Frankensteiner

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 07:13 PM) He signed Garland and Contreras to long-term contracts, and they're are two best starters. Yup, with 4+ ERAs. Two aces!

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 07:07 PM) I'm not thrilled about picking up Buehrle's option next season, but the truth is, what alternatives are there? I doubt we're going to be outbidding many ballclubs for a valuable starting pitcher. Our system isn't capable of assisting our rotation for next season. I agree. We probably need to replace 2 rotation spots, if Buehrle is gone that's 3. That's going to be tough.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 07:07 PM) KW put a winning roster on the field. The starting pitchers haven't performed, and there are three members of our coaching staff that have sucked this year. However, our team doesn't deserve to make the postseason if every single starting pitcher underachieves. Yes, but there's nothing stopping KW from improving a bad situation. If he didn't want to own up on Vazquez being a mistake, then shame on him. The starters haven't performed, but who's the one trading for them and signing them to long-term contract extensions? He's the one that picked them. It's his mess.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 07:02 PM) KW has ruined this team? Oh boy, I can't wait to hear your reasoning for saying this. I think Kenny has done a great job overall as White Sox GM, however, if this teams fails to reach the playoffs it's all on his shoulders. We didn't make it in '01-'04 but we didn't have a $100 M budget at that time either. You pour this much money into the team, and especially this rotation, you expect something more than a turd. Plus he could have very easily improved the team at the deadline (at least by trading away one of the underachievers).

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 06:59 PM) Anyone else wondering if this run of bad play might just continue til the end of the season? Considering we're 4 games under .500 over the last 40 games, I would say it's likely.

So how much longer do we wait for Buehrle to turn this around before accepting him as the pitcher he's been over the last 2 months? I'm just curious what people think. I've been confident he would return to form but now I'm not so sure.

Who needs pitching? Offense can carry this team.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 06:38 PM) This series has a TERRIBLE feel. The Tigers are pumped up, their fans are very into these games, and we have guys blowing bubbles after they hit a grounder. We won the division two weeks ago, remember?

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Aug 21, 2006 -> 08:14 PM) It's all on the pitching. We'd be .500 right now if not for the offense. That's not what I heard in July. It was don't worry about the pitching, the offense will carry this team.

Our offense averages 5.62 runs per game on the season. They're averaging 4.84 runs per game in August. I bet no one could see this slump coming.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Aug 21, 2006 -> 07:57 PM) Never said I wasn't "worried" about them. Some were giving them the pennant as soon as they got Abreu. Their pitching is still suspect. But as of "right now" they're the favorites. So you weren't "worried" about them despite them being the favorites? Is that different than being worried about them? I'm confused.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Aug 21, 2006 -> 07:52 PM) They're easily the favorites at the moment. Didn't you say you weren't worried about the Yankees a couple of weeks ago?

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 21, 2006 -> 07:52 PM) My two biggest fears are Thome and/or Contreras needing major surgery after this year. But see, I was told that relying on a 36 year old slugger and a "34 year old" Cuban pitcher is a good thing. And we should have no problems being great next year.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Aug 21, 2006 -> 07:50 PM) when this team plays to its potential, it's probably the best team in all of baseball. When it doesn't, you get fiascos like tonight. And Sunday. And Friday. Why they don't play more consistent I have not a clue. But it's not one thing. We're 17-22 over our last 39 games. There should be no more talk about potential. We're just not a very good team, period.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Aug 21, 2006 -> 07:46 PM) Dude, our pitching sucks. We get it. So then there were pitchers switching teams that could have helped us. Good job, Kenny. It's depressing to think how much of an overhaul this staff needs for next year. But yeah, we're locked into these guys for a couple of more years. Awesome!!

Corey Lidle would be our #2 starter.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Aug 21, 2006 -> 07:38 PM) Have you watched the Red Sox lately? Curt Schilling is a better pitcher than anyone we have.

But remember that sweep two weeks ago means we already won the division. Great prediction.

Does anyone still want to argue that we don't have the worst pitching of all the playoff contenders? It's not even close.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Aug 21, 2006 -> 07:33 PM) Um, it would be hard to improve the team if we were getting ripped off in trades. Not if Garcia or Vazquez were on the way out. It's difficult to lose a trade like that.

QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ Aug 21, 2006 -> 07:29 PM) Why does everyone doubt that Kenny didn't explore plenty of options? He's proven to be a fair trader, so the offers must not have been very fair. The alternative to standing pat was improving the team. So we're more concerned with winning trades than improving the team?

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Aug 21, 2006 -> 07:25 PM) ....and who was the answer? None of three guys in your sig were traded. f*** you Konerko. Why doesn't Dye get a shot in the #4 spot yet? We could have actually gotten rid of some of the dead weight on our roster and given McCarthy a shot.

KW had the right idea standing pat. Terrific job letting these guys work themselves out of a "slump."

It was fun last week thinking we had halfway decent pitching. This whole pitching staff needs to be rebuilt in the off-season.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Aug 14, 2006 -> 04:10 PM) We had a better rotation and 'pen than they had in '93. Their offense was sick, though. I guess I'm going more by talent on each team as opposed to just their record and accomplishments. I thought the '93 and '94 White Sox teams were better and more talented than last year's Sox team. Last year's Sox team didn't beat any team as good as the '93 team, imo.