Starts on Thursday. I told you I'd be starting this thread.

Game 1, Thursday: White Sox at Tampa Bay (Kazmir 12-8 or Shields 14-8), 1:37 p.m.

Game 2, Friday: White Sox at Tampa Bay (Kazmir 12-8 or Shields 14-8), 5:07 p.m.

Game 3, Sunday: Tampa Bay at White Sox, TBA

Game 4, Monday, Oct. 6: Tampa Bay at White Sox, TBA (if necessary)

Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 8: White Sox at Tampa Bay, TBA (if necessary)

Ken Harrelson was a guest with "MJH" late this afternoon, and made a suggestion that Clayton Richard (?) start the A.L. Division Series at the Trop Thursday...I thought Mark Buehrle was tentatively penciled in, even though he'd be on short rest yet again.

He was a GM for how long again?

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Touche, about a year in the mid '80s...I don't want Richard on this playoff roster, even though he pitched well enough to beat the Yankees earlier this month, but got the loss instead.

He may be good, but not as the starter in a playoff series.

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Hoffy, the guys at the "Afternoon Saloon" mentioned it when Harrelson was on, and "Hawk" & Darrin Jackson suggested during the WGN game broadcast of yesterday's makeup game vs. Detroit.

That would be stupid in a best of 5 series. You can't afford to give games away in the playoffs, and I'm not willing to chance that with Richard.

Saying that, and I may be contradicting myself, I'd be interested in seeing Vazquez's numbers against TB. If they have any faith left in him, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have him go in Game 1. If he can steal a win there, we'd have Buerhle for Game 2 on normal rest, Floyd or Danks in Game 3, and then we can skip Vazquez in Game 4 and go with Floyd/Danks.

This isn't exactly a best case scenario. They had to play 2 extra games to punch their ticket now they have to adjust on the fly. I would give Richard a chance and hope to catch lightning in a bottle. If he doesn't get it done you still have your 4 starters on normal rest for the rest of the series.

Javier Vazquez has been terribly inconsistent, and has been pitched bad enough to pull whatever hair Ozzie has left. I'll be very interested to see what this playoff roster will look like, especially without Carlos Quentin & Joe Crede...

My Playoff Roster:

14 position players:

C:
A.J. Pierzynski
T.Hall

IF:
1B: P.Konerko
2B: A.Ramirez
3B: J.Uribe
SS: O.Cabrera
3B: J.Fields

OF:
J.Dye
K.Griffey Jr.
N.Swisher (1B)
B.Anderson
D.Wise
J.Owens

DH:
J.Thome

Pitching (11 pitchers, with Richard serving as a long man):
J.Vazquez
M.Buerhle
J.Danks
G.Floyd
B.Jenks
M.Thornton
S.Linebrink
O.Dotel
H.Ramirez
D.J.Carrasco
C.Richard

* They could keep an extra pitcher like McDougal at the expense of a guy like Jerry Owens.

I just submitted my version and it actually is pretty easy. They don't have much depth on their bench or in the pitching staff...

It's not a deep team, especially with Quentin & Crede likely out for Round 1.

Exactly. Not a lot of tough choices, really only one I'd see is keeping 11 or 12 pitchers. They also don't really have a backup IF. Uribe and Ramirez can play SS/2B and although Fields has a bad knee, I think he needs to be on the roster just because he can play 3B, if needed.

Lost in the shuffle is that Chris Getz actually would've made the playoff roster as a backup infielder had he not fractured his wrist earlier this month, and considering Joe Crede's stiff back.

If the Sox get a W from Javy, I think they win this series. I got a feeling that the Rays wet the bed, and are alittle tight, and this veteran Sox team takes them in 4 or 5 games.

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Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

With how bad Vasquez has been. I roll the dice on short rest and go Buerhle, Floyd, Danks (full rest), Buerhle

I think you gotta give Buerhle some rest. The guy gave you all he had in the last game he pitched on short rest, but you cannot expect him to do that everytime.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Comcast said Ozzie has decided to go with Vazquez. I agree.

You might have to sacrafice game 1 for the greater good. If Javy goes you have Buehrle, Danks, Floyd going on full rest.

Plus we're facing their best pitcher in game 1. So maybe we lose that no matter who pitches. Javy is weird. He might have a good one in him. Who knows? He's on normal rest now. Maybe, by chance, we can out-hit them in game 1. Win 8-7 or something like that.

I totally agree with going with Vazquez in game 1. It's the right move. This talk, by Hawk, of Clayton Richard for game 1 is nonsense. But you do have him ready if Javy is struggling early. He can go then.

IMO Javy gives you a chance to win game 1 whereas Clayton concedes it to the Rays.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

You always make me nervous when you jump out and make predictions like that.

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Kid Cairo's Boers & Bernstein YouTube Channel

Kid Cairo: 2013 March Madness Tournament Winner!

"Cowabunga? Cowa fucking piece of dog shit! This game is diarrhea coming out of my dick!"

If they win game 1, Sox in 4. If they lose game 1, Rays in 5.

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You easily win dumbest post of the day with this prediction. Congratulations.

Care to explain further to those of us that may be slower than yourself?

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"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

No, I'm not going to explain anything to you.

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Well, for the record, you are NOT welcome in my tree fort!

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"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

Vasquez last 3 starts, 12 innings, 18 earned runs. If no Buehrle on short rest, I might give it to Richard and cross my fingers. Personally, I'd still send Buehrle out there. I think game 1 is their best chance to win 1 down there.

If the sox take one of these first two games in FL, the sox win it in 4, if not, rays in 4.

Looks like Javy is due for a good one then.

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Paws Up

I have to agree with this logic. Game 1 has letdown written all over it. Short rest, very emotional string of games, etc. Throw Javy out there as a sacrificial lamb. I think you're right, the only way they take game 1 is if it's in the 8-7 type of game. But I think they can do it.

Of the entire playoff field, the White Sox are the only team to win a series this year at Tropicana Field.

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