Thoughts

[fathom]

- Just as easily as we could have swept this series, we could have easily been swept by the Indians.

- Ozzie can't have the same patience this year with Shingo as he did w/Koch last year. Shingo was great last year, but it's not like he's a young man. All the AL has seen him and his trick pitches.

- Against lhp, I think Rowand should be batting 3rd. He's a stud vs lefties, and Everett typically struggles against lhp.

- What's wrong with Uribe in the field? He was incredibly lazy today, and seemed to be in another world.

- I love the addition of A.J. Pierz. He's the best catcher the Sox have had in a long, long time.

- Anyone else think that Dye kinda looks like what Michael Jordan would have in the Sox uniform with the number 23 and his physical characteristics?

 

Anyways, time to go to the Metrodome. I'd be ok with a 1-2 series there, as the pitching matchups aren't in our favor.

[fathom]

Let me also add that I hate the whole Gload for Konerko defensive replacement strategy. As I noted in the game thread, it's not like PK is bad on defense. We need to keep our best hitter in the game in case of a blown save.

[southsideirish71]

Let me also add that I hate the whole Gload for Konerko defensive replacement strategy.  As I noted in the game thread, it's not like PK is bad on defense.  We need to keep our best hitter in the game in case of a blown save.

 

That strategy works if its a one run lead. But when you are up by a few runs keep Konerko in.

[DonkeyKongerko]

That strategy works if its a one run lead.  But when you are up by a few runs keep Konerko in.

 

I think just the opposite. A one-run lead is much more likely to go to extra innings than a three-run lead no matter who is playing defense.

[fathom]

The question I have is this: is Gload's defense that much better that it makes up for the difference between potential offensive help regarding Gload having to bat instead of Konerko? This isn't a situation like a few years ago where we replaced Carlos Lee in LF late in the game for someone like Rowand, where the defensive replacement was far and away better than the starter.

[KipWellsFan]

I think just the opposite.  A one-run lead is much more likely to go to extra innings than a three-run lead no matter who is playing defense.

 

Agreed, I don't know what Irish means.

[Jabroni]

Crede still sucks.

[Dick Allen]

Ozzie was quilty of overmanaging today with using his entire pen, when it really wasn't necessary. It's weird that he only allows pitchers to face 1 hitter, but leaves Shingo in to allow 3 home runs. He blew through his entire bullpen and Vizciano had to take one for the team. I'm not a fan of Ozzie as a manager, but I don't think he's dumb, and I'm sure he has learned something from this game. Taking 2 out of 3 is a positive first step.

[Yossarian]

Ozzie was quilty of overmanaging today

Definitely. He painted himself into a corner today.

[CWSOX45]

-2 out of 3 is always a great way to start the year

 

-Pitching has been great, minus Shingo's performance today. Blown saves happen.

 

-Defense has been good for the most part

 

-Podsednik has been hitting the ball HARD. Even when he hasn't reached base in the past two games, he's still hit the ball hard right at someone. That's a good sign.

 

-Iguchi has been good for the past few games.

 

-Pierzynski has been fantastic, the game calling behind the plate has been terrific.

 

-I like our pen, Vizcaino and Hermanson seem like solid pick-ups. I really like how Cotts looked this series too.

 

Once these guys all start clicking together, this team could have the potential to compete with any team in the league.

 

CWSOX45

[SoxFanForever]

I am quite excited that Iguchi had a 3 hit day today as well as an RBI. Great to see.

[TheBigHurt35]

- I'll take two out of three any day, even against a "lesser" team like the Indians (who are underrated). Even through we blew it in the 9th today, we should've lost yesterday's game.

 

- The top three in the rotation look pretty good thus far. That alone is reason enough to be optimistic about this squad.

 

- Despite today's meltodown, the long relief looks encouraging overall.

 

- And speaking of meltdowns, I'm interested to see how Shingo does this year. Of course, he was a stud in Japan and was very good last season... but I'm wondering if AL hitters will catch up with him a bit this season. And he is 37 now, which may or may not be a factor. That said, it's still WAY too early to panic. Hell, even Foulke went into month-long slumps from '00-'02. Shingo had a great outing on Monday and has even had a better week than Rivera.

 

- This offense is going to struggle a bit until Frank gets back into the lineup. When he does, though, they should be able to avearge 5 or 6 runs per game. And Everett will be the most feared pinch hitter in the league.

