Chisoxfn

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 02:00 PM) He probably wouldn't be to hard to resign. I don't think I'd be too interested in resigning him. Also, I put Soxtalk's story in the front page and it goes in depth on what the Sox gave up in terms of Cortes/Lumsden for those that are curious. Here is the link to our story: http://www.soxtalk.com/frontpage/html/modu...icle&sid=71

QUOTE(daa84 @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 01:58 PM) the development of phillips and haeger make both expendable in the next 2 years.....beyond 2 years, you can fill those same spots via draft...i like this deal Umm....Phillips needs to be added to the 40 or else he's gone and Haeger is nothing compared to these other two. Cortes and Lummy have the arms of upper end prospects, Phillips and Haeger do not and while Phillips and Haeger are solid pitchers, they shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence as Cortes/Lummy. Now if you want to talk about Broadway, McCulloch or other guys making them expendable than I could maybe buy that, but bottom line Kenny wanted a power arm for the pen who he controlled for another few years and he wasn't afraid to give up some good arms.

We are getting a good arm, but we are giving up two of our best arms in the system, one being a low A righty who has a low to mid 90's sinking fastball (Cortes) and the other being our top lefty prospect in Tyler Lumsden. Both have a good deal of upside, although Cortes is still considered extremely raw, but he has a very very good build. MacDougal is an insanely talented arm with some serious arm trouble but is under the Sox control for a few years. Haven't been able to sound off on anything as I'm trying to get things updated, but I've been told that Lummy has already been informed of the move and will be reporting to Wichita (AA affiliate) while Cortes is going to be going to a former Sox affiliate (Burlington).

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 11:19 AM) LaMura seemed to have some pretty strong numbers down in AA...anyone know much about this guy we gave up? Here's what I wrote up about Lamura in the Soxtalk/FutureSox piece:

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 10:09 AM) Jerry Crasnick in his chat this mornin' also said that the Nats were currently asking for 2-3 prospects in exchange for Soriano, but they'd probably wind up settling for one. This isn't that bad of a move. Fields is a pretty darn good prospect and if they could get them to bite on Broadway too I'm sure we could use Soriano now or move him for something else. Plus if all goes wrong we keep him, offer him arb and get 2 first round picks (which is exactly what Fields and Broadway are). Now obviously there is no guarantee of what happens with those picks, but its still some value and if we resign him we have him in LF and get one of the more productive leadoff hitters in the game.

