Jose Contreras dominating in 5-1 Chicago White Sox victory

Since manager Ozzie Guillen implored his players two weeks ago to play as hard as possible heading into the All-Star break, the White Sox have built plenty of momentum heading into a weekend series at American League Central rival Minnesota.

[Chuck D of Valpo]

Another solid win for the southsiders.

[Reichsfuhrer Himmler]

Who said that a 54 year old man cannot pitch in the majors?!

[100 Years of Futility]

Now just think if Colon can find himself like Jose did. Hopefully we'll find him first. I figure he's probably at the Old Country Buffet.

[Seville J]

The Sox need win these next 4 games. They are so close to Detroit, however the cards are stacked against them in the 2nd half. They have some difficult opponents in the next coming months. They have back to back series with the yankees and red sox which should be entertaining. It seems right now that their biggest gap is their bullpen so hopefully they can pull through. It seems that pods and the emergence of Beckham have brought some new life to this team and this is good to see. THe second half is going to be an exciting race to see who wins the division. Go sox

[Springfield Sox Fan]

I like the Sox's chances, especially if Gavin Floyd and John Danks can be themselves and Contraras can pitch like tonight. Pods has been a great surprise pickup, Beckham looks great, Ramirez is hitting now, and Dye, Konerko, and A.J. are having good years. They've got to carry some momentum thru the tough schedule, but if the current trends hold (especially if Contraras is dealing like tonight), they'll contend.

[Nada Surf]

Seville J wrote:

The Sox need win these next 4 games. They are so close to Detroit, however the cards are stacked against them in the 2nd half. They have some difficult opponents in the next coming months. They have back to back series with the yankees and red sox which should be entertaining. It seems right now that their biggest gap is their bullpen so hopefully they can pull through. It seems that pods and the emergence of Beckham have brought some new life to this team and this is good to see. THe second half is going to be an exciting race to see who wins the division. Go sox

So, if the Sox go only 3-1 over the next four their season is over?

[Nada Surf]

KW fan wrote:

<quoted text>It should be fun, but I say this team wins between 78 and 81 games this year.

Care to put a little cash on that?

[Duskin]

When is Kenny going to unload Brian Anderson? I have rooted for Anderson since 2006, but it's obvious that he's never going to develop into a decent hitter.

[SoxFan]

I say trade Anderson, Richard and another player in the minors for Roy halladay, sign him to an extension, Then move poreda into the rotation. He has been lights out on the mound, now let's see what he's got as a starter. I mean face it Richard has not been consistent and Anderson cannot hit for a decent average. When Carlos gets healthy put him in left and move pods to center.

[Nada Surf]

Duskin wrote:

When is Kenny going to unload Brian Anderson? I have rooted for Anderson since 2006, but it's obvious that he's never going to develop into a decent hitter.

Barring a multi-player trade or an injury, Anderson will be gone once Quentin gets back...
I had held out hope that Anderson would someday hit and it looked like he would for a while earlier this season, but it's pretty clear that he's just not a major-league hitter.
It's a shame, because he's one helluva center fielder.

[Mike]

Jermaine is having a great year but the Sox don't get any respect. Go-Go White Sox. We have a chance to be in 1st place this weekend. Unfortunately the Twins are next.

[Hardliner]

KW fan wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree that Pods has saved this team and that Beckham has done a decent job at the plate. But this series in Minnesota is the beginning of a rough stretch. The Twins series is one that can't win it for them, but could kill them if they get swept. Detroit has already stated they are willing to add as much as 20 mil in payroll by the deadline, so if the Sox don't open it up right now, too late will come soon.
Good cheap players are going to be tough to come by in this economy, so if KWs hands are tied on payroll and the Tigs are adding, it will be tough to win with their 2nd half schedule.
When was the last time the worst defensive team in a division, won a division? It should be fun, but I say this team wins between 78 and 81 games this year.

