I get a kick out of people saying "this years team" doesn't do the little things to win like last years team. It's basically the same team as last year. The line up difference is (Thome & Anderson) for (Everett & Rowand). Not one of you guys would take Everett over Thome. Everet wasn't a "do the little things" guy anyway. And lets face it Rowand didn't have a great offensive year last year. Anderson arguably has played better defense. We all know he is struggling offensively but coming on now.

I agree the team isn't bunting well and has cost us a few games running the bases and defensively. But people make it out like its a whole new roster. The same guys who got it done last year aren't doing it this year. Just wanted to make that point.

The pitching is the same as well except for Vasquez. I think the key difference is the bullpen obviously.

If you mean the same people you are correct. Otherwise you could not be more incorrect.

The starting pitching has simply been bad. The relief pitching has been dramatically different. Last year the starters would go 6-7. Then you had relievers in Hermanson, Politte and Cotts all with sub 2 ERAs to deal with. It was essentially a 7 inning game for opposing teams last year.

Well, when people talk about this year's team being different from last year's, they're usually talking about the way the SAME PLAYERS PERFORMED DIFFERENTLY last year as compared to this year. In the areas of pitching, defense, baserunning and sacrificing, returning Sox players simply have not executed at the same level they did last year.

Aside from the fact that a player's performance can vary significantly from season to season, though, your assertion that Thome and Anderson are the only key additions to the team is simply inaccurate. Mackowiak and Cintron are important new players, and Ozuna is getting much, much more time in left this season than he did last season. All three of these guys are good offensively (although Cintron, and lately Ozuna, can't bunt effectively) but are butchers defensively. Mackowiak botches at least one play per game in center, thereby extending innings for opposing offenses, and has singlehandedly cost the Sox a few victories this season. While Cintron and Ozuna haven't been quite as catastrophic in their respective positions, their poor fielding has certainly given our opponents runs and has forced our pitchers to work harder than they normally would. So while the pitching hasn't been as good, bad defense by new players or a returning player at an unfamiliar position has made the pitching look even worse than it is.

OK fine Midget. I don't think last years bench of Willie Harris, Ozuna, Gload and Blum was much better. Here is the question?

If we had last years pitching performance to this date in the season for this team how many more wins does this team have?

At least 10 more wins. Probrally more is my answer.

I just wanted to point out that the offense is not the problem like some are saying.