caulfield12

QUOTE (Real @ May 9, 2011 -> 10:47 PM) relax, they're still 14-22 if they win tonight keep things in perspective (and maybe you are, and if so, that's good), until this team gets to .500 and goes on a TEAR, their wins are more/less meaningless flame away! This might be the EASY part of our schedule this month. We still have to play Texas, Cleveland, the Dodgers, then AT TEXAS, AT TORONTO and AT BOSTON. Don't think anyone needs to be reminded of of how poorly we've played at those last three venues in our recent history. If we're .500 at the end of MAY, I think everyone in baseball will be amazed.

I was more concerned about Jackson's mental game than our ability to turn a DP, but it was nice. Although with Hunter these days, he's not much faster than the Flying Molina brothers. Dunn with his Jim Thome impersonation to LF.

That'll work. Remember when Torii Hunter used to be fast? Viciedo-esque homer there by Alexei. Lots of things to build upon tonight. If Peavy can actually beat Chatwood or Chatsworth or whatever his name is, then I MIGHT be a believer again. Looks like Wells might be out for awhile, too.

Dammit AJ, 98% of MLB catchers would have thrown him out with that poor jump. Bad mechanics, hesitated, then one-hopped the throw. Hunter already has 3 homers against Jackson in his career.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ May 9, 2011 -> 09:23 PM) Has any other team won more than 3 games in the last 3 days? While at the games this weekend, I saw us doing the little things which make a difference and this team is jelling now better than it has at anytime this year. It's time for all the naysayers to start believing once again and dump your big bowl of doomsday in the garbage can. If their fundamentals and mental mistakes that doomed this team Friday night can be limited, and Guillen prevented from losing games with managerial decision-making, we'll be fine. The big question mark is at Oakland. It's one team we've always struggled with, almost as much as the Twins, but particularly on the road. If we take 2/3 out there, it will silence a lot of people. Then again, we're not facing Haren/Weaver/Anderson/Gio, only Cahill. Peavy's start WED night will go a long ways toward determining the "state of the team" and how fans feel going forward. Oh-oh, our normal bottom of the order has returned, thankfully Beckham's homer got us off to a positive start. Note to KW: Next time, try acquiring a leadoff hitter who has the possibility of improving instead of regressing in his career. Say, someone under 30?

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ May 9, 2011 -> 09:16 PM) It's amazing how we've gone from a struggling organization to the hottest team in baseball in the last 3 days. Do you really feel 100% comfortable with this lead? I feel a LOT better with Santos now, but he's not an option tonight, which makes things a lot scarier. Hope they try Crain instead of Sale/Thornton for once. BTW, where are all the Jackson haters??? Nasty sliders tonight the last 3 innings. This is his no-hit stuff, minus the high 90's fastball. He's let up a bit with that pitch in order to have more control.

Attaboy Carlos. I like this offense tonight, not scoring all the runs in bunches but mounting consistent threats with back to back to back good AB's. Encouraging. And an AJ walk? What's the world coming to? Back to the old Rios. Chasing offspeed stuff off the plate and high fastballs he can't catch up to because of his hand placement.

Twins lose again. Last place and worst MLB record ours no longer if we can hold this lead.

They were really attacking Beckham with a steady diet of down and away sliders in that at-bat. Jackson with one of his first fastballs this season at 97. Unfortunately, it resulted in a single. I've noticed a few swinging strikes on his slider, so that's encouraging. He has to throw sliders and changes to get them off that fastball. Seems we have the "good" Jackson for tonight. We must have the biggest disparity in MLB history between our own percentage of caught stealing on the basepaths and the our percentage of throwing out opposing baserunners!!!!

There's your runs, Edwin. Don't E-JAX-ulate the lead away now, please. Twins and Red Sox in a good one, tied in the 11th. Papelbon blew the lead after a controversial balk call moved the typing run to 3rd. Lesson to opposing managers this year, don't pitch to Jason Kubel.

C'mon, CQ. A three run bomb would be nice about now. Keep the line moving, boys! Too bad Paulie can't run...

I'm guessing Jackson doesn't have any of his secondary pitches going again tonight?

