Chisoxfn

Konerko has been awful this season, but for the most part he has an excuse (injuries). He's been back what 5 games and had one very good one, one solid one and a couple bad ones. Bottom line we shouldn't really be making any final decisions on him for at least 15-20 games (and than at that point, if he hasn't done s***, than I think its obviously time to start considering not playing him everyday). The reality is the club is counting on him and we can only hope he's finally healthy and its just a matter of time until the timing clicks and he starts producing. Defensively I have no idea what to say other than he isn't the only Sox that has blown balls defensively this year. He had a horrible game, get over it people. He also had a great approach earlier in the game in a key situation and Byrd just happened to be shaded at the right spot.

QUOTE (winninguglyin83 @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 06:18 PM) i think it's time for Charlie. he and Clayton Richard have been Charlotte's best pitchers lately. And richard isn't ready. Egbert has been getting his velocity into the mid 90's (94 MPH range) and has been very good as well. Long term Egbert is the best pure starting pitching prospect the Sox have (not including this years draft class). I'd rank Poreda as the starter with the highest upside, but there are a lot more questions surrounding whether he has enough pitches to make it as a dominant starter. Egbert has a very good feel for pitching and is finally healthy (took him a bit of time this season to wear off the rust from being hurt in spring). I'd go Egbert/Haeger/Richard and wouldn't complain with the concept of calling up either. Broadway would be a mistake given his struggles, but he did perform well last year at the major league level and that could be something Ozzie/Kenny remember.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 05:00 PM) Option Russell to AAA, bring up Broadway, and let him spot start. Have Jose pitch out of the bullpen for a week, and see if his velocity improves at all. If it doesn't, DL him with "fatigue" issues. I was a big proponent of Broadway early in the season, but he has been downright horrible in Charlotte over the past month and a half or so. Jack Egbert is finally healthy and has been dominant this month in Charlotte (and very good over his past 4-5 starts) while Clayton Richard has done nothing but kick butt since his promotion to Charlotte. Haeger is another option as he's been rock solid for the past two months.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 04:59 PM) The Contreras and Konerko issue are similar, although Contreras is a little easier to replace. Even though his overall numbers are respectable for a 5th starter, any scout watching in the last month wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole. With that said, while others will probably disagree, with what we have in the minors, I think Contreras has the highest ceiling out of anyone in the organization that could replace him. I completely disagree. Unless Contreras has some sort of injury or is going through an undsiclosed dead-arm (July is the typical time a pitcher would go through a regular season dead-arm) than there is absolutely no reason to be optimistic. His velocity is down and he's turned into a one pitch pitcher (the forkball). The problem is the forkball is an inconsistent pitch by nature and as such he can't rely on it because all a hitter would have to do is lay off the fork ball and sit on his mediocre fastball (the difference between his FB and change is miniscule with the decreased velocity on his fastball, which means not only does his fastball have zero velocity/movement but his change-up isn't deceptive so thats terrible). Bottom line, given the dearth of pitching on the trade market you could probably dupe some team into taking Contreras (you may not get anything in return, but you could move him). I would take the approach that moving him is best for the squad and than look at targeting someone like Bedard or even just a serviceable 5 who is a FA or a fair contract and just take him and go with that as the 5th (and try to use Richard as a 6th starter down the stretch to help rest the younger arms). The problem is the Sox probably won't take this approach since they probably still feel Contreras could be a serviceable 5th. The reality is though, him being a serviceable fifth is unlikely and on top of that, when he proves he isn't, he will be untradeable in the off-season and thus the Sox will be stuck with his albatross contract for a final year. Trading Jose would be a gutsy move (1st place teams don't typically trade starters) but it would be the right move. The only other option to move is putting him on the DL to give him rest and just have him work on throwing regime set aside to increase velocity and get his arm fresh again. Let Richard or Egbert pitch during that period and if they are doing great, you put Jose in the pen/on the block and if they don't do good you bring Jose back into the rotation and hope the break helped him regain some of his velocity.

Geeze. I've never seen more botched pick-offs/run downs on any major league team ever.

Damn, Hawk had me all excited.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 01:38 PM) Why not let Wise bat against Wright here? Juan has always been very good at getting in the run with a guy on 3rd and less than 2 outs. He delivers, WOOT.

2 quick outs for Masset. Booney up in the pen.

f***. DJ was very boring on that DP call. IT was as if he wasn't shocked that they couldn't get in a run with less than 2 outs and a guy at 3rd.

Here is our updated list for the game this Saturday. Final Details to follow in the next day or two. Let us know if there are any changes and you can or can't attend (also, if you haven't signed up but are interested, its never too late so feel free to throw your name into the hat). Also, if your coming out, feel free to bring friends or family (the more the merrier). IN! Southsider Northsidesox72 RibbieRhubarb Chisoxfn DBAH0 robinventura23 GregoryPratt Y2HH Reddy shipps realsouthsider kapkomet ChisoxDavid Molto Maybe BigSqwert mreye Steve9347 rowand44

QUOTE (shipps @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 12:51 PM) Same here,if I really gave it thought I think it would be in my top five favorite movies of all time. Batman next week?

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).