caulfield12

"The first time I stepped in the box I started laughing," A.J. Pierzynski said. "He cursed at me in Spanish, and I started laughing just because I know Freddy so well and I know he's back and throwing the ball great. I hope Freddy has a great career." Best quote of the night, or maybe a close second to Mark's.

QUOTE (WilliamTell @ Sep 30, 2008 -> 12:12 AM) Are these what you think, or are these actual complaints you've heard? Both...just go to startribune.com, read the story about the "celebration that wasn't" and you can see all the reader comments. It's a lot better than most teams' MLB message boards, most of what I wrote down was written there, except for the part about Garcia. Actually, the Twins' fans claimed it was a "mysterious" injury/reason and they were, for some reason, not understanding what was wrong with him. Stone called it right away...that it was his shoulder and that the pitch he had delivered was his final toss of the night.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 10:00 PM) I just want to say that I want Swisher in LF tomorrow. I've had more than enough of Wise. I prefer to think of Quentin as Achilles, lol. Or maybe Contreras is...and Quentin can be El Gran Titan de Stanford.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 10:28 PM) I hope our crowd goes nuts. Those domers got 3 home games last week against us and we paid the price. We need to intimidate them into oblivion and beat them like KC did. They looked mighty ordinary all 3 vs. the Royals. GO SOX; MASH TWINS! One thing is true, Morneau is in a huge slump which could cost him the MVP. Hamilton actually has one more RBI now I think. Something has to give, Justin's numbers against Danks and are almost unbelieveable, same with Mauer and Cuddyer.

Even if we lose, it was worth it to hear all the whining and complaining going on. 1) Twins should host playoff because they won season series 10-8 (conveniently forgetting 90% of the reason for their two World Series victories in 1987 and 1991 was due to the Dome...in fact, in 1987, they had one of the worst records of the playoff teams but had an advantage because the AL West and AL East alternated home field advantage, and both years the AL had home field) 2) Selig and MLB conspiracy to try to match up Cubs and White Sox in WS and leave out small market teams 3) Coin flip is patently unfair, Selig sucks (even though this was tradition well before Bud) 4) Garcia took himself out of the game as a personal favor to Ozzie, who he's related to by birth 5) Wedge hates Gardenhire and bagged the Cliff Lee start on purpose so that Lee's Cy Young status wouldn't be tarnished 6) Tigers hate the Twins because of 2006, passing them the last weekend (that doesn't make much sense) 7) There should be an investigation of Leyland's "minor league" line-up by MLB 8) Galaragga threw 2 wild pitches after only 4 all season before that 9) The Tigers' relievers deliberately walked all those Sox batters so they could go home early, and then the hitters mailed it in afterwards 10) "We were all packed up to go somewhere. Whether it be Tampa or Chicago, we were ready to go," he said. "We're looking forward to getting out there. It's a one-game playoff. It's going to be exciting." Still, the tiebreaking grand slam by Alexei Ramirez in the sixth inning for Chicago was clearly a buzz kill for the guys gathered in the room. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't kick myself or was a little upset, but it is what it is," Punto said. "We've got business to take care of in Chicago, and that's all I'm worried about."

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 08:32 PM) Richard gave us 3 innings of 1 run ball on Saturday against Cleveland. If he's available, he's our best long man option. Richard or Carrasco...depending on which part of the order you were in. You'd have to hope that Richard could do something with Mauer/Morneau/Kubel. And there's no way Logan or Ramirez will be seeing any part of this game. They should just be kidnapped like in the movie Eagle Eye by giant remote-controlled construction cranes on the way to the ballpark.

QUOTE (Felix @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 07:55 PM) He should be starting anyway, regardless of those numbers. All of Anderson's homers have come against lefties. And Griffey was our only offense last week at HHH...he actually showed up to play a little and didn't wet the bed.

QUOTE (Friend of Nordhagen @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 07:54 PM) Judging by those numbers, we should play Anderson. But where? Griffey is 1 for 2 with a homer against Blackburn...and you don't sit Griffey against a slow tossing RHP, that's who he should match up with the best at this point in his career. Griffey, like Konerko, deserves to play. I'd almost think about benching Thome, but that will never happen against a RHP and with Ozzie managing this team...with Thome and Griffey both fighting for that last chance to do something in post-season.

