Just got back from the game:

 

It was f***ing awesome. The crowd was great, loud when it needed to be, really into the game, too. Buehrle looked great. I was really impressed with how he took care of Martinez/Hafner. I'll be honest, everytime those two are up, they scare the s*** out of me.

 

But, while in the stands, I was talking to my brother, and we both agreed -- other than the top four, they really don't scare me. Peralta looks like he could be something good, but Boone, Hernandez Broussard, Blake -- meh, they're alright, but I'm not frightened. Crisp/Belliard/Hafner/Martinez are definitely a good top of the order, though -- or at least, I think they can be.

 

What else. I should preface this by saying that if it looks like I'm overreacting, believe me, I'm not, just giving observations. Dye looked awesome at the plate today -- hit the ball hard, looked good. Same with Konerko. Iguchi looked absolutely lost at the plate in his first two AB's, probably jitters, he got a loud roar from the crowd. Podsednik looked bad, and I don't see him coming close to his 2003 numbers, but that's just a gut feeling -- I know that will probably piss people off that I'm saying that, but that's JMHO. Oh yeah -- with Iguchi, the nickname I was hearing in the stands were, "The Gooch", so just wanted throw that out there.

 

Buehrle = Awesome.

 

Shingo made Alex Cora look absolutely silly. He got ahead in the count, and threw the frisbee, Cora had no chance.

 

One more thing, wanted to see other people's thoughts/opinions on this. One of the guys on Mac/Jerko/Harry (Jerko, IIRC) was b****ing out Ozzie for taking Mark out in the ninth inning. I know Mark probably wanted that CG shutout, but it was the right move. Buehrle was at 103 pitches, or right around there, and there's no need to send him out for the ninth. Ozzie, IMHO, made the right choice. Gave Shingo some early season confidence, and the place exploded when Shingo came in. People almost anticipate that last out in the bottom of the eighth, and start looking towards the bullpen. I'll say this -- Shingo has been one of Kenny's best acquisitions, and I'm glad that #10 will be closing games this season for the Good Guys...

 

EDIT: One more thing. Great move by Ozzie to put Gload in as a defensive replacement. I'd also like to see him do the same to Iguchi with Harris, but I can understand him not doing that -- Iguchi didn't have a hit, and Ozzie probably didn't want to make him feel like he was lacking confidence in Gooch. I should say, though, when Iguchi ripped that ball down to third and Boone made the diving grab, it was a good AB...

Edited April 4, 200520 yr by CWSGuy406

Hell yea! Tuning in to the TV in my classroom after dismissing my students last period, I was able to watch the last 3 innings of the game. Shingo looked pretty good, and from what I saw, Buehrle was his usual dominant self. Konerko and Rowand will be the team's offensive leaders, for sure (Konerko helped me out in fantasy points, as well).

 

My gosh, did it take so long to get home from work today!!! It took me literally 25 minutes to get from the 31st St. Exit ramp to make my turn on Union!!! There must've been a packed house there today...Way to go, Sox fans! It was awesome seeing a bunch of Sox fans all around the neighborhood this afternoon!!!

 

A great way to begin the season indeed.

I was looking for you CWSGuy406 in the lot with your bean bags, lol.

 

Anyway, I was a little upset that I saw people ragging on a Cub fan...we can be the better men and not say anything first. Let them look like morons. We are good people.

 

Crowd was into it when necessary. People got loaded in the parking lot after the game, it was kind of funny.

 

I think we got some shots of the festivities before the game, which will be uploaded later.

 

Yes, I noticed people calling people Iguchi The Gooch too...and I thought it was cute how Nancy played "Bingo" when Shingo was pitching.

 

I hope they go back to their bad ass game opener with AC/DC...I liked that a lot better. Its a good start to the games for metal heads like me.

 

Edit: Zambrano is said to have been kicked out of the Arizona game...just some speculation, which would be pretty funny.

 

As for Ozzie's decison of taking Buehrle out...he wasn't getting first pitch strikes late in the game, and I think he was losing his arm at the end too. It was a good decison to bring Shingo in when he did, IMO.