 

- Having A.J. and Tad in the lineup is a welcomed change over rally-killers like Ben Davis and Willie Harris.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

Very happy with 2 outta 3 against a team most "experts" picked to finish ahead of us. Starting pitching was awesome. Glad to see Iguchi and A.J. play well. Wish Crede would start hitting. Rowand should be batting 3rd against lefties no doubt in my mind , the rest of the time he should be no lower than 5th. If you wanna play semi-small ball doesn't his batting avg. make him more valuable higher up in the order?

Let's beat the crap outta the Twinkies

[thelatinoheat_30]

- Just as easily as we could have swept this series, we could have easily been swept by the Indians. 

- Ozzie can't have the same patience this year with Shingo as he did w/Koch last year.  Shingo was great last year, but it's not like he's a young man.  All the AL has seen him and his trick pitches.

- Against lhp, I think Rowand should be batting 3rd.  He's a stud vs lefties, and Everett typically struggles against lhp.

 

 

Ozzie was quilty of overmanaging today with using his entire pen, when it really wasn't necessary.  It's weird that he only allows pitchers to face 1 hitter, but leaves Shingo in to allow 3 home runs. He blew through his  entire bullpen and Vizciano had to take one for the team. I'm not a fan of Ozzie as a manager, but I don't think he's dumb, and I'm sure he has learned something from this game. Taking 2 out of 3 is a positive first step.

 

i agree w/ both you guys. essentially, ozzie cost us the game today and i'll take it a step further. i have not been impressed w/ how ozzie pinch-hits for players and how he puts relievers in and when. had he saved at least 1 guy(but really 2 or 3), we MIGHT have been able to hold off the indians till we scored in the extras but the tired vizcaino had to take it for the team. when you have only a 3-run lead against the indians in the 7th w/ shingo as your closer and cotts and politte pitching, you CANNOT waste all of your bullpen to get them some work. they can easily put up 3 runs against our guys in 3 innings. i do think ozzie is dumb, overmanages, all that stuff. sad thing is i firstguess him, not second-guess. i like him as a motivator but that's all, we shoulda kept manuel or hired some veteran manger who knows what he's doing and then just hire like a clubhouse motivator. ozzie's managing skills do not impress me and needs to understand that lefties do not always have to face lefties and viceversa. disrupts pitchers' momentum and all that stuff, let em finish the inning unless they're really off. if we do make the playoffs, a burnt-out bullpen will not do us any good.

[nitetrain8601]

I think that Ozzie had a flashback to last year when he pulled Marte right away last year against KC, so he stuck with the guy a bit longer and it killed him.

[thelatinoheat_30]

also ozzie should first go to the bathroom b4 acting on a "gut feeling", just to make sure he hasn't confused it w/ a bowel movement.

[Wise Master Buehrle]

I'm really encouraged by Contreras. That's two good outings in a row from him.

 

But, last time I said that he went and sucked it up the next game so I'll just have to hope for the best.

 

Garcia, Buerhle were great. The pen looked well this series. Shingo is the only cause for concern but I'm not going to jump to hasty conclusions which lead to me wanting him out of the closers role. I'm not one to believe a closer needs to throw 95 mph+ to be effective.

 

Ozzie's managing in game 3 is a bit annoying. I think Ozzie likes to play the lefty righty matchups WAY too much. I think those matchups are way overrated in this game.

 

I'd still pinch hit like we used to with Graffanino back in the days but I think Politte could have at least finished the 7th inning.

 

Everett seems to have hit a mild slump but todays effort was encouraging and I'm excited to see how he produces next series.

 

Paulie, Dye, AJ have been great.

 

Rowand seems to be in a minor rut but I'm hoping he'll break out of it soon. Crede is being Crede. Hopefully he'll get hot. I'd also like to see Juan hitting like his pre-ASB 2004 form like last year. Pods, like someone said is hitting the ball hard but to the wrong spots, and Iguchi seems to be getting better and better every day.

 

I like what I saw this series.

[greg775]

I don't blame Oz for going with our closer, but I just saw the highlights on

ESPN. Wow. Those 3 batters just teed off on those meatballs.

Sure hope Shingo of last year is Shingo of this year.

