Flash Tizzle

Considering Detroit lost, and we could have extended ground on Minnesota, what happened last inning was an absolute CHOKE. Terrible.

........ Are you kidding me?

There's a terrible decision from Guillen nearly everyone forecasted. Why bring in Cotts considering his career numbers against Morneau? f***ing stupid.

Both these players' wives appear scared to be in the booth talking to DJ. Look of fear in their eyes. lol.

I missed the first inning, so I'm not certain whether these radar gun readings are correct, but Radke is throwing meat up at the plate. Consistent 83 mph fastball? Less than 5 runs will be a travesty.

That'd be deliciously ironic if all the criticism from Cub fans, in hopes of pushing Baker out, actually helped in retaining him. Although I doubt it would factor much. Would Hendry honestly give him an extension because of how it may appear letting him go? QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 05:50 PM) Band or Show? Show. Their new season is featuring groups divided by race.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 08:21 AM) I think it's easier to enjoy the legit stud hardthrowing lefty we have out of the pen than to worry about having him develop another couple pitches and go into the rotation. I know our rotation might need some arms, but I wouldn't screw with Thornton. He's a dominant lefty fastball/slider pen arm, and let's keep it that way. I would 'screw with Thornton' every day if it meant having a consistent 93-95 mph arm pitching out of our rotation. Honestly, could working on secondary pitches really be expected to mess with him? He could work on it during the offseason, spring training. If it doesn't work, no harm, go back to pitching relief. But atleast give it a try. I don't believe some of you realize how truly pathetic our minor league system is relating to starting pitchers. Not just Crazy Uncle Flash going on a senseless rant about our lack of a Liriano, here. We're literally waist deep in CRAP starting pitchers. It's an endless parade of mediocrity. If scrub minor league pitchers were a currency.......yeah, you get the idea. I could go on all day with these methaphors. Chisox knows the truth. Heads as well. Dbaho knows it, but can't admit it. (Where's our Tyler Lumsden?) Who's projectable, honestly? Broadway........and then, who?. We don't have a Garza. We'll probably never have one with the current draft philosophy. I doubt --even with a 100million dollar payroll -- we're dishing out big money for top-of-the-rotation starters. You have a pitcher of Thornton's ability, and he's willing to start again, you HAVE to take the opportunity.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 07:58 AM) As for finding bullpen pieces, remember the state of our pen at the start of the season. We had a rookie left hander, Thornton (who could have done anything), Politte who most people rightfully thought would be in for a downer this season etc. We've been lucky to pick up Riske so cheaply, and getting MacDougall to bulk up the pen. But if you look at teams like Cleveland, they haven't been able to replace Howry, Riske and Rhodes from last season, and it's REALLY killed their chances this season of contending. I remember the state of our bullpen beginning of the year. You also make a good point about Cleveland. But I look at the current state of our starting rotation, prices around the league for quality arms, and our weak minor league system. Giving Thornton an opportunity can't exactly be dismissed. If Thornton is pitching 170 innings (intially), ERA ~ 4.50, and is paid around one million, relief pitching will have to be addressed later. Williams can overpay for a bullpen arm with all the money he'd be saving.

QUOTE(Steff @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 07:41 AM) LOL.. I wonder what the WR is for youngest grama. DAMN. I wasn't even the twinkle in my dad's eye when my Mom was 31. You're already a grandmother?!

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 07:36 AM) And I mean we were talking about this for Neal Cotts a season or 2 ago. Finding good bullpen pieces is hard to do, I think it's more likely if we ever needed another starter, it would come from the minors or outside the organization. What I believe hurts Cotts is his delivery -- too much arm motion. May be difficult to have enough tilt on a slider, or properly grip an offspeed pitch. Finding good bullpen pieces is hard to do? Hell, compared to finding quality starting pitching it's simple. I'd atleast hope for management to give him an opportunity to start in Spring Training. Who exactly does it hurt? f***, I'll print him up a list of pitches -- and how to properly grip them -- from the internet and give it to him. Take it with him on the mound. He already possesses a good fastball. You can't teach velocity. However, you can develop pitches. Eh,who am I kidding? Guillen will immediately dismiss the idea. He just doesn't strike me as the kind of person who'd think outside of the proverbial box.

QUOTE(beautox @ Aug 24, 2006 -> 06:59 AM) Whats the ETA on Lance? could he be ready in '07 if we traded Vazquez + Garcia? and heres to LTP and the M's organization for Matt In an interview Jason (or whomever) conducted in the minor league section, John Sickels believes he'll be up mid-season next year. I'd have to believe any such move would be because of injury/ineffectiveness to a starter, Broadway's complete domination of AAA, or as a bullpen arm. 2008 is probably his opportunity if everything continues fine with his development.

