Flash Tizzle

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ May 22, 2006 -> 03:58 PM) It all may be a mute point anyway if a Sox starter blows out his arm this year. I also think the rest of this season is huge for this team. If for some reason the Sox don't make the playoffs, the rate of seasonticket renewals will play a huge role in the make-up of the roster. Our success obviously affects the payroll, but whether we fall short of the playoffs or not it doesn't change the status of our rotation. World Series or not, McCarthy will be in the rotation and Garcia will be gone. Atleast, that's what I believe. Far as injuries (knock on wood), we're not always going to have such reinforcements in future seasons. Are we supposed to let McCarthy remain in the bullpen until a suitable 6th starter replacement takes his place? It's not practical to always have a solid 5 man rotation with a 6th starter in the bullpen. What we can hope is perhaps Tracey, Lumsden, or someone else can be available to take Mac's long-man spot next season.

If any starting pitcher from the rotation is traded, it's Garcia. Regardless of his relationship with Guillen. Garcia has one year remaining on his contract, and will likely finish this season with totals approaching last season. He'll have a higher ERA, lower K's, but his win totals will exceed 14; and for that, some team will consider him a worthy gamble. Just rape an organization for the next Liriano and I'll be happy. From my perspective, trading Garland would certaintly be more appropriate--but you couldn't expect much in return. Does anyone believe the White Sox would pay for a sizable amount of Garland's contract to send him out of town? Does that sound like an option they've regularily persued? Eating a contract is the only way we'd receive halfway decent prospects. I doubt they venture down that road, considering recent trades we've had other clubs pay a large portion of salaries.

I call it the HR that killed Courtney Duncan. Won't help you much, but I recorded the grandslam off Comcast Sports Net before last years 'Crosstown showdown.' I'll watch it in a few minutes just because you can't.

You have to figure the discomfort is legitimate or he wouldn't have complained. He has every incentive to string together starts with the possibility of becoming a FA next season. What matters more than results is remaining healthy. That 95 mph fastball and tight curveball will lure someone into foolishly giving him an extended deal.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ May 21, 2006 -> 09:46 PM) The funny thing about him is that he does not speak his mind at all, he actually takes the exact opposite side of what everyone thinks is correct on purpose so people will read his column either to rip him for being a dumb ass or for "speaking his mind" as some actually think he believes the s*** he writes. Either way the Sun-Times does sell papers and a whole lot of people sure do talk about his column, so it must be working for him. If it wasn't obvious before, yesterday proved it. I realize the entire "controversy = circulation/web hits' angle. My problem is, what he's doing isn't honest journalism. In past columns, I've never doubted his views as anything other than his skewed personal beliefs. His comments atleast appeared genuine; even if they were wrong. This mornings article was utter crap. Completely unbelievable, as if Mike Kiley and Mike Murphy wrote it for him. This situation is similar to Around the Horn (during "showdowns") where both contestants usually adopt different arguments for a topic. Most of the time one viewpoint is obviously correct, yet they'll still oppose it for the sake of television. I understand that. You wonder if he wrote his article merely, as you suggested, to offer a different opinion to incite controversy. Perhaps he's purposely lashing out on AJ because he dislikes him. Or maybe he wrote the article to give the impression he's not impartial to the White Sox. Whatever the reason, I'm sure it wasn't because he felt everything was justified. I shouldn't be upset, but it still manages to aggrivate me.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ May 21, 2006 -> 07:36 PM) If you're on the DL you can not run out onto the field, appearantly Derek Lee did not know this/care. Nor should he. Cubs will merely deactivate him from the DL five days before his intended return. Won't hurt anyone.

No wonder I've avoided the funny pages for nearly 10 years. First, it's poorly written. Especially the second bubble. Second, the punch line--"pitcher will ground out to third for you." WTF. I suppose if we were playing in the national league, or a groundout to third was actually guaranteed for a pitcher, it may have been funnier. It would have made sense if he guaranteed Uribe striking out on a slider low/away. That's about a given.

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ May 21, 2006 -> 06:34 PM) Is it too early to start a new thread bashing Garland's performance against the A's? You may want to overlook Garland and prepare for Buehrle's thread.

