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Note to White Sox: August is Over

The game time temperature of 59 degrees should have been enough of a clue, but obviously the White Sox did not get the memo, so here it goes.

August is over! Stop playing like crap.

Once again, my keys to the game/series were shockingly prophetic.

The winner of this series is going to be the team who executes better; the team who makes the fewest mistakes, the team who goes from first to third on a single, the team who gets the runner in from third with less than two outs. Execute.

The White Sox simply didn't execute.

The bottom of the seventh inning was a microcosm of the game for the White Sox. Rowand did the one thing he is among the league's best at (getting hit by a pitch) to lead off the inning. The Angels pull Paul Byrd, and bring in Scot Shields. We've actually gotten to Shields this season, mostly because he was a little bit wild. With AJ, a contact and pull hitter, at the plate I thought it was the perfect spot for a hit and run. Instead, AJ swings at the first pitch he sees after a couple of pick off attempts, and nearly grounds into a double play. He was saved only because of a good take-out slide by Rowand. Two pitches later, AJ inexplicably takes off for second base, making sure he recorded two outs in the inning. Joe Crede then flew out to right field, and the Sox did no damage. Total pitches for the inning: 7, 6 thrown by Shields.

Jose Contreras was very good once again. He made only two mistakes all game, and thanks to the wind, one stayed in the park. Count fell behind Garret Anderson in the second with a change up that was close and a fastball that wasn't close at all. He then grooved a fastball middle-in to Anderson, who's suddenly hitting like the 2003 version of himself. Anderson was cheating on the pitch and punished it deep into the October sky.

In the third inning when he allowed 2 runs, not a single ball was hit in the air. Steve Finley, who had the hardest hit ball of the inning, grounded to right field. Adam Kennedy then hit then next pitch, a forkball that was almost in the dirt, in the hole on the left side on a hit-and-run. Chone Figgins bunted them over, and then the Sox defense went to crap.

Orlando Cabrera hit a weak grounder down the third base line that Crede couldn't make his mind up on. Crede looked home, then looked to first, then threw to first. Everyone was safe. -- You have to know where you are going with the ball before it's hit to you. -- Vladamir Guerrero grounded sharply back to Contreras for what should have been an inning ending double play, but Iguchi allowed himself to get taken out by The OC, Knoblauching the ball in the process. -- McCarver and Buck quibbled over whether he should have gone home on the play, but Count made the right move. Guerrero was not moving well, as evidenced in the first inning on a great play by Uribe(wmv file). A good throw by Iguchi would have had him. -- Thanks to a series of poor plays the Angels had scored two runs, lead 3-0, and had completely taken the crowd out of the game.

The White Sox are now 0-4 this season after 8-game winning streaks... The Angels have now beaten two White Sox pitchers who have had 9+ game winning streaks.

ESPN: Page 2 | LA Seitz of Chicago | Exile in Wrigleyville

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what's the consensus?
how many outs did we give up in our attempt to play small ball?  i've got 5, almost two full innings.

by 3E8 on Oct 11, 2005 11:51 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Five on "offense"
and I say we gave them two extras in the same inning on defense.
AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Oct 11, 2005 11:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

my count
  1. Pods caught stealing
  2. AJ caught Stealing
  3. Pods can't get down bunt and in turn K's
  4. Rowand bunts in a very bad situation for it
  5. Dye bunts needlessly and gives away an out
I had typed up a lengthy angry post last night, including 27 uses of the "f-bomb" but then realized i needed to chill.  

Now that I'm calm - The Sox had won 8 in a row, streaks end.  I didn't expect 16 straight wins.  95% of teams are going to lose games in the postseason.  I still think that Chicago is in a really good position to win this series.  Just have to realize that we have the power advantage...ESPECIALLY in the Cell.

Trying to bunt runners over and giving away outs in the 9th inning when down by 1 is freakin stupid.

AIM: BrentBrookhouse http://thepicks.blogspot.com <- my NFL and NCAA picks.

by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 12, 2005 7:57 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm chalking it up to rust
and the karmic edge the Halos brought in after their wild win over the EE on Monday.
By tomorrow, that will have worn off.  
Now, it's for real and it's time to get into their bullpen.  

by spengler on Oct 12, 2005 12:19 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Contreras is an Ace
I just want to let everyone know that he proved that once again.  On the other hand, they played terrible.  All game, the sox hitters were hitting Byrd well.  It was just a matter of patience and time until a big inning would occur, instead Chicago just kep giving up outs.  2 CS and 2 awful bunts and one awful bunt attempt.  Defensively, Crede gave up an out and there was either a run or an out given up during the grounder back to Contreras.  I think he should have gone home on it, it would have been a sure out.  The double play COULD have been turned, but it would have been very tough.  Also, lets not forget the near blunder by Uribe on the basepaths.  That was incredible.  

