WHITE SOX WINNER!

[FlaSoxxJim]

I believe he was referencing the fact that the Cubs have played the Pirates something like 9 times already this year.

 

Either way.. like someone said, nothing like playing Kansas City or Pittsburgh to right a ship.

 

Yeah, it's true that the Cubs have taken advantage of the weak teams they have played a bunch of times so far. It was frustrating last week when we couldn't do the same, but hopefully that is changing.

 

[Frankensteiner]

It was just one of those games, right Frankensteiner?

 

Nope, no game is ever one of those games. That implies things were somehow magically out of the team's control. Every game is either a win or a loss and it's a result of the team's play.

 

This was a win due to our terrific hitting.

[chw42]

Only a matter of time before they got their crap together and had a game like this. This team has been on a roller coaster ride for the last month or so. High as hell one week, low as the San Andreas fault another. I guess we'll have to deal with it.

 

Adam Russel was extremely impressive btw.

[YASNY]

Only a matter of time before they got their crap together and had a game like this. This team has been on a roller coaster ride for the last month or so. High as hell one week, low as the San Andreas fault another. I guess we'll have to deal with it.

 

Adam Russel was extremely impressive btw.

 

Welcome to Soxtalk.

[chw42]

Welcome to Soxtalk.

 

I'm liking the board so far.

Edited June 18, 2008 by chw42

[chiguy79]

I started feeling bad for Pitt. Hope we didn't blow our wad for tomorrow.

 

I was feeling the same way, must really suck to be on a team that you know is going to be buried. Then I thought about how much they make to play baseball and felt bad for myself...working sucker.

 

Pittsburg helped things along with some pretty bad defense but I was glad to see the sox bounce back after going down 4-2 early. Need to keep it going a sweep heading into Wrigley would be good.

[chiguy79]

Other thoughts...

 

Alexei is frickin awesome, huge pickup by KW and average is up to .300 (wasn't it .190 about three weeks ago).

 

I made the mistake early on of telling my fiance that we could leave early if the sox were winning by more than 7, she took me up on it, of course it was already 10:15 by the end of the 7th, but I don't like leaving early.

[witesoxfan]

Nice to see him hitting when we're already up 7 (again).

 

Oh goshdarn Cabrera and Crede, hitting homers and padding their stats when the Sox are up big!

 

Of course it means nothing, but Thome was on 3rd base in the 1st inning with 1 out and Crede grounded into a DP...he also doubled to help get an inning started - he was driven in by Swisher, who was then driven in by Crede's homer. You know, because Thome actually helping the team is ignored.

 

I love it when people make it out to be like Thome never does anything to help the team and the only time he ever produces is in blowouts. It's just not true.

[Kalapse]

Oh goshdarn Cabrera and Crede, hitting homers and padding their stats when the Sox are up big!

 

Of course it means nothing, but Thome was on 3rd base in the 1st inning with 1 out and Crede grounded into a DP...he also doubled to help get an inning started - he was driven in by Swisher, who was then driven in by Crede's homer. You know, because Thome actually helping the team is ignored.

 

I love it when people make it out to be like Thome never does anything to help the team and the only time he ever produces is in blowouts. It's just not true.

#1: tied - 1st

#2: down 5 - 3rd

#3: tied - 1st

#4: tied - 3rd

#5: tied - 1st

#6: up 2 - 5th

#7: up 2 - 7th

#8: up 1 - 2nd

#9: up 4 - 7th

#10: down 2 - 6th

#11: down 2 - 4th

#12: up 4 - 7th

#13: tied - 2nd

#14: up 7 - 7th

 

Tie game: 5

Within 3 runs: 5

4+ run margin: 4

[iamshack]

#1: tied - 1st

#2: down 5 - 3rd

#3: tied - 1st

#4: tied - 3rd

#5: tied - 1st

#6: up 2 - 5th

#7: up 2 - 7th

#8: up 1 - 2nd

#9: up 4 - 7th

#10: down 2 - 6th

#11: down 2 - 4th

#12: up 4 - 7th

#13: tied - 2nd

#14: up 7 - 7th

 

Tie game: 5

Within 3 runs: 5

4+ run margin: 4

 

I'm not even sure what that is....

