VAfan

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Oct 2, 2005 -> 02:13 PM) You are way OVERESTIMATING what Vizcaino has done down the stretch. It's a LOT easier to pitch good in a low pressure situation than a high one. He's done very little all year round when the game has been on the line. That's why he only has 8H in 68 appearances & has racked up 5L. There is nothing in his numbers that suggest keeping him over El Duque for a final RH spot in the pen. The pen should be: Jenks, Hermy, Politte, Marte, Cotts, El Duque, & BMac. No other post-season team has that kind of talent in their pen. This is absolutely the correct move. The key here is that if you keep El Duque and McCarthy, you have two guys who can stretch the pen well beyond what any opponent can put out there. On the early side, you have El Duque. If our starter has trouble, El Duque could cover 1-3 innings. Indeed, he would be my first choice of a guy that could get us to the 8th inning. On the back side, you have McCarthy if we are in extra frames. That leaves Cotts, Politte, Hermanson, Jenks, and (gulp) Marte to solve the 8th and 9th.

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Oct 1, 2005 -> 09:43 PM) Allow me to make the case for El Duque: RISP, 2 outs: 59AB .186BAA, .619OPS. CL&L 18AB .222BAA, .652OPS. RISP, all: 126AB, .230BAA, .701OPS RON, 2: 44AB, .205BAA, .635OPS RON, 3: 22AB, .273BAA, .711OPS RON 1,2: 29AB, .207BAA, .599OPS RON 1,2,3: 13AB, .077BAA, .225OPS Vizc can't touch those numbers. This is a HUGE decision & I can only hope that Ozzie chooses the crafty vet over a sporadic RH RP. I don't even care what the numbers say, and I've always cared what the numbers say. Who do you want if we win the ALDS and get the Yankees in the ALCS?? I would take El Duque over most of the pitchers on our roster (Contreras excluded) if I needed to get that Yankee lineup out. Especially for a critical inning. I'm not saying I'd make El Duque our closer, but I think using him in the 7th or even 8th inning would give us a decided edge. Face it, we're likely to be looking at several 1-run games. I don't want to see Marte or Vizcaino in any 1-run game at any time. But I'd trust El Duque completely in that situation.

QUOTE(JimH @ Oct 1, 2005 -> 01:22 PM) You'd guarantee Gload would get a multi hit game? Again, please share that crystal ball with the rest of us. By the way all you "Ozzie hates Gload" spinmeisters ... if Ozzie really did hate Gload so much, wouldn't he have pinch hit for him in the 13th? Do you hunt down every Ross Gload mention I make? You never answer my question. Do you think Geoff Blum is a better hitter? Do you think Timo Perez is a better hitter? Let me know that before you say anything else about Gload. I don't really give two craps about Gload. I just want the Sox to win, and I know Gload hit .321 last year in just over 200 ABs, and torched AAA this year when we needed hitting in the worst way. Plus he's better defensively at 1B than anyone else we have, so he's not a liability in the field. And he's a lefty. We need offense. We need good lefties. He's been a better hitter than any other option we have. What's so hard to figure out about that. (By the way, Gload was 1 for 3 with a walk. Not multihit, but a .500 OBP.)

We may see some 13-inning games in the postseason, and we need the pitching staff that can deal with that eventuality. The keys to being able to go long are El Duque and Brandon McCarthy. If one of them (I'd use El Duque just like yesterday) is used in the 7th, the other will be able to come in after the game goes extra frames and hold on for several innings. No other team is going to be able to match us in that way, which should give us an edge if the game goes long. If you keep Vizcaino instead, you may only get a batter or two instead of an inning. And if you only keep El Duque and not McCarthy, if you use El Duque like Ozzie used him yesterday, then we're exposed with no long man if we go into extra innings. Cotts, Politte, Hermanson, Jenks, Marte are 8th and 9th inning guys. Maybe the 7th too. But you can easily use them up in a tight game if you start playing matchups. On either end of these guys you need a long man. El Duque and McCarthy should both make it. Give Vizcaino a full playoff share to root for us on the side.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Oct 1, 2005 -> 04:42 PM) Unless Gload goes about 10 for his next 10 its going to be Blum. I'd prefer Gload, but it ain't going to happen. I'm sure its going to be Blum too, but I don't know why. As I posted elsewhere, if you kept Gload, Blum would be 3rd or 4th choice at every position he plays. And since he can't pinch hit, he doesn't have any real value. We got him when we were worried about Crede's back. That didn't turn into an issue. Unfortunately, Ozzie didn't really play Gload enough to let him repeat his .321 average from last year. He was tearing up AAA, but he never got a chance up here.

