The MOMENT of TRUTH has arrived

[JUGGERNAUT]

The schedule makers smiled on the SOX this year .. though we didn't know it at the time.

 

The Cubs definitely raise the level of play of our beloved SOX and framing the Twinks around those games hopefully will carry over that level of play.

 

But the real reason why this is the moment of truth is because the remaining sched of the 1st half favors the SOX.

 

3@MIN

3 CHC

3 MIN

3@TAM

3@DET

4@CLE

 

If the SOX want to win the div, 13-6 would set them on that path.

MIN closes out the half 3@TEX, 3@ANA. KC closes out the half the same way.

[Texsox]

When you're as far back as we are, every series becomes important. You are correct. If we could cut the lead in half or better life will be good. 3-3 or 4-2 against minny would really help.

[zach23]

When you're as far back as we are, every series becomes important. You are correct. If we could cut the lead in half or better life will be good. 3-3 or 4-2 against minny would really help.

3-3 with the Twinkies won't do any good. The Sox need to take it to them.

[upnorthsox]

13-6 only puts us 2 over .500, 15-4 is what we need to do.

[Texsox]

3-3 with the Twinkies won't do any good. The Sox need to take it to them.

The way we've played this season I believe 3-3 is taking it to them 4-2 or 5-1 would be a dream

[southsider2k5]

Well I will say this much. This might not make the season, but if the Twins kick our asses, it could certianly break this season.

[upnorthsox]

Well I will say this much.  This might not make the season, but if the Twins kick our asses, it could certianly break this season.

No doubt, that'd be the fork.

[Texsox]

No doubt, that'd be the fork.

The series in Chicago will tell a lot. It would be very sad to see a small crowd and the Sox lose 2 or 3 games. If we win the series at home and grab a game in Minnesota we'll at least be treading water.

[elrockinMT]

It sounds like the Sox are charged up and ready to play the Twinkies. I believe we can catch those guys and will win this upcoming series.

[zach23]

The series in Chicago will tell a lot. It would be very sad to see a small crowd and the Sox lose 2 or 3 games. If we win the series at home and grab a game in Minnesota we'll at least be treading water.

Treading water isn't good enough right now. If they want a chance to win the division, they have to beat the division leader head to head. After these six they don't see the Twins again until September for 7 more. By then it would be all over if they don't make a move now.

[Texsox]

It sounds like the Sox are charged up and ready to play the Twinkies. I believe we can catch those guys and will win this upcoming series.

Amazing how well they played when charged up for the cHubs. Of course getting off to a 6 run 1st should fire up any team.

[CubKilla]

Well I will say this much.  This might not make the season, but if the Twins kick our asses, it could certianly break this season.

Not sure what you mean here. But as far as I'm concerned, last Friday through 07/02 at least is the season. Sox are 5.5 out and Minnesota is going through a losing slide. If, after 07/02 we are 5.5 games out of first or more, without the White Sox being involved in a 15-game winning streak soon afterwards, White Flag II will be underway. Bank on it. These two weeks the White Sox are currently going through WILL make or break this season.

[Guest wsc425]

[some Jamaican gwal]

No matta wat we fyace

We mus face de moment of trut baybe

Chorus: Guru

They say it's lonely at the top in whatever you do

You always gotta watch motherf***ers around you

Nobody's invincible no plan is foolproof

We all must meet our moment of truth

Verse One: Guru

The same sheisty cats that you hang with and do your thang with

could set you up and wet you up n**** peep the language

It's universal, you play with fire it may hurt you

or burn you, lessons are blessings you should learn through

Let's face facts, although MC's lace tracks

it doesn't mean behind the scenes there ain't no dirt to trace back

That goes for all of us, there ain't nobody to trust

It's like sabotage, it's got me ready to bust

But I can't jeapordize, what I have done up to this point

So I'ma get more guys, to help me run the whole joint

Cultivate, multiply, motivate, or else we'll die

You know I be the masterof the who what where and why

See when you're shinin, some chumps'll wanna dull ya

Always selfish jealous punks, will wanna pull ya

down, just like some shellfish in a bucket

cause they love it, to see your ass squirm like a worm

But just as you'll receive what is comin to you

Everybody else is gonna get theirs too

I ain't no saint, therefore I cannot dispute

That everyone must meet their moment of truth

Chorus: Guru

Actions have reactions, don't be quick to judge

You may not know the harships people don't speak of

It's best to step back, and observe with couth

For we all must meet our moment of truth

Verse Two: Guru

Sometimes you gotta dig deep, when problems come near

Don't fear things get severe for everybody everywhere

Why do bad things happen, to good people?

