Ozzie please resign, I know you can't sit through this again

[kitekrazy]

That's true.

I felt a lot more calm watching the game today. For whatever reason, my expectations for the team have been lowered greatly with our play in that first homestand.

 

My expectations were lowered in the off season by who they obtained. Sure they can move around the bases better but this team will not be able to match up against Boston or New York in the post season.

 

[iamshack]

My expectations were lowered in the off season by who they obtained. Sure they can move around the bases better but this team will not be able to match up against Boston or New York in the post season.

We wouldn't have regardless of who we acquired.

[ChiSox_Sonix]

My expectations were lowered in the off season by who they obtained. Sure they can move around the bases better but this team will not be able to match up against Boston or New York in the post season.

 

If you have pitching you can match up with anyone in the post-season.

[Reddy]

If you have pitching you can match up with anyone in the post-season.

exactly. people really don't remember just how bad our offense was in 05.

[jphat007]

exactly. people really don't remember just how bad our offense was in 05.

 

We don't have the pitching of 05. Maybe the starters but our relievers in 05 were absolutely incredible. They have already lost a few games this year.

[NorthSideSox72]

We don't have the pitching of 05. Maybe the starters but our relievers in 05 were absolutely incredible. They have already lost a few games this year.

No they haven't. The team ERA is still below 3, and I believe the bullpen's is 3 even. The bullpen this year looks better than what the Opening Day 2005 one did.

 

[ScottyDo]

our bullpen has performed admirably giving the amount they've been asked to do early on. exception: linebrink, but that surprises no one.

 

on a mildly-related note, I was very encouraged to see bullpen guys throw 3 innings of solid relief. we need that.

[fathom]

Randy Williams has been awful out of the pen.

[fathom]

We don't have the pitching of 05. Maybe the starters but our relievers in 05 were absolutely incredible. They have already lost a few games this year.

 

It's the biggest thing people don't realize about 2005. We simply didn't blow games we led after 6 innings. I would love to know what our record was in those situations in 2005.

[southsider2k5]

our bullpen has performed admirably giving the amount they've been asked to do early on. exception: linebrink, but that surprises no one.

 

on a mildly-related note, I was very encouraged to see bullpen guys throw 3 innings of solid relief. we need that.

 

The amazing thing is that Linebrink hasn't given up a hit yet, and has a WHIP under one.

[chw42]

No they haven't. The team ERA is still below 3, and I believe the bullpen's is 3 even. The bullpen this year looks better than what the Opening Day 2005 one did.

 

Especially since we had Takatsu as our closer.

[dyuen]

Randy Williams has been awful out of the pen.

 

Randy is a nice story of a long time minor leaguer who battled his way to the bigs. He is what he is. He has been given far too great of a role thus far. He has no business ever pitching to a right handed batter in a meaningfull situation. He needs to return to be the 12th man out of the pen and a left handed specialist only.

[southsider2k5]

It's the biggest thing people don't realize about 2005. We simply didn't blow games we led after 6 innings. I would love to know what our record was in those situations in 2005.

 

Which was the 100% biggest fluke about that season. There were pretty much no duplication of those great seasons from anyone except Jenks.

[NorthSideSox72]

Which was the 100% biggest fluke about that season. There were pretty much no duplication of those great seasons from anyone except Jenks.

Oh I don't know, Takatsu was bad somewhere else after he left the Sox, wasn't he?

 

[ThunderBolt]

Oh I don't know, Takatsu was bad somewhere else after he left the Sox, wasn't he?

He bounced around with the Giants and the Cubs for a couple springs, never made anything of himself though.

[iamshack]

We don't have the pitching of 05. Maybe the starters but our relievers in 05 were absolutely incredible. They have already lost a few games this year.

You cannot possibly make that comparison this early.

[dyuen]

You cannot possibly make that comparison this early.