Beckham>>>Smoak

Pretty soft Angels line-up compared to years past when they had Vladdy and a healthy Morales.

This is the game of Alexi/Alexei/Alex....must be a first in major league history, three players with a variation of Alex as their name. And, we're off to our usual first three innings struggle scoring runs. At least Dunn walked and his OPS is finally over 600 now. I guess one positive is we've taken down Soria and League, who was 9/9 in save opportunities before Sunday (yes, I know it was the dreaded tie-game appearance for a closer, but Sergio made it through the same two innings League was attempting).

I'm not so sure Magglio's not done. They have V-Mart, Avila and Cabrera, but I'm not sure they have enough offense unless the likes of Jackson and Boesch can repeat their 2010 seasons. They've had a lot of problems with their middle infield stability (especially 2B) and Inge isn't nearly as much of an offensive threat as he was 3-5 seasons ago. Seems he's really regressed. As usual, I think it will come down to the bullpens. But I guess if you were betting at this point in the season, a lot of people would obviously go with the Tigers, it's the most logical pick because of their talent and current position in the standings.

Lindsay still has a 0.00 ERA for Charlotte. Any reports on him? I know our relievers down there (3-4 of them) have been putting up pretty impressive numbers. Didn't we just pick him up this spring or in the off-season? Noticed another DeShields playing at Lexington in SAL League. Delino's son?

Pretty crappy for baseball that Gardenhire's sitting Liriano tonight more or less "because of the presssure of ESPN and facing the Red Sox and Josh Beckett" in what should have been a marquee match-up for the sport. Get stuck with Nick Blackburn instead.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 9, 2011 -> 01:47 PM) If Brent Lillibridge hits 500 career home runs, do you think he will make the HOF? Or Gordon Beckham?

And I'm betting there will be plenty of writers who vote deliberately/spitefully against Sheffield despite his having over 500 homers. I don't think it's the magic number it used to be. Once upon a time, Dale Murphy was thought to be a lock, but things have changed. Bagwell ended up fairly close and there's no way he makes it now. Konerko kind of falls into that Bert Blyleven category IF IF IF he can put up 500+ homers. Bert never won a Cy Young (I think a 2nd and 3rd in his best seasons?) but the long-term consistency is what did it, but it took nearly 20 years to convince the voters. However, he was known for having one of the best pitches in the game, the curveball. Paulie played on the second tier team and was in the shadow of Sosa/Frank Thomas for most of his younger years, then Magglio/C-Lee. If it wasn't for 2005, very few baseball fans, except for the hardcore ones and scouts, would be talking about him. I do agree with the Todd Helton comparison, although you have to throw out/correct for a lot of Helton's numbers because of Coors Field, at least perception wise. Granted, it's probably just as easy to hit homers and doubles at USCF, but I think a player coming from COL has an even higher numerical standard/benchmark to climb because of that field.

It's strange. Roberto Alomar was definitely the best 2B of his generation, but the spitting incident, the frosty relationship he had with the media after that and the way his career faded big-time at the end put a damper on things a bit. Konerko, at first blush, definitely is in that McGriff/Baines category UNLESS he can put up 500 homers. With all the steroids cases, it's not like there are a plethora of players out there on the cusp of that number. There's Thome obviously, Ichiro, Griffey Jr., Pujols and Frank Thomas. A-ROD and Bonds will be interesting cases, to see how long it takes for both to get in. Gary Sheffield is over 500 but I could see him NOT getting in. There's Carlos Delgado, Canseco (obviously a no), Jeff Bagwell, Giambi, Palmeiro (no, no, no).... Vladimir Guerrero and Chipper are both about 60 away. They'll definitely get in, even without 500 IMO. Andruw Jones is over 400 homers and has all those Gold Gloves, but he seems to be another near miss.

Between Pena and Gray. Supposedly Ozzie wanted to see Pena again this weekend before they had to make a decision.

I actually think as long as we're within 7-8 games of the division lead at the ASB that this team won't be torn apart. Unless there are still 3-4 teams between us and first place. That would make the odds even more difficult to overcome.

This Wednesday against the Angels.

Last time it happened (3 consecutive victories) was Sept. 28th, 29th and 30th against the Red Sox in meaningless action the final week.