Not a choke job. The Rays are a vastly better team than the White Sox. They took care of their business at home.
Is this the 2008 White Sox thread? Sweet.
movielib
10-05-08, 09:15 AM
Not a choke job. The Rays are a vastly better team than the White Sox. They took care of their business at home.
Is this the 2008 White Sox thread? Sweet.
I agree. The Rays are better and have been all season. I was just happy the Sox got to the playoffs this year and stopped the Twins from getting there. Did I want the Sox to win? Of course, I just knew it wasn't likely, especially without Quentin. Not saying we're out of it yet either. The Sox have been very good at home. Stranger things have happened and we don't need to use Vasquez again in this series, if at all.
Next year we also can't expect Detroit and Cleveland to be as bad, more or less handing the division over to the Sox and Twins this year. Kenny has his work cut out for him trying to fill as many holes as we have.
At least we're not the Cubs.
bunkaroo
10-05-08, 11:38 AM
Have to agree with movielib. By all rights we shouldn't even be in the playoffs with the inconsistent play we've had all season plus the key injuries. Besides losing Quentin and Contreras (just when he was looking good again), Konerko was not 100% most of the season, Linebrink and Jenks injuries through the bullpen into turmoil...
For me it never felt like we were a "1st place team" - it felt like we were just hanging on.
I'd love to see them get this series back to Tampa, but I'm just proud they were able to pull it together in three straight elimination games.
At this point I'd settle for one more playoff win than the Cubs (which you could argue we already have vs. Twins).
As far as next season, we definitely need at least one great starting pitcher. Vazquez is done - put him in the pen or get rid of him. Who knows what's going to happen with Contreras. Definitely need more speed too - tired of seeing all these guys held at third on base hits when they're standing at second.
starman9000
10-05-08, 11:44 AM
As far as next season, we definitely need at least one great starting pitcher. Vazquez is done - put him in the pen or get rid of him. Who knows what's going to happen with Contreras. Definitely need more speed too - tired of seeing all these guys held at third on base hits when they're standing at second.
Yeah, the central is going to hard to predict next year. The Twins are a very young team, but if they don't make any moves, I don't see them competing for first (and I can't imagine they will make a meaningful move) Their bullpen should improve at least.
Indians showed some improvement to end the year, so they could be back, if they can stay healthy. I have no idea what to think about the Tigers. The White Sox are getting older, but still have some great young players, so with a move they should be right there again.
The only thing I am sure of is that the Royals will start hot and the media will freak out, then they will go back to being the Royals again.
Tarantino
10-05-08, 03:20 PM
Anytime a team gets into the playoffs and is swept, it's a choke job.
Sorry, Sox fans.
= J
movielib
10-05-08, 03:47 PM
Anytime a team gets into the playoffs and is swept, it's a choke job.
Sorry, Sox fans.
= J
:lol: Whatever.
So in 2005 there were two choke jobs and one near choke job (arguably another choke job since they lost four in a row after one win) against the Sox. The Sox' amazing pitching had nothing to do with it.
Mr. Music
10-05-08, 05:11 PM
good thing that n wasnt in the walmart lost and found.. it would have gone missing a long time ago
Hey, that's awesome!
bunkaroo
10-05-08, 05:18 PM
OK this bird in the infield is cracking me up.
You know if this bird was out there at Wrigley during an elimination game, it would be the Curse Of The Pigeon LOL.
BravesMG
10-05-08, 05:21 PM
Hey, that's awesome!:lol: Gets me every time...
Hosehead1527
10-06-08, 10:20 PM
Anytime a team gets into the playoffs and is swept, it's a choke job.
Sorry, Sox fans.
= J
Well, they didn't get swept.
Tarantino
10-07-08, 04:06 AM
Apparently they didn't. They just didn't get the job done.
= J
rabbit77
10-07-08, 12:36 PM
Hats off to the Rays - They're an exciting young team with a ton of speed and great pitching and defense. They're like the Twins but with more everything. Balfour is a doofus, but gets the job done. I wonder if they can win without a real closer in the world series against the Red Sox (we all know who the best two teams left are).
As for the White Sox, say goodbye to Crede, Cabrera and Griffey. Move Ramirez to short, sign Brian Roberts. I don't know his contract status, or if Baltimore is even willing to move him, but we'd fill a gaping hole at leadoff and second.
We need to replace Vazquez. We're set at 1-4 with Buehrle, Danks, Floyd & Richard.
Not sure what to do about third base. Fields plays a disasterous 3B.
starman9000
10-07-08, 12:55 PM
Roberts would be a nice fit for the ChiSox. Please don't get him. :)
sundog
10-07-08, 01:04 PM
Yup, no surprises in the way this series turned out. Disappointing? Certainly.
The only way this team exceeded expectations was by fighting to the end for the division after losing Quentin, Crede, good Scott Linebrink, and Jose Contreras. Particularly Quentin. Once he was gone, it was just a bad feeling.
I'm sure GM Kenny Williams will be looking for the same things he was last year: center fielder and true leadoff hitter.
Vazquez is a fine fifth starter (or a fourth if one would classify Richard as a fifth next year). But if there's something to be had, none would lament the end of his White Sox tenure.
bunkaroo
10-07-08, 01:53 PM
For my money Uribe is fine at 3B. I love his defense. It would be great to get consistent hitting out of him, but as long as the rest of the team is hitting well it's usually not an issue. And he can get hot as we saw this past August-early September.
I think Richard is going to be the #5 starter, and we definitely need another strong pitcher. If we have to give up Anderson for it, so be it. Anderson's great and he can't be a bench player for too much longer. And given Quentin and Dye have LF and RF likely locked up for next year, that would leave Anderson to battle it out with Swisher who likely won't be a bench player. And Wise is still in the mix as well.
All said, we got a lot of positives out of this season. Danks and Floyd came into their own, and Ramirez and Quentin seemingly came out of nowhere.
The AL Central should be great again next year, with Detroit really having something to prove, and the Twins looking to get right back into the mix.
Buy: