gosox41

I won't take credit (or blame) for this one as my friend thought of it. Right now PK and Thome are hurt and neither may play Friday. The Sox are facing Halliday on Friday who is tough enough to bat even with PK and Thome healthy and in the line up. My friend and I both agree Vazquez sucks. So why not Garland and Vazquez in the rotation? Wit Thursday off, Vazquez gets his regular rest. JG pitches better after extended breaks. The theory is that since Vazquez is pretty much a lost cause when he pitches, and it doesn't mess up the rest of the rotation why not throw our suckiest pitcher against the Blue Jays most dominant? This may have a 'lose' mentality about it, but how do you expect Vazquez to pitch against Toronto, a good offensive team? Based on his recent trends we're looking at 5-6 runs in hs usual 4-5 innings. It's hard to score the 6-7 necessary to beat that, but it's going to be that much harder against a Cy Young candidate. Of course if you actually have faith that Vazquez will actually pitch well for once then this goes out the window. Bob

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 06:31 PM) if you're tired of hearing it then maybe you should try posting on a tigers board. Then again, I wouldn't recommend that either. I was surfing some motorsports site and it was full of kool-aid drinking sox haters who are already mapping out the parade route for October. Comical, but pointless. There's a bad joke in there somewhere about planning a parade route in Detroit. Bob

QUOTE(zygoat @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 04:57 PM) this trade does not scare me at the moment, but come october they are the toughest lineup (scroll up to Sam's post for the lineup) that lineup is guarenteed to score runs in any game I think Lidle has more value to the Yankees then Abreu right now. Bob

QUOTE(Dan Pasqua @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 02:01 PM) not when our starters are pitching like crap You said what I was thinking. Bob

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 08:10 PM) So basically, this is statistical proof that the division is over? Fantastic. I disagree. I think the division is there for the taking. All we need is our SP's to get their act together. They have a history of success. It's time to dial it up. Bob

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 05:56 PM) It sucks, but its true. Ozzie and KW truly believe that this team as is, is good enough to make the playoffs. Some fans may think its just KW blowing smoke over the radar screen, however, I believe them this time around. This team is going to sink or swim as is. Right now it doesn't look to floatacous. I don't think it sucks. Most agree that this team is better then the '05 team. Let them play. They had a slump. It happens. It may make things more interesting then we'd like but I don't see how a guy like Soriano is going to help a lot. I've been saying it all along to my friends for the last week or so, I don't think KW is going to make a blockbuster deal. Bob

QUOTE(korntownballa @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 05:07 AM) would it be kinda like the grady sizemore deal where we can lock him up for 6 more years at 30 million dollars b/c hes not a FA yet? I doubt it. Crede can probably go to arbitration next year and get $5-6 mill IMHO. No way Boras lets him sign a deal for that long when he's 2 years awar from free agency. If Boras and Crede did jump at that deal it would tell me that something was wrong with his back. If Crede's 2007 is like his 2006 then he get probably get $7-8 mill in '08. After that he's a free agent and teams would probably sign him to a shorter term deal worth more per year. Bob

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 27, 2006 -> 05:24 PM) Considering Konerko's quotes of still wanting Buerhle to have the ball if the 7th game of the WS was tomorrow, I really don't think he's the one to ask. Players are not the people to get roster advice from. They are too close to it. I have no doubt KW is still trying to improve this team. I think his quote was to show the team his confidence in them and to put them out on a limb if nothing does get done in the next couple of days. Like I said earlier, if the starting pitching doesn't improve, it really will not matter if KW acquires nobody else, or 3 or 4 All Stars. What's PK supposed to say? Would it be better of he ripped Buehrle in the media? Bob

QUOTE(beleiveinbrian44 @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 12:25 AM) pods would go bye bye as in where???? I'm assuming he'd becoe the fourth OFer. If Pods isn't stealing bases, he's basically useless to the team. His OBP is nothing to smile about. He has no power. His defense is below average and he can't hit lefties. If Pods doesn't do the one thing he excels at, there's no reaso to have him starting. Bob

