fathom

Bailey's pitching tomorrow. Might be his last chance to impress in a Reds jersey. There are reports that there are no decent relievers available on the market. If we're more than 6 or 7 games out after the next 10 days, KW needs to see what he can get for all of our relievers not named Matt.

It will be interesting what happens with Milton Bradley. The only way this offense can live up to their potential is if he's a main part of it. For as bad as they've played, they're still in a great position to win the NL Central as long as Cards don't trade for offense and/or Milwaukee for a few pitchers.

There's been rumors that he has told people privately that he regrets not signing an extension.

QUOTE (shipps @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 11:26 PM) I am not mad at anyone in particular but this is the most angry and frustrated that I have felt in a long time with them and thats saying something. I am just mad we lost,its really that simple with me. I still haven't gotten over last Thursday's loss. As long as we don't get swept this weekend, I'll be able to handle it.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 11:25 PM) Well geez, they should have just yanked Contreras after the 6th inning and it wouldn't have been 5-2. Or we should put Jayson Nix in defensively for Paul Konerko, etc., in every late-inning defensive situation. After a loss, it's VERY easy to second guess every single move. We are just an average team and always will be this season...let's just get used to it, as it will make the next 90 games easier to deal with. So you went from starting threads after every game asking how we can improve to saying "deal with it"? I like your enthusiasm when you post, but you of all people should understand different styles of posting. We can have legit conversations about baseball and strategy without name-calling or sarcasm.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 11:22 PM) Because Ramon Castro has had a five year career on the South Side, was an integral part of a World Series winning team and is not only USUALLY a clutch hitter but one of our better overall hitters? Yes, Ozzie should be fired after every loss and conversely, the team wins in spite of him when it does somehow manage to win. Gardenhire should have been fired as well after Blackburn threw ill-advisedly into LF and cost his team the game and himself a loss. Tiresome. I'd rather get a righty up to bat, as they hit .075 pts higher against Marshall than lefties do.

QUOTE (wilmot825 @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 12:18 AM) A.J. was the hot hitter and Castro would have found a way to swing at one of those garbage sliders...I can't fault Ozzie for having A.J. hitting because if he didn't, we would be questioning why he left him on the bench. But why did it have to be a catcher in that position? You put Wise up there, and they pull Marmol (no way they let him walk in tying run). Then, you can put Nix into the game and you save AJP if needed for their closer. Kinda of like a double switch in that regard.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 11:18 PM) Well you my friend are missing out. Just wait till Collari writes his first piece. And than we are working significantly on getting more guys in the Collari mold who are involved with the minor league franchises to contribute. It will single-handedly be the best team specific minor league site on the web. Yep, I'm very arrogant about the collective White Sox minor league knowledge on the site. This site has honestly made the MLB draft more intriguing to me than the NBA draft, and there is no one on this planet who watches more college basketball than me.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 11:13 PM) Four days ago or so. Dude, FutureSox is all over that s*** fathom, We RAWK!!!! I'll be honest, I never used to go on futuresox.com. With the site down the past few days, I was on there all the time. You guys do a great job. Now let's get these guys signed!

QUOTE (rangercal @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 11:04 PM) Your pods hate is getting old. He has contributed more to this team than Brian Anderson,Chris Getz, Josh Fields and Alexei Ramirez to name a few. I've had no hate for him this year since about the 2nd week where he showed this wasn't just a nostalgic thing. He's put together a ton of good at bats. I was just saying he missed a great pitch to drive...I would have said the same if it was Dye or Norris Hopper.

When did Bellamy sign?

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 11:00 PM) If yer depending on Ramon Castro oodles and oodles something is wrong. But that situation aside, the roster is just very flawed. Even on a day where the aging guys came through, it's still a pretty horrid bunch of supporting cast guys here. You could tell as soon as the lineup was posted that our 6-9 hitters were going to be in a lot of trouble. Castro just shouldn't be playing against RHP, and what the hell happened to Getz? He doesn't put up near the productive numbers to go through these long slumps.

Watching the replay real quick, Pods missed an absolutely meatball on the first pitch in the 9th inning. The pitch to end the game wasn't even f***ing close. Two of the biggest calls in the last two games of the Cubs-Sox series have not gone our way (Soriano pitch in the 8th last week and Pods today).

We need another lefty on the bench, and to get rid of Gobble. Too often this year, we've got burned due to no options on the bench.

QUOTE (hawkubes @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 10:17 PM) Batting AJ there was a no-brainer, it's easy to second-guess now. Actually, it's a situation where Ozzie played right into the Cubs strength. They have one lefty out there, and he's very tough on lefties with his loopy curve. Just like the Thome situation last Friday, that's when Ozzie needs to put Wise up there and when the pitching change is made, put Nix or Fields into the game. How many here didn't think a DP was likely there?

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 09:57 PM) Juan Uribe is much better in the field at SS then Alexei is. I think we all can agree on that, yes? I watch more baseball than a human should, and there are/were no active shortstops better than Uribe.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 09:56 PM) As Fox always been a stocky/big guy? Looking at his career minor league stats, he was never anything special. Not saying or accusing, just saying. He's on the same offseason diet that Soto was last year. I'm not kidding, they both credited the same program.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 09:54 PM) I just remember hearing all spring, "Wait til you see Alexei at SS." So far, I think I'd rather have OC back at SS. And am starting to think that we shouldn't move Beckham away from SS just to accomodate Alexei, should be the other way. Um, Ozzie basically said he was wrong yesterday. Of course, I'm waiting to see Jose's cutter from the spring.

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 09:52 PM) That, and by the time he backhands it and raises up his glove, it takes him awhile to get the ball out of his glove, similar to Soriano. Both have good arms, but both take ages to get the ball to the target due to not being able to find the ears on it. Which is why Alexei has been BRUTAL turning double plays also. Getz and Alexei have worse timing than any DP combo on the southside I've seen.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 09:53 PM) Don't get too down Fathom. I know you still feel we can win this thing so trading someone isn't really the answer I'm from the KW school where you can trade and still try to compete. I absolutely, positively would get rid of Contreras the second a decent offer came in.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 10:50 PM) now the shadows are over home plate. oh well -- wanted the sweep, i'll take 2 of 3. Lineup will look significantly better tomorrow with 2 more lefties in it. I'd also love to see Ozzie shake things up and move Alexei down in the order to try and put him into a more run-producing role.

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 10:50 PM) But...it's his first year in the majors as a SS, so it's alright. Honestly his lazy throws, his ability to make easy plays into tough ones, and his lack of concentration is getting really old. My biggest issue is how many hits he gives up due to playing everyone so far up the middle. If a player hits one in the hole between 3rd and SS, it's an automatic hit.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 09:48 PM) Alexei...get your f***ing head in the game. ss2k had a great comment comparing Alexei to Tyrus Thomas. Unfortunately, it's a lot harder to just bench Alexei like it is Tyrus.

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 10:47 PM) Does Hawk know that Mark Teixeira is in the AL and is 10x better defensively at 1B then Konerko is? Anyways, this one doesn't look good. Hopefully, in a game I'll be at, they can win tomorrow. They usually hit Dempster around pretty well. Also might be time to scrap the idea of Castro as Contreras' personal catcher, and use him more against LHP. With Castro's splits, it makes no sense to keep playing him against RHP.

Might be time to pull Contreras. 90 pitches in this weather and with a possible back injury is enough for him. Don't want to ruin any potential trade value either.