hi8is

QUOTE (Be Good @ Apr 12, 2011 -> 08:25 PM) Why don't we just go 'closer by committee' with Sale, Santos, Crain & Pena. Once Thornton gets his act together in the 7th/8th inning or when the Sox are behind, then we can give him another shot. But at this point there's no need to conitnue with him in the 9th. Because there is no point in having a committee if either Sale or Santos can prove to be effective 90+ percent of the time - which I feel is the case here with our two best options.

QUOTE (G&T @ Apr 12, 2011 -> 06:47 PM) If the bullpen executes, Ozzie is brilliant. If not, then he sucks. It's about the only thing an AL manager has to do, and if they aren't doing their job, then the manager always looks bad. I agree to an extent here - however, if the pen struggles and the manager takes action rather than being blinded by pride and complacency... then the manage in question looks good - rather than bad. If things don't change by the time the LAA series is over - definitive changes have to be made or Kenny needs to hold Ozzie accountable... At that time it's on his shoulders for being passive.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 12, 2011 -> 06:25 PM) That's what you said. A humbling task - indeed.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Apr 12, 2011 -> 04:35 PM) So gonads is a key to closing but not coming in in the 7th inning of a run game with the bases loaded? With the way Thornton is pitching right now he would be struggling just as much in the 7th or 8th as in the 9th. He isn't locating his pitches and his velocity is down. If this was my team and I'd witnessed these first ten games... Santos would close, sale would setup, Crain would be my number one righty, Pena would be my long man, Ohman would be my third lefty, and Thornton would be my situational lefty. He needs to be back in the role best suited for him and the LOOGY role is it at this present moment when you factor in his current struggles. I don't like how forgiving and tolerant Ozzie has been in his handling with the pen thus far... Something's gotta give soon - either Thorntons troubles or Ozzies pride. The managerial staff ( Cooper and Kenny included ) made the wrong choice in naming Matt the closer - flat out. If he turns it around ( which I hope he does - I just don't believe it ) I'll let soxtalk nation pick anything they want through a board wide poll to replace my peavy sig.

This sure is a telling statistic: • The White Sox have two losses in games during which they led after eight innings. The team finished 76-3 in 2010 when leading after eight.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Apr 12, 2011 -> 04:26 PM) Pierre is a fine defender, he tripped yesterday, s*** happens. If you give Matt the benefit of the doubt, Pierre deserves it too. I'm not in the corner of those giving Matt a free ride or of the belief that he'll pull out of it. We need to get someone in these games who has the stuff now to get the job done. Poor hitting teams have been mashing Matt and the only thing in the way of Ozzie continuing to trott him out is pride. Swallow it, Ozzie.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Apr 12, 2011 -> 05:15 AM) The time to iron out kinks was spring training. These count just as much as the ones in Sept. We have a pretty tough first half and we are not a second half team. So we need to get out to a fast start and need to capitalize on teams with weak offenses or bad teams when we play them. This division has been a pretty tight affair for a few years. We need to beat the teams we should, play 500 against the good teams and kick the s*** out of our division. We can't afford extra outs and we can't keep giving it up. Absoluetly agree - I'm not making excuses for the team but rather just looking at the current state of things. All they need to do is put Sale or Santos in the closers role yesterday... I'm just fearful of how long Ozzie will continue giving matt chances like this... That is a scary thought. They should have ironed out the kinks in the bullpen in the spring but they clearly made the wrong choice with Matt. We're what, 6 and 4 after the first 10 games? All be it that we should have three more wins but I'm still hopeful that these mistakes and poor performances can be righted quickly - allowing us to really get on a roll and see what I believe will be a great white sox team.

QUOTE (Wanne @ Apr 12, 2011 -> 03:58 AM) It was a dumb call. Feel free to shake off your catcher anytime Matt. Same with Crain after everybody wiffs at his curveball...Castro for some reason calls for a heater. Pathetic.... Crain missed his spot on the homerun.

Hang this one on Ozzie for pulling Mark, Juan for failing to put glue in his glove AGAIN, and Matt for throwing a flat pitch on a 1 - 2 count to start off the 9th with a double. We can still iron out these kinks and I really think that the 2011 white sox will be special - hopefully this is some of the worst ball we see all year and hopefully we win the next two against the A's.

