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OK. Here's an outsider's point of view. Why in the world is Hoiberg an upgrade over Thibs? Answer he's not. This is a ridiculous hire. I cannot believe Thibs and Scott Brooks were replaced by Hoiberg and Billy Donovan respectively. LOL hires. Hoiberg will be gone after 3 seasons with pressure to can him after two. Donovan may not even last a full season.

Once again, no bases on balls for our hitters tonight. There's no way this team can win with this approach. Once again, it's a miracle we're only four under .500. Truthfully this team should already be 10 under. You can't win playing this brand of baseball. You just can't. You have to draw some walks; you have to hit some home runs when you can't steal bases or hit and run. I hope our front office realizes this; that the team is exactly worse than it's record and decides on the fly to rebuild again. They can't be dumb. They aren't dumb. I've heard Hahn interviews. He has to realize playing this brand of baseball is a flat our guarantee for last in the Central.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 3, 2015 -> 03:33 AM) Eaton should be fine...he's the least of the problems going forward at this point, at least in the bottom 3-5 "problems" that could easily be identified and catalogued. But name another team in which he'd be a starter? Are there any? He's actually way worse than DeAza.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Jun 3, 2015 -> 12:38 AM) Did Shark used to have better stuff? His stuff looks really pedestrian since he's been with us. Great observation. Pedestrian is the RIGHT word. Spot on. QUOTE (harkness @ Jun 3, 2015 -> 02:28 AM) Chuck S.... nice guy on the broadcast. But you guys that think he is good/better than Hawk.... Hawk can be annoying at times but please this guy. All he does is ask Steve Stone questions... Him plus 11-2 score making me want to cry. This is why I always stand up for Hawk. You guys that blast Hawk act like there are a lot of good broadcasters out there. There are not especially in this day and age of being total excuse makers for their teams. That said, I kind of like his style of asking Stoney questions. And yes a lot of play by play guys do that when their color guy is a former player. Get used to the post Hawk era. Hawk is GREAT. There are a lot of lousy announcers out there. No offense to Swirsk. I like him. QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 3, 2015 -> 02:30 AM) He was cute for a game or two, but all he can do is ask questions, and it has gotten past annoying. I didn't think it was possible, but he tracks the ball worse then Hawk before eye surgery. I think Swirsk is as good as any play by play guy not named Hawk or Scully. The rest of em are the same, not so good. QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 3, 2015 -> 02:42 AM) Just my preference, but Avi would have been out of the game after his AB in the 8th. No reason to put him back on the field in a blowout. Great observation! I agree.

Wow what a blowout tonight. I know Shark's line was pathetic and it probably doesn't matter, but 7-for-35 with no walks tonight for the offense is really a typical night. With Melky and LaRoche appearing average AT BEST, slightly below average at this stage and no Abreu, this really isn't a big-league lineup. Arguably Sanchez, Soto, Gillaspie and Eaton all couldn't start for any other team in baseball. Meanwhile, Beckham is Beckham. You are talking about a very very weak lineup. I would think this is the series we get swept this road trip. This is the one. We simply can't outscore a team like Texas.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 2, 2015 -> 08:01 PM) Then spending $100 million of additional funds on this roster with veterans over 30 who you expect to gradually get worse and more likely to be injured each year and trading for a major addition with 1 year on his contract was absolutely foolhardy. If your team isn't ready to compete right now, why on Earth are you spending money on free agents? Why on Earth are you trading players for a guy who won't be here in a year? Yes. Yes. Yes. The Sox told us this team was capable of winning the division and KW said it again this week. QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 2, 2015 -> 08:52 PM) No one talks about you because you're below .500 again and scraping the bottom of the division again. They talked about you in the offseason and then your roster fell flat on its face, again. Yes. Yes. Yes. As much as people want to say nobody expected anything out of this team, again I tell you we've been told it is a team capable of winning the division.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ May 31, 2015 -> 06:35 PM) He wasn't looking to leave Ames but it's a matter of looking to prove himself at the highest level. If he ever coaches college ball again, it will only be at Iowa State. I would hope Iowa State fans get on with their lives so to speak and don't pine for the day Hoiberg returns to Ames. There's more than one coach in America who can get the job done. I mean, ISU's fan base conceivably could hope for him to get canned in Chicago in 2 seasons (as you all know you can get canned quickly in that league if a team with high expectations sucks) and return to ISU pronto. They should make a good hire and get behind that guy. But you know there will be trepidation in Ames because McDermott sucked, Fred was great, and now the successor could suck.

