illinilaw08

QUOTE(robinventura23 @ Jun 14, 2006 -> 06:25 PM) I'm glad Dye's not playing. What's he done so far, anyway? Keep up the great pitching, Javy. I don't have you in my sig for nuttin. I don't mind giving Dye a day off every once in awhile, but you it seems foolish to pair Mack and Gload in the right side of the OF

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Jun 14, 2006 -> 03:48 PM) Incredible!! The Germans hit the crossbar on 2 consecutive shots before having a 3rd shot (and goal) taken away on an offsides at the 90 minute mark. But only 1 minute later, the Germans make an incredible run and score the goal to beat (and all but eliminate) Poland 1-0. Yeah, Poland was playing for a draw after the red card, really unfortunate that they had to take the loss there considering just how well Bourac played. That being said, with the Poles and the US all but eliminated I need a new side to root for, any ideas?

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jun 13, 2006 -> 08:44 PM) Isn't yanking him in these situations one thing Manuel was criticized for? If Garland is going to be helpful this year, this is the type of situation he has to pitch out of.

What happened with Pods? Cant get the game in CHampaign, following on-line.

It would be nice to see a good old fashioned blow out tonight. Give Jose the run support he deserves, and give the fans a relaxing couple hours.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Jun 12, 2006 -> 05:16 PM) To be realistic, they have to beat Italy and Ghana to advance. If they go 2-0, they are a lock to move on, if they win 1 and tie 1....it would come down to goal differential, and the 3-0 loss today REALLY hurts in that regard. In all likelihood, they need to win the next 2. A win over Italy means beat Ghana and your advancing, and a loss to Italy means your done. A tie keeps them alive, but they'd need quite a bit of help. 2-0 doesnt necessarily make them a lock. If Ghana loses all 3 games, it is possible Czech Rep, Italy and the US can all go 2-1 meaning it would come down to goal differential. Not a likely scenario, but it is possible QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jun 12, 2006 -> 05:41 PM) In the long term US soccer needs to move its development to the inner city. Its a game that anyone can play, and it may attract a person who has the physical tools that are better than what we have, but may not be good enough to play football, basketball or baseball. We need to develop taller players, instead of the group of midgets we march out year after year on the national team. Our backline is starting to get taller, but we need our midfielders and strikers not to be 5'5. These are both great points. US soccer development really needs to make its way into the inner cities in order increase the pool of talent they can draw from. On the height issue, it works against the Central American countries that the US plays primarily because there is not a lot of height on those teams either, but only McBride can win a ball in the air on this team, and that is not going to work against European defenders. American soccer is still at least a decade away from being a true player on the international scene.

On the US, the disparity of talent was evident. The Americans lacked creativity in the midfield, it's too bad O'Brien isn't fit because he has that skill. Beaseley was awful today... as was mentioned earlier he is recovering from injury, still a very tough outing. Johnson needs to be up front with McBride, he does not have the best first touch, but he actually creates. The US lack of height on the front line is obvious, McBride is the only guy who brings anything aerially. Donovan needs to go back overseas, if he is the best American, him playing in an inferior league stunts his development. Gooch is a talented defender, but he played poorly today as well, his inexperience was evident. Dissappointing opener, if the US can somehow beat Italy, they are back in the tournament.

f***. Ghana is done, the US must beat Italy to have a chance.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Jun 9, 2006 -> 07:36 PM) Poland is probably toast, unless they plan on beating Germany on their soil. Doubtful. Poland-Germany could be a hell of a game. Poland borders Germany, and I don't think there will be a major crowd advantage for the hosts, not to mention that there is no love lost between those two nations. The Poles need to show a lot more life than they did against Ecuador (shouldnt be a problem as they're on the verge of elimination), especially on set pieces where they were just brutal. This is one of the first round matches that I am looking forward to the most.

How is CLE not guarding the line there? GREAT piece of hitting by Gooch and that is a huge f***ing win for the Sox!!!!