FS Interivew: Lucas Harrell, RHP, Birmingham Barons Interview Conducted by Evan Solon FutureSox.com Lucas Harrell, 20, has emerged as one of the Sox top pitching prospects. His success with the Warthogs this season led to a recent promotion to Birmingham. With the Hogs, Harrell went 7-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 17 starts. What's even more impressive is the 58 hits allowed in 91.2 innings of work. Harrell made his Baron's debut just hours after completing this interview: Bold: Evan Solon Normal: Lucas Harrell First off, how does it feel to be called up to Birmingham? It’s really nice, you know. I’m working on a lot of new things this year and I feel like my progress has gotten a lot better. I did well at the low A level, and now I’m hoping to do well at the AA level. I was really excited. How come you picked a start day to do this interview rather than one of your off days? Well, on my start day I don’t have to be at the stadium until two hours before the game. Our game is at seven o’clock tonight, so I have to be there at five. I just have this little down time, where I just don’t think about anything. It’s when I get to the field when I start putting on my game [face]. Early in your professional career you had struggled with your command and you talked about how it could be attributed to trying to overpower professional hitters. Talk about the progress you've made with your command and where you currently see yourself "command" wise? The command in my movement, I throw a two-seam fastball, and early in my career I threw it hard; actually, a little bit harder than I do now. But, I couldn’t control the movement. And then I learned that with a little bit off I can still throw 92-93 (MPH), but I can control, and with that pitch, being able to control that, that’s really helped me just with my other pitches. I mean, my change-up was always good, but in high school I didn’t throw it enough because it helped hitters out. At this level, that’s my second pitch. And then my slider is still a pitch I really need to work on a lot. It’s either there or it’s not. Maybe some days I’ll throw two good ones in a game when I need to throw eight or nine [good ones]. Some days I can throw nine or ten good ones, and maybe one or two bad ones, so I need to get more consistent with my slider. And, I mean, I can always improve my fastball command and my change-up command, but those are two of my better ones. Was there anyone in particular that has helped you with your command? Maybe a pitcher coach or instructor? Yeah. Last year when I was in Kannapolis, I got with J.R. Perdew in spring training and that’s when we tweaked my mechanics a little bit, to change a few little things, and I noticed my command getting better. And then there were some things that he taught me, like how to work hitters, how hitters set you up, how you can set hitters up, and to work to your strengths, keep it simple, and don’t try to do too much. He’s really helped me in my development. What is your plan on the mound? How do you go about attacking the hitter? It depends. There are a couple guys where you see their teams a lot, so the hitters make adjustments, and you have to make adjustments also because if you don’t, they’ll start to hit you. You have to be able to recognize what their strengths are and what are each hitter’s weaknesses, and try to exploit that. Therefore, you do pitch to some different than you do others. I mean, with lefties, I’m going to attack more with my fastball, change, and with righties, I’m going to attack more with my fastball, slider, but I will mix in a change-up away to the righties also. How would you describe your arm angle during your delivery? Is it overhand, ¾, sidearm? I guess it’s kind of three-quarters, maybe a little bit below. What pitches do you throw? Also, are you working on anything new? Right now, I’m not working on anything new. I’m just trying to keep the ones I have good. But, I throw a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a slider, well, it’s kind of a slider-curve or slurve, and a change. What would you consider your strikeout pitch? It would probably be my circle-change. Actually, I’m a right-handed pitcher, but I think I match up better against left-handed hitters. Do you think your groundball tendencies will put you above other SP prospects in the system, considering U.S Cell is a big HR Park? I would hope so, but, yeah, U.S. Cellular Field is definitely a field where the ball flies out, so you want to be a good groundball pitcher. I have a lot of natural downward movement to my change-up and my fastball, so that’s helped me get a lot of groundballs, and hopefully that puts me ahead of some other prospects because I do get a lot of groundballs. But, I’m still young, and I know it’s a work in progress. Do you think getting a chance to pitch with some top Sox pitching prospects like Lance Broadway and Tyler Lumsden will help you in your development? Yeah, no doubt. I actually watched Lance throw last night, I was in the dugout, and I just picked up a couple little things he does; he attacks hitters. But, I mean, I think you can learn something from everybody, even the guys that are younger you, even though (laughs) I’m the youngest one on this team, now. And Tyler Lumsden is a good pitcher, smart. And another one is Corwin Malone. He’s an older veteran guy, so if you just sit and listen, you can learn something from everybody. What teammate of yours has impressed you the most this year? It might sound funny, but I’m going to say Chris Kelly. He was our first baseman in Winston, and he hits the ball well. He’s probably hitting .270, .280; probably has about 15 homeruns. I think was leading the league in RBI’s, too, with about 60-something. But, he’ll have a bad at-bat, and some guys will come in there saying “f-this, f-that,” and he’ll come in there, set his helmet down, and he might even smile because he knows that there’s going to be another at-bat, don’t get so pissed off that it ruins the rest of your game. He doesn’t take his at-bat to the field. He is the best fielding first baseman that I’ve ever played with, and he’s just very professional, and does what it takes to get the job done. If you need a hit in a clutch situation, he’s the guy that going to get your hit. What are some things you need to improve in the future to make the majors? Consistency and also my mental side of the game. From last year to this year, I know a heck of a lot more, and you have to recognize when guys make adjustments to you. I think those things, and you’ve got to be able to get out left-handed hitters. I know when Lance Broadway was pitching last night, he was ahead of hitters, and you have to be ahead of hitters because when you fall behind, you get hit. So, the mental side of the game, staying ahead [in the count], and throwing pitches for strikes at any time are the main things. Primarily, you’ve pitched as a starter in the minors? Have you ever pitched in the relief role, and if so, is that something someone in the organization has ever approached you about doing? No one has ever approached me about doing it, at least not to my face. When I first got drafted in ‘04, I was sent to Bristol, and I actually started out there throwing two or three relief appearances, and I struggled. But then shortly after my last relief effort, they moved me to starter, and I’ve started ever since. Growing up as a kid, who was the player you tried to emulate? Are there any players currently in the majors that you model yourself after? Well, if you look at my high school draft video, I look almost exactly like Nolan Ryan. That’s who I wanted to throw like. I didn’t quite throw as hard, but actually, I threw harder in high school than I do now. But, Nolan Ryan is a guy I really look up to. He took care of business the way it was supposed to be done, and he had a long career. Greg Maddux is another guy I really look up to. If you had to chose, who is the one person that has helped you throughout your baseball career the most and why? My dad. I always had an interest in baseball since I was four or five years old, and he didn’t really push the game on to me like some parents do. Every time I wanted to do something, he’d put the tools in front of me so I could do it. Like, we had a batting cage in our back yard. He spent money he didn’t have to, for me to do stuff, do trips, and they really put a lot of time and effort and love into it. Best baseball memory? I have two. In high school, my senior year we won the state championship and that was a great feeling. Obviously, I want to win a World Series one of these days, but I mean, I beat Blake DeWitt, who was a first round draft pick of the Dodgers that year and I hit a homerun off of him, and then the next day we won the state championship. That was a pretty good feeling. And then last year, when we won the South Atlantic League in Kannapolis, that was a pretty good feeling. We worked hard all year. We didn’t play well in the first half, but we played really well as a team and did the little things to get the job done. It was pretty awesome. Do you have a nickname? If so, how did it come about? They haven’t really given me one. They call me “Ducas” sometimes, but besides that, they haven’t really given me one. Since I’m the youngest one, they give me the most crap. I was the youngest one in rookie ball, then in Kannapolis, and then this year in Winston-Salem and Birmingham. I’ll probably get one here. I’ve only been here a few days, so the older guys will probably give me one. Who's the toughest minor league hitter you've had to face this season? There are two, and they both play for Myrtle Beach. Michael Rosamond, who’s actually in Mississippi now, is a left-handed hitter, well-balanced, and he doesn’t swing at stuff out of the zone. He’s got a good eye. And then, when you get ahead of the count, he’ll foul of five or six pitches to make you throw eight or nine pitches to him. He’s always a tough at-bat. And then another guy who’s in Mississippi now is Brandon Jones. Same kind of guy [as Rosamond]. He’s a left-handed hitter with power, and if you make a mistake, he’ll hit it out of the ballpark. Is there any one song or CD that you listen to before you pitch to get you pumped up for the game? There’s not a particular song. I just listen to some hard rock or rap, whatever I’m in the mood for that day. Just something so I can sit there and think about the game, but at the same time, get pumped up. Favorite Baseball Team growing up? American League: Royals National League: Braves Favorite Movie: Braveheart Favorite Food: Chinese Food Lastly, what’s the best prank you’ve pulled on a teammate or seen pulled? When I was in the instructional league, I got a prank pulled on me. They almost pulled it off, but I was sick and I didn’t feel good. It was early in the morning and I had fallen asleep in my locker. So, they turned the clock to where it said 9:45, when we were supposed to be stretching. Then Snyder comes in and starts yelling, but I had my cell phone in my hand. Anyway, he starts yelling “What are doing!” And everybody is out in the hallway, listening. I didn’t look at the clock on the wall, though, because if I would have, I wouldn’t have known, but for some reason, I looked at my phone and saw what time it was. So, I was just like “What’s going on?” All the guys say that they got me because I did jump up at first because I was kind of startled. And they were all laughing. It was kind of funny. FutureSox.com would like to thank Lucas Harrell for the interview and we wish him continued success.

