if I had told you the team batting avg through today

[Hideaway Lights]

what would you have honestly predicted our record would be? Honestly.

 

Me: 10-19.

 

The fact that we are 1 game under .500 is a friggin' miracle.

 

Also, since when does the board go apocalyptic with a 14-15 record? We need a little perspective here. It's a long season.

[StrangeSox]

What if I had told you that the team ERA was under 4 and better than Detroit and Cleveland? Would you expect this team to be under .500 and in 4th place?

[AddisonStSox]

I would have told you: Clearly, it is Ozzie Guillen's fault.

[Capn12]

Fact is, the team ERA won't stay under 4.00. At that point, what if the offense is just as attrocious? Congratulations on a 4th place AL Central finish if so.

 

And Addy, I'm sorry but there were a couple of horrendously bad managerial decisions made last night. Sure, the bullpen sucked as well, but there is no way in hell you pitch to Morneau-ned with a base open, just to name one.

[Vance Law]

Fact is, the team ERA won't stay under 4.00. At that point, what if the offense is just as attrocious?

 

but what if the defense is so unbelievable that they don't allow a single player to reach base. Certain home runs given up by Sox pitching are caught 3 over the fence by leaping outfielders. and what if Sizemore, Hafner, and Sabathia get in a huge fight and break each other's legs. And yes, what if the team hits .220 for the entire season. but what if the players go on strike because of Bonds' shabby treatment by the media after breaking Aaron's record. and what if.................

[AddisonStSox]

Fact is, the team ERA won't stay under 4.00. At that point, what if the offense is just as attrocious? Congratulations on a 4th place AL Central finish if so.

 

And Addy, I'm sorry but there were a couple of horrendously bad managerial decisions made last night. Sure, the bullpen sucked as well, but there is no way in hell you pitch to Morneau-ned with a base open, just to name one.

 

Completely agree.

[Hideaway Lights]

I'm trying to figure out how some of you people function on a day to day basis getting this outraged about a team barely under .500 in early May

 

How did you people even survive the 2001 season?

[southsider2k5]

I'm trying to figure out how some of you people function on a day to day basis getting this outraged about a team barely under .500 in early May

 

How did you people even survive the 2001 season?

 

Many of them are not old enough to remember some really bad teams, such as the late 80's and then back into the 70's... I think that is why you don't see the same reactions from the 30+ crowd as you do from the

[southsider2k5]

Thats 100% right. The younger crowd, including myself, is spoiled. I have followed this team in a "die hard" fashion since 2002. Obviously not a long time. After experiencing 2005, we expect the same, or close to it. Is that fair? Probably not, but the bar has been raised.

 

Its not right, and its not wrong. It is what is it is. Life is all about how you interpret it. Different people can look at the exact samething and see it in completely different ways. People who have truely seen bad teams don't think of a 90 win season as bad. For someone who has only seen a team that consistantly was at the top of the league and expected them to repeat, it was a bad year.

[southsideirish71]

Many of them are not old enough to remember some really bad teams, such as the late 80's and then back into the 70's... I think that is why you don't see the same reactions from the 30+ crowd as you do from the

 

Mike some of us remember the late 80s, the late 90s, and the early part of this century. I dont want to experience that again. I liked the packed park. I like the winning ways. Those teams had low payroll and a lack of talent. This team doesnt have that problem. There is no acceptable reason that a 100 million dollar payroll team is hitting as bad as this one does. One person, I mean just one should be able to hit. Its just the law of averages.

[SnB]

Thats 100% right. The younger crowd, including myself, is spoiled. I have followed this team in a "die hard" fashion since 2002. Obviously not a long time. After experiencing 2005, we expect the same, or close to it. Is that fair? Probably not, but the bar has been raised.

i'm in this exact same boat. 02 was the first year I can say that I was as big of a fan as I am now. Ever since then, 2002 was probably the worst year we've had. 04 we were still in it in july and every other year we were in contention the entire way.

[southsider2k5]

Mike some of us remember the late 80s, the late 90s, and the early part of this century. I dont want to experience that again. I liked the packed park. I like the winning ways. Those teams had low payroll and a lack of talent. This team doesnt have that problem. There is no acceptable reason that a 100 million dollar payroll team is hitting as bad as this one does. One person, I mean just one should be able to hit. Its just the law of averages.

 

Eh, you can stress yourself out about it as much as you want to, it just doesn't bother me that much. It would be one thing if this team were lazy or didn't care, but I just haven't seen that in my view. They seem to go out and try hard everyday, and after that, whatever happens, happens. I am glad they have a competitive team on the field and fans in the stands, but if it goes away, what does it really change for me? Nothing. Maybe I am just getting old, but I don't see the point of getting upset over a game meant for entertaining me, especially since I have seen teams that were way worse.

[kapkomet]

Eh, you can stress yourself out about it as much as you want to, it just doesn't bother me that much. It would be one thing if this team were lazy or didn't care, but I just haven't seen that in my view. They seem to go out and try hard everyday, and after that, whatever happens, happens. I am glad they have a competitive team on the field and fans in the stands, but if it goes away, what does it really change for me? Nothing. Maybe I am just getting old, but I don't see the point of getting upset over a game meant for entertaining me, especially since I have seen teams that were way worse.

