fathom

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 09:20 PM) So are we just one of the luckiest teams in baseball to be where we are? We are only 3 games behind where we were at this time last year. The Twins, Sox and Tigers are all playing about 2 games better than their numbers would suggest they should play. I see a lot of people saying that this team is like 2004 and those years. In 2004 through 122 games in the season, we were 60-62. Right now we are 73-50. In 2003 we were 63-59. Despite Detroit playing out of their minds this year, we are only 5 games back in the loss column. So, you are telling me the difference between a team that "simply isn't that good" and one that is pretty awesome in the Tigers is only 5 games? But I respect your opinion. You make it without whining everytime something goes wrong. I disagree, but respect the fact that you don't make your feelings known one way or the other after every good or bad thing that happens. Nonetheless, I can think of 10 or 11 teams in the AL that would like to suck as much as we do. I think a much more accurate statement would be to say this team isn't on par with last year's team. So many people expected us to match the achievements of last year's team (greatest rotation ever, etc). Even if this team has more talent this year, last year's team overachieved compared to too many guys on this team underachieving. Our 3-4-5 is just awesome this year though, and Crede's been a star.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 09:16 PM) And the optimists in this thread aren't acting high-and-mighty. That must be because all of the good posters no longer visit this site.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 09:11 PM) I'm really not mad either. Funny thing is that I seem to be angry when others are calm and vice versa. Yeah, the three things I'm angry about are: - PK's lack of focus at the plate/in the field in the first 4 innings - Ozzie using Cotts when we're down 2 in the 8th - Our outfield defense continuing to have the baseball IQ of a 5 yr old. See, I like this thread because people are actually making valid points and using statistics/observations instead of just saying "these guys suck, I can't wait until we can unload Vaz/Garcia/Pods for Carl Crawford and Jason Schmidt this offseason". I do miss the days though when it seemed like there was a White Sox Winner thread 70 pct of the time.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 09:10 PM) I guess you're done questioning whether he was seriously hurt or not, Yes I am. I know I wasn't the only one questioning it.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 05:52 PM) That's the kind of thing people used to say about Ozzie.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 09:04 PM) OK, I haven't read this thread yet, but I thought I'd try to lighten the mood for a second. When I saw the name of this thread and then looked at who started it, I was surprised to see it wasn't fathom or myself. Hell, I'm not even that upset today. Everyone in the world knew that the Sox would lose today. I would have bet my life savings on the Twins today. I'm happy we're still up in the Wild Card. Unless we get more than 1 game behind in the standings, I will always be optimistic (even if I don't express it in my posts).

Ugh...you were usually one of the posters who made me think there was hope! Basically, the problems you mentioned are what happened from 2001-2004. Neal Cotts allowed 1 homer in about 65 innings last year. This year, it's 8 homers in about 49 innings.

QUOTE(South Side Fireworks Man @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 08:58 PM) Yeah, Ozzie, that must be it. Did Ozzie really say that?

Javer Vazquez....Mr. 101

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 08:58 PM) Because it is all you do anymore. You dont hold any players accountable anymore, its all on Ozzie. Yeah...I don't criticize Vazquez or Garcia or PK (today) or Pods or the pitch calling by AJP. GMAB.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 08:57 PM) You and I have very different definitions of "Possibly winnable". Not with Nathan sitting there. A 2 run game is a bloop and a blast away from being tied though. If that game is out of reach, then this team might as well forfeit the rest of their games.

Pods now has 80 K this year....the good news is Juan Pierre has 33.

QUOTE(CYGarland @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 08:55 PM) And now Pods is hitting for Anderson, not sure how this is an improvement. Ozzie was worried that Anderson might be tired from playing 8 innings today.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 08:54 PM) It's not a bad call by Oz at all.(Im sure Fathom will say it is, whats new) However, Cotts is just not helping his cause AT ALL. It is going to start getting hard to find spots for Oz to use him in if this keeps up. Why do I get bashed for saying that Cotts shouldn't be in a game that is still possibly winnable? Riske hasn't pitched much all weekend....why not use him?

QUOTE(DrunkBomber @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 08:28 PM) Like always I dont really disagree with Ozzie but these are things that dont really need to be addressed in these tyrades. I could understand him getting frustrated by being accused of cheating by a few people. I guess it's ok for Buehrle to accuse of teams/pitchers of cheating, but it's not ok for other teams to say that about us.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 08:53 PM) I just thank God for all of our relievers having fluke years at the same time. And now the Twins have something similar going with Reyes, Rincon, Neshek, and Nathan. I particularly liked Hermanson's 89 mph fastball down the plate last year that would routinely be caught at the warning track.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 08:53 PM) How in the world can the same pitchers be so good last year and so bad this year? It just blows my mind. One or two I understand, but only 1 or 2 putting up the same numbers? Yeesh It seems like I say this once a week now, but the more things change, the more I appreciate how everything fell into place last year.

How hard is it to figure out why someone who throws a straight 92 mph high fastball on every pitch will get hit hard?

Don Cooper has done an amazing job with our returning pitchers this year. I especially like the work he's done with Neal's offspeed pitches. HOW IN THE HELL DID NEAL COTTS ONLY ALLOW 1 HOMER LAST SEASON? Talk about a miracle year.

Good job Ozzie....way to show no urgency again when we're down a few runs. Neal Cotts is the worst pitcher on this team!

QUOTE(soxyess @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 08:47 PM) f**kin cheap hit Please stop

13 for last 19 are lefties vs Cotts now.

QUOTE(Felix @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 08:44 PM) The instances where he hustled greatly outnumber the instances where he didn't. Of course, I don't have any real issues with his hustle. However, as someone said about that on this site, considering he's involved in 4 or 5 plays the entire game, he better be hustling.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 08:43 PM) Sorry, the entire team minus Thome and Mackowiak. When your "speed" hitter is your laziest player running the bases, you have a problem.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 08:41 PM) It's representative of the entire team's mentality this year. They just don't care as much as they did last year, and they don't show near the amount of effort. At least people no longer say that Ozzie is the great motivator. QUOTE(Felix @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 08:43 PM) Tell that to Thome, who hustles just about every play. And yet, even he has had a few instances this year where he didn't hustle, and both times it hurt the Sox.