chosk8

I'm wondering why nobody here has criticized Carl Everett who basically expressed the same feelings as Mark Buehrle? I know a lot of posters here have jumped on the Everett bandwagon, but why is he immune to your criticism? Why so hard on Mark and Carl is left alone?

Actually, the few good/decent outings Danny had, I think he shows alot of emotion on the mound. I think being battered around like he was for most of the year makes it difficult to show emotion. I can't wait till they make this kid the closer.

Okay Frank, now you guys are playing for second in this pathetic division. Kiss your sister if that's what makes you happy.

I'm not arguing that JM should stay. The only logical thing they can do is relieve him of his duties. You can't fire the whole team, so the manager is the scapegoat. I've never bought into the whole concept of the manager being the difference maker. They say a good manager can get you what, 6-7 more wins a year. 7 out of 162 are won by the manager. It's done between the line. Just my opinion, of course. The manager can't be a difference maker? ....... Jack McKeon. I rest my case. Exactly right, Chicago and Florida r 2 very similar teams, and 1 could be going to the playoffs with the NL Wild Card and the other will prob have their team broken up during the offseason. It's all JM's fault, we should have never been below .500 bf the all star break in the 1st place, KW actually gave us a chance to win this but in the clutch the players didn't deliver. Simple as that. "...but in the clutch the players didn't deliver. Simple as that" Exactly how is that JM's fault? Like I said before, I am not arguing that JM should stay, I believe he needs to go. It's the only logical thing to do. The Jack McKeon might hold a little water, but like the Sox, Florida wasn't hitting early. When the Sox started to hit their stride, was Manuel doing something different? No, the players were doing what they were supposed to do. Winning builds confidence and both these teams were able to pick up the pieces after their bad starts. The Marlins and Chicago are similar teams except for the fact that their clutch players are delivering down the stretch. My contention is that the Sox players looked at their "easy" April schedule and thought they could sleepwalk through the first month. They dug their own hole. You said it yourself..."but in the clutch the players didn't deliver. Simple as that". I rest my case.

The message I would send is not in our house. You clinch the division somewhere else. Then come Wednesday afternoon, after we sweep the Yankees, you tell them, you sons-a-b****es are luck we're not going to the playoffs 'cause that was a little taste of what would have happened. But that's just me. I know better.

I'm not arguing that JM should stay. The only logical thing they can do is relieve him of his duties. You can't fire the whole team, so the manager is the scapegoat. I've never bought into the whole concept of the manager being the difference maker. They say a good manager can get you what, 6-7 more wins a year. 7 out of 162 are won by the manager. It's done between the line. Just my opinion, of course. Thanks I was just wondering what your opinion on JM was! LOL...but unless my Math is horrible wouldn't seven more wins put us at the top of the division right now? But I do agree that the manager can only do so much! This team on paper (or glossy) should be running away with this division, IMO. We play in a weak division, maybe the weakest, so actually, they should be better than even those 7 games. I think it is just part of being a fan, b****ing about the manager and second guessing. If you’re a fan of the Cardinals, you b**** about LaRussa, the Phillies, Bowa, etc., etc....

Actually, that is a great point. Pride, something I'm not sure this team has. It's inevitable that the twins will win the division, but let them clinch it, don't clinch it for them by losing. Another thing, don't let someone else clinch in your own house. Make the Yankees earn it elsewhere. Maybe that's just my mentality.

I'm not arguing that JM should stay. The only logical thing they can do is relieve him of his duties. You can't fire the whole team, so the manager is the scapegoat. I've never bought into the whole concept of the manager being the difference maker. They say a good manager can get you what, 6-7 more wins a year. 7 out of 162 are won by the manager. It's done between the line. Just my opinion, of course.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda. We'll never know and you can't make that statement. This team looks good on paper, but paper don't play the games.

Like I said before, I've never had a coach that made me play harder that any other. You play to win, bottom line. This is a group of selfish, individualistic players that want to hit the 3 run homer with nobody on base instead of doing the little things it takes to win ballgames. Because the "little things" don't show up in the stats, and that's all most of these guys are concerned with. Maybe they ought to fire Walker for the team not hitting these last 2 weeks? 3 hitting coaches in 3 years and they all deserve an apology, Von Joshua, Gary Ward and Greg Walker. This team lacks self discipline. You can't sit there and honestly tell me that none of these guys at some point didn't say 'hey lets take the ball the other way" or "lets be patient against this guy". No you can't. 4 and 6 pitch innings don't cut it. These guys all go out on their own and try to be the hero, neglecting everything they are told. You can't fire a whole team, so the manager is the scapegoat.

