southsidehawkeye

Assuming the pitching matchups stay the same, we certainly have a rather large advantage there. Past Z and Dempster the Cubs rotation isn't all that scary, and we run Vaz against Demp twice (so those games are at worst a push). Our bats seem to be waking up a little and if they can keep scoring the way that we have in our current winning streak I really like our chances to do some damage to the north side. Lets get that season sweep! that'd be great. My Cub fan friends have been a little too cocky about their team this year.

Went with CQ and Jose on this one. I almost went with the "all Cuban" vote this month, but no matter how happy I am with Alexei's success... CQ's numbers are just unreal.

I am really looking forward to the next two home stands (KC/MIN and PIT/COL). We have a chance to put up a lot of wins between those four series, hopefully the Sox can find a way to get this offense going.

Generally, I think Ozzie is a good manager and I agree with what he does a lot more than I don't. However, every once in a while he does something (usually with the pitching staff) that makes me scratch my head...

Hopefully Mark can build on his last start and help us get the sweep!!!

Great game! It'd sure be nice to get the sweep tomorrow.

QUOTE (Wanne @ May 21, 2008 -> 08:52 PM) Yes he has. Seems that west coast trip did him wonders...plus just simply getting some playing time without any limitations. I also wonder how much the weather has to do with it... I mean, Playing in Chicago in April is a whole different game vs Cuba any time of the year. It is nice to see him doing well, no matter what the reason

I'm really surprised it took this long for them to do it... I figured that when they set up the rotation with the two lefties back to back it'd be a one time deal.

QUOTE (tommy @ May 14, 2008 -> 10:44 PM) What do you guys think of Mike Scioscia, deciding to intentionally walk AJP? i thought it was strange at the time and in hindsight it was obviously a bad choice. My only guess is that Quentin's name just doesn't strike any fear in opposing teams yet, but I bet if the same situation comes up again tomorrow the Angels will handle it a little differently...

After tonight's performance, I think we'll see Quentin in the 3-spot a little more often. I liked the way the lineup was put together (I put the game on about half way through and was shocked to see AJ in the 2nd spot... but after I thought about a couple minutes I really liked the idea of giving him a shot there, why not)

I'm glad to see him back, he was one of the players I really liked when I was first starting to watch baseball/the sox. I remember asking my coach in little league to put me behind the plate b.c Fisk was one of my favorite players... I took a foul tip off my right hand and decided I'd stick to Robin Ventura's position.

That was quite a showing! Well done.

Im glad we're sticking with putting Swisher lower in the order. He did a great job in the leadoff spot for a while, but in the end I dont think he is really made for that role in the lineup. Hopefully tonight our offense turns it on and we can get on a role against the Twinkies.

Sent in mine. I found this one kinda difficult, I couldn't really compare a great player from one sport to a great player in another and come out really decided on who was better. It is amazing when you sit down and think about it how many greats have passed through our city... my list could have easily gone much much longer but had to stop myself at 20.

Guess what... April is over and we are in first place! Sure we have run into a bad last week or so, but I know if you told me we'd be 14-12 and in first place a month ago I would have been extremely happy. If you told me that Danks and Floyd would be off to this good a start I would be extremely happy. If you told me Quentin was going to look like an All Star I'd be extremely happy. Hopefully the day off tomorrow brings our bats back... but in case you couldn't tell, I'm extremely happy with our WhiteSox after our first month - hopefully we can keep our seat on top of our division secured. I can't wait for Swisher, Cabrera, Thome, Konerko, and whoever wants to step up at 2B to start hitting... If they get it together we will have a great team on our hands.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 07:51 PM) Mix it up, put Cabrera or Quentin up there. Walks are good and all, but we acquired Swisher to knock in some runs. I may be way off here since I didn't get to see many games last season, and it seemed like whenever I did see a game he wasn't playing... but what about Richar? I know that he was in the 9 hole last year, did he look at all like a lead off hitter? I know he is probably a month away from being with the club, but I would be willing to stick it out with Swish until then if that is the plan of the organization. If it's not, i agree that they need to try someone else.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 28, 2008 -> 04:07 PM) Last I heard June was the new expected date for Danny. I thought he was expected to start rehabbing in May sometime, has something changed?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 28, 2008 -> 11:58 AM) So bad he's in the top 4 or 5 in the league in sacrifices the past few years. From what I saw on mlb.com this is only true for one year, 2005. Correct me if Im wrong, I may have been reading the stats wrong. And if that is true, no one will doubt his input to the 2005 team offensively... I remember he was as good as gold with a man on 3rd and one out. But since then times have changed. Comparing him to Ozzie does nothing for me, they were/are both horrible batters. I fail to see what is so wrong with giving someone else a chance to take his spot at 2B... he certainly isn't doing anything this year to hold it. EDIT: okay, i figured it out... i was looking at the whole MLB, he has been in the top 5 of the AL more frequently. However, his total has gone from 21 sac hits/flies in 2005 to 12 in 2007... not a good trend

QUOTE (shipps @ Apr 28, 2008 -> 08:24 AM) What are some examples of teams that have had offense constructed as we do now that have won a World Series?Oakland has competed but hasnt won it all,it seems like you need to hit for average eventually to be successful.Maybe the 05' team was constructed in this way just not to the extreme as it is now with the on base %. Just did a quick scan of the recent world series winners BA/OBP numbers, and the lowest that I found was the 1997 Marlins who rocked a .259 BA and the lowest OBP I found was our Whitesox with a .322. So no one in recent memory had quite as low a BA as we are currently hitting, however, I do subscribe to the idea that our average will rise as the year goes on. I find it hard to believe that Swisher, Thome, Cabrera, and Konerko's, averages wont rise... and with them the average of the team as a whole.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 28, 2008 -> 12:02 AM) That team had offensive issues the entire year haha, very true. just trying to demonstrate that there is no need to worry about a low batting average in April. Especially when the team is scoring runs and winning.

I remember this team had issues with their offense early in the season as well. While our batting average is a little lower... we do have a higher OBP and have already scored about 20 more runs that the Sox v. 2005 did in their first month. Im not saying that our batting average isn't a problem (it would be very nice if it would start to climb), just that it is far from the end of the world. In the end, we are getting on base and scoring runs at a pretty good rate and thats what really matters.

Great game for Contreras! and here comes Wassermann!

QUOTE (frankie5angels @ Apr 27, 2008 -> 01:57 PM) CQ is gonna be a star!! Is there anything he can't do? haha, that was great... he never even slowed down. Heads up play to give us one more run!

I wonder if Alexei is much of a bunter... that'll work

Apparently Paul wants to win today... haha "He Trots"