caulfield12

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 19, 2013 -> 06:51 PM) Really in the grand scheme of things, the team went 4-3 on the last leg of a stretch that had 15 of 18 on the road, and we finally saw some signs of life from the offense. Hopefully they can keep this momentum going at home. Except that a LOT of that so-called momentum was killed off Saturday and Sunday afternoon. We're just treading water again. Last year, we were able to go on that 13-1/14-2 run at the end of May to get into first place on the 29th. This time, we're probably going to be looking up in the standings at four teams at that same time.

Hernandez is really learning how to pitch now. He isn't trying to strike everyone out or throwing in the mid to upper 90's...whether it's from wear and tear or simply letting up a little on the gas and only going with maximum effort fastballs when needed in key situations. Felix was one of those pitcher profiled earlier in the season whose velocity was down quite a bit from previous seasons.

Don't know what to make of this team. In the end, we've gone 3-4 against the Angels. Just when you think things are turning, the game and series got away yesterday and now it seems like we're back to square one again. Beckham coming back will (should) help, but that still doesn't address the Dunn/Konerko issues OR the catching situation. Plus, many of the relievers last year that were so good (Jones, Veal, Omogrosso, Septimo) have gone south. And, looking at the box score yesterday, still not sure why Ventura went with Veal there and didn't use Matt Thornton.

If Sanchez actually becomes a starter, the only ones cheering will be those advocating for a higher first round draft pick in the future.

Konerko's flaring more balls to RF this year than Frank Thomas or Joe Crede ever did. SIGH.

QUOTE (kapzk @ May 18, 2013 -> 04:20 PM) Nate Jones is overrated And he inherits the title of #1 RH reliever after Reed next year... Jones better get himself straightened out. Granted, he did a good job to limit the damage the previous inning, but he's been a disappointment this year.

I hope this isn't the game that becomes the high water mark for the White Sox this year...almost getting back to within 1 game of .500. After not scoring last inning, seemed like there was a 95% probability of the Angels scoring there. Only a 9 pitch inning, 5 batters, but 2 runs. It takes us 50-60 pitches to score a couple, lol.

These are the games when you look back at what went wrong this season and it's a microcosm for both teams dissecting all the respective problems. Angels with a productive out there, actually moved the runner to 3rd. It's possible to do.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ May 18, 2013 -> 04:11 PM) Sanchez is rule 5 draft pick MUST be on 25 man roster all year or he is offered back. Why are we wasting a roster spot on a 29 year old journeyman who can't hit?

Well....Dunn's out now. Seems that the "bad" White Sox would lose this game 9 out of 10 times where they have so many struggles with RISP. 11 runs stranded in five innings, you probably deserve to lose...we didn't really hit a ball hard all game against the worst starter in baseball. If the Sox win this game, then it would be very encouraging. However, with the way this season has gone, you could just as easily see them losing the next two and then struggling with the Red Sox.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ May 18, 2013 -> 04:06 PM) agree on Hector. I think he goes back to the pen and becomes the second lefy and spot starter And that will probably last as long as the next Axelrod start when he gives up 5-6-7 runs and everyone will give up on him, too. The fact of the matter is that Santiago developing as a starter is more likely to be the long-term solution for the coming years than counting on Dylan Axelrod to be a 5th starter. Lefties that throw 96 and have 4-5 pitches don't grow on trees. After all, he's part of the rotation that's helping to lead the AL in earned run average coming into today's game. SIGH. Perfect pitch to take down Ramirez there, perfectly placed in terms of location. Great. Now Dunn is hurt and Keppinger's going to PH for him. Can it get any worse from an injury/DL/walking wounded standpoint?

