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Changes Loom as White Sox Skid Hits 6

Thecheatsmoking_tiny by The Cheat on in Recaps

They say good hitting is contagious. Well, for the White Sox, bad hitting is a plague, an epidemic.

The Sox closed out a road trip that saw them score just 9 runs in 6 games, with Sox hitters going 4-37 with runners in scoring position.

I've been sitting up waiting for more definitive news on the state of the Sox roster, because all I know right now is that changes appear imminent. Adam Russell is gone without appearing in a game, and it looks like Alexei Ramirez is your new starting 2B. Why? I have no idea.

Juan Uribe's presence in the lineup is tough to defend, but he still seems to give the Sox a better chance to win than any of the other options at second base.

Perhaps the turkey leg that fully blocked the fat man's artery came in the third inning when Uribe found himself in an unfamiliar place, third base, with nobody out. Orlando Cabrera grounded to the rag-armed David Eckstein, who was playing what Hawk would call "half way" at short, but Uribe didn't come home. The next batter, Carlos Quentin, lifted a shallow fly ball to right field where the strong arm of Alex Rios made a running a dubious decision. Uribe held again.

Uribe's mistake was amplified by the Sox 14 inning scoring drought and Javier Vazquez' magnificent performance. Vazquez. who was throwing in the mid-90's in his last inning of work, would have finished out the 8th if not for a poor play by Pablo Ozuna. He narrowly missed becoming the third White Sox starter to grab a complete game loss while north of the border.

For his part, Ozuna had an opportunity to take Vazquez off the hook for the loss when he came to the plate in the 9th with the bases loaded and nobody out. -- I don't need to go on about Ozuna. If there's anyone who deserves to be gone (aside from Ramirez) it's Ozuna. -- With the Sox needing just a deep fly ball, and Joe Crede unavailable because of a migraine, Ozuna grounded into the game ending 1-2-3 double play.

I wish I knew the direction the Sox were thinking about taking so that I could make a preemptive post about it tonight while I have the opportunity. All I know for sure is there are no quick fixes available, and all of the conceivable solutions are hardly solutions at all.

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Thank God Carol Slezak fights for Inflatable Doll rights

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/slezak/933482,CST-NWS-carol06.article

Its a doll Carol, a doll. Not a person, a doll. Get a grip.

Wait till Kotex boy and his side kick Mini-Me Greg Couch get a hold of this.

by southsideirish71 on May 6, 2008 12:35 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

i agree market

why is she even allowed in our club house?

by Where Triples Go to Die on May 6, 2008 9:30 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

"White Sox blew it...."

I would’ve figured it blew them

by 3E8 on May 6, 2008 12:49 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Headline should be

Sleestack assures her visage attached to next inflatable slumpbuster

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 6, 2008 12:50 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

she has not seen Major League

otherwise, she’d know that dolls/cardboard figures are the best way to bust a team out of a slump

something special

by wite on May 6, 2008 4:25 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Anyone remember

the article she wrote about 5 years ago about her garage and some fans parking in it during a cub game?

If you do, that was my friends car that was towed – and I told him to park there. She was my neighbor and a total btch. We went to the Cubs game (trust me, I was rooting for the other team) and I told him to park there because she never did. We come back from the game and the car is gone. We finally found out who towed it and the next day in the paper there it is – her garage/my garage on the back page of the suntimes…they were talking about it on the radio…nuts.

She said she usually parked on the street, but during cubs home games she parked in the garage. Well, a lot of people got pissed about that because she was taking up street parking even though she owned a garage. She tried to argue that what she did was kosher, but basically lost and was a btch about it in the process.

Never liked her since and she really doesn’t have a clue when you read her articles (which I try not too).

"Jenks, who was never afraid to say "no" to a hamburger..."

by BobbySouthSide on May 6, 2008 8:01 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Slezak is a moron

like most of the columnist in this city. These people claim they are the most ethical people around yet they would shit on someone any chance they get. Plus the slimy things they do to get stories or make stories.

by Where Triples Go to Die on May 6, 2008 8:29 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Did your buddy relieve himself in her garage?

That would have been a little consolation.

C'mon, Smokey! This isn't 'Nam, it's bowling. There are rules!

by thekever on May 6, 2008 8:45 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Really?

You parked in your neighbors garage, unless your good friends with your neighbor I don’t know why that seems like a good idea. Or why you would be surprised she had your car towed. You parked in someone elses garage what do you expect to have happen?

by Grinder in Training on May 6, 2008 9:00 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Well,

I had lived there for over a year and never – NOT ONCE, ever seen a car parked in her spot. Let me explain in a little more detail…this was a 3-car garage where 3 spots were rented out. This wasn’t her private garage. My spot and the spot next to me had a car in it, hers never did. Apparently she parked in the street closer to her house.