On the other hand, Chicago played awful on Offense and lost by 1 run.  Buerhle, Garland & Garcia are all more than capable pitchers and Washburn has only pitched 8 inning since Sept 9.  It is obviously not time for doom and gloom, just time for some heads up baseball.

AIM: shaftr01

blog

by shaftr on Oct 12, 2005 3:07 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

what happened to pods
earlier in the year he was a very capable bunter.

I was noticing that there was a big hole between where the pitcher and third baseman were playing on his failed bunt attempts, a perfect place for Pods to lay one of his patented smack bunts up for a base hit bunt.

He has not only lost his stealing ability but his presision with the bunt has also gone down hill.

The bunting cannot be atributed to the groin/hamstring injury, so I am just wondering how he could have lost that.

You can't do it in the playoffs but I still believe that a few times he was on base at the end of the season he should have not even tried to steal.

His presence on the base pathes helps Ijuchi hit, his getting thrown out does not. If the gooch gets a hit Pods speed can bring him to third with out the stolen base.

If Pods doesn't run one more time in the playoffs I personally guarentee that pitchers will still split there attention with him and the hitter only we will have another man on the paths so hits will actually drive in runs.

The Doctor has spoken

by drzorba on Oct 12, 2005 3:31 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Also of note...
Last time the Angels won a Game 1, they lost the series in 1986.  Silly fact, but optimism.
AIM: shaftr01

blog

by shaftr on Oct 12, 2005 3:34 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I will take anything
anything that keeps me from making holes in my wall from our best hitter being at the plate and missing a cookie again.
The Doctor has spoken

by drzorba on Oct 12, 2005 3:38 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hey cheat
how did you get that picture of me after the eighth inning.
The Doctor has spoken

by drzorba on Oct 12, 2005 3:45 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

If your still awake shaftr
do you have AIM or MSN messenger
The Doctor has spoken

by drzorba on Oct 12, 2005 3:47 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

yeah
my AIM name is in my signature.
AIM: shaftr01

blog

by shaftr on Oct 12, 2005 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sorry
Drinking hinders that common sense thing.
The Doctor has spoken

by drzorba on Oct 13, 2005 1:14 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

OK, so amphetamines beat rust...
For one game.  Not saying it will happen, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the Sox win the next 4 games.
It should be called Bill Veeck Park!

by Chiburb on Oct 12, 2005 7:46 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Four Days Rest
Not to make excuses, but remember that the Sox hadn't played since Saturday.  In the regular season, that's almost a full turn through a rotation (without days off).

ESPN won't shut the hell up about the Halos' travel, but I'd be willing to say that too much time between games can easily be just as bad as not enough.

by generico12 on Oct 12, 2005 9:23 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Two quotes from me...
..., yelled at the TV, that sum up yesterday's game.
  1. "Was that Jermaine Dye...bunting???" I had to rewing the TiVo a couple of times to verify I wasn't going nuts.
  2. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT??" (Yelled when AJ was thrown out stealing.)
The Sox really need to win tonight. I don't think I can stomach the thought of going to the West Coast down 0-2.

by JasonC23 on Oct 12, 2005 9:25 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Stealing Signs
Did any of you guys catch the interview with Gammons from The Cell on ESPN News last night?  He was talking about how the Angels have brought up one of their minor league coaches, who is some kind of guru for stealing signs.  Gammons went on to say how this sign pilfering magician has been their secret weapon in the playoffs, and even intimated that he was the reason the angels hit Randy Johnson so well.

Gammons seemed convinced that this coach is the reason for the unsuccessful running and bunting from last night.

I would contend it would have something to do with having your catcher trying to steal second, trying to bunt with a player who has 31 homers, and your center fielder telegraphong bunts so badly that the third baseman can practically stand in the batters box.

Then again maybe Ozzie knows about this guy, changed the signs because of it, which caused Crede to miss the hit and run call.

Who the hell knows, but I thought it was interesting.

Great players make great plays.

by simplesinger on Oct 12, 2005 12:16 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Did anyone notice Uribe
Runs sideways like a dog? Dogs run slightly sideways so their backlegs don't hit their front legs. Uribe does the same. Even look at the Video of the great play Uribe made. On his way back to the dugout, you can tell he is running sideways. wow, thats really odd.
AIM: JoeCoolMan24 www.2ksports.com/forums Thats where i spend most of my day

by JoeCoolMan24 on Oct 12, 2005 3:21 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong...
...because I'm relying on my poor memory, but I believe Ozzie has said it looks like Uribe had his feet put on backward.  I also recall Ozzie saying Uribe reminds him of a lizard running.

by KenBrett34 on Oct 12, 2005 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

a grocery cart
rolling downhill
alia iacta est - win now

by dyspeptic on Oct 13, 2005 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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