greg775

Let's face it. You cannot trade Addison Reed and have no closer in waiting and expect anything but this to happen. It was a boneheaded decision to trade Reed with NOTHING left over. How this team is flirting with .500 is amazing with this bullpen. And if the rotation loses Sale ... wow, the bullpen is going to be needed A LOT. The bullpen has sucked for years now but at least the Sox have always had a closer.

Let's face it. It's a miracle the Sox are close to .500. Once the hitting cools off we're still a 90-95 loss team. The split was a nice miracle in Detroit. Like I said, a miracle. Our only hope of remaining close to .500 is if Abreu, Viciedo and Dunn and Lexi rake all summer and Sale can pitch. Abreu is so good that might happen.

Good call soxfest. Time to go eat.

This should be one interesting at bat. Let's predict now. I predict he either hits him or walks him.

I'd rather have Clete Boyer than Cleto. Hope Lexi is OK. It'd be Beckham time at shortstop right?

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 24, 2014 -> 08:29 PM) This coaching staff likes Cleto way too much. Amen. If you can't throw strikes u are worthless in the bigs.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Apr 24, 2014 -> 08:24 PM) Knowing you as a big Dunn hater, what are thoughts on his 30 Ks in under 100 ABs? At what point does it become clear he needs more time in the minors? The 30 Ks suck obviously. I'm just so down on Beckham that I want to believe it's Semien time. I've never despised Beckham like I do Dunn (as a player not a person) but Beckham could shut me and a lot of fans up if he starts excelling.

Lexi's approach on that grounder wasn't great was it?

Let the walk brigade do its thing. Go, bullpen, go.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Apr 24, 2014 -> 07:18 PM) Wait, we want Beckham to go away and we want Semien to go away. Who plays 2B? That was a s***ty at bat for sure but I'd rather see a full year of Semien and see what he can do. Maybe he'll drop to .150 maybe he'll hit .300. Nobody knows. Beckham, however, we know. He's not going to magicially become good at his age.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 24, 2014 -> 06:06 PM) Again, I never said I don't like Marcus Semien. I just find it hysterical he performs worse than other players who get maligned, and gets praised for it, just because of Gordon Beckham venom. If Gordon Beckham had exactly the same season as Semien, people would be calling for his release. Don't think there aren't Sox "fans" on here that are hoping beyond hope Beckham is 0-4 today with 4 strikeouts so they can tell you how bad he is. They wouldn't be saying, yeah he's on pace to strikeout over 200 times and doesn't get on base much, but those strikeouts are helping the offense. Or they wouldn't be making excuses that he strikes out because he works counts. He's walked 6 times, the same amount as Dayan Viciedo with about 50% more plate appearances. The guy could use some time in AAA, if it comes to that. Personally, I say get him some OF experience. He does have a knack to get the big hit. You could move him around. Playing LF wouldn't be hard on him. One difference about the excitement. We're excited about a guy in his first real season with the big league club. You are right. If he was hitting .220 and been in the league a full year or so, we'd probably be hating on him as well. He just seems like a breath of fresh air compared to Beckham. I just sense with Gordo we're going to hit one of those 1-10 road stretches and most of the board will be clamoring for losses so we get the No. 1 pick again. Semien isn't tearing the league on fire, but his clutch homers have been enticing compared to thoughts of Beckham past.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Apr 24, 2014 -> 06:59 AM) The heart and soul of this team is a guy who's hitting .234/.280/.394? He's had 2 good games where he's driven in 8 runs, in his other 19 he has 5. His last 10 games he's struck out 13 times and walked none. To repeat what's been said quite a bit around these parts, pre all star break and pre injury last year Beckham hit .335/.357/.443. Yes but Semien has been clutch. It would be a crime to let buzzkill Beckham take over for him at this stage. This is a team game and nobody can deny Semien has been one of our valuable pieces in terms of clutch. He's been as pleasant as our bullpen has been repugnant.