I wouldn't mind if he attempted a ressurection of his starting role. Why not? I hate how people are stuck upon certain mindsets pertaining to relievers and starters. In my view, the goal is maximizing a players potential. Easy 97mph from the left side is practically irreplaceable, yes, but his overall statistics aren't. It's quite possible to obtain another bullpen arm next offseason from trading Garcia. His throwing motion is one key indicator of mine arm troubles aren't inevitable. And let's be honest here -- we're not exactly stacked in the division of starting pitching prospects. Considering his salary, and how no high-end SP are available in our system, it'd ATLEAST be something I'd consider in several years. Perhaps in Spring Training try it out. Problem I have -- and I recall suggesting something similar when Marte was thinking about a starters role -- is he needs more than two pitches. And with Thornton, opposed to Marte, he's more of a one pitch pitcher. Refine a slider (which at times has been devastating), find a decent changeup, I'd slot him in the rotation for 2008. His age doesn't help matters either.

/cue camera shot of Garcia throwing tantrum in dugout

So, who's going to be the first member to suggest "Buehrle really didn't pitch too poorly?"

So, what do you guys think -- first pitched popped up to end the inning? If Guillen decided to leave in Rogers you know the decision would backfire. Let's see what happens with Leyland.

QUOTE(SoxFan562004 @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 07:40 PM) Listen, hats off to Rogers for exploiting this ridiculous rut the Sox are in at the plate, but he does not have 2 hit stuff tonight Without question. We criticize Buehrle for batting practice fastballs -- has Rogers thrown ONE above 84 tonight?

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 07:29 PM) McCarthy has been mediocre to crappy all season. I like him as much as the next guy, but Ozzie screwed him up and we would have been losing start after start while we waited for him to build up stamina only to hope he developed. Had we been smart, we would have seen this rotation sucking for two months (and this is on Ozzie) went with Tracey as the long guy and moved Bmac down to AAA where he could have been starting late in May or June and getting ready as a precautionary move if the rotation didn't get rolling. I never much approved of McCarthy's role from the beginning. Relief pitchers, aside from a few rarities, frequently use one or two pitchers during their outtings. It's difficult to consistently have the feel for your changeup or curveball when work is sporadic. Personally, I was an advocate of trading one of our starters while their stock was high last offseason and obtaining a bullpen arm/SP prospect. McCarthy would be in the rotation, our bullpen would have had another necessary component.

THAT'S A SPICEY MEAT-A-BALL!

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 07:11 PM) Broadway can't be any worse than Buehrle has been in 2007, and bringing him up, trading Garcia, and putting McCarthy in the pen gives us A TON of payroll flexibility while seeing what we have for the future. I'd MUCH rather do that then keep overpaid dead weight, wouldn't you? I wouldn't mind, personally, but I'd like to see how he fares in AAA. And how Buehrle recovers next season. Remember, we're attempting to replace a fresh arm with a starting pitcher typically among the league leaders in innings pitched. I doubt McCarthy will pitch 200 next season. Broadway couldn't be expected to, either. I'm not too comfortable with that.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 06:58 PM) Isn't Buehrle's option after this year a team one? Damn I'd just as soon let him go at this point and use the green on somebody else. I'm not thrilled about picking up Buehrle's option next season, but the truth is, what alternatives are there? I doubt we're going to be outbidding many ballclubs for a valuable starting pitcher. Our system isn't capable of assisting our rotation for next season.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 06:54 PM) The exciting news is that Buehrle might see his ERA go over 5 after today. Atleast we'll have the benefit of hearing members cite this poor umpire, and how the missed strike call threw his rhythm off. I'm becoming VERY irritated with watching Buehrle. I may criticize Broadway, but I guarantee he can give us an ERA bordering around 5 for 10 million less. He continues pitching poorly, I sincerely hope next season is his last with this ballclub.

QUOTE(kwolf68 @ Aug 21, 2006 -> 08:42 PM) No need to get mad...just got beat by a better and hungrier team tonight. The ship is taking on water, but it can be salvaged...plenty of hope left as long as you don't think about our starting pitching. It's difficult not to think about our starting pitching when it's the reason we're World Series champions, commands a sizable portion of our payroll, and has had such high expectations set upon them. Ha, to think, about a month ago I was criticized for suggesting Santana was far and beyond the pitcher Contreras is. There's a legitimate ace.

10 - 8 thus far. Not good.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 21, 2006 -> 08:22 PM) The great news is that I'll be getting out of work just in time to hear the PFB. I'll save you some time: "I really believe Contreras pitched well aside from those two hitsbatsmen, which threw off his rhythm." You can insert any of our pitchers names during any of their crap performances and cite one moment where they wet themself. "I believe this team will turn around because it has the talent to turn around."

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 21, 2006 -> 08:17 PM) I didn't see the play, but the last thing we need is someone making out on the bases. I didn't know the arm strength of their RF, but considering Pods supposed speed, and how the ball was caught on a slight angle, I would have expected him to tag. Didn't matter much, really. Just being Podsednik, I'm more willing to criticize him.