[Hoping for a rainout tonight...]

I am really hoping for a rainout tonight, which is probably the first time I have ever wished for one. Why?

C.C. Sabathia against Jose Contreras is not a good matchup for us and even though we have the six game winstreak, I would rather make this game up with the Indians when they either don't have Sabathia or we probably don't have to face him in the makeup game. Am I wrong to think this? Is anyone else hoping for the rainout?

 

Not a bad idea. But if we do win, We'll be 7 games up on Detroit and stay 2.5 up on the Twins.

 

I'm not scared of Sabathia really, we've hit him well enough this year. I know the first start was kind of a fluke, but we hit enough off of him in a May start here at the Cell. Contreras usually pitches well against Cleveland, maybe this is where he gets back on track.

[Sox have best record in...........]

Expected Wins and Losses (X W-L). The mlb.com standings includes the X W-L, which is defined as "Expected won-loss record based on runs scored and runs allowed, using this formula: RS^1.82/((RS^1.82)+(RA^1.82))". We have scored 408 and given up 320. Our record is 48-35, our X W-L is 51-32, the best in baseball, and 1/2 game ahead of the cubs X W-L of 51-33. Just kind of a interesting stat. Some other notables, the Angels are 50-34 and have an X W-L of 43-41, the indians are 37-47 and have an X W-L of 43-41, and the A's are 45-38 and their X W-L is 48-35. I guess its a matter of luck so far, but the sox are facing two teams here before the break that should have more wins but have been slightly unlucky.

 

So that's how X-W-L is calculated?

[2008 White Sox Catch-All Thread]

Was reading Mark Gonzalez's answers on the Trib site and found someone referencing a Pirates blog. The guy who posts on this Pirates blog is some sort of scout (supposedly), although I don't know that for sure.

 

Anyway, point is he the guy thought Vazquez was tipping his pitches while in the stretch. Here's an excerpt:

 

 

 

http://pittsburghpirates.buccoblog.com/emb...ss-as-expected/

 

That would explain his dominance out of the windup. I think he had a bunch of Ks pitching out of the windup in his last outing and he struggled once he walked guys (like the first inning).

[AND THAT'S A WHITE SOX WINNER!]

Some interesting nuggets...

 

The Sox improved to 18-12 in games against left-handed starters. That's a Shocker!

 

Danks has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 14 of his 17 starts.

 

OC is tied for 4th for active walk-off GW hits with 12.

 

Who would of thunk it, huh?

[AND THAT'S A WHITE SOX WINNER!]

Best win of the season. Alexei is the new Joe Crede. Let's sweep, if we can win in a game Lee pitched, why not Sabathia?

[2008 AL Central Catch-All Thread]

Well, the Twins made it interesting with back to back 1 out singles, but Casilla flew out to CF and Mauer grounded out to Renteria. Tigers win 5-4, Sox 2.5 games up.

 

Those Tigers are pretty damn good...

[2008 Chicago Cubs Catch-All Thread]

Lilly gets the win, throwing 8 plus and allowing 2 runs. Also, he attained the rarely seen platinum sombrero, or "olympic rings", as he went 0 for 5 with 5 strikeouts at the plate. Also, for reasons only known to Lou, he brings in Kerry Wood in a 9-0 game, allowing him to waste 28 pitches in a blowout spot.

 

Kerry hadn't pitched in 4 games, hell, he was so bored, he had to flick somebody off. What else was Lou supposed to do?

[Dugout celebrations]

I was thinking about that yesterday....cleats and concrete don't really get a long and I don't think jumping up in the air is the smartest idea. I like that they are celebrating in the dugout, I just liked the OC\Thome handshake thingy a lot better.....i guess Thome's massive arms could hurt someone though....

 

And Thome doing a special handshake with OC is funny/weird enough.

[MINNESOTA DELENDA EST]

You know, I really didn't need to be reminded of that.

 

I know, but that team had Johan and Hunter. This team doesn't.

