CWSGuy406

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 11:15 PM) Is Orlando your choice because of his performance in that game, or because of his entire career? I love El Duque, too. No, I liked him in his Yankee days. I also like the story behind the pitcher, and how he defected from Cuba (there's a book out that I'd eventually like to read on the subject). The ALDS pitching performance (and Game 3 WS performance, despite being injured) only cemented his place in my heart (aww, don't that just make ya feel all warm and fuzzy?).

The most clutch pitching performance I've ever seen in my short lifetime. The arm angles... the eephus... the excitement he brought to every game, even if he sucked that day. Yeah, I know he wasn't great for us last year, but he's still my favorite.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 10:29 PM) What about Garcia for Latroy Hawkins and Cabrerra, maybe we throw in a prospect of sorts, even a Sean Tracey type. I could buy reasons why the O's do it and reasons why the Sox do it. The Sox may be giving up a bit, but Cabrerra's upside may be worth that. The one thing that concerns me about Hawkins is that his strikeout numbers are ridiculously low (he was always a strikeout guy for as long as I can remember him). So long as Baltimore is taking the majority of the $15 million (approx) left on Garcia's contract... where do I sign? I love Cabrera's arm. After watching him in the WBC, I really thought he was going to be the one to breakout under Mazzone's eye. Plus, Hawkins would be great to have in the back of the bullpen. His problems with the Cubs were overblown because he was in the closer's role. He'd be the sixth guy in our 'pen, no problem.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 07:13 AM) Oh, and there was also a real opportunity for Ozzie to be brave that same inning...Thome came up, they put the Shift on, no one was holding Anderson on at all, the 3rd baseman was playing short...he could have gambled and sent Anderson and I'll bet he could have waltzed home. Balta, I was thinking the exact same thing. But then I started to watch Rogers a little more closely. He has 10 toes pointed towards homeplate on his windup, and he was looking at Anderson up until he started his delivery. His delivery, even when it wasn't out of the stretch, is very quick to homeplate, too. Needless to say, what I'm getting at is that Anderson would've been a dead-duck. But, like I said, I was thinking the exact same thing. What really peeved me about this game was the inning where Anderson had a leadoff double on the error from Rogers. Our best bunter coming up can't get it down. Then Iguchi nor Thome can single him home. I dunno about you, but ya just sorta had a feeling that even though we were up 1-0, bad news was on the horizon.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 09:54 PM) I don't know much about Torrealba. Zaun might be nice (sure they wouldn't give us Molina?). Torrealba. Don't know how good he is defensively, and I'm too lazy to look up his CS% although I'm sure that he can't possibly be any worse than Widger. Offensively -- he's only had 92 ABs this year, so it tells you that Colorado doesn't think he's there guy for the future. In 37 ABs against lefties this season (warning, small sample size) he's putting up a .297/.350/.514 line. In his career against lefties (233 ABs), he's putting up pretty much the same numbers (.292/.362/.511). He's seems like an obvious trade candidate, unless there's something we don't know about him (bad clubhouse guy). Heh... just found this out. I didn't know that Torrealba is also from Caracas, Venezuela.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 09:30 PM) when was that? If im wrong I admit im wrong. Would you like to check out the Corey Patterson thread in ATH? Thanks for playingl. Still haven't seen anything w/r/t Gload, so... ... waiting ...

Two moves, Kenny. a.) Brady Clark. Gives us a real platoon partner for Podsednik, and it guarantees Mackowiak won't see much CF in the second half. They have Gross and Hall who can play CF, and Hart (?) can fill in the corners. They could use pitching, so maybe Phillips/Haeger plus a lesser prospect could get it done? b.) Yorvit Torrealba. Gives us a legit backup catcher, someone who can mash lefties a bit better than The Widge (not my idea -- his). Make Widger, a 'vet' who was on last year's ballclub but isn't doing jack this year, the sacrificial lamb. They have Closser already, so Torrealba is going to get limited ABs. I assume that Colorado needs pitching -- would a knuckler fit well in Coors? I doubt Kenny's trading a top prospect for a reliever. I just don't think that's the way he 'rolls'... Well, no, I think I recall you adamantly (sp?) telling me how Ross had no chance at making the team. My point is, you seem to throw around these guarantees so freely ("this divisional race is over!"), yet never see you eat 'yer crow when you're wrong.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jul 20, 2006 -> 08:04 PM) Nope, even inbred non-educated people from Michigan should know how to count this race. This is off-topic, but weren't you the one guarnanteeing to everybody that Ross Gload was done in the organization and had no chance in hell of making the team?

