fathom

Anyone hear what Boers said about Lowell? Basically said there's no doubt in the industry he used performance enhancers.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 06:36 PM) And it leads to lots of bloops towards RF. If you go back and read everything we've talked about with regards to Quentin, you would see I talked about how he needs to stand on top of the plate again. He's too far off, and that's causing him to have very little plate coverage. Pitchers don't throw him inside very much, and just continue to pound the middle to outside part of the plate. I want him to get back on top of the plate and be able to pull the pitch down the plate and hit the pitch off the plate to right.

What's the scoop on the Minnesota guy, Kvasnicka?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 06:23 PM) And why is he flying open so fast? Because he's been trying to pull everything. It's a classic mistake that we see all the time, you see a pitch you want so you jump out at it and you wind up popping it back to the screen because you pulled off of it. When you're keeping your shoulder closed and driving the ball up the middle or the other way, you'll pull the ball naturally when a pitcher comes middle/in on you. Don't get me wrong, last night was a step in the right direction. But hitting bloops to right field is more of a sign of trouble in your swing than a sign you're working you're way out of things. Between him and Beckham, they've probably flown out to right field weakly 100 times this season.

According to the chat, 7-8 names on the Sox list, with one Boras client on it. Mentioned Brentz, Workman, Wojciechowski. My prediction is that they take Workman.

Thanks for the chat link. Some interesting stuff, including that the Sox are not interested in D. McGuire even if he falls. I'm fine with that, as I've seen way too many games pitched by him at GT where his velocity was down.

What's the chance the Sox draft Morgado in the 2nd round again?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 04:54 PM) But if he's trying to pull everything, that is basically the definition of flying open. Both 2k5 and I were confused because we think your solution contradicts itself. What I was trying to say is he has to learn how to pull the ball without flying open. Keeping closed for a longer span, just like Beckham did in his first AB last night. It's all about hip rotation for Quentin, and he's been flying open so fast that he just flicks the ball for those lazy pop ups to right field far too often.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 08:51 PM) Huh? Quentin's a power hitter...we need him for his ability to drive in runs. Getting a couple of bloop hits to right field isn't fixing the problems with him. His problem is every time he hits the ball to LF, it's off the end of the bat. Thus, he needs to continue to work on making himself comfortable at the plate, and I'm optimistic that his leg kick is a step in the right direction.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 05:48 AM) I was all over the Scott Rolen bandwagon last year. I wanted him bad and he would look dead sexy at 3B. IIRC, the Reds didn't give up much for him and he is fairly cheap. Speaking of the Reds though, I love their lineup. I'd probably put Votto in my top 5 list of best hitters in baseball. And even though he does have ego issues and tries to be the greatest home run hitter ever, I love me some Brandon Phillips. They need Jenks to be their set-up man. I was all over J. Gomes in the offseason, and he's done a great job for the Reds so far. They suffered a tough injury when the extremely underrated Ryan Hanigan went on the DL.