So, figuring that nobody ever parks there – why not park there for the game for a few hours and then move the car. Kind of logical.

We get back and the car is towed. I could see this happening – slight chance, but I know why she did it.

BUT, then to write a backpage article on it was a little nuts – she basically called us low life scum, wanted to suck the gas out of the car, wanted to key the car, etc.

When it came out that she parks in the street and not the garage and only has the garage for convenience – well that pissed a lot of people off. As you may know, street parking up there is at a premium.

"Jenks, who was never afraid to say "no" to a hamburger..."

by BobbySouthSide on May 6, 2008 9:35 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

You parked in someone else's garage.

She paid for it, she can do whatever she wants with it, you can’t complain when you use someone else’s garage and then she tow’s your car. I’d do the same thing if someone used my garage and I wanted to park there. You could have simply asked her if you wanted to use your garage, or left her a note with your phone number.

by Grinder in Training on May 6, 2008 9:51 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Yeah

I know. I totally understand why she towed it. I was just wondering if anyone else saw the article, saying she got a little carried away writing a full article on it in the sun-times and stating that I wasn’t a complete idiot for trying to have my friend park their for a few hours.

"Jenks, who was never afraid to say "no" to a hamburger..."

by BobbySouthSide on May 6, 2008 10:04 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Bobby, gotta disagree with you man...

She pays for a garage, so she can do whatever she pleases with it. Slezak is a moron. But if I came home from a long day at work, and found a car parked in front of my garage I would want to key it too.

"You might be impressed with your analysis, but I am not. Stop wasting my time." - Chris De Luca

by BoKnows on May 6, 2008 10:19 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Rule #47

Do not f*ck with a man’s car.

I am not arguing why she towed it….i would have done the same!

"Jenks, who was never afraid to say "no" to a hamburger..."

by BobbySouthSide on May 6, 2008 10:24 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

MY GIRL

IS DEEPLY OFFENDED BY BLOW UP DOLLS. ;X

by Where Triples Go to Die on May 6, 2008 8:59 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

glad i spent my evening drinking away my yhoo blues and not watching the sox do how they do.

i wish someone had told me that sportsnation had replaced rationality with caps lock.

by MarketMaker on May 6, 2008 12:50 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Uribe

Is a bad starter, but a pretty useful utility player. Competent or above a 3 infield positions. That alone makes him valuable (which is good, because that’s all he has except for a little power).

Anyway, he’s actually a useful bench player. Given the atrociousness of the Sox bench, dropping Juan rather than Pablo makes no sense.

by hitlesswonder on May 6, 2008 12:57 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Maybe KW doesnt trust Ozzie to use Uribe the right way

Remember Timo Perez, philospher, dreamer, DH, 1st baseman, OF for the Chicago Whitesox.

Sometimes you need to take the toys away. Uribe would make a nice bench player, but players like that become starters with Ozzie.

by southsideirish71 on May 6, 2008 1:00 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

if that's the case can't kenny tell it to ozzie?

1. talk to ozzie

nothing?
2. talk to ozzie

nothing?
3. dump ozzie

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 6, 2008 11:58 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

The more things change...

2007 record after 30 games: 15-15
2007 Batting after 30 games: .224 .305 .369 .674
2007 ERA: 3.90

2008 record after 30 games: 14-16
2008 Batting after 30 games: .229 .318 .391 .709
2008 ERA: 3.57

Even though the 2007 team was worse statistically, they had a better record. This can only be attributed to Erstad having more grind and edge than Cabrera, his will to win was infinitely stronger – almost of Campy proportions.

The heart of the order this year. Average age of 34yrs old and earning a combined $35.5mm and all granted the peace of mind of a No Trade Clause :

Thome .215 .344 .439 .783
PK .227 .358 .423 .781
JD .253 .306 .434 .740

That POS Uribe is obviously the problem.

"The little things are always in my mind," he said. "I always like to move the guy over, I like to bunt."

by ChicagoPete on May 6, 2008 6:43 AM CDT reply reply   1 recs

Not quite

2007 record and runs scored/allowed (15-15) rs 120/ ra 126

2008 record and runs scored/allowed (14-16) rs 136/ ra 117

And your right Uribe is not the problem.

by Tdogg on May 6, 2008 8:17 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

KW must be Cuban, he's very proud

I don’t get the DFA Uribe, give it to Ramirez thing. It smells of a desperation move.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to wait until Richar was ready before you get rid of Uribe and give the job to Ramirez. If Ramirez continues to suck in May, then what? Pablito?

Dumping Walker seems like an easier fix – feed him to the lions, that will quell the masses for a bit without harming the club short term.

"The little things are always in my mind," he said. "I always like to move the guy over, I like to bunt."

by ChicagoPete on May 6, 2008 8:47 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

nah, the sox are just listening to their fanbase

you’ve been part of the crusade to dump uribe. i guess timing isn’t everything with the white sox.

