South Side Fireworks Man

QUOTE (fathom @ May 11, 2009 -> 09:58 AM) We're the only team I know that needs to send a message that they were trying to send a message. I applaud Jenks for doing what he did (especially that it was low enough not to even threaten Kinsler's head), but there's no reason for him to publically admit he did this. Agreed 100%.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ May 10, 2009 -> 09:54 AM) I dont either, but I would like it to go the other way as well. Greinke WAS headhunting with Alexei the other day, after routinely hitting the Sox this year, an the guy doesnt get one word of warning. That's because KC and the other teams don't talk about it, they just do it. The Sox always have to talk about it in the media first so then the umpires are just waiting for them to even throw close.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 8, 2009 -> 11:19 PM) I was sitting behind the White Sox dugout tonight, and I know Contreras was bad and has been bad, but some of the classless people around there are way out of line with what they are yelling at him. The guy is perhaps the biggest reason there is a trophy at that park. He also is a guy that wasn't supposed to pitch until August, if ever again. Remove him from the rotation, but the Count will rise again, and all these "fans" will be singing another tune. I understand the whole, "I bought a ticket, I have a right to be an asshole" talk, the funny thing is most of the people who pop off didn't buy their own ticket, but saying disgusting things like what was being thrown at Jose shouldn't be said to anybody higher than Drew Peterson. God bless you, Dick. You took the words right out of my mouth (or rather right off of my keyboard).

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ May 8, 2009 -> 05:14 PM) Or by not being a stereotypical meathead, OK, which one are you - Boers or Bernstein? When you have to resort to name calling it just means you lost the argument.

QUOTE (Paint it Black @ May 8, 2009 -> 10:59 AM) And nobody has proved to me how a bean ball war helps a baseball team win more games. If it did, pitchers would be plunking every damn hitter they faced. I don't think anyone is advocating a "bean ball war". Let's see what KW actually said: "You can't allow other teams to pitch inside and knock your players down and not reciprocate," Williams said Thursday, mindful that Sox batters have been drilled 14 times, compared to their opponents getting nailed four times. "You can't do it. You have to establish the inside part of the plate and move hitters off the plate to open it up more. If you don't do that and allow the other team to do it to your hitters, then you're losing at both ends." Nowhere does KW advocate throwing a bean ball nor even hitting anyone. He mentions pitching inside. QUOTE (Paint it Black @ May 8, 2009 -> 10:59 AM) Stop with the silly "hitters are more comfortable" argument, because I can just as easily say that hitters would fear another retaliation on our team, after we hit/brushed back one of their guys. If you don't believe hitters are more comfortable when they know the opposing pitcher will never move them off of the plate with an inside pitch, you must have never played baseball and haven't watched much baseball for too long either. QUOTE (Paint it Black @ May 8, 2009 -> 10:59 AM) Moreover, there is no statistical analysis that proves the bean ball argument. Brushbacks? fine with me. Again, your "bean ball argument" is a red herring. And now you contradict your previous statements by saying "Brushbacks? fine with me." QUOTE (Paint it Black @ May 8, 2009 -> 10:59 AM) But this whole "we need to drill the next hitter" crap needs to die along with team chemistry, game to game momentum, etc etc. Just a hunch, but I'll bet you get most of your opinions from listening to Boers and Bernstein. Anyway, the point is that you can't let the opposing batters get too comfortable in leaning out over the plate. Keeping them honest with a few pitches off the inside corner every now and then and making them move around a little bit is an effective tactic for any pitcher. And allowing the opposition to continually move your batters off the plate and actually drilling a good number of them while your pitchers fail to even establish the inside of the plate and make their hitters move a little is just bad baseball. The one thing that bothers me about all this is why did it get to the point where the GM had to say it? The White Sox under Ozzie have never handled this well. Ozzie always would talk about retaliation publicly resulting in the league and the umpires scrutinizing the Sox pitchers too closely, putting them at a disadvantage. Sox hitters would get drilled, and then the first time A Sox pitcher would hit an opposing batter, it would be the Sox who would get the warning. The best way to handle this is to say nothing, let your pitcher do what needs to be done, and if questioned afterward say that it was just an unfortunate pitch that got away.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 4, 2009 -> 01:14 PM) No, I don't get that sense, as Ozzie has been a pansy about retaliation so far this year. I'm not one for managers having to try to provide a physical spark to a team, but Ozzie's been way too calm this year with retaliation as well as arguing with the umpire. Ozzie always was one to talk about retaliation. He would talk too much but rarely ever would the Sox retaliate effectively. All his talking did was made the umpires and the league watch the Sox more closely. He should just keep his mouth shut about it. And I wouldn't think it was a bad idea if Colon drilled the first Royal he faced tonight, "accidently" of course. Then let Grienke be the "bad guy" if he retaliates. Ozzie has to learn how to handle these things. You would think he would know better by now.

