[SOX @ Texas Rangers, 7/13, 2:05 PM, CSN, AM 670]

Guillen needs to be crucified in the media if he sticks with Contreras very long into the second half of the season. His fastball and forkball have become less and less reliable. We can't have these starts ever 5 days when Buehrle and Danks seem to be the only reliable pitchers as of late.

 

A couple of starts, not 20 starts. Thing is, who else can we start? Broadway? Masset? LOAIZA???

 

Eh, I really don't think there are many options that are much better.

 

I also noticed that Jose went to his old windup today with the arms over his head. Why did he do that? He seemed effective with his new windup.

[Loss thread, 1.5 games up at the all star break]

Well, that sucked.

 

To be honest, had we tied it or took the lead, I still think we'd have lost with the way that game was going. However, Paulie had what was literally the worst game I've ever seen a White Sox position player have. For as good as he was Saturday, he was twice as bad today. I don't think this team can make the playoffs with Paul Konerko in the lineup everyday, that might be the move that this team needs to make, but I doubt they do it.

 

Just a horribly played game, we had 3 errors plus three more plays where we gave away outs that weren't errors (the blooper to/miscommunication in left that dropped and gave them a run, the easy double play that Uribe bobbled into one out, Contreras missing 1st base which I think gave them another run). If you do that and give up 12 runs and 18 hits or whatever it was, it's not easy to win. Oh well.

 

Pitching sucked, that's about it. I agree with you that even if we did tie it or even get a one run lead, I doubt we could of held on.

 

Thing is though, this game could of been won in the 7th. However, Ozzie made a knucklehead move in taking Masset out after he shut down the Rangers for two straight innings. After Logan was clobbered last night with double after double, Ozzie let him do it again. Now, the defense did not make some plays behind Boone, however, that's not the point. He still ended up giving those runs. It's no guarantee that Masset would of been any better, however, he showed in his two previous innings that he can indeed pitch real well against the Texas lineup.

 

Onto the defense, some plays were inexcusable. Uribe is almost a worse 3B than Ozuna. The little blooper between Swisher and Quentin is also inexcusable. Konerko's throw, also inexcusable. Alexei's dropped pop up, absolutely atrocious. Based on those errors alone, we shouldn't of won this game. Not to mention, Contreras also screwed himself over by not finding the bag.

 

Offensively, we scored 11 runs. We had a rally in almost every inning. That's great. However, 22 hits and 11 runs is terrible. Clutch hitting wasn't even there and we can't even get a freaking sacrifice fly! Konerko and Dye had opportunities to drive easy runs in today and both failed. Konerko grounds into a DP and Dye strikes out swinging. Jeez...

 

We didn't deserve to win today. But then again, we didn't deserve to win many games on this roadtrip. I feel blessed to have been 3-3 on this trip and still be in first. The Sox really need to get it together. Hopefully, Jenks comes back and puts the bullpen back to normality. Contreras and Vazquez both need to stop sucking. And our hitting needs to get it back together too. Hopefully, we can do what we did for the majority for the first half in the second half. If we do, I can smell baseball in October.

[2nd-half Rotation]

Contreras will face the Rangers and Twins in his first two starts. It would be a nice surprise if we can see someone else in that spot.

 

At least he won't face the Tigers...

[2nd-half Rotation]

I hope Danks doesn't pitch against the Twins, he gets eaten alive by Morneau and Mauer.

[SOX @ Texas Rangers, 7/13, 2:05 PM, CSN, AM 670]

What the hell was that???

 

I suppose you could look on the good side and say that the team battled. But Ozzie failed to put us in a position to win by totally mismanaging the pitching staff. We had one pitcher who was good today -- Nick Masset -- and Ozzie used him for only two innings. He should have pitched 5-6 innings.

 

And then that hitting. 22 hits and it looks like we can't do anything to bring a runner in from third, or move them over, or do anything right.

 

Konerko -- the day after going 4 for 4, goes 0 for 6 and leaves 9 men on base. In his last AB, swings at ball 4, then looks at strike 3.

 

It looks like we're going to be in some serious trouble in the second half.

 

I totally agree on Masset. After Logan got eaten alive yesterday, that made absolutely no sense. Especially because Masset shut the Rangers down.

[SOX @ Texas Rangers, 7/13, 2:05 PM, CSN, AM 670]

We were discussing earlier how we are going to desperately need a fifth starter for the stretch run. The problem being getting rid of Count's roster spot. He has nothing anymore.

 

Give Jose a couple of more starts. You can say that his start in KC was a fluke because he was awfully pissed and pitched like crap. However, a defensive lapse in that game involving Konerko and Contreras himself seemed to be pretty vital in that bad outing. You can't really judge pitchers who pitch in Arlington. Ground balls turn into base hits in that place. Fly balls turn into homers. It's like playing in a dome with a wind blowing out. It did seem like Jose was throwing a lot of strikes and a lot of first pitch strikes. Point is however, is that the entire Sox pitching staff did that today and got clobbered. Tip your cap to the Rangers, they're not the best offense in all of Major League Baseball for no apparent reason.

[SOX @ Texas Rangers, 7/13, 2:05 PM, CSN, AM 670]

Lost by who? Who on here has ANY confidence in him?