QUOTE (JohnCangelosi @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 04:28 AM) That's exactly it. Time and time again Ozzie does NOT put us in the best position to succeed. We've seen it with his decision making on the use of his pitching staff, the lineups he makes, and in some cases bonehead decisions to not make the obvious call to pinch hit for someone such as tonight. I'd say the overwhelming majority of the problematic decisions Ozzie makes, however, is on the use of his pen and leaving the starters in an inning too long. He's probably the worst manager in the league at this and consistently lowers our chances of winning based on these decisions. He needs to stop reading the back of baseball cards, and realize that guys like Peavy and Buerhle aren't the same pitchers they were a few seasons ago. Both of those guys have put a ton of innings on their arms at a very young age in the majors.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 04:15 AM) I know you have no problem with Lexi's at bat. What I'm saying is why not? Cause it's easier to look at the Omar situation and say Oz should have pinch hit for him. I know why you wanted Omar to start, for defense with Mark pitching. Since he did start and get two hits and a walk, I have no problem with him making the final out after Lexi also looked wretched in making the second out. You guys don't even admit the possibility the great Nix and/or Jones would have popped up, struck out, which is what I say they would have done. Heck, they probably would have made an out. But their chances at having an impact on the Sox potentially winning in the 9th was a lot higher than Omar's. I'm done talking about this though, as it's not worth our time.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 04:44 AM) And why are you second guessers ignoring the Lexi at bat?? Don't just skip over that one and go to Omar. Why is Lexi being skipped over here? Because it's easy to point to .... oooh Ozzie didn't pinch hit for Omar. I have no problem with Alexei, one of our best fastball hitters, swinging at the first pitch fastball. It was a strike, and he knew a fastball was coming after the 4 pitch walk. I feel like you're intentionally not following why we wanted Omar to START the game...for defense. Ozzie is given a bench to have hitters PH depending on the match-up. This is second guessing, go back and read the game thread from the 9th inning.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 03:35 AM) That loss would really hurt but for the fact our games are irrelevant these days. I'm pretty happy about tonight, as at least Beckham and Quentin looked good. I don't care if we lose the rest of our games as long as those two, Rios, Peavy, Danks, and Santos play well.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 03:36 AM) OK, next time be more specific. You want Omar in there, and you want him to stay in if he can get two hits and a walk, but in the final at bat you want him replaced for Jones or Nix, even though the odds of him stroking a single are about as good as Jones stroking a big hit. Give me a break, second guessers. This team sucks. Lexi coulda slashed a hit in the gap or got a single up the middle. Omar could have stroked a hit. Our hitters suck; our team sucks. You're facing Feliz. You go for the win with two guys who have decent power. I would have gone with Nix, as he'd have confidence after Sunday's game. Even Stone said Feliz was throwing better against the lefties.

6 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs for Ely....good for him, bad for KW

QUOTE (IamtheHBOMB @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 03:34 AM) I love that greg is so pissed at everything. fathom, why is Jones in the doghouse? No idea, but Melton was absolutely ripping him in the pregame. Saying that he hasn't cut down his swing like the organization wants him to. They said you can't have a player like that in your lineup unless he's surrounded by the '27 Yankees. It was very strange, and you've seen him sitting a ton lately.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 04:33 AM) Omar was 1 for 13 on the year against power pitchers going into that AB. His bat speed is absolute s*** at this point in his career, he has little chance against a pitcher with a good fastball or a hard biting slider. Awesome post!

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 04:32 AM) Some people on this board were clamoring Omar play tonight with Mark pitching. Uh fathom weren't you one of them? No, it's easy to criticize when you want everything. Omar got 2 hits and a walk. He f***ed up there just like Lexi did. Jones would have popped up as well. I personall was on the record as wanting Nix to play and many laughed at me. Everybody's got an opinion but only one is the truth. This team sucks. Yes, for defensive reasons Greg. How hard is it to understand that?

QUOTE (b-Rye @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 04:30 AM) who's gonna pinch hit for vizquel... the bench sucks too. i think jones is hurt or something, atleast he better be. Jones is in the doghouse. Bill Melton basically confirmed as much last week. Look for him to get traded for scraps in a month or so.

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 04:30 AM) and if he put nix , for example, and he gets out, its why did ozzie take omar (2-3, a lefty) out of the game lol No, he would have been going for the win

QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 04:30 AM) Again...only if your manager is also your GM. I seriously don't know what you expect Oz to say...."ey f*** greg walker he blows"..? Really? What in the hell is he supposed to say? Yes, if he walks into KW's office and says he thinks Walker is failing, then he's doing his job. Instead, he keeps letting the same s*** happen with this offense year after year.

Ozzie would never have a mortal player PH for his future Hall of Famer! It's too bad, I really thought Omar was going to hit that out to center field.

Way to go Ozzie, brilliant! Playing for the blooper I guess.

Wow, good pitch to hit, just didn't put a good swing on it. Omar better not be hitting here.