Seems that life is just a constant war between good and evil

The situation that I'm facin, is mad amazin

to think such problems can arise from minor confrontations

Now I'm contemplatin in my bedroom pacin

Dark clouds over my head, my heart's racin

Suicide? Nah, I'm not a foolish guy

Don't even feel like drinking, or even gettin high

Cause all that's gonna do really, is accelerate

the anxieties that I wish I could alleviate

But wait, I've been through a whole lot of other s***, before

So I oughta be able, to withstand some more

But I'm sweatin though, my eyes are turnin red and yo

I'm ready to lose my mind but instead I use my mind

I put down the knife, and take the bullets out my nine

My only crime, was that I'm too damn kind

And now some skanless motherf***ers wanna take what's mine

But they can't take the respect, that I've earned in my lifetime

And you know they'll never stop the furious force of my rhymes

So like they say, every dog has it's day

And like they say, God works in a mysterious way

So I pray, remembering the days of my youth

As I prepare to meet my moment of truth

("You should know the truth

And the truth shall set you free" --> from _Who's Gonna Take the

Weight?_)

Verse Three: Guru

Yo I got one lyric pointed at your head for start

Another one, is pointed at your weak ass heart

Now if I pull the trigger, on these fully loaded lines

You're gonna wish I woulda pulled a black nine, I mack dimes

Crack the spines of the fake gangsters

Yeah the bitin triflin n****z, and the studio pranksters

Yo lookin at the situation plainly: will you remain G?

Or will you be looked upon strangely?

I reign as the articulator, with the greater data

Revolvin on the TASCAM much doper than my last jam

While others struggle to juggle, tricky metaphots

I explore more, to expose the core

A lot of MC's, act stupid to me

And we have yet to see, if they can match our longevity

But anyway it's just another day

Another fake jack I slay with my spectac' rap display

Styles, smooth but rugged -- you can't push or shove it

You dig it and you dug it cause like money you love it

The king of monotone, with my own throne

Righteously violent prone my words bring winds like cyclones

Stormin your hideout, blockin out your sunlight

Your image and your business, were truly not done right

Throw up your he-Allah-I now, divine saviors

You got no hand skills there's no security to save ya

No pager, no celly, no drop top Benz-y

I came to bring your phone hip-hop, to an ending

My art of war will leave you sore from the abuse

Cause you must meet your moment of truth

First Chorus

[JUGGERNAUT]

No doubt, that'd be the fork.

Where is your freaking optimism?

We just took 2 of 3 from the heralded NL contending cub.

 

But MUCH more important than that, our rotation is really coming into form!

 

Danny Wright

In his last 5 starts, the SOX are 3-2 when Danny pitched. He's lowered his era a full pt. His hit total is the real gem: 20 hits in 28 ip, 4 hits in 12 ip.

 

JON Garland

In his last 10 starts, the SOX are 5-5 but that doesn't tell the story. How about 7 starts of 2 runs or less? How about lowering his era from a high of 6.88 to 4.71 in his last 7 starts?

 

There is something to be said for Rogers 190ip, 30gs theory.

So far Danny & Jon are looking like #2 & #3 starters.

 

E-LO

In his last 10 starts, the SOX are 6-4. What more is there to say about him? One bad start in his last 10 & that was due to injury. He's past the worry mark with 100ip in 15 GS. He's presently 10-2.

 

COLON

In his last 10 starts, the SOX are 4-6. The BP has really let him down.

I remember last yr the knock on him was K's. Well, he's currently ranked 4th in AL (84). He's not been as sharp as in 2K2, but the real difference this year is that he's been victimized by the long ball. Even so, his #'s are impressive: 7 winnable starts in his last 10, 5 ace worthly starts in his last 10, 116ip in 16gs & 5 cg.