 

Same goes for Mr. Logan. These games in Texas really hurt our pitching staff's ego, I can tell you that. Our bullpen couldn't lock it down today, I think that was almost bigger than Konerko being bad.

[SOX @ Texas Rangers, 7/13, 2:05 PM, CSN, AM 670]

the sad thing is thats the second most runners left on base by a single player today. Mora had 11 earlier.

 

 

Way to have a carry over PK. All the good you did yesterday has been erased by this s***ty performance. I like Paulie but this team is better without him.

 

Yeap. His slow ass grounded into a crucial double play with men on the corners and one out. He also did hit the ball pretty hard once, but it got chased down by Byrd. Nevertheless, that last AB was brutal. He swung at a terrible pitch and let a pitch he can crush go. Paulie, once again, outguessed himself.

[Konerko BAD - Fire GOOD]

That may just be the single worst game I have ever seen from a single player.

 

EDIT: Beaten. Point still holds though. 0-6, 9 LOB, and game costing defense.

 

After being the hero yesterday, Paulie goes back to his good old self. Hey at least he had an RBI!!!!

 

I can't wait to hear these post game calls!

 

[SOX @ Texas Rangers, 7/13, 2:05 PM, CSN, AM 670]

Konerko useless again?

[AND THAT'S A WHITE SOX WINNER!!]

I wonder if those people who wanted Konerko TRADED still think the same way.

 

Today's game is exactly what Paulie needed. He's always killed Millwood. He really needed a confidence booster like a 4-4 game to get him back on track. Hopefully, this game isn't a one hit wonder. Paulie's had a couple of those this season.

[SOX @ Texas Rangers, 7/12, 6:05 PM, WGN, AM 670.]

That was an ugly 9th. Logan should of been pulled in the first place, it shouldn't of gotten to that point.

[Jenks Throws Without Pain]

Maybe they could just lend him to some NL team for a few days to rehab.

 

The Giants sound good. After all, Brian Wilson is the worst all-star reliever I've ever seen. How does he have only two blown saves in 26 chances with a 4.46 ERA?

[Jenks Throws Without Pain]

Just got Twittered (not as dirty as it sounds). Cowley reporting Jenks is throwing without pain and will go on a rehab assignment tomorrow, and should be back by Friday.

 

That's awesome. Three cheers for no more Linebrink/Dotel in the 9th!

 

Hip hip, hooray! Hip hip, hooray! Hip hip, HOORAY!

[2008 Chicago Cubs Catch-All Thread]

They are the best team in the NL, but there's no way they are the best team in baseball.

 

As for Marmol, I wonder if they will seriously consider sending him down.

 

Is Marmol another version of Rich Hill?

[Sox @ Rangers 7-11-08]

Good grief, is this Bartolo Colon Jr.?

You should of heard Farmio. He was complaining that the Rangers listed him at only 200 lbs. I really needed the laugh.

[Loss]

He's done nothing this year for you to say this.

He's been good overall. However, he leads the team in walks. He's not a great pitcher on the road. And recently, he's been inconsistent.Therefore, this start did not surprise me.

[Loss]

Do we ever have a good game plan against pitchers we've never seen? We looked like bIind peopIe at the plate. Gavin pitched like a pussy, what a surprise. You might as well have started Carrasco.

[2008 White Sox Catch-All Thread]

To me, there are five teams that look noticeably better than the other 25: The White Sox, Cubs, Angels, Rays, and Red Sox. There are ups and downs, three game losing streaks and so on, but those five teams just look really good to me. The Phillies would probably be #6 for me, their record isn't great but they will get going and are very dangerous.

 

The Red Sox are way better than the Phillies.

[Sox @ Rangers 7-11-08]

The pitcher we're facing tonight has TERRIBLE numbers. If we can't win, I will be very upset.

 

Does Jorge De La Rosa ring a bell to you? The White Sox can hit anybody if they feature a fastball and a bad/no change up. However, we can't hit anybody with a good straight change or an effective off-speed pitch.

[Sox @ Rangers 7-11-08]

Anybody know anything about Mendoza? Looking at his game log, he really struggled in his previous start.

[Sox @ Rangers 7-11-08]

Maybe you can say something of substance...

 

Boston, LAA, Milwaukee, Tampa, Toronto, Oakland, Cubs, Arizona all have better starting staffs IMO. I'd have to look a little bit more to see if I could find more teams.

 

I'm a guy who takes quality over quantity. So I look at a team like Milwaukee with two #1 starters and I'm pretty sure I'd rather have their rotation. And Bush, Suppan, and Parra have pitched about as well as Contreras and Vazquez.

 

Maybe the the Sox have the best #4 and #5 starters (Vazquez and Count) in the league but come playoff time that doesn't really matter much.

 

Out of all of those, I would only say the Angels' rotation is better.

 

Arizona's fallen off big time. Johnson, Owings, and Davis haven't done much since their hot start.

[Sox @ Rangers 7-11-08]

This entire post is absolutely ridiculous.

 

Are there even 10 teams in baseball with 5 adequate starters?

[2008 White Sox Catch-All Thread]

Check out the new ESPN power rankings. WE'RE #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/powerranking

[Sox @ Rangers 7-11-08]

Im looking forward to watching Hamilton get frozen on a wicked Gavin curve...

 

And I wish it would be in the first inning. Because when Gavin has his stuff from the get go, it's pretty hard to hit him.