QUOTE (Soxfest @ May 18, 2013 -> 04:03 PM) They put one of your guys in the hospital you put one of there guys in the morgue. DV was #2 this game. And probably the second hit batter by the Angels to score, if we can actually come through here... Four hour game pace, must be torture for LA fans, except for the incredibly beautiful weather there, haha.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ May 18, 2013 -> 04:00 PM) Santiago should have started the season in the rotation. Was never given a chance. Sox hate him. Phegley shout out. His table is ready. Nobody hates him. It will be pretty apparent if Danks is ready or not when he gets up to the big league team. Odds are that he will more than likely struggle. HORRIBLE TERRIBLE out by Greene. Jesus. You have to get the runners into scoring position there. This offense is so frustrating. Ugly ugly ugly slow-paced game marked by bad defense, bad pitching, wildness and a lucky bounce on the Rios ball off Callaspo's glove.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ May 18, 2013 -> 03:59 PM) Another Angel needs hit later in this game. You don't hit Ramirez there on purpose to load the bases. That's just dumb baseball, especially for how Blanton has pitched this season. Alexei scored, by the way. Plus, Trout's the most valuable player on their team. When you hit him so hard on the kneecap that it looks like a bunt coming back to the mound, there's going to be repercussions. That said, why would you want to hit anyone unless there's 2 outs and nobody on base? The last thing you want to do is give the momentum back to the White Sox after getting right back into the game.

QUOTE (Jake @ May 18, 2013 -> 03:53 PM) Who can we call up to be new backup C? I don't like backups that can't play defense We need to make a move for a veteran back-up, like a Shoppach, Jose Molina, Blanco type IMO.

If we pull Santiago from the rotation, we might be the only team in recent baseball history to boot out a starter with a 2.78 ERA with 5 or more starts, lol. Santiago also might have gotten spooked by the Trumbo homer. Although he gave that up on a hanging curve with an 0-2 count, something scared him off the fastball, which is still his best pitch.

FWIW, Parent and the coaching staff and Hector and Gimenez/Flowers need to come up with a better plan of attack. You've got a lefty throwing 93-96 MPH, you ATTACK hitters. You don't mess around with the bottom of the line-up with a 4-0 lead. You get ahead, then you throw the offspeed stuff and keep the hitters guessing.

Ventura made the right move there...Jones is going to have to go 3 innings, though.

God, our defense is just terrible. Two balls off Gimenez's glove that he's got to catch. Dunn at 1B letting one get past he should have had a play on. Sox outhitting the Angels 10-4 but on the verge of losing the lead.

QUOTE (bbilek1 @ May 18, 2013 -> 03:50 PM) He just walked four straight. To boot, it was the 6-9 hitters. Learning experiences are nice but not at the expense of the game. He either doesn't have it today or he's in his own head. 3 straight. 4 in the game. He only had 8 the whole season before this appearance.

Doesn't make any sense when you're throwing 94-95-96 to go with breaking balls and screwballs first when you have a 4-0 lead and the Angels on their heels. I think he only got one screwball across the entire game. Has a lot of movement on that pitch, but no idea where it's going. Got a little gunshy with the fastball when Callaspo pulled a 96 MPH down the LF line and started going all soft.

Back to the bad Adam Dunn again... Six hits, but might end up with 0 runs for all that. 81 hits in 48 2/3 IP. Not so good. Hard to do, even if you're trying. Nice one, Langston.

QUOTE (bbilek1 @ May 18, 2013 -> 02:46 PM) It should be fun to see a new infusion of players in the coming weeks. If all goes accordingly tonight in Charlotte Danks will be starting Friday, then Angel Sanchez and Beckham come back and maybe/hopefully Phegley gets called up. I wonder if well be able to keep Casper Wells, Greene and Giminez on Charlotte. Doesn't really matter. If Greene could play a decent 2B, would prefer him to Sanchez offensively. Wells will probably be on his 5th team this year. It's not like he has done much to warrant sticking around. Beckham's the most important name there, to get the defense back to normal. I don't think we'll see Phegley unless they're 100% ready to give up on Flowers. It's not a natural platoon. And it would really upset the pitching staff, in all likelihood. That said, need to get offense anywhere we can find it.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ May 18, 2013 -> 02:46 PM) Holy crap and they say AR cannot bunt! Cannot SAC bunt to save his life...that's true.

Ramirez is really a lot more focused in the 2 spot these days. Nice. Ball rolled back towards the grass.