Chisoxfn

QUOTE (WilliamTell @ Oct 24, 2009 -> 07:12 PM) What a drive my Michigan State. The hook and ladder on 3rd and 18, then the 30 yard touchdown pass. Iowa has over a minute and a half to score a TD. Ya, I would have died had we lost on that. Michigan State had two different 3rd and 17's and both times they converted them and went onto score. Very rare for Iowa to give up those type of plays, but they ended up doing just enough to win, but I'm ready to hear 101 tell me again just how lucky Iowa is. Stanzi was a mess most of the game and I was really dissapointed in Iowa's unwillingness to open up the offense cause they have some good WR's, but MSU played really strong defensively and was in Stanzi's face all day. Iowa ran the ball relatively well though and aside from one penalty, Bulaga had one of his better games.

QUOTE (WilliamTell @ Oct 24, 2009 -> 07:03 PM) The ball looked out to me in the Iowa game. The ball was out, it wasn't reviewed because Iowa came up with the ball too.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Oct 24, 2009 -> 06:50 PM) Absolute bulls*** call in the Iowa game. They called that personal foul on MSU literally minutes after the play was over and it isn't like he launched with head. It was the right call though. Called late, absolutely, right call, yep. Helmet to helmet gets flagged everytime.

Danks ended up with 2 hits, one being a 2B and knocked in 3.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 09:23 PM) Iowa is going to be horrible, and I really can't see them improving. They were awful last year, didn't bring in a good recruiting class, and lost two of their three best players. Not to mention that they lost 5 of their top 8 scorers. Iowa will be beyond horrible. We have nothing.

QUOTE (knightni @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 03:49 PM) Ellsbury would play LF then? He's awful out there in CF compared to Rios. Are you sure. I don't watch enough Boston games to make a full opinion, but I've always been very impressed with his defense. Maybe I'm biased cause i see a ton of web-gems with him in it though.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 03:41 PM) Really? I love Alexei, but Bard is wicked and Ellsbury is one of my favorite players. If we made Bard the 2010 closer - and I don't think that is a huge stretch BTW - then we'd have a closer, another righty setup man to push Pena into a specialist role where he has done well, we wouldn't have to rely on Linebrink, and we'd solve the OF and lead-off situations by pushing Rios to RF. All we'd need after that is a second lefty in the pen, a SS, and hopefully a big lefty bat. But we'd cut payroll in the deal, so we could sign a lefty to DH (Abreu? Damon? Matsui?) on a short-term deal, and then we could trade for a defense-first SS and another lefty reliever. That deal would rock, but I don't think it's realistic at all. On talent alone we rape the Red Sox IMO. I meant value as in terms of players. I think Alexei is pretty good and his value being a SS is very nice. Jenks is a good closer but would be a nasty set-up man. Bard has a great arm, but far more raw, so based upon pure performance (not factoring in contract, etc)...Jenks > Bard and Ellsbury and Alexei are relatively even (both play premium positions and both have flaws to there game). Basically put, I think it is a close match, although that isn't factoring in Jenks contract. Either way I have no clue what the BoSox rationale for that move would be, but if they want a SS and have someone else in mind at CF, than it could be an option and obviously it would give them one hell of a f***ing pen with Jenks/Paplebon. As a Sox fan, I'd be 1000% on board.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 03:26 PM) Agreed completely. Though Buster Olney said earlier today that he sees both Soxs trading. He mentioned Jenks and Alexei to the Red Sox for Bard, Ellsbury, and Okajima. Again.. that was his proposal. I'd be on-board. I love Bard and think he's got upside and while I'd hate to see Alexei go, I think Ellsbury gives the Sox an added dimension, plus gives the Sox financial flexibility. Value wise the BoSox maybe win out, but I love the idea of Bard and Ellsbury since both are cheap and ultimately I have a lot of confidence in Thornton as our closer and Bard as a potential closer in a year or two and a great set-up man.

QUOTE (East Side Z @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 02:56 PM) I finaly understand why people hate these message boards................. 12 million hits a month, a few thousand members...recognition by the Sox organization, yep, this place sucks pretty bad.

QUOTE (East Side Z @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 02:55 PM) Again for the mentaly retarded here...........I never said I want 100% Nix to play 3rd base...........This was all about if Kenny moves Alexie and Beckham gets moved to SS...............Which is not outrages since ...for the last time is his NATRUAL position. Guys move positions. Dye was a natural shortstop. Konerko a natural catcher. Carlos Lee was a 3rd baseman. And thats just using Sox players as examples. It happens all the time.

QUOTE (East Side Z @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 02:51 PM) That's what Beckham said you dumb ass...........I think he would know better then me and you. Well thanks for playing the game, but you are now gone. Personal attacks are un-acceptable. But just because Beckham wants something doesn't mean its for the betterment of the team. Nick Swisher wanted more starts for the Sox last year and that would have been awful. I'm sure Linebrink wanted to pitch in more meaningful positions and I certainly bet Brent Lillibridge wishes he was still the starter, doesn't mean its going to happen.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 12:36 PM) Just out of interest, how many times did you watch Orlando Hudson and Brian Roberts play this year? I probably saw Hudson play 50-70 times. My dad is a die-hard Dodger fan and I live in Orange County so I get every Dodger game. Brian Roberts I only saw a few times.