Maybe?

 

[SleepyWhiteSox]

Maybe I am just getting old, but I don't see the point of getting upset over a game meant for entertaining me, especially since I have seen teams that were way worse.

 

Games like last night still get to me, as I'm sure it did to a lot of us who follow the team practically every day, but I've learned to enjoy the good days a lot more than getting upset over the heartbreakers. Those probably only deserve a shrug. I got way too much real crap to worry about so I try to focus more on the positives since it's meant to be enjoyment. No use despising half the team and management; that's no fun.

 

But yeah, I do kinda wonder sometimes if some of you are as mad and frustrated as you seem on here or if it's really just venting.

 

 

Not that sports still don't get to me as I'm still really bitter at Wilson Chandler leaving DePaul.

[bmags]

following a team with high expectations is much tougher than following a rebuilding one. I really don't get as upset with the bears when they are 4-12 as when they are superbowl good, and should win.

[witesoxfan]

following a team with high expectations is much tougher than following a rebuilding one. I really don't get as upset with the bears when they are 4-12 as when they are superbowl good, and should win.

 

This is pretty much the best way to sum up the entire debate. Expectations are everything, and I think that's regardless of age or not. What is different between the two is that, while I don't feel last year was necessarily bad, it wasn't as good as it could have been and I was left very disappointed. The team faltered horribly in the second half, and with just 5 more wins in the second half would have been in the playoffs. That left a bad taste in my mouth, and I'm seeing pretty much that exact same product on the field right now. That's the main problem I've had with this team over the past 4 and a half months of baseball.

 

However, if the Sox were in a complete rebuilding mode and finished around .500 in this division, I would be ecstatic about the future of the organization. The problem is that with a $95-100 million payroll, there are high expectations, and those expectations haven't been met. The team is starting to look better day by day, and all we can really hope for is that this team takes off in the second half.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

This is pretty much the best way to sum up the entire debate. Expectations are everything, and I think that's regardless of age or not. What is different between the two is that, while I don't feel last year was necessarily bad, it wasn't as good as it could have been and I was left very disappointed. The team faltered horribly in the second half, and with just 5 more wins in the second half would have been in the playoffs. That left a bad taste in my mouth, and I'm seeing pretty much that exact same product on the field right now. That's the main problem I've had with this team over the past 4 and a half months of baseball.

 

However, if the Sox were in a complete rebuilding mode and finished around .500 in this division, I would be ecstatic about the future of the organization. The problem is that with a $95-100 million payroll, there are high expectations, and those expectations haven't been met. The team is starting to look better day by day, and all we can really hope for is that this team takes off in the second half.

 

Is the 1st half over already ? I could have sworn there was 3/4 of the season left.

[witesoxfan]

Is the 1st half over already ? I could have sworn there was 3/4 of the season left.

 

sweet, kill me over a technicality. I think it's quite obvious what I meant.

[elrockinMT]

Team batting average is the lowest in MLB. It is simply unbelievable to me

[Hideaway Lights]

and I'm seeing pretty much that exact same product on the field right now.

 

No, the product is a lot different actually right now. For one, the 25-man roster has changed by 6 or so players, for another, the hitters are struggling and the pitchers are performing, which is dead opposite of last season.

 

Also, you say it's about expectations...I don't see how anyone honestly expected this team with this roster to truly EXCEL given our April schedule, the fact that the back end of our rotation was probably going to struggle a bit (I know they haven't much), the fact that we were crapshooting in relying on pods to bounce back (not to mention erstad), and the relative strength of Cleveland, Detroit and even a Liriano-less Minny. I mean what were we really expecting? 20-10? Even 17-13 would be a bit optimistic given those factors (and taking into account the injuries to two starters).

 

I expected us to be a .500 team this year, and now it's looking like we'll be a bit better than that, because I think the dropoff in pitching is going to be much less than the boost our hitting will eventually receive, and I think we'll get a LOT better with Thome back.

[StrangeSox]

No, the product is a lot different actually right now. For one, the 25-man roster has changed by 6 or so players, for another, the hitters are struggling and the pitchers are performing, which is dead opposite of last season.

 

For the second half of last season, the Sox were near the bottom in runs scored.

[Hideaway Lights]

For the second half of last season, the Sox were near the bottom in runs scored.

 

post all-star break 2006 I have 10th/14 AL teams and 16th/30 MLB....the 7th place AL team scored 11 more second half runs whereas the bottom team was nearly 30 runs worse

 

is that really "near the bottom" or just "slightly below average"?

 

This season they are 14th/14 and 27/30...I don't think the two are comparable frankly

[bmags]

you are really changing my opinion that I didn't expect our offense to be the worst in the MLB

[StrangeSox]

post all-star break 2006 I have 10th/14 AL teams and 16th/30 MLB....the 7th place AL team scored 11 more second half runs whereas the bottom team was nearly 30 runs worse

 

is that really "near the bottom" or just "slightly below average"?

 

This season they are 14th/14 and 27/30...I don't think the two are comparable frankly

 

Its 4 teams removed from the bottom and 3 teams removed from average. Either way, it was s***ty offensive production.