*Official* 6/15 Matt's Turn to Crap the Bed Postgame Thread

[WhiteSox5187]

Originally Posted by LoveYourSuit

Anyone else disappointed at AJ's pitch calling? Plus his half ass effort to block balls?

I don't think the problem has been AJ's pitch calling, it doesn't matter what he has Floyd or Humber throw it seems to get hit HARD and tonight he called for an 0-2 fastball on Abreu up and in. Thornton's best pitch is his fastball and that's a pretty good location generally, the problem was Thornton threw it 58 feet. As for AJ's effort in blocking, I think that is a side effect of having a catcher with 35 year old knees. I would also say that I don't think that Flowers is that much better at blocking either. The Sox have a problem when they address who is their catcher next year.

[Noneck]

Originally Posted by LoveYourSuit

Anyone else disappointed at AJ's pitch calling?

You sure hes doing the calling, not the dugout?

[Nellie_Fox]

Originally Posted by supportsox

I guess it's time to send him down to the minors, too. Fire Cooper!

On another note, why is it now whenever anybody makes a mistake it has to be "crap the bed"? Whatever happened to just screwing up? Can't anybody describe failure without invoking soiling sheets or projectile vomiting?

Because it just sounds so much tougher and more angry about it if everything you say includes vulgarity.

[supportsox]

Originally Posted by WhiteSox5187

I think that this team had a real good month of May and is otherwise a fairly mediocre ball club .

Before tonight, we had the league leader in ERA and WHIP, with another top 5 in WHIP. We still have the BA and HR leaders. I think "fairly mediocre" is a harsh assessment.

[Noneck]

Originally Posted by WhiteSox5187

The Sox have a problem when they address who is their catcher next year.

AJ's a FA next year and said he wants one more good contract, if thats with the Sox they will have to go quite far this year.

[WhiteSox5187]

Originally Posted by LoveYourSuit

Matt has not been the same pitcher since getting rocked at the ASG in SF.

He made the ASG in Anaheim not in SF

As I recall he also hurt his shoulder in the second half of 2010 right around the time he gave up that walk off homer to Thome which was also around the time that Putz got hurt after he blew a save against Detroit. The bullpen fell apart as did our season. You're right though, Thornton hasn't been the same since then.

[WhiteSox5187]

Originally Posted by supportsox

Before tonight, we had the league leader in ERA and WHIP, with another top 5 in WHIP. We still have the BA and HR leaders. I think "fairly mediocre" is a harsh assessment.

We are a mediocre team with some guys who are having great years. Paul Konerko is great, Dunn is having a fantastic year as well, so is De Aza. But we are streaky in left field and right (though Rios is turning around in June) and mediocre to below average at short, second and third. Peavy and Sale are having great years in the rotation but everyone else is bad. The whole damned bullpen seems to be a question mark right now. So I would say that as a team mediocre is currently a fair assessment. As a team the White Sox had a great month of May and they could very well go out on another streak but I am still not sold that they are much better than mediocre.

[pmck003]

First year in a long time the Sox have had a tough NL go - bad sp vs. the Astros and two great teams on the road. Rough loss but some positives in the offense and fielding. Hopefully take one here and keep a good spirit. Start winning at home vs. Cubs and Brewers.

[WhiteSox5187]

Originally Posted by Noneck

You sure hes doing the calling, not the dugout?

It's hard to say with 100% certainty but usually he is calling the pitches, I don't see him looking to the dugout very often if at all. Maybe in certain spots the dugout calls the pitches but I suspect that AJ knows the pitching staff well enough that the coaches would trust him to call what he sees fit.

[WhiteSox5187]

Originally Posted by Noneck

AJ's a FA next year and said he wants one more good contract, if thats with the Sox they will have to go quite far this year.

Perhaps this is a discussion for another thread but I don't know what the market would be for a catcher who will be 36 next year. I know he is having a nice year offensively but I have a hard time seeing any team giving him more than two years. I still think he is the White Sox best option for catcher for the foreseeable future.

[pmck003]

Originally Posted by WhiteSox5187

We are a mediocre team with some guys who are having great years. Paul Konerko is great, Dunn is having a fantastic year as well, so is De Aza. But we are streaky in left field and right (though Rios is turning around in June) and mediocre to below average at short, second and third. Peavy and Sale are having great years in the rotation but everyone else is bad. The whole damned bullpen seems to be a question mark right now. So I would say that as a team mediocre is currently a fair assessment. As a team the White Sox had a great month of May and they could very well go out on another streak but I am still not sold that they are much better than mediocre.

I'd say the Rangers are a step above, but who else is "great"? Dodgers?

[WhiteSox5187]

Originally Posted by pmck003

I'd say the Rangers are a step above, but who else is "great"? Dodgers?

There aren't many "great" teams right now. Even the Rangers have been struggling of late. Some "good" teams that come to my mind would be the Rangers, the Rays, the Reds, the Yankees, the Nationals (which is weird to say). Maybe the Orioles belong on that list too but I don't follow them that often and I am just not convinced that they are for real. To me the White Sox seem to be a fairly mediocre team but mediocre might be good enough to win the Central this year.

[Soxman219]

I saw we were up 5-1 only to lose again. This blows.

[LongLiveFisk]

So much for that interleague dominance.

This sucks.

[Jollyroger2]

Originally Posted by supportsox

Before tonight, we had the league leader in ERA and WHIP, with another top 5 in WHIP. We still have the BA and HR leaders. I think "fairly mediocre" is a harsh assessment.

No it's not, it's pretty much spot-on. 3 of their 5 starters have ERAs over 5. They aren't going anywhere unless that radically improves. Some people on offense are having unusually outstanding seasons, or at least Mays and Junes. They've lost two games though this week with their better starters up.

They also are finding ways to lose.