QUOTE (Felix @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 07:51 PM) No. 3 for 9 versus 1 for 12 is not a huge enough indicator (and Swisher is ice cold, and most of those AB's from Paulie were from the first half of the year when he was struggling in the .210's against every pitcher in baseball seemingly). More importantly, Konerko's your captain, your horse and he's been hot as firecracker recently. Sitting him would be the White Sox keeping Josh Paul and Chad Bradford for the playoffs and leaving Mark Johnson at home. Nick has been sulking and he doesn't deserve to start. Let him PH maybe, but no way he starts OVER Konerko. Now Ozzie might think about replacing Wise, but not after winning the last two...I think he stays with the same line-up that got him here.

QUOTE (joejoedairy @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 06:09 PM) 1. Alexies grand slam 2. Floyds performance today Alexei...lol. I would have to go with this GM, but Buehrle's last two starts (even though one was a loss, he was around 120+ pitches) and then winning yesterday on fumes....getting key GIDP's at the moments they were most needed. I go with Buehrle over Floyd for that reason...although Gavin really has a lot to be proud of the way he pitched, and something to build on for next season, as he was fading down the stretch a bit.

Is it split with the Twins? Do the White Sox keep everything, because they won the coin-flip? Does MLB get a higher percentage of the gate? Just curious if anyone knows. Even though it's not a playoff game, it's an extra chunk of money in our war chest for offseason acquisitions which might come in very handy for KW during hot stove time. Theoretically, could the White Sox charge higher or playoff prices for this game if they wanted...? Or is it not up to them to make that decision? (Not that I would agree with raising them, even though they could get away with it...the fans the last four games deserve so much respect for showing up and not booing them, except Vazquez and the bullpen). If they do win, the crowd's enthusiam and support definitely will have played a very vital role in the Sox resurrection.

QUOTE (Felix @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 07:34 PM) Whatever, I still would have pitched Danks. You also have to keep in mind that Danks went to Cooper and Guillen and said he was going through some dead arm/soreness, which is why they shut him down for one week before his KC start that he pitched so wonderfully in... If you look at Floyd's and Dank's IP this year versus career numbers, they're well over, and that has to be of great concern to the front office. Still, it's do or Dye trying. Perkins and Blackburn are dealing with the same issues, they're all in uncharted waters/territory. However, coming off his last very shaky start, when he had a chance to give us back the division lead, I think all bets are off with what will happen. I think the most important thing is to keep the crowd in the game and not let MN jump out to an early lead of 3/4/5-0. That would be a buzzkill. Danks knows he can beat the Twins at home, and Blackburn knows he can hold down our line-up without great stuff (which he doesn't really have on his best day).

QUOTE (rangercal @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 07:17 PM) lifetime stats are overrated to me. 2008 stats can tell you more when evaluating Danks. Fair enough, they've won both times he pitched at Comiskey. He was hit hard in MN and lost, a game we eventually lost 10-6. Three Starts against MN this year.. 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K's (W) 6 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K's (W) 6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K's (L) 17 IP, 19 H, 10 ER, 7 BB, 13 K's (2-1, 5.29 ERA) The thing that gives you the most confidence is the home field advantage, and Blackburn has been bad on the road. Danks is usually better in road games, but he's pitched decently (more or less quality starts) both times at home.

Against DANKS lifetime... Morneau, 7 for 16, 2 doubles and 3 homers EIGHT RBI'S!!! Mauer, 8 for 12 Cuddyer, 7 for 12, 2 doubles, 3 RBI's (who will Gardy sit, Kubel, Young, Span or Gomez??..of course, Cuddyer is just off his injury and not the same player) Brendan Harris, 5 for 10, 2 doubles Jason Kubel, 3 for 7, 1 double, 1 homer, SIX RBI'S!!! Delmon Young, 3 for 9, double, RBI If I was Gardenhire, I think I'd start Cuddyer at 3B and Harris at SS. Of course, normally Punto (1 for 11) and Buscher/Harris would be playing on the left side, but it's hard to ignore Cuddyer's career numbers against Danks. Overall .363 BAA, .540 SLG, .987 OPS http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp...=9&sort=avg The thing that makes little sense is that Morneau, Mauer and Kubel (Hawk's CQ comparison notwithstanding) shouldn't hit him THAT well. Of course, Mauer absolutely kills all LHP, he's close to .400. Whoever is playing LF should just peek over the SS in short LCF and dare Mauer to hit one over his head. He hits more soft singles to LF than Luis Polonia, Wade Boggs or Ichiro.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp...=4&sort=avg Splits against Blackburn Everyone hits him well except for Cabrera, Dye and Konerko (1 for 12) BA is 2 for 3, Griffey homered off him (1 for 2) and Swisher is 3 for 9 with a double. Wise, 0 for 2. Overall, the White Sox hit him at a .319 clip with an .847 OPS. I think Ozzie will stay with Griffey in CF for tomorrow...and probably stick with Wise in LF, just because he's Ozzie and seems to like having him at the top of the line-up for now. I don't think he would bench Konerko and stick Swisher at 1B, although the career numbers would back that up. Their recent play, however, would not. It would be nice to have Anderson's defense in CF though, but this has been a back-and-forth discussion of offense versus defense since 2006 and probably will be forever with BA, wherever he ends up. Baseball, as usual, is a game of hunches and intuition.

After Floyd made the error on the throw down the line in the 6th...he went out to the mound and calmed him down instead of replacing him, which would have been the knee-jerk, chewing and chomping on the gum reaction. The pitchers have all learned to appreciate that you have to fail repeatedly (like Logan) before Ozzie truly loses confidence in you. Not only did Gavin leave the game feeling he accomplished something and righted the ship after the slip, he also got his 17th win. Amazing totals for our "fifth" starter. Good work KW! Too bad Garcia had to go out with an injury, he pitched a very gutsy game. I was getting a sinking feeling that it would be somehow "karma" that he would beat the youngster who we acquired to replace him. Ozzie also did the same thing with Garland. If you noticed, we're really set up well if we can just get through Minnesota. Dotel, Linebrink and Carrasco are all getting some confidence back and the team actually is looking like it's capable of putting a nice streak together again. Heck, maybe Ken Griffey, Jr., will get back another gear and show an amazing capacity to patrol CF in the Trop just like in the Kingdome. Farmer's call on Ramirez GS..."Oh my God, he goes deep again!" Nice to see Uribe, Dye, Buerhle, AJ and Konerko all looking good down the stretch...shades of 2005 again? I'm not going to even think about the Cubs in the WS, we have to beat the Twins first...but it's nice to have hope again after Saturday. Of course, the Twins can rise again and crush our spirits, but I just want to see/hear a great game and hopefully Danks can also man up to follow Buehrle and Floyd. That also reminds me of 05, the way the pitchers would push each other and one start seemed to boomerang with a continued run of success.

Where's one of Guillen's kids when you need 'em for translating?

Who's doing tv tomorrow with Hawk? They should get Black Jack McDowell, since it's "blackout" night.

Okay Carrasco, if you pitch decently, you might actually pitch again sometime this year!

Can KW cancel MacDougal's check and give some extra to Ramirez? He might be one of the best FA signings (contract-wise) in recent history for a player in his prime.

Even though Floyd gave up the lead, I think getting out of 1st and 3rd with no outs and limiting the damage was the key. Floyd and Buehrle have definitely risen to the occasion...let's hope our best pitcher this season can beat their worst pitcher (or maybe 4th, ahead of Perkins).

QUOTE (PlunketChris @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 05:42 PM) Do you really give Javy the ball in game one? doesn't that line him up for game 5 if we get there? It's a scary proposition, but they're talking about Buehrle AGAIN starting on 3 day's rest. Not sure what I would do...Mark's pitch count and pitches under duress the last couple of times out, it's getting kind of worrisome.

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 05:42 PM) I d go for Richard,rookies have turned in great performances,KRod,Brad Penny in 03,Josh Beckett...I m sick of seeing Javy wet his pants in big games Somehow, I don't think we can put Clayton Richard in the same sentence with those other guys. More like Drew Henson or Brian Griese.

I don't know about the record against LHP, but Pena and Crawford might be nullified a little bit by Richard.

Ha...Cabrera thinks you can appeal the call to 1B umpire. That's a first.