hogan873

QUOTE (kane0730 @ Jul 10, 2009 -> 12:40 PM) If/when CQ comes back, here's what I'd like to see: Pods Alexi Dye Thome PK AJ CQ Getz/Nix Beckham I agree. Imagine CQ peforming like he did last year...from the 7 spot.

It's somewhat scary how well Pods is doing. Even though I welcomed the signing and thought he would do okay, I did not expect what we have seen. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, be it injury or a major slump. Obviously he's no spring chicken and may not play like this ever again. I'm just glad we got him when we did. Getz, I'll admit, I didn't think much of. I suppose I wasn't even aware that he came up from our minors. But, he has been fantastic as of late and had a career day yesterday. I wonder if he might be a better #2 hitter than Alexi right now. He doesn't have the power, but he's hitting well and has great speed. He could even be a leadoff man next year. If CQ comes back and contributes even okay, it's an upgrade over platooning Wise and Anderson. I'm sure he'll be on base much more with walks and getting plugged by pitches than Wise/Anderson. He comes back with some power and our middle of the lineup will be very dangerous. With Pods getting on base and aggravating pitchers, the big hitters are even more formidable. Overall, I agree that we will have a great lineup in the second half...that is provided Ozzie doesn't continue his love affair with Wise. If the starting pitching keeps up (I'm not looking at you Clayton Richard) and the bullpen is tight, the Sox have a real chance at the division.

They can trade him to the Indians for the guarantee that he will pitch in every game the Sox play against the Indians.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 10, 2009 -> 03:14 AM) Some of my favorites, off the top of my head: Danny Wright (actually Jason Bere Lite before the injuries, won 14 games with a bloated ERA) Josh Stewart Mike Porzio Felix Diaz Jon Adkins Nick Masset Gary Glover (blast from past) Rocky Biddle (surprised he became closer for the Expos and was sort of decent one year) Sean Tracey Arnie Munoz Matt Ginter Jon Rauch Scott Eyre (not sure if he ever started or not for us...maybe he came out of the pen?) I was just going to say what about Danny Wright?

It's so damn frustrating in games like this. If is wasn't for Richard being off (way off), it's a whole different game. 1+ inning changes everything.

Nice inning by Matt.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Jul 9, 2009 -> 04:13 PM) He threw two yesterday so no. If we are losing it will be Pena if we are winning or tied it will be Jenks. Well, hopefully we'll be winning. But if Pena makes his debut...I'm a little frightened.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jul 9, 2009 -> 04:10 PM) I like this kids hustle. I think folks forgot this fellow is a rookie and may get some ROY vites. He has done well in the field and has speed. Getz has really impressed me as of late. His defense has been solid all year, but his offense has really kicked in.

If we're still down or tied in the ninth, who pitches? Do we trust Linebrink?

Two more innings vs. Indians pen. Our pen needs to hold. Two more runs with the heart of the order due up? Here's to hoping.

Ugh

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jul 9, 2009 -> 03:25 PM) And remember how some roundly criticized the signing of this giant among men In the long run, who cares? It turned out to be a fantastic signing. I don't think anyone expected this.

Unfortunately I can't watch the game...just following it on Yahoo. Sounds like the ump sucks?

What an awesome article. I get the feeling he's being 100% honest about everything. I talked to Mark very briefly (how are ya? having a great year) about 6 years ago when he was signing balls, tickets, hats, etc. before a game. He just seems like a genuinely great guy. After reading the article I see him as a great pitcher and an even better family man. Selfishly I think we'd all like to see him pitch quite a few more years and strive for that 300th win, which I think he can get. But, I wouldn't blame him one bit if he did retire. The comparison to other great pitchers was a surprise to me. I didn't know he was that far ahead of the curve. Maybe it's the fact that he's not flashy (personality-wise or as a pitcher) that he's not thought of in the same vein as Johnson, Glavine, etc. A good example of how much of a gentleman of the game he is was when he tipped his hat to Ichiro after Ichiro got his third hit off Mark in a game a few years ago. I remember him throwing a 50 mph curveball trying to fool Ichiro. When he didn't bite, MB just smiled and kept on pitching. Could you ever see Zambrano acting like that?

I mentioned a while back that I thought Paulie had somewhat re-invented himself as a hitter. I saw (and I guess still see) him as a great contact hitter with decent power vs. strictly a power hitter. Obviously when a player cranks out three homers, including a grand slam, it's hard to say he's not a power hitter. But Paulie has been nothing short of awesome this year. Batting around .300 and getting key RBIs. He's a workhorse that deserves to be an All Star. Hell, he's our All Star for sure.

Encouraging for sure. Obviously Danks hasn't gotten great run support.

QUOTE (qwerty @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 01:24 PM) Dye is one of the very worst fielders annually in all of baseball. Dye is simply disgusting to watch out there. Dye's throwing arm just so happens to be one of the worst in the majors also. Quentin has long proven to be a better right fielder than left fielder, he is actually a plus defender out in right. While quentin in left is no where near as good as he is in right, he is several times better out there than dye on his best day. All the numbers and visuals suggests that much. Granted Dye is not a great RFer, and is probably below par, but I don't think he's horrible. Certainly lacks some speed, but he still makes some good plays.

