hogan873

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ May 17, 2010 -> 01:29 PM) If Flowers is the everyday starter, would you still want Lucy backing him up? I'd have no problem with that.

QUOTE (Real @ May 17, 2010 -> 09:38 AM) AJ isn't making that much money that you even consider dumping him, given all of the things he brings to the table. He's not even tendered past this year! Not to mention you aren't going to get ANYTHING worth a damn that will offset what you're losing if you trade him. You think teams are going to give up a top prospect for AJ? I mean, really? Stupid trade idea. How about coming up with a trade that actually makes sense? Oh, and if you think the White Sox are going to tear up whatever semblance of hope their fans (not you, or me, but the casuals that go to games and don't sweat if the team loses) have, by having a firesale and dumping 8 or 9 faces of this franchise, and risk an all-time low attendance in 2011, keep dreaming! They'll come up with a way to dump a guy here and there, and plan it out so the team still looks competitive next year and still be alright financially This team is screwed though, as far as actually WINNING divisions. What's the philosophy of the White Sox as a franchise? Do they teach ANYTHING to their prospects coming up through the system, that can be expected of them once they reach the big leagues? Look at the Twins, Rays, Yankees, even the Nationals, Angels. These teams are doing it the right way. A way this team has never done it. This franchise as it stands has no definition. Just a generic organization that doesn't have a strong farm system, or scouting department. They can't properly evaluate talent in the minors OR in the majors. You can group the Sox in with other generic franchises like the Rangers, Mariners, Tigers, Indians, A's, etc. Teams that aren't expected to be competitive on a yearly basis. If this organization doesn't develop a philosophy, a philosophy where all players are expected to understand what this team is about, a philosophy where players and management care about performing at the highest level, then it's going to continue on being a gigantic clusterf***, like it has been the last 2-3 years flame away! I could feel the anger through my computer monitor. Wow.

You know what's sad is if the Sox did trade AJ and/or Konerko and/or Jones and then DFA'd Vizquel and Kotsay then brought some young guys, we'd probably feel better about the team. I'm not saying they'd complete and make a run at MN, but they'd probably be a little more exciting to watch.

Hitting-wise, I don't think Flowers would be much worse than AJ is right now. But AJ brings a lot more than his bat to the game. That being said, I still think he gets moved, and I wouldn't mind seeing Flowers. I would imagine that we'd see quite a bit more of Castro, too.

Rios and Peavy aren't going anywhere, IMO. Which is fine. If the Sox are actually going to unload and try to rebuild for next year, I'm fine with trading AJ, Konerko, Jones, and even Floyd. I'm not sure what kind of return they could get for those guys, but I'm sure we will find out about a few of them soon.

I think the jest of the original post was missed here. No one is happy that another team is doing well when the Sox aren't, but the fact that the Padres are playing well somewhat diminishes the possibility of Gonzalez being dealt. Coupled with the fact that the Sox are playing so poorly, the chances of KW selling the farm for Gonzalez are getting slimmer and slimmer.

I would not be surprised if AJ is dealt, but I agree with several posters that noted his value is higher than just his hitting. Aside from salary relief, I would hope the Sox get something decent in return. I don't know much about Ranger prospects...I only know about Salty and his rare throwing issue.

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 14, 2010 -> 02:31 PM) I wonder what the stat is on a team's record the first series with a new manager hired in season. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Royals kick butt. Who cares, though. Talk is cheap. Play ball. Well, if there is a history of teams playing well after a coach is replaced, the point is moot for this KC team. They ruined the potential mojo by allowing Hillman to coach a game after he was fired.

You know, for a day when the Sox are going to go absolutely nuts and kick some KC ass and then go on a winning tear, this board is awfully quiet today.

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ May 14, 2010 -> 02:36 PM) You're kidding, right? Yes, thankfully.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ May 14, 2010 -> 12:59 PM) So I'm assuming Vizquel and Castro too? And they called up Lillibridge. So, the infield will be Vizquel, Lillibridge, Kotsay, and Teahen.

I'm a die hard Penguins fan, and although I was disappointed in their loss to Montreal I wasn't that surprised. After they forced game 7, I had a thought they would pull the upset and win. Luckily the Hawks are still in and going strong. If they play tough D, they can beat San Jose.

I haven't seen all of the shows in the poll, but of the ones I have, Rome Is Burning got my vote. I would like to see a flight between Rome and Mariotti where there was no winner, and neither could come back to TV. The mere appearance of them makes me want to take a swing at them.

