judy, and Teddy haven't given us any reason to think otherwise. Those guys have pitched their asses off this year, despite their recent struggles. I'd still take our rotation and like our chances with those 4 guys over any of the other AL playoff probables.

Everett should be given some slack with his comments. Sure, he deserves to be moved down. Ozzie kept him at the 32rd spot a lot longer than most managers would have. But he's at his absolute lowest point, slumping big time during a key stretch. We haven't heard any problems re: Carl all yr. Now there are some "gripes". I don't think his slump and words spoken out of frustration are a coincidence.

QUOTE(SnB @ Sep 24, 2005 -> 02:55 PM) Ok, before i just disliked carl because of his skill, now i just plain dislike him. "it's always me" dear carl, maybe that's because you're the one that doesn't do anything productive. Carl has still been productive this yr, even with a sub .250 avg. And in the playoffs, Carl will be heard from, mark my words

Everett may be tired. He hasn't been out of the lineup for a long time. If Brian Anderson can get some AB's at Dh to rest him, that may not be the worst idea. I think some of these comments come from being frustrated at his horrible stretch. No big thing. But just hit dammit

Get rid of a young and inexpensive 3bman like Crede who has flashed gold glove caliber defense and sign an aging, expensive replacement for him?! Sure, that's what winning organizations do. Boston is going with Kevin Youkilis [sp?], whose bat is unproven and whose glove isn't close to Joe's. If Mueller was that good, wouldn't they re-sign him and trade Youkilis

Lets start 'er up!!

QUOTE(wsox08 @ Sep 20, 2005 -> 11:58 PM) I'll email him too Is that noose for Jay? Even if its for him it's in bad taste

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Sep 20, 2005 -> 09:17 PM) Right click on someone's avatar. Go to Properties. Copy and past the location--that is--the www.whatever..... and paste it in the avatar spot in your controls. ...that oughta do it. Thanks

I'm in. just how do you go about getting that avatar? Could someone walk an old man through it?