I thought I remember there being some traffic on this site about wanting the Sox to acquire Milledge. Seems like a good trade for the Bucs.

I voted yes by winning the division. I suppose it's an optimistic yes. I don't see the Wild Card coming out of the AL Central.

I'm not going to make a prediction and say that the Sox will go to the playoffs. They may, especially if they continue to play like they have of late. This team, however, is very exciting to watch right now. And that is what makes me happy. We've got some young talent (and some not so young, Pods I'm looking at you) that are playing very well. The pitching is good, runners are getting on base, and bases are being stolen. Sure the homers are still there, and no one is going to complain about that, but we are starting to see more manufactured runs. Playoff bound? Not sure yet. Team worth watching? Absolutely.

KC has always been a spoiler, and they seem to always play the Sox hard. It would be nice to take care of them this week and then roll into the series against Detroit and do some damage. If the Sox play well and a few other things go our way, the Sox could be in first place by the All Star Break. I'd settle for 1 or 2 games out, though.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jun 30, 2009 -> 07:14 AM) I can only speak for myself. But unless you're the Yankees and have an unlimited amount of paper to spend, the best way to consistently contend is to have a healthy/productive farm system. I love KW. He's evolved a great deal as a GM. But I'm 100% sure he'd be the first one to admit that two playoff appearances in eight years, even one that ended with a title, is simply not enough. I'm not content with making the playoffs every 3-5 years. I know you can't win it all every year. But you can, as teams like the Red Sox, Angels, Twins and A's have shown, put yourself in a position to win it all every year. It's amazing to me that this franchise hasn't had back-to-back playoff appearances in like 90 years (although we probably accomplish that feat in '94). I know it's 2009 and this is the only year we should really be focusing on. And I don't recall anybody saying trade Dye, Konerko, Pods or any of our key players if we're in striking distance of Detroit. But if we're not in it, it'd be silly and downright irresponsible not to see what you could get for those guys. This team as currently constructed is not built to win for a number of years (like the Red Sox and Dodgers are). It's either now or never with this current group. Excellent. I suppose I was even thinking about how often the Sox make the playoffs. It is quite depressing when you think that they haven't been to the playoffs in back to back years in such a long time. We think about the WS in 2005 and the exciting way we got to the playoffs last year, and we smile. But then we think about 2007, and we weep like small children.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 30, 2009 -> 07:10 AM) Where does he rank in Sox history with regards to the best outfielder, would you say? Top 3? I'm sure I'm not an authority to answer this being a late comer to Sox fandom (1998). But, from what I know, yes top 3. Easily the best since I've been following the Sox. He seems to get better with age.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 30, 2009 -> 06:46 AM) Glass is half empty or half full, depending on your optimistic or pessimistic viewpoints...mixed in with realistic/pragmatic ones. 1) Beckham is playing out of position, and he probably profiles the best offensively at 2B 2) We pretty much have to play Anderson/Wise and Fields/Getz/Nix in every line-up3) Quentin might never be healthy again this season... 4) How long can we expect Contreras and Richard to keep pitching as well as they have? 5) Poreda has shown some flashes, but the bullpen has looked more and more vulnerable recently, especially Liney/Dotel/Thornton 6) Pods looked like he was done three years ago, pretty much. How long can his rebirth possibly last, or for him to be injury-free? 7) Ramirez seems a lot like Soriano Lite...he can play you out of and back into games quite easily, but very inconsistent...still, a 700-750 OPS at SS is nothing to be laughed at (see O Cabrera's 2009 stats at what could easily have been a $10 million additional contract and a blocking of either Getz/Beckham from playing time, yes Dick Allen, I remember your ubiquitous comments about them offering him ARB) I agree. I suppose we can be optimistic, but cautiously optimistic. And if KW makes a move or two, will the issue of having to play Wise/Anderson be solved?

I realize that the Sox played the lowly Indians last night, and Thornton and Dotel looked a little shaky, but yesterday's win coupled with taking 4 of 6 at home (including winning the series against the 1st place Dodgers) has got me a bit excited. Yes there were some homers, but there has also been situational hitting, sacrifices, speed, and a steal of home. I'm holding back from comparing this team to the Sox of 2005, but the energy level has increased as of late. I do think a big part of that is Pods and his amazingly solid play. Chris Getz has started to play very well and has gotten his average up quite a bit. Plus, he pissed off Zambrano, and that makes me smile. Beckham is playing like we thought (and hoped) he would. Alexi is hitting well...he just needs to get his defense under control. Konerko has been solid all year and has seemingly re-invented himself, becoming an awesome contact hitter with decent power instead of concentrating on power. With an addition here and there, I think this team easily contends in the AL Central. Beyond that may be a different story, but that's not something to worry about yet.