[MINNESOTA DELENDA EST]

I respect the Twins and am glad they are doing well. The Sox play best when the pressure's on - makes 'em keep their games faces on.

 

That wasn't the case in 2003.

 

We had 7 games vs. the Twins down the stretch run. We went 2-5 and lost the division by 4 games.

[Sox Bullpen Best Ever?!]

I disagree completely. I think he is obsessed with race, judging from hearing him speak.

 

Then he must love that Rays outfield. I mean come on...Crawford, Upton, and Floyd? He must hate those days when Eric Hinske plays right field.

[Dugout celebrations]

With the emergence of Swisher, Thome's turned himself into a jokester. How weird is that?

 

Plus, I'm worried that they'll hurt each other in that dugout doing the jumping celebrations...lol.

 

Did you see Swish yesterday? He got knocked back 5 feet after jumping to celebrate with Thome.

[White Sox Winner]

Let's sweep those Indians and kick them out of contention.

[2008 Chicago Cubs Catch-All Thread]

And A-Ram will be out at least the next 3 games.

 

Wonder what that's really about...?

[Live and Die by the HR]

IIRC, the Sox are 4-20 when they do NOT hit a homerun

 

We were like 0-10 at one point when we've never hit a homer...

[Sox Bullpen Best Ever?!]

Joe Morgan said it to Jon Miller on ESPN Sunday Baseball. He made the statement that the Chisox bullpen was the best he had ever seen in his baseball career. Now you can take that for what it's worth, or argue about it, or whatever, but I have a lot of respect for Joe Morgan and when a player and now broadcaster with his experience says that- well, I think it means something special.

 

Oh god...

 

Last year, in April, some guy on WSI started a thread saying last year's bullpen was one of the best he's ever seen.

 

Oh...look what happened?

 

Let's not jinx our bullpen this season. I understand last year's bullpen had David Aardsma and Ryan Bukvich and they're no Scott Linebrink or Octavio Dotel. But, sometimes, things come back to bite you in the ass.

[MINNESOTA DELENDA EST]

They should jinx themselves, their pitching staff has been performing over their heads and they have been unbelievably clutch. It wont last.

 

Kevin Slowey just 3-hit the Brewers. WTF?

 

Kevin Slowey? The guy we killed? Surprisingly, his ERA is 3.47.

[Dodgers No Hit, Win]

That was more than weird...

 

However, the Sox won a game like that against the Yankees in 1990.

[How much will K. Wood get fined for this ?]

 

I might as well make a sig out of that.

[2008 Chicago Cubs Catch-All Thread]

Anyone wanna hunt down these two emos with me to "steal their lunch money"?

 

 

I think the man-love has gone too far there...

[2008 Chicago Cubs Catch-All Thread]

I don't know if any of you guys noticed, but on TV, in the 7th inning right before Quentin's homer, they had a shot of Kerry Wood flicking somebody off with both of his hands. Here's a picture.

 

 

Lol...

[White Sox Winner]

Now that's the kind of game you'd like to win.

 

Carlos Quentin flexes his muscles. Get this man to the all-star game already. Same with Dye.

 

Only bad part of today's game...Javier Vazquez and his inability to control his pitches.

[Congrats Alexei!]

Way to pass a newborn through your vagina. You can put it on the board, yes.

 

Hawk - "I'll tell ya what Fiesty, Alexei's wife has to be the best birth giver on this team. Of course, this team has no woman on it, so she must be the best."

 

D.J. - "Right on, Hawk, Right on."

[White Sox Winner]

It was so good that I got bored towards the later innings. I'd like a sweep, thank you very much . Now, we have to hit Gallagher well tomorrow. You'll never know what you'll get with Javy.

 

I think this is the start of Ryan Dumpster's demise.

[July Wallpaper]

In June, Alexei is hitting about .350 with 16 RBI. That's damn good production from your #8 hitter.

 

Once he develops some patience and plate discipline, I think he would be a premium leadoff man.