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ Apr 25, 2009 -> 01:05 AM) sending him down means they're bringing someone else back up wonder who it'll be I hope they get Vizcaino. They need a major league pitcher.

Podsednik was signed to take Jerry Owens' place in Charlotte. He's not going to be starting in CF for the Sox anytime soon, and then only if Anderson doesn't produce and Owens doesn't either, and no one else becomes available. I have no problem with this signing, and I think it's great that the Sox can do Pods a favor.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Apr 12, 2009 -> 03:31 PM) A bruise on his tricep... he will be fine. Maybe a little sore but nothing major there. Thanks. I hope he doesn't miss any time.

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Apr 12, 2009 -> 03:30 PM) tricep contusion or something. whatever that means lol Thanks for the update.

Any word on Getz?

Bartolo Colon is a winner.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Apr 9, 2009 -> 02:54 PM) We need a CF/lead off hitter badly. And Greg Walker...what the f*** are you doing? Can someone tell Alexei he's getting nothing but breaking balls from everyone in this division? Do you f***ign job Walk. Agreed. The Sox can't afford an automatic out as a starter in this lineup. When the sluggers are cold, the Sox need a spark-plug type who can help manufacture some runs. Kinda like Pods did for the first couple of months of 2005. (I'm not talking about an Owens/Wise/Pierre low OBP/liability in the field type either.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 7, 2009 -> 03:31 PM) Fields had a great game as obviously,Thome. I feel sorry for Wise, he's in over his head and its not his fault. He's already getting the crap booed out of him. They need to end this experiment now. Also the new out of town scoreboard is very nice if you are close enough to read it. I agree wholeheartedly with everything you wrote.

QUOTE (ChesterCopperpot @ Apr 7, 2009 -> 03:27 PM) Chicago 1 0 1.000 Cleveland 0 1 .000 Detroit 0 1 .000 Kansas City 0 1 .000 Minnesota 0 1 .000 DIVISION CHAMPS BABY Wire to wire!!!

Wise at leadoff is a sparkplug..........an oil-fouled sparkplug that bogs down the engine.

Great game by Josh Fields--I was really impressed by his performance today. He looks like a different player. Octavio Dotel was awesome and Clayton Richard did a great job. Buehrle struggled badly but kept us in it. Thome came through big time in the clutch!!! Poor performance by Dewayne Wise. FIRST PLACE!

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Apr 4, 2009 -> 06:30 PM) It's pretty early to be starting an appreciation thread, but i have to raise a toast to Jose Contreras. He could've easily followed the prescribed rehab and returned mid-season, but instead he sacrificed, worked his ass off, dropped thirty pounds, all in effort to help our Chicago White Sox. Regardless of the results he has this season, I have an even greater appreciation for him as an athlete; my hat is off to you, El Titan de Bronze. I'm with you and I'll drink to that!

QUOTE (Reddy @ Mar 31, 2009 -> 05:28 PM) my favorite part of today? Anderson raising his spring line to .297 .361 .484 too bad Wise outplayed him. Sometimes you just have to wonder.....

QUOTE (103 mph screwball @ Mar 27, 2009 -> 03:13 PM) I think Lillibridge will be holding the spot for Nix until after the quad heals. Nix showed too much bat to let him walk because of an ouchy. Agreed.

79. Poor defense, slow plodding lineup, no viable major league centerfielder, and Ozzie's insistance on batting their worst hitter at the top of the lineup = 79 wins tops. Now, if Ozzie decides to bat Getz and Ramirez at the top, they could break .500. If KW can bring in a real major league CFer, they may be a legit contender.

QUOTE (thedoctor @ Feb 1, 2009 -> 07:05 PM) i don't know why you'd put alexei second when he's one of our better guys with runners in scoring position. That's why I said I hate putting him there. But as the lineup currently stands, there is no one to put second unlessyou want to put AJ there again following the left handed Getz at leadoff. Ideally, I'd bat Ramirez sixth, maybe seventh.

Getz 2b Ramirez ss Quentin lf Dye rf Thome dh Konerko 1b Pierzynski c Fields 3b Anderson cf Betemit Lillibridge Wise/Owens Viciedo Stewart Buehrle Floyd Danks Colon Marquez/Contreras Jenks Linebrink Thornton Dotel Carrasco Poreda/Richard Of course it's too early yet, but as it stands now this is roughly what they could/should put together. I don't like Ramirez batting second but what are ya gonna do.

QUOTE (VenomSox @ Jan 22, 2009 -> 11:29 AM) Heard on the score that Danks declined the wbc. Good.

Well I for one am happy to see Colon back with the Sox especially for the contract they gave him. If he stays healthy for a good portion of the season it's a steal. If not, they don't lose much. And he was always an "anti-Javy" type pitcher throughout his career which is definitely what the Sox need.