Tons of pressure on Ozzie and the White Sox this afternoon. It would be nice to see Garcia throw a gem against his ex-team and perhaps work his way towards the Tigers starting rotation in 2009.
I can't get myself to root against the Tigers, but it would be cool to have a Cubs-Sox WS in town here. The bar scene will be fantastic.
I can't get myself to root for Ozzie Guillen. That guy is annoying. I wouldn't mind seeing the Cubs make it to the World Series and then losing in Game 7 to keep their streak of misery alive.
There is really nothing about the Sox that I like. And I agree that another Cubs disaster would be the most entertaining outcome for an outsider. A red line (the el track that goes to both Wrigley and the Cell) series would be fun though.
Thank goodness. The season is over. In some ways, the season was worse than 2003. No, in A LOT of ways.
I hate the Twinkies too, but at this point I would rather see them beat out the Sox anyway.... I recall those first seven [strike]games [/strike] losses of the season and how Ozzie sneered at the Tigers in the dugout as they laid three of the losses on the preseason favored Tigers. Todays game basically capsulized this season. The hitters got men in scoring position with no outs and they could only push across one run. Same thing in the 6th inning. In all 8 base runners left on base. Leyland pulls his starting pitcher, puts in a reliever and the roof caves in. I don't know why Leyland was asked back.....???? I am telling you all from afar that he should have got on that same train that Kwame, Millen and Flip got on and headed out of town to join Lloyd Carr in the SE/Michigan athletics executives [strike]heaven [/strike]junkyard
I don't know where Leyland went wrong. Surely he can coach. But the players stank. Our best hitter Maggs was down .045. Everyone else was very eratic.
Leyland needs another year. Our downfall was in the fact that Cabby couldn't handle the hot corner. At that point it become musical chairs for the roster and I don't think anyone got comfortable with their position. I do like the fact that Inge will take over that position. I expect a Gold Glove from him next year. He needs to spend the summer in the batting cages and stop trying to hit for power but spread the ball around. Catcher and shortstop become our immediate needs. Move Carlos to DH and let Sheff go. Would like to see us get a little faster and put more pressure on other teams with stolen bases. Wouldn't mind seeing Polanco and Granderson switch places in the batting order.
Very predictable how Shef got beaned on his first at bat yesterday. My sox fan co-worker told me it was going to happen.
Season over: How the favorites fared MLB Preseason Rankings | Sports Hubris Well there were hopes that with the off season acquisitions, the Tigers would be in the mix in October and the end the end they are just a mixed up team....finishing in last place in their division Who would have thought that both NY teams would be sitting it out as angry fans in October when the attached preseason poll had them finishing 1st and third with the Bosox sandwiched in between them...um I wonder if EasternSportPN was behind this poll. Our underachieving Tigers were picked to be 4th... Both Chicago teams and both LA teams are in with the Cubs being ranked as 5th, but the lucky White Sox were picked no better than 19th and surprising Tampa Bay Rays 23rd. Obviously we can't blame the whole Tiger collapse on Leyland's coaching, but for Ozzie to out hustle the Leyland in coaching, when we had more talent just doesn't cut in my eyes even if Bondy and Willis sat on the shelf for most of the season.
Picked to be 4th and then finishing so LOW is worse than losing the way we did a few years back when we had NO potential..
Both Chicago teams could be out before the end of next week. The Angels are one if the few local teams I root for so hopefully they wake up tonight. Never liked the Dodgers, and don't want to see either Manny or Joe Torre come over here and then win the big one again. I am sure though if the Cubs fall flat again, the ESPNers would love to see Boston and LA in the series to see match the Celtics/Lakers rivalry
This group must make one more run. They have the talent don't they ????? Other wise see you in 15 years.
The talent? There are too many holes. Let's look at hitters: People that will produce are: Granderson, Cabrera, Polanco, Maggs (if he's not traded) People that look washed up or oft-injured: Sheffield, Renteria, Guillen Youngsters that we dont' know what to expect from: Ryan, Thomas, Hollimon, Larish, Joyce, Clevlen Question marks: Hessman, Santiago, Thames, Raburn, Inge Starting Pitching: Verlander - hopefully back to the old form next year Bonderman - ?, maybe a reliable 3-4 starter Garcia - ?? Willis - ??? Robertson - maybe a 5th starter Gallarraga - hopefully a solid 2-3 Miner - maybe 4 Relief Pitching: Rodney - ? Zumaya - ?? Lopez - ? Dolsi - hopefully more experienced next year, still very young Rapada - see Dolsi Seay - solid So, weak hitting, no starting pitching, no relief pitching. Hopefully youngsters can step up and contribute. I'd love to see Hessman get a shot. He does have a lot of power and can produce. Thames never got consistent time, probably not in the future plans. But Joyce and Larish are only a year removed from AA. I don't know. Too many questions. Lets see what (if anything) Dombrowski does during the offseason.
