4/10 Game Notes

[AddisonStSox]

Very, very seldom will I do this--in fact, this will probably be the only time this season--but, I have four big points worth noting from today's game. I'll list them in decreasing order of importance.

 

Freddy Garcia

 

Whether or not someone talked with him about getting his head out of his ass or not, I don't know, but, what I do know is his velocity was up today. That's a major step in the right direction. While some of you have been jumping off buildings, in this, our second week of baseball, I've maintained that this starting pitcher will come around, and, when it does, I expect a lot of this uneasiness to fade away. I don't know if everyone picked up on it--and it would be awfully difficult not to--but, throughout his first outing, Hawk and DJ were compelled to tell us Freddy Garcia has a new outlook for 2006 and he wants to become a control pitcher, lowering his velocity. In fact, it was clearly visible. The guy wasn't even efforting on the mound. I don't know if he felt he could get buy on "stuff," but, the Tribe showed him nice and early that he can't. Drop the new outlook on life, Freddy. Reach back and fire. You are a power pitcher. Welcome back.

 

Brandon McCarthy

 

While Hermanson is on the shelf, and Cliff Politte and Neal Cotts look like shells of their 2005 selves in the early-going, rest assured, the set-up man is on the roster. His name is Brandon McCarthy. Although he can't be used everyday in both the seventh and eighth--for reasons I assume are universally understood--he should be used in these close one-run games. He is clearly the go-to guy. Give him the ball in the seventh. Give him the ball in the eighth. Until Politte and Cotts get back on track--and, who knows, they very well might--McCarthy bridges the gap.

 

Scott Podsednik

 

I believe most of us are thinking along the same lines here. Podsednik needs to wake up and wake up fast. It's only a matter of time until he hits the shelf playing this way, due to some phantom injury for sure. I need not say more concerning Podsednik. He needs to be on base. He needs to steal bases. He needs to be the catalyst at the top of the order once again.

 

The Return of Corpseball?

 

While Konerko and Crede joined the fun today, it appears the Sox offense is content waiting for the big fly. WRONG. This team won in 2005 due to manufacturing runs--and the Sox were the best around. If the Thome-well goes dry, all of a sudden, we're staring at a very stagnate offense once again in 2006. That can't happen. I think we've all felt this team had such a good chance to win the division in 2006 because they seemed to add some legitimate power in Jim Thome to an already serviceable offense. Why won't this approach work? See White Sox Baseball 2001-2004.

 

I welcome your feedback.

Edited April 10, 2006 by AddisonStSox

[AddisonStSox]

Upon further review, the addition of Bobby Jenks velocity could probably merit an addition to the notes above.

 

The velocity is slowly but surely returning and Bobby is popping the mitt. I don't think the breaking balls are there quite yet, but, he's starting to run-up the gun again and that's a start.

 

His ability to close out close ballgames is going to be crucial in surviving this division.

[Rowand44]

Neal Cotts look like shells of there 2005 selves in the early-going

He does? Neal has looked absolutely fine to me.

[Baines3]

I knew I could count on Freddy Garcia to us a well needed win in Detroit.

[GoSox05]

I dont see it as a return to corpseball at all. I think it was three hitters hitting homeruns off a very nasty, possibly 20 game winner today. thats it.

[Chisoxfn]

I'm not too concerned with this team. I've said it all week and will continue to say it. We got a freaking great rotation, a good lineup and we'll be just fine. When the weather heats up our offense will only get better and we seem to have at least a few pitchers who also excel in the heat (Freddy, Jose).

 

The pen will need to improve this season but I think our main weapons are all there if they can stay healthy and get on track. The question is whether the back end of the pen will pan out and I think we have two guys that can do the job potentially but there will be some ugly games thanks to our pen.

[fathom]

BTW, kudos for Ozzie for quickly realizing that McCarthy is his best righty set-up man. It's also encouraging to see McCarthy be able to go 2 innings today after loosening up yesterday.

[KWs OK for Me]

I really like this line from todays game:

 

Bullpen (Pitches-Strikes): 28-23

 

I love when the bullpen comes out and just fires strikes out at the hitters and challenges them. Nothing is worse than when someone comes out the pen and cant find the plate (for example last night's cardinals game)

[rventura23]

Freddy Garcia

 

Freddy is a power pitcher and his numbers looked much better. I think he'll be fine this year. He proved his importance in big games last year and especially in the post season.

 

Brandon McCarthy

 

I like McCarthy's work in the bullpen and hes going to be important but I think Politte or Cotts will step it up to fill the middle reliever role and let McCarthy stick to longer outings.

 

Scott Podsednik

 

Pods stinks right now but hell turn it around. Have faith and let him keep playing.

Hes a lot of the reason that we arent manufacturing runs as well. I dont think were relying on home runs, we just havent had many clutch hits. Pods will start swinging and the offense will be able to generate. ALthough Paulie and Thome will hit their fair share of homers

[AddisonStSox]

Well, I am encouraged to see that at least of few of you have faith this offense and this bullpen will get back on track.

 

Don't get me wrong, in no way, shape, or form am I condemning the long-ball. Hell, Thome was brought over to help out in that area. But, if we don't have the table-setters at the top of the order--namely Podsednik and Iguchi--the big fly becomes the only source of runs and that is when you start getting in trouble.

 

Fathom, excellent point on Ozzie figuring this bullpen out in the early-going. I'm sure that wasn't easy for you. But, seriously, he's fingered McCarthy as his go-to guy in the close ballgames and it looks like he still has faith in the big guy closing things out.

 

The Sox are going to be just fine. They really are.

