I just wish we can hold off the Tigers for 2nd in the Central

this season has been a little different for me in that going back to my pre-season expectations for the 2008 club has tended to ‘ground’ me when the times have gotten tough. I don’t know if I put an actual number on it but I’m fairly certain that — in a poll on Soxtalk — I voted for the 78-81 wins option (or thereabouts). I’m usually not one to root for the the future (talking a few years down the road), but I think I’m more excited that Kenny has rebuilt a new core of mainstays that looks pretty damn good (Quentin and Danks, mainly, but also Floyd, Ramirez and — hopefully returning to Oakland levels — Swisher). Hell, even there’s even some good stuff to talk about down on the farm, and it looks like we’ll be getting a couple of more high-end picks from Cabrera’s departure.

Talking about the rest of the season, though… yeah, things look pretty bleak. The rotation is going to have to carry the load, and someone other than Clayton Richard needs to take the ball every fifth day. I don’t know who that is, unfortunately — I’d love to see Poreda get a chance but I trust the Sox’ judgment. If they thought he could help out — even if only in a LOOGY role — he’d be up here. That being said, I still think the Sox should be in a position to make the playoffs when they head up north for the series in that POS dome — it’d be tough for me to see Minny really pull away in the next two weeks (as both Perkins and Blackburn have already past their career highs in IP, and Baker and Slowey are relatively close, although I admit that this is a real quick-and-dirty, not-completely-correct way of assessing things). All told, you’re looking at two a-tad-better-than-average teams who are battling to be first-round underdogs. And that’s not an indictment on the Sox — at this point I’d expect a first-round lost (especially without a healthy Q) but just want the Sox to get there for any added revenue they’d pull in from the one or two playoff games.

Ehh, this was too long-winded but whatever. The real thing we need to keep our eye on the rest of the way is the Sox’ team OPS+ and JRE and my corresponding bet. Will the Sox be able to stay above the 100 nexus? They’re at 105 but may move down a point because of today’s suckfest. It might be a photo finish (although I’d certainly hope not)…

"Difficulties show men what they are. In case of any difficulty remember that God has pitted you against a rough antagonist that you may be a conqueror, and this cannot be without toil." — Epictetus

"The greater difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests." — Epicurus

“I get knocked down, but I get up again.” — Chumbawamba

that said, holy shit am i glad today’s over. a one-game lead is still a lead.

BP still has us at %69 to make the playoffs, which I’ll take.
But the team looked knackered yesterday, it was a very hard day to take as a fan.
Still, first is better than anywhere else no matter how small the lead.

I don’t want to see the guy ever again. He can’t even make a routine play of throwing a runner out at first base. How pathetic is that?

The Sox can’t bunt so why keep trying it? And they seem to fail with runners on base all the time. It’s awful to watch. And watching Wise / Anderson in the outfield is going to be even worse when you realize they will be playing LF with Griffey in CF.

we get to see the Sox face Roy Halladay while the Twins face some Royals bum starter. Should be fun…

Throw him in LF and pray that most balls are hit right to him and Griffey.

With both Kornerko and Quenton out is there any indication what the line-up will be? Will Ozzie move Ramirez up?

I know most of us have extreme feelings about Griff not being in CF, which have been expressed since his acquisition. But seriously…when will Ozzie/KW learn?

They even surprised us last night by playing Griff in both games! I was semi-kidding when I suggested that I was hoping to see him benched in game 2. Alas…

Was an omen for the rest of the game. First and second, none out. Bases loaded, one out. GIDP, No runs. The Sox absolutely needed to put some runs on the board in the first yesterday. Once the Jays regained the lead, the Sox lost any life.

One bright spot, however, was the cross marketing with the Blackhawks. Hawks season ticket holders paraded on the warning track before the game. Many Hawks players (minus Toews and Kane) walked to near the Sox dugout and signed autographs and took pictures with the fans. Patrick Sharp used a stick to wrist shot the “first pitch” to Buerhle. Finally, during the typically lame-ass promotion of throwing out tee shirts, the Hawks players helped out and threw the shirts deep into the crowd. I’m sure it’s something both teams will try to repeat.

Jerry Owens will steal 50 bases…IN EACH GAME!
Toby Hall will hit a homerun…WEEKLY!
Juan Uribe will carry this team…TO POSTSEASON GLORY!
Nick Swisher will watch a third strike… SAIL INTO THE OUTFIELD BLEACHERS

Im blowing your freaking house up.

According to the Chicago Sun Times, Paul Konerko (knee) could return as soon as Friday.
That would be amazing given how bad the injury looked, but the newspaper reports that Konerko “merely suffered a slight sprain to the right knee.” Jerry Owens figures to pick up playing time for however long Konerko is out.

Source: Chicago Sun-Times