 

Buehrle

In his last 10 starts, the SOX are 3-7. The blame is shared here.

It's Mark's worst 1/2 in the ML since he came up. He's actually fared better in his last 10: 6 winnable starts, 5 quality starts. If you're looking for hope (as I am) there is some. In this stretch he raised his era to 3.54 to 5.19. But in his last 6 starts he's lowered it to 4.90. At one point it had dropped to 4.6. I think the hope is that Mark has a shot still of getting his era down to 4.5 before the break. If he does that I think he'll be able to have a much better 2nd 1/2 & a shot at maybe getting below an era of 4.

Any thoughts of his winning 20 are now gone. But I think if he could pick up maybe 2 more wins before the break he still might be in line for 15.

 

Summary:

Sox went 3-2(Wright), 5-5(Garland), 6-4(E-LO), 4-6(BC), 3-7(MB)

Sox went 21-24 over these 45 starts.

 

In that same stretch:

Min went 6-4 (Rogers), 7-3(Lohse), 4-6(Radke), 7-3(Mays), 3-7(Reed)

Min went 27-23 over these 50 starts.

 

KC went 4-6(Affeldt), 2-8(May), 2-0(Lima), 2-7(Snyder), 6-4(George),

KC went 16-25 over these 41 starts.

 

KC Notes:

Their best pitcher Hernandez is on the DL & hasn't pitched in over a month.

Lima & George account for 8 of their last 16 wins with eras of 4.76 & 6.53.

 

I think it's easy to see that with the Twinks having 3/5 starters sporting > 5 eras they aren't going to run away this year. And KC is really hurting without Hernandez.

 

It's going to be very hard for JR to justify a white flag trade this year.

He's been blessed with E-LO, Colon, Garland & Wright & Buehrle look to turn it around.

 

[SoxFan1]

Where is your freaking optimism?

We just took 2 of 3 from the heralded NL contending cub.

 

But MUCH more important than that, our rotation is really coming into form!

 

Danny Wright

In his last 5 starts, the SOX are 3-2 when Danny pitched. He's lowered his era a full pt.  His hit total is the real gem: 20 hits in 28 ip, 4 hits in 12 ip.

 

JON Garland

In his last 10 starts, the SOX are 5-5 but that doesn't tell the story.  How about 7 starts of 2 runs or less?  How about lowering his era from a high of 6.88 to 4.71 in his last 7 starts?

 

There is something to be said for Rogers 190ip, 30gs theory. 

So far Danny & Jon are looking like #2 & #3 starters.

 

E-LO

In his last 10 starts, the SOX are 6-4.  What more is there to say about him?  One bad start in his last 10 & that was due to injury.  He's past the worry mark with 100ip in 15 GS.  He's presently 10-2.

 

COLON

In his last 10 starts, the SOX are 4-6.  The BP has really let him down.

I remember last yr the knock on him was K's.  Well, he's currently ranked 4th in AL (84).  He's not been as sharp as in 2K2, but the real difference this year is that he's been victimized by the long ball.  Even so, his #'s are impressive: 7 winnable starts in his last 10,  5 ace worthly starts in his last 10, 116ip in 16gs & 5 cg.

 

Buehrle

In his last 10 starts, the SOX are 3-7. The blame is shared here.

It's Mark's worst 1/2 in the ML since he came up.  He's actually fared better in his last 10: 6 winnable starts, 5 quality starts. If you're looking for hope (as I am)  there is some.  In this stretch he raised his era to 3.54 to 5.19.  But in his last 6 starts he's lowered it to 4.90. At one point it had dropped to 4.6.  I think the hope is that Mark has a shot still of getting his era down to 4.5 before the break.  If he does that I think he'll be able to have a much better 2nd 1/2 & a shot at maybe getting below an era of 4.

Any thoughts of his winning 20 are now gone.  But I think if he could pick up maybe 2 more wins before the break he still might be in line for 15.

 

Summary:

Sox went 3-2(Wright), 5-5(Garland), 6-4(E-LO), 4-6(BC), 3-7(MB)

Sox went 21-24 over these 45 starts. 