Now wait a minute you say Podsednik has saved this team? Shouldn't you have said that Quentin getting hurt so that they could sign Podsednik in the first place saved this team? That would have been a much better backhanded compliment. You are slipping man; I hope the same can't be said for your golf game!

As for the second half schedule this is the best part of the year, as a fan why would you want to see anything but the best the league has to offer? I have great seats for the Yankees and Red Sox games and the reason I do is because I want to see the Sox play contenders and if it turns out the White Sox are not up to the task, oh well that’s baseball.

Finally in regards to payroll if I have said this once I have said it 100 times, "Nobody ever said being a White Sox fan would be easy". Being a Sox fan is like being a Marine, you make due! When Williams traded for Blum in 2005 when they needed a much bigger bat I thought he was off his rocker and then Blum hits a game winning home run in the World Series. Not to sound cliché but sometimes the best moves are the subtle ones or the ones you don’t make. I don’t judge a team simply in terms of payroll I judge them on wins, losses and how they play the game. There is a team on the other side of town that has been trying to buy a World Series for the last three years now and where has that gotten them? As Tennessee Ernie Ford once sang “another day older and deeper in debt”!

[heyhardinar]

what are you bleeping or smoking
It is hard to be Sox fan?

You are cub fan a burning a fire .. A inferno.. A joke team

Being sox fan means winning you smelly goat fan.

[Bleeds Black]

Hardliner wrote:

<quoted text>
As for the second half schedule this is the best part of the year,

I agree that the best is yet to come. 4 games over .500 is better than 4 games under .500. No more Betemit, Gobble, and Wasserman. The chess pieces are in place for something good to happen. Unfortunately, BA will probably have an even more diminished role when Carlos comes back.

Yankees are hot and Detroit plays them right after the break.

[heyhardinar]

Hey sorry bud... It is to KW Fan and Mike those corny cub fans...

[Hardliner]

heyhardinar wrote:

what are you bleeping or smoking
It is hard to be Sox fan?
You are cub fan a burning a fire .. A inferno.. A joke team
Being sox fan means winning you smelly goat fan.

Put your helmet on, grab your lunch sack and go sit on the front stoop until the short yellow bus picks you up. What will you be making today at special camp, wallets or potholders?

[Bleeds Black]

The Twinkies series will be yet another towel-biter. Like Hardliner said, Oh well, thats baseball. Are those losers still in the dome? Maybe Gomez will treat us to another outfield collision.

[Say what]

SoxFan wrote:

I say trade Anderson, Richard and another player in the minors for Roy halladay, sign him to an extension, Then move poreda into the rotation. He has been lights out on the mound, now let's see what he's got as a starter. I mean face it Richard has not been consistent and Anderson cannot hit for a decent average. When Carlos gets healthy put him in left and move pods to center.

If all you say is true, why would the Blue Jays want to trade us Halladay for those guys? What would be their motive?

[Say what]

Nada Surf wrote:

<quoted text>Barring a multi-player trade or an injury, Anderson will be gone once Quentin gets back...
I had held out hope that Anderson would someday hit and it looked like he would for a while earlier this season, but it's pretty clear that he's just not a major-league hitter.
It's a shame, because he's one helluva center fielder.

Chicago's other major newspaper says don't expect Quentin back anytime soon, and when he does make it back, he'll be rested frequently cuz that foot is still bothering him. Can't run flat out. The source? Supposedly Ozzie's kid Oney who monitors things down in Charlotte.

As to BA, the guy either has a real slow learning curve or simply does not have the visual acuity and/or reflexes to hit major league pitching. By 25 or 26 years of age, the talent, if present, should be visible. It must be said he is consistent: a consistent lifetime 0.220 hitter.

[DLT]

I don't know if I agree with all the B.A. bashing. I would have liked to seen him play everyday for a season or two before saying he is a .220 hitter. I think if Ozzie would have had a short leash on some of his other players as he has had with B.A. and J.F. you would see some of the other players struggle at the plate. When you only play twice a week it's hard to be consistent, lets face it Guillen never liked B.A. or J.F.