I think Carlos Lee showed that type of emotion this year. I think of a caged tiger waiting to get out when I see him in the batter's box. He looks like he wants to hit unlike some of the others who sigh after a called strike or a foul ball. They have the look like they are defeated and I'm sure the opposing pitchers see it as well. The fact that he was aware that they needed a pinch runner in the ninth last night shows me he was into the game.

linky

- we come up with the lamest excuses of any team out there; we play better against better teams, we didn't hit because we've never seen this guy before. All cop-outs. - Olivo may be considered a great defensive catcher, but his inability to block balls in the dirt makes me think otherwise. Great arm though. -for those that watched the entire game last night, Carlos Lee doing a running motion in the direction of Jerry Manuel signaling a possible pinch runner after Joe Crede walked was priceless. Yeah, JM you sure are mananging this team like you want to win. Actually, can't blame him for nodding off after that lackluster effort last night. - Aaron Rowand at-bat sighting...until last night in the 9th inning, I thought the team pitched in to buy the kid a new dirtbike - I can't stress enough that when there are expectations of this team, they go right in the tank. From the second half of 2000 to the present, every single time something was expected of these guys, choke. They just absolutely fold under the pressure. -Aaron Miles, nice job. -Frank Thomas, MVP? Not even close. -13 innings from our starting pitchers in the Twins series. Bad. - we will get a new manager in the offseason and we will be excited at first, but in the end, we will be wanting him run out of town too. Book it. It always happens. - I suggest the black jersey for tonight's game. It would be fitting. Any others? Thoughts?

We b****ed about Gene Lamont, we b****ed about Terry Bevington and now we b**** about Jerry Manuel. It's what Sox fans do. I guarantee the next guy they bring in, in the end, they'll be b****ing about him too. I hate to say it, but that may friends is how you complete a sweep. You don't win the first 2 games of a series and get all giddy and start talking about a sweep. You get between the lines and get it done. This team could learn alot by watching the Twins execute. They got schooled these last few days.

In the cubs vast conspiracy, they noticed how many times they played the Pirates down the stretch and traded with Pittsburgh so when they did play them, the Pirates would be playing a bunch of nobodies making the games more winnable for the cubs. I'm sure they had something to do with San Diego getting Giles as well, weakening the Pirates lineup even more. What a year for God to become a cubs fan. This is just cruel to Sox fans.

I agree with all but point 3. IMO, Garland was not the option last night. Starting pitchers have a routine on their scheduled start. Telling Garland 1 to 2 hours prior to the game and then sending him out to toe the rubber could have been devastating. Maybe I'm wrong, but knowing how quirky some starting pitcher are about their game day routines, Jon wouldn't have been in the right mindset. Just my opinion, of course. Jon's a professional. He should come to the ballpark everyday with the mindset that he is starting. That goes for EL, BC, MB, and whoever our number 5 is from week-to-week. Sorry, it doesn't work that way, not with starting pitchers. Everyday players, yes. Starting pitchers, no. I'm not a starting pitcher but I have a routine I go through before work everyday. I'm sure starting pitchers do too..... whether they are starting or not. Otherwise, what's the sense of having them in uniform, in the dugout, every game? They're not in the dugout every game. Many times they'll send them to the next city the day before the team, for the sole purpose of getting ready. Sounds like it's a process that's not easily altered. They send a pitcher ahead when they play a night game and won't be getting into the next city until real late, so the pitcher gets a full nights sleep, and gets to bed at or near his usual time. I'm sure no pitcher was sent ahead from Boston, in fact I could tell you they were not because I saw both EL and JG checking out of the hotel. Garland could have pitched, it wouldn't have screwed him up. They probably still would have lost. Garland could have gone last night, yes, but no one knows how effective he would have been. All I'm saying is that these guys have game day routines that they go through. Maybe Jon eats chicken for lunch on the day he pitches. Maybe he didn't eat chicken yesterday and is told he is starting an hour before the game. It's a mental issue. Of course he 'could' have started. Any one of our starters 'could' have started. I've known guys who couldn't tie their shoes the right way if they didn't have all their ducks in a row on game day. Maybe he would have done better without this "routine" he alledgedly goes through. Like I said before, the offense scored only 2 runs, so to win anyone would have only been able to allow 1, so in terms of winning or losing, last night's decision by JM really didn't matter, its just that it could someday. I don't know what Jon does on game days or if he even has a routine, but some of these starting pitchers are real goofballs when it comes to that stuff. I never alledged anything, just pointed out the possibility that a game day routine is a real possibility in regards to pitchers.