I think it's great they are having him not make the jump up from 75 to 100 right away and are rather having him make another start with the same pitch count. Good to see. Go Jake!

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Apr 10, 2011 -> 04:14 PM) People think he's hurt again this spring and are fully ignoring the fact that the bump was expected, and it was more or less a symptom of not pitching forever. It's funny Heads - on the Dan Ryan I was talking to an elderly woman who is an avid fan. I brought up Jake and asked her thoughts on him. She said, "What do I think of Peavy? I think his arm fell off again." This was said in reference to the tendentious. It's pretty silly the nature some people have to say things like this which really are just stemming from ignorance - thou, they masquerade and believe it to be fact. You can't talk anyone out of their beliefs too - so, it's moot to discuss anything with someone who has such contempt prior to investigation.

I really like this quote from Humber: Specifically - the part about "allowing yourself to get out of the way." In any productive craft or creative endeavor - this is so true. Baseball and life relate so closely in terms of the lessons that can be applied and gleaned.

QUOTE (JohnCangelosi @ Apr 10, 2011 -> 11:26 AM) Yes I have been hard on MT regarding his ability to close but there is no doubt the guy has the physical tools to do it and do it well. However, that said, I still like him in the setup role and with Sale in there closing. It didn't bother me one bit he gave up a homer yesterday, he kept dealing and generally looked confident out there. Word

So far so good for Humber... even though it was against a weakened and depleted Tampa Bay line up - it can't be anything but encouraging.

So far so good Humber - way to go big guy!

QUOTE (greg775 @ Apr 9, 2011 -> 10:08 PM) I'm expecting very little from Jake this year. Anything he gives the Sox is a bonus in my mind. He's injury prone at this stage, folks. That's one side of the coin for sure - and a side which is warranted by reality. However, there is another possibility which is also likely as well. Time will tell... I'm still hopeful and optimistic... if being as such is a fault - then I am glad to be faulted. It has served me very well in all areas of my life outside of baseball and I gladly carry it into my Sox fandom.

This was encouraging to read Thornton's response... Time will tell if he's correct - I'm very pleased to see him own up like this and be a man of integrity. Hopefully he works out... if not, I am confident in our two other options.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 9, 2011 -> 05:08 PM) Unfortunately, Chris still hasn't acted like he belongs in the spot either. Yea, he had a bad spring but really - aside from on bad pitch on a 3 - 1 count to Butler in the Royals series - he's been good this year thus far. I just like that he has shown in his college career to have poise and intensity. He also has more plus pitches that he can go to for out pitches. We'll see thou my friend - I sure hope Matt can turn the corner.

It was a really ugly ninth and Matt looked shaky from the start. I was one of the proponents in Sale's corner for closer and am still skeptical with Thornton closing. Hopefully he turns it on from here and can show me to be very wrong. Conversely - hopefully he's on a short rope - I'd hate for Ozzie to keep going to him if results like this continue.

Peavy threw 71 and has thus far reported no issues. Next start - April 13th.

QUOTE (Tuna @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 02:05 PM) Where did you purchase these tickets? I can't find anything on the site for them... stubhub!

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 03:24 AM) I predict there will be some drinking of alcoholic beverages during this game. By many other in the stadium, I am sure. As hi8is and hi8is Sr. both don't drink. This have changed a lot for me since 2005.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 12:10 AM) Seriously? You just emailed Brooks, and he hooked you up? Do you have any sort of history with him? Or is he just a very nice, accommodating man? I just emailed him and told him my intentions for my dad and the story behind our trip. That's a good marketing director there - doing a small gesture like this does nothing but good for the team. Hopefully after this loss tonight we go on an 8 - 0 run with our bullpen finally getting it together.

QUOTE (kapzk @ Apr 5, 2011 -> 10:44 PM) Hey there ...my first post on this board...hope I fit in with this group. I am extremely excited for this season and for sure that optimism was not wasted in the first series. Let`s keep it going and beat KC Welcome aboard - you'll fit in just fine! Just say away from the folks whom always have a gray cloud hanging overhead.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 5, 2011 -> 09:01 PM) Shameless plug of a favorite neighborhood watering hole Someone else should take you up on this direction - sounds like a wonderful joint. I however, and hi8is Sr.... both don't drink any longer. Gasp.