kitekrazy

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 03:30 PM) Adam Dunn agrees that the DH covers up for your mistakes. LOL, I was thinking about that. With the Sox, the DH magnifies the mistakes.

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 09:08 AM) The AL Central has a .500 overall record against the AL West. The two division leaders have nearly identical records, and although Anaheim is the third best team in either division, Seattle and Oakland are really really bad. If the AL Central finishes with an above .500 record against the AL west, isn't it a better division? The NL Central is also clearly a bad division as well, worse than the AL Central. The AL Central beat the NL Central 18-12 in interleague this year. It can be argued that the NL west has three bad teams in it as well. Are the only two "good" divisions the two Eastern ones? Isn't Houston going to be added to the AL West? That should make it pretty bad.

I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that mob scene if there are no changes. Hopefully the CPD will have the riot gear ready.

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 03:28 PM) I wonder if the decision has already been made to not bring Juan Pierre back. I wouldn't rule it out if he signs for under $3M. After watching him get thrown out he's either lost a major step from 1st to 2nd or he's tipping when he's going to steal. De Aza and Viciedo can't stay in the minors forever. If either once doesn't meet expectations it's still not the epic fail like Anderson and Fields.

Well I'm going to have check this team out along with Atlanta and Milwaukee. OF course I get the DBs and hopefully I can go to the park before the season ends. Last season I probably watched the NL playoffs far more than the AL. I'm getting to like the NL style of play. There's a lot more strategy since there is no DH. I'm getting sick of the DH. I was listening to Stone talk about how much more difficult it is to be a successful GM in the NL. You don't have the DH to cover up your mistakes. You also have to invest in having a quality bench. I did notice that the NL teams in contention were still making moves after the deadline. Unfortunately the NL races seem set. How frustrating it must be for Atlanta having 82 wins and 9 1/2 out. Hopefully I wont forget to see them play the Phillies tonight.

If the Sox maintain their season pattern of being at .500, they are bound to lose 2 or 3.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 09:15 AM) I'm glad you posted this. Since hearing various posters say Santos is a mental midget I've been trying to find closer stats and this provides them. We could certainly be worse off than with Santos as closer. His save percentage is the only thing that a top close would be better. The peripherals are outstanding. Well there are people on this site that believe closers are over rated. Stats don't always tell a complete story. Bobby Thigpen could be considered one of the greatest closers in Sox history. Javy Vasquez would put up 15 games when a team is having a losing season. Players can put up great stats but you can't disqualify that often greatness is determined when they do it. Bucky Dent became a household name, Bill Billichik is a living god and Peyton Manning couldn't win the big one. Super Bowl III is the only reason Joe Namath is in the HOF. I believe Danks and Floyd are mental midgets. If Danks becomes a Yankee he will do fine but among that fan base you are measured on how well you do against the Red Sox. I know I shouldn't be pointing out just a few guys but the team as a whole this century more often fails in pressure showdowns. This weekend reminded me of 2003 (?) when it came to the Sox vs. Twins and you see a team collapse. We've had two managers with the same results. Is it coincidence, manager or players? The only constant has been Kenny, PK and MB. It could very well be the managers since both seem to be easy going guys. Maybe it's Kenny. Players from losing organization don't have to deal with pennant races. One of my favorite seasons as a Sox fan was when JR took over and signed Fisk and Luzinski, and when they signed Seaver. They were from winning organizations. Recently it's been collecting Royals and NL talent which I still believe is a much weaker league. I think there are players whose presence just make a team better. The Big Hurt was the last of them.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 01:29 PM) I don't think that there's an overreaction to 1 loss happening here, I think there's a reaction to the way Sergio's full suite of blown saves have happened. and when they happen.....