QUOTE(JimH @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 06:40 PM) The reason he said that, and Ray Fosse agreed with him today for what that's worth, is the Tigers had a poor record vs. the White Sox coming into this series. It had nothing to do with anything else other than that. It helps to understand the context in which Hawk is talking. He is a guy who knows the game ... better than me, better than anyone on this board I'd suspect. He is just muted in his criticism ... subtle about it ... and that doesn't sit well with Sox fans who liked the Caray/Piersall brand of broadcasting (those guys broadcast when I was a teenager and I loved them, thought they were great). I have seen a lot worse hanging sliders than that, and hanging curveballs but it was an awful pitch no doubt. As for DJ, I think he's excellent and I think he should be in the dugout somewhere, preferably with the White Sox. As a bench coach he would be fantastic. Talk about a competitive guy who knows the game, he has been spot on this year in particular with his commentary without going overboard. Maybe Hawk should explain himself better. I don't have my schedule near me, but next time the sox play the Tigers and (assuming) they're still 5 1/2 games out, should I expect to hear the same thing from Hawk? The Tigers record is better against the Sox then it was 3 days ago, but at 3-6 it's hardly a good recod. I guess I took him out of context but IMHO if you look at the big picture the pressure is on the Sox. And it will be until they reclaim first place of clinch the Wild Card. Bob

QUOTE(GoRowand33 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 04:46 PM) the whole season it's been about how were still better than the Tigers, how were the defending world champs ect... well this past stretch, and especially today should be a big slap in the face to the team that they aren't Mr. Incredible I hate to think it, but I get the feeling from our team (pitchers mostly) that the don't care as much as last year, and they just think they can cruise along right back to the world series Ken Harrelson kept saying how the series was good for the psyche of the Tigers, well now their riding on the top of the world after winning the series, and the Sox are trailing behind now that we've gotten a taste of losing, we should start to realize that we need to step it up to keep competing in the AL so I think this loss will actually help our team get back together and hit a stride for the rest of the year I hope you're right. I've been getting kind of sick of the free ride the Sox have goten becuase of last year. Last year was last year and it was great and wonderful. But we're in 2006 now. We can always take pride and joy in 2005, but that's no reason the team should get a free ride this season. They need a wake up call. And so do some of the fans who have been watching the 2006 team with rose colored glasses. Fact is as of right now, July 20, Detroit is a better team. Hopefully they'll hit a rough patch this year. But more then that, hopefully the Sox will get back to laying down bunts, moving runners over and great starting pitching. If that happens, then we'll be the better team when it counts at the end of the season. Bob

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 08:34 AM) Different strokes I guess. I want a homer...I want a fan. I don't want the same homerun call for both f***in teams. I want the annoucner to be happy when we hit one and pissed when the other team does. He's not a news reporter he's the home team announcer. If he was on ESPN or FOX, I can understand the gripe. Bottom line, Hawk is out there to please SOX fans...Do you think Sox fans care if he is quiet after an opponent scores? I know I don't think it's unprofessional if he has to cover the mic to say a few choice words offline. He's just doing what most other sox fans are doing. I'd rather have an announcer be a fan also. But what I don't like is when an announcer (Hawk) starts rationalizing. It's insulting to our intelligence with some of the stuff he says. Case in point is me earlier example of Hawk talking about where the pressure was right before the series started. He put it on Detroit. When we were leading last year, the pressure was on everyone chasing the Sox. This year it's on Detroit even though we're the chasers. I have a question: Which team is under more pressure now, Hawk???? Bob

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Jul 19, 2006 -> 09:40 PM) Bob, Once you've been a White Sox fan for more than 8 months, you acquire a taste for the Hawkeroo. Your time is coming. Sincerely, Steve Steve, Season tickets have been in my family since before you were born. I was a kid back in the early '80's and went to a ton of games with my parents. Now I'm older and have my own season tickets. You're not one of those fans who Bernstein was ranting about today, are you? Bob

I've never been a big fan of Hawk, but the last 2 days he seems to have lost me. Yesterday he talks about how there's no pressure on the Sox and all the pressure was on the Tigers. Since they're the first place team that is young and beating expectations it's hard to believe that's true. Last year I remember him saying that there was no pressure on the Sox because they were in first place and teams had to catch us. Well now we're in the exact opposite scenario and he flip flops. How can anyone take this guy seriously? I guess he's right at some point in time because he takes both sides of an argument. Heck, even a broken clock is right twice a day. Today he's talking about how Vazquez made the wrong pitch at the exact wrong time. No kidding. And judging by his 5+ ERA and the way he's pitched over the last 10 starts, he's made a lot of wrong pitches at the exact wrong time. Why? Because Vazquez stinks. Hakw is playing it off like Vazquez has been pitching great all year and this is one of the few times he's gotten burned. Ummmmm....no. This guy has been a victim of the big inning all season. What kind of analysis is Hawk giving? The guy gave up a grand slam in the 6th inning of a 1 run game against the team the Sox are chasing. He's been giving up big hits all year. This isn't because Vazquez has been making the right pitches and gotten beat, but more like he's made a ton of 'wrong' pitches. Bob

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Jul 19, 2006 -> 01:23 AM) The argument of best team in baseball is pointless. Like every year, we will find out in the last week of October who the best team in baseball actually is. Hopefully we'll be in the running to have that chance instead of at home watching.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 19, 2006 -> 08:07 PM) So Vazquez deserves a pat on the bat for giving up 5 runs in 6 innings in a huge game for the Sox? Sorry, but I expect more from a 11 million dollar pitcher. Can we just save him to pitch against the Indians and Royals the rest of the year? I have a better idea. Stick him in the back of the bullpen where he never sees the light of day except for a games that are blow outs. I don't think any sane team would trade for him. Bob

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Jul 17, 2006 -> 08:13 PM) Hey Cuck the Fubs! A couple of weeks ago, my buddy's friend was working at some new steakhouse, and said this jagoff pulled up in a BMW and parked right in front of the door like he owned the place. The asshole wanted a reservation for 8 at 6:30 PM, but he told the guy reservations were full. The jagoff then said "well I think you can make a reservation for me. Ask your manager." So my buddy's friend went to his manager and I'm not sure what happened after that. Anyone want to guess who that walking tampon was? I know someone who used to be his daughter's special ed teacher back in the late '90's. When it came time for conferences, Jay told the teacher he couldn't make it because he didn't want to become a distraction. Bob

QUOTE(beck72 @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 08:43 AM) Nothing personal, but I'd like to hear Coop and KW's assessments more. Me too. But since they're not posting here, you get me. Bob QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 09:54 AM) I think the problem is the pitchers are being compared to last year, and to last year's playoff run when, in both instances they pitched way better than can be reasonable expected again, at least for an entire season. Buerhle, even with his last 3 bombings, has numbers pretty close to what you could reasonable expect. Garland was a journeyman basically until last year. Freddy was good and bad at Seattle, so its not shocking to see him with an ERA over 4. Contreras has been solid, better than could be expected, and Vazquez has been mediocre for the vast majority of his career. Expections of the pitching staff were way too high. Unreasonably high. The greatest 5 man rotation in history? Please. Its a good thing the offense improved this year. With last years offense and this year's pitching, the Sox probably would be looking at dueling it out with Cleveland for 3rd place. I thought only Garland had a career year last year. Buehrle was like he was normally. Garcia pitched as well as he did in Seattle. Contreras can be called a surprise, but I don't call it a career year for him. Vazquez pitched better in Montreal but has been nothing the last 4 years but expensive. Bob

QUOTE(South Side Fireworks Man @ Jul 15, 2006 -> 01:45 PM) It's a combination of things. Our pitchers pitched over their heads last season, Vazquez is pitching like he normally does (mediocre), and historically a lot of times staffs that pitch late into October often have down years the following season. Schmidt is not the answer. It's D. Willis or bust. Sox won't repeat with pitching like this. I've heard that before but I didn't expect them to get this bad. What it comes down to is that these guys made an extra 3 starts last year. And actually that's not accurate as I believe Garland only made 2 and Contreras made 4, assuming I remember correctly. Here's my assessment: Contreras-No drop of here. He's having a great year. Buehrle-He claimes he's 100% but he's not locating his pitches. He's gone through periods like this before in his career but I don't recall him getting lit up like this 3 starts in a row. Anyone else recall such a bad stretch from him? Garcia-I think the WBC is a joke and Garcia is a case in point. Besides the playoffs last year he had to take an early spring training to pitch in the WBC. It's no surprise his velocity is down. IMHO, he's hurt. I don't know that for a fact but can someone else here explain why his velocity left him the entire first half? Garland-Started slow by has been solid lately. If the playoffs started today, I'd make him my #2 starter behind Contreras. Vazquez-This guy is like Contreras in 2004. He has the talent to be a really good pitcher, but he's pitching as mediocre as he always is. I can't believe some team (was it the Yanks) gave him such a huge contract. Bob

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 3, 2006 -> 10:40 PM) The problem to me is people don't like to hear or read opinions that are different than theirs. I'd rather have everyone agree with me, but there's usually very few. Everyone is going to be right and everyone is going to be wrong analyzing baseball. Guys that get paid millions to do it are wrong a lot. Just look at KW last year. He wanted Kendall to catch. Couldn't make the deal. He wanted Jaret Wright in the rotation, couldn't match the Yankees. He wanted Tim Hudson. Beane didn't want McCarthy. He offered Matt Clement a nice sized contract. Boston trumped him. If KW is successful with any of those moves, guys like Iguchi, AJP, Hermanson, may not have been signed, and a championship would probably not have been won. To write off people worried about the pitching staff as being "chicken littles" is short-sighted. The Sox pounding the ball, but getting pounded while on the field is in the words of KW "a movie we have seen before." I'll guarantee you KW is at least as worried about the pitching staff as all the "chicken littles" on this site. Good post. People shouldn't get jumped on because of some concerns. Last I checked, the White Sox pithcing staff as a whole has let up more runs then last year. Does that mean I think the team is done? Heck no. But it is cause for concern. At least this years team has a better offense. Right now the Sox have 2 starters who have ERA's over 5 and one (Garcia) who is really close and may be over that number after tonight. We are 1/2 through the season and I think this team will make the playoffs. Here's a statement someone will twist around: If the Sox starting pitching goes into October pitching like they have the first 1/2 of the year, we're not going to be around long in the playoffs. That being said I have confidence that Garland will get on track. I also think Garcia will be all right. But Coop needs to work a miracle with Vazquez to get him going. Bob

QUOTE(Hangar18 @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 09:14 AM) Just wanted to say hello to everyone here. Ive been documenting the Chicago Media blatant bias against the World Champion White Sox for a number of years. Its been a hot topic the last couple of years, ESPECIALLY in the last couple of weeks. Most casual fans had no idea the lengths and trouble the Chicago Media goes thru to A: Make the SOX look bad and B: Make that north-side team look great. From constantly comparing the attendance figures between both parks, hiliting the Good (them) and the Bad (always us), the Media Watch is way to shine a light right back on the people who are supposedly in charge of getting and reporting to us the News. The Internal Affairs of sports if you will. Some of you may know me from the other website, truth be known, I was BANNED for my Media Watches. Some there feel that if you Ignore the Problem, It will Go Away. (that never works, history tells us so) Some there feel it important that Everyone Agree with them or Else. Thats not the case here. If you dont agree. Hallelujah. Its a Democracy! Media Attention is very important for a baseball team, especially one in a two team city. That other team is somehow known the world over, for simply, being BAD? Were the Champions, and were going to make sure the SOX get their due. The Deserve It. You were banned for your news media watches? Id idn't ralize that was the reason. Bob

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jun 8, 2006 -> 10:07 PM) f***. I swear to god if Pujols did anything, I'm done with baseball. I've believed in that f***er since day one, once he started defending Bonds I thought perhaps something was up but I couldn't bring myself to believe it. I swear if he let me down this time I'm not sure I can continue following the sport. I have no diea if Puljos is a cheater or not. But I can't help be suspicious of any player who 50 HR's let alone is on pace (until the injury) to hit 75. How can this not raise question marks???? Baseball today is a different game then it was when Ruth or Maris were playing. What they did was amazing. But if they were in their prime today, I would have a hard time believing they could duplicate their records. Bob

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 06:31 AM) http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2469450 This is a good reason not to use Thome that much in the field during interleague play. Too bad about Albert. I don't want to seethe Cubs have any hope what so ever. Bob

QUOTE(AWhiteSoxinNJ @ Jun 3, 2006 -> 01:38 PM) Take it for what it's worth, got it off the Philles board. http://www.philaphans.com/forums/showthrea...&threadid=41726 I've heard the rumor about getting Rowand back since he was first traded, but we can't trade Garland yet. Bob

QUOTE(Cuck the Fubs @ May 27, 2006 -> 10:13 PM) The protest apperantly didn't work: well, unfortunately, i feel defeated. only because i didn't get the turnout i was hoping for. maybe 15 people. we were all on the score for 2 weeks, many blogs, but not a big turnout for support. we were interviewed by cbs and fox news so that was cool. the only thing i can hope we accomplished with this, is for it to be noticed by others and maybe start to grow somehow. oh well, i gave it shot. i feel exhausted, but trust me, we were heard! so much so, that the cubs had their merry old band come out near us and play music to try to drown us out. it didn't work though, we had a LOUD megaphone. gotta run, i'm out. thanks for the support. i'll send pics to you guys over at 1060. Bill I'm not surprised it didn't work. Cub fans don't care about winning. What mattered yesterday was the beer was flowing, the sun was out, and the women were in bikinis. If the Cubs happen to win, so much the better. If not, they're too drunk to care. Speaking about this, has anyone heard this song? Don't know if it's been posted, but I haven't seen it yet. I apologize if it has. http://www.theheckler.com/index.php?page=0...c2a73578acd0a93 Bob