 

I agree I think the pen has the potential to be very good, especially if Santos puts it together. I don't think Bobby is a dominant as he was but overall I think we certainly can be as good as 2005. From year to year bullpens are awfully inconsistent on most teams. Thats why its a bad idea to invest a lot of money in set up guys.

[SteveB23]

Get off of the ledge guys...we'll be fine.

 

You have to figure that eventally Ozzie, Kenny and or JR will figure out that our DH situation is a steaming pile, and they'll do something to rectify it.

 

My problem with the 2010 team is that the money we used for bums like Pierre, Teahen (PLUS contract extension), Jones and Kotsay could've gotten us close to Chone Figgins, who could've been a solid 3B and leadoff hitter. (I guess hindsight is 20/20.)

 

As I said, the Sox will be fine; just let the pitching carry us for awhile until we start hitting and/or get someone who can.

 

(BTW, IMO if Ozzie were to get launched/resign, Cora would become the manager..."the more that things change, the more they stay the same!".)

 

Edited April 12, 2010 by SteveB23

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

How bad was Ozzie's managing when he decided to have Kotsay bat for Alexei in the 11th to get the lefty-righty match-up, and then Kotsay singles? Puts in Vizquel to pinch run, and he scores on the triple.

[chw42]

How bad was Ozzie's managing when he decided to have Kotsay bat for Alexei in the 11th to get the lefty-righty match-up, and then Kotsay singles? Puts in Vizquel to pinch run, and he scores on the triple.

 

You gotta be right one time out of like 15.

[SoxAce]

How bad was Ozzie's managing when he decided to have Kotsay bat for Alexei in the 11th to get the lefty-righty match-up, and then Kotsay singles? Puts in Vizquel to pinch run, and he scores on the triple.

Look in the game thread. Fathom, BigSqwert, etc.. loved the call when he did that. In fact, I loved it too sitting at home and was shocked. I mean come on, Kotsay is a lifetime .330+ hitter pinch hitting so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see he thrives in that role (and alot of us wanted him there this year.. a bench guy/pinch hitter late/occasional starts) I was even more shocked to see Teahen swinging away and not bunting to drive in Vizquel which was brilliant. Ozzie looked like he learned from the Beckham AB when he bunted. Can only help these guys confidence going forward, and Ozzie's confidence in them.

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

Look in the game thread. Fathom, BigSqwert, etc.. loved the call when he did that. In fact, I loved it too sitting at home and was shocked. I mean come on, Kotsay is a lifetime .330+ hitter pinch hitting so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see he thrives in that role (and alot of us wanted him there this year.. a bench guy/pinch hitter late/occasional starts) I was even more shocked to see Teahen swinging away and not bunting to drive in Vizquel which was brilliant. Ozzie looked like he learned from the Beckham AB when he bunted. Can only help these guys confidence going forward, and Ozzie's confidence in them.

 

Not saying he was gambling in that situation, but for some people calling for his head, that choice to bat Kotsay really worked out well.

[caulfield12]

I have to admit that Jones and Teahen have definitely come through since I wrote this, but it's just somewhat encouraging until it's sustained. Kotsay has also looked good in limited exposure in recent days as well. And kudos to Linebrink for getting out of the bases load jam, even though we didn't capitalize on it offensively, maybe it was the turning point in getting a shot of self-confidence and believing in his stuff again.

 

Well, heck, it's always amazing when we can win the first game of a series in TOR based on our recent past. Definitely breathing a sigh of relief at the end of that one. I only hope we don't fall asleep at the switch and lose three in a row again...that we can actually sustain this little bit of positive momentum (two comeback wins against good competition) and keep the foot on the gas.

 

Pierre is still really struggling though.

 

If Jake Peavy is our biggest problem, or Bobby Jenks, we might not be so bad off. (Unless Peavy is really hurting, in which case our entire season is seemingly jeopardized unless Hudson could mesh seamlessly in the rotation like McCarthy in 2nd half 2005).