Chisoxfn

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

Rodriguez was FILTHY. Easily the most impressive prospect I've seen so far today. Doesn't mean he's the best, but man, eye-popping stuff. In terms of talent, this years crop is nothing like last years (which was as amazing of a Futures Squad as I've ever seen).

QUOTE (Omnipotent Grab @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 09:48 AM) I doubt the Danks signing will be announced before 8/15 since it will be an overslot bonus. Beckham should be signed by now though. I wish we had both in the system already but we have to wait. f*** it. Welcome aboard. I think Beckham is happy taking a little break from baseball before signing and getting about a month or so of minor league ball. In fact, I think both will sign at very similar points (probably in the next 2 weeks). You may be right on Danks, but I think as long as they hold off till around the end of the month they won't get too much heat from MLB.

Getz is better than a utility player. I still say he has the ability to start at 2B for a long long time and worse case turns into an above average utility guy. I hope he keeps raking this year and if Ramirez slides to SS the Sox feel comfortable enough to go with Getz (long-term, Ramirez/Getz could be a pretty darn good 1/2, although there would be some OBP concerns with Ramirez). Plus when you figure the Sox will probably make some other adjustments, I could see them going young up the middle (plus with Konerko and a couple of there young starters, ie Danks/Floyd) that they could go out and make a major major signing or acquire a big big name player and sign him to an extension.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Jul 13, 2008 -> 09:44 AM) Just what I thought about Richard, not a great prospect. He doesn't throw hard enough nor is he deceptive enough to be anything more than a 4 or 5 starter. He doesn't seem to have much in his secondary pitches. I don't consider Richard trade bait because i don't think his minor league value is greater than his actual potential value. I say that because teams don't consider him a front line prospect yet he's the type of guy that when you see him over a longer span you see why he gets guys out. He doesn't throw a straight pitch, changes speeds, and keeps the ball down down. Bottom line, Richard is the type of guy that you really learn nothing about watching him in the FuturesGame, since it isn't his aresnal which make him so succesful, rather the command/movement/pitching instincts. Of course not many guys end up turning into a Buehrle/Glavine. Not saying Richard does, but given the value you get for him in a trade I'd hold onto him and see if he could turn into one of those guys.

Anyone see Hellboy 2? Looks darn entertaining from the previews.

Geeze, the Rangers can rake too.

I like this move by Ozzie (staying with Boone).

Can you recommend some of those books. I love stuff like that and as a kid used to read random fact books (and was always intrigued by crap like that).

Anderson makes that play look much easier than it was. Great job by Ozzie to put BA in the game. Not so great leaving Danks out there, but oh well. If the Sox lose those game it ain't because of the manager, its because of a pathetic job by the pen.

Wow, that is one hell of a person to wear a cabbage leaf under his hat. Second off, how in the hell did you know these random facts?

I cheated and looked the answer up for the home run cycle and I'd have never known the answer, never.

3rd time he's given up more than 3 runs in an outing this season.

QUOTE (Maxwell @ Jul 12, 2008 -> 06:46 PM) Yeah, not much. However, there was a lot of hate on floyd for a thread about danks. On a sidenote, for anyone who wants to search big ass threads like that, here's my suggestion. Click on the options and look at the print version (it puts everything in one massive page) and than run a search for your username.

Danks should have been gone after the double. Why have him throw pitches in a gmae with a 6 run lead (especially when most of the 2nd half Danks is gonna be in a new position when it comes to workload).