QUOTE (East Side Z @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 12:44 PM) I think Nix can handle 3rd base ....thats all and you dont fine. Nix can handle 3B, but he doesn't have the premium arm to be a great defensive 3Bman. And he would be the worse offensive 3b in baseball.

QUOTE (East Side Z @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 12:23 PM) My point was I heard Beckham on the radio very recently and he said he PREFERRED to play short out all the positions he can play.And YES i trust him since he's played the DAMN position before. Konerko was a catcher growing up and played it into his minor league career. Doesn't mean I want him there.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 11:34 AM) I disagree here, strongly, and that is what worries me about Lexi at SS. He didn't improve, at all - he played in September the way he played in April-May. Defensively, he went nowhere. I was hoping, like everyone else, he'd improve, as he did show signs of potential. But he didn't. I disagree, I think he was much better late in the season than he was earlier in the season. He looked much more comfortable, had better footwork, etc.

QUOTE (East Side Z @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 11:27 AM) Do you think Beckham is a smart guy? Absolutely, he has a lot of key intangibles and you can tell by the way he handles the bat and with his poise.

QUOTE (East Side Z @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 11:22 AM) I like Nix at 3rd............. So a guy that can't even hit .230 should be our starter. Whats the rationale?

QUOTE (East Side Z @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 11:20 AM) Dude I have been the biggest Alexie supporter from way back.........But he is LAZY and hasnt lived up to the hype at SS. What hype? Anyone that understands the game of baseball realizes there is a major adjustment period to playing a new position at the major league level. Ramirez had very limited experience at SS (and that includes the Cuban leagues). This was his first full-season in some time at shortstop so I would expect there to be lots of issues in regards to him learning positioning and the nuances of shortstop as well as just adjusting to the differences in fielding from short than 2nd (footwork is different, etc). Ramirez got better each and every week and by seasons end he was an above average defensive shortstop and you'll find that many on here agree with that sentiment. Next year he'll be even better because of the tools I listed earlier that Ramirez possesses. And if you don't believe me, go look at my posts in march where I said the Sox were going to be awful defensively and that Ramierz growing pains would be a large reason why.

QUOTE (East Side Z @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 11:18 AM) Dont be so quick to dissmis Beckham at SS. Hey, if we had a stud 3B prospect down in the minors or some other options that I thought were great long-term chances than I'd give Beckham ever shot at seeing what he could do at SS. But the fact remains we have a better option in-house and don't have anyone else knocking on the door which would open up the potential to move Ramirez. Hell, even if we did have someone else knocking on the door, you could argue that you'd benefit the most by moving Beckham to 2B, the other guy to 3B and keep Ramirez at SS.

QUOTE (East Side Z @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 11:17 AM) Your not moving PK and you sure as HELL aint moving Linbrink. Paulie could easily go to another team. He's got one year left on his deal and it is modestly affordable.

QUOTE (East Side Z @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 11:14 AM) So you have seen Beckham play SS at the major league level.........Send me the link. I have seen Beckham play short at the collegiate level, the minor league level, and in spring training. So while I might not have seen 200 of his games, I have seen that he has limited range for a shortstop and a good enough arm (not a Ramirez or Uribe or Aybar or Furcal arm). Basically put, he'd be a Michael Young at shortstop in time (back when he used to play ss). That isn't great and that isn't awful, but it is limited range and upside to ever be anything but an average defensive shortstop. Ramirez has more range, a stronger arm, and softer hands. Everything about his defensive abilities says he can be a plus defensive shortstop. Oh and scouts happen to agree with me, as does Ozzie, who I would have to think knows a thing or two about playing shortstop.

Seriously guys...give it a rest. Who gives a s*** how tall or short he is.

QUOTE (East Side Z @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 11:11 AM) Im not saying just give him away......... I think the Red Sox could use Alexie at SS. Ya, but if we move Alexei we need to be getting better. What are you suggesting we get that changes the landscape because an infield of Nix/Bekcham/Getz is exponentially worse than one of Beckham/Ramirez/Getz. Nix would be one of the worse starting 3B in major league baseball history (.220 avg with a bit of pop and a solid glove, but not a gold glove at 3B).

QUOTE (East Side Z @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 11:09 AM) Nix at 3rd ,Beckham at SS and Getz at 2nd. Wow, so we are going to essentially replace Ramirez with Nix. We lose offensively and defensively since Ramirez is superior in both categories. We also lose defensively with Bekcham at SS. Oh and I don't see how a .220 avg from our starting 3B is going to solve the clubs offensive woes.

QUOTE (East Side Z @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 11:07 AM) I'd like to see Beckham at SS. And who are you moving Alexei for? Or are you stating that both Nix and Getz are better than Ramirez?