Chisoxfn

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 13, 2009 -> 11:23 AM) I just hate how every fix we offer is going to wind up with Anderson going to the bench, or winding up in a platoon situation (and he's hitting RHP vastly better than LHP this year). Cause Anderson is a bench player. I hope he proves me wrong, but he still looks like piss up at the plate. Throw out every stat you want, he doesn't look like a good or even solid hitter, at least not yet. I wish he would too. I freaking love BA and love the Sox. I root like hell for them to get hits but I was so f***ing irritated with how they handled this off-season.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 13, 2009 -> 10:49 AM) Alexei is 3/3. The bases are loaded. This would be an ideal place to pinch hit for Lillibridge...if we had anyone. Who the Hell are we sending up? Alexei is at least starting to figure stuff out, or at least I hope so. That would be f***ing huge and I mean huge. Cause if he can figure s*** out you might be able to move him to CF or do something creative to get him, Getz, and Nix all in the lineup.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 13, 2009 -> 10:36 AM) After KW unloaded Swisher and Vazquez he said he was moving on to the outfield. He didn't do anything. I don't think this particular line-up is what he had in mind. The only blessing is that it shouldn't be hard to find a quality corner outfielder on the FA market. SO it is something they should be able to address with ease in the future. Defensively this team is flat out bad. With Nix hitting the way he is, it shoudl really force Alexei into CF and Nix over to SS.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ May 13, 2009 -> 10:34 AM) I also do not understand much of the standings watching. Standings right now are like college basketball top 25 rankings before conference play even starts - they just don't mean a whole hell of a lot. Well they do if you are 18 games out or something. But as long as you are within 3 games at this point than you know what, you have a chance. Tell me that as bad as we've played and we are still that close and I'll say give me a healthy Quentin/Thome (as much as I bash him, he's a good ballplayer, I prefer a different type of player but he still has value)/Dye/Getz/AJ/Konerko and I'll say we'll have a top 6 offense in the AL. I'll also guarantee that Floyd will pitch better and will finish the year with an ERA under 4.5. He's a far better pitcher than he's shown this year and the stuff is still there. He's definately having some command issues but I think its something that can be fixed and I don't think it will even be a tough fix. He's looked so good at times this season and its just a matter of him getting back those pitching instincts. Bottom line this team will compete. The big thing that scares me is the 4th/5th spots of the rotation, CF, and Alexei Ramirez. I might also worry about the pen a bit more since its going to get used a lot more with what I expect to be very few quality starts by our 4th and 5th starters this season (I'm banking on Colon getting hurt again, but he's done good so far).

On a sidenote, we are working on having a better chat room for the site. Hopefully we can get something set up by months end.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 13, 2009 -> 09:43 AM) Yet its fire Greg Walker. How many runs can anyone expect some of these line-ups to score? Wise, Lillibridge leading off. Lillibridge batting second? Lillibridge being asked over and over again to execute a hit and run so Ozzie can empty the bases. The lack of scoring is on KW and JR mostly and on Ozzie partially for some of the line-ups he's assembled. Completely agree, right now you can't blame Oz. As long as he didn't tell Kenny that he was fine with Owens/Wise/BA. Look, bottom line, most of the reason this offense has looked so bad is injuries. We've had Quentin/Fields/Thome/Dye/Getz all miss some semblance of time and production due to injuries. That is pretty significant this early in the season. Anyteam would be struggling losing that sort of production and the reason I include Fields in the mix is that he was actually hitting good when he went down and I keep hoping the reason he's struggling is that he's still hurting or something like that (and that he's getting close to getting healthy). But thats just me being a crazy optimist. Note: I don't mention Wise/BA's injuries cause it was stupid to go into a season with either of them being starters.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ May 13, 2009 -> 09:38 AM) It is very possible that Jordan could hit a major league fastball better than Lillibridge. It's not like it's some trick pitch he's never seen. Can we set up some sort of Hitting challenge between the two, simply to humiliate the Bridge. Maybe he could, but calling him up right now would be detrimental to the development of Jordan Danks and that is not something you want to do.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 13, 2009 -> 09:35 AM) Jordan has now slumped to .429 as we speak. I'm with Harrelson, Birmingham is a lot more interesting than the major league club. That I'll agree with.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 13, 2009 -> 09:31 AM) I swear Getz is faster than Lillibridge and might have beaten the relay there. Esteban Belte, Jr., your ticket is already purchased for Charlotte Friday. Yesterday was the first time all season we beat a pitcher who entered the game with a +6 ERA, and we face three "no names" (Cecil is known to some) at Toronto, where we've won about 1 of our last 10 games against TOR. Getz is faster than lillibridge. I've been told that Getz is one of the fastest guys down the line in the majors. It's not necessarily because he's super super fast, rather he gets out of the box fast and has a quick first few steps. He's not high end speed, but he's still very fast. Faster than Lilli on the paths.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ May 13, 2009 -> 09:23 AM) Yep, unfortunately for Jim he was stuck on a club for 12 years that hasn't won a title in 60 years. If we're out of it at the deadline I really hope we find a way to deal Jim to a contender, he deserves a damn ring. Me too. I think him and Dye will have significant value. I'm not saying we'll get much in terms of prospects but if we get one guy for each of them that has upsie and could help the club long term than those are must deals. Plus you'd get cash that could be utilized next year or on draft picks/international signings.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ May 13, 2009 -> 09:17 AM) Josh didn't have a chance in hell against Lee. Hopefully we find a way to squeeze in a hit or 2 today, I'd rather not be no-hit. Josh has no chance against most guys. His swing is awful. The way he loads prevents him from ever being able to hit a good major league fastball. He brings his hands forward and than far back at the start of his swing and by the time he finally is bringing the bat forward its too late. Its just far too long of a load/trigger. Its why he's usually so effective against breaking pitches but if you can't hit a fastball you can't play in the majors and its why I've always said the Sox should deal Fields. I keep hoping I was wrong and early on this season his swing was looking a bit shorter but bottom line is that I have major doubts but he's a great guy and has solid speed for a 3rd baseman and decent defensive ability so I hope he pans out. But I personally would consider dealing him for a young pitcher that has upside but has maybe struggled his first go-round in the bigs and go for a struggling former top prosepct for a struggling former top prospect trade. Especially since we could use some pitching help anyway. I'd than get creative to find a CFer and just for the time being go with a Nix/Ramirez/Getz infield combo. Note: I don't think that its necessarily a good idea, rather I'd like to get something for Fields and would love a pitcher (or Cfer for that matter).