Two things to come out of this story. 1.) I'm glad he said the team has at times been "embarrassing." I like that. 2.) Sometimes we debate on here expectations for this team. He once again says the team is good enough to win the division. Case closed on that argument. A lot of Soxtalk posters write that we are in some building process and the team still isn't good enough to win. The Sox said it in spring training and said again this roster is good enough to win the division. Now I would disagree obviously as I stand by my comment that 3B (Gillaspie) 2B (Sanchez), catcher (both of em), DH (LaRoche) and CF (Eaton) and LF for the most part (powerless Melky) all stink as well as our baserunning and defense.

I think this team blows. There's still a chance the starting pitching will kick major butt all summer and the Sox click. But I tend to think the Sox will continue to suck suck suck against the Central Division and have that one lone 1-10 type road trip at some point. There are way too many easy outs in the lineup, five or more of them. It'll take a miracle to be in the race for the wildcard IMO. I just think Team Dysfunction is still out there. Only way I'm wrong is if Shark, Danks, Rodon and Sale just plain dominate the next 2 months. Possible, not probable.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 1, 2015 -> 12:56 AM) Considering Houston's ability to hit the ball out of the park, this was a masterful outing by Danks. It's also great that he was able to give everyone in the pen 2 full days off. Great post, Fathom. Glad u are giving Danks helluva lot of credit. He was GREAT!

QUOTE (MDWhiteSoxFan @ May 31, 2015 -> 03:21 PM) Haha at people wishing Gordon Beckham is a starter now. How opinions change so quick. That's because he's way better hitter than Sanchez or Micah. Of course we want him in there. And Boni is not a big leaguer.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ May 31, 2015 -> 04:10 AM) Nice touch with the "whiffle ball bats". One option could be to play Beckham at second with Davidson at third to get some more pop in the lineup against left handed starters. Surprisingly enough Davidson only has one error on the season in 45 games at third. Not sure if that's due to a limited range but at least his throws are accurate. I'm not sure what I would do against right handed starters. I forgot about Davidson. That would be acceptable. All of a sudden it's Davidson, Lexi, Beckham and Abreu around the horn. Much better.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ May 31, 2015 -> 05:08 AM) They won't be trading Duke, Robertson, or LaRoche. Why not? I guess you could keep Robertson but he's being wasted this season and we know the shelf life of relievers isn't long. Trade him now while you can get a king's ransom.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ May 20, 2015 -> 10:47 PM) Anyone wanna coach Iowa State? Any chance Fran Fraschilla gets that job?

Here's why sports are fun and also fun(ny). So I'm reading a batch of articles. Hoiberg is going to the Bulls (unless everybody is wrong) because it's been his "dream" to coach in the NBA. He's giving up a Final Four team to go to Chicago and ultimately get fired (NBA coaches are hired to be fired in 3-5 years). So in 3-5 years Fred either gets another NBA job as part of the revolving door of NBA coaches flipping from franchise to franchise (can you say Alvin Gentry?) or he returns to college ala Tim Floyd's career. Meanwhile, articles are out there saying Hornacek's dream is to coach in college at his alma mater, which happens to be Iowa State. He has an NBA job and gets along famously with his Suns' GM. The Suns have a history of letting coaches fulfil their contracts. So isn't this a nonsequitir?? Hornacek should be happy staying in Phoenix and trying to win a title (though he should dump those Morris twins or at least split them up ASAP). Meanwhile Fred should be happy in Ames winning a national title this season at ISU and being a hero in Ames forever while making a ton of money and having a bit less stress on his fixed-up heart. Both coaches should stay put.

Hey, I wanted to add to this thread. We should never take for granted a gorgeous Game Seven victory in the division finals ON THE ROAD in any sport. I mean the Hawks have spoiled us, but what an excellent performance. Think about how bummed Anaheim must be. Hawks go in there and dominate the game early. Then after it's 4-2, Hawks immediately score again. I mean Anaheim fans had to be cocky entering Game 7 at their place. Also kudos to all the Hawks fans in attendance. The Hawks have been a true dynasty in Chicago. Next to the Jordan-led Bulls, this is what you want as a fan. A long run of domination. Hawks have won two of the last five Stanley Cup titles. If they win another, that's three out of six in arguably the toughest sport to win a title. Now my one question. To the hockey experts on here and I know there are more than a few. Take off your homer hats and tell me what you think of the final series. Who is going to win and why? Is there any chance the Hawks can split in Tampa then come home and win two and grab three wins out of the first four games?

