| dfwelch: | Q: The Red Sox have really owned Jose Contreras in his short time playing here in the U.S. My question is, how much do you think the White Sox pitchers' success has to do with their getting to pitch so many games against the Tigers and the Royals? |
| Gordon_Edes: | Not much, df...iI really don't think it works that way. when
Contreras was with the Yankees, he had his share of starts against bad teams, too.
I think he just learned to trust his fastball install of falling back on his split at the first sign of trouble |
| seans: | Q: Hey Gordon, Sitting here at my desk in Chicago, moved 2 years ago from Boston to Chicago, card carrying member of Red Sox Nation.... Which Clement are we going to see today? Pre-All-Star game or Post
All-Star Game. |
| Gordon_Edes: | Man, seans, I think Tito Francona and company are wondering the same thing. Three wins since the all-star break don't inspire confidence, do they? But if the Sox can get a lead early, that should help. |
| redhed: | Q: Why is Millar in the lineup today versus Olerud? |
| Gordon_Edes: | 5 for 10 with 2 HRs vs Contreras, that's why. Olerud has never faced him |
| DHarding: | Q: Do you think the Red Sox will try to steal more to keep up with the White Sox's baserunning? |
| Gordon_Edes: | No....DH, although Damon wasn't shy about running on the yanks, was he? i don't think the sox are going to deviate from the style that got them here |
| bozak: | Q: What kind of factor, if any, do you think the sox bench will play during this post season, in contrast to last years? |
| Gordon_Edes: | Boz, you've got 2 guys on the sox bench that are
semi regulars in a sense, for the postseason, in Olerud and Mirabelli, who of course will catch Wake in Game 3. A healthy Kapler would have meant a platoon in right with Nixon, who now will draw the assignment against Buehrle. So they're obviously a little short. No Dave Roberts with an all but guaranteed steal when you need him. |
| okeefe1980: | Q: Gordon, do you think it is a wise move for the sox to go with only 10 men on the pitching staff, even though it is a short series? |
| Gordon_Edes: | they did the same thing against the angels last
season....I think w/arroyo in the pen, the sox are really fortified enough for the five games, and
Gonzalez gives them another long option |
| billLeerocks: | Q: Gordon, Jenks is very inexperienced and unproven. I think I remember MVPapi taking him deep earlier this year on a 97 or 98 mph fastball. Do you think the ChiSox really have confidence in him? Or is it a case of there being no one else to close? |
| Gordon_Edes: | Bill, in a perfect world, they'd want
Hermanson to close; he's got 34 saves. he also has a chronic back condition and only recently started being used again.
Jenks blew two saves and had a loss in a four-game span from Sept. 18-22, and
Ozzie's biggest fear is that he starts walking people. if he gets his breaking ball over, which is a good one, he can be effective, especially on a day like today, when the shadows may come into play. |
| JJ_: | Q: Looking at Chicago's starters for the first three games, who do you feel will give the Red Sox the toughest time and who might the Sox have a good chance to knock out of the box? Thanks for taking my question; I always look forward to these forums. |
| Gordon_Edes: | the sox really were tough on Buehrle and garland, as tough as anyone all season according to one scout who watched them a lot. The Sox really wore them down with their deep-in-the-count approach, and in the past they've run up some horrific pitch counts on
Contreras, too. but i think Contreras may be the guy who is toughest |
| bozak: | Q: Will we see more Millar or Olerud during this 5 game series? |
| Gordon_Edes: | I'm interested to find out who starts tomorrow against the lefty. You'd figure Millar, but he's 1 for 18 against Buehrle, while Olerud is 1 for 11. I assume Olerud will start against Garland |
| waltbfree: | Q: Why not Hansen on the postseason roster? |
| Gordon_Edes: | Not fair to the kid, or the team,
Walt. he's not throwing the way he did before they shut him down with tired arm, despite the 97 mph gun readings. He hasn't had the same slider the Sox saw when he was in Portland, and he's just four months removed from St
John's. Having Arroyo in the pen really changes the dynamic, and with teams back down
to 25 man rosters, Tito can use Bradford and Myers in matchup situations again |
| pbfleet: | Q: What is the general feeling of media and fans in Chicago of their teams chances versus the Red Sox? Are they as confident as Red Sox Nation seems? |
| Gordon_Edes: | I think people might be taking the white sox too lightly, but there are a lot of reasons to like this matchup if you're a Sox fan. I think as good as
Chicago's pitching is, the sox think they will hit 'em, and really like the late-inning matchups against Jenks and/or
Hermanson |
| dcsoxfan: | Q: Is Papelbon available on consecutive days?
Any concerns about overusing him since he is a big key to the future? |
| Gordon_Edes: | The sox have been very protective of him throughout
September, but Papelbon will definitely be available in back to back situations, especially after one inning stints. Thanks everyone, enjoy the game, and we'll talk tomorrow. |