Edited April 4, 200520 yr by Beastly

Blake is kind of weird. Could be a Podsednik candidate for a bad year. He was a guy who had his first real season later in his career and he mashed last year (28 bombs). But he is 31 or so. It'll be interesting to see if last year was a fluke or if he's that good. You would think that Gerut will be better this year once his knee thing is over with

Taking out Buehrle was the right move.

First start of the year, didn't go over 85 pitches in ST.

Give the bullpen confidence.

I'm driving home from the game right now, and I'm really not all that impressed with us right now.

 

Your driving and typing? remind me to stay away from u on the dan ryan.

 

WHITESOX BAYBA-BABY

We are on pace for a 162-0 season

Illini win and a sox loss today would have still been awesome.

 

If illinois loses i will be so f***ing depressed.

 

same here, I would gladly take a loss for for the Sox to have Illinois win..

 

I still think we will win anyways..

zambrano did get ejected while walking off the field....it was pretty funny because the cubs were up big, and he got taken out with 4 2/3 innings pitched......GO SOX

zambrano did get ejected while walking off the field....it was pretty funny because the cubs were up big, and he got taken out with 4 2/3 innings pitched......GO SOX

 

Cubs still gonna win though

I just watched it on the MLB internet tv feed. That was one hell of a game. Wow, does it suck to be Westbrook.

 

Great to get the win, Buehrle looked great (the strikeout of Crisp was golden). Some good plays by Rowand and Uribe. Have to get the bats going (Crede...), but after 1 game we're up!

 

Edit: When Shingo got the final out and pumped his fist, it looked like the both of us were worried for a split second that he'd punch out the ump.

Edited April 5, 200520 yr by jackie hayes

1/3 Mariners lineup former white sox.

 

Reed

Olivo

Valdez

 

They went a combined 0 for 10.

 

Just one game though.

Just got back from the game. 2 hour game -- good lord, Buehrle pitches fast. He also made me question my sexuality after today's performance. Perfect through 4 innings? 8 inning, 2 hitter?

 

By the way, I thought that all the experts said that hitter would figure Shingo out? Yeah right. He made Alex Cora look foolish.

 

The only thing... Joe still sucks. He grounded into that DP with 1 out for the insurance run.

Edited April 5, 200520 yr by Jabroni

Just got back from the game.  2 hour game -- good lord, Buehrle pitches fast. He also made me question my sexuality after today's performance.  Perfect through 4 innings?  8 inning, 2 hitter?  

Didn't Pablo Ozuna accomplish that already? Heck, from your posts I thought you passed through the "questioning" stage pretty quick...

There were some pretty major renovations to the park, correct? How did they look for those of whom got to go to the game?

There were some pretty major renovations to the park, correct? How did they look for those of whom got to go to the game?

The Park looked fantastic. The fundamentals looked nice the scout seats were, everything about today was just nice. What a day!!!!!

Here's to 161 more!

There were some pretty major renovations to the park, correct? How did they look for those of whom got to go to the game?

 

I sat in the bleachers out in left-center field, and they had the new green bleacher benches in, and I must say, I enjoyed my time out there. How did FUNDAMENTALS look, for someone who sat in the UD? I couldn't look down on it, can anyone comment on that?

 

Oh yeah -- I think the ballpark is gonna look fantastic once all the green seats are infused into the stadium...

Here's to 161 more!

 

wins!? I'll drink to that!

The Fundamentals area looked finished to me but it didn't look like it was "set up" for activities from where I was sitting. I could be wrong though...

Edited April 5, 200520 yr by Jabroni

The Fundamentals area looked finished to me but it didn't look like it was "set up" for activities from where I was sitting.  I could be wrong though...

 

From what it looked like, people were standing up there, almost like they do on the Fan Deck. I dunno, though, I didn't look too much over there, other than noticing it when I walked in...

 

From the Trib

From what it looked like, people were standing up there, almost like they do on the Fan Deck.  I dunno, though, I didn't look too much over there, other than noticing it when I walked in...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, I saw some people standing up there but it didn't look like they were actually doing anything.

I didn't go up to there but when I was outside the park I saw the race Scott Podsednik thing was functioning so that was atleast up, not sure about the rest.

Your driving and typing? remind me to stay away from u on the dan ryan.

 

        WHITESOX BAYBA-BABY       

Dad is driving, I was in the car...yeah...

Edited April 5, 200520 yr by Beastly