 

...I'd also like to take this opportunity to say I truly believe we will be hearing Javier Vazquez's name in the race for the Cy Young come season's end. You heard it here first.

[fathom]

Fathom, excellent point on Ozzie figuring this bullpen out in the early-going.  I'm sure that wasn't easy for you.  But, seriously, he's fingered McCarthy as his go-to guy in the close ballgames and it looks like he still has faith in the big guy closing things out.

 

 

I'm an Ozzie critic, not an Ozzie hater. I have absolutely no problem pointing out good decisions he makes during a game, etc. It's going to take him a while to get used to this bullpen, especially if some guys are a little better/worse than last year.

[CWSGuy406]

The problem isn't manufacturing runs. In fact, our offense will be built off of the homerun -- not off of bunting and stolen bases.

 

Our problem is that we don't have anybody (right now) who can replicate what Podsednik did for us last year -- a .350 OBP, along with good LF defense. I contend that Gload could probably be Pods' equal at the plate, but you'd take a big hit in defense (and that's saying something).

 

I hope either Jerry Owens or Ryan Sweeney are ready for the show by mid-June. Perhaps it's just my natural bias against a non-100% (health-wise) Scott Podsednik, but I'm not optimistic at all...

Edited April 10, 2006 by CWSGuy406

[Tannerfan]

I hope either Jerry Owens or Ryan Sweeney are ready for the show by mid-June.  Perhaps it's just my natural bias against a non-100% (health-wise) Scott Podsednik, but I'm not optimistic at all...

 

Hey the guy barley had a spring training between the shoulder injury and the groin tweek.

Give him some time to find his groove.

[AddisonStSox]

Hey the guy barley had a spring training between the shoulder injury and the groin tweek.

Give him some time to find his groove.

 

How much? In a year like this, we don't have time for that.

 

Herein lies the problem.

[witesoxfan]

...I'd also like to take this opportunity to say I truly believe we will be hearing Javier Vazquez's name in the race for the Cy Young come season's end.  You heard it here first.

 

You may have said it first, but I was preaching all off-season about how much I loved Vazquez, after having looked him over a bit. There's a reason KW liked him so much, and hopefully the Sox will be reaping the rewards. Hopefully we will all be able to feed VAFan a little crow at the end of the season(all in good fun of course, VA )

 

As for the relievers - Cotts has started every year out cold. Every year. This is no different. His K's are fine, his control is fine...he's just giving up hits. Once he settles in a little bit, those hits will come down and he will be the dominant reliever he was last year.

 

Politte's a different story, and I think is a perfect example of why it is hard to count on relievers from year to year. David Weathers was part of a trade that sent Richard Hidaldo to the Mets - he was then released in September of that year by Houston due to ineffectiveness. He's now closing games for Cincinatti. It's also a reason you must have depth in a bullpen, because guys can be streaky and inconsistent from year to year.

 

EDIT: should add that it doesn't mean Politte can't rebound and become an effective reliever. It just means I'm less sure of him bouncing back than I am of Cotts.

Edited April 10, 2006 by witesoxfan

[witesoxfan]

How much?  In a year like this, we don't have time for that.

 

Herein lies the problem.

 

Agreed very much. We need a leadoff hitter than we can depend on for a .350 OBP at the very least...if Pods can't do it, he needs to be replaced. He was wonderful for the Sox in the early part of last year getting on base and causing all kinds of havoc, and he probably hit the biggest homer in Sox history, but that doesn't mean he can't be replaced.

 

One does have to give him some time to see if he can regain his ability...but you don't have all season. You have about a month, and if he can't get in game shape, then he's no better than a 4th OFer.

[WCSox]

He does?  Neal has looked absolutely fine to me.

 

I'm not worried about him. He may not repeat his 60 innings of 2.00 ERA-quality pitching, but I like his chances of being a very effective lefty specialist again. I'm not even worried about Pods (although I'd like Ozzie to put him on the DL is he really is injured).

 

On the other hand, Politte scares me. His age and career numbers strongly suggest that last year was a fluke. With Hermanson gone (possibly indefinitely), I don't want Politte being the "bridge" to the 9th inning.

[TLAK]

I was mildly surprised that Oz used Uribe as a defensive sub for Cintron in the 9th innning. Sending in Anderson for Mackowiak was a little more obvious, with the big outfield in Comerica.

 

The guys the White Sox sub FOR are better defensively than the starters on a lot of MLB teams.

[DBAHO]

Agreed very much.  We need a leadoff hitter than we can depend on for a .350 OBP at the very least...if Pods can't do it, he needs to be replaced.  He was wonderful for the Sox in the early part of last year getting on base and causing all kinds of havoc, and he probably hit the biggest homer in Sox history, but that doesn't mean he can't be replaced. 

 

One does have to give him some time to see if he can regain his ability...but you don't have all season.  You have about a month, and if he can't get in game shape, then he's no better than a 4th OFer.

Which is why I'll be very suprised if Pods is around next season. You've got Owens down in AAA who could fill in as the leadoff hitter, and you're not going to re-sign Pods if he doesn't have a season like he did last year. Not to mention, other teams are probably going to offer him some good money.

[DBAHO]

I was mildly surprised that Oz used Uribe as a defensive sub for Cintron in the 9th innning.  Sending in Anderson for Mackowiak was a little more obvious, with the big outfield in Comerica.

 

The guys the White Sox sub FOR are better defensively than the starters on a lot of MLB teams.

There still have been some questions regarding Cintron's defense. He's not bad by any stretch of means, but he's not a very good defender either.

 

Just shows how lucky we are to have Uribe's quality D at SS really.