QUOTE(black jack @ Oct 1, 2005 -> 04:06 AM) They showed Ozzie in the dugout cursing when Paulie was walked. He was pissed it happened. Yes, I saw that. Which makes me think Ozzie isn't that savvy as a game manager. He had to know they would walk Konerko to face a guy that struck out 3 times and was hitting under .200. Konerko is probably the only hitter in our lineup that any opposing manager fears at all. I hope Gload gets another chance tomorrow, at DH if necessary. If I were Ozzie, I would play all the guys who are on the roster bubble the next two days, and think about taking the ones that perform. To me, the last spot comes down to Gload v. Blum, and I would take Gload.

Does anyone think Ozzie intentionally used Konerko in the 13th knowing he'd likely be intentionally walked so that he could get Ross Gload up that inning with two men on? If he did, he's a sly dog. But it makes me wonder. If Ozzie had confidence in Gload in that situation after Gload looked pretty bad earlier in the evening on some ABs, why hasn't he shown Gload any confidence in other situations where he could have used him? The whole situation was rather puzzling, but I'm glad it worked!

QUOTE(White Sox Josh @ Oct 1, 2005 -> 03:55 AM) I was going back and forth with that one. I really think you could take either. I just think that Gload has a little more pop from the left side though. He also is smooth in the field which would make him a great defensive replacment. Remember opening day. The guy to leave behind is Blum. Everyone says he's versatile, but he's the 3rd or 4th guy at every position he plays. 1B - Konerko, Gload, Blum SS - Uribe, Ozuna, Blum 3B - Crede, Ozuna, Blum LF - Podsednik, Everett, Perez, Blum RF - Dye, Everett, Perez, Blum Gload is Konerko's designated pinch runner and defensive replacement late in close games. And if Ozzie had given him a few more ABs this year, he'd have likely done a lot more of what he did in the 13th, and a lot less striking out like he did earlier in the game.

QUOTE(bulokis @ Oct 1, 2005 -> 03:42 AM) Gload continued his superb hitting for the knights getting that big hit. By the way, Gload is the only one that I got his signature during soxfest. YAY! I count 3 Ross Gload rooters on this post. Where have you been while I've been getting beat up relentlessly in numerous other posts for suggesting that Ozzie actually use Gload?? I know this. Neither Geoff Blum nor Timo Perez could have driven that ball to the wall in the 13th. I hope Gload gets to play again Sunday. Tomorrow I expect Ozzie will have most of his regulars back.

White Sox Josh. You wouldn't take Willie Harris? He may turn out to be the most valuable bench player we have. I'm glad the last two posters agree that Marte should be left behind. I think I wouldn't mind seeing him go just so I didn't have to see him come into a ballgame. Though it is really too bad with him. The guy has electric stuff. He just can't control it.

There is a longer post on this topic already.

Well, after tonight, El Duque is certainly in, as is Willie Harris. And is there life for my man ROSS GLOAD? Does anyone think Geoff Blum could have driven that ball to the wall and plated two runs? Gload looked awful early, but give the guy a break. He's had no ABs this year. Put him in tomorrow or Sunday and I guarantee he'll have a multi-hit game. My final choice for a bench would be Widger, Ozuna, Harris, Perez, and Gload. As for pitching, if Ozzie wants to make the bold move, he should leave Marte off the roster and keep Vizcaino. I don't trust Marte against tough lefties anyway.

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Sep 30, 2005 -> 08:56 PM) For a team & a manager that believes pitching & defense wins championships BMac is staying & Vizc is left off. As for the bench: Timo, Harris, Ozuna, Widger are sure things. Blum probably over Anderson. I can live with that if he makes the right call on the pitchers, especially if he uses them correctly in the games.

Who wants to lay the over-under on this game? I guarantee this lineup will score off Millwood.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 30, 2005 -> 07:19 PM) I think he should be #1 in line for the extra roster spot created by going from 12 pitchers to 11...for 1 simple reason...Dave Roberts. Willie's two exceptional defensive plays yesterday I think make him a lock. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ozzie use him as a defensive replacement for Iguchi late in a tight game.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Sep 30, 2005 -> 07:15 PM) Making a case for Blum, I think he HAS to go. Lets say Paul gets a basehit in the 8th,and they put in Willie to run. You then put Blum in at 1st in the 9th. Same situation with Joe. Joe gets a basehit, you put in Willie, then have Blum go in at 3b. Ozuna would do any pinch running for Crede so it only costs you 1 player, and I would keep Gload to either run for or back up Konerko because he's better defensively at first than Blum, plus he can actually hit. But I know I'm fighting a losing proposition here. Ozzie seems to have put Gload in his doghouse, and Perez is his favorite puppy, so I fully expect Gload and Anderson to remain off the roster. The one position I hope they get right is 11th pitcher.

