Guest hotsoxchick1 Posted July 5, 2003 Share Posted July 5, 2003 note the farm report at the bottom........reed rockin.... ST. PETERSBURG -- Manager Jerry Manuel is searching for the most favorable matchups, and right now, Billy Koch isn't the fit at closer. After he watched Koch squander a 3-1 lead in the ninth Friday against Tampa Bay, Koch's fourth blown save of the season, Manuel said he would explore other options in the ninth inning. "Our situation is such that whoever we think fits that night gets the job," Manuel said Saturday. "If I had to do it tonight, it would probably be (Damaso) Marte or (Tom) Gordon. But there are going to be times when we need (Koch) to get back to closing." Koch is second in the American League by finishing 35 games, but he has just 11 saves to show for it. In 2002, his only season in Oakland, Koch won 11 games and saved 44, both career highs. "I think that's extreme," Koch said of losing his job as closer. "I know how to get the job done, I will get the job done and I've gotten the job done in my career 85 percent of the time. I consider that pretty damn successful. Billy Koch / P Height: 6'3" Weight: 205 Bats/Throws: R/R More info: Player page Stats Splits White Sox site "Obviously, it is Jerry's job and whatever he wants to do is his prerogative. I want to be in that role, and I want to keep doing the job." With a career ERA of almost 3.50, Koch is known for making games interesting down the stretch. However, his ERA has jumped to 5.30 this season, with six appearances where he's allowed more than one run. The 28-year-old right-hander retired the leadoff man in the ninth Friday, but walked Javier Valentin. Then, he got ahead of pinch hitter Al Martin 0-2, but hung a curveball, which Martin ripped into right field for a single. "I talked to (pitching coach Don Cooper) and that was the first thing he talked about," Koch said. "I threw two great curveballs earlier in the at-bat, and I tried to make it too good. When you try to make a pitch too good, you're going to make a mistake. That was the case as I left it in the middle of the plate." Carl Crawford then lined Koch's 0-1 pitch into the right-field stands for the game-winner. Tom Gordon / P Height: 5'10" Weight: 190 Bats/Throws: R/R More info: Player page Stats Splits White Sox site "I think he was just sitting on it," Koch said. "He's looking to jerk something out of the park and win the ballgame, and unfortunately, I gave it to him." Koch came on in relief of Marte, who bailed starter Bartolo Colon out of a two-out jam in the seventh and then pitched a 1-2-3 eighth. Marte, a lefty, came out for the ninth, but when right-hander pinch hitter Antonio Perez went out to the on-deck circle, Manuel signaled for Koch. Gordon has 99 career saves, but only one this year. He failed to convert his first four save attempts this season before getting one against Boston on June 16. Gordon last threw on Wednesday, pitching two innings against Minnesota. In 36 games, he has a 4-5 record with a 3.59 ERA. "With 'Flash' not pitching last night, we could face a situation in the seventh inning, sometimes that's when the game is on the line to me, that I'd like to use our best pitcher," Manuel said. "That could mean he would go two or three (innings) after that." Paul Konerko / 1B Height: 6'3" Weight: 210 Bats/Throws: R/R More info: Player page Stats Hit chart White Sox site Still waiting: Paul Konerko had one of the White Sox's two extra-inning home runs Wednesday, but he still can't find his way into the lineup. Brian Daubach homered for the third straight game Friday and is 5-for-10 in his past three games. Daubach also has hits in 16 of his last 20 games (19-for-54, .352). Even with Daubach in right field Saturday, Frank Thomas played first and newly acquired Carl Everett was the DH. Meanwhile, Konerko struggles to get in the lineup, with that pinch-hit home run his only playing time in the last five games. "We've got a good team here," Konerko said. "We're 4 1/2 back. My motto is I'm here to help in any way I can. I'm not going to be a detriment. Whatever they ask, I'll do. I just work here. "Players' opinions are irrelevant. I'm not here to have opinions on the lineup or how the team's run." Konerko has averaged 26 homers and batted no lower than .282 over four seasons in Chicago, but 2003 has been an entirely different story. The 27-year-old first baseman is hitting .189 with four home runs and 18 RBIs. The month of June was even worse as Konerko hit .098 and failed to homer. "In hitting, everyone knows what we're after," Konerko said. "Maintaining it is the hard part. All you can do is put in as much hard work as you can, and hopefully, when the game comes, you let the work take over. And have confidence that the work will pay off. In a perfect world, that's what you're looking for." Down on the farm: Jeremy Reed had three hits Friday to increase his average to .475 since joining Double-A Birmingham 15 games ago. He's hit in 12 straight games for the Barons, who lost to Jacksonville, 12-7, on the Fourth of July. Scott Bikowski had a two-run double in the seventh. Kannapolis made single runs in the first and second innings stand up to beat Hagerstown, 2-1, Friday. Brian Miller, Nik Lubisich and Adam Larson combined to four-hit the Suns. Darren Ciraco's second inning home run provided the difference. A record crowd of 14,591 witnessed Triple-A Charlotte’s victory on the Fourth of July. The Knights knocked out 13 hits for a 10-5 win vs. Buffalo. Scott Morgan and Mike Rivera led the charge with a home run and three RBIs each. Tim Hummel and Jorge Nunez each added a pair of RBI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wsc425 Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 I'll take the place of Corg, You cannot steal without a link, thats called plagerism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hotsoxchick1 Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 I'll take the place of Corg, You cannot steal without a link, thats called plagerism. what ever...i opt to put the article up instead of the link becasue usually when people just link it im too lazy to check it out... if its there in front of me then ill be more apt to read............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 I do agree, sometimes I would rather just have it given to me. I don't always want to go site hopping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hotsoxchick1 Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 lol glad im not the only one......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 It's not that big a deal. We're all grown-ups here, and we(or atlesat I) won't go telling on anyone. I promise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hotsoxchick1 Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 It's not that big a deal. We're all grown-ups here, and we(or atlesat I) won't go telling on anyone. I promise. wether or not you tell on anyone i really dont care.....its not like ill get grounded or something for not posting a link instead of the whole article...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwsox Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 We're all grown-ups here what weed are you smoking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 (edited) what weed are you smoking? What weed have I been smoking? The weed soxfan420 left me, of course! Edited July 6, 2003 by witesoxfan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ncorgbl Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 I'll take the place of Corg, You cannot steal without a link, thats called plagerism. Pardon me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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