QUOTE (Cali @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 12:35 PM) Anyone else get a feeling it's gonna be the Tigers and Indians the Sox will have to battle with in the upcoming years in the central? I think it's more of a battle between the Sox, Royals and Twins for 3rd place if the organization remains as is.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 12:42 PM) if the Sox can be discounted based on who they have been playing, so can the Tigers. They have gotten fat off of the KC's and Minnesotas of the world. That's where the Sox have failed many times is beating teams they are suppose to.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 12:16 AM) "Ya know Stone Poney, after everything that's happened this year; Dunn, Rios, Beckham, Peavy, injuries to Carlos and such...to still finish in 2nd place? I believe this season has been saved. I think Kenny, Ozzie, and this whole bunch deserves a chance to go for it again next year." There is a writer (Joel Shannon?) who makes a similar case. The reality is that the current staff is retained, people are not going to show up with the exception of maybe having a 10 game lead by the end of May. Eventually Kenny has to go. I bet they move him up. The constant under Kenny is the team is really good at being in 2nd place. Plus the teams don't respond to pressure and it's a miserable fail. I wonder what the deal is with Cooper. He doesn't have a contract for next season. That might be a good indicator Ozzie is gone and JR already has a replacement. I like Ozzie as a manager but once you get away from his foul mouth he is probably like a Dusty Baker flower child manager. He would probably be better off with younger players in Florida than a group of veterans like Chicago. It's easier to make kids more accountable than under productive millionaires.

Rochester has lost 90 games. Maybe their farm system isn't in the best shape either.

QUOTE (VictoryMC98 @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 11:21 PM) Thanks, don't get a chance to listen to any radio. Here is my issue with Hahn, if he is Kenny's right hand man.. and Kenny is the problem... How is that changing things? I also see how its perfectly set up so Jerry doesn't have to be the bad guy in this.. which sorry, you own a team, you have to be a bad guy every once in a while. Listen to Stone's interview on that web page. He talks about Hahn.

I see they won 90 games. I wonder how they would stack up against AL opponents. I was wondering if anyone was following or watching them? I might have to watch some of their games.

QUOTE (VictoryMC98 @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 09:00 PM) I think it all starts at the top and trickles down. This IMO is Kenny's version of a team.. this is what he wanted. Kenny is on the hook, just as last year Ozzie was on the hook for his version of a team. If this year doesn't win 88 games, or better.. I am willing to Rid the team of Kenny, and follow what the Cubs just did.. or about to do, look for a GM who understands player development, the rushing up of Gordon, is just bad. We all know the Sox Payroll is depended on Wins, and staying healthy.. Just image how bad this team would be if Paulie was out for 15 dl? And since we can't predict staying healthy esp, when the core is getting older and can't play like they did 6 years ago.. I think all fans micro-manage every single action of Ozzie/their manager of another, but overall Ozzie is given the hand he is dealt. I still see him as a top 10 manager in baseball right now. It seems from your post we beg to differ, which is great.. I like to get different view points. Which is why I said early on.. I know I am in the minority. One of the reasons for rushing up Beckham was more of Kenny's failed prospects/decisions. Another year of Jaun Uribe wouldn't have hurt the team.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 11:00 PM) Do you admit Sergio has had a great season as closer? He has imploded a few times but who hasn't on this s***ty team? Some saves are padded. Me might have decent stuff but not the brain to match it.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/show/670-the-score-interviews/# Listen to the Ken Rosenthal interview on M&H.

QUOTE (VictoryMC98 @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 09:31 PM) Caulfield, I agree, I don't think both are back.. But, if the Sox Fire Ozzie, and the team does worse.. then what? Kenny probably stays but not as GM.

QUOTE (VictoryMC98 @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 11:02 PM) I didn't state that, but was that the #1 problem last year the DH? Some people want to believe that.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 07:40 PM) The point the objectors to Ozzie are making is even if he had to play Rios and Dunn to "get them out of their slumps", he didn't need to be putting them in the spots usually reserved for run producers. The sad thing is they weren't the only 2 easy outs in the lineup.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 10:03 PM) Why does Sale have to start the season in AAA? We likely won't be playing for anything meaningful in the majors. Let him start up in the bigs. There's probably a long list of extreme hard throwers who have short careers or regress after a few productive seasons. Guys like this you have to be very careful how you handle them.

QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 10:02 PM) Cabrera is 2/8 against Sergio with 2 HR's, 2 RBI, and 3 Strikeouts. I love calling our rookie closer (who was fielding ground balls 3 years ago and has been one of the best closers in the game this year) a "mental midget". High high comedy Sorry, I'm not a buyer yet. Let's see what happens next season if Coop's boys can handle the pressure. This is the Sox MO for the 21st century.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 08:16 PM) Raise your hand if you wanted De Aza on the team coming out of spring training Not me. I like what the Charlotte hitting instructor is doing with those guys. Walker would turn them into Beckham.

I think you need to see more of both especially in pressure situations.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 06:07 PM) ...? Because of the Tigers game? There have been plenty of times when he's come right at Miggy. He just lost that match. Nope. There have been instance before and also the first game of the dh.