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 6, 2008 8:52 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

No, I've been after OCab

He of the 136 PA’s/11.6% of total PA’s in the handle-the-bat position and the -2.3 VORP

He’s making Erstad look like an all-star in comparison:

Erstad through 30 games last year: .270 .320 .374 .694
El Generale this year: .213 .289 .262 .551

Hey, I know how to fix this lineup – let him play leadoff!

"The little things are always in my mind," he said. "I always like to move the guy over, I like to bunt."

by ChicagoPete on May 6, 2008 8:56 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

yawn

and we care about thirty games for what reason again?

i wouldn’t want this guy on my team either: .177 .233 .316 .549

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 6, 2008 9:00 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

30 games seems to be enough reason to DFA Profundo

Hell I don’t care, ax ‘em both! Then we can have Ramirez at SS and Pablito at 2B, that’ll shake it up.

"The little things are always in my mind," he said. "I always like to move the guy over, I like to bunt."

by ChicagoPete on May 6, 2008 9:03 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

hmmm. i would certainly hope the white sox are not thinking solely about production in thirty games in such decisions.

the past few years couldn’t have had anything to do with it, could it.

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 6, 2008 9:05 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Then it all goes back to - why the hell didn't they sign him and then trade for OCab in the first place?

It’s Uribe, you knew what he was when you signed him – his negative VORP dissappoints you all of a sudden? Were they listening to Hawk and really believe he was going to put it all together this year?

"The little things are always in my mind," he said. "I always like to move the guy over, I like to bunt."

by ChicagoPete on May 6, 2008 9:07 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

as a utility player

and now sox fans and the media want a sacrificial lamb. who better to sacrifice than the hated juan uribe? so it goes.

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 6, 2008 9:10 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

They didn't sign him for $4.5mm to be a utility player

Releasing him now accomplishes nothing except doing something for the sake of doing something. Hopefully KW slept on this and realizes how stupid that is.

"The little things are always in my mind," he said. "I always like to move the guy over, I like to bunt."

by ChicagoPete on May 6, 2008 9:15 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

you sure about that?

i think we need to move into the 21st century in our thinking about contracts, especially white sox contracts. this is a high payroll team. this is a team that can afford to do things like sign a player to a contract like that as insurance at three positions – all of which the sox had/have serious question marks at. unfortunately (or fortunately, depending upon your perspective), the offseason and season have played out in a manner that made that investment in insurance largely unnecessary. perhaps it was a rash decision to sign him when they did. i think it’s unfortunate decision to let him go now, if that is indeed what the sox do. an already thin white sox team will have just gotten thinner. pun intended.

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 6, 2008 9:24 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

its a good sign to see clubs

make personnel decisions based on on-field performance, rather than payroll. They need to make both kinds, of course. DET and CLE both made damage-control moves yesterday where they will eat some salary (I think – I didnt see the specifics).

My question is what will the Sox do with Thome’s playing time if the season falls apart? If they are out of the race, AND Thome stays healthy, will they try to keep him from reaching the 560-ish PA’s, which will guarantee his ‘09 option? That’s a $10M question.

Mosi Tatupu! Mosi Tatupu!

by Nordhagen on May 6, 2008 9:34 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

yeah

when the first rumored uribe release occurred i saw it as a possible turning point for this organization. hopefully this time it’s for real. while this is a sacrificial move that accomplishes little if anything, at least the sox are cutting bait on players, despite what they make. this is how teams – or at least good teams (though look at the pirates and morris) – operate.

i hope this means the sox will replace him with a scrap heap pickup, too. bourgeois is an obvious in-house option but pick up someone like jacque jones for the bench, for all i care. these are disposable players (especially in the case of jones). if they suck, send them to the minors or release them.

Jesus H. Larry! I said the first half!

by larry on May 6, 2008 9:42 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Agreed...

I would rather have a guy like Jason Botts batting with the bases loaded and one out than Pablo freaking Ozuna.

by SSH2005 on May 6, 2008 9:47 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Or Jason Voorhees

Mosi Tatupu! Mosi Tatupu!

by Nordhagen on May 6, 2008 9:57 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

or jason bateman.

i wish someone had told me that sportsnation had replaced rationality with caps lock.

by MarketMaker on May 6, 2008 5:38 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

or justine bateman.

Repeat after me: reading comprehension, even a little bit of thought before posting, and basic research are not signs of weakness.

by Toonderstrook on May 6, 2008 5:39 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

or alex p. keaton.

i wish someone had told me that sportsnation had replaced rationality with caps lock.

by MarketMaker on May 6, 2008 5:40 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

or jason statham.

i wish someone had told me that sportsnation had replaced rationality with caps lock.

by MarketMaker on May 6, 2008 5:39 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

love/hate

All you guys are gonna miss Juan when he gone. You won’t have fat Juan to kick around anymore. BTW, I totally include myself in that group.

