kitekrazy

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 11:27 PM) Good post. I've been wondering where the media outrage has been as well. Sox are going to get let off easy. I'm tired of the posts saying that this was a great season because we exceeded expectations. We didn't, first off, if the other thread is any indication. Second, when you're three up with fourteen to play, the expectation is to win. That's a much greater and important expectation and it's looking like we blew it. I like the emergence of Sale and De Aza, and you hope some of the other young guys you can depend on, but it doesn't look like that will be a trade off with our veterans getting older/moving on Actually no. It's the typical mental midget breakdown after ASB. That's actually meeting expectations.

QUOTE (Doc Edwards Shot @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 11:26 PM) Even though it's technically not a collapse because of what happened in the end, I think the biggest collapse for the Sox franchise was in 2005 when they had the 15 game lead and the Indians closed in a matter of weeks to within 1.5 games. Good thing they held on to win the division and then the whole banana! But this season will be memorable for sure. This is about as bad as it gets down the stretch for a team in contention. In fact, I'll bet they lose out or only win one of these remaining 6 games to finish 82-80 or 83-79. Ironically, that's close to the absolute best preseason predictions for this team. How sad that after everything that has happened this season they're ultimately only going to finish around the .500 mark. All too often this team only finishes between .480 and .520 - enough to not be bad, but not good enough to do anything meaningful. Besides 2005, the franchise just can't seem to put enough together in a given year. They really need a full rebuild and to stop with Kenny's band-aids year after year, but it's not going to happen with so many untradeable guys under contract. That's were the attendance problem is. You pay a lot for mediocre baseball. The organization needs to drop the market strategy of blaming the fans.

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 10:36 PM) Several amazing individual offensive performances on that club. We still won 90 games, too. Loaded AL Central That was an oddity for the AL Central.

Did anyone read all of that. I go with Hell No.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 10:08 PM) Exactly. Like a good manager, like a manager of the year candidate, he seemed to stay out of the way as the pitchers worked deep into games and the players played. Coinciding with our pitchers struggling to go five innings, he became a mad mixer and matcher, a diabolical scientist of a manager and that sucked. I hope next year he goes back to getting out of the way, cause he made way too many moves and many sucked. Only Gaving Floyd has pitched a full season in the past. Sale and Q have never pitch this much. I still worry about the future of Sale.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 10:08 PM) Way too early to predict what the rest of the team would look like. Who knows, maybe the go into more of a rebuild mode and don't even bother signing a major free agent. I'm not going to lose sleep over that right now. No more NL guys and stop spending too much money on the DH spot. It's hard to invest on bench players.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 09:54 PM) Reasons I think Sox are in better position now than a year ago: - Dunn proved that he didn't forget how to play the game of baseball, meaning his contract wasn't an absolute waste going forward - Manto was able to make Rios into a good player again - Chris Sale proved he can be a very good starter in the majors - Good experience for Reed and Jones (Jones was never even expected to be in the big leagues this year) - Quintana came out of nowhere and gives you hope he can be a 5th starter. Santiago started the year as closer, failed, and then showed some promise as a possible starter - ADA proved he can be a very solid player, and gives us the best all-around leadoff hitter the Sox have had in a long time - Ventura proved he knows how to motivate the players and create a good environment in the clubhouse. The biggest setback was Morel looking like he's not MLB caliber, causing the Sox to have to scramble to find a 3B this year and in the future. He's the first guy I try to move in the off season. I've been impressed with the last 2/3 of Quintana's starts. He got better as the game went along.

QUOTE (daggins @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 09:52 PM) They'll pick up Gavin's option and get some unexciting RHP option, this team always pulls pitching out of its behind. They reaaaally need a 3B and a catcher, assuming AJ leaves for greener (richer) pastures. His market value has to have dropped 30%. He looks like a player who is intentionally trying to lose games since August. He's suppose to be one of the more fundametally sound players on the time and it's a major 180.

QUOTE (daggins @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 09:52 PM) They'll pick up Gavin's option and get some unexciting RHP option, this team always pulls pitching out of its behind. They reaaaally need a 3B and a catcher, assuming AJ leaves for greener (richer) pastures. His market value has to have dropped 30%. He looks like a player who is intentionally trying to lose games since August. He's suppose to be one of the more fundametally sound players on the time and it's a major 180.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 09:45 PM) Phenomenal post. It's disappointing that team has collapsed down the stretch, but there's no doubt I'll have positive memories about this season in the years to come. The Sox are in a much better position going forward into the future now as opposed to a year ago. The "they weren't suppose to be there" is a nice mental band-aid, but the 2nd half choke job is something were are quite tired of.

QUOTE (Baron @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 09:37 PM) I wasnt having that discussion at all with the previous poster which was the point. Im sorry you think Kenny wont be involved heavily in the moves this offseason. He will be. Are you fly on the wall in the organization?

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 09:36 PM) Drafting guys with fundamental swings. Not looking for light tower power. You can do that once in a while, but good lord every year we are picking more Borchards up hoping that one will land. Seems like the organization is too outfield heavy. They need to address 3b and C. It doesn't look like the FA market is the solution.

QUOTE (RZZZA @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 09:28 PM) Wouldn't it be awesome if the Tigers somehow went on to win the World Series now? LOL That would just be the cherry on top of the fail sundae. Why wouldn't that happen, too. It happened with the Packers, it happened with the Heat. Our sports rivals always seem to go all the way at our expense. It's not impossible. Then again Fielder and Cabrera, both who appear to have not slumped this whole season, finally happens and they're done.

QUOTE (TitoMB @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 09:26 PM) I would have LOVED to have made the playoffs in Ventura's first year.. Hopefully this gives him something to build off of next season. KW/Hahn, get us those last few pieces to push us over the top, please! 2013 is going to be our year. more mental midgets 2nd tier NL talent free agents who never been in a post season too much financial resources in the DH position That's the KW era. I'll take better scouting and better minor league instruction.

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 09:23 PM) I realize how futile the ra-ra stuff is in baseball, but I'd be interested to see if someone tries it You mean like a major league roster?

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 09:14 PM) Can't we even get a break? It's called tee time, Oct. 4.

QUOTE (RudyLawRules @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 09:10 PM) This. He has no plan or brains when he gets to the plate. We have some really dumb players. When have they not?

No more bunting. Puleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze!

I feel like a Cub fan. Except Bartman is on the team. In fact there's quite a few Bartmans on that team.

Myers=mental midget.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 09:03 PM) Danks is just stupid. It's a testament of how bad the farm system is. EPIC FAIL of an inning. At least I got a laugh out of it.

A quality Peavy outing is a terrible thing to waste.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 08:22 PM) Exactly. I'm not saying dump him and experiment with minor league options, but I am saying if we can get an upgrade, take it. The past few years, I was hopeful for a turn around, and didn't want to block him. But now, I think he's reached the end of his leash. Upgrade if you can, but don't abandon him at 2B if you can't get one. His numbers are that much different for a 2b among the league. His power numbers are above average.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 08:17 PM) I definitely believe they should put him on the market this offseason to see what other teams would be willing to give up for him. Don't trade him for prospects though, only MLB ready talent. Only if it could bring a catcher or 3b.

Sometimes you wonder if a Sox pitcher says "f*** hit! These guys aren't hittin for me so I'm gonna get myself out of here and let someone else take over. I'm tired of pitching my ass off for the lackeys"