QUOTE(soxpride77 @ Jul 19, 2006 -> 01:58 PM) I understand the Bora$$ thing. but why would it ruin his trade value? It's not like he would forget how to play third base if he played some games in the outfield this year to see if he can do it. It's harder to find thirdbasemen who can hit than it is finding outfielders (specifically corner OFers) who can hit. You move him to LF, you're making a concession that he isn't all that great defensively at third (even if Crede is there), thus, his trade value is going to fall. Fields is a good enough athlete to make the move over winter. If he plays LF in a winter league, and all throughout Spring Training, I think he'll be okay out there.

I have NCAA '07 for regular X-Box, but I played a game over at my friend's house on 360. Damn, that game is IMPRESSIVE for 360. The stadiums look scary realistic, and the controls are real nice, too. Things seem to flow real nicely. As for the X-Box version, it doesn't look like they switched a whole lot from last year. I'm sure there's some added stuff (like the kick meter, which I like), but the gameplay seems the same as last year. The difference between 360 and regular X-Box is night-and-day, in gameplay and in graphics (obviously). Anyone know how to change it to the regular camera on kickoff returns? I like seeing the whole field rather than such a limited view.

Stellar Road is pretty big in my area right now. I like them less than most of my friends do, but I still think they're okay.

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Jul 18, 2006 -> 02:54 PM) I don't know, kind of an odd metric. It doesn't use putouts our assists, so that will hurt Crede's numbers. Doesn't really make sense how Konerko's numbers are that bad, also look at Gary Matthews - he saved at least 4-5 runs on over the wall catches, but he is the worst CF? Konerko's numbers make sense. We all know that PK's best asset defensively isn't his range -- it's his ability to pick bad throws from Iguchi/Uribe/Crede out of the dirt. I don't believe this metric accounts for that, so you have to take the 1B numbers with a pretty large grain of salt.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jul 17, 2006 -> 04:06 AM) And what are you trying to contribute to this discussion again? Wait -- this coming from the person who keeps going back to his 'calculator' snubs that he believes are true? Quit kidding yourself, pal... I'll give my final post on this topic, since you seem to have the wrong opinion about me. I'm not a 100% stats guy. I do tend to favor stats, yes, but I don't think they are the be all, end all. There are certain things that stats can't tell you. I'm not going to go into detail, but things like Matt Thorton -- a guy sucks for five years in the bigs, and, with one tweak of his motion, is a solid pitcher out of the 'pen -- can't be explained by stats. That being said, stats are a lot more objective than ones eyes. There will always be personal biases. Stats try to take that out of the picture, especially when you use adjusted stats (ie, stats that adjust for playing in Shea Stadium vs. playing in Coors Field). Bringing this full-circle with the Pods, I don't need stats to tell me he's a mediocre ballplayer -- my eyes can tell me that. His routes on balls hit to LF suck. The only reason he's passable out there is because of his speed. Offensively, I like the fact that he sees a lot of pitches. I like that he's walking more this year than he did last year. Generally, he's a player who isn't preventing this team from winning, but it's the number one spot I'd look to upgrade for next year (out of the position players). He's going to go to arbitration, and will probably make more money than he deserves. Hopefully there's a GM out there that thinks he's the 'sparkplug' to our number one offense in baseball (when in reality, it's all the homers we're hitting -- that's my opinion, of course, but it's an opinion backed by the fact that SLG% correlates well with scoring runs, better than SBs or batting average).

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jul 17, 2006 -> 03:58 AM) It isn't a jab as much as it is a truism. Do you not see all the complexities and intricacies of a major league baseball game? Yet some people want to explain EVERYTHING that occurs on a major league baseball stadium with their calculator- dismissing all other elements. That's just amazingly silly to me. Explain what with their calculator? What the f*** are you talking about? You're not even making sense anymore...

