Lack Of Preparation

[Lillian]

Many of us have remarked how poorly the Sox do against pitchers whom they're facing for the first time.

In addition, Sox offenses have rarely demonstrated an ability to approach any pitcher, familiar or unfamiliar, with a good game plan.

The way the Rays came into tonight's game with a very sound game plan against Buehrle, is just the kind of thing to which I'm alluding.

Their right handed hitters took away that outside pitch by going the other way. The absence of any similar kind of sound preparation to face either an unfamiliar pitcher, or to just have a game plan, suggests to me that Sox teams are not as prepared as they should be.

I just don't see other teams demonstrating the same consistent lack of preparation. Why is it that other teams don't struggle against any pitcher whom they have never seen?

[greg775]

Many of us have often b****ed our players don't whack hits the other way. We lift and pull. Don't think it has much to do with preparation.

It is nice to watch other teams play baseball sometimes. Lots of batters use the whole field, kind of like Juan did when he finally stroked that single to left.

[soreal35]

Approach is what seperates poor from average and good from great...think back to the big hurt in his early career as opposed to later on

[fathom]

Greg Walker shouldn't be in his job. This was obvious for the past 3 seasons. If last year didn't get him fired, then nothing is going to.

[Jordan4life_2007]

I really wish some people would realize there is baseball outside of the White Sox. THEY ARE NOT the only team in baseball that struggles against pitchers they see for the first time.

[The Ginger Kid]

15 games played.

 

147 left.

[daggins]

15 games played.

 

147 left.

 

15 games played

 

6 games back

 

The 2010 White Sox have been a special kind of awful so far, and ultimately look like they will continue 2009's mandate of being just good enough to be mediocre. It isn't too early to be up in arms about this kind of failure - this started last year.

[Jordan4life_2007]

15 games played

 

6 games back

 

The 2010 White Sox have been a special kind of awful so far, and ultimately look like they will continue 2009's mandate of being just good enough to be mediocre. It isn't too early to be up in arms about this kind of failure - this started last year.

 

I agree. There's a big difference between taking a dump on the rest of the season and realizing that they can't dig themselves too big a hole. Forget about the wildcard. That's coming from the AL east. We HAVE to win the division. And the Twins are looking to make that extremely difficult. I said before the season if Liriano is really "back" that we were in deep s***.

[SoxAce]

I said before the season if Liriano is really "back" that we were in deep s***.

 

Not to mention I was the poster who predicted/knew he was going to be back looking at his reports from scouts in winter ball. Said it here and here and a couple more times back in December. Wite knows as he kept telling me I was wrong and so far (though still early of course as I'll reserve FULL judgment until about August, not to mention more teams other than us, Boston and Cleveland) it looks like I'm right. Caught a game he threw, and he looks very nasty, though I don't think he will ever K guys like he used to, but more-so a high GB:FO ratio which he is putting up so far.

Edited April 22, 2010 by SoxAce

[The Ginger Kid]

I agree. There's a big difference between taking a dump on the rest of the season and realizing that they can't dig themselves too big a hole. Forget about the wildcard. That's coming from the AL east. We HAVE to win the division. And the Twins are looking to make that extremely difficult. I said before the season if Liriano is really "back" that we were in deep s***.

yes I agree and if the twinkies continue on a .733 pace and win 118 games then they certainly deserve it.

 

I hope these guys take what Ozzie said tonight to heart - just go out and have fun instead of each one of them trying to put the team on their back and carry it. What the hell, can it possibly get any worse? They were pretty f'n cocky coming out of Glendale and they got their asses kicked. Lets see what they're made of.

[Dick Allen]

The Cubs hired Rudy Jaramillo. Boy are they whacking the ball around. The bottom line is you have to have the personnel to do the things you are asking. The White Sox roster in the past wasn't capable or it would have been silly to ask some of their sluggers to go the other way. This year's team, most will admit, is short offensively. They still score via the homer, but they just don't hit as many.

