hogan873

I don't think AJ was drilled because he's AJ. He got drilled because he was up to bat when Reed decided to either throw at the batter or throw inside. If there truly was a retaliation in response to Dunn getting hit, then 2 outs in the ninth with a three run lead is a good time to do it. AJ just happened to be the batter. And enough with the AJ is hated s***. He played for the Sox for eight seasons and was extended a couple times. There's no doubt that his teammates respected him. He might very well be a jerk, and the argument when he was on the Sox was that he was our jerk. Now he's the Rangers' jerk. Regardless, I am sure there are guys on the Sox right now that still respect him

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 1, 2013 -> 11:13 AM) Except Axelrod's not going to fetch much of anything in trade. Other teams would be much more likely to target Peavy, Quintana and Santiago. That's obvious, especially Peavy. Quintana has done pretty well this season, but he still has his doubters. And there are definitely plenty who feel Santiago will get exposed after seeing opposing batters 2-3 times per game or throwing 75+ pitches. However, he did well as a starter in September after we were out of it and he was great until being forced into the game for Floyd the other day. Peavy, Rios and Ramirez are the best trade chips at the moment. However, trading Rios or Ramirez means we're surrendering completely. Axelrod could be a starter for the Sox for a while. I agree he doesn't have much trade value, but he has potential value as a young, decent pitcher who could play for the Sox for quite a few years. If the Sox are out of it at the deadline, or if they're in it and need a position player, I could see Peavy or Floyd getting dealt.

It is pretty amazing that they are 10-15. I haven't been able to watch many games, but the ones I've seen have been horrible...and that includes a few games that they won. The biggest problem, in my opinion, is the offense. The starting pitching has been pretty good and the bullpen has been great (aside from a few hiccups). The defense has been dissapointing, despite some fantastic glovework from Gillaspie and Ramirez. But the offense...ugh. They have to get better, right? How much better is the real question. Luckily they are only 5 games back. But, another couple weeks of lackluster baseball, and we could know what it's felt like to be be a Pirates fan for the past 20 years (last season excluded).

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 30, 2013 -> 01:29 PM) I'll be watching the finale tonight. And there is 0% chance that I'll ever watch that godawful show again. Why watch the finale then?

I thought the season finale of The Following was good. It'll be interesting to see what they do next season.

I hope they find a way to keep him in the lineup once Beckham comes back.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Apr 23, 2013 -> 03:31 PM) no, loss avoidance.

Alright. My first game thread this season, and hopefully the first of many as the Sox begin a winning streak tonight. Young Dylan Axelrod takes the hill against a guy the Sox hitters couldn't figure out last time around, Justin Masterson. It's time to end this offensive slump and this terrible start to the 2013 campaign. Finally, Spring-like conditions will greet the teams as they battle it out at The Cell.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 22, 2013 -> 09:00 AM) The White Sox are not going to have a total rebuild anytime soon, and considering how they have judged HS and college talent lately, it's a pretty good thing. It's not like they have the next Frank Thomas or Paul Konerko, or Robin Ventura or Magglio Ordonez in the pipeline. It is amazing to me some people think a total rebuild can happen in a few years. If everything went perfectly perhaps. But things don't go perfectly most of the time. The whiners would actually have something to whine about for years. At least this board isn't as bad as WSI who moan about fireworks being too quiet, stripes on pants, ushers not smiling at them, scoreboards being too small...They are playing poorly right now, but they will get better, and it's not like they are 10 games out. Yet. The team looks really bad right now, especially the offense. I agree that they will play better. But when and who? I'm very concerned about Adam Dunn right now. He's batting below .100, and he's still in the 4 or 5 hole. He's on pace to have a year as bad or worse than 2011. Detroit is a better team, and unless the Sox turn it around quickly, they will be 10 games out soon.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 18, 2013 -> 09:16 AM) Because getting 10 extra hits per year is not worth giving up 20 home runs per year. Probably a bit of an exaggeration here.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 18, 2013 -> 09:06 AM) He's adjusted his approach this year to try to make more contact rather than just swinging for the fences all the time. His failure this year so far is a direct result. You are asking him to hit with less power and be less effective. Less power, sure. But I would think that he could make the adjustment. Maybe he will, and what we're seeing now is a period while he struggles through it. He's been a victim of the shift his entire career. Why hasn't he (or can't he) make the adjustment?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 18, 2013 -> 08:24 AM) I asked this in the game thread, but has anyone done a study on Dunn to see how many hits the extreme shift costs/has cost him? That shift has got to cost him a ton of hits. But, what blows my mind is that he can't adjust to it and poke a hit to shallow left.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Apr 18, 2013 -> 07:50 AM) This weeks Family Guy was pretty good. Especially the first 2 minutes. The American Dad/King of the Hill tie-in was pretty funny. Overall I still enjoy the show. They have some outrageously funny moments, and then some meh moments. Overall, though, it keeps me entertained once a week. On a side note, we were a few weeks back on the show on the DVR and watched the Boston marathon episode the night of the actual bombing. It was weird.

He'll have to turn it around pretty quickly. Regardless, I don't think he'll be 2011-bad this year, but I don't see him hitting as well as last year. Unless I see a significant change over the next few games, it's going to be hard to imagine another 40+ HR year for him. Before the season started I was thinking he'd equal last year's performance with maybe a slightly higher BA. Now I'm thinking his BA will be about the same with fewer HRs...maybe in the neighborhood of 25. I hope I'm surprised, though.

It's too bad he wasn't called up earlier and he could have played for Viciedo, and Viciedo wouldn't have struck out against the right-handed pitcher in the 9th. Wait...

