caulfield12

Is it split with the Twins? Do the White Sox keep everything, because they won the coin-flip? Does MLB get a higher percentage of the gate? Just curious if anyone knows. Even though it's not a playoff game, it's an extra chunk of money in our war chest for offseason acquisitions which might come in very handy for KW during hot stove time. Theoretically, could the White Sox charge higher or playoff prices for this game if they wanted...? Or is it not up to them to make that decision? (Not that I would agree with raising them, even though they could get away with it...the fans the last four games deserve so much respect for showing up and not booing them, except Vazquez and the bullpen). If they do win, the crowd's enthusiam and support definitely will have played a very vital role in the Sox resurrection.

QUOTE (Felix @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 07:34 PM) Whatever, I still would have pitched Danks. You also have to keep in mind that Danks went to Cooper and Guillen and said he was going through some dead arm/soreness, which is why they shut him down for one week before his KC start that he pitched so wonderfully in... If you look at Floyd's and Dank's IP this year versus career numbers, they're well over, and that has to be of great concern to the front office. Still, it's do or Dye trying. Perkins and Blackburn are dealing with the same issues, they're all in uncharted waters/territory. However, coming off his last very shaky start, when he had a chance to give us back the division lead, I think all bets are off with what will happen. I think the most important thing is to keep the crowd in the game and not let MN jump out to an early lead of 3/4/5-0. That would be a buzzkill. Danks knows he can beat the Twins at home, and Blackburn knows he can hold down our line-up without great stuff (which he doesn't really have on his best day).

QUOTE (rangercal @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 07:17 PM) lifetime stats are overrated to me. 2008 stats can tell you more when evaluating Danks. Fair enough, they've won both times he pitched at Comiskey. He was hit hard in MN and lost, a game we eventually lost 10-6. Three Starts against MN this year.. 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K's (W) 6 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K's (W) 6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K's (L) 17 IP, 19 H, 10 ER, 7 BB, 13 K's (2-1, 5.29 ERA) The thing that gives you the most confidence is the home field advantage, and Blackburn has been bad on the road. Danks is usually better in road games, but he's pitched decently (more or less quality starts) both times at home.

Against DANKS lifetime... Morneau, 7 for 16, 2 doubles and 3 homers EIGHT RBI'S!!! Mauer, 8 for 12 Cuddyer, 7 for 12, 2 doubles, 3 RBI's (who will Gardy sit, Kubel, Young, Span or Gomez??..of course, Cuddyer is just off his injury and not the same player) Brendan Harris, 5 for 10, 2 doubles Jason Kubel, 3 for 7, 1 double, 1 homer, SIX RBI'S!!! Delmon Young, 3 for 9, double, RBI If I was Gardenhire, I think I'd start Cuddyer at 3B and Harris at SS. Of course, normally Punto (1 for 11) and Buscher/Harris would be playing on the left side, but it's hard to ignore Cuddyer's career numbers against Danks. Overall .363 BAA, .540 SLG, .987 OPS http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp...=9&sort=avg The thing that makes little sense is that Morneau, Mauer and Kubel (Hawk's CQ comparison notwithstanding) shouldn't hit him THAT well. Of course, Mauer absolutely kills all LHP, he's close to .400. Whoever is playing LF should just peek over the SS in short LCF and dare Mauer to hit one over his head. He hits more soft singles to LF than Luis Polonia, Wade Boggs or Ichiro.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp...=4&sort=avg Splits against Blackburn Everyone hits him well except for Cabrera, Dye and Konerko (1 for 12) BA is 2 for 3, Griffey homered off him (1 for 2) and Swisher is 3 for 9 with a double. Wise, 0 for 2. Overall, the White Sox hit him at a .319 clip with an .847 OPS. I think Ozzie will stay with Griffey in CF for tomorrow...and probably stick with Wise in LF, just because he's Ozzie and seems to like having him at the top of the line-up for now. I don't think he would bench Konerko and stick Swisher at 1B, although the career numbers would back that up. Their recent play, however, would not. It would be nice to have Anderson's defense in CF though, but this has been a back-and-forth discussion of offense versus defense since 2006 and probably will be forever with BA, wherever he ends up. Baseball, as usual, is a game of hunches and intuition.