Did you see Jared Mitchell was 2-for-40 before the Sox released him? LOL. He was a first rounder in 2009. Now what possessed the Sox scouts to think that guy could hit and wasted a No. 1 pick on him?? I bring him up cause this is the putrid offense thread and it even permeated our minor leagues. Kottaris and Leury are both hitting over .300 by the way so they might as well be brought up.

As far as the title of this thread ... YES! In this season of whiffle ball bats being used by the White Sox, start Beckham every day at second and like you said, deal with Gillaspie/Boni at third.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ May 30, 2015 -> 10:55 PM) Practically: Market Laroche, Samardzija and Alexei for good young hitters, who can also play D, regardless of position. Anyone in the bullpen is movable. The most likely is Duke. Yes. Yes. Yes. The way Hahn fixes "this mess" as you put it, it to simply concoct a "do-over." Once again, assume you have good pitching in Sale, Rodon and Quintana so don't trade them. Do trade everybody you acquired last offseason and see if you can make the right moves this time. I disagree with those who say Shark won't bring a ton. I think we need to be the first team to make a blockbuster. Get Shark dealt SOON and bring in the haul! Trade Robertson soon and bring in the haul! These are ELITE players who are all-stars and can bring us the bacon baby! LaRoche can be moved, folks. So can Melky. So can Alexei. So can Duke. Kottaris should catch the rest of the season with Flowers. Release Soto. I do believe he can re-do the roster and should re-do it keeping the Big Three starting pitchers. QUOTE (WBWSF @ May 30, 2015 -> 11:01 PM) Assuming the White Sox are out of it by the trading deadline, they trade Shark for either a good young third baseman or young catcher. Duke might bring us a decent player also. Yes. Yes. Yes.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ May 30, 2015 -> 08:42 PM) Eaton cannot get it done. I'm starting to think he's way worse than DeAza. Eaton is having a horrific first half. QUOTE (raBBit @ May 30, 2015 -> 09:41 PM) Obviously Swirskey offers nothing as far as baseball analysis, but he's a pro as an announcer. He's brining the best out of Stone. Hawk hasn't been in the typical Hawk bad mood yet this season. So he's been better chemistry wise with Stone. Swirskey is great though. It's like he is working hard to be an announcer and make it an interesting broadcast. He'll set up a question and ask Stoney something. Hawk, being a famous icon, is just showing up and winging it every night. The nights he's in a bad mood (past years) he's been brutal with Stone. Maybe now that he's taking some time off he'll relish each and every game he works and continue to be great with Stoney.

What a horrible lineup tonight. Sox drew no walks. Pathetic. So of the nine guys, one of em is Sanchez, one is Boni, one is Soto, one is Eaton and one is Beckham. Arguably none of these guys would be starting for any other team. I realize Boni was getting a spot start cause of injury to Abreu. But cmon. You got some lousy lousy hitters in this lineup. If they are unwilling to draw a walk, that makes it even worse. Tell me the truth ... did u expect this lineup tonight to do much if anything?

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ May 29, 2015 -> 08:13 PM) More money annually, big cities vs. college towns if that's what they want, no NCAA regulations. Hell, getting away from the NCAA could be the biggest factor. I agree with your second sentence but the first? He's married with young boys. It's not like he and his wife will be needing the Chicago nightlife. I don't get it. He's got a heart problem; he's totally beloved in Ames with no pressure. Why the hell does he want the NBA? Plus the Bulls have kind of a crazy mix. You've got Rose and his weird upbringing with his brother and his weird stances on injuries, etc. You've got Noah who I love but is kinda wacky. You've got some very mediocre players besides Gasol, Noah and the oft injured Rose. Bulls aren't winning anything anytime soon. Crazy. I wonder if Hoiberg will replace Self at KU when Self goes to the Spurs to replace Pop someday. Probably Fred or Stephens.

Good win. Rodon, Sale and Q should be the cornerstones of a great rotation. Problem is the other 2 are worthless. Tonight though great win except for Melky's 0-for-6. Beckham is a stud this year. Needs to start at 2B. Flowers is done. Soto is no good but as caulfield said he's at least had a few clutch hits and is throwing better. Bring up Kottaris and go with a Soto/Special K combination. Pitching saved the day tonight; we need a new hitting coach and philosophy folks. Though the Sox hit great in that last inning.

I'm leaving but only because my screen is behind. Way to go, SOTO!

Now that's how to hit a lefty and hit in general. Go with the pitch. Drive it!. Nice hit, Soto.