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Apr 16, 2013 -> 03:05 PM) My view is to salvage anything on this team aside from Sale, Santiago, and Quintana to start rebuilding that offense. Between Rios, Peavy, De Aza, Reed, Crain, and Konerko hopefully they can find at least 2 everyday starters. I assume you mean get rid of when you say "salvage." So, trade away a decent lead-off guy who plays decent defense, a good starting pitcher who eats innings, a guy who is the team's best offense producer, two good bullpen arms, and a power hitting first baseman/DH for maybe two starters? Okay. Who and for what positions? How much money are the Sox going to have to eat? Who ends up in CF? Who ends up in RF? Who fills the gaps left in the bullpen? Do the Sox even win 65 games?

QUOTE (greg775 @ Apr 16, 2013 -> 02:08 PM) The direction of this team? It should be to get the starting pitchers fixed. Tell them to get their heads out of their asses and start doing the job on the mound. I do think the loss of Beckham hurts our lineup a lot. Flowers and Dunn are automatic outs and Kepp has been lousy. Taking out what is potentially a decent bat really turns us into a minor league offense IMO. I have to diagree here. Gillaspie has been fine so far. I don't know if he can keep it up, but so far he's doing better than Beckham has. Defensively, yes, it hurts a bit. But in the lineup? No.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 16, 2013 -> 11:39 AM) And I'm saying he will probably hit around .200 with around 40 homers and probably over 200 strikeouts. Just like last year. Probably a little worse than last year, but it's 50 AB. It's amazing how everyone comes to conclusions so quickly. Last year when everyone thought he was so valuable, from 4/8-4/17 he was 5-34 with 1 walk. It's just so frustrating right now with just about the entire team not hitting, especially in situations when they need to hit. Dunn sticks out because he had such a terrible 2011, and the 2013 adam Dunn looks a lot like that guy from 2011. However, I agree with what you're saying if you look at 2013 alone. It's just hard not to look at his portfolio as a White Sox as a whole.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Apr 16, 2013 -> 10:13 AM) I think it's premature to say he's not a bust. You don't spend two years waiting on a guy to develop as a LF'er and his K-to-BB ratio says it all. And it's premature to say he's a bust.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Apr 14, 2013 -> 10:46 AM) There are only three players on the current roster who are important to a rebuild. Sale, Quintana, and Santiago. Danks is fourth on the list because of his contract. Realize Viciedo is a bust, keep Konerko through a rebuild if you want, doesn't matter and do with the rest of the roster what you will. Deal by deadline: Peavy, Rios, De Aza, Floyd, Reed, Crain. Enough. I believe you are the only one on this site that thinks Viciedo is a bust. He's not. He had a decent year last year hitting 25 HRs. He needs to hit right-handers better, and that will probably come. Besides, he's not a drain on the payroll. You don't like him, fine. But enough with the "he's a bust" and "platoon him with Juan Pierre."

I'm probably one of the bigger fans of Adam Dunn on this site, but I've just about seen enough. Last year was nice...until his batting average slipped dramatically in the second half. So far this year he looks like 2011 again. He's really doing nothing to help the team so far, not even a lot of walks. He's either striking out or hitting right into the shift. I find it amazing that he can't change his approach and hit a ball to the left side of the infield. He's been playing a lot of first base so far, so maybe it's part showcasing his ability to play the field so he could possibly be traded back to the NL. I don't see it happening though, unless the Sox get almost nothing back and end up paying a big chunk of his remaining salary. I guess all we can hope for is for him to turn it around and get his batting average back to .200.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Apr 15, 2013 -> 02:03 PM) I love Mark and when the Blue Jays are out of it in June or July maybe the Sox can trade for him But, right now today we need to beat those Jays The only way that would ever happen is if the Blue Jays agree to pay just about every penny of his contract...and the Sox needed Buehrle...and the Sox were in the hunt... So, yeah, not gonna happen.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 12, 2013 -> 10:43 AM) Eh, he already had 4 years.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 12, 2013 -> 10:32 AM) Historically, the Giants' biggest problem has been offense. I guess they simply gambled that Soptic had the ability to be a potential closer/replacement for Wilson/Romo in the pipeline...and that Gillaspie had limited power/potential, at least not enough to play corner IF everyday. Time will tell. Other teams have underestimated players like Quintana, Jenks and Santos before. It's nothing new with the White Sox. Maybe it's simply the fact that 3B has seemingly been jinxed for the Sox ever since Crede and Uribe left. Teahen, Viciedo couldn't stick there, Vizquel wasn't meant to be an everyday player, Morel's 2012, Hudson, Youk, etc. Now it looks like Keppinger won't even end up playing that position...depending on what happens with Beckham and Gillaspie/Morel. Of course the best possible outcome, as things sit now, is that Gillaspie takes over at third and Keppinger takes over at 2nd and they both play decent. We'll see what happens when Beckham comes back. As far as I'm concerned, I want the guys playing now to perform. If that results in Beckham losing his spot, so be it.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 12, 2013 -> 09:36 AM) Are the Giants really so good and deep (especially considering Sandoval's history) that they can afford to trade someone with the ability to be an everyday player at 3B for someone who, at best, is 2-3 years away and profiles only as a reliever in Soptic? Teams sometimes fail to see the potential of players and end up trading them away. The Sox have done that enough times, right? Plus, the Sox have acquired players like that in the past. No one knows if Gillaspie will be a guy who can hit .280 with 10 HRs and 65 RBIs over a complete season. But, there's no doubt that this guy is showing the POTENTIAL to be an everyday player. Only time will tell, and this is the time for him with Beckham going down.