GreenSox

This game was not a serious effort. The team just clowned it up. Reason number xxxxx that they need a real manager.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 28, 2014 -> 06:30 PM) The Sox are probably looking a little bigger picture than just one start. I get it, but it's not like he's had a big picture worth of starts anyway.

he was torched his last start, though wasn't he?

QUOTE (LDF @ Aug 24, 2014 -> 09:37 PM) my guess is several reasons, 1 terms of his signing, 2 his agent 3 to start he clock running. A little unclear, but if you're saying that we agreed to get the clock running early as part of the signing - the thought had occurred to me, but really, we paid him way over slot, nearly got hit with the penalty; that's dubious negotiating if we agreed to kick in the clock early.

I still don't know why the Sox are hell-bent on rushing him this year. He had a long college season. Take it easy; save the service time. As it is, in the small sample size, he's walking too many - something to work on.

Williams wanted a house-horse. Someone who would be loyal to him and Cooper. I understand that, but why they picked someone who had never sat so much as a minute on a bench as a coach in any capacity, despite being retired for 7 years, is hard to figure. I also don't understand the extension - unless it's Williams still calling the shots on such things.

QUOTE (flavum @ Aug 24, 2014 -> 03:39 PM) This team needs to get a little tougher. I think Rodon will help that cause. So might a professional manager.

Ventura can't think 2 moves ahead. EVERYONE knew that Ventura had just put the bat in McCann's hands...except for Ventura. His utter incompetence is stunning.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Aug 23, 2014 -> 03:14 PM) 16-13 in August last year. Great post. Yea, he was off a month. And 8-18 in July And 7-21 in September

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 23, 2014 -> 09:43 AM) Wasn't there a thread like a week or two ago about how Mitchell was rushed? I think he absolutely was rushed after sitting out that year for injury. Mitchell had a .550 OPS in Birm and Charlotte in 2013. He starts out the exact same way in Charlotte this year, gets sent down and, suddenly he's a new player.

Look at Nestor. He came back to us. (for we "Missing in Action 2" fans).

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 22, 2014 -> 10:06 PM) It's amazing how nearly every pitcher has underachieved this year, yet Cooper receives very little criticism on here. People probably just love his radio interviews. Who underachieved? Lindstrom? Danks maybe. This team's only real back end reliever to start the year was Jones. On paper it was a thin staff; and but for Q and Sale, easily the worst staff in baseball and the worst Sox staff this century. In the end, the Sox found Noesi and a couple of bullpen pitchers. Not bad. The lack of depth is the front office's fault - lousy drafts, bad trades (we'll see how Hahn's work out but Williams made some poor moves his last few years) and no serious signings. My disappointment is passivity of the front office toward churning this team in July, when it was obvious it needed it. We were not "in it" in July.

The White Sox are the most sentimental organization I've ever seen. They will not let go of their veterans. Konerko's understandable, and he deserves high respect, but there are others they just insist on hanging on to; or refuse to move along even though it would help the team. And it really is starting to interfere with making a serious effort to win.... And is there really any substantive difference between "he's loyal", "he's a hero" and "he's great in the clubhouse" and curses and goats? I'm glad they had to go through this with Konerko in a season where they wouldn't have contended anyway, but enough is enough of this stuff.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Aug 22, 2014 -> 09:46 PM) Can't blame Robin for this one but who cares the Sox are tanking fantastically towards a top 8 pick. Only thing that matters rest of the way is the production of the youth and the cornerstones like Jose and Sale and Q. Forget wins and losses the next 30 odd games and enjoy watching some of the new faces. Tanking is never good. And whether or not Robin and his insistence on walking batters and his bullpen choices are to blame, is there not some measure of responsibility the manager bears for another lousy season? Actually they ought to back off Q and Sale. And with all of the interesting hitters in Charlotte, why in the world is a limited hitter like Danks getting the ABs. It could be L Garcia, so I suppose I shouldn't complain.

Three seasons in charge. Three late season tank jobs. Is there any accountability?

