This may sound stupid right now (coming of a 7 game skid), but I do believe the Sox have an excellent chance to back in first place by August 12. I know that Cleveland is a very good young team, but these are games that have to be won and will be won. We have 3 against the tribe and 6 against KC. If weat least 6 or 7 it will then be our division to lose. Along that stretch Minnesota has the west coast teams. 3 w/Anaheim, 3w/Oakland and 3 at Seattle. If the twinkies are going to stumble...it will be along this stretch and later this month. Post some comments on what you believe will happen, because I for one am going to stay optimistic until everything is over. 5 games back is nothing...I am just happy (and hoping) that we got it out of our system now and not in september or even october.

Appreciate the optimism, but i'd say there is a very little chance we are in first by then. Oh, and Seattle may be a West team, but they suck.

This may sound stupid right now (coming of a 7 game skid), but I do believe the Sox have an excellent chance to back in first place by August 12. I know that Cleveland is a very good young team, but these are games that have to be won and will be won. We have 3 against the tribe and 6 against KC. If weat least 6 or 7 it will then be our division to lose. Along that stretch Minnesota has the west coast teams. 3 w/Anaheim, 3w/Oakland and 3 at Seattle. If the twinkies are going to stumble...it will be along this stretch and later this month. Post some comments on what you believe will happen, because I for one am going to stay optimistic until everything is over. 5 games back is nothing...I am just happy (and hoping) that we got it out of our system now and not in september or even october.

I wouldn't go as far to say that 5 games back is NOTHING. But there is no reason to not believe (the way things have been in this division this year) that the Sox can't reclaim first place by mid-August. I know that you can't rely on other teams to beat Minnesota but I'd much rather seeing them playing teams like the Angels, A's and Rangers than the Royals or Cleveland. And lets not forget we still have 6 left with the Twins.

I don't think we'll get into first until September if we go get back into first. Sadly, that 7 game skid might be the end of our chace for the division. Everyone just has to remember we're only 3 or so games out of the wild card, and as much as we're going for the division, the wild card is up for grabs. In a weird, twisted way, the Twins helped us yesterday, wild card wise.

Wild card is 3.5 right now

August 12th, eh? That's the day before my 10 year wedding anniversary! I'll take that for a little gift from the Sox! I'm sure they are thinking about me right now, after all.

Wild card is 3.5 right now

I'd say there's no way in hell we'll win the wildcard, it's division or bust

I still think there's a chance at the wild card depending if we take care of business against Boston when we play them. Hopefully the AL West teams can basically knock each other out of contention.

I still think there's a chance at the wild card depending if we take care of business against Boston when we play them. Hopefully the AL West teams can basically knock each other out of contention.

Our best chance is still in the division. True, we're 3.5 back in the Wild Card race, but we're chasing 3 teams in that race. The Rangers, Red Sox, and Angels are all ahead of us in that race. We only have to worry about one team in the divisonal race; that's our best and most realistic shot at the playoffs.

I don't know, I just say since this team is closer to the wild card, they need to go for that first until if/when the division becomes closer.

Here's my take. If the Sox can play good solid baseball in August combined with the fairly reliable starting pitching we have been getting, they should be able tp win 19 games. If the Sox can deliver 19 wins, and the Twins play at or just slightly better than .500 in August - the Sox could be a game out of first or possibly a game in front come September 1.

 

This thing is not over, but if the Sox lay an egg in August (regardless of injuries to Hurt or Maggs) - KW should blow this thing up in the offseason.

I don't know, I just say since this team is closer to the wild card, they need to go for that first until if/when the division becomes closer.

See, realistically, this team isn't closer to the wildcard, like Greasy just pointed out :banghead

I know "realistically" this team isn't closer to the wild card because there are a few teams between. The division has nobody between us and the leaders. The bottom line is that the Sox just need to play better ball and the chance for either wild card or divisional wins will appear.

You guys keep drinking that Kool-Aid. I envy your optimism.

 

Just remember that, when the Twins win the division again, that they did so:

 

1) With a rookie 1B for 1/2 the year

 

2) With a 2B platoon consisting of players that probably wouldn't start on any other MLB team.

 

3) With a 3B that's hit under .240 for most of the year

 

4) With a rookie OF hitting 3rd most of the season

 

5) With their best player having a down year offensively

 

6) With a rookie catcher for 1/2 the season

 

7) By watching their biggest rival go and trade for arguably the best pitcher on the market, and responding by doing nothing.

 

8) With their second best hitter on the DL for 1/2 the season

 

9) After losing their closer, best setup man, starting catcher and 3rd-best starter in the offseason

 

10) With Carlos Silva, Kyle Lohse, Seth Greisinger and Terry Mullholland starting 3/5ths of all their games

This may sound stupid right now (coming of a 7 game skid), but I do believe the Sox have an excellent chance to back in first place by August 12. I know that Cleveland is a very good young team, but these are games that have to be won and will be won. We have 3 against the tribe and 6 against KC. If weat least 6 or 7 it will then be our division to lose. Along that stretch Minnesota has the west coast teams. 3 w/Anaheim, 3w/Oakland and 3 at Seattle. If the twinkies are going to stumble...it will be along this stretch and later this month. Post some comments on what you believe will happen, because I for one am going to stay optimistic until everything is over. 5 games back is nothing...I am just happy (and hoping) that we got it out of our system now and not in september or even october.

