caulfield12

Lillibridge's catch? That's about the only exciting thing to happen since the first week of the season.

2011 10-17/8 GB 2010 11-16/7 GB 2009 13-14/4 GB 2008 14-13/0.5 Games UP 2007 13-14/4 GB 2006 19-8/0.5 Games Up 2005 20-7/4.5 Games Up 2004 17-10/0.5 Games Up PRETTY CLEAR TREND LINE with Ozzie and the Sox

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 29, 2011 -> 10:45 PM) No one is going to take Peavy off our hands next year unless he comes back throwing 94 mph this year and puts up an ERA around 3 I don't think we'll see 94 any time soon, but 89-93 (as long as there's movement) and an ERA under 4.00 will be enough for the Yankees to bite when Colon breaks down or Nova's/Burnett's erratic natures finally drive Cashman crazy. Hopefully.

Well, Cooper definitely has his hands full with Jackson, Thornton, Sale and Pena. We can point to the success of Santos and Humber, but there's always going to be pitchers that overachieve and underachieve. With Buehrle slipping and Danks/Floyd up to their usual inconsistent ways, we need a spark from somewhere. Humber's done it this year, like Garcia last year. Or we would really be out of it early (we normally would be looking at 8-19 or 9-18 with our normal run of journeymen 5th starters from 2001-2004). Don't count on Peavy being able to do it. He'll try...but you'd almost rather he's 100% for 2012 and you can finally trade him. It all depends on what happens the next 30-40 games.

Twins lose, Twins lose....yay, we're not the worst team in the major leagues at least until tomorrow.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 29, 2011 -> 08:54 PM) Where the f*** is the accountability? Someone needed to be fired after that road trip. Lillibridge probably single-handedly prevented that... Royals take 4-3 lead in the bottom of the 8th on a "sac fly" to SS with Casilla running away from the INF. Amazing.

I forgot. Technically if the Twins blow this lead against the Royals, they'll be percentage points behind us in the standings and 7 games under. Who would have thought coming into the season that BOTH these teams would be in last place in May in the AL Central?

If the Padres and Astros both win tonight, we'll have the worst record in the major leagues officially as May begins.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 29, 2011 -> 08:39 PM) His recent trades have been disasterous. It's left us with this bloated payroll. Of course the blame goes to everyone, but with Ozzie getting a lot of heat, KW is the one who's had a few hideous seasons in a row. Some of it's bad luck with Dunn so far, but with Beckham/Rios/Sale/Peavy/Pierre/Jackson all foundering, it's just too much to overcome. And the starting pitching just hasn't gotten any kind of consistent rhythm or momentum since the bullpen implosions. Buehrle, Floyd and Danks are what they are, and I guess Jackson's proven the axiom about being the kind of talent who will get numerous managers and pitching coaches fired. About the only highlights are Santos, Quentin and Konerko.

QUOTE (TitoMB @ Apr 29, 2011 -> 08:36 PM) Yeah, the season will be over by the middle of May. Haha. Well, this will probably DESTROY the franchise for many years. 126 million to lose 90 games. 2007 did half the damage, accompanied by the flameout to end 2006. It ALMOST would have been better off if 2008 had never happened and they had started the rebuilding process then. (Thank god they won the Blackout Game or the Twins would be even more of a nightmare to think about). KW just rolled snake eyes and got incredibly fortunate with Danks/Floyd/Quentin/Ramirez. Unfortunately, he's made one bad move after another from that season to date.

What was the attendance tonight? 18K and change? Brutal. God, the Twins will come in and kick our butts. We'll probably end up facing Felix Hernandez and Michael Pineda and then be finished off for good by the A's and Angels. Hopefully this is the LOW point of the season we can all look back to and laugh about or it's going to be a LONG LONG season that Ozzie and KW won't survive. That's about the only thing to look forward to, change. Unfortunately, it's like turning around the Titanic at this point.

