Chisoxfn

At least when Malone is pitching terrible, you can look forward to seeing another lefty in Cotts pitch excellent. I still think Birmingham will recover. They have a really good pitching staff imo. They are just going to have to really improve at getting runners on. That offense has been hideous thus far.

Are these like those secret socieities that go on at the IVY league schools and such? I just remember the preview for that movie "The Skulls" or whatever it was called way back when.

The NBA is exactly where I got this idea from. They always phony injuries to the point that they might as well just expand the rosters and get rid of the IL.

The ones in Chicago ocassionally tailgate and such. I'm out in Cali and I know there is a big contigence of us on the boards. There are a few in Oregon and I'd safely say we probably have a poster from each state on the board and a few countries. Either way, I think we have a great group here and I'm sure their will be many more great Sox fans coming over, especially after the Sox keep winning and winning. Some of course will be bandwagoners, but hey, if you get Bandwagon fans it means your doing something good so I don't have a problem with that. Also, I have seen some attacks lately but I'd like to say that I respect everyones opinion on here when it comes to baseball. Things have gotten heated at times and almost everytime things have ended up calming down and many times those that argue start to respect eachother more. I'm a firm believer that the people here can handle things and settle their own differences without personal attacks and if they go that way that they can get themselves out of it. Us admins/mods here try to just keep the trolls away and give the fans a place to give their opinion, whether its a rant of how much we suck or how great we are. I'd like to say that if people disagree with a certain poster about personal opinions to go ahead and say it, but when it does come to name calling, please stick away from it, it just isn't productive, kind of like our offense early in the season (Although I have no doubt it will be potent very soon). Anyway like Steff said: Back to Baseball The "Cali Contingent" should get together and tailgate this season at Oakland, LA, and/or Anaheim I think were planning on it. Well I will be planning on it in at least Anaheim and LA. We'll have to plan things out closer to the game. Even if we aren't all sitting near eachother, we could tailgate or something before the game (At least Saturdays at Dodger stadium)

Well I think Baggs and I to a lesser extent would of agreed to that last year. Baggs probably still agrees, but I go with what I saw in Spring and I think this kid will be fine. Now if we could use Garland and say Lee to pull down a 3rd ace like AJ Burnett than I'm all for it. or stewart and a cat prospect from tor. Watching Olivo I know he's going to be good. He's got a very short swing and hits the ball to the opposite field with power. Give this kid a full season of mentoring (This Season) and you'll see quite the catcher next year and the following years. This kid shutsdown the running game and may just develop 20 homer power. He also has great speed and is so aggressive, yet smart, on the basepaths. The more I watch him, the more I really like him. Another thing I thought about, after Rex, made his comments on Malone. Considering Malone probably still has very good value, we could package him with someone as well to land another starter, if necessary.

I don't think the players union would allow that. It happens in the Minors, but I don't think it is realistic in this scenario. The Sox just need to send JP down and gamble that he will clear waivers. If he doesn't, it would not be the end of the world. Plus, if he doesn't then they could just take him back and not send him down. Either way the Sox should just give it a shot and see if he'd get through. I think they were hoping they could trade him for a catcher with options. If I were Ken Williams that would be my plan because it is a complete waste carrying three catchers. Unlike most I have no problem with Paul, its just I'd rather have Ginter up here. I wouldn't want Harris or Borchard here unless they were going to get regular at bats. No sense in letting them sit on the bench. Harris is working on his new approach at the plate and that takes at bats, while Borchard is working with the adjustments he made to his swing during the summer.

I'd agree with you on that. "Show me a pitcher who throws strikes and isn't afraid to throw inside and I'll show you a guy thats going to be sucessful more often then not. "

I've had those same worries. The one thing that keeps me bright about him is just how talented the kid is. The problem is he's so raw and doesn't have anywhat of a smooth delivery.

The ones in Chicago ocassionally tailgate and such. I'm out in Cali and I know there is a big contigence of us on the boards. There are a few in Oregon and I'd safely say we probably have a poster from each state on the board and a few countries. Either way, I think we have a great group here and I'm sure their will be many more great Sox fans coming over, especially after the Sox keep winning and winning. Some of course will be bandwagoners, but hey, if you get Bandwagon fans it means your doing something good so I don't have a problem with that. Also, I have seen some attacks lately but I'd like to say that I respect everyones opinion on here when it comes to baseball. Things have gotten heated at times and almost everytime things have ended up calming down and many times those that argue start to respect eachother more. I'm a firm believer that the people here can handle things and settle their own differences without personal attacks and if they go that way that they can get themselves out of it. Us admins/mods here try to just keep the trolls away and give the fans a place to give their opinion, whether its a rant of how much we suck or how great we are. I'd like to say that if people disagree with a certain poster about personal opinions to go ahead and say it, but when it does come to name calling, please stick away from it, it just isn't productive, kind of like our offense early in the season (Although I have no doubt it will be potent very soon). Anyway like Steff said: Back to Baseball

I just don't think Fogg will become more then a 5th start on a "good" team. He could prove me wrong. He's got a great curve. I liked him during his short callup a few years back.

