In the event of a rebuild, stop comparing the Sox

[witesoxfan]

Not terrible, just below average...terrible would be this year's offense the first 6 weeks of the season.

 

Missing Thomas for most of the year made a huge difference.

 

You're right, I just get upset when people talk about the offense as a reason that team won. It was pitching, defense, and timely hitting. They couldn't lose a close game that year.

 

Oh, and that 52-22 record against the Central helped too...maybe they should try that again sometime soon.

[caulfield12]

You're right, I just get upset when people talk about the offense as a reason that team won. It was pitching, defense, and timely hitting. They couldn't lose a close game that year.

 

Oh, and that 52-22 record against the Central helped too...maybe they should try that again sometime soon.

 

 

It was the one year where every time you got to the 7th with a lead, you felt it was going to be automatically locked down.

 

Not sure that everything will come together again like that in my lifetime, with the weirdest part of all being three closers in the span of an entire season.

 

 

The only time it was close to that (the bullpen as a whole) was when Linebrink was pitching so well in the first half of 2008.

[LittleHurt05]

It was the one year where every time you got to the 7th with a lead, you felt it was going to be automatically locked down.

 

Not sure that everything will come together again like that in my lifetime, with the weirdest part of all being three closers in the span of an entire season.

 

 

The only time it was close to that (the bullpen as a whole) was when Linebrink was pitching so well in the first half of 2008.

 

What amuses me to this day is that 9 years out of 10, if your set-up guys are Cotts & Politte, your bullpen is probably gonna suck. It just so happened in 2005 that the Sox got that one amazing year out of both those guys.

[Iwritecode]

Wasn't the consecutive games (taking the lead) at the start of 2006 when the offense was just killing people (including the team that would go on to win the World Series, the Cardinals)?

 

Hmmm, can't remember anymore.

 

No, it was definitely 2005. Michael Clarke Duncan mentions it in the narration of the World Series DVD.

 

[Balta1701]

If you're saying that Cardinals sweep was in 2005 you're wrong. The third game of that series the Sox won 1-0 on a solo shot by Jim Thome who obviously wasn't on the '05 squad.

 

6/20 STL W 20-6 Vazquez (8-4) Mulder 39,463 45-25 2nd, -2.0

6/21 STL W 13-5 Buehrle (8-4) Marquis 37,897 46-25 2nd, -1.0

6/22 STL W 1-0 Garcia (9-4) Reyes Jenks (21) 39,509 47-25 2nd, -0.5

 

Look at those attendance numbers...

Not referring to the Cardinals sweep there, referring to the streak the Sox had where they had the lead in every game to open the season.

[caulfield12]

This team is really maddening.

 

When you want to throw in the towel for good on Dunn, he has another life.

 

We have the best ERA in the AL now by 0.01 points over the Rangers, at 3.41. The worst defense, for now, but Beckham's on the way back. Probably the best set-up guy (Crain) and one of the top 3-4 closers in Addison Reed.

 

Rumors flying that Konerko's back and/or knees are bothering him.

 

The crazy thing is you don't know which direction to go again...the only area of the offense that you can seemingly address is either catcher/Flowers or Konerko. Dunn will be Dunn. Beckham will be back, and Keppinger will return to his proper role.

 

We aren't going to find a full-time replacement for Paulie until we know 100% he won't be healthy for the rest of the season or he takes himself out of the line-up or retires.

 

So that leaves Tyler. Has had some big hits and clutch homers. Still really struggling with RISP and with the K's. Only leading Lucroy, Avila and Montero in OPS (100+ AB's, so sort of like Gordon Beckham in 2012 without the very strong defense). Speaking of D, his defense has been a pretty big disappointment this year, yet most of the pitchers seem to be very comfortable with him (hard to argue with leading the league in ERA). That said, it's going to get harder and harder to argue he should be playing full time as we pull back into the race. Gimenez isn't the answer. Phegley might be offensively, but how will his defense and game-calling affect the best pitching staff? Lots of uncertainties.

 

Plus, if we wanted to improve the ballclub and replace Flowers long-term or with a short-term rental, who could we possibly trade?

 

Is it worth it trade Erik Johnson for the likes of John Buck, Carlos Ruiz, Nick Hundley, Kelly Shoppach (he would share time with Flowers), Wilson Ramos or JP Arencibia?

 

Should we be content to just merely a veteran/experienced player to complement Flowers (like a Shoppach, Jose Molina or Miguel Olivo type)...?

 

I'll give Hahn great credit for the Gillaspie move, negative credit for overpaying on Keppinger and an "inconclusive" (we had to let AJ go, and overpaying at age 37 is crazy) for Flowers/Gimenez. Still, is that the best plan going forward, to stick with both of those guys and just roll the dice, so to speak?)

 

Some will say we have to let Flowers, Viciedo, Beckham and Gillaspie just play everyday and see what we have for 2014. As always happens with the White Sox, short-term victories collide with long-term development and the GM is left with quite the dilemma to solve.

 

Meanwhile, KC has the 3rd best pitching in the AL (but not quite as good an offense, of course) and the Indians and Tigers are leading the division. Last year, we really only had to deal with the Tigers. Right now, it's three teams ahead of us (assuming the Twins eventually fade). The Sox are between a rock and a hard place, as usual.

Edited May 18, 2013 by caulfield12