QUOTE (Jake @ Apr 24, 2014 -> 03:33 AM) Always sucks to lose your job right after hitting a game-winning grand slam. He was on the way out regardless, but it still stinks. It's like seeing your sub come to the scorer's table in basketball and proceeding to rain down 3's before the next stoppage It's just disgraceful that he'll be demoted. Very very unnecessary and very wrong. Gordon Beckham brings little to a team. His 1-2 hot streaks per season and that's it.

Marcus Semien!! If he loses his starting job to Gordon Beckham of all people there is something wrong with sports. If Ventura allows this to happen I lose a lot of respect for him. I flip flop a lot on this issue but Semien has been the heart and soul of this team. For this team to be .500 it's a miracle and Semien can't be demoted. It's just wrong. s***, let Beckham play third.

Let's face it, the experts probably were right. His motion meant an injury waiting to happen. Good luck to Sale. He could really deal a fastball when healthy.

QUOTE (Hawkfan @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 04:45 AM) I don't give a s*** what he said in some stupid interview. saying so and meaning it are two very different things for a player with his competetive mindset. Getting fewer at bats was expected, but this is rediculous. I want to know if he's embraced his role in the dugout or if he's still acting like a regular player. Is he just acting ready for when he gets called on? Or is he teaching, etc? With this role, he should just retire. It's stupid.

QUOTE (Hawkfan @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 05:12 AM) Fans should remember the progression to the mean, just as much as the regression to the mean. However, I did not think they would bench him as much as they have this year. I can't believe he signed up for this s***. I find it hard to believe he is very motivated. I can't believe he signed up for this, either. Unless behind the scenes he's some great coach in waiting or something. Maybe he's coaching during the games. But I'd think his current role would be mighty boring. Although he still is making a lot of money compared to the rest of humanity. It's easy $$$ just taking batting and fielding practice.

Personally he can't be having any fun. If Sox are out of the race, I could see him quitting. It's not like he's getting a lot of play on some sort of "farewell tour." Fans in KC did not care he was in the house.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 06:05 AM) How could anyone possibly question 127 pitches in week 3 of the season. it's as ridiculous as questioning running out of pitchers in the 14th inning. Hire a professional manager, please, Rick/Kenny/Jerry. I blame Robin for running out of pitchers, but he needs some help from Coop on pitching matters. QUOTE (sammy esposito @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 07:19 AM) If Sale pitched 127 it was because he wanted to win the game. He probably told Robin and Coop that he felt fine. I am guessing that Sale did not want to give the ball to any other reliever because he doesn't trust them like all the rest of us who watch the Sox already know this from watching their games Yeah, these stud pitchers like Verlander and Sale and Peavy have pride and demand to stay in games.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 02:36 AM) This never ends well That's what I was thinking.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Apr 21, 2014 -> 08:51 PM) The Big Embargo Abs-reu.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Apr 22, 2014 -> 02:17 AM) It's cool that we have a new Matt The Bullpen Guy Who Everyone Abuses Constantly Despite His Statistical Decency so soon after Thornton left. Do you want a mulligan on this comment? He's been horrible. But we did win the game so I'm very very happy and give him credit for the save.

Do you folks think Kansas with Big Cliff is a lock to reach the Final Four? If Kansas adds Myles Turner is it preseason No. 1? Is Wisconsin a viable national title pick? Do you like North Carolina and all that young talent? Is Duke a lock with its fabulous recruiting class? Is Kentucky still the odds on favorite? My guess is Wisconsin will finally win it all.

Any way the Hawks have it in them to come back from 2-0 down? To the hockey experts ... are the Hawks out of gas because of the deep run of a year ago coupled with the Olympics? What do u think of that theory? Doesn't seem to be the Hawks' year.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Apr 21, 2014 -> 03:33 AM) Return of The Axe, you know that he is back Yep, it's Axe time.