QUOTE (SoxPride56 @ May 14, 2010 -> 08:53 AM) Enough of this f***ing losing bulls***. Enough of this tipping the cap to the opposing pitching crap. Go out there, pitch the ball, field the ball, and hit the mother f***ing ball. I’m tired of this good team, bad team routine they have been doing. Go out there and f***ing win, no excuses, just beat the living s*** out of the Royals! Post of the day so far.

A win tonight is the beginning of a winning streak. It's gotta happen now!

I find the banter between DJ and Farmer to be pretty funny. I can never tell if they are just joking around or there's actually some tension. DJ always seems to have that slight tone of taunting, like he's trying to make Farmer angry. I think they are better together than DJ and Hawk were together.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ May 12, 2010 -> 09:39 AM) He's my pick to click. I'm putting faith in your pick. You came close to a no hitter prediction a couple weeks back.

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 12, 2010 -> 09:42 AM) I don't mean to imply that as fans we shouldn't look at anything that's out there that we want to take some interest in; by all means, have at it. But my experience has been that throughout the course of the baseball season, if you choose to, nearly every game can be justified as a "big game;" every series a big series; all kinds of points along the way become critical points along the roadmap. And what happens is these things rarely unfold as you think they will. Until you get til about August (this is assuming you don't fall completely out of the race), the season will have been "on the line" several times, you will have lost several "must-win" series, and countless "big games," and yet, you will still be presented with opportunities to get back into the thick of things. So if you want to live and die with all these things in May, more power to you. All I'm saying is that if you take care of your own business, these things have a way of sorting themselves out throughout the long season and you find yourself within 5 games or so with about 40 left to play. That is when I start worrying about things like schedules and "must-wins." I see where you are coming from and I agree to a point. This White Sox team was supposed to compete, according to KW and Ozzie. Right now, it's not looking good. Games like yesterday make us feel a little better and get us thinking that maybe they will compete. This is a long season, and the trade deadline is still over 2 months away. So, yes, scoreboard/schedule watching right now is a bit extreme. But we're not talking about the Pittsburgh Pirates here. Everyone knows the Pirates aren't going to compete, so you know what they are going to be doing come June and July...selling. What the White Sox will be doing come June and July will hinge on how the next 5 or 6 weeks go. If the Sox and MN play .500 ball, the Sox are still "only" 6 games out. But if the Sox play .500 ball and MN plays .600 ball, it's a different story. Same goes if the Sox play .600 ball and MN plays .500 ball. The AL Central Division winner historically has a somewhat low winning percentage, and over the past few years it's been the Sox, Twins, and Tigers battling it out at the top. The most important thing is for the Sox to win games, but with each passing day the wins and losses by MN and Detroit get a little more important.

I agree that it's not too early to keep an eye on what MN and Detroit do. Obviously the Sox need to worry about winning games. It's fine for us fans to keep an eye on the schedules. A tough schedule for MN coupled with a good stretch of winning baseball games for the Sox could easily change the face of the division by the end of the month.

Quentin sitting. He needs that. Let's hope Kotsay can get a hit or two.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ May 12, 2010 -> 08:47 AM) Bingo. And please Ozzie, no more Jenks in important situations. What happened to all the talk of Jenks losing the closer spot? Granted he got the job done, but he threw a bad pitch to Thome...the same guy he played with for a few years...a guy he knows is a low fastball hitter.

It's amazing how one game can change how we think about this team. I like the analysis of the upcoming schedules, and I tend to agree. If the Sox play today like they played yesterday, they should win, especially with Danks on the mound. The Sox have to worry about one thing right now and that's winning games. Sounds simple, I know, but it's true. They can't worry about the Twins or Tigers and how many games they win or lose. Finish off the sweep today, go to KC and win at least 2 of 3, then go to Detroit and sweep. It may be asking a lot, but winning today is going to make it seem possible.

I forgot this was a day game...and an early one at that. Looks like my production here at work will be limited for a few hours this afternoon.

I've been an Alex Rios apologist since he was acquired last year. I kept thinking, hoping, and praying that he would come around after his disastrous stint with the Sox last season. Now I can see that he truly is an all-star caliber player. Superb defense, sparkling offense, and speed.

Hey, even though it's a two game series, a sweep would be a sweep. And it could be step one of the turn around this team needs.