Juan, we hardly knew ye. I love you, I hate you! Gimme a hug, you big lug. Now, get out of here! And don’t turn around and look at me when you leave. So you don’t see me cry. Jerkass! And that Uribe game-used bat I have (its unexplicably cracked) – just take it. No wait, don’t! Can you sign it too? God, I hate you!

Mosi Tatupu! Mosi Tatupu!

by Nordhagen on May 6, 2008 9:20 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

well said

"The little things are always in my mind," he said. "I always like to move the guy over, I like to bunt."

by ChicagoPete on May 6, 2008 9:22 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I love this

The offense is slumping. I got it! Let’s drop the .351 OBP guy DOWN from leadoff to 6th, and move the .289 OBP guy UP in the order to leadoff.

"The little things are always in my mind," he said. "I always like to move the guy over, I like to bunt."

by ChicagoPete on May 6, 2008 9:05 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Let's get rid of Uribe and hand the job to Ramirez, that'll help

"The little things are always in my mind," he said. "I always like to move the guy over, I like to bunt."

by ChicagoPete on May 6, 2008 7:11 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Who cares?

Please don’t ever reference any more Paul Sullivan articles. Especially, on the rare occasion, when he writes about the White Sox.

C'mon, Smokey! This isn't 'Nam, it's bowling. There are rules!

by thekever on May 6, 2008 8:35 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Just watched the Ozuna DP replay.

One thing that I know isn’t often on Pablo’s mind when he steps up to the plate, but WHY DIDN’T HE FUCKING BUNT!!!!!!!!!

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2008_05_05_chamlb_tormlb_1

Infield back, Anderson probably scores and NO DOUBLE PLAY. Unless, oh yeah, Pablo popped up about 6 of his last 10 bunt attempts.

Ozzie doesn’t trust Pablo to bunt.

Pitching and defense.

by ballyb on May 6, 2008 7:22 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Video

Click on Ozuna DP. Overhead shot of IF at end of clip.

Pitching and defense.

by ballyb on May 6, 2008 7:26 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

And I don't think anyone should be bunting in that situation...

A sac fly or maybe even a groundout ties the game and a hit might win the game. Our problem is that Pablo freaking Ozuna is the bum who came to the plate. Our bench is pathetic.

by SSH2005 on May 6, 2008 7:46 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Well put!!!!!

I was praying for a pop out.
Apparently God doesn’t like the White Sox this year.

"I have no idea of what the rotation might be, ... Ask me tomorrow."

by rangerjae on May 6, 2008 1:24 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Freaking brutal

The way things have gone, he would have done a repeat of Brian Anderson’s wonderful squeeze attempt last Monday.

C'mon, Smokey! This isn't 'Nam, it's bowling. There are rules!

by thekever on May 6, 2008 8:38 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Your 2008 Chicago White Sox

“Weather the Storm!”

by chrome on May 6, 2008 8:03 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

So wait...

For his part, Ozuna had an opportunity to take Vazquez off the hook for the loss when he came to the plate in the 9th with the bases loaded and nobody out….Ozuna grounded into the game ending 1-2-3 double play.

I know Ozuna sucks, but even he can’t hit into an game ending double play with no outs.

by madopal on May 6, 2008 8:07 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

The umpires gave us an out when they saw we

were trotting out Ozuna in that situation in the first place. Even Hawk saw the logic.

by chrome on May 6, 2008 8:14 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

That's classic

Now let’s go back to rooting the bitch of Chicago

"I have no idea of what the rotation might be, ... Ask me tomorrow."

by rangerjae on May 6, 2008 1:26 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Brutal

Horrible game to watch, but if we cut Uribe and not Ozuna, I don’t know if I can watch another one. Uribe is clearly the superior utility player and not to mention he makes 4 million more this year, I just don’t understand how this could happen. I’m fine with Alexei starting, maybe he can show he’s better as an every day player, but.. what the hell.
How do you cut Juan Uribe with Toby Hall and Pablo Ozuna still on the roster.

I have no more confidence in Ozzie starting Alexei over Pablo, then I do in him choosing to start Alexei over Uribe, so I don’t even know if that reasoning makes much sense.

by Grinder in Training on May 6, 2008 8:34 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Talk, Talk, Talk

None of this discussion matters. If Thome, Konerko, Dye, Cabrera, Swisher, AJ, and Crede do not produce at the plate, nothing will improve the team. Ozuna, Ramirez, Uribe, Owens, Anderson? Their contributions to the team are, at best, minimal.

C'mon, Smokey! This isn't 'Nam, it's bowling. There are rules!

by thekever on May 6, 2008 8:41 AM CDT