Random Thoughts

[chosk8]

- we come up with the lamest excuses of any team out there; we play better against better teams, we didn't hit because we've never seen this guy before. All cop-outs.

 

- Olivo may be considered a great defensive catcher, but his inability to block balls in the dirt makes me think otherwise. Great arm though.

 

-for those that watched the entire game last night, Carlos Lee doing a running motion in the direction of Jerry Manuel signaling a possible pinch runner after Joe Crede walked was priceless. Yeah, JM you sure are mananging this team like you want to win. Actually, can't blame him for nodding off after that lackluster effort last night.

 

- Aaron Rowand at-bat sighting...until last night in the 9th inning, I thought the team pitched in to buy the kid a new dirtbike

 

- I can't stress enough that when there are expectations of this team, they go right in the tank. From the second half of 2000 to the present, every single time something was expected of these guys, choke. They just absolutely fold under the pressure.

 

-Aaron Miles, nice job.

 

-Frank Thomas, MVP? Not even close.

 

-13 innings from our starting pitchers in the Twins series. Bad.

 

- we will get a new manager in the offseason and we will be excited at first, but in the end, we will be wanting him run out of town too. Book it. It always happens.

 

- I suggest the black jersey for tonight's game. It would be fitting.

 

Any others? Thoughts?

[Yossarian]

One of the things I like best about the game of baseball is its unpredictability. That being said it looks to me that starting in 2004 the Sox may be entering a long dark tunnel. There are so many potential problems. Valentin continues to decline. He turns 34 next month. Crede, Olivo and Garland have not progressed as well as expected. They may never, although I still think Joe has the best shot. Olivo has a great arm. Olivo has a great arm. Oops sorry, I already said that. I question Garlands pitch selection and his mental toughness. The Alomar brothers are way past their prime. I think Paul Konerko has given us a glimpse of his future. Frank is just not the feared hitter he once was. He is definitely not the guy who can strap the team on his back and carry them to the long awaited Promised Land. It's been a long time since I've seen a player as skilled as Ordonez kill as many rallies as he did this year. Rowand is not now, nor will he ever be a starting outfielder. Perhaps he has a future in motorcross. Do the Sox want to sign Everett and/or Colon? Do they want to sign with the Sox? Esteban Loiaza in 2003 may be the modern version of Steve Stone in 1980. A one year wonder, who returned to journeyman status. I really like Mark Buerhle, but each year is a little worse than the previous one. What about the farm? Is Reed the superstar of the future? Great but we have a lot more holes than that to fill. I've given up on Rauch and Borchard. From where I'm sitting the future looks bleak. Can someone come up with a more positive outlook? It's got to be reality based.

[forkit]

This wasn't a bad year for Crede--in reality, it's his first full year in the bigs.

 

Garland is 23...most guys are being drafted at 23. At 28, he'll be a stud [if he continues to learn how to use his stuff...].

 

Th future? We drafted some real studs for the outfield this past year. Whether that means Maggs is going to be traded for a starting pitcher or that they will be used to fill left and center, these guys, plus Reed, should give you hope. They aren't slow...

 

The infield...I think Robbie would be good for the next two years at second. At SS, I do not see an answer within the organization, unless the youngster we just drafted pans out down the road. I hope they go out and get a solid SS. First base? I'd prefer Paulie get traded. He's a nice guy, but we need one less slow first base or DH types. Frank can get the majority of the playing time or we can move Carlos or we can acquire one with a tad more speed and perhaps a left-handed bat.

 

Catcher: Olivo is the real deal. He's young, so be patient. He'll learn to stay away from the off speed and junk pitches. His plate blocking will improve. He's the answer there for the next 6 or 7 years.

 

DH: Frank or Carlos or whatever...It usually takes care of itself.

 

Pitching: We'll need more. More, more, more. We have a good start but it's doubtful they'll re-sign Colon. Even if they do, we'll need one more starter. Danny Wright ain't gonna be a starter; perhaps his role will be as a long reliever or as trade bait. I like Sullivan. I like Marte. I'd rest Koch all off-season and see if his speed returns. If not, he's toast, unless he has a knuckle ball in his future [he once boasted he can throw a 90 mile an hour knuckle curve...where is it?]. Re-sign Flash. Shoeny? I dunnno his contract status and I didn't see enough of him to have a strong feeling. Mark...offer him a decent four year deal and sign him. Loaiza...take him up on the option and see how he does in the first half next year. But we have to go out and either re-sign Colon and then sign another quality starting pitcher OR sign TWO quality pitchers.

 

Manager: I don't like the way this team played in big series. Is that JM's fault? Or is it the big boys swinging for the fences and making three outs with only five pitches? Or a combo of these two? I'd like more speed and aggressiveness on the basepaths and more bunting--all in all, a better mix of playing styles. Replace JM? Depends on the replacement I guess...

 

GM: I like the GM of the second half, whether that was KW or Hahn or Eddie Einhorn or Minnihaha. I liked the aggressiveness and I hope they aggressively go out and make some major changes in this team for the 2004 season, because they can make four or five changes and have a much better team, in my opinion. They'll have to spend more money to do it, so maybe they cannot make those changes.

 

That's my two cents. I enjoyed this season until the past five games against the Twinks...the team was in it and kept me riveted and that's what sports entertainment is all about. I don't even mind losing, as long as it comes after a good, hard fight. I felt we all got a let down the past five games against the Twins, but that's how it played out.

 

Forkit!

[Yossarian]

I think Crede will settle in and have a productive career. Not so sure about Garland and Olivo. If forkits optimism proves correct than great. It would be very bad for the franchise to tank in the next few years, especially with the cubs coming on. These aren't the sissy cubs of years past. Prior plunked Bonds and then dared him to charge the mound. Ditto for Kerry Wood when he buzzed Matt Morris. Dusty may be overrated as a game manager, but he has the mentality of a street fighter and the team follows his lead. We've had the mannequin in the dugout.

[forkit]

Good point about the nature of the manager. I like JM. Seems like a very nice guy. But there are quite a few times when I'd like a team that was just plain nasty--just plain get in there and get nasty and get it done. If you're gonna lose a three game series in Minnesota in the last 12 games of the yea want my players to come out of the Twinkine dome with black eyes and raw knuckles...and even if the Twinks won, I'd want to get some comfort knowing they were in worse shape. I'd like to see some guys limping off the field.

 

Me? I liked Fencik and Planck in the Bears secondary. At least the other team knew they were in for a fight. I'd like some of that attitude in my current Sox players.

 

Forkit!

[chosk8]

Good point about the nature of the manager. I like JM. Seems like a very nice guy. But there are quite a few times when I'd like a team that was just plain nasty--just plain get in there and get nasty and get it done. If you're gonna lose a three game series in Minnesota in the last 12 games of the yea want my players to come out of the Twinkine dome with black eyes and raw knuckles...and even if the Twinks won, I'd want to get some comfort knowing they were in worse shape. I'd like to see some guys limping off the field.

 

Me? I liked Fencik and Planck in the Bears secondary. At least the other team knew they were in for a fight. I'd like some of that attitude in my current Sox players.

 

Forkit!

I think Carlos Lee showed that type of emotion this year. I think of a caged tiger waiting to get out when I see him in the batter's box. He looks like he wants to hit unlike some of the others who sigh after a called strike or a foul ball. They have the look like they are defeated and I'm sure the opposing pitchers see it as well. The fact that he was aware that they needed a pinch runner in the ninth last night shows me he was into the game.

[forkit]

Yes. Carlos makes one...

 

Forkit!