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 13, 2009 -> 08:18 AM) Pods hitting 2nd and Fields at 6th tells you everything you need to know about our AAA line-up. Earlier in the season I said our Birmingham line-up was stronger, and you can definitely make that case versus what we've had to put out there the last couple of weeks. Just the very presence of Lillibridge screams "automatic out" and the reverse Thome shift to RF for Lilliquist as Harrelson calls him. Shutup. Konerko, AJ and Dye are >>>>> every clown in Bham. Thats not a knock on Bham, just stating facts and if we brought that Bham team up we'd have the worse offense in baseball history. Thats not say some guys would turn into good players, they would in time, but give me a break.

QUOTE (rexy2006 @ May 13, 2009 -> 08:12 AM) No Thome, no Q. Lillibridge is in. Buehrle on the hill. Dont like Lilli in, but who else would you put in there? Get them on, get them over, get them in. Lee doesnt give up many homers. Need base runners. He's alternately thrown shaky and quality starts. I vote shaky. Run support has been scattered. Come on boys, bring home a White Sox win. Welcome aboard!!!

QUOTE (chisox2334 @ May 13, 2009 -> 08:08 AM) I hope Buerhle does have his A game. Him vs clev dont mix well Except on opening day 2005!!!

Kyle has been a great poster for a very long time on this site and we beileve he'll make a tremendous addition to the site as a moderator. Welcome aboard Kyle!!!

Some rumors involving the Bulls: -Hinrich for Mike Miller (Twolves) -Gordon to the Wolves in a sign & trade

I'll give em credit, finding a way to pull out a win. I really hope they can get healthy and get on track here. Still, only 2.5 games out of first place so plenty of baseball left to play.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 13, 2009 -> 05:50 AM) Two great posts that post great together. Agreed, both are easily posts of the week and I completely agree with both of them.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ May 12, 2009 -> 10:03 PM) Getz doesnt have a home run swing, nor is he swinging for the fences. Right now there is an adjustment that has been made on him that he needs to overcome. Line drive hitters, who let the ball get deep on them like Getz will eventually get the inside treatment. Once he learns to get around on that pitch instead of letting it get deep and popping it into left softly he will take the next step. Oddly this is the same approach people are taking with your man crush Sweeney. The chess move has been played, its time for Getz to adjust. Excellent post, excellent.

Floyd will get his s*** together, I know it.

Awesome, thanks for the info!!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 13, 2009 -> 08:52 AM) Right now, Sweeney is really giving me the impression he's going to be an average defensive .260-.275 hitter with no power and not great speed. He's been like that for years. If the Sox had a guy like that, we'd be angry that KW kept throwing this 5th OF out there. I wouldn't and I have no idea how you project him to hit for that type of average. I think he's much more of a guy that will hit an "empty" .290 (or I think thats how the stat guys would term it). He won't hit for a ton of power but I see him hitting for a lot of doubles. The big question is can he draw enough walks to give him a good OBP. Oh and I don't believe in an empty .290, on a sidenote, I love guys that can hit for average and I think Sweeney is the type of guy that could...key word being could. For pete sake the guy hit well over your projections last season in his first full year at a very very young age.

Oh and this is about the time I think you should expect to see the Cuban tank break out. He's had over a month to get situated and I think this is when he adjusts and you'll see him really go on a tear. I would not be shocked to see him by August.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ May 12, 2009 -> 09:34 PM) First off, some good news about Slayer...his DL stint is retroactive, so he should be activated within two or three days. So, those of you who are going to Jackson, Tennessee to see the Barons, all hope is not lost. The only drawback is you may not see David Cook, because I'm pretty sure he'll get promoted to Charlotte when Beckham's activated. Secondly, I left early, when it was 12-1. But, I saw Danks' first 3 AB's. First impressions, he's definitely got the tools and the talent...and the height, goodness, I think he's actually 6'6" or 6'7". He gets down the line very quickly and he covers ground well in CF. If you were listening, he almost had a homer in his third AB. Missed by a few inches, but it may have been robbed anyway by Chris Heisey. Speaking of him, the Reds got a special player in Heisey. Carolina hit the ball hard all night, Ely and Zaleski weren't getting anything by their hitters. Wait till you see his arm in the field. I've seen Danks in person a few times and everytime I walked away impressed. The guy just makes things look so easy out there and I think to an extent people just expected him to be a mega mega star at Texas and since his numbers weren't eye-popping it lead him to fall a bit in the draft. But man the tools are there. I know Dan will agree too cause he too saw him a few times in person at the college level and also fell in love with him. If he can fix enough of his holes in his swing, he could very well be a Sizemore type of player. Not saying he will be, but that is the type of skill-set he possesses.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ May 12, 2009 -> 08:44 PM) 1-0, 1.69 ERA in April 0-1, 7.36 ERA in May 43 K, 8 BB in just 32.1 IP. The big thing is the command both Carter and Hudson have found. They didn't have it at Old dominion but boy have they put things together in a big way in the Sox org.