 

In that same stretch:

Min went 6-4 (Rogers), 7-3(Lohse), 4-6(Radke), 7-3(Mays), 3-7(Reed)

Min went 27-23 over these 50 starts.

 

KC went 4-6(Affeldt), 2-8(May), 2-0(Lima), 2-7(Snyder), 6-4(George),

KC went 16-25 over these 41 starts.

 

KC Notes:

Their best pitcher Hernandez is on the DL & hasn't pitched in over a month.

Lima & George account for 8 of their last 16 wins with eras of 4.76 & 6.53.

 

I think it's easy to see that with the Twinks having 3/5 starters sporting > 5 eras they aren't going to run away this year.  And KC is really hurting without Hernandez.

 

It's going to be very hard for JR to justify a white flag trade this year.

He's been blessed with E-LO, Colon, Garland & Wright & Buehrle look to turn it around. 

 

Wow, great analysis!

[Texsox]

No big deal: we catch them after being down 1 at the break.

Not that newsworthy: We catch them after being 3 down at the break.

Newsworthy: We catch them after being 5 down at the break.

Unbelievable: We catch them after being 7 down at the break.

We'll be telling the grandbabies: We catch them after being 10 down at the break.

 

What I'm trying to show here is coming back from 5 games back with 70/80 games left isn't that big of a deal. Not only are we on the same lap as the leaders but we're smelling their exhaust. I wouldn't be waving the white flag in July unless we are 8 games back. It's not like we're trying to catch the Mariners.

 

Another point to ponder. Let's say we do make the playoffs and our first series is against the Mariners, do we win a game?

[southsider2k5]

No big deal: we catch them after being down 1 at the break.

Not that newsworthy: We catch them after being 3 down at the break.

Newsworthy: We catch them after being 5 down at the break.

Unbelievable: We catch them after being 7 down at the break.

We'll be telling the grandbabies: We catch them after being 10 down at the break.

 

What I'm trying to show here is coming back from 5 games back with 70/80 games left isn't that big of a deal. Not only are we on the same lap as the leaders but we're smelling their exhaust. I wouldn't be waving the white flag in July unless we are 8 games back. It's not like we're trying to catch the Mariners.

 

Another point to ponder. Let's say we do make the playoffs and our first series is against the Mariners, do we win a game?

Maybe without Lou Pinella as MGR. But it would be a quick series. I would almost rather face the Yankees.

[Texsox]

No big deal: we catch them after being down 1 at the break.

Not that newsworthy: We catch them after being 3 down at the break.

Newsworthy: We catch them after being 5 down at the break.

Unbelievable: We catch them after being 7 down at the break.

We'll be telling the grandbabies: We catch them after being 10 down at the break.

 

What I'm trying to show here is coming back from 5 games back with 70/80 games left isn't that big of a deal. Not only are we on the same lap as the leaders but we're smelling their exhaust. I wouldn't be waving the white flag in July unless we are 8 games back. It's not like we're trying to catch the Mariners.

 

Another point to ponder. Let's say we do make the playoffs and our first series is against the Mariners, do we win a game?

Maybe without Lou Pinella as MGR. But it would be a quick series. I would almost rather face the Yankees.

Almost rather? I would in a heartbeat.

[southsider2k5]

No big deal: we catch them after being down 1 at the break.

Not that newsworthy: We catch them after being 3 down at the break.

Newsworthy: We catch them after being 5 down at the break.

Unbelievable: We catch them after being 7 down at the break.

We'll be telling the grandbabies: We catch them after being 10 down at the break.

 

What I'm trying to show here is coming back from 5 games back with 70/80 games left isn't that big of a deal. Not only are we on the same lap as the leaders but we're smelling their exhaust. I wouldn't be waving the white flag in July unless we are 8 games back. It's not like we're trying to catch the Mariners.

 

Another point to ponder. Let's say we do make the playoffs and our first series is against the Mariners, do we win a game?

Maybe without Lou Pinella as MGR. But it would be a quick series. I would almost rather face the Yankees.

Almost rather? I would in a heartbeat.

