soxforlife05

If Anderson continues to improve in AAA he will be the #2 hitter midseason.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 11, 2016 -> 04:32 PM) I still don't understand how nobody on the coaching staff or bench noticed Abreu was hurting in the 7th...and then they still had him running on both occasions. And yeah, you have to get that tie run into scoring position any way possible. Carlos Sanchez is actually a pretty decent fastball hitter, but his timing is WAY off from not playing consistently in recent days. Typically, you play for the big inning or the lead (on the road), but you really have to adjust your strategy with Todd Frazier out of the game AND the fact that the Rangers were going to have to save the game with someone other than Sean Tolleson, their normal closer. Just getting the game extended was more of a priority than usual. The next guy up for them was Ramos, the guy who loaded the bases then gave up the grand slam to Frazier ugh

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 11, 2016 -> 04:41 PM) Texas brings the Sox bullpen back to earth. Fathom said it best. Sox should have swept that series and stayed red hot. Robin looks human when the players don't produce. Let's put it this way. RV does not give us any edge over the opposition the way he manages in close games.

Robin just has a very poor feel for in game situations which is surprising considering how good he was as a player. Carroll in a 1 run game? Not bunting our weakest hitter in a 1 run game with a runner on first no out? Could have also pinch ran for Abreu there.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ May 11, 2016 -> 04:17 PM) Bunting would have somehow been a worse idea. Seriously though, we know Sands can't pinch run or play the field well. He should be hitting there or he should be on the team. I'd guess we're about to find out. You're playing for 1 run there and have solid contact hitters coming up in Melky and Lawrie. Sanchez is an easy out I am bunting him there every time.

It's kind of surprising that Robin was a pro but is just so bad at managing in-game. Just no feel for the game and no feel for a pitcher's stuff whatsoever.

Why was Sanchez not bunting there wtf?

QUOTE (chw42 @ May 11, 2016 -> 04:07 PM) He pitched better in a 1 run game than he did in a 5 run game lol If he got that strikeout last night I still believe we win that game.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ May 11, 2016 -> 04:02 PM) Carroll out there in a 1 run game is some bad managing, even if he doesn't give up any runs. He's probably not even on the team in an hour. Agree I don't get this at all. At least go Putnam here.

That guy was so wild but the 2 pitches he needed were perfectly located smh

QUOTE (ronkark @ May 11, 2016 -> 03:27 PM) Honeymoon is over, folks. Pen has been train wreck. D spotty. Two relays left in pockets Friday. Rollins error then bloop fly drop. AJax drop. Eaton missing cut off. Teams stealing at will against Latos. No throws on 2/4 today. 2 in a row with two days to marinate on it. We need two starting pitchers, not one. Latos is cooked. Thanks for your 5 wins now move along. Did you think we were going to keep winning at basically a .700 clip? Get real

Wow the pen has been f***ing awful this series

QUOTE (fathom @ May 11, 2016 -> 03:23 PM) Jeez Mazara all over that. Doesn't seem like our relievers are throwing enough pitches up in the zone to change eye level Jennings walks the tightrope every time but somehow manages to get out of it most of the time.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 11, 2016 -> 02:39 PM) There is nobody on this planet that lives and dies with the White Sox more than Ken Harrelson. That's what I love about Hawk. It's just not the same with Benetti.

There is no compelling reason other than they are trying to preserve the spirit of the game. I think it would shift things back in the hitters favor some because inconsistent strike zones tend to stagnate offense. I'm in favor of making the change as well.

QUOTE (ronkark @ May 11, 2016 -> 12:52 AM) I love how people are saying Rodon pitched well tonight. If we didn't have a lead when he left, NO ONE would think that. if he left down 6-2 he'd be enemy #1. 1 win 4.5 walks per nine 44 hits in 39 innings gets behind, loses focus, no command. needs to be better. much better. I've said this a couple times now but I thought he looked very solid the first 2 starts of the year and just hasn't been the same after the 1/3 inning debacle. It's completely a confidence thing with him he has the stuff. I saw him in spring training this year and he was completely unhittable.

