ottawa_sox

This club could really use a loogy specialist. Someone to face the best lefthanded hitter the opposition has to offer in a close game.

QUOTE(Mplssoxfan @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 03:42 PM) Best hockey player to pitch in the Majors, and a super nice guy to boot. McCaskill - Canadian and the best ping pong player on the team. Buddy Bradford - I remember him as being able to do a little of everything, as in your proverbial 5 tool player. Trouble was all his tools were more like a C grade. How 'bout Walter 'No Neck' Williams.

QUOTE(MurcieOne @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 12:02 PM) READ THE GAZETTE.... I cover the hawks for that paper... its like reading the porkchop chronicles... only about hockey... cause the hawks are well the porkchop's of the NHL. I'm a closet Hawk fan ....... and I like porkchops. What's the full name of the paper? Does it have a website?

QUOTE(YASNY @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 11:29 AM) You can't say that at all. Put the man in different circumstances, you can expect different results. He certainly has the talent. Maybe he was miserable in Arizona. Maybe Coop would have changed his focus. Maybe the good defense would have been a confidence builder. Ther are several things that could have affected his performance if he would have been here rather than there. I'll bet pitching in thin air can be very frustrating, when your pitches lose their movement.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 14, 2005 -> 12:29 PM) He was not rocked in those games because he was missing a pitch, he was rocked in those games because he was throwing only fastball/curveball. With just those 2 pitches, BMac is beatable. But that changeup is the pitch that makes everything else work. It's like Santana from the right hand side. It just makes people look like idiots. No one has been able to pick it up at all, and combined with the curve ball it just dominates people. When he wasn't throwing that pitch, he was getting beat. Late in the year he started throwing it more, and suddenly no one could hit him. I like the idea of him getting another pitch, just to throw a few times per game, just to keep people even more honest. And most people still think he'll add a few MPH to his fastball as his frame fills out. He also temporarily lost his arm slot for the 12 to 6 o'clock fastball. Re-finding it was also a big key to his renewed success. His devestating changeup is especially hard to pick up when he is throwing fastballs completely over the top.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Dec 14, 2005 -> 12:21 PM) McCarthy already has three pitches. He doesn't need to develop anymore. And here's the idea about McCarthy in the bullpen--it won't be because management doesn't believe he's "fully ready," but rather, because of the possibility of injury many here are alluding to. How the hell could you conclude he's not ready after the manner in which he ended the season? You give your kidney McCarthy isn't the best starter next year, and I'll give my kidney if Garland is even pitching in a White Sox uniform. McCarthy, if I remember correctly discarded the slider not too long ago and if you also include the cutter they have been working on, he is up to 5 working pitches. You can include me in the camp of 'Garland - he gone' if another big move happens. Kenny just said Jon and Contreras have to 'start getting serious'. While we are playing fantasy baseball, how about Crede and his Boras connection, along with Garland for Tejada. Move Uribe and his gun over to third.

QUOTE(JimH @ Dec 9, 2005 -> 02:10 PM) Duane Josephson and Ed Hermann, flashback time. I remember that ... 1968 ... 1969 ... or was that Gerry McNertney? Either way, I'm not so sure it worked out all that well, the White Sox lost tons of games in '68, '69, '70. But I agree with you on Borchard. Yes he's a great guy, works hard, is out of options, it'd be nice to give him a shot etc. etc. but KW's statements saying they can't get him the # of AB's to let him develop leads me to conclude he's out of the picture. Plus I think Ozzie wants a speed/contact guy in reserve so he has another option at #2. Could be Owens for sure, could be someone from the outside. The key, it seems, is speed, defense, ability to handle the role, and a contact hitter. None of which is Borchard, to be blunt. I had to check it out. Duane and Ed didn't do all that much as a tandem in '69, but they were very effective in '70. They both had just under 300 at bats, drove in over 90 runs, hit over 20 home runs and had a combined batting average of just under .300. In White Sox lore, these numbers are somewhat astonishing, considering they came from the catcher position...... BCF (Before Carleton Fisk). The fact that they did this in their second tandem year, however, puts a bit of a hole in my theory that sharing the job as rookies is the way to go. But I like the combined Anderson and Owens skillset. The way Ozzie likes to mix and match ..... it might be doable.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Dec 9, 2005 -> 01:08 PM) Jim, I'm with you on Jeff DaVannon. He'd be a nice little addition...nothing to write home about, but, he doesn't have to be. Truthfully, I want to see Joe Borchard given every opportunity to compete for that spot. I'm supporting the big guy and I think with a solid ST under his belt and a little incentive to stay with the big-leauge club, he might be able to start piecing the puzzle together. Borchard. DaVannon. I'm alright with either. He's got no minor-league options left, let's give him a solid crack at it. The way Kenny talks about Joe B. needing lots of at bats at this time in his career, I tend to think he is out of the picture. What about a fairly equal split between Anderson and Owens in center? With the non-starter being available for pinch hitting, they could both get around 300 at bats in their first year. Each other's presence would also ease first year pressures. Reminds me of the righty-lefty catching duo of Josephson/Hermanson that worked well, decades ago.