From the short talk I had with Albert when I was 12, he seemed real cool with me. He seemed like one of those guys that either was really cool or a real dick depending on who he was talking to. I never had a problem with him though.

To me thats always the best when you can watch the gun. On a sidenote, how hard has Corwin been throwing. In spring he looked to be throwing hard, but it was just a bullpen session so I have no idea what his velocity is at. Do you know if its similar to what it was before he was shutdown last season? Thanks for the info. I can't wait to make it out there this summer

Don't worry LDF Anyway this stat, well any stat isn't effective over such a small sample (In this gase 4 outings or so). But the reason's Kips is so high is because of walks. I know he had a few games with like 6 walks or so in a game. That moves his base runners up quite a bit. Also, you don't know when the hits happen. Some guys may be prone to give up hits with 2 outs as they lose concentration while others may get hammered earlier and give up runs and then calm down. Overall its a good stat, but if you followed soley that stat then Sirotka would of never had an ERA in the 3's. If I recall he always had a rather high whip.

Hud, from what I heard wasn't he supposed to throw 93-94? Have you heard from anyone what he was throwing last year? I think a lot of the time scouts really over-estimate a pitchers velocity or when they do the readings the pitcher is simply throwing their hardest. Typically though when on the mound a pitcher doesn't throw their hardest and are more effective when they are 1-3 mph under that velocity because it tends to give them more movement. This isn't in all cases though. Garland is one person who this holds true. When he throws 94-95 (Which he can) his fastball straightens out. At 91-92 it has some serious dropping action to it.

Yep, lower the better. To me the more important stats is opponents batting avg. Of course WHIP also takes that into play, but if I'm going to get a pitcher I want to know they don't have a lot of baserunners and that people don't hit him good. Its usually a sign they have good stuff. Of course ERA and Wins are very important too

I wanted to think that Koch would be the flame throwing closer for us. It's starting to look like you called this one right. i was really concerned about him that is why i was agruing the point of the trade. but this cotts kid may make the trade a plus. Sure hope so. Cotts is supposed to have great movement on his pitches. Absolutely have to salvage this trade one way or another. SI, I wouldn't worry too much. Koch, although he's struggling, has shown over a rather extended period of time that he can close games and that he is a good pitcher (More of a thrower). I wish I had some tapes of him from last year to take a look at. My hunch is that he's working on becoming more of a "pitcher" and with that adjustment he's taking a bit off his fastball and trying to be a bit smarter. This step will hurt him at first (For the first month or so) but it will make him oh so much better in the long run. Stuff wise its still there and mechanically he looks better then he did in years past. I just wish I could see a few of his outings last year on tape and compare them to this year and see the delivery so I could truly verify my hunches.

Well I think Baggs and I to a lesser extent would of agreed to that last year. Baggs probably still agrees, but I go with what I saw in Spring and I think this kid will be fine. Now if we could use Garland and say Lee to pull down a 3rd ace like AJ Burnett than I'm all for it.

This is a question not related to this issue, but could the Sox phony up an injury for Paul to put him on the DL and give him a rehab assignment while we call an extra pitcher up for a short time? Thats if KW doesn't want to lose Paul and I don't necessarily blame him since we don't know if Alomar stays healthy. Still, I'd love Paul to be able to get to AAA so we had him there.

Definately. Its good to see that walk total drop. Also, Daylan Holt, the other member of the trade, really seems to be heating up over the past few days in Winston Salem. I'd think that Birmingham could use his bat and that he'll be back on the move to Birmingham rather quickly. Yan could make a move quick as well. One other note: Royce Ring really looks to be clicking after his first couple outings where he blew a few saves.

One of the mods moved it over here and they accidentally left the post in the other forum as well. The thing sounds cool though.

What does that stand for anyway?

Call me nuts but in this case part of me would rather have Jimenez. Jimenez is just a better fundemental player at this stage of the game. Both have very high ceilings though. I just hate how many times Soriano whiffs and all the errors he makes. He makes Jimenez look like Alomar with the glove. It would be a tough call though. If we were seeing the Jimenez we'd get for 10 yrs or so right now, I'd take him in a heartbeat. I think both will be top notch 2nd baseman though.

Michelle, I think there is a link on barons.com for the radio station that broadcasts the game, I think at least.

I don't think Kip was a pussy. I think it was more the fact that Kip got drilled like 3 consecutive games on shots up the middle and it threw off his game. I always liked Kip and he's doing pretty damn well with the Pirates. That being said he's no a Pirate. I sure hope Garland comes through. Last year I didn't see anything in him. This spring I saw a ton of talent and awesome movement and now he's doing this. Come on Jon, settle down, keep the ball down, throw strikes and trust your "stuff".

Watched Koch today and he looked better, but they are killing him. His velocity was up around 94-95 and his mechanics looked solid. He just seems to be leaving his curve up and then they are drilling the fastball up. I think he'll get things together. He's a tough kid and I'm sure everything will be alright. Think of it this way, better to take the lops in a game when your down by 7 or so.