The picture of the Cubans with their cigars is priceless, whether it is just the one by themselves or with Cooper.

QUOTE(elrockinMT @ Sep 30, 2005 -> 06:57 PM) No matter what anyone's thoughts are you won't see Vizcaino left off the roster nor will you see Perez and Blum off, both of whom, have either been with this team or at least in the Majors all year. Andeson ain't goin and I am betting McvCarthy isn't either. El Duque will go bad arm or not. That's Ozzie thinking there. I hope we take a lesson from the Angels and go with the best players, not just the guys that have been in the majors. You wouldn't leave Bobby Jenks off the roster, would you?? He started the lowest of any potential postseason guy this year.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Sep 30, 2005 -> 04:35 PM) All I can hope is that none of these moves matter, because if we are talking about Timo and Geoff next week, were f***ed. Granted, that's probably true, though at least Timo has had a clutch game winning hit that I can remember. Maybe Blum is a good luck charm since SD also made it. The one move that may really matter, however, is the 11th pitcher. I'd want both McCarthy and El Duque if I were Ozzie.

For some reason, my post from yesterday didn't get through. I'll try again. 4 starting pitchers: 1. Contreras 2. Buehrle 3. Garcia 4. Garland 5 bullpen arms 5. Jenks 6. Politte 7. Cotts 8. Hermanson 9. Marte (gulp, but we have to have him) 2 more pitchers 10. McCarthy (earned spot; best long reliever, can get K's and doesn't walk anyone) 11. El Duque (experience, could be key if we play Yanks, rested) Odd man out: Vizcaino (only useful when he pitches a lot, and he hasn't in quite some time; otherwise he's a right handed Marte). 14 hitters 12. Konerko 13. Iguchi 14. Uribe 15. Crede 16. Pierzynski 17. Podsednik 18. Rowand 19. Dye 20. Everett 2 obvious bench players: 21. Widger 22. Ozuna Decisions, decisions. 23. Willie Harris (speed in 1-run game is key; still best defensive 2B, can play OF) I would take: 24. Brian Anderson (won't happen, but I'd rather have right-handed pop with better defense, than a lefty (Perez) 25. Ross Gload (also won't happen, but he can pinch hit, whereas Blum cannot, and he's the designated late game pinch runner for Konerko anyway. Plus, he's a better defensive 1B than Blum). Left home: Timo Perez and Geoff Blum. Of course both are going to go instead of Anderson/Gload, but I wish Ozzie would choose the better ballplayers. We don't need Blum especially because he's really 3rd on the depth chart at every position he plays.

Vizcaino should be the odd guy out, frankly. McCarthy has earned the long relief role, and El Duque could be especially valuable in the bullpen if we end up facing the Yanks. Vizcaino has only been sharp after he got a lot of use, and he's had no appearances except mop up work in a long time.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Sep 30, 2005 -> 12:24 AM) Well it was duh to me because MB pitches tomorrow... Game one on Tuesday would be on three days rest. The rotation, even though it has yet to be announced, is Count, MB, Garcia, Garland. -- I also expect McCarthy to make the roster over Duque. Though that could change depending on how they pitch this weekend in Cleveland. -- And yes, El Duque will get a good load of work this weekend. I'd keep El Duque over Vizcaino. If our offense can't score, we may need two long relievers in McCarthy and El Duque, and I'd also trust either of them for an inning in a critical situation. El Duque has playoff experience up the ying yang and is rested. If we have to face the Yanks, I want him for the 7th or 8th innings.

QUOTE(Punch and Judy Garland @ Sep 29, 2005 -> 08:06 PM) Yep. It appears that the movie Jurassic Carl: The Los Swing is over. If only Jurrassic Aaron: The Lost Swing would come to an end too!

When do they expect to put ALCS tickets on sale? I live in Virginia. but I bought on-line in 2000, then never got to use them.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 29, 2005 -> 03:56 PM) Here's a question...if all 3 teams wind up with 96 wins, the Sox would clearly have home field advantage in the ALDS...what happens with home field in the ALCS? Best record head-to-head? I'm sure if we have home field in the ALDS, it will carry to the ALCS.