Chisoxfn

I want to really see Swisher start pulling the ball. Its a rare time where I think him pulling will actually help (where as for 95% of players in a funk, it comes down to hitting the other way). As I type that, Swish damn near hits an oppo fielddouble.

Hang With Em. Crede scolded that, nice play by Wood.

QUOTE (RME JICO @ May 24, 2008 -> 02:54 PM) That is a pretty good move for a RHP so young. Hard to teach that. That move was awesome. Masset is starting to come around. Still needs better command but long term I'm really happy the Sox held onto him instead of letting him go at the end of spring.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ May 24, 2008 -> 02:51 PM) If he's worth anything at all, he should be able to help them. I don't think people quite grasp how little veteran hitters truly use the batting coach. I was listening to Chipper Jones the other day and he was saying that he'll have the hitting coach help him with video but when it comes down to it, he goes to his dad whenever his swing is in trouble. Walker is widely respected around baseball. I remember the last guy the Sox ran out of town as a hitting coach ended up fitting in quite nicely in Boston. The only reason I can really condone the firing of Walker is because it might just send a message to the vets to wake the f*** up. However, this season there is built in excuse for Paulie (a hurt hand is going to f*** your bat speed up and much much more) so really its Swisher/Thome that you can look at. Swisher got all screwed up from being at the top spot in the lineup and needs to come out of his funk. He hasn't shown much lately but I'll give Walker some time to really figure out Swish and for the two of them to work. In Thome's case, I really don't think it has anythign to do with Walk and much more to do with Thome just not being the same player he once was (slower bat speed makes him cheat and makes him even more suscepitble to the strikeout). OC is all f'd up but he's actually showing signs of coming out. Walker probably did little the first few weeks with him (usually vets try to figure out things on there own initially in a slump and after that I'm guessing Walk got more involved). Juan Uribe is just bad offensively so whether its Walker or Jesus Christ himself it wouldn't matter. Bottom line, instead of blaming the easy person people start blaming the guys putting on the uni's and making the outs. I've long said it could pay off to get more young blood in the lineup. Quentin has helped and maybe we'll see a little bit more of an infusion once Kenny/Ozzie finally realize that Thome is past his prime and that Uribe is just god awful (the Sox do need to find alternatives though so they can replace such players).

QUOTE (Heads22 @ May 24, 2008 -> 01:48 PM) I don't see how anyone can defend Greg Walker. In the case of the vets it isn't his fault at all and he's actually done solid things with the Sox younger hitters. I'm not saying I'd have a problem if he's ousted, solely because its easier to fire the coach than the entire team and such move may wake the struggling vets up. Bottom line though, it really isn't Walkers fault, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be a bad idea to fire him and see if a new voice helps.

QUOTE (knightni @ May 24, 2008 -> 02:44 PM) Thank God that the 7-8-9 of LAA can't hit. The Angels are saying the same thing about pretty much the entire Sox lineup. The Sox have AJ/Quentin/Dye/Crede and everyone else consistently has been awful.

That was quite nice. We going to see Thornton in the 7th?

Nice, Wood did what he's good at, whiff. On a sidenote, I would really really like the Sox to pick up Reggie Willits and let him leadoff. Put Paulie on the DL and work on moving Thome for one good prospect and call it a day. THe Sox badly need a legit leadoff hitter and Willits won't cost much to acquire and has proven himself to an extent that he can at least get on base at a high percentage. I'm not calling it a long term solution, but I think it would really help the Sox offense. Of course with Paulie down, I also would not be opposed to calling up Fields if he gets on any sort of roll and let Paulie sit and get 100%. We also can only hope Swish picks things up because he's been just as terrible as Thome, if not worse (and that really says something).

Dotel scares me everytime he is in. I just don't know whether he's going to throw strikes or what. Did a nice job getting 1 out though, hopefully he can put Wood away on a K.

God two terrible throws today by Quentin.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 24, 2008 -> 02:20 PM) Motherf***. Swisher, along with half this damn lineup, is getting on my f***in' nerves. Are you guys nuts, that was a f***ing ridiculous play by GMJ. Tip your cap, but Swisher should be going for 2 everytime in that situation and 95 out of 100 times he's safe.

QUOTE (Brian @ May 24, 2008 -> 11:33 AM) Don't worry, he's from Iowa...oops. Its okay...families from there, I'm from Cali.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ May 24, 2008 -> 12:11 PM) I think this is the first time I've gotten to see Danksy actually pitch this year. I'm looking forward to it. U better not curse him.

Jemile Weeks with a 3 run BOMB for Miami.

Alvarez made a nice barehanded play today.

Titans won 4-1 to clinch a tie of the big west championship. One more win gives them the outright title. 23rd championship in 34 years of d1 baseball.

danksy

Jim Thome...that is all.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ May 23, 2008 -> 07:05 PM) My pipedream: Thome retires Dye moves to DH Quentin moves to right Dunn is signed to play left Of course, having an older JD or Dunn at all out there (you could DH Dunn too) hurts the defense, but I'd still love to see it. Honestly, why would you want Thome to go only to replace him with Dunn (who is no freaking different). On a sidenote, DH'ing Dunn does not hurt the defense. Dunn is quite possibly the worse defensive outfielder in baseball, hell, he makes Pods look good in the field.

Also, I want to say, Ozzie made a gutsy call sending Wise and regardless of whether the outcome it was a great call. Against someone like Frankie, you must do what you can to ensure you can tie things up with as few hits as possible and the stolen base would have put the Sox a single away.

QUOTE (29andPoplar @ May 23, 2008 -> 06:37 PM) Jason ... it's a long year and tomorrow is another day. I'm with you. I'm not mad about the loss (Floyd was awesome and there is nothing I like seeing more than our young pitchers develop and grow; him overcoming that 5th to go the distance was awesome). I'm just frustrated having to put up with watching Thome continue to go up and swing over everything for the entire season. He has a very very horrid approach and there is a major book out on him. Jam him in early with the FB, than just go away away away with the breaking stuff and he won't come close to touching anything. Basically put there is nothing I like less in baseball than watching all or nothing players and I consider Thome, much like Dunn, one of those guys and I don't consider players like that valuable pieces, heck I dont' even consider them pieces. Jim wasn't always that way, but at this stage in his career he has to cheat to hit for power (especially to hit the FB) and because of it, he's swinging earlier and becoming far more susceptible to breaking balls than ever before. Basically put, at this point, he's just guessing FB and unless he gets one square down the middle he's going to have trouble. I'd word things more appropriate than my very rare cursing, but my finger is in a soft cast so its hard to type.

QUOTE (Brian @ May 23, 2008 -> 07:33 PM) Jerry Owens? I'll pass. He's just as bad at hitting and doesn't have power or OBP.

PK at least has a valid excuse. Swisher has been just as bad as Thome, but he's younger so I'm less inclinded to believe this is a permanent worthlessness. I'd deal Thome to Seattle for practically anything.

Id people want to know why I won't whine at Joe, he's had clutch hits and isn't 4 for his last 37 (in fact Joe is hitting very well the past 12 and has been rock solid all year; ie 10000 x better than JT).

By the way, that last sentence in my post above is not me b****ing, it is fact (his making less contact than any player in baseball on balls he swings at). I could totally do the whole DH as a leadoff hitter thing.