Frankensteiner

I agree with the vast majority here who believe that Chris Widger blows, but the idea that a backup catcher has a profound affect on a penant race is absurd. Let's add to our regular lineup or improve the starting pitching first.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 03:23 PM) Fields to San Diego for Linebrink + spect Garcia to the Mets for Heilman McCarthy to the rotation and suddenly I'm feeling a whole hell of a lot better about this team. I would, too. But I'm doubting it happens. I'm confused what to root for with Garcia. On one hand, if he has a fluke good outing, he'll likely increase his trade value a little, but yet that also makes KW/Ozzie more likely to give him more chances and not trade him.

QUOTE(Greg Hibbard @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 03:16 PM) June 8-19, New York Yankees go 3-8 vs. Oakland, Boston, Cleveland, Washington and Philadelphia May 28-June 8, Detroit Tigers go 2-8 vs. Cleveland, NYY, Boston, and Chicago May 29-June 15, Boston Red Sox go 5-10 vs. Toronto, Detroit, NYY, Texas and Minnesota We just got off of a 2-7 stretch against the 3 of the top 5 teams in baseball. Thank god this stretch is over, because it was seriously a nightmare. Remember, we had a 1-8 stretch of similar baseball against the contenders in the middle of last august. Here are the facts: All four of the best AL teams have serious weaknesses, even in their pitching staffs. All four of the best AL teams have some holes in their lineups. All four of the best AL teams have 1 or 2 shaky bullpen arms. All four teams are really close, and over some stretches, some are going to look better than others. Now, the issues that need to be resolved: 1) Widger, DFA now. We all know this, obviously. Anyone would be better. 2) We apparently need a leadoff hitter who can play left field. Seriously, I think this cannot be stressed enough. Podsednik is going south in a hurry and he's adding very little to the team, and Ozuna's value has just about peaked out. 3) We need to run Vazquez out of town and start McCarthy. If we do those three things, I really think the rest of the problems will take care of themselves. Good luck with all 3 of those. I don't see any of them happening. We'll get some "bullpen help" though. YAY!

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 03:05 PM) A Red Sox win today and they tie us. 2-7 in our last 9 games. More interesting is the teams we've played in this stretch. We're not as good as the best teams in the AL. Hopefully, Kenny can see this, otherwise we're f***ed for the rest of the season. It would require some balls on his and Ozzie's part, and I'm not sure they have them.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 03:03 PM) Scott Podsednik 0/10 this series Tadahito Iguchi 1/9 this series Jim Thome 1/12 this series Paul Konerko 2/10 this series, 2 home runs, 2 walks. Jermaine Dye 6/9 this series. AJ Pierzynski 0/9 this series Joe Crede 4/10 this series, 2 home runs. Juan Uribe 2/7 this series, 1 home run Brian Anderson 4/8 this series Alex Cintron 0/5 this series Rob Mackowiak 1/3 this series Chris Widger 0/3 this series. Pablo Ozuna 0/3 this series. That's a .221 batting average for our team over these 3 games. Most people could see this coming. No way the offense can keep producing like this. We need some help, fast.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 03:00 PM) And that's what is scary. The Twins are playing so much better than we are right now. It's not even the Twins. Yankees and Red Sox are too. We're the 5th best team in the AL right now... but I'm sure Ozzie and co. will just stick their head in the sand after today.

Todd Jones sure gave up the lead there! 2-7 against the Red Sox, Yankees, and Tigers. Yeah, we're real good.

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:52 PM) Starting pitching was not the problem today. 2ER in 7 IP is great. I guess I got way too ahead of myself. I didn't know he was talking about today only.

QUOTE(Greg Hibbard @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:48 PM) Okay, time for a multiple choice quiz: the problem today was a. the pitching b. the hitting C. both. Starting pitching is the main problem, but if you can't upgrade that, then get a hitter to upgrade the lineup because the offense was playing over their heads in the 1st half.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:45 PM) I'm just thankful this string of pathetic games is happening now, and not after the trade deadline. Eh. We'll see if managment has any balls to do something about it. I'm thinking they'll ride it out or pick something worhtless like another bullpen arm.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:42 PM) Williams suggesting he's "absolutely not pleased" with this team's defense and starting pitching is good to hear. It's been bordering on embarrassing. Pitching is unable to overcome ANYTHING out of the ordinary. "Best offense in baseball" can't hit good starting pitchers recently. On the mound, if there's a play our starters believe should have been made and isn't, it's as if their focus is immediately lost. Oh, but tell me not to be concerned. Say something about the schedule, or how there's "plenty of baseball left." Flash, where did Kenny say this?

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:36 PM) Alright. Seems like we've been able to score runs against the best closers in the AL this year. Then again, the Sox won't today just to spite me. Anyways, as long as Leyland believes in Jones, teams have a shot in the ninth against Detroit. I'm saying our hitters look like spiff today. We could be hitting against their batting practice pitcher and you'd still a bunch of ground outs to the left side.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:34 PM) Yup. No team alive can plate a run against Todd Jones. Just make sure you bring that up at the end of the game.

5.5 games back. This team sucks right now... but it all starts with Garcia and Vazquez. Jose has to be an automatic win for us to overcome our other crappy pitchers.

Pig man scares me although he's been struggling.

Not a good time for a walk

I would have the bullpen ready. The way things are going, Contreras might have some bad luck.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:18 PM) Pretty solid outing for Rogers against the highest scoring offense in baseball. It was 2nd half Rogers. The Tigers are fading!

We have Zumaya. That's better than Rogers, imo.

Contreras without the lead means a Contreras that will stay in the game too long. So get the man a lead.

Polanco is really good with RISP.

This is more like the offense I was expecting for the entire season. We need to get our pitching right... NOW!

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 01:11 PM) Our pitchers are going to have to re-learn how to win games when the offense provides only 2 or 3 or 4 runs. I think the offense is very due for a slowdown. Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. Too many guys playing over their heads for our offense to continue winning games for us. This makes improving our rotation even more important.

2nd half Kenny Rogers!

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 10:52 AM) We need bullpen help before we can move McCarthy to the starting rotation. Even with added bullpen help, Ozzie won't start McCarthy over his latin buddies. They have to be off the team for that to happen. If anything, another bullpen arm just means we'll see even less of McCarthy. Is it out of the question that Vazquez could do a good job in the bullpen?