QUOTE(Whitewashed in @ Jun 10, 2006 -> 12:23 AM) I couldn't believe how far he went for that catch, crash into the wall and still make a strong throw. That play was incredible. WOW! BA is one of the best defensive OFs in the game and this team is better with him on the field, regardless of what he does at the plate. Also, he is a lot better hitter against RHPs. I hope he is the everyday CF, the pitching staff needs him behind them.

Yeah, seeing as how I will probably never leave Champaign (hopefully sarcastic) games on WCIU are very bothersome. And actually, the Score does not come in all that well on campus at the University of Illinois. Go a mile off campus in either direction and the station is great, but on campus it is very hit or miss.

QUOTE(Melissa1334 @ Jun 8, 2006 -> 09:11 PM) so if we were in the playoffs u rather have mark/cont/vazquez and then gar pitchin vs. mark/cont./freddy(playoff stud) and then vazquez? jeez i dont care if freddy is 14-10 4.50 or somethng if in the playoffs he pitches like last yr. Last year Freddy was throwing 93, this year he's lucky to touch 90. Hopefully you are right and Freddy gets his velocity back... Sox need him.

Garland HAS had good stuff the past couple starts which is encouraging. The difference is just that he keeps having these BRUTAL mental lapses that are killing him. Another reminder for people, half this board was ready to ship Contreras out at the trade deadline last year, he wouldnt even make the postseason rotation. We know Jon has the stuff to be at worst a mediocre pitcher, and with a mediocre 5th starter who just wont get the ball in the postseason, I am feeling pretty confident in this team.

Here's a silver lining... remember when the immortal Felix Diaz and Arnie Munoz were getting starts and the White Sox couldn't get a win out of the 5th starter spot? I'm not defending Garland's effort tonight, he needs to pitch with the balls he pitched with last year in tight spots but people, things could be a LOT worse.

QUOTE(CWSOX45 @ Jun 8, 2006 -> 08:41 PM) I've said it countless times before, not having Anderson in centerfield hurts us...a lot. True, think about it this way, a defensive player potentially impacts every single play. The impact of a guy that is an automatic out does not have that type of imapct. I'm sorry there isn't anything better right now, but Anderson needs to be out there the majority of the time.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 8, 2006 -> 08:27 PM) How can a slap hitter continue to be so poor at protecting the plate? I'll never understand that about Pods. The Pods frozen by a 2 strike breaking ball, head down walk to the dugout happens WAY too often.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jun 8, 2006 -> 07:56 PM) At least we got to feel good about Garland for 2 innings. I know I'm late for this, but Joey Cora might be legally retarded. That was terrible, and I'm tired of Hawk defending him. With 2 outs I can see the rationale behind sending him, you force them to make a play. I dont agree with the decision, but I can understand COra sending JD there

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jun 8, 2006 -> 09:52 AM) Cleveland's pitching is atrotious. Its absolutley horrible. Det has a much better rotation and pen. Thats exactly right. Furthermore, as good as CLE's lineup is, Detroit's lineup is pretty good too. The question with Detroit in my mind is if they can stay healthy. Guillen, Mags, and IROD all have injury history. Cleveland reminds me of the White Sox prior to last year, the bats are very good, but the pitching just is not there.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Jun 7, 2006 -> 09:23 PM) gone wouldn't it be amazing if our pen could close out a game without giving up a bunch of runs You mean like last night?

THOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hate games on WCIU. That being said, let's hope COntreras is nasty and the Sox hit Verlander all over the diamond.

Dye is really killing me for my decision to not keep him in fantasy baseball this year. That decision makes me hate Audrey Huff more and more everyday.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jun 7, 2006 -> 02:53 PM) He looked as close to that ball on the dive (not very close) as Makowiak did on Barret's hit. Makowiak gets ripped for the play while BA gets a pass. I thought it was the right decision by Mack as well and mentioned as such when I was at the game.

This could be a very good thing for the Sox... Cliff gets healthy, returns to 2004 form (i dont hold out hopes of him being as good as he was in 2005) and Tracey gets a chance. If Tracey can be effective, the Sox have another arm to add to the pen.