 

I don't think there is one person on this board that would have thought the Sox wouldn't go through a stretch of 15 games when they only won 5. Everyone always uses 2005 as a measuring stick. That team lost 14 games in the standings at one point. That said, I think there is plenty of reason to be concerned. The pitching staff isn't going to have a 2.98 ERA. KW better get some offense somewhere, somehow.

 

This is a team that has had Kotsay hit 3rd and Omar Vizquel lead off. Blame the hitting coach all you want, but the blame is misdirected. This is the American League, not the American Association. The sooner White Sox brass realizes they need more offensive talent the better.

Edited April 22, 2010 by Dick Allen

[caulfield12]

The Cubs hired Rudy Jaramillo. Boy are they whacking the ball around. The bottom line is you have to have the personnel to do the things you are asking. The White Sox roster in the past wasn't capable or it would have been silly to ask some of their sluggers to go the other way. This year's team, most will admit, is short offensively. They still score via the homer, but they just don't hit as many.

 

I don't think there is one person on this board that would have thought the Sox wouldn't go through a stretch of 15 games when they only won 5. Everyone always uses 2005 as a measuring stick. That team lost 14 games in the standings at one point. That said, I think there is plenty of reason to be concerned. The pitching staff isn't going to have a 2.98 ERA. KW better get some offense somewhere, somehow.

 

This is a team that has had Kotsay hit 3rd and Omar Vizquel lead off. Blame the hitting coach all you want, but the blame is misdirected. This is the American League, not the American Association. The sooner White Sox brass realizes they need more offensive talent the better.

 

 

Which offensive performance do you think is the most disappointing/surprising/unexpected to KW?

 

A) Kotsay

B) AJ

C) Ramirez

D) Beckham

E) Quentin

F) Pierre

 

I guess I'll go with AJ and Pierre in a tie. With Beckham pulling in at a close 3rd place.

 

 

Edited April 22, 2010 by caulfield12

[BigSqwert]

Which offensive performance do you think is the most disappointing/surprising/unexpected to KW?

 

A) Kotsay

B) AJ

C) Ramirez

D) Beckham

E) Quentin

F) Pierre

 

I guess I'll go with AJ and Pierre in a tie. With Beckham pulling in at a close 3rd place.

 

That entire list minus Kotsay. We all knew he'd be average at best.

[fathom]

I'd go with Quentin. Outside of 2 games, he's been virtually worthless this season.

[caulfield12]

I thought of Quentin. Those two breakout games are masking a pretty horrible overall offensive performance and approach at the plate. He has certainly been far from consistent, like Paulie was last season, relatively speaking.

 

 

[Ranger]

Many of us have remarked how poorly the Sox do against pitchers whom they're facing for the first time.

In addition, Sox offenses have rarely demonstrated an ability to approach any pitcher, familiar or unfamiliar, with a good game plan.

The way the Rays came into tonight's game with a very sound game plan against Buehrle, is just the kind of thing to which I'm alluding.

Their right handed hitters took away that outside pitch by going the other way. The absence of any similar kind of sound preparation to face either an unfamiliar pitcher, or to just have a game plan, suggests to me that Sox teams are not as prepared as they should be.

I just don't see other teams demonstrating the same consistent lack of preparation. Why is it that other teams don't struggle against any pitcher whom they have never seen?

 

I really wish some people would realize there is baseball outside of the White Sox. THEY ARE NOT the only team in baseball that struggles against pitchers they see for the first time.

 

 

Mitch Talbot just shut down the Twins, too. Six innings, 2 H, 0 ER.

 

 

[BigSqwert]

Mitch Talbot just shut down the Twins, too. Six innings, 2 H, 0 ER.

It seems to happen to us way more than most teams.

[Ranger]

It seems to happen to us way more than most teams.

 

 

That's because you watch your team every single day.

[flavum]

I'm sure there's a stat out there somewhere. Let's see some data on facing pitchers for the first time. Ranger, don't you have some connections at fangraphs or John Dewan or somebody?

[WinningUgly85]

found this on the web. Kind of touches upon the sox's offense and pitching.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in8tqstz8co

Edited April 23, 2010 by WinningUgly85