fathom

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 09:15 PM) I'm not saying Juan hasn't been an improvement, but I still don't see him as a plus defender. If you look past the arm, I feel that he is a plus defender. Simply put, he makes all the plays you need from him. I've always gone against the grain with regards to thinking that Konerko is a mediocre defensive player. No range, and while he's good at picking balls in the dirt, so is nearly every 1B in baseball.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 10:03 PM) Eh, I haven't gotten that feeling this year. I expected his arm to be a big problem but there haven't been many instances where it's cost us, baserunners for whatever reason aren't taking a lot of chances against him perhaps due to his getting to balls so quickly. Teahen and Quentin have been awful but Pierre and Rios have been awesome, Alexei -- despite having a negative baseball IQ -- gets to a lot of balls your average SS has no chance at and Vizquel and Jones in their limited playing time have been excellent so the good has gone a long way to cancel out the bad. well said

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 08:57 PM) Lots of that is canceled out by giving up extra bases with a complete lack of an arm IMO. I don't feel like the opposition has taken too much advantage of Pierre's arm so far. Honestly, they seem to take advantage of Quentin's lack of ability to charge the ball and get off a good throw a lot more than they do Pierre. As Balta said, Pierre's been excellent in LF compared to what we've had in the past with Quentin, Pods, and C. Lee.

Aren't the Diamondbacks also giving up a record setting amount of home runs so far this season? I can't believe a bullpen with Heilman and Howry couldn't keep the ball in the park!!

QUOTE (Cali @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 08:11 PM) If my math is correct (which there's always a great chance it's not) the Sox will face Strasburg when they go to DC. Awesome! Can we get Brian Anderson in the lineup?

QUOTE (elgonzo4sox @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 08:57 PM) I am to blame - but having Vizquel's glove behind Buehrle is a good thing, given that Buehrle is only as good as the defense behind him, since he puts so many balls in play. Ozzie is following my suggestions (which I emailed to him 2 weeks ago) for getting Buehrle's season back on track: 1. Separate Danks and Buehrle in the rotation, so that teams don't see Buehrle Jr. (Danks) followed by the softer-throwing Buehrle Sr. (this was accomplished after the Detroit rainout). 2. Always bring in Santos (flame throwing righty) after Buehrle (a soft throwing lefty) leaves the game (this happened in Buehrle's last win vs. the Marlins). 3. Put the best defensive lineup on the field when Buehrle pitches, which means Vizquel starts in the infield. If our defense does not give any extra outs tonight, Buehrle will be fine and we'll win. A nice 4-1 or 5-2 win in 2 hours 10 minutes is my prediction. Burls goes 7, Santos gets the 8th, and Putz closes. I like it, and I couldn't agree more with putting your best defense on the field. Way to go!

QUOTE (soxfan-kwman @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 08:49 PM) Starting this week TCQ and Bacon should try to slap everything to right field. Although Bacon is really starting to hit good. June 1st- 15 home games, 9 AAA away games, & 3 against KC!! Screw that, starting this week, they should try to pull everything with authority. Getting cheap hits to right isn't going to teach them to stay closed at the plate (they're both flying open big time).

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 07:55 PM) LINEUPS ARE OUT! And . . . Vizquel's at 3B and hitting 8th. HUZZAH! I actually understand with Harden on the mound, but hopefully this doesn't become a habit. I'm sure it will be.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 06:32 PM) Why can't Beckham be moved to third and Nix second? I know it is psyche thing but Beckham and Nix are comparable at second and Beckham is better at third. Cause Beckham's going to be playing 2nd base during his career here, so you want to get him as many reps as possible.

Interesting, Teahen's hurt that badly? I'm happy Beckham's still on the Major League squad, even if it's better for him to go to the minors (if that makes any sense). Hopefully Nix gets a lot of the ABs at 3rd.

QUOTE (He_Gawn @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 06:53 PM) Saw Justin O'Conner play this weekend in his high school sectionals. WOW I was just reading information on him, and he's pretty intriguing. Stetson Allie is another player who sticks out.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 05:54 PM) Brett Lillibridge as our first "deserved" call-up is a pretty damning declaration on the state of the White Sox minor league organization. well said...what a mess!

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 05:36 PM) I puked all over my keyboard. If there is a player in our minors who has proven is he more completely worthless at the MLB level than Lillibridge I'd like to find him. He is garbage. BLAH. I couldn't agree more, I was shocked when I saw people happy to see him being promoted again.

QUOTE (chisoxt @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 06:16 PM) My theory is that Kenny will use Morel as a trading chip (later this month perhaps) and wants to keep him in the minors so that he does not expose his flaws. Morel's a better asset to the Sox than he is as a trade chip.

If this season has proven anything, it's that striking out on offense isn't the worst thing that can happen to a lineup. The worst thing is having a lineup with players underachieving and not hitting the ball with authority. Nix could be a solid starting 2nd baseman, I honestly feel. He'd probably hit around .240 for a season, but hit you 15-18 homers and play solid defense.

Arizona have the worst bullpen in the history of baseball? They lost tonight on a balk. Quite comical to watch, especially since they have the best TV announcer in baseball.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 03:07 AM) I think you need to take it on case-by-case basis. Quentin does not strike me as a player that would benefit by going down. He has a lot more experience in the minor leagues and more sustained success in the major leagues than Beckham. But that is certainly something reasonable minds can disagree about. I certainly would not be upset if Quentin was sent down to try and work out mechanical issues. I simply do not have the requisite knowledge/grasp on their situations to criticize how they are handled. Even though I swear it wasn't me who posted on Beckham's facebook, it's discouraging that he's disagreeing he's opening up too early. All he has to do is watch one at bat of his, and he'll see that he's not staying closed long enough.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 02:52 AM) See my last post in the "Beckham is Back" thread. Would our treatment of Beckham be excusable if he had not experienced the success he did last season? What level of success (or how long a sustained period of success in the major leagues) does one have to achieve before his further develpment becomes a concern? Does the success Gordon had over 300 PAs last season mean the organization can expose him as much as they want for the benefit of the MLB club? I agree with you, as we've had a few players in the past have a good first year only to fall off the face of the planet in the years to come. Quentin is in a position to follow this pattern, and unfortunately, you never know about Beckham also.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 02:43 AM) Because frankly, neither does Gordon right now. I'd rather see Lillibridge or Nix play second right now than Omar Vizquel. At some point, we have to concern ourselves with Beckham's overall development. I agree with you about the development of Beckham

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 01:37 AM) Wouldn't upset me in the least. What wouldn't upset you? Lillibridge has no business being on a Major League roster.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jun 1, 2010 -> 12:03 AM) Take Andrew McCutchen away, and I honestly don't see the difference between the Pirates and a random AAA team. G. Jones is a solid player

Maybe Beckham is sent down? I thought Teahen had a cut, nothing serious.

Brentz is a player a lot of teams like, but they're telling the publications they don't in a desire to see him possibly fall. Workman does nothing for me, as his stuff seems mediocre.

Tampa has all the momentum in this game. Need a DP!

Quentin and those damn weak pop ups to the right side. It's because he's so far off the plate.