QUOTE(JimH @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 10:58 PM) Jason, not sure if this is true, but Minny has supposedly cooled on Mueller due to the Castillo trade ... it's a $$$ issue. They go into the meetings with hitting and fielding on their wish list. Who is cheaper, that is available, that might help their cause? They are looking at 3rd, 2nd, right and DH. Names like Piazza, Frank, Nomar and even Reggie Sanders interest them. Maybe they will have to reshuffle somewhere else to acquire one of these guys. I don't see anybody coming cheap (except, gulp, Frank).

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 10:40 PM) Thats another team offering it. I figure if it comes to money, The Dodgers will offer more than the Twins. Plus I'm guessing he'd rather play on grass than turf (especially considering he's older and had that serious knee injury early in his career). Good point on the knee. Maybe Brossard and Hermy could send Mr. Mueller an early Christmas card.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 09:11 PM) The Dodgers would be the one team that would be able to offer him a starting job at his normal position and rumor is the Dodgers are interested in him. This is the one guy I would like the Sox to pick up. What about the Twins offering him the 3rd base job?

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Dec 4, 2005 -> 11:29 PM) 2004's Uribe was very successful offensively. However, he was very streaky had a hot April and May, bad June-August and got hot again in September. He is too inconsistent to hold that #2 spot in the order. The #2 spot is probably the most important spot in the order and Iguchi is the most consistant batter we have. I say if we CANT aqcuire a new #2 hitter- than just keep Gooch there. If its not broke why fix it? I understand that Ozzie wants Gooch to use his power more, but is it really neccessary with Paulee, Thome, and Dye in the middle of the order??!? I agree with your assessment. I thought Iguchi was one of the best number 2 hitters the Sox have had in a long time. Maybe Ozzie saw something in the 'new' September/October leg lifting Uribe. It's still early in his career. He could still develop consistency. It seems that the impetus for considering change is to keep Gooch happy. That is partly what Managers must do. In a best case scenario, talents will be maximized and players will be happy.

QUOTE(timotime @ Dec 4, 2005 -> 04:03 PM) that's a-rods fault for not making his own decision then. the power an agent has depends on the player's assertion. a-rod could have relegated boras' role to more detail-oriented stuff. Unfortunately, when the evil incarnate performs his 'brainwashing' act on a client, the client tends to have cloudy judgement. It would certainly be hard for a ballplayer to to disagree with Borass when he is told to sit in the corner and accept the fact that doing so will result in a maximum contract offer. And I must agree that your previous post seems a little harsh and over the top for someone that joined in the middle of November. If that should even be taken into consideration. I don't think it would be prudent to start 4-lettering people in a new work environment, in the first week. P.S. Excuse my slow typing. I entered this before realizing that you had edited your post.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Nov 28, 2005 -> 06:30 AM) Hoyt Wilhelm. Eddie Fisher. And didn't Jack Lamabe throw one evry now and then? I don't know why that popped into my head, and I may be totally wrong about that. I thought I had a vague memory of the Sox having 3 guys on the same team that threw knuckleballs. Of course Wilhelm threw it all the time. Fisher threw it the majority of the time. And I thought Dennis Higgins threw them sometimes. I, too, might be 'off base' with Higgins. I think the pitching coach with the Sox back then was Dutch Leonard and he was famous for teaching knuckleballs (not by any means his only claim to fame).

QUOTE(White Sox Josh @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 11:31 PM) was the woman sort of husky. "You know a large girl, roomy through the hips." Whoever tells me the movie in which that quote was from you will gain something very cool. Sounds like something out of 'Silence of the Lambs'.