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jul 17, 2006 -> 03:49 AM) And you will give me the argument that all saber people give when something occurs which cannot be explained with their calculators- "small sample size." Oh, haha, the typical jab about sabermetricians using spreadsheets or calculators or computers. Funny. Have you met Bill Plaschke? You two would get along great! BTW, guys, let's keep the name-calling to a minimum. This thread doesn't have to turn into a pissing contest -- no need for it to be closed. Yeah, the Sox really 'manufactured' their way to a title last post-season. I mean, so many games stick out from our run where we didn't rely on the longball. Oh, wait...

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 08:30 PM) If the Yankees make their expected trade, them and the Red Sox will have more pure talent than we do. However, if you make it to the playoffs, anything can happen. Who exactly are the Yankees going to use to make this trade? Scott Proctor? Sidney Ponson? The 'great' Erik Duncan? I doubt Phillip Hughes is going anywhere, and their Tabata kid is only in A-ball. I can't believe some people are complaining about an offense that ranks first in all of baseball, 28 runs ahead of the vaunted Boston offense. If you can't see that the reason we're losing right now is because of our 16th ranked 4.57 ERA, then maybe you need a new game.

QUOTE(AWhiteSoxinNJ @ Jul 15, 2006 -> 08:47 PM) Javy and Cash for Gordon....thats all i'm willing to offer....It would be a HUGE mistake to trade Freddy. Javy's not going anywhere in any realistic trades. Kenny has obviously had his eye on him (Vazquez) for the past two years, AT LEAST. He gave up Chris Young, a top 25 prospect in all of baseball and a kid on the mystical 'Three Year Board' for him. You think he's going to give up on him after three months? I know this is repeated from the other thread, but Javy's stuff is still there. They gotta see if they can fix what's in-between his ears.

QUOTE(whitesoxin @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 01:18 AM) Are you trying to say my views are skewed? You didn't word it right if that is what you are trying to say. And if that is what you are trying to say I am shocked. Shouldn't a moderator know that everyone has different views and others might not have the same views as you? I believe I am jumped all over because of a moderator who can't forgive and forget. You said this -- -- on a White Sox fan message board. Kalapse presented facts that Mark Buehrle has been up there with one of the top pitchers of the past five years in Roy Halladay, to which you replied, "I don't like stats, I go by instinct". And then you admittedly said your not very good at fantasy baseball because you go by "instinct" rather than stats. No one is trying to defend Buehrle's performance this season. Nobody at all. But again -- you called Buehrle overrated. Over his career, he's averaged 225 innings of a 3.63 ERA (in the AL, in one of the best hitters parks in baseball). If Buehrle has been overrated the past five years, then this staff needs a lot more "overrated" pitchers, or we're in trouble.

I'm going to defend Garcia for a second. First off, for as much as we like to bash Garcia, he is 10-5 with a 4.91 ERA. I'm not saying that's great or anything, but I'm sure there are still GMs out there that see the ten wins and have their eyes bulge up. Second, even with his junkballing, mysteriously losing 3 MPH off his fastball ways, Garcia is a #2-3 on most NL teams. There are a couple of exceptions (like Houston and maybe Florida), but for most NL teams, he's in the top part of the rotation. Third -- if he did go to the Mets -- he'd be leaving one of the best hitters parks in the AL and going to the one of the best pitcher's parks in the NL. Everybody here, everybody in baseball, everybody in the world knows how big the talent disparity is between the AL and the NL this year; you could probably shave at least a run off of Garcia's ERA if he were pitching in the NL this year. That said, I can see Omar getting a little ancy and realizing that, if the playoffs started today, Steve Trachsel (blah) would be his game three starter. I'd make a Heilman + Milledge move... This is also a little different than the Zito situation because Garcia is locked up for next year (and if the Sox eat, say, $2 million of Garcia's contract next year -- $8 million for Garcia in the NL would be a steal). As for a couple of other things... Garland, obviously not going anywhere, he's got that no-trade clause. Plus, he's been our second best starter the past month. Ditto Vazquez, he's staying, like it or not. It's not a Garcia situation where he's clearly lost stuff; he still has good movement on all his pitches. His peripherals (K/9, K/BB, HR/9) are all good. I think he's in for a better second half. Kenny, Ozzie, and Coop aren't going to give up on him after three months after wanting the guy for the past three years (not to mention trading Chris Young for him).

