Chisoxfn

Hopefully Masset can get a DP and than a quick 3rd out.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 01:01 PM) What a terrible team effort on defense today. For a team with a lot of above average defensive players, the team defense has been pretty poor this season. I consider: Crede, Alexi, and OC above average defensive players at there position (along with CF and catcher, those are the most important defensive positions on the field). The big upgrade would obviously be finding a way to get a legit stud CF (offensively and defensively) and the ability to move either Swisher or Konerko (for value). I think the Sox will do this if they can get above average production out of Paulie or Thome (with one staying and the other going). Of course you'd have to get either guy to accept a deal.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 12:57 PM) Sucks for them that Brad Penny fell off the face of the planet. Isn't Saito getting some elbow MRI tests done? I have no idea. I know Jason Schmidt has begun throwing though, but who knows what type of stuff he has left. OC with a nice clutch single.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 12:44 PM) Burnett is just plain icky. 4.89 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, has missed about 18 starts due to injury over the past 2 seasons and can opt for free agency at the end of the season. Burnett has a live arm though so teams will always have interest. Still, Bedard is a better option as you get him for another season. He's also a big injury risk though (currently on the DL). However, he has a great arm and when healthy is very very good.

QUOTE (Frankensteiner @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 12:32 PM) Would Derek Lowe be available? He's a free agent I think after the season and the Dodgers are pretty bad (though of course still very much in it). LA has strong pitching and is looking to buy. If they ever get an impact bat they will win the NL.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 12:30 PM) Two problems 1. He's on the DL 2. Seattle gave away so much for him, that he wouldn't be cheap. Let's go CQ Work out some sort of three team deal. Sox acquire Beltre and Bedard, give up Crede/Fields/MORE PROSPECTS (Crede passed on to a contending team in need of a 3Bman who sends back a prospect or two to Seattle). The idea behind this is if you give up Fields, you now are getting a 3B man who can at least help you out this season and next season. Of course you could just go after Bedard for a package centered around Fields (as I think the M's will move Beltre regardless).

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 12:29 PM) In Jose's last 32.2 innings, he's allowed 76 base runners. That is ridiculous.

LOL

Ball 4, so it comes down to Juan Uribe or as Jon Miller would say, Jose Uribe.

Once a highly touted prospect. That was a real nice tight curve. Hall got blown away by a 90MPH fastball down broadway for strike one though.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 12:59 PM) Big at-bat Swish, we really need a 2-run cushion. I'd start to feel a bit comfortable with about a 6 run cushion, very comfortable with a 10 run cushion.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 01:00 PM) Anyone else concerned that we've shut down Linebrink for the last 5 days or so? Nope, I think its good. I'm guessing he was fatigued and the way things worked out the Sox were able to get him some in-season rest heading into the break.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 12:58 PM) I will pimp Egbert's July numbers a bit. 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 14 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 16 K, .109 BAA His velocity has been up as well.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 12:55 PM) Richard...Broadway has been an absolute disaster this season since the first month. We're going to have to acquire another starting pitcher if the organization gets the balls to demote Contreras. They'd trade them before they ever demoted them and I still think you could trade Contreras today and maybe even get a decent prospect or two (not a great one). Than the Sox would have to turn around and acquire a pitcher they like (which is easier said than done). The other option is the Sox just shutting down Contreras for a few weeks to basically allow him to restrengthen his arm and just have him do some side-sessions to work on velocity and during that time the Sox can use one of the guys from AAA (but thats obviously risky because you are putting even more pressure on youth now).

I would highly consider Egbert who has been pitching strong. Broadway just hasn't been right but I'm not at the games to say what the cause of his struggles are (is he working on something or has he just been plain old bad, which is what the stats would indicate). Haeger has been lights out as of late, but I am not a proponent of knuckle-ballers. Wes Whisler doesn't have major league stuff. So bottom line, for me, it comes down to Egbert/Richard.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 11:51 AM) I would argue Toby Hall is too, I don't think he has done anything the past two months. But as far as everyday player types, he blows. And since we have about 8 pitchers available today, why do we let him still go out there? He is just gonna get hit again and walk hitters. Has Hall definitely been in a bit of a slump but for the most part he's been solid this season. Plus, he rarely plays. I still would prefer to have a defensive specialist that could hit LHP off the bench (maybe even someone who could be groomed) but Lucy got hurt so that made that a moot point.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 11:50 AM) It's not even good anymore...that forkball has been more like a 70 mph looping pitch up in the zone. The thing with the fork is its much like a knuckle ball in the sense that its not always a pitch you can count on. Plus its the type of ptich that no matter how good it is, it has a tendency to hang so you already know that even when you have it on, your going to leave at least a few of those forks up to potentially get hammered. When you have no other pitch to keep a hitter concerned with it makes things even worse and them more likely to lay off any solid fork and to hammer the hangers that get thrown up there.

Wow, gets two straight pop-ups. Tied at 4 through 2.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 11:49 AM) I'm sure no one is up in the pen. Contreras is far and away the worst performer on our roster now. Over the last 5 to 6 starts, he's basically been the exact same pitcher he was for 90% of last year (ie, one of the worse pitchers in all of baseball).

Contreras is throwing meatballs. His stuff is so freaking bad. Fork is nice, but when its your only pitch it doesn't mean jack.

QUOTE (Capn12 @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 11:46 AM) Boy...if Danks and Floyd start a downward sprial, we are in trouble... Right now Contreras and Vasquez are absolutely s***poor Vaz will get out of it. His stuff is still there.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 11:24 AM) Good stuff. Kudos to Jim for bouncing back the way he has. We need him. Agreed. Thome has really been playing well. Keep making me look dumb Jimmy, keep making me look dumb

QUOTE (Brian @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 11:21 AM) Don't feel like watching Jose pitch today so will probably be flipping thru other games when Texas bats. I never like watching Jose pitch. The only time it was okay was when he was on his dominant role and thats because he wasnt putting base-runners on. He falls behind batters, is horrifcly slow and is just the epitome of the type of pitcher I can't stand watching (ie, ones that pitch slow). I'm a huge fan of the Buehrle/Maddux of the world.

Jose dropping down si just bad because he only throws a fastball when he drops down. Plus, the more he drops down, the more its a sign that he's fatigued and his velocity is down. Man, I hope somehow KW shocks me and has the guts to deal Jose and finds another starter to plug into the rotation.

That is classic CQ right there. He lets the pitch get deep and than BAMMM. Either way, we'll probably need about 10 more runs with Count on the mound in Texas