Hey Chuck It's always great to have an inciteful view from the other side of the fence. While trying to determine if the Phillies pulled off a good trade, at this stage of the game, you should take heart in Pat Gillick's track record. A winning record record 16 of his last 17 full seasons and 9 post season appearances. He has shown an especially keen eye for young talent. Good luck.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 14, 2005 -> 07:14 PM) That sounds like an exact description of how people were beating Uribe and Crede most of last season. Rowand somewhat also. Is that something you see in a lot of organizations, or might our guys just be learning from a bad teacher somewhere along the line? It's not easy protecting all 4 corners of the plate. If the hitter is up there hoping to drive something, he does not want offspeed on the outer edge at the knees. I think it is extremely common for young hitteres to be reluctant to give in and shorten up with 2 strikes. Especially if they have had nothing but success at driving the ball in their short careers. Anderson was pull crazy when I saw him and he hit everything hard. At the major league level he will have to better recognize pitches away and go with them. I don't in any way think this is a problem unique to the Sox.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Nov 14, 2005 -> 06:14 PM) Offensively: 20-30 HR power (I think it will be more on the low end than the high) .260-.300 AVG (I think in the beginning it may not even be .260, but I do believe he'll turn into a .280ish hitter) 100 Plus strikeouts (early on we may see 130 or so) Defensively Strong, Accurate Arm Great Range Fluid Runner Baserunning Good speed (He'd be the 2nd fastest everyday player in the lineup this side of Pods) Could turn into a 15-20 stolen base guy The guy is a very good all around athlete and I'd say he has the ability to turn himself into a Torri Hunter type player. He doesn't have the pretty swing or the best eye, therefor I have a hard time seeing him ever turn into a great hitter. That said he has all the tools to be a plus defensive outfielder and should be a good hitter (a solid hitter with some pop). However, all that said, I don't think he's ready for a starting position and I would prefer to see him playing everyday in Charlotte for another few months. If he were to break camp with the Sox I'd like to see him play in a super sub role, ocassionally DH'ing, but giving Aaron, Scotty and Jermaine each time off (which should get him maybe 3 starts a week, possibly 4 considering how Ozzie likes giving guys rest). This should give him plenty of at bats to the point where he will be able to learn and make adjustments and be ready for a starting job in 2007 and if someone were to go down, he'd be ready to fill in this upcoming season. I saw him play a few games this year and I completely agree with this assessment. One thing about his hitting - he had trouble with low and away breaking balls (who doesn't at this stage of their development). And he didn't show any inclination to shorten up his swing with 2 strikes. He impressed me as being supremely confident and did not want to give up the chance to 'park one' with 2 strikes. I thought he showed a very quick bat though. I don't think he is far off.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Nov 9, 2005 -> 05:07 PM) I stand corrected. I still wouldn't want anyone who attempted to kill someone on the White Sox roster. Maybe he will be exonerated. I still wouldn't touch him with a 10 ft. pole, and I really wanted this guy when Detroit made him available. Now if he tried to kill someone on the Yankees roster...........that's another story.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Nov 8, 2005 -> 07:59 PM) If you gimme a healthy Maggz vs Konerko in that situation.... id take Maggz in a heartbeat. I think they both have the ability to go the other way. Perhaps Maggs is more suited to inside out the ball. But I think Maggs would be more reluctant to make it happen. I think he is more interested in his own personal numbers. Everyone talks about Konerko being a double play machine, but I seem to remember Maggs rolling his hands over way too often in that situation when he could have gone the other way. I like Konerko's heart more, as a team player. And this is what eventually got us to the promised land.

Here we go with the numbers again. If both Mags and Kong are faced with a runner on second and nobody out ........ who is going to force the ball to the right side for the benefit of the team. Just go back 2 years and the preceding several and compare our stats to the Twins. This year we got smart. This year 2 of our stalwart hitters were moved to other cities.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Nov 5, 2005 -> 08:41 AM) Damn! I'd sure like to get my hands on one of these. Me too!

I would like to say that I will now be able to shift my focus onto more important things at the expense of the White Sox, now that the 'seemingly impossible' has occured.................... but addictions don't work that way. I imagine I will want them to win just as much next year ...................... the difference will be not the thrill of winning, but the pain of losing. It won't be as great as in the past.

For me ..... that would be a 46 year monkey off my back. From my grandfather's basement, watching Early Wynn ...... all the way through ..... transistor radios under the pillow for the west coast games ...... taking the dog out for a 3 hour walk and standing like a wooden Indian with my transitor glued to the local baseball diamond backstop for amplified sound ...... rain or not, local or wherever the Sox were playing ....... opening up a crate sent from Chicago with an original Comisky Park seat in it ....... travelling from Ottawa to see every Sox game, in Toronto for the first 10 years the Blue Jays were in existence ....... catching a Tom Paciorek foul fly during one of those visits ........ the wait makes the 2005 Championship all that much sweeter!!!! Thanks to Jerry, Kenny, Ozzie, Harold, Greg and all the ballplayers. Thanks to Soxtalk for providing a venue to finally share a life long passion.

FINALLY!!!!!!! IT'S OUR TURN!!!!!!!