CWSGuy406

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Sep 10, 2006 -> 09:11 PM) Wouldn't you know, using MacDougal for over an inning yesterday (after pitching the day before) left him unavailable. I knew this situation would occur with Sabathia pitching. Runs wouldn't be easy to come by. MacDougal was desperately needed in the 9th. Yeah. Yesterday's piss-poor effort from the bullpen really bit us in the ass today. I'm sure MacDougal would have been used in the 8th/9th today if he didn't have to throw about two innings yesterday. :sigh Go get 'em out on the West Coast, boys.

... waits for Flash post ... 11 K's? Nice... On another note, who should we expect to get called up? Fields would be a nice bat off the bench, Owens would be decent for his speed. Other than that, we really don't need anybody. Maybe one of Redding/Tracey/Montero as an extra blowout bullpen arm, but that's it.

I'm not too worried about the fact that Cleveland made it close. For the most part, they did it off of guys who won't be on the post-season roster. I'm a little befuddled as to why McCarthy doesn't trust his fastball a little more. He always goes back to his changeup to righties, and it tends to tail back towards the middle of the plate. I tend to believe that once he is starting again, he'll be able to get the 'feel' for his changeup in his second, third innings of his starts. His fastball as a reliever, OTOH, has been great -- lots of swings and misses (other than the Pena walkoff). Three-and-a-half out. We'll take it.

QUOTE(SnB @ Sep 9, 2006 -> 08:55 PM) illinois isn't good at football Don't feel too bad. Northwestern lost at home, by 17, to a 1-AA team.

QUOTE(cgaudin @ Sep 9, 2006 -> 05:36 PM) I know Sweeney is still green, but bringing him in now is probably a calculated risk. I believe he will do better than Podsednik has done this year. But then again......that ain't saying much! If he hits .260 with 30 stolen bases, we should be okay, and his defense will make up for Podsednik's atrocious defense. He will catch more balls cause he won't play at the edge of the warning track like Pods does. Why the hell does Pods play so deep all the time, even against weak hitters? Sweeney is never going to steal 30 bases in a season. Don't expect it.

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Sep 9, 2006 -> 06:57 PM) Please stop the "Because Crede did it, Anderson will do it, too". Just think about how ridiculous that arugment is when your really think about it. I don't think BA will ever have as good of an offensive season as Crede has had this year. However -- the comparison that I like most is to Torii Hunter. Jason (Chisoxfn) first made the comp, and I sort of blew it off. But, really, it's not unrealistic. Hunter's career line is .267/.322/.459. He's a league average hitter who plays great defense at a very important defensive position I think Anderson is capable of that. Even if Anderson is slightly worse for us over the next couple years -- say, .255/.315/.440 -- that's still pretty valuable, especially at the price we'd be getting it at.

Hawk is pissed.

Are we in 'big game' territory yet for Freddy or what? When do his spidey senses start tingling?

BTW -- I also agree with DA in that I'd maybe look to trade Iguchi this offseason, on the basis of... a.) While his defense is praised by most everyone in the Chicago media, his range really isn't very good. He does very well on turning the double play, and his hands are overall pretty good, but I'd say he gets to less balls than the average second baseman gets to. b.) Iguchi certainly hasn't been a problem for this team offensively, but his .760 OPS is, IMO, replaceable. c.) Iguchi turns 32 in December. It wouldn't hurt for this team to slowly infuse in some younger talent into the lineup wherever possible. And, because I hate when people pick on a player and then don't bring up a viable solution to the problem, I'd like to see the Sox go after Orlando Hudson. For one, he's arguably the best defensive second baseman in baseball. Second, his career OPS is .761. He's 28 right now (turns 29 in December), so you get a little bit younger. Third -- he might have one or two more seasons like he's currently having with 'Zona (.809 OPS), although I wouldn't expect it. Maybe a .775 OPS would be reasonable over the next couple years. Can we get him? That's my problem with most hypothetical trades, and this is a tough call. I do know that Arizona is a.) in need of some pitching (prospects or otherwise) and b.) has a lot of young, up-and-coming prospects, and that if Justin Upton rushes through the system, Stephen Drew will most likely need to move somewhere else. Maybe someone with a bit more knowledge on the DBacks situation could enlighten me?

QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ Sep 8, 2006 -> 04:51 PM) Yes. Yes, it is. I question if they watch the games. I question whether the writer of this article has watched games this year. First off, he talks about this team like we're the Cubs. As dissappointing as this season has been, we're on pace to win 90 games. 90% of the time, 90 wins gets you into the playoffs -- it's just this year, the AL is excepionally good, and 90 wins won't get you in. The core of this team is very good, and should stay that way through next year. We need to make some minor changes; a new LFer, moving McCarthy into the rotation, perhaps a bullpen tweak, and maybe look at replacing one of your two middle infielders. Second, I agree with Dick Allen in that Uribe still doesn't need to be replaced. The numbers this year still show that he's a damn good fielder, and I still believe personally that he gets to more balls than the average SS. I think you can live with the offensive frustrations, just as you can live with them in CF, so long as you have two elite defenders at those positions, which we certainly have. Third -- notice how there are ZERO quotes (or very few) from Kenny Williams in this article? This writer is going on pure speculation, no factual basis. Oh, wait -- he's going by Ozzie's mouth. And I personally believe, that for every time Ozzie spouts off about Anderson not doing something well, Kenny has someone much smarter and much more rational in his other ear saying that Brian has saved however many runs over the average CFer defensively, and that he's been a much different player since June.

