The pitching staff is going through a rough stretch but I think it might be more than a coincidence that they’re going through it facing Texas and Detroit. Taking two out of three from a Detroit offense who looks like they’re really clicking is nothing to scoff at. It was a good start to their road trip and this week in Minnesota should be interesting. Seeing all the trouble they had against Laffey today, maybe having three lefties starting could be a good thing.

http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2008/07/dodger-fans-rest-easy.html

and driveline mechanics on the subject

http://drivelinemechanics.com/2008/07/27/transaction-analysis-indians-convert-spare-parts-into-prospects/

Obviously 2 of 3 in DET is great, but given the pitching matchup I was hoping for more. Vazquez last start wasn’t bad at all really (3 ER against TEX in 7 innings) and I was optimistic he was working out of his slump. But he looked lousy today—worse than his line if I may be unscientific. That really was more disappointing than the loss. The Sox have 1 starting pitcher going well right now (although Floyd really has been OK outside of Texas). They need more than that.

I’d like to see the Sox pull off a deal for a pitcher (although I’m sure Beane would want more than Fields and Poreda for Duchsehrehre, I would do that deal). In the absence of that, the Sox really need to get Vazquez turned around and hope Richard just deals in his next start. I don’t want to see a repeat of 2006 when pitchers that were falling apart (I’m looking at you Contreras) kept getting sent out to the mound.

Here’s hoping the Sox can split in Minnesota…

and Stone and Farmer sounded really frustated by the three 9th inning Strike Outs on 3-2 counts. They said all 3 pitchers were high for ball four. Thoughts?

But they were also fastballs from a fastball pitcher on 3-2 that were travelling in excess of 95MPH, I mean: shit happens. Especially on hard thrown fastball up in the zone on 3-2.

Minor had good stuff today, but the Sox didn’t make him work, with 9 first pitch outs. Javy seems to be a guy that is forever at the borderline between great and mediocre. If he isn’t throwing his fastball at 93-94 on the corners his breaking stuff isn’t good enough to be thrown behind in the count. And with not great control he often gets behind in the count.

And shit happens.

OH well, good Tigers lineup out there all 3 games and can’t complain when you add a game to the lead on the road when the RD is even for the series.

A split at the Metrodome would be excellent.

Link:

Ozzie Guillen said that he was still sticking with Paul Konerko, but could move him further down in the order to “relax him.”

Agree completely.

My only obersvation on Vazquez is that I still don’t think he’s in any way ‘losing stuff’, although I would be curious to see where his average fastball MPH ranks this season compared to prior seasons, Command still looks to be his problem—he certainly seems (from my ametur point of view) to miss AJ’s mitt a lot over the course of the game, and I mean miss badly (like one side of the plate to the other).

"I guess I’m lucky," Guillen said. "Every time I get a little upset, the team reacts. But I don’t want to get a heart attack just to win a game."

Jose Contreras will resume pitching Monday with a bullpen session, but he’s unlikely to come off the 15-day disabled list when he becomes eligible Saturday.

“He’ll pitch Saturday somewhere in the minors,” pitching coach Don Cooper said Sunday.

That means rookie left-hander Clayton Richard,who struck out seven in four innings in his major-league debut Wednesday against Texas, will get at least two more starts. ...