Marty34

If/when Jones progresses to the point that he can be a 7th/8th inning guy, move Reed to closer. If Santiago fails before that point, move Thornton to closer as much as I'm lukewarm on that idea.

QUOTE (Cali @ Apr 19, 2012 -> 09:24 PM) I'm not saying like Verlnader numbers, but when people were talking about the Sox rotation they only mentioned issues with Peavy Sale and Humber. Seemingly ignoring the issues Gavin has with consistency (and for that matter Danks) Both Guys headlining the rotation CAN be good, but they can't seem to put together more than a handful of great starts in a season and wind up with very average numbers... Probably two of the most under looked reasons for the Sox lack of success since '05 is that Danks and Floyd have been solid performers and nothing more.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 19, 2012 -> 10:09 PM) Not necessarily, because every ball hit into the RF corner by an average speed runner ends up a triple because of DeAza's weak arm. You'll have runners tagging up and advancing to 2nd, or 2nd to 3rd on a lot of balls into RF. It's easier to cover up his arm in LF or CF rather than right. Neither De Aza or Rios can throw worth a damn.

QUOTE (knightni @ Apr 19, 2012 -> 09:57 PM) If you move Rios to CF, then you have to shuffle the entire outfield. De Aza is not a good right fielder. He hurts you less in center than in right though.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Apr 19, 2012 -> 09:36 PM) OK I can agree with the offense part but what about the D? I'm fairly convinced that De Aza can't play CF. The routes he's taken on some of the balls this year have been wow-bad and he doesn't have the pure speed to make up for it. Yes, Rios had a rough year last year, but in my view he's a far better option in center.

QUOTE (knightni @ Apr 19, 2012 -> 09:51 PM) What if his recent offensive success is tied to his comfort and happiness in RF? It may be, but what if it's not? If you're going to play Rios and De Aza, Rios should be in CF.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Apr 19, 2012 -> 09:35 PM) Interesting take on things Marty, but why do you think that? What do you see now with Rios that wasn't there last year? just a hunch. Rios is kind of a guy without a position in the order, so why not try him in the 2-hole? One thing it would do is get him out of a lot og RBI situations which I think would be a good thing. Also gets a guy who can score from 1st on a double hitting in front of Konerko/A.J. These same arguments can be made for Ramirez, btw.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 19, 2012 -> 08:59 PM) Yet you want Rios in CF. Did you not see his body of work in CF last year? His routes were some of the worst of all time. They both seem to have problems catching the ball at times. Rios is a target because of his offensive woes and contract, however he is a better defensive CF'er than De Aza.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 19, 2012 -> 08:31 PM) He may be or it may be a bad stretch. He was pretty good with the glove last year, but looks shaky at best this year. Rios was a liability in CF last year himself. I disagree that De Aza was pretty good in center last year and this year he has been pretty bad so far. He has to play deep because he can't go back on a ball which is something CF'ers have to do.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Apr 19, 2012 -> 07:36 PM) I think he actually is more comfortable in right...and if that is the case, the difference between De Aza in center and Rios in center is probably nowhere near that of Rios hitting and Rios not hitting. I'd prefer to keep him where he's at for now... I understand your point which definitely is a reason for keeping him in center. I'm really close to labeling De Aza a liability in center though.

I've come to the conclusion that Rios is a better CF'er than De Aza, they should switch positions. Also Rios should be moved to the second spot in the order.

More catch-all threads.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 18, 2012 -> 07:43 AM) Even if Hahn became the GM tomorrow, it wouldn't matter one scintilla in terms of attendance. Of course not, but that isn't the point. If this team is not very good it's because of Kenny Williams decisions. A fresh start is needed. I don't know.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Apr 18, 2012 -> 03:41 AM) We'll see what the attendance is like for when they Red Sawks are in town. It's not going to be good. If the Sox win there will be an increase in attendance next year, if they don't there will be front office changes.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 17, 2012 -> 01:53 AM) I still can't believe we were outdrawn by the Royals (14,039 to 13,732) last night. Maybe it's simply the fact they were playing the Tigers and Verlander was pitching, but they had just been absolutely obliterated this past weekend by the Indians. At least we had been playing pretty well. I guess it's the same old "so-so weather/April/kids not out of school/weeknight/games last too long/expensive tickets, parking and concessions/Sox fans don't believe in their team unless they're winning" thing. I can't believe people think KW can/should survive a bad year to lead a rebuilding with the attendance numbers that likely will be that soft all year.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 16, 2012 -> 12:51 PM) No, I didn't. This is what you'd call "Taking words so far out of context that the word Lie is completely reasonable". What did you say?

QUOTE (buhbuhburrrrlz @ Apr 15, 2012 -> 11:51 PM) Hey, Jim Leyland is a believer: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...,0,164295.story “People who made those picks, they know nothing about baseball,” Leyland said.“Trust me. If they think the Chicago White Sox are not going to be in the thick of this, they’re crazy. They don’t know anything about baseball, people who make picks like that ... they know nothing about baseball. Nothing!” Balta had them for 90+ losses in February. I guess Leyland's talking to him too! Time will tell.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Apr 15, 2012 -> 04:47 PM) Marty, where are you? I'm sure KW screwed up this game somehow. How was the Detoilet clubhouse today? I'll never understand the hatred for Cowley on this site.

I am a Kenny Williams supporter as long as the team he put together wins. That is my agenda.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Apr 15, 2012 -> 10:18 AM) Got it. Agreed. I think if we have a relatively successful season this year, it has to be acknowledged that the ratings have been bunk and that KW has done an underrated job recently (not totally absolved because he has made some questionable trades). It's all about what's valued and maybe the Sox are ahead of the curve here. Obviously top-of-the-rotation starters are a priority, but after that maybe it's best just to draft a bunch of guys who throw hard and hope to get them to the big leagues as quick as possible as part of a bullpen as opposed to wasting picks on guys who might are #3-#4 innings eaters type starters who take longer to develop.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 15, 2012 -> 10:06 AM) So duck the question much? I was afraid to answer the question because I might not know more about journalism.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 15, 2012 -> 10:00 AM) So what do you know that qualifies you know more than student in a Big Ten journalism school? I know that the University of Missouri is not the newspaper business. And FWIW, it's not a Big Ten journalism school.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 15, 2012 -> 09:01 AM) Now, that doesn't mean the Sox system is the best in baseball. What it does tell me is it isn't the worst either, as some have said. These publications are so obsessed with their own analysis of players in the system - which itself is a highly subjective and subject to lots of mistakes - that they focus only on that evaluation of supposed to talent to make their rankings. They are missing some some of the larger points. Precisely. These guru's also might be behind the curve. Developing solid middle-relievers might be as important as developing middle-of-the-rotation starters these days.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Apr 15, 2012 -> 09:30 AM) Include me in the group that doesn't understand what the title has to do with the article, or where the discussion has subsequently gone. Marty, you have been pretty critical of KW in the past...are you being sarcastic with the title or agreeing with KW's stance on the system or what? It's about being skeptical of what these minor league ratings are worth. If the pen is close to as good as it has been (Reed, Santiago, Jones), the gurus were either A.) wrong, B.) the ratings are worthless. Doesn't even take into account the position players.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Apr 14, 2012 -> 09:48 PM) Sorry, my experience here at the University of Missouri calls bulls*** on this. I have to submit 2 or 3 headlines per article. The University of Missouri is not the newspaper business.