I don't care how IMDB members rate it, Queen of the Damned isn't that bad. I was quite surprised, actually. Yeah, Aaliyah is terrible; but she doesn't talk much.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ May 21, 2006 -> 04:35 PM) We hope the Angels keep f***ing up and we try and get Donnelly or Shields. What are their contract situations? I doubt Shields is leaving Anaheim anytime soon. Perhaps Donnelly will. When he's gone, I doubt we're the team to overpay.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ May 21, 2006 -> 04:36 PM) The one thing about Anderson is he's not taking his bad atbats to the field. Uribe is. That and Brian can draw a walk. Anyone else grimace watching Mackowiak's full out dive for Barrett's hit? Anderson would have likely made the play. Or, at the least, come closer to making the play than Mack did. Guillen has to be more willing to substitute Anderson in the field late in games when we're leading.

QUOTE(WCSox @ May 21, 2006 -> 03:57 PM) True, but that doesn't excuse Cotts from giving up an additional three and blowing the lead. He has to be able to absorb that... especially with two outs. I like Neal, but I don't think that he's ready to be a setup man. We need another veteran in there. I just can't believe what he threw Jones. Watch him the remainder of the year, and record how many HR's he has against left-handed pitching. Maybe one or two of his 15-20 to go along with a delicious .200 BA. How do you work someone in the ONE zone they can hit a pitch? His swing is tailor made for outside pitches. Middle-in and he wouldn't have done s***.

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ May 21, 2006 -> 03:55 PM) Let's just hope we were playing down to the competition today. Today was the type of game I'd expect against Oakland. You can count on atleast one fluke play every series against them which leads to a loss. A good start against Oakland would be taking 2/3. Put the "Oakland owns us" talks to rest.

QUOTE(Bhay99 @ May 21, 2006 -> 03:46 PM) good series win, all you can hope for is 2 out of 3...lets get them A's What I hate most about this loss (more than the fact it was against the Cubs) are the upcoming series. Oakland Toronto Cleveland Wins may not come easy, and giving away victories due to a weak bullpen and defensive miscues CANNOT happen these next few weeks. Defensive mistakes more than a bullpen. There were three plays today which gave the Cubs extra opportunities.

QUOTE(KevHead0881 @ May 21, 2006 -> 03:43 PM) Even though that is the case, how could you not be concerned with the way Cotts responded. He looked like absolute s***. He must have thought he was pitching in New York the way his location seemingly abandoned him. First off, Barrett, why groove a pitch up in the count? It was deep red. Second, with Jones, why pitch to the ONE ZONE (outside) he's shown a capability of hitting. You throw right down the middle, more often than not, he'll miss against a LHP.

QUOTE(fathom @ May 21, 2006 -> 03:38 PM) I think it was good acting. That looked as blatant as possible. Yep, and of course, it leads to another run. Now it's appropriate we'll score two runs and lose.

It's looks pathetic hitting someone right here after your team's bullpen just wet itself. Very petty. Watch it lead to several runs now.

QUOTE(Whitewashed in @ May 21, 2006 -> 03:30 PM) This is f***ing embarassing. TERRIBLE It really is. This is how the Cubs must have felt the last several weeks. It was just a complete meltdown. They better find a way to manup and win.

QUOTE(KevHead0881 @ May 21, 2006 -> 03:21 PM) Embarrassed? Get the f*** over it. Not until tomorrow. For the next 24 hours, I'm avoiding all media outlets and Cub fans.

Entering the Oakland series, what we didn't need is this type of disgraceful game. Cotts is supposed to be our second best bullpen arm, and he gives up a HR to a f***ing LEFTY--Jacque JOnes--who can't hit them worth a s***! Embarrassing. Really is. I'm embarrassed for myself, and all our fans, after this.

QUOTE(aboz56 @ May 21, 2006 -> 03:15 PM) Anything less than a comeback here is unacceptable. I won't accept anything less either. This game these last few innings has been embarrassing.

Crede's errors are typically kisses of death for our pitching. Need an out here Count.

It's maddening watching the Cubs be given baserunners due to defensive miscues. Please erase this right now.

God dammit. Let's get to Zambrano already guys. Need more than 2 hits.

It's been incredibly frustrating watching our offense against Zambrano this afternoon. How many third pitch strikes can a team possibly watch? They should have realized after the fourth strikeout this umpire is calling an extended zone on the corners. You have to defend against those pitches.