Ritual suicide or a quick death, I guess it is personal preferance. I think we ususally play better against the Yankees, but either way we are going home quickly.

[Texsox]

Which tells us how far we really have to go. Just winning a weak division ain't all that cool.

[SoxFan1]

Cmn guys, where is your optimism! Wait, I need to shut the hell up!

[BrandoFan]

No big deal: we catch them after being down 1 at the break.

Not that newsworthy: We catch them after being 3 down at the break.

Newsworthy: We catch them after being 5 down at the break.

Unbelievable: We catch them after being 7 down at the break.

We'll be telling the grandbabies: We catch them after being 10 down at the break.

 

What I'm trying to show here is coming back from 5 games back with 70/80 games left isn't that big of a deal. Not only are we on the same lap as the leaders but we're smelling their exhaust. I wouldn't be waving the white flag in July unless we are 8 games back. It's not like we're trying to catch the Mariners.

 

Another point to ponder. Let's say we do make the playoffs and our first series is against the Mariners, do we win a game?

Maybe without Lou Pinella as MGR. But it would be a quick series. I would almost rather face the Yankees.

Almost rather? I would in a heartbeat.

There is NO WAY I would want to face the Yankess (or the Braves in NL) in October, not with their unreal hitting, good 1-3 pitching, normally unbeatable closer and their history of postseason performance. Last time I heard their defense was pretty good as well, lol.

 

Yankees:

 

--Mussina, Clemens, Wells can--and have before--shut anybody down, and Pettite/Weaver should help Osuna and Rivera in the pen. I truly believe Yankees will patch up the hole in their BP by playoff time. There is no way they will let 160 million team crawl into playoffs, they will be very proactive around the deadline. Very.

 

--Soriano, Jeter, Giambi and Ventura are all in big slumps right now. Berni and Nic Johnson are on DL. Matsui is just starting to learn how to hit a two-seamer. That is in June...Flash forward to late August: Soriano will be at .330/600 slugging; Jeter will be at 290-300/860 OPS with a ton of SBs,; Gaimbi will have 40 homers/600 slugging and Ventura will be his solid old self, 850 OPS with better line-up protection and more base-runners. Then factor in clutch, defensive specialist Bernie Williams and Nic Johnson (mean OPS of 900+)....and Matsui who is getting better and better and is alredy known as one

better run producers. Last time I checked, Mondesi is no slouch either, good defense, can run and with more baserunners on, should crank up his RBI production, he thrived early in the season with Yanks healthy. Posada is Posada.

 

Mariners:

 

- Moyer-Pinero-Franklin/Garcia don't scare me at all...Sasaki has been downright Koch-esque....Hasegawa and Rhodes are very dependable, but what good are they if M's are down 7-2 in the 6th?

 

- Outside of Ichiro and Boone, I don't see anyone stepping up. Olerud, Cameron are very solid but they will not beat you alone. Edgar can never be discounted and he is as good as Frank Thomas right now, but at 41 is there a high chance he even makes it to the playoffs healthy? I doubt it, if he does M's are back in business offensively but it's a 50-50 proposition at this point at best, he's averaged only 115 games a season in 2001-2002.

 

Bottomline: M's at their best aren't nearly as explosive and unbeatable as the Yankees juggernaut...Everyone points to 2000...well the Sox could have just as easily swept the M's that year if they make one clutch hit more and commit one defensive mistake less a game. We certainly dominated them during the regular season- and that was with such mediocrities as Eldred, Baldwin, Parque, rookie Garland/Wells, bad Singleton and Fordyce, mediocre Howry, etc....

 

(Of course the way Sox are playing right now, will not be making playoffs any time soon, so it's all moot. Might as well start projecting Bears in the super bowl )

[SoxFan1]

Yeah! Thats about right. Skankees are more dangerous than the M's!

[cwsox]

Well I will say this much.  This might not make the season, but if the Twins kick our asses, it could certianly break this season.

have to agree with this

[whitesox247]

Oh comon hasnt there been a "moment of truth" or "its time" thread before every series throughout the season?

 

Always be pessimistic, the Sox are gonna roll over on their asses and find themselves at least 7 1/2 games back.