 

[southsider2k5]

The score of the game when Thome hit each of his homers.

[Harry Chappas]

#1: tied - 1st

#2: down 5 - 3rd

#3: tied - 1st

#4: tied - 3rd

#5: tied - 1st

#6: up 2 - 5th

#7: up 2 - 7th

#8: up 1 - 2nd

#9: up 4 - 7th

#10: down 2 - 6th

#11: down 2 - 4th

#12: up 4 - 7th

#13: tied - 2nd

#14: up 7 - 7th

 

Tie game: 5

Within 3 runs: 5

4+ run margin: 4

 

 

Tied or down after the 6th inning 0

Tied or down after the 3rd inning 2

 

That is where the debate is coming from.

 

The stat 2 out RISP somethign like 2-24 was startling as well.

[Kalapse]

Tied or down after the 6th inning 0

Tied or down after the 3rd inning 2

 

That is where the debate is coming from.

 

The stat 2 out RISP somethign like 2-24 was startling as well.

I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that taking the early lead and adding insurance runs later in close games had no inherent value. My bad. He's not good in close and late situations or with RISP & 2 out but the vast majority of his 14 homeruns this season have been of great value to the team. He carries the stigma of only homering when the Sox are up or down big and that's just not true at all. That's all I'm saying.

[Harry Chappas]

I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that taking the early lead and adding insurance runs later in close games had no inherent value. My bad. He's not good in close and late situations or with RISP & 2 out but the vast majority of his 14 homeruns this season have been of great value to the team. He carries the stigma of only homering when the Sox are up or down big and that's just not true at all. That's all I'm saying.

 

OK

 

Homeruns after the 6th in games up by 3 or less, tied or losing 0

[iamshack]

I think a lot of the reason that he is not good in "close and late" situations is because the opposition so often brings out a lefty specialist to get Thome out specifically.

 

It's unfortunate that he is so susceptible to LOOGY's, but that also shows how dangerous opposing teams think he is.

 

He needs to work on drawing more walks, if possible, in those situations.

[Balta1701]

OK

 

Homeruns after the 6th in games up by 3 or less, tied or losing 0

There's a method to this, that at some level still helps the team. One of the reasons Jim has and probably always will struggle in these situations is that when he comes up in a close game he winds up facing the opposing team's best LOOGY when he comes up in half of those positions, and he's just never been that good at killing lefties, no matter what wierd things his numbers this year say. He's had a hall of fame career by being incredible at killing the ball off righties. So, at some level it's true, but at some level it's true because he's the guy that other teams game-plan their bullpen around. The one benefit of this though is that it helps chew through the other team's bullpen. If they want a righty in to face Quentin, OC, etc., then they have to take that righty out when Jim comes up whether he's finished or not, and if they want to have a lefty face AJ, they better be ready to have that lefty face Q or they'll burn through a couple pitchers.

[WCSox]

I think a lot of the reason that he is not good in "close and late" situations is because the opposition so often brings out a lefty specialist to get Thome out specifically.

 

It's unfortunate that he is so susceptible to LOOGY's, but that also shows how dangerous opposing teams think he is.

 

He needs to work on drawing more walks, if possible, in those situations.

 

Thome needs to work on drawing more walks in general. His BB/K ratio this year is 0.57, compared to 0.71 and 0.73 over the last two years, respectively, and 0.71 career.

 

[iamshack]

There's a method to this, that at some level still helps the team. One of the reasons Jim has and probably always will struggle in these situations is that when he comes up in a close game he winds up facing the opposing team's best LOOGY when he comes up in half of those positions, and he's just never been that good at killing lefties, no matter what wierd things his numbers this year say. He's had a hall of fame career by being incredible at killing the ball off righties. So, at some level it's true, but at some level it's true because he's the guy that other teams game-plan their bullpen around. The one benefit of this though is that it helps chew through the other team's bullpen. If they want a righty in to face Quentin, OC, etc., then they have to take that righty out when Jim comes up whether he's finished or not, and if they want to have a lefty face AJ, they better be ready to have that lefty face Q or they'll burn through a couple pitchers.

 

Real men of genius.