Dick Allen

Pitching is what is costing this team. The starters are no where near where they were last season, and the bullpen while much better lately doesn't have Politte, Hermanson, Cotts, Jenks, Vizcaino, Marte combo of 2005. The bullpen last year was almost automatic. Thornton has been a nice pick up, I think its still questionable if Riske will be able to get tough outs consistently late in a ballgame. McCarthy has had his moments, but last year if it was the 6th inning and the Sox were winning, the game was over. The offense is vastly improved, and guys are ripe to start a little slide in that area. The pitching staff is going to have to lead this team. If it doesn't, we will all be very dissappointed, no matter what the offense does from here on out.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 03:21 PM) Everything about Texas sucks. EDIT: Sorry Kap! Don't mess with Texas.

Unfortunately 7 of the last 9 games for the Tigers are against KC. 5.5 games isn't a lot to make up, but it isn't going to be easy. They are going to have to beat Detroit in the head to heads by at least a 6-4 margin IMO to win the division. At least the Sox still, if the season ended today, would be in the playoffs. I used to hate when they were 10 games out, people saying that they had 13 left against Minnesota, so they still had a chance. That was pretty much BS. The well paid and highly decorated starting rotation needs to pick it up. Contreras and Garland have pitched very well, but the other 3 need to start earning their paychecks starting tonight.

Not surprising KW couldn't find any takers, considering the home run derby has already been held.

I'm pretty sure Stewart is on the radar to be the back-up next season, and is pretty likely to get called up when rosters expand, having a 3rd catcher would be nice. Obviously he's not a top prospect, but could be a solid back-up, and I doubt he would be any worse than Widger in any fase at this point. Who knows, if Widger throws out the runner on the pitchout the inning before, that's one less stressful out Contreras has to get and the next inning could have been different. It may be a stretch, but it is possible. The White Sox are one AJP injury away from being in serious trouble.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:59 PM) I had a terrible feeling about this game when I heard Garland tell Mike North how tired the team was and how much they were looking forward to getting home. On get-away day against a guy like Kenny Rogers, it was a recipe for disaster. They are 6 games after the AS break and the team is tired? Good night Irene. The playoffs will be a pipedream if that's true.

The Sox look like they are in a hurry to get back to Chicago.

QUOTE(SouthSidePride05 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:56 PM) You know things have gone downhill when just a few weeks ago, if the Sox were down by 5 going into the 9th, I'd have a good feeling they'd come back. Now down by 1, I feel only a miracle will allow the Sox to come back. Against Todd Jones to boot.

spiff=spiff If you type in ship except with a t at the end, it comes up spiff.

This is not a big series. Hawk said so.

QUOTE(DABearSoX @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:51 PM) But Widger is batting in the 9th..... we only have 2 outs to work with Widger won't bat.

It was just a matter of time for the offensive slowdown, that's why this team has to manufacture runs every now and then. The failure to move men over and for Uribe with 1 out and the bases loaded not to drive one in has cost the Sox 2 or 3 runs and most likely the game today.

For all the talk about Detroit having it in their heads they can't beat the White Sox, I'm pretty sure they think they can now. Taking out Iguchi may be the Tigers defining play of the season. 2-7 against Boston, NY, and Detroit, is pretty pathetic and doesn't show me the White Sox can beat good teams.

Zumaya's fastball makes Jenk's fastball look like Garcia's.

This game is going to be out of reach if they aren't careful.

Using Pods instead of Mack not only was the weaker choice offensively last inning, it was the weaker choice defensively as well.

What a lot of people thought was a mirage, the Tigers pitching staff, doesn't appear to be a mirage anymore.

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:18 PM) dosent Zuyma throw like 134 mph? Against Widger, it will look that hard.

How about a ph. Now Widger bunts.

QUOTE(CWSOX45 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:15 PM) CHRIS WIDGER, YOU freaking SUCK. GET HIS ASS OFF THIS ROSTER NOW. I've had with him. He can't even throw a guy out on a pitch out??? He couldn't even clear the infield grass on a pitchout.

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:15 PM) Has Widger ever thrown anyone out? In the beer league he threw out 18%. He was the man.

Widger does not belong in the major leagues let alone on the roster of the World Champions.

QUOTE(chisoxfan79 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:09 PM) If the Sox lose this game they will be closer to the Twins than Tigers Haven't you been listening to Hawk? This is not that big of game for the Soxl

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:03 PM) Uribe flys out. His Profundo didnt go too far this time. Widger to be the leadoff out next inning. Maybe he can hit a couple of impressive foul balls.

QUOTE(chisoxfan79 @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 02:02 PM) If I was Rogers I would walk Uribe, I know that sounds dumb but why risk it with Widger on deck With Uribe swinging for the fences chances are he will do very little with Rogers.