[DBAHO]

Crede still sucks.

And you jumped to that conclusion after only 3 games. At least give him a month, before you start ragging on him.

[DBAHO]

Contreras showed today what he can do when he doesn't have runners on, that'll probably be the key for him.

 

Pods and Iguchi seem to be laying down a good platform at the top of the order, but the lower part in Crede, Uribe and Rowand need to pick it up in order for this team to be much better offensively. Getting Frank back will be a huge plus as well.

 

Shingo and Vizcaino well definitely worrying today, but I was glad to see Politte pitch well and Hermanson as well, you could say those two have some question marks on them a little.

[Rowand44]

Contreras showed today what he can do when he doesn't have runners on, that'll probably be the key for him.

 

Pods and Iguchi seem to be laying down a good platform at the top of the order, but the lower part in Crede, Uribe and Rowand need to pick it up in order for this team to be much better offensively. Getting Frank back will be a huge plus as well.

 

Shingo and Vizcaino well definitely worrying today, but I was glad to see Politte pitch well and Hermanson as well, you could say those two have some question marks on them a little.

I disagree about Vizcaino, I thought he pitched very well. He pitched an inning and a third yesterday then he came back today pitched another inning and a third before he got hit in his next inning, the guy's arm was no doubt tired, it's the third game of the season and he got ran out there a lot the last two days. To tell you the truth right now there isn't a relief pitcher I feel more comfortable with then Viz. As far as Shingo goes, he had a bad day, that's all, his pitches were up and out over the plate and he got hit, next time we need a save he'll shut 'em down.

Edited April 8, 2005 by Rowand44

[DBAHO]

I disagree about Vizcaino, I thought he pitched very well.  He pitched an inning and a third yesterday then he came back today pitched another inning and a third before he got hit in his next inning, the guy's arm was no doubt tired, it's the third game of the season and he got ran out there a lot the last two days.  To tell you the truth right now there isn't a relief pitcher I feel more comfortable with then Viz.  As far as Shingo goes, he had a bad day, that's all, his pitches were up and out over the plate and he got hit, next time we need a save he'll shut 'em down.

I didn't see the game so I'm just going on the numbers, but Ozzie shouldn't have wasted all of our bullpen pitchers before he got to Luis. I guess there's always going to be the question how he fares at the Cell considering he's a flyball pitcher.

[Rowand44]

I didn't see the game so I'm just going on the numbers, but Ozzie shouldn't have wasted all of our bullpen pitchers before he got to Luis. I guess there's always going to be the question how he fares at the Cell considering he's a flyball pitcher.

Yeah his game by the numbers looks awful but he can pitch. He looked damn good today when he first came in but pitching that much this early in the season had to be tiring on his arm. I think Viz is going to have a huge year for us this year, he was a nice "throw in" to get in the caballo deal.

[BridgeportHeather]

Crede still sucks.

 

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that he appears very tight (at least from my vantage point). He might've worked extra long hours in the batting cages this spring training; however, unless he can completely relax and not tense up like he appears to do, there will be no change in Crede's offensive production.

[JUGGERNAUT]

http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?sh...30906&st=1300

Effectiveness ranking of ChiSox 2005 pen:

Pitches 1-15: Shingo (439), Cotts, Vizc, Marte, Herm, Politte (710)

Pitches 16-30: Marte (601), Politte, Herm, Shingo, Vizc, Cotts (1110)

 

What does that tell you?

Shingo is best suited for being a closer with a short leash.

Cotts & Vizc are primarily specialists (good for no more than 15 pitches).

Politte & Herm are best suited for long relief.

Marte is best suited for setup.

 

Did Oz use them that way? No.

He should have led off the 7th with Politte with Cotts & Vizc avail to back him up. He should have led off the 8th with Marte with Herm avail to back him up. Then he should have relieved Shingo with Herm before Crisp came to bat in the 9th.

 

If I were running the team:

I would alternate setup betw Marte & Herm based on matchups & use

so that 1 of them would always be available if Shingo passed a 16 pc.

This gives you an effective setup guy & a guy capable of going longer

if Shingo should blow a save.

 

I would use Politte exclusively in the 7th.

 

I would use Cotts & Vizc to get the tough outs. Especially against LHers.

 

That's called managing to your strengths & weaknesses.

Ozzie didn't do that today.