CWSGuy406

Jason, why is Hernandez suspended? Drugs?

I feel stupid for asking, but what's an MLE? A contract of some sort, yes?

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 4, 2007 -> 02:50 AM) I guess reality is something Javy fans just want to avoid. Or the reality that making Vazquez a closer -- whether or not he keeps his ERA as low as it is right now -- is f***ing stupid.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Jul 3, 2007 -> 10:29 PM) (1) McCarthy sucked last year and is currently sucking big-time this year. He would not have been an adequate #5 starter. Interestingly enough, B-Mac has made all of two starts since June 1st. Anybody know why? Outside of his first couple starts, I haven't really been checking in on McCarthy's status.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 3, 2007 -> 10:13 PM) Buehrle's trying to avoid the media until something gets done/trade happens, according to the most recent update on the Score. There's no way this can drag out until the end of the month. I don't see why the Buehrle situation would/should affect Contreras. Is it because they feel they only have one "capable" starting pitcher in the wings in Floyd and that, if they trade Contreras and don't get anything done with Buehrle, they'll be left with Masset or Broadway along with Floyd in the rotation, a direction they don't want to go? The Mets fans I've read seem to want a bat (right-handed) more than another pitcher, but with Perez on the DL and Sosa fading, you're right in saying now is the time (logically) to strike a deal with them. Could we package a deal with Dye and Contreras? They pretty much hate Shawn Green, and I think Dye could play a passable first* (Delgado has been awful). Would Green + Milledge for Contreras + Dye work? Not that I, in any way, want Green, but it would make sense salary wise. Then again, if Green has a NTC, I'd doubt that he would come here. I made this point not to say Dye would play first on any regular basis, just that it's an option.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 3, 2007 -> 09:50 PM) Minaya, and Cashman are idiots. So now you want to compare Javy Vazquez, a perfectly capable starter, to Billy Wagner and Mariano Rivera, two guys who have made all of ten starts in their (combined) careers? You've totally changed the argument. I'm saying making Javy Vazquez a closer is an absolutely ludicrous idea, and you've done nothing to back up your point, except change the subject from "They should make Vazquez a closer if such and such cirmcumstances play out" to "the Sox did wrong by not spending money on their bullpen". The latter is an argument for another day -- in this thread, you said considering Vazquez would be a good idea when all the facts point to it being a ridiculous idea. You're too thick-headed to just admit that Vazquez is a perfectly average starting pitcher and that turning him into a closer would be dumb. Yeah, let's look at that Angel bullpen a little more closely. They're paying $3 million dollars to Hector Carrasco, who in about 40 innings has an ERA over 6.50. They're paying $1.75 million dollars to Darrin Oliver, who has an ERA of 6.26. They're paying $4 million to Justin Speier -- oh, yeah, four million for the next four years -- who has pitched a whole 16 innings this year. f***, if only the Sox signed him, they'd be right there with Detroit and Cleveland! Their current mainstays? Franky Rodriguez and Scot Shields, obviously, although in your hypothetical bullpen, I don't think they would have ever had the shot at becoming great relievers, because at one time a couple of years ago they were making the league minimum. Dustin Moseley has been fantastic, but again, he's making the minimum, so that's a bad thing, and ditto Chris Bootcheck.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Jul 3, 2007 -> 07:58 PM) Royce Ring was dealing in AAA for San Diego this season and got called up a couple weeks ago, and has been very, very good... Was Robby Alomar worth it? Shouldn't've ever come to that. Should've taken Blanton...

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 3, 2007 -> 07:12 PM) When 2007 is all said and done, Vazquez's numbers will be their usual mediocre perfectly average selves. Fixed. Yeah, spending $10 million dollars on one guy to pitch 75 innings is definitely the way to go. Like I said, pure brilliance.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 3, 2007 -> 06:52 PM) If ERA is important, he has yet to finish a season with an ERA below league average since leaving Montreal. Oh, right, he's put up ERAs marginally below the league average, making ERA+s of 92, 99 and 96. And all the while, he's averaged 205 innings per season. Still better than the average #4 starter. I didn't say that, but if you can't read, I can't help ya there. I said: "And according to this article per The Hardball Times, Vazquez "bad years" still rate above average for a fourth starter." Nothing more, nothing less. No, putting a guy who currently has a 3.95 ERA in ~100 innings is a brilliant idea! Even better, let's pay $10 million dollars for our closer! That's an awesome idea! Let's turn the guy who, since last August, has put up a ~3.90 ERA in ~170 innings, into a closer! If only everyone could share your brain, DA...

