fathom

A couple of first half memories that are often overlooked: - Garland striking out Tejada to end the 8th inning in a one run victory over Orioles. - PK's 2 out, 2 rbi single which C. Patterson should have caught, but was unable to. - Everett's 2nd homer of the game at home against Twins, in which he just unloaded off of Lohse.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Jul 11, 2005 -> 03:01 PM) details.....? I had a family member that worked with the Charlotte Knights when Kip was there. Trust me, the organization didn't like him at all. I'm not going to state any particulars, but I'm 100 pct sure Wells won't play for the Sox again.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jul 11, 2005 -> 05:39 AM) Any offensive upgrade would be a major -- yes, major -- defensive downgrade. Even Omar Vizquel. When I think of a major defensive downgrade, I think of the difference between Crede and Ozuna at 3b. There's not that big of a difference between Uribe and Vizquel, in comparison. Since Crede is likely not going anywhere, I'd take my chances defensively on the left side with Crede and Omar in exchange for the offensive upgrade we'd receive. Omar would be a great 9 hitter on this team, setting the table for the top of our order. He'd also be set to bat 2nd in games where Iguchi doesn't play. We have no one else who can bat 2nd on the team.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jul 11, 2005 -> 02:48 PM) I really hope we don't get Wells. He seems like the kind of guy that will thrive only in a completely pressureless environment. Trust me, Wells is not coming back to Chicago. The organization hated him when he was here, for stuff he did on and off the field.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jul 11, 2005 -> 12:31 PM) Somedays it is better to look at the thread-starters than the threads themselves... something are so predictable. If I wasn't sitting on my couch in amazement at some of the moves this weekend, I would have never started this thread. Flat out, I'd be willing to bet more people agreed with me that Ozzie sucked this weekend than those that believe he had nothing to do with our bad series. Just cause they're the frontrunner for manager of the year, it doesn't mean they're perfect. A great example of that is how Bruce Weber s*** the bed at the end of the Ohio St. game in basketball this season. No doubt, Weber deserved the coach of the year. However, I've never seen a coach be so clueless down the stretch in a game (sorry for the basketball comparison, just that I know a lot of people on here are Illini fans).

Phil Rogers has some great things to say about Chris Young in the Tribune tomorrow. It's also interesting that their minor league coach thinks one of them will be traded this season.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jul 11, 2005 -> 04:55 AM) Bottom line if the Sox can't beat Oakland in the playoffs they won't deserve to win it all. This is now and yes the Sox have struggled the past couple years against Oakland but at the same time this year they are just meeting Oakland at the wrong time. Couldn't agree more with this. This A's team is not that good. I'd much rather play them than the Angels or Rangers in the playoffs.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Jul 11, 2005 -> 04:28 AM) Hitting .286 in July, over .330 the last 7 days. Kinda a weird time to make this post. Uribe's OPS is well below .600 against RHP this season. He's one of the main reasons we've struggled against RHP. Uribe's power numbers are WAY down this season. Even though he has a few hits this week, I still don't see massive improvements by him at the plate. Our biggest problem on offense lately is that we have too many easy outs in the lineup. Only Pods, Frank, Everett, and Dye have been swinging good (and PK as of today).

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Jul 11, 2005 -> 03:53 AM) No doubt about it, Ozzie didnt manage a good series but thats not what he said...... the quote was Learn How to f***ing Manage Better..... Now this is Ozzie's 2nd season and he led us to an amazing first half and is way ahead of where he was last year in terms of being a smart manager. Ozzie has improved from last year, but he's still far from being a good in-game manager. No doubt he's a good motivator.....but that can only get you so far. The one thing I've always said you need in a manager, in regards to in-game, is that they put the team in the best chance to succeed. That's why I was upset when he let Cotts stay in to face Melhuse instead of bringing in the much more reliable Politte. Also, what other manager would you have seen pitch to Swisher instead of walking him to face a righty batter with the bases loaded. It's not like Vizcaino is a strikeout pitcher. Hell, Jenks had a better chance of getting out of that situation than Vizcaino did.

Put me in the category of thinking we need an update at SS. Uribe is struggling at the plate, and doesn't seem to be trying to do anything to change his approach (go to opposite field, be more selective). Colorado media always warned Sox fans that all Uribe wanted was the big money contract, and that his work ethic would go to s*** after he received it. So far, they seem like they know what they were talking about. I just don't see the same type of intensity out of Uribe this season.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Jul 11, 2005 -> 03:34 AM) Im glad people are officially dumb after having a bad series... :puke I mean its not like he is the front runner for manager of the year or anything WTF is that apposed to mean :headshake Finally something I agree with. Just cause someone is the frontrunner for manager of the year, it doesn't mean they're immune from criticism when they make AWFUL decisions during a game. I don't know how anyone could defend Ozzie's managerial decisions today. This A's series matched the Angels series at the Cell earlier this year in terms of terrible managing by Guillen. I can just imagine the heat Jerry Manuel would have received if he pulled some of the stunts that Guillen did this wknd.

QUOTE(KevHead0881 @ Jul 11, 2005 -> 03:16 AM) Pretty sure we get swept this series regardless of how Ozzie managed it. I severely disagree. We should have won today's game. Ozzie cost us quite a few runs with his decision-making. Friday's game was lost in big part because of our "sunday" lineup. I honestly don't get what part of "Ozuna can't play 3b" that Ozzie and KW don't understand? Just cause someone can play 2b or SS, it doesn't mean they can play 3b.

The one thing I don't want to see the Sox do in the 2nd half though is use their record as a reason to not make any changes. It scares me when I hear KW and Ozzie make comments about how they don't want to mess up the team chemistry. If we catch all the breaks we did in the first half, in the second half of the season, then we'll have no problem making the playoffs. However, in previous years, it was the Twins who were the lucky second half team.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jul 11, 2005 -> 01:36 AM) ::Faints:: I'm sorry I had to.... I know, I probably surprised some people. The one thing I never want anyone to question is that I'm a Sox fan. Just cause I criticize them, doesn't mean I don't root for them. If I didn't care, then I would never nitpick the way I do.

If someone before the season would have told me we'd be 9 games up at the break, with no season-ending injuries, I would have taken that in a heartbeat. Thus, I'll join in this congratulatory thread about the Sox first half of the season.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jul 10, 2005 -> 11:06 PM) You are unreal, honest, unreal. Everytime this team has a hickup you jump off ship. You know what fathom, just stay off alright, you're a bandwagon jumper. It's so goddamn annoying. What did I say that would make me considered a bandwagon jumper? I'll still root for the Sox every game. Just cause I don't think they're a lock to make it, it doesn't mean I won't root for them. You need to stop getting so sensitive to everything anyone says about your beloved team. It's not like we're talking about your girlfriend or mother, etc.

QUOTE(Brian @ Jul 10, 2005 -> 11:07 PM) Yeah, I hated how Ozzie walked all those guys and those errors at 3B were his fault as well. He should have known by now Ozuna can't play 3B. He should put Uribe at 3b, and Ozuna at SS.

QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ Jul 10, 2005 -> 11:01 PM) But best record = 50% chance to make the playoffs for you? :headshake Way to have faith, Sox fan... I'm just not a homer who thinks this team is the best ever.

QUOTE(JohnStamos @ Jul 10, 2005 -> 10:59 PM) What a joke? We lose 3 games against a team that has our number and you virtual give up on our chances to do anything. Remember the last couple time we lost 3 in a row? I do, because the team rebounded and showed us why they have the best record in baseball through 1/2 a season. You're the f***ing joke with posts like this. Just cause a team has your number, it doesn't mean you have to bend over and take it in the ass. We have a very tough schedule in the 2nd half of the year, and with the way the Cell plays, our pitching staff will not be able to duplicate their first half numbers. Our offense needs to pick it up.

QUOTE(3E8 @ Jul 10, 2005 -> 10:56 PM) What a way to end the half! But..but..but..but...we have the best record in baseball. GMAFB, it's very obvious that this team will have some serious issues in the 2nd half if they aren't addressed. If Crede's back injury lingers, we're f***ED with our current roster.

No one deserves more blame for this series debacle than Ozzie. Between playing Willie on Friday night, not doing the right thing by switching Ozuna and Uribe in the infield, and his just pathetic game today, Ozzie had just a horses*** series. Someone on the bench needs to step in and tell him some of the things he's doing during a game are awful: - Cotts should have never been left in to face Melhuse. We gave the A's that f***ing run. - Why do you pitch to Swisher with the open base?

Ozzie Guillen deserves a ton of f***ing blame for this sweep. An awful lineup on Friday night, and just a pathetic managerial game today.

When you have awful hitters against RHP up like Rowand and Widger, you don't give up the out to try and bunt.

What a f***ing joke. Do people really think we're a legit contender to win the AL? At this point, I think it's 50/50 we even make the playoffs. Way too many holes.

Time to get Rowand on the juice again. That pitch was right down the f***ing plate.