QUOTE(Felix @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 05:06 AM) If they are a game that you are being blacked out for, they don't become available until 6 AM (EST) the next day. If your zip code is here, you'll be blacked out for White Sox games: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/components/video/tv_2003/zip_cha.html It actually basis it by your IP so it knows the area you are logging in to and IIRC you can no longer get it to work by using a proxy IP as MLB came up with a way to prevent it.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 09:38 AM) Yes, and with Raines' status apparantly uncertain and the White Sox respect for Alomar, it leads me to believe he'll be the bench coach next year. Thats exactly what I think will happen. My guess is Raines isn't exactly happy being an assistant coach. I dont' know if he just wants out of coaching in general (and thats why the club didn't offer him an extension) or if he's told the Sox he plans on going elsewhere at the end of the season. I can't think its because the club doesn't like him, if that was the case they would have gotten rid of him.

QUOTE(Jake @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 09:30 PM) Well, with the acquisition of Sandy, we'll have Rock coaching first base next year and Sandy on the bench. Remember that Baines signed an extension and IIRC Rock is the lone coach on the staff that hasn't signed an extension.

I don't think you'd be able to get them because you live in the Chicago area, which means the mlb.tv games would be blacked out.

Apparently somewhere in that interview he also said Anderson isn't going anywhere.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 07:56 PM) Ok, back to the Alomar deal, I don't feel like going through 23 pages of crap... so, does anyone think that this move is made to have SA retire here and be a coach next season for the Sox? I think that is what this move sets up. I hope so, because SA is a damn fine catcher and a good baseball guy as well. Maybe the plan is for him to replace Tim Raines who apparently will be out of the organization following the year. I know the Sox have long talked to him about having him on the staff. Of course I don't think we would have made the move just so we have a coach next year, I also think it was made because they think it shakes up the clubhouse and improves the lineup against LHP.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 08:36 PM) I was at out AT&T Park today for the Giants/Padres game. Anyone see the statue ceremony? I'd like to hear how that went and some feedback on the statues as well. BTW - Giants Park is still the best in the bigs. EDIT: It was very cool to see random people at the park wearing Sox caps. Saw more than a handful. Ya, Pacbell or whatever its called these days is an awesome park. Definately right there amongst my favorite parks, if not my favorite.