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 3, 2007 -> 06:13 PM) Maybe you should look at 10 years of results. Nah. Its what he looks like warming up in the bullpen that counts. Yep, it's all about that W/L percentage, right Hawk? Give me a f***ing break. Even in Vazquez' "bad" years -- the ones in which his ERA is 4.50-4.90 -- he still gives you 200+ innings. And according to this article per The Hardball Times, Vazquez "bad years" still rate above average for a fourth starter. And if he continues doing what he's done this year? He's better than the average #2 starter. Turning Vazquez into a closer would be stupid.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Jul 3, 2007 -> 05:40 AM) Join the rest of White Sox nation. I am not sure there is a Sox fan out there who would rather have Owens over Sweeney. So you want Sweeney to ride the bench? Because that is what would happen if he came up here. The way I see it now, Terrero is the starting CFer. For RF, Dye is back and if he's not there, that's Andy Gonzalez' spot. And in LF -- so long as Dye is healthy -- Ozzie's got Mackowiak and Gonzalez. I think that the Sox think they'd be hurting Sweeney's development if they brought him up right now. And the fact that he's still not ready for the bigs is another reason he's not up.

So Noah has a partial tear in his shoulder? Great. Just great.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 3, 2007 -> 02:09 AM) The scary thing is that I'm sure KW and company overrate Reyes so much. Why do you say that? Reyes is exactly the opposite of the type of pitcher Kenny has targeted the past six months.

If that's the deal we get in return, I quit life.

It's gotta be the socks.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jul 3, 2007 -> 12:27 AM) Umm..he posted an 800+ OPS over the past month since being sent down. He's posted an .839 OPS in June. That's okay, but those numbers don't scream "call-up" to me. It'd be nice if his great tools actually started translating into dominant production.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jul 3, 2007 -> 12:17 AM) It would be great if they could still get Handus. Nope, although you'll be able to see him just about any time you want -- he just signed a 4/$16 deal with LA, along with Nagy and former Hawk Kyle Calder.

QUOTE(WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Jul 2, 2007 -> 11:18 PM) There is no excuse for Sweeney to still be in the minors. Sure there is -- dude can't even put up an .800 OPS in a tiny ballpark. I'd guess it would be more of the same as his first call-up -- pitcher's would pound him hard in-in-in.

QUOTE(The Critic @ Jul 2, 2007 -> 09:58 PM) I guess so. Too bad we've been conditioned to expect much worse. Critic, you probably saw more Detroit games than I did last year -- do you remember who Lang's linemates were last season. And also, your thoughts on the signing? BTW, they're reporting the deal as two years, eight million which is probably too much money.

Robert Lang is a Blackhawk, so it looks like Handzus is gone. Kind of a bummer there, but Zus is looking to break the bank with both money and years even after a serious injury + surgery. Lang for two years is okay -- not a long term deal, he's clearly a declining player but hopefully playing with Havlat and Samsonov will give him a bit of a boost. BTW, I'd imagine the Hawks might be done in free agency with this signing. So, if it was opening night tomorrow, I'd guess things would look like... Samsonov - Lang - Havlat Ruutu - Toews - Kane Williams - Sharp - Vrbata Borque - Perrault - ??? Koci (These aren't exact defensive pairings, just getting the six-seven guys down) Seabrook - Zyuzin Keith - Wisniewski Barker - Vandermeer Johannson

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Jul 1, 2007 -> 10:18 PM) This better not be Dale saying "here's your #1 center," there has to be something else coming. If so, it screams Arkhipov all over again - he talked him up mightily when signed, but he was nowhere near Dale's expectations. Tallon is in a bit of a tough spot. Most of these guys are getting (or will get) more money and years than they're worth. The years is actually more important than the money -- I could live with the Hawks overpaying for a guy for two years (maybe even three), but when other teams start tossing around 4-5 year deals, what's Dale to do? That's why the Zus thing could blow up. He's 30 years old and is coming off of a major injury and surgery -- if you sign him for four years and he ends up going all Adrian Aucoin on you, the Hawks are again in a tough spot. Anything for three years or less I'll generally be happy with, but if it turns out that these pretty-good-but-not-great players are getting more years and money than that, the Hawks might be better off taking it on the chin again and just play Toews on the first line.

I f***ing love Boone Logan. Lefties everywhere are his b****.

QUOTE(Purdue129 @ Jul 1, 2007 -> 08:44 PM) per tsn: Yanic Perreault agrees to terms with the Chicago Blackhawks on a one-year, $1.5 million contract. He's a good faceoff man, but not the top six center the Hawks need. I can live with him on the third line.

Nice day at the plate for Fields. He crushed that ball, nice play by Dejesus though...

Rafalski to Detroit is a done deal, and Scotty Gomez might be a Ranger. I hope Gomez signs with NYR, that'll mean Nylander is not going back there.