I hope this isn't one of those seasons like 2007 where there's nothing to do but root against the Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox and Twins. WALKS and defensive lapses, it's something new every day. At least 4 years ago, we had Fields, Owens and Andy Gonzalez. Heck, even that rookie reliever was good for half a season before flaming out. There's not even anyone in our system besides Viciedo to be excited about watching hit. Beckham and Sale might be headlining at Charlotte.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 29, 2011 -> 08:25 PM) Hitting sucks Starting pitching sucks Relief pitching sucks Defense sucks Base running sucks Managing sucks Hard to win games when all this is true Don't forget fundamentals/execution, bunting and "brain cramps," along with hitting with RISP after the first 9 games of the season. Game, set, match. Cue the boo-birds. Too bad Ozzie's not there to receive any. Is he still collecting game checks for the 2 game suspension or it's deducted?

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Apr 29, 2011 -> 08:15 PM) Have we "ruined" them through poor instruction in the system, or was the talent never really there to begin with? WOW. YET another defensive miscue leads to a big inning against our pitchers. Anderson and Fields? There are many theories out there. There have always been concerns about Flowers' big swing and possible PED's use to get a huge offensive season in the Braves' system. Danks has also had that big loping swing from the beginning, which they've tried to make more "Sweeney-esque." Beckham's just a huge mystery. He definitely had the talent...no comparison with those other four. If Thompson, Mitchell and Viciedo all fizzle, then Buddy Bell might be handed his walking papers. HOPEFULLY.

Indians come back from 5-2 seventh inning deficit to win 9-5 in the bottom of the 9th on a Carlos Santana walk-off Grand Slam.

I'm calling a walk-off homer by Sizemore in the bottom of the 9th for the Tribe. You have to give Lillibridge credit for taking advantage of the opportunities provided him by Ozzie. Milledge is sulking down in AAA with a .500 OPS after his bat was pretty hot this spring.

As the Yankees' broadcasters refer to him, "home run by Lilliquist." Remembering the former Braves and Indians hurler.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 29, 2011 -> 07:54 PM) Our starting pitching has been quite disappointing so far this year. It's bad when you look forward to seeing Humber pitch. Yankees...what do you want for Danks? You just jinxed Humber, now. Great. I'm seriously waiting for one of those games he threw with the Royals where he goes 2 1/3rd and gives up 7 or 8 runs. Cleveland's not messing around. They have Chris Perez in the top of the 9th in a 5-5 tie game against the Tiggers.

What is our record against Baltimore the last 2-3 seasons? Seems like we've struggled a lot more than we should have. They used to be one of the teams we fattened up with, along with Seattle and the NL.

I'm tired of Danks and this entire organization. We might be 7 games back after the end of tonight. Last year, we had to fight like hell to get back from 9.5 games back. If you're a $100 million plus pitcher, you just don't blow 3-0 leads at home to the Baltimore Orioles.

I just noticed Cleveland has 5 guys in their line-up now at over an 800 OPS. And Santana, and Choo, who are below that mark. Hafner's not even playing. Orlando Cabrera is their only weak offensively link, and he can be dangerous occasionally. Well, at least the Royals are coming back to earth. Can't say there's any happiness to see them losing to the Twins at home, even if they are ahead of us in the standings.

Robin Ventura Time. Let me guess, "dad-gummit, just missed it by 1/32nd of an inch..."

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Apr 29, 2011 -> 07:36 PM) Luckily, we'd be buying out some arbitration years so it wouldn't be a true open market contract. I still think the Sox will sign him (as long as s*** doesn't continue to go as it has this year for this team, in which case, everyone will be out, and the Sox will have 15K fans for the next 5 years and a 40M payroll). Peavy, Rios, Teahen and Alexei?

Was that the classic "inside-out" Beckham stroke? Or he just got jammed inside and was lucky to fist it to the opposite side? Any GLIMPSES of hope for him recently?

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Apr 29, 2011 -> 07:32 PM) I stand by what I saw in Glendale from Rios. Absolutely blistering the ball. So this funk doesn't worry me as long as he keeps his mind right. So was Wilson Betemit 2-3 springs ago. Well, at least the Royals noticed him. Ironic, since we acquired their 3B. FYI, Farmer needs to stop calling him "Jean" Pierre. Hasn't really helped him this season. Kind of like the Alisay Ramirez thing.