fathom

Part of the problem right now is that Uribe is batting behind so many guys that can't get on base at all right now. Thus, he's rarely in a situation to drive in runs.

- Pods - Iguchi - Uribe - Konerko - Everett - Rowand - A.J. - Dye - Crede

Interesting that both pitchers they suggest the Sox might take are Illinois high school products (Mt. Carmel and DeLaSalle). Carillo was on ESPNews a few weeks ago, and he said he was a Sox fan, FWIW.

The thing is, we're basically playing with house money with our incredible start. Instead of waiting for this team to lose 5 or 6 games in a row, Ozzie should get creative. The current lineup is certainly not clicking in terms of producing a lot of motion on the bases and smallball. Something I've noticed is that besides Pods or Iguchi, we do a terrible job with situational hitting when we have runners on 1st and 2nd, no outs. I've seen enough weak pop ups or routine DP balls to last a season in the last week.

I honestly would like to see Uribe in the 3rd hole for a while, and see what happens. He is the starter who consistently hits the ball hardest, and with Pods and Iguchi at the top of the order, I really think our offense would flourish. We also should have Everett and Rowand batting back-to-back, so a manager can't put in a lefty to face Everett and Konerko (who's worse against lhp than rhp).

QUOTE(JimH @ May 11, 2005 -> 03:30 AM) I agree but the clutch hitting is not there. They manufactured a few runs but left a few big runners out there too. 9 walks, poor location on pitches, at least one poor defensive decision. Yeah, but Tampa also left a ton of runners on base also. When both teams do it, I don't feel as bad about it. The one thing that just irks me about tonight is that we had the game at a spot where we could use our best relievers to get 9 outs with a 2 run lead....and I just feel like Ozzie didn't put us in a good chance to succeed. However, we've talked about this all night, so no reason discussing it more. Thanks JimH for some actual good conversation tonight.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ May 11, 2005 -> 03:27 AM) We hit a lot of warning track shots over the last three years. Line drives win games. This is not a power hitting team anymore. Stop trying to jack homers. That's the thing, it was a lot of line drives that carried out to the fence. Rowand, Crede, and Widger all put solid swings on the ball, only for it to not carry AT ALL.

QUOTE(JimH @ May 11, 2005 -> 03:24 AM) They have been flat in these last two games, anyone want to hazard a guess why? I don't think we were flat tonight. A lot of guys were making solid contact, and we just missed hitting out like 4 homers. We scored 6 runs against Tampa....that should be enough. Ozzie and the pitching staff are the culprits tonight.

QUOTE(quickman @ May 11, 2005 -> 03:20 AM) no fathom, a shakeup may be necassary but uribe is not a third place hitter. Our third place hitter is on the DL. Anyway,verett, konerko, dye and rowand are all interchangeable as third place hitters right now.Mix and match and wait for frank. All four of the guys you mentioned have been awful lately. With Pods and Iguchi getting on base at a solid rate, why have 4 straight guys batting behind them who can't hit a ball hard to save their life? Don't forget that Uribe is also our best sac fly hitter. I don't see what we have to lose right now.

Even with Contreras being wild, he still put us in a position where we had a 2 run lead with 3 innings left. We've been winning all those games in that similar situation this year. In many of those games, we were a hit away from blowing the lead. Cantu came up with two clutch hits for Tampa tonight. I still can't get over that blown strike call on Green's 2-2 pitch. That was a huge factor in our loss tonight.

QUOTE(quickman @ May 11, 2005 -> 03:08 AM) yes I think you are. So you think Everett should stay in the 3rd hole? He hasn't hit a ball hard in the last week.

Yes, but you'd have to be crazy to think KW would actually make that move. With the amount of money pitchers are making, you're not doing your organization any favor by starting the arbitration clock on a future starting pitcher just so that you can fill a hole in your bullpen. A wiser move would be to acquire a reliever, and let McCarthy get more seasoning in the minors.

Am I the only one who would like to see Uribe batting 3rd right now? He's our best hitter, and he's the most likely person to be able to knock in Pods if he steals 2nd base, etc. Everett isn't getting the job done right now.

QUOTE(3E8 @ May 11, 2005 -> 03:02 AM) How'd he do tonight? I believe he went 5 inning, 5 runs tonight. The sadder fact was that he lost to James Baldwin.

QUOTE(ISF @ May 11, 2005 -> 02:56 AM) I think McCarthy should take the Buerhle route to stardom. Waive Vizcaino and bring up McCarthy for a year of long relief. McCarthy isn't exactly dominating AAA right now.

QUOTE(JimH @ May 11, 2005 -> 02:59 AM) Fair enough. So what you're saying is you'd use Politte and keep Vizcaino so he can go in the 8th? He had Politte getting ready behind Vizcaino, which means Politte would've been in a key role or reserved for extra innings. You can bet Politte will pitch tomorrow. JimH....my plan would have been to not even consider using Vizcaino in that game, as long as we were winning. Politte, Marte, and Hermanson are our best relievers by far right now. Thus, I would have taken my chances with them getting 9 outs with a 2 run lead.

If we can't count on Shingo to pitch an inning with allowing a run, then he can't be pitching in close games anymore. It's pretty simple.

QUOTE(JimH @ May 11, 2005 -> 02:48 AM) Still looking for a volunteer to say exactly how they would've handled the relievers better. I'll bite....no problem with Cotts starting the 7th. However, Politte would have been my choice to relieve after Cotts. Politte has pitched 5 times more effectively than Vizcaino this year. Politte would have been given the rest of the 7th, and the first few batters until Crawford and Huff batted in the 8th. Marte would get the call then, and Hermanson would have been the closer.

Funny thing is that I thought he lost this game in the 7th inning by leaving Vizcaino in when it was obvious he didn't have anything. Ozzie failed at his job tonight by not putting us in the best position to win (that's all you can ask for in a manager).

As long as Ozzie continues to use Shingo in save situations or close games, we're going to have a lot more trouble. In a way, I'm happy that we lost this game tonight. Maybe Ozzie will find out which relievers just don't have it this season, and which ones do.

QUOTE(maggsmaggs @ May 11, 2005 -> 02:36 AM) The Twins have a better pitching staff for the simple reason of Joe Nathan while we have Shingo, I am staring to think by the end of May we are 2-3 behind the Twinkies. Twins have a better everything than the Sox. With Morneau back, their lineup is more dangerous than ever before. It will take the Sox continuing to find every possible way to win games in order to win this division.

QUOTE(rudylaw @ May 11, 2005 -> 02:35 AM) That was the worst f***ing game of Ozzie career. I know he did not throw that last home run but f***. Viz should not have been in the f***ing game. Shingo has no business beening in in a tie game in the bottom of the ninth. He walks to many and serves up to many home runs. Ozzie did a f***ing terrible job tonight. f*** f*** f*** Ozzie has got away with a lot of questionable decisions tonight. The games in which the decisions backfire makes him look really stupid. However, since they're 24-9, I'm sure no one will take Ozzie criticisms seriously. I, for one, think he sucks as a manager.

We had a 2 run lead going into the 7th inning, and we let Cotts and Vizcaino blow the lead. Ozzie....if you're going to lose, lose with your f***ing best!

At least we have two great mop-up relievers in Shingo and Vizcaino now. Politte and Hermanson deserve to be pitching in close games.

A big f*** you goes out to Ozzie tonight. He put our worst relievers in situations where they could blow the lead/game....and they did. There was no excuse to keep Vizcaino in the game as long as he did...and there was no reason to let Shingo start the 9th.