It seems like every year that Twins go on the West Coast for a road trip they always do good they play very well against Oakland and Seattle and remember the Twins are a good road team unlike the Sox

Appreciate the optimism, but i'd say there is a very little chance we are in first by then.  Oh, and Seattle may be a West team, but they suck.

You guys keep drinking that Kool-Aid.  I envy your optimism.

 

Just remember that, when the Twins win the division again, that they did so:

 

1)  With a rookie 1B for 1/2 the year

 

2)  With a 2B platoon consisting of players that probably wouldn't start on any other MLB team.

 

3)  With a 3B that's hit under .240 for most of the year

 

4)  With a rookie OF hitting 3rd most of the season

 

5)  With their best player having a down year offensively

 

6)  With a rookie catcher for 1/2 the season

 

7)  By watching their biggest rival go and trade for arguably the best pitcher on the market, and responding by doing nothing.

 

8)  With their second best hitter on the DL for 1/2 the season

 

9)  After losing their closer, best setup man, starting catcher and 3rd-best starter in the offseason

 

10) With Carlos Silva, Kyle Lohse, Seth Greisinger and Terry Mullholland starting 3/5ths of all their games

And we haven't had obstacles to overcome?

 

A rookie manager?

 

Nothing that even resembled a quality 5th starter for 3 months.

 

Loaiza's drop in velocity.

 

Billy Botch

 

Our 3rd baseman has not exactly lit it up either

 

A complete drop off in production from Harris/Uribe

 

Our best all around player going on the dl twice

 

Frank Thomas possible being out for the season.

 

All that and we were in 1st place as recently as a week ago. Give the Twins props. But it hasn't been peaches and cream for us either.

It seems like every year that Twins go on the West Coast for a road trip they always do good they play very well against Oakland and Seattle and remember the Twins are a good road team unlike the Sox

they are at home against Oakland and anaheim!!

And we haven't had obstacles to overcome?

 

A rookie manager?

 

Who the manager is, or isn't, is the most overrated piece of crap in baseball. Gardenhire was a rookie mgr last season. Didnt bother the Twins much

 

Nothing that even resembled a quality 5th starter for 3 months.

 

True, but the Twins haven't had anything resembling a 3rd, 4th, or 5th starter for most of the season.

 

Loaiza's drop in velocity.

 

Not counting on that guy with a 7 year ERA of over 5.00 to return at some point? Your mistake.

 

Billy Botch

 

Koch was only here for 2.5 months this season. Twins haven't had Hawkins or Guardado all season. Nathan was nearly completely untested as a closer.

 

Our 3rd baseman has not exactly lit it up either

 

Yet nobody's beaning him 4 straight plate appearances

 

A complete drop off in production from Harris/Uribe

 

So much for Ozzieball

 

Our best all around player going on the dl twice

Frank Thomas possible being out for the season.

 

Can't argue that, but I wouldn't bet $1 that the Sox win any of those games even with Frank and Maggs. I don't remember Everett or Perez being the problem.

 

All that and we were in 1st place as recently as a week ago. Give the Twins props. But it hasn't been peaches and cream for us either.

 

Also true, and yes, all teams usually face some adversity every year. The Twins consistently find ways to rise above them, the Sox find rocks to crawl under. Minnesota scratches out 4 runs to beat Pedro Martinez, the Sox make Wilfredo Ledezma look ready for Cooperstown. Think of all the garbage negative quirks the Sox have:

 

1) Can't win on the west coast

 

2) Can't beat pitchers they haven't seen before

 

3) Can't run the bases

 

4) Can't bunt when it counts

 

5) Can't beat junkballers

 

6) Cant move runners along

 

7) Cant get runs home from third with less than 2 outs consistently

 

Like I said, I envy the optimism, but this team is sitting at home come playoff time.

 

Again

Who the manager is, or isn't, is the most overrated piece of crap in baseball. Gardenhire was a rookie mgr last season. Didnt bother the Twins much

 

Gardenhire was a rookie manager 2 years ago. This is his 3rd year. And that was also the Twins best team but everything else is true.

Like I said, I envy the optimism, but this team is sitting at home come playoff time.

 

Again

I respect that you actually back up your points instead of just saying "The White Sox will lose 100 straight games." and leave it at that. But however, I have a question. If you're so positive that the Sox are done for the season, why are you still here?

I respect that you actually back up your points instead of just saying "The White Sox will lose 100 straight games."  and leave it at that.  But however, I have a question.  If you're so positive that the Sox are done for the season, why are you still here?

The answer is simple -- I cannot survive more than 2 days without checking out the girl in Donkey Kongerko's avatar.

The answer is simple -- I cannot survive more than 2 days without checking out the girl in Donkey Kongerko's avatar.

 

I can live with that.

The answer is simple -- I cannot survive more than 2 days without checking out the girl in Donkey Kongerko's avatar.

who is that girl? mmm...

August 12th, eh? That's the day before my 10 year wedding anniversary! I'll take that for a little gift from the Sox! I'm sure they are thinking about me right now, after all.

Don't forget to thank her for the 2 best years in your life.