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Sep 8, 2006 -> 02:38 PM) Then trade Garcia, Broadway, Uribe and cash for Tejada and Bedard. And then, let's trade Pablo Ozuna to St Louis for Albert Pujols. After that, let's trade Buehrle for Johan Santana and Matt Garza. Then, we trade Tadahito Iguchi for Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. Howard'll be a solid bat off the bench.

QUOTE(kwolf68 @ Sep 8, 2006 -> 03:28 AM) I'm not high on any pitchers right now...Some guys like Russell, Harrell, Broadway, Wisler, Egbert, Perez are interesting, but are all question marks. As far as position players, we have essentially ONE good prospect up the middle (C, SS, 2, CF) in Chris Getz. We have a couple solid outfielders/corner fielders, but every organization has that. FWIW, Chris Getz finished with a .320 OBP and a .323 SLG%. But yeah, he's our future second baseman in 2008...

QUOTE(kwolf68 @ Sep 8, 2006 -> 02:08 AM) I think the pen is fine, we are good in RF, 3rd base, 2nd base (although Getz will be there in a year or two), 1st, C.... Heh. Funny.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Sep 8, 2006 -> 01:51 AM) Uribe is worthless. People get on Anderson to learn how to hit. How about the guy who tells everyone before the game he is going deep, then spends the next 4 ABs spinning himself into the ground trying to make his prediction come true. What a worthless baseball player He makes Royce clayton look like a stud at the plate. Aren't you glad he got rid of the leg-kick?

QUOTE(WCSox @ Sep 7, 2006 -> 11:19 PM) Way to ignore what Pods did prior to the injury last August. He was a major reason that our low-OBP offense scored runs last season. QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Sep 7, 2006 -> 08:36 PM) Yes -- he was the catalyst of an offense that ranked ninth in the AL in runs scored. Which is to say, he was the catalyst to a below average offense. I can't believe there are still people out there who think last year's offense was in any way, shape, or form, good. The best thing I could say about the offense it that we were able to 'get by with it' because of our stellar pitching. Here, want me to say it one more time? Maybe it'll sink in then? QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Sep 7, 2006 -> 08:36 PM) Yes -- he was the catalyst of an offense that ranked ninth in the AL in runs scored. Which is to say, he was the catalyst to a below average offense. I can't believe there are still people out there who think last year's offense was in any way, shape, or form, good. The best thing I could say about the offense it that we were able to 'get by with it' because of our stellar pitching. Get.a.clue.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Sep 7, 2006 -> 08:58 PM) How did that power lineup of Frank, Maggs, Konerko, Lee, Valetin, and Crede fare in the 2000 playoffs? You don't win games by sitting back and waiting for the three-run HR. LOL, did you watch the playoffs last year? I'd say for every game but the last one, the Sox were aided by the longball. Yep, and you're seeing the true talent of that scrappy, base-stealing leadoff hitter this year. And, BTW, I think the main reason the Sox got shut down in the playoffs was because it was because they weren't hot when the playoffs started. They came into the playoffs having lost six of their last eight games. You really can't take much from a five-game set, as anything can happen. Most times, the team that comes in hotter wins. I think they were also starting to show their true colors. I mean, look at that team in retrospect -- Parque, Sirotka, Eldred, and Baldwin. Almost makes you laugh a little bit in retrospect. Btw, I'm not defending Manuel. I didn't follow the team with a close enough eye to see his whole tenure with the Sox. Generally, I think people tend to give managers way too much credit w/r/t the outcome of a game. Usually, talent will win out. If our pitching was halfway decent this year, sure, there'd still be some b****ing about Ozzie using Mack in the wrongs spots and other small things like that, but it wouldn't be close to the level that it's at right now.