I agree with all but point 3. IMO, Garland was not the option last night. Starting pitchers have a routine on their scheduled start. Telling Garland 1 to 2 hours prior to the game and then sending him out to toe the rubber could have been devastating. Maybe I'm wrong, but knowing how quirky some starting pitcher are about their game day routines, Jon wouldn't have been in the right mindset. Just my opinion, of course. Jon's a professional. He should come to the ballpark everyday with the mindset that he is starting. That goes for EL, BC, MB, and whoever our number 5 is from week-to-week. Sorry, it doesn't work that way, not with starting pitchers. Everyday players, yes. Starting pitchers, no. I'm not a starting pitcher but I have a routine I go through before work everyday. I'm sure starting pitchers do too..... whether they are starting or not. Otherwise, what's the sense of having them in uniform, in the dugout, every game? They're not in the dugout every game. Many times they'll send them to the next city the day before the team, for the sole purpose of getting ready. Sounds like it's a process that's not easily altered. They send a pitcher ahead when they play a night game and won't be getting into the next city until real late, so the pitcher gets a full nights sleep, and gets to bed at or near his usual time. I'm sure no pitcher was sent ahead from Boston, in fact I could tell you they were not because I saw both EL and JG checking out of the hotel. Garland could have pitched, it wouldn't have screwed him up. They probably still would have lost. Garland could have gone last night, yes, but no one knows how effective he would have been. All I'm saying is that these guys have game day routines that they go through. Maybe Jon eats chicken for lunch on the day he pitches. Maybe he didn't eat chicken yesterday and is told he is starting an hour before the game. It's a mental issue. Of course he 'could' have started. Any one of our starters 'could' have started. I've known guys who couldn't tie their shoes the right way if they didn't have all their ducks in a row on game day.

I agree with all but point 3. IMO, Garland was not the option last night. Starting pitchers have a routine on their scheduled start. Telling Garland 1 to 2 hours prior to the game and then sending him out to toe the rubber could have been devastating. Maybe I'm wrong, but knowing how quirky some starting pitcher are about their game day routines, Jon wouldn't have been in the right mindset. Just my opinion, of course. Jon's a professional. He should come to the ballpark everyday with the mindset that he is starting. That goes for EL, BC, MB, and whoever our number 5 is from week-to-week. Sorry, it doesn't work that way, not with starting pitchers. Everyday players, yes. Starting pitchers, no.

I agree with all but point 3. IMO, Garland was not the option last night. Starting pitchers have a routine on their scheduled start. Telling Garland 1 to 2 hours prior to the game and then sending him out to toe the rubber could have been devastating. Maybe I'm wrong, but knowing how quirky some starting pitcher are about their game day routines, Jon wouldn't have been in the right mindset. Just my opinion, of course.

Why didn't Loaiza TELL Jerry he was that sick..? Rather than crying to everyone else..? Geez... I'm not a fan of JM's by any means, but it's pretty sick how he get's blamed for everything and the f***ing ADULTS on the field get a pass. When do they get to start taking some responsibility..? I'm sure Manuel knew. Think about it. JM probably did know about Loaiza being sick, but not the severity. What's he gonna do at that point? After Cooper tells him, "Esteban had a bad 'pen" or "Esteban is sick", then JM tells him a ½ hour before game time "Well then give the start to Garland". It couldn't be done. Garland wasn't going to pitch last night regardless. Garland was at the ballpark last night with the mindset that he was pitching tomorrow. I would imagine it would have been Wright or Schoeneweis on a spot start.

My guess is that if Loaiza would have come forward and told JM about the severity of his sickness, Garland would not have been pitching last night. Starting pitchers have routines and telling Jon an hour or two before game time and sending him out there could have been more devastating. If some of these guys don't eat the right cereal the morning of their start, they are screwed mentally. My guess is that Wright or Schoeneweis would have spot started. I applaud Loaiza for wanting the ball despite his condition, but at this point in the season and our position in the standings, it was time for him to put his pride in the backseat and hand the ball off to whomever. If you're looking for somewhere to lay the blame, look to the offense. No timely hits. We need to learn how to manufacture runs when we have first and second and nobody out, like last night in the first inning. At no point in the game did I feel we would come back and a 4-0 lead should not be insurmountable. Credit Radke though, 2 games in a row he has had us off balance.

I'd also be surprised if anything happened the rest of this series. Next week, especially if we sweep, I would expect it. They would love nothing more than for us to be facing NY, Boston and KC minus a player or 2 due to suspension. Cooler heads need to prevail. Sox players, do not fall for the bait. As much as I'd love to kick their asses in a brawl, now is not the time for it. I can't stress that enough.

I wouldn't be surprised one bit if he was released today. Not the kind of guy we need in this clubhouse right now.

Sox would make it back, imo, in the increased ticket sales they'd get from the Asian market. Plus, they'd have a guy they could market internationally. Agreed. This would reach out to an untapped source of fans. It has worked with Ichiro, Hideki Matsui and Hideo Nomo. I think it is worth a shot.

Exactly why I signed on to soxtalk tonight. One helluva season. Let's keep it going. My hats off to ya' Carlos. Atta boy.