After Floyd made the error on the throw down the line in the 6th...he went out to the mound and calmed him down instead of replacing him, which would have been the knee-jerk, chewing and chomping on the gum reaction. The pitchers have all learned to appreciate that you have to fail repeatedly (like Logan) before Ozzie truly loses confidence in you. Not only did Gavin leave the game feeling he accomplished something and righted the ship after the slip, he also got his 17th win. Amazing totals for our "fifth" starter. Good work KW! Too bad Garcia had to go out with an injury, he pitched a very gutsy game. I was getting a sinking feeling that it would be somehow "karma" that he would beat the youngster who we acquired to replace him. Ozzie also did the same thing with Garland. If you noticed, we're really set up well if we can just get through Minnesota. Dotel, Linebrink and Carrasco are all getting some confidence back and the team actually is looking like it's capable of putting a nice streak together again. Heck, maybe Ken Griffey, Jr., will get back another gear and show an amazing capacity to patrol CF in the Trop just like in the Kingdome. Farmer's call on Ramirez GS..."Oh my God, he goes deep again!" Nice to see Uribe, Dye, Buerhle, AJ and Konerko all looking good down the stretch...shades of 2005 again? I'm not going to even think about the Cubs in the WS, we have to beat the Twins first...but it's nice to have hope again after Saturday. Of course, the Twins can rise again and crush our spirits, but I just want to see/hear a great game and hopefully Danks can also man up to follow Buehrle and Floyd. That also reminds me of 05, the way the pitchers would push each other and one start seemed to boomerang with a continued run of success.

Where's one of Guillen's kids when you need 'em for translating?

Who's doing tv tomorrow with Hawk? They should get Black Jack McDowell, since it's "blackout" night.

Okay Carrasco, if you pitch decently, you might actually pitch again sometime this year!

Can KW cancel MacDougal's check and give some extra to Ramirez? He might be one of the best FA signings (contract-wise) in recent history for a player in his prime.

Even though Floyd gave up the lead, I think getting out of 1st and 3rd with no outs and limiting the damage was the key. Floyd and Buehrle have definitely risen to the occasion...let's hope our best pitcher this season can beat their worst pitcher (or maybe 4th, ahead of Perkins).

QUOTE (PlunketChris @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 05:42 PM) Do you really give Javy the ball in game one? doesn't that line him up for game 5 if we get there? It's a scary proposition, but they're talking about Buehrle AGAIN starting on 3 day's rest. Not sure what I would do...Mark's pitch count and pitches under duress the last couple of times out, it's getting kind of worrisome.

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 05:42 PM) I d go for Richard,rookies have turned in great performances,KRod,Brad Penny in 03,Josh Beckett...I m sick of seeing Javy wet his pants in big games Somehow, I don't think we can put Clayton Richard in the same sentence with those other guys. More like Drew Henson or Brian Griese.

I don't know about the record against LHP, but Pena and Crawford might be nullified a little bit by Richard.

Ha...Cabrera thinks you can appeal the call to 1B umpire. That's a first.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 05:33 PM) I hope we're saving our hits for tomorrow..... It would be even nicer if Dotel and Linebrink could look like legit set-up guys, so we don't have to bring in Jenks again in the 8th. We're such an enigmatic possible playoff team...so fragile.

I remember (not so fondly) when Glover was our fifth starter. Actually, he was occasionally pretty good...decent stuff. Right about the same time Rocky Biddle was also in the mix.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Sep 29, 2008 -> 05:27 PM) Lance Broadway in the 8th. Boone or Russell in the 9th. I dare you Ozzie. I think we stay with Dotel while he has the hot hand. Cabrera, Thames and Raburn. If one batter gets on, then you go to Linebrink, or he walks ANYBODY.

The Twins' plane was supposed to leave at 8. At 6, the Tigers were up by 1. I wonder if they held the plane...I assume they would have a private charter and can wait out the result, but it would be funny if Pohlad was so cheap that they had to take a later flight and get into Chicago really late. Kind of strange emotions for them. Not to be able to celebrate on the field...think the Tigers might be pulling it out, then you're getting on a plane and heading to a place you're 2-7 with Blackburn on the mound. And Fathom, you get to see Danks face the Twins after all. Wonder if they will go with Kubel or Cuddyer?

It's telling that Ozzie has a lot more faith in Richard than Logan and Horacio Ramirez. Linebrink also on the mound. Farmer's right, if we can only with with Jenks and Thornton, we probably can't make the playoffs, and, if we do, we're history if we can't get any contributions from Dotel and Linebrink.

Cabrera...jesus. He's worse than Royce Clayton.

Go with Dotel here? Thornton? Buehrle? Just kidding...just thinking about the idea of Mark in WS 2005 or Ozuna pitching. Santiago, Granderson and Sheffield due up.

Twins are 2-7 at our park this year, and if we win this one, we'll have all the momentum. With how shaky Danks was, anything could happen, but it's going to be exciting and almost like making the playoffs. This is kind of like the 64/65 play-in game in the NCAA tournament. I think the Sox will be in the news today more than any other day of the season...lots of great exposure for Alexei if we can hold on and win.

Well, this year was worth sticking with the Sox until the end...no matter what happens tomorrow.

Do Tigers' fans say the same thing we do about ex-Royals? Seay (sort of), Grilli, Glover, Garcia...?