QUOTE(Hideaway Lights @ Sep 7, 2006 -> 03:56 PM) Back to the point. Ozzie Guillen's vision of rebuilding the White Sox was the reason the team was even put in a position to win the division last year. It was Ozzie Guillen who demanded that Kenny reconstruct the roster around what he wanted - with more speed at the top of the lineup. Sure, KW went along with it, and made the moves, but as I understand it, the impetus was from Ozzie. And even though Podsednik basically sucks now, he was the catalyst of last year's lineup and a true leadoff hitter is the reason why we were able to succeed with players like Carl Everett and a one-legged Frank Thomas DHing. It was that style of play that won. Not Carlos Lee and a bunch of right handed beefcakes taking batting practice. Yes -- he was the catalyst of an offense that ranked ninth in the AL in runs scored. Which is to say, he was the catalyst to a below average offense. I can't believe there are still people out there who think last year's offense was in any way, shape, or form, good. The best thing I could say about the offense it that we were able to 'get by with it' because of our stellar pitching. Are you implying that this year's team is good at bunting? Because, outside of Pablo Ozuna, and maybe one or two other guys, I think this team is pretty bad at bunting. And I don't put that on the shoulders of the manager -- a major league ballplayer ought to get a bunt down. And, why SHOULD Manuel have bunted more? The teams Manuel had a middle of the order of Frank Thomas, Magglio Ordonez, Paul Konerko, Carlos Lee, Jose Valentin, and Joe Crede. f*** -- I wouldn't waste outs when you have six guys who, at any moment, can launch one into the bleachers. If there was any problem whatsoever with those offenses, it was the lack of a real leadoff hitter. Other than that, they ranked in the top five year-to-year. Manuel never had an ounce of good pitching to work with... Wealz is definitely correct there, in a sense. First off, we were predicted by most publications to finish anywhere from second to fourth. Second, even when we made the playoffs, I don't recall a whole lot of people in the national media predicting a White Sox series win. Hell, I remember after we took the first two games, there were some nuts already talking about a game five matchup, saying that Boston wouldn't lose at home. Even when we made the World Series, there were some that said we'd be shut down by the dominant big three of Houston.

Why doesn't Joe Mauer get more consideration? Out of all the candidates, he plays the most demanding defensive position, and he's arguably the best defender at his position, as opposed to all the others, who are either a.) average or worse at their position or b.) don't even play defense. Mauer is second in Win Shares behind Jeter and Manny, FWIW. BTW, I do realize that Mauer probably won't even finish in the top five, because for whatever reason, writers don't care about defense. It's funny, really, they b**** about guys like Hafner and Ortiz not playing defense, yet they don't give great defense its due, in the cases of guys like Mauer and Beltran (who, IMO, should win the NL MVP in a landslide). I'd rank the candidates like this, personally, based on where their respective teams are at, offense, and defense... 1.)Jeter 2.)Mauer 3.)Dye and, in the NL 1.)Beltran 2.)Pujols/Howard 3.)Howard/Pujols EDIT: This post probably makes it seem like I'm really discrediting Dye. I think the AL MVP race is extremely close at this point, and it'll probably come down to a combination of whose team makes the playoffs, and to which player has the most 'moments' (ala Dye's homer vs Nathan).

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Sep 6, 2006 -> 08:43 PM) 480 homers for the Hurt. Next season is going to be really special, as far as guys gettitng to the 500 mark. Off the top of my head, Manny, Frank, and Thome are all within a reasonable stiking distance. In fact, I believe Manny and Thome are now tied at, IIRC, 469. I'd absolutely LOVE to see Frank hit 500 at the Cell. That'd be one helluva moment. Jim, too, but Frank (at this point) has a bigger place in my heart.

Keeping with my 'only positives' from SSS... -Give it up for the starting pitching in this series, specifically Vazquez and Contreras. Saved our semi-depleted bullpen, and were absolutely dominant against a pretty good lineup. -I really hate doing and saying something like this, especially considering I'm way more stats oriented than 'intangible' oriented, but -- could Ozzie's pre-game speech be his best personal move of the year? -Great to see Hermy back on the mound. I doubt he helps us a whole lot down the stretch, other than some mopup innings like this, but it brings back some good memories seeing him on the mound. If this is the Jose we're going to get down the stretch, we now have four starters doing what they're supposed to do. Obviously, you can't seem to get to confident with any of our starters other than Garland, but who knows? This rotation really hasn't had an even good run this whole season -- if they bring a great run out now, it'd certainly give this team a great shot at the postseason (obviously). BTW -- who are we rooting for in the Tigers/Twins series? I think I'd rather have the team who wins the first game sweep the series, but really, any outcome will be good for the Sox.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Sep 6, 2006 -> 04:32 AM) Seriously, it was more fun in the late 90's and early 2000's when we just plain sucked and nobody showed up.

You CANNOT sac bunt here. He's your best hitter right now. Ugh.

Is Hawk putting this Gabbard kid on the Cy Young pedestal? I have the NESN announcers. If he is, someone needs to tell him that this kid had a 5+ ERA at Pawtucket this year. Game. Good effort so far, Javy, but your best hope was a ND.

Sweeney hitting here is the first time I've been excited since the Saturday game against KC, when Sweeney was one batter away from coming to the plate with the tying and winning runs at the plate in the ninth.

0-for-6 so far for the offense makes it eight-and-one-third IP by Boston starting pitchers this series, allowing only two runs. Pa-f***ing-thetic.