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Jul 14, 2006 -> 02:08 AM) Keith, I got something for you to think about Tom Gordon is one of those 30-40 elite relievers that Shapiro is talking about - the guy has been money the last 4 years. He's had injury concerns in the past, and he's a bit older, but he has not stopped producing. Is one of those 30-40 elite relievers worth good prospects? Not necessarily Fields or Sweeney(who I don't think KW has any intention of moving at all), but perhaps one top 5 prospect or 2 in the top 15, or something in those whereabouts? I might give up two in the top 15. Depends which two... Not a chance in hell, though, are they even touching Fields or Sweeney.

QUOTE(TitoMB345 @ Jul 13, 2006 -> 11:31 PM) You'd have to ask him that. Those are just the stats. Small sample size, I know, but they are still the stats. Okay, well, when you prove that there's any predictive value in a guy hitting indoors or outdoors, then I'll put some credence into your 'stats'. Mmkay? Damn, I've been real snarky lately... Sorry about that, everyone.

QUOTE(beck72 @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 12:29 PM) The Sox have traded young prospects for established major leaguers to fill needs--a hitter [sP's for Thome] and a SP [a CFer for Vazquez]. I could see Fields going for pitching help. Seeing what the market was for those deals, Fields is about right for Gordon. Would I do it? Hard to say. But the sox have been willing to "overpay" to fill their needs. Fields for Gordon might be overpaying. But to keep the sox in contention for 3 more yrs might be too hard to pass up. Apples and oranges. Apples and f***ing oranges. You're talking about one guy who the Sox thought was going to throw 200 innings of a 4.00-4.50 ERA and another guy who the Sox though was going to hit 50 homers. Big difference than a reliever who's barely going to throw 70 innings a year... Sheesh... maybe Kenny should pull a Wayne Krisvky and trade two good young players (let's say, Brian Anderson and Juan Uribe) to Philly for a bunch of relievers. I'm sure they'd be willing to give us Arthur Rhodes AND Flash Gordon, along with eating a bunch of their salaries. Would that make ya happy, getting that 'veteran presence' into the bullpen? BTW, there's a great article with Indians GM Mark Shapiro online. Obviously, his team hasn't played as he envisioned it, but his thoughts on relievers strike me as being similar to what Kenny thinks (and me, if that means anything): http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cf..._id=46370&rfi=6 Obviously, it's not quite true that we only have "one guy" in our bullpen, but I found his thoughts interesting.

QUOTE(TitoMB345 @ Jul 13, 2006 -> 11:04 PM) Hmm, he does terrible against righties (.235, .313, .375) and outdoors (.259, .325, .374) so I don't know if he'd be the best pinch-hitter. Yeah, I'm sure Chris Burke looks up to the sky and, when he doesn't see a roof, knows it's going to be an 0-for for that day... :rolly

QUOTE(Chisoxrd5 @ Jul 12, 2006 -> 04:18 PM) Zobrist is a real solid hitter. His OBP each year in the minors is ridiculous. He doesn't have a lot of HR power but hits a lot of doubles and triples. I could see him make an impact at some point for a major league team simply because his plate discipline is off the charts. No offense, but the guy is 25 years old. He should be dominating AA if he wants to be considered any type of a prospect whatsoever...

QUOTE(hammerhead johnson @ Jul 13, 2006 -> 04:45 AM) I hear you on the first-to-third, but IMO 70% is a crappy rate. 29 out of 41 just ain't getting it done. If that rate holds up in the second half, it could mean the difference between him scoring 120 runs and 135 runs. This might sound silly, but with our absolutely ridiculous 2-7, he can't be getting thrown out 30% of the time. While I am in favor of forcing the issue on the basepaths, I hate it when a guy sucks hard. I used a wrong choice of words. In talking only about his stolen bases, he's not really hurting us, but he's not really helping a whole lot, either. Actually, when you factor in the times he's been picked off, it's probably had a negative overall effect for the first half of the season. Yup, I agree with that. You wanna be called a great base stealer, not only must you steal a lot of bases, but you better not get caught a whole lot either. Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes -- those guys jump out to me as two of the better ones in the game.