BFirebird

3 pitch K for Alexei?

Phantom call at 2nd...almost as bad as the phantom foul on the U.S. earlier disallowing that goal!

So, I missed the beginning. Has Hawk compared Strasburg to anyone from his playing days?

Capps is definitely one of their weaker spots in the pen. Storen has been pretty good. Clippard has been good for the most part, a little over-used.

What is this heads-up baseball the Sox have been playing for a week or so? Did we change managers without telling anyone?

Lots of players are going to look like crap against Strasburg. He has an incredible repertoire.

Well there goes that.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jun 11, 2010 -> 04:55 PM) Rios now hitting .322/.379/.588/.967 on the season and on pace for over 50 stolen bases. That is pretty manly.

Finally! What is this winning streak talk. I didn't think we did those.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 11, 2010 -> 04:46 PM) No, letting Linestink start the inning. Fixed that for you. And definitely agreed. I would have put Putz in.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 11, 2010 -> 04:35 PM) We've been due. That is an understatement. We were in historically low numbers as far as a team offensively.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 11, 2010 -> 04:13 PM) Rios got a complete swing overhaul by Greg Walker in the offseason though. This is true. Forgot about that part. Kind of a rare choice too keeping your hands so low for a guy with some power.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jun 11, 2010 -> 04:09 PM) Jones, as every statistical measure predicted, is now absolute s***. I no longer blame Ozzie for playing Kotsay over him. Yeah that was easy to see. It has already started, but watch Austin Jackson's avg plummet as well. He cannot maintain that BABIP.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 11, 2010 -> 04:07 PM) His mechanics have been inconsistent at best all season. He goes from a great swing to flying open without a breath inbetween. I am not the best at breaking down mechanics but I can definitely see what you are explaining here in Beckham's swing. It seems like a simple answer, but with that inconsistency could he just be trying to hard? Remember what Rios said when he came to the White Sox last year, he struggled so bad because he was trying to hard...trying to prove his worth. Could Beckham just need to relax and let his talent do the rest? Seems to have worked for Rios.

QUOTE (docsox24 @ Jun 11, 2010 -> 04:01 PM) I am concerned it is a lot more. There have been a lot of guys who had great rookie seasons then disappeared. The way he looks, it appears a lot more than just a slump. I know only half of 1 year was in the Majors, but he did have success at every level he has played. There had to be something that scouts found in his approach that he has to adjust to somehow. It is frustrating to watch but I would have to believe he is not THIS bad.

For those in front of a TV, how hard did Q hit that one?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 11, 2010 -> 03:50 PM) That's silly, as it's not like he's going to face hitters 2-5 for them. If he's going to warm up, bring him in to face Fukudome. Ozzie has never been confused with a great strategic manager.

Wow. If this is AJ's last weekend in a Sox uni he is really having himself a day.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 11, 2010 -> 03:37 PM) How long do you keep Peavy in? I'd go with Thornton to start the 7th to be honest. Considering it is the bottom of the order and Peavy has only thrown 87 pitches, I am guessing that Ozzie trots out Peavy. Nothing in Ozzie's past as a manager lends me to believe anything else.

Not to get too far off track in the thread, but is Matt Kemp really that bad defensively? He has the worst fielding rating.....CQ is 2nd worst.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 11, 2010 -> 03:27 PM) Fangraphs thinks he's been worth 3 wins above a replacement...assuming he was replaced by an average player. Compared to Mark Kotsay though, who'd probably be playing there, I'd guess that's like a 6-8 game difference. Which is 5 in MLB as far as value. Pretty impressive.

QUOTE (SAVVY18 @ Jun 11, 2010 -> 03:24 PM) Rios now 3 for 3 with a single. Can you say En Fuego? Where would we be without this guy? Like 4 games behind Cleveland?

Hopefully like fathom said, we can get to the bad part of the Cubs bullpen. According to CBS Stevens is warming up. Hopefully we can put the 1st dent into his ERA...9 IP no runs.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 11, 2010 -> 02:21 PM) or sober up Ha.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 11, 2010 -> 02:16 PM) His inability to stay consistent from inning to inning is so frustrating! What do you think his deal is? Was he really THAT different away from Petco? I know his numbers were a little inflated but he has not really looked good except for a handful of starts.