QUOTE (chisoxfan310 @ Aug 22, 2014 -> 02:32 AM) There is definitely a solid number of people that want to keep Danks. Personally, I prefer Noesi over Danks at this point as a back end of the rotation guy when you factor in cost. I would prefer Noesi regardless of costs. I see Danks as #6 or 7 or bullpen if this team is a contender.

QUOTE (beautox @ Aug 21, 2014 -> 09:12 PM) I disagree hes a slightly below average third basemen if you're to believe the defensive metrics and hes a 2 win platoon bat that is really nice to have for cheap. My hope is next year provided Saladino recovers from TJ that they use him as his platoon partner. I would like to believe even with this horrid year Davidson is the future for this franchise since power is so scarce in the game but I'm a proponent of Conor being teamed up with a competent defender and hitter as a lions share of a platoon. I don't think he has the range this team needs...it's a ground ball staff (and that's not changing) and too much gets through. I agree that he's a good platoon hitter. (and you know you're a platoon hitter when Flowers pinch hits for you). That's why I'm thinking LF....he should be able to play OF if he can play 3B. I'm not giving up on Davidson. I just don't give up on talented young players after 1 bad year.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 21, 2014 -> 03:58 PM) Which is ideal for him. Not only because he has a legit plus pitch (the fastball) but not a lot else, but also because he specifically told me last year he prefers relieving to starting. The cutter - teach him the cutter! We need 5 more Danishes in this organization to get a steady flow into the majors. But it's picking up.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 21, 2014 -> 07:56 PM) Gillaspie turning into a starting MLB third baseman was a pleasant bonus. Is he a starting MLB third baseman? Defensively, he's just not there. I do think he can hit. The Sox should see if he can help at other positions. Can he play some OF? Nothing wrong with a good LF platoon. I'd like to see the Sox do that to Phegley too, as it's obvious he can't catch; and they'll need to figure out a position for Ravelo before they just give him away. Mitchell continues to bash. He's born again hard.

The other reason I don't see this team being a playoff team is that there remains a startling lack of starting pitching depth. Sox have a 1, a 3 and a 5. Sox need about 3-4 more 3s. Rodon might be one; might sign a FA. That still leaves the team short. But when I see plans with Danks in there (he'd be in the pen, if that, on a playoff team); it's just not a serious effort. The bullpen needs a couple of top end pitchers. I hope we don't panic and trade real prospects for bullpen pitchers, but I suspect we might see that. I also would prefer that the Sox not make sorry excuses for losing - the Lindstrom injury as an excuse for not contending was silly (when healthy, Lindstrom is a mediocre bullpen pitcher) .

Held on too long and ended up giving him away. Would have liked to seen a trade for someone else's failed top prospect. The utter, and inexplicable, lack of a sense of urgency to deal in July under the vain notion that this team was still in it, will retard this rebuild.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Aug 20, 2014 -> 09:43 PM) Mostly stiffs are the 9th best offense in MLB. You seriously believe that this offense is the 9th best in baseball? What about defense? You think this is a talented defensive team playing behind Quintana and Sale? This team is tanking - now a season low point of 9 below .500. It is a bad team, with a few really good players. And the front office has shown an absurd lack of aggressiveness in moving players.

Just from a macro perspective, if this team is really improving and can seriously contend, I certainly would expect to see some sparks - some good play late in the season. I certainly don't want to see the patented Ventura September swoon. I realize that Sale and Quintana are losing their edge - kind of hard to to pitch 100% focused with this team of mostly stiffs behind you - and they are pitching against 100% focused teams like the Orioles. Still, I would expect to see lot more out of this club if they really are close to contending.

Danks has a career obp below .300. You cannot plan for a below .300 obp hitter to get any at bats if you are seriously trying to contend. But he's getting an extended audition. If he can keep up his 8 game run and produce, that' fine.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 18, 2014 -> 02:00 PM) The big difference is that Danks will make all of the plays that you ask him to make, and he isn't going to blow the routine plays. Spectacular? No. I'd say slightly above average. I agree slightly above average defense, terrible offense, which makes him below average. I just can't understand why such a limited upside player is getting playing time, when this org should be working on the future. It's like the Sox want another Dewayne Wise on this team. I hope the clowning stops soon.