Here is an article from WhiteSox.com on the deal. You can see a few quotes that really stand out to me. Number 1 is on Alomar and how he had been asking Kenny to come back here so obviously he feels right at home here and the coaching staff had been requesting a move so you have to respect that. Afterall its Kenny's job to give Ozzie the guys the players and Ozzie's is to get the best out of em. Than there were tons of positive quotes on Widger and the more I think about it, the Sox did this move because they think moving Widger will make the clubhouse situation a bit more urgent and the players a bit less comfortable (to try and promote them to get a bit more motivated, imo) while they still get a great clubhouse guy back. I think Widger happens to be the wrong guy at the wrong time in this instance. Sox needed to make a shakeup and with his struggles it was easiest for them to move him.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 06:00 PM) Note I said his ceiling is comparable to Gary Majewski. Minor League relievers are a dime a dozen to a point. Losing such a player is not a huge deal. Some will work out. Some won't. And Majewski was at AAA when we moved him (yet people really didn't think much of it than), Lamura still has a ways to go and I think you pretty much nailed his value right on the head. I'll definately be rooting for him, but the Dodgers got some good arms and he's going to have a tough time trying to get his way up to the major league level. I wouldn't be shocked if the Dodger dealt him at one point or another.

Ranger, 101...Kalapse is entitled to his opinion. I've deleted all those posts out so if you all want to keep telling one another to shut up than enjoy your suspensions. I'm making a point to make sure people are allowed to make posts and as long as they are intelligent and worthwhile they are fine. And I don't want to see people throw opinions out if they aren't intelligent, leave that to the mods to remove. QUOTE(Sonik22 @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 06:06 PM) what about AJ, dont they have a good relationship? Ya, Buehrle and AJ get along good, but maybe Alomar will take over and see if a change of pace behind the plate will help Mark (imo).

QUOTE(JimH @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 05:28 PM) It's on the White Sox site, and Williams is quoted as saying his coaching staff has been after him to acquire Alomar for the last month or so. So the coaches want Alomar, that means there was something they didn't like about Widger's preparation routine with the pitchers. On the surface it's not much of an upgrade but I think they traded for their next bench coach as much as a backup catcher. Great stuff. I also want to remind everyone that Alomar ALWAYS caught Buehrle. If you recall Buehrle hated throwing to Olivo (and that says something considering Buehrle usually is pretty easy to throw to) and my guess is we'll see Alomar begin to catch Buehrle again. The two had a very good relationship (just like Buehrle had a pretty good relationship with Burke).

After Beltre gave the M's a lead in the 8th with an inside the parker, Varitek tied things up with a HR but than Sexson went yard on a walkoff in the bottom half of the 9th. Mariners Beat the BoSox.

This is from Soxtalk's article on Lamura for those not familiar with him. I usually put in pretty detailed stuff about guys we traded cause we tend to get a lot of visitors from opposing teams (especially FutureSox).

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 04:18 PM) Wow, Lamura for Sandy. That's over paying imo. Lamura has a pretty damn good arm and could be a decent reliever one of these years. I think BJ could have maybe been a decent throw in, in a larger deal. Wish we could have given up a Munoz type... Munoz probably has more trade value than Lamura, but this is a fair move. Lamura has a lot of work to do before he ever turns into a legit prospect. He does have a nice arm, but he's the exact type of guy you can move. He's a college reliever thats taken a while to develop. That said, its starting to look like he's finding things out, but he is 25 and still just in AA. His numbers have been fabulous this year though.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 04:08 PM) Pitch selection isn't the same as calling out somebody's game preparation. I haven't followed Widger's career, but he must have been a decent catcher throughout his career, how else would you stick around the bigs for 11 years despite hitting .222??

Not the right thread, but Beltre just hit an inside the parker against the Red Sox to take the lead in the bottom of the 8th. In terms of work ethic, Widge may have just felt real comfortable this year, while last year he was new to the team and trying to prove that he still could play at the major league level so he worked doubly as hard. And you never know, something else could have been going on in Widge's personal life, but I can't speculate on that. Either way I wish him the best.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 04:00 PM) This sure wasn't the case last year. Everybody raved about his pre-game preparation last year. I guess a lot can change in a year. Widge always seemed like a solid guy. I always thought this move was double edged. One we get a guy that hits LHP better than Widge and two the move shakes the roster up just a bit by adding in a well respected veteran (at the same time we are getting rid of a vet).

That tells me the staff wasn't very happy with the pre game work he did with the pitchers prior to starts, if not more.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jul 23, 2006 -> 03:46 PM) Wes has that era under 3 now. He's definitely come a long way so far this year. Trying to get an interview set up with him to discuss any potential changes he's made.