NWINFan

I don't understand the calls for Ozzie after some losses. There are many others who could have been good managers for this team. The White Sox just refused to interview them.

The one thing that frustrates me about this offense right now is it goes down real easy in some innings. Weak grounders and things are over after 10 pitches. The opposing doesn't break a sweat, and if you go to the frig for anything, the inning is over by the time you get back. But I've seen other years where the offense is much worse, and this team can hit the opposition with three or four homers in about any game.

This makes sense to me. I even remember when I played ball when I was 18. I walked to the plate once and noticed the ump. He called low balls strikes constantly. The first pitch to me was low again, and I took a cut because I didn't want to fall behind on the count. I grounded out. From the fan's viewpoint, I don't want to dwell on ball and strike calls. There are just too many in a game and over the course of a season. I understand the player's frustration. But until there are better umps or some other change, all a player can do is adjust the best way he can. It does help a hitter if he knows how a particular ump calls a game.

I understand the frustration with umpires, but I try not to think about it much. There are too many calls to analyze and if you dwell on them, it will drive you nuts. Safe to say, some calls will have an impact on the game. But that is the way it has been and will remain until something is else is done. Pitchers hang breaking pitches, fielders make errors, umps make bad balls. All are human.

I believe many fans have been unrealistic since the rebuild started. The hype around Kopech was absurd when he was called up, and he hadn't thrown a major league pitch. And I don't believe Vaughn will be good right away, and it will harm his development if he is rushed. The Eloy injury exposed this team some. It's too early to pass judgment on this team, but it is not too early to be concerned.

Panic is not the term I would use. Concern is more apt. That last game against the Indians was bad baseball. And I not even thinking about the hitting.

I don't even know what this is supposed to mean. It makes no sense, although it is condescending.

I've been a White Sox fan for many years, and many times I've heard the phrase "don't worry, it's early." It's early now, but it's not too early to worry about this team. Grandal is bad, and Vaughn should be in the minors. LaRussa is the wrong man for the job. This is not good.

This team just looked bad. Why was Moncada playing so far back in the 8th when the Indians had a left-handed hitter leading off? Then he makes a wild throw when he should have held onto the ball. It lead to an insurance run the Sox couldn't afford to give up because their offense is so putrid. Did LaRussa stay awake today?

Really no one is. This game has had weak ground balls and pathetic pop ups. Sox offensive innings didn' take long.

I remember Humber's perfect game, and I also remember him disappearing. The encouraging thing about Rodon was not only the no-hitter, but his velocity in the last inning. In addition he was still sharp and had great location. No sign of wear. Maybe he has finally turned a corner. The Sox will need him. Otherwise that ninth was a great thing to watch.

Let us hope it is not a "developmental" year. But if certain things don't pan out, it will be just that. But you are right in one aspect: Rebuilding can no longer be used as an excuse. We need to see results.

Any closer can blow a save, but Hendriks really labored in that ninth. Almost 30 pitches to get three outs. Went deep into counts and had a hard time putting guys away. Wasn't very good. This is still too small a sample. But as time goes on, we will see if this a contending year or another developmental year. The team isn't real deep, and so it can't afford any more serious injuries. Needs to turn things around soon. I don't think this team will rebound from a real bad start. And ChiSox59 is right. The loss of Eloy is huge.

True, but the fact remains that you're not going to homer every game. They did get one homer this game and still lost. Gotta find a way to win 3-2, 4-3 games.

That's been the trouble with this team. Yes, when they hit, they will outslug teams. But a good team has to win these low-scoring close games. They have not demonstrated they can do that.

You have a point there. It's even worse with Tim out, too. Suddenly, the lineup looks ordinary.

For the last season and a half, the team has done some truly exciting things. It makes you think they can make some real history. But there are still question marks. Regardless, the club can be just plain fun at times. We missed that.

You're probably right, but it should happen. Save arms, save bullpens, get outs. Then again, you need a defense. The great pitching staffs of the Orioles in the Seventies had a great defense behind them. Why was Adam Eaton signed?

LaRussa should never have been hired. As usual no there was no thought process in making this important decision. Admit the mistake, fire him again, and act like a major league club. Then do a real search for a real manager.

The day of the complete game is long gone. But starters need at least get into the seventh. At least the good ones should. Perhaps not worry about strike outs and pitch to contact to keep the pitch count down? Oh, wait a minute, you don't have a defense behind you.

Four games is never an indicator of how good or bad a team is. The 2005 team had a seven game losing streak in August and had a losing month. They ended up with 99 wins. This team will begin hitting and, with that, more wins will come. However, the White Sox still haven't proved they can win over a long season. Overall, they are a young club. They show flashes of brillance, but they still need to develop. If they can improve as the season goes on, they can be in contention in the end. Yet, there are still causes for concern. Like the manager. Like the defense.

People are right to say it is too early to panic. However, saying the Sox could have won three or even four in this series provides little comfort. Losing games you should win is a mark of a bad team.

Don't know if Yermin is the real deal, but he at least deserves some kind of chance. The Sox gave enough chances to the Adams - LaRouche and Dunn.

Not a big LaRussa fan, but since clinching the playoffs last year, the Sox are 4-12, including the playoffs. Maybe this team won't meet the high expectations?

We already knew the Eloy was a big loss. Other than that, I don't think we learned too much. However, the eighth inning was frustrating. The first two batters fail to hit the ball out of the infield and it is first and second and no outs. A team is asking for it when that happens. The one thing that I learned is that with all the high expectations, any loss is going to cause some manic depression. That's the nature of Sox fans.