SoxHawk1980

Ozzie wasn't the only one who made mistakes, but he sure made some huge ones. Do you want me to list them? Just read through the thread, they are detailed quite well. Ozzie screwed up repeatedly and has done so all season long. He simply isn't a good manager this year. He's hurting the team. Fire Ozzie.

Hell Yes! That was a game situation. That was a more important situation than the 8th or 9th. The game was on the line right then. Therefore, you have to put in one of your best bullpen arms. Riske is one of the WORST bullpen arms. That was a horrible, awful, indefensible decision. Standard Ozzie move.

Except of course this idiot reached way into the field of play and banged into Morneau. Wait until he's close to the stands before you go after him. He turned a difficult play for Morneau into an out. Gee thanks, idiot fan for making out #27.

Now officially everything has gone wrong (at some point) with the Sox this season. The manager, coaches, position players, pitchers, GM all have contributed to the lackluster play and too many losses since the ASB. Now even a fan is helping to bury the Sox by making the last out. At least it is a complete team effort. Exactly. So what is Ozzie thinking by putting him into the game in an extremely important, close game situation? Does Ozzie think? I don't even know why I ask the question.

There's a lot of blame to go around for the Sox woes since the ASB. However, NONE of that blame should go to Thome, Konerko, Crede, Dye or most of the bullpen.

My opinion is that anyone who thinks that losing Thome isn't a very big deal is crazy. Also, those who are complaining about how Thome has been hitting recently are out of touch with reality: July - .384 OBP, .621 SLG, 1.005 OPS August - .444 OBP, .591 SLG, 1.035 OPS One could hardly ask for more from ANY major league hitter. I have no use for amateur scouts who don't like his "approach". He is a great hitter who has had an amazing season and whose hitting has been outstanding since the ASB. Production and results are meaningful. The subjective opinions of amateur scouts are worthless.

This rain delay shouldn't be too long. A small storm is mostly through Detroit now. Unfortunately there is a huge storm behind it, which is currently covering most of Wisconsin. There might be a second, much longer rain delay coming about midway through the game.

Ross Gload is undoubtedly the most overrated Sox player by people on this board. I think that is because he had one good short stretch in the majors a few years ago. Since then, he hasn't played enough to show how much of a AAA player he really is. IF Thome goes on the DL, I think the Gload lovefest is going to take a major hit. Somehow people will be shocked that he hits .280/.320/.400. How is that a spark?

We state opinions on this board all the time. Opinions can't be proven. One can support them, but not prove them. They are not factual assertions. If we could only post on this forum things that we could prove, there were be about 12 posts.

Are we still in the race? Yes Can we still make it to the playoffs? Yes Do I think we will make it to the playoffs? No The smart money is not on the White Sox this season.

Do you really think so? If Ozzie had another one of his rants and called someone a f@g or something like that, do you really think KW would fire him? MLB would suspend him for a few games, fine him, mandate more sensitivity training and KW would say some mildly harsh words about how he takes this seriously and that this kind of thing can't happen again.

Unfortunately, Ozzie won't quit. It just isn't in his personality. KW won't fire him because KW sticks with his guys and hates to admit a mistake. Ozzie would have to do something monumental to force KW to fire him. A few racial and homophobic epithets aren't going to be enough. I think he'd have to burn a church down.

When (if ever) are they and others in the media going to start giving Ozzie his rightful blame for this? If a team is flat, it is the manager's job to motivate them, light a fire under them, tear them a new one...something, anything! Ozzie continues his *Yawn* Ho-hum managing and the team continues to sleepwalk its way through a stretch run.

The OP is 100% right. Ozzie has proven himself to be a poor manager in basically every aspect of the game. Can't motivate the team, makes horrible in-game decisions. It is hard to defend how bad he's been this year.

We might as well fast forward to the end of the season when we will be tipping our caps to the Tigers and Twins while Sox players clean off their golf clubs.

Actually, even with his age, that performance in a hitter-friendly stadium does not add up to a 1 or 2 prospect in my book. He may still be a great prospect, but he isn't anywhere near ready for the majors. Bring him up to the majors this season and he'll make Anderson look good. Frankly I think Sweeney's ETA in the majors is 2008 at earliest. And that is only if he finally figures out how to hit well in AAA.

What are the chances of a sweep now? 75%? 85%?

Ozzie loves vets over young players. Ozzie remembers when he was an underappreciated veterna player (at least he thinks he was underappreciated). He thinks he should have gotten more respect and playing time because of all he had done in the majors. Now Ozzie shows his veteran SP's "respect" by continuing to trot them out there to the mound regardless of how poorly they pitch.

I think Contreras is likely around 41 right now and he has a TON of innings under his belt over his very long career in Cuba. I think all of those innings at a young age catch up with you. Typically being a 40 year old pitcher catches up with you. I doubt he has 3 years ahead of him that are good. I think he has DL stints, arm troubles and inconsistent pitching ahead of him.

Age catches up with you eventually. And he's 40+.

Given Contreras's very advanced age, do you really think signing him to a long-term contract was a good idea?

I'm with Fathom on this one. Do you really think a rookie pitcher who has never pitched above AA can't have a 5+ ERA? Broadway is no Liriano or Verlander...not yet at least.

How much is Buehrle's option for next season?

The first and last sentences are contradictory. KW isn't the one to motivate the team and make sure they play with intensity and passion and give 100%. KW isn't the one who is supposed to keep this team from quitting. That is the job of Ozzie "the great motivator" Guillen. What has Ozzie done well this season?

He's blowing equally for both teams. To the extent that he is inconsistent, both pitchers and both teams' hitters are having to deal with the same inconsistency and same strike zone. Stop blaming the umpire. The Tigers appear to be dealing with his umpiring very well.