QUOTE (miracleon35th @ May 11, 2016 -> 12:26 AM) Alright already, I know, hindsight is 20 / 20 but I have a question about the last out in the top of the 8th, I believe. I think Lawrie was forced out at second base for the third out. It looked like he was safe or that the call was close enough to challenge, at least to me. If overturned that would have extended our inning with two men on. I was expecting a challenge by Ventura but it appeared as though he either saw the play clearly enough to not challenge, or perhaps he felt that the night was long and it was the 8th and we had a big lead. Maybe he simply exercised poor judgment. Did anyone else note that? I wish I could see the play again because maybe I am mis-remembering this and I apologize if that is the case. I just hate to give up a possible chance to score runs by not challenging close plays. Lawrie was ruled safe at 2B on the field and Texas challenged and it was reversed. You were thinking of the close play at 1B that they didn't challenge. Would've left 1st and 2nd with 2 out if overturned.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 11, 2016 -> 12:16 AM) Yeah, Albers (I think) has given up runs in three consecutive appearances. We knew he wasn't THAT good (the scoreless streak) but he's probably been pushed too hard so early in the season...it's not like he is in that great shape to begin with. It does expose that area of weakness that most teams have, which is the bullpen second unit. Petricka has had stretches the last two years where you wonder why he's so erratic because his stuff can be closer-esque at times...and Putnam was absolutely a pleasant surprise like Albers (this year) in 2014 when that forkball/splitter was almost unhittable there for a stretch. Someone said that Putnam was also warmed up and ready to go...following on ESPN Game Cast so I'm not sure if that is/was true or not. (Of course, it's easy to argue that Ventura should have used Putnam as well). I also think Rua was something like 1/11 with RISP and hitting .160 against RHP, so statistically it was the right move to have Albers or Putnam there (assuming Jones and Robertson weren't available). The other reason to use Putnam is simply the fact that he's much more likely to keep the ball on the ground and not allow the Rangers to elevate...as the ONE thing you can't have happen there is the home run. Carroll never sees the bigs if Petricka and Webb aren't on the DL right now. Albers is a sinker/slider guy so it was the right guy for the situation. The Rua HR was lucky no doubt .160 hitter vs RHP 2016 and .188 hitter vs RHP 2015. Putnam would've been the 2nd choice but then you'll have people blame RV if it goes wrong for not going with our high leverage relievers.

I think RV's only real blunder was not letting Duke face Mazara. But Albers didn't have good stuff at all looked gassed to me velocity down and not locating well giving up laser line drives. Wouldn't have made much difference if he was brought in earlier. We can still win the series tomorrow. I'll take a road series win against a playoff contender every time. With no Sale or Quintana to boot!!! Wait till after the season on extending RV he's not going anywhere.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 10, 2016 -> 11:40 PM) One thing I think most of us agree on is that the Sox should be looking to the system or outside for a 4th outfielder to replace Sands and a better long reliever than Carroll. They should be DFA'd. But honestly last night we probably should've lost and today we should've won. End results weren't predictable with either game but we are 1-1 anyway. No reason to let it spiral out of control. We are still in position to take a road series against a playoff contender.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ May 10, 2016 -> 11:30 PM) Just some more thoughts on the abortion tonight. Still so pissed off I'm shaking. Now we'll see if the bubble bursts. Ventura lost this game, flat out lost it with his bullpen usage. Here's the way I look at it. I know Robertson pitched Sunday and Monday. I know Jones has pitched a lot but WITH AN OFF DAY THURSDAY and having to face Cole Hamels in an afternoon game after an extra inning game on Monday and after a long game Tuesday because of the delay you do EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TO DO TO WIN THE GAME and take the series. Period. You can not lose this game and the Sox did it in spectacular fashion. Letting Carroll go back out there, a guy who has no business being in the major leagues also didn't help matters. Just a devastating loss. I'm speechless right now. They REALLY need Latos to pitch well Wednesday, have got to have it...and it may not matter even if he does, Hamels has won 11 consecutive decisions, one off the Rangers record. Mark Albers was terrible ok, Rua is a scrub against RHP . No reason to give up a HR in a key situation like that and at that to a BENCH PLAYER. Our top relievers were bad last night also. With Latos probably not going more than 5 or 6 tomorrow I can understand trying to give some guys a rest Albers, Jones and Robertson are gassed.

Bottom line...if the defense or any of the relievers did their job that inning we probably win the game. The Andrus blown strike 3 call was pretty bad too since it was boxed completely in the strike zone.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 10, 2016 -> 10:54 PM) Also had no empty bases and then got Odor out Still doesn't change the fact it was a bad performance if he wasn't spotted a 5 run lead. He's being used like a LH specialist.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ May 10, 2016 -> 10:52 PM) Duke was fine. He gave up a hit to Moreland the guy he was brought in to get out.

Really pathetic but Carroll, Duke, and Albers were all pretty terrible. If Jones and Robertson really weren't available then not much you can do. Every team loses a game like this every year.