fathom

Can't catch a f***ing break with pitching match-ups. We won't see Miner this series now. I wonder if Ozzie will skip Jose's start on Friday vs a Rangers team that demolished him.

Over/under 20 runs scored by Cubs in 2 games vs Hampton/Russ Ortiz?

Rather they play tonight so we can face Miner tomorrow.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 6, 2009 -> 06:07 PM) Ozzie didn't say "benched", though he did say it wasn't "rest". See my post in the game thread, that covers my feeling on this. Good, on the radio before, they said benched. Alexei being benched for an extended period would be awful, as if this truly becomes a rebuilding year, you have to see what he can do at the SS position.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 6, 2009 -> 07:03 PM) I wasn't talking about permanent solutions - I am talking about giving Alexei a day off occasionally. For that purpose, Nix is a good option, in the absence of anything better. The permanent solution IS Alexei. He started cold last year too, and I think he'll figure it out and adjust. Well, he's "benched" according to Ozzie. I almost wonder if Sox thought Betemit would be more competent defensively up the middle than he showed in ST.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 6, 2009 -> 06:40 PM) However, I remember Cotts struggled with his command and thus struggled during his initial call-up with the Sox. So maybe you are talking about how Poreda also struggles with command. Regardless I don't look too into the numbers in that sense, I look more at the fact that Poreda has a lot to learn, although I've heard his breaking pitch is getting better and better and I also know the Sox are trying to have him throw less of his best pitch (FB) so that he can further develop and hone his other stuff. Yes, more about command. I know their stuff isn't similiar at all. It just seems like Poreda would have a hell of a time completing 5 innings at the big league level right now. It will be interesting to see if he can cut down on the wildness the rest of his minor league season.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 6, 2009 -> 04:42 PM) It looks like Ozzie may have been talking about Anorexei last night. Nix at SS tonight. Getz 2B Fields 3B Quentin LF Thome DH Dye RF Konerko 1B Pierzynski C Nix SS Podsednik CF Awesome, no Betemit against one of the toughest pitchers in baseball against righties. I'm surprised Ozzie didn't put Pods in the leadoff spot for his first home game.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 6, 2009 -> 06:17 PM) Which is why I kept saying it was a massive failure for the Sox to do what they did. People kept saying we had depth and the smart ones knew that Marquez was crap (at least currently), that Richard doesn't have enough pitches to be a successful starter, Broadway doesn't have command, etc etc etc. Fact is the Sox were counting on Colon and Contreras and had absolutely no alternative readily available. In fact, I still think the Sox priority in the draft should be on pitching, pitching and more pitching because the fact of the matter is aside from guys in the lower levels (who have a lot left to prove) there are very few even potential high impact arms in the system. Poreda is the only one at a high enough level and I consistently will tell you that he isn't ready to be a high impact starter with his current arsenal, although if his sinker is truly plus plus, that could change. How similar are Poreda's K/BB ratio to those of Cotts when he was in AA?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 6, 2009 -> 03:42 PM) Yet the Sox love Lillibridge and what's his only tool? The Sox have had a year or two with a lot of selections in the first 50, and really screwed up. I think Pedroia was available when Whisler and Lucy were drafted. Maybe another problem is the total inability to develop players at lower levels. Bucholtz, Kershaw a couple of pitchers still on the board when Broadway was taken. Maybe Boston is just a lot better in the lower levels of developing guys. Yep, the incompetence of the previous minor league regime continues to haunt the Sox, as you can argue they still haven't developed a solid MLB player since Mark Buehrle (from draft to the pros).

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ May 6, 2009 -> 02:10 PM) I can tell though. A couple more losses and this place is going to be nuts. I'm still waiting for the first, "BRING UP, RANDY WILLIAMS" thread.. Are you kidding, I wish we could put money on which player is called out in a specific thread after tonight's game! It was Pods on Monday, Broadway on Tuesday...maybe it will be the National Anthem singer or Southpaw.

Thornton should always start his innings when he comes in. He seems to flourish in that role, as it gives him a little more room for error. I'm a huge fan of his, and think he'll be our closer next year. However, it seems like he's completely abandoned even thinking of throwing anything but a fastball, and it's reflected in how righties are hitting him very hard so far.

It would shock me if Samardizjajajjaa isn't playing in the NFL in 3 years. He has absolutely no feel for pitching.

So who would be our trade chips then to get someone like Lastings Milledge? It would seem like there's no one we could really send to the Nationals (pitching starved), so it would have to be an outfielder on a contending team that we could possibly trade someone like Dye to at the deadline. I'm happy to hear this type of stuff though, as we really could use an athletic outfielder.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 6, 2009 -> 11:42 AM) BTW, the target of the rant? Gavin Floyd IMO. Yep, Gavin and Alexei. Ozzie was fuming yesterday when Gavin walked the leadoff man in the 6th inning. One thing Ozzie won't tolerate from his starting pitchers is walks. No matter what happens the rest of the way with regards to record, we need to get the core of our future going (Gavin, Danks, Alexei, Quentin).

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 6, 2009 -> 08:42 AM) The game was over right there...on the road...we might as well have put Wandy Rodriguez in the game to throw to Geoff Blum just for old times' sake. Ezequiel Astacio

Jenks was left, and rightfully held out for the possible save inning. Richard had to pitch a few innings yesterday because our starting pitching is allergic to going deep into games.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ May 6, 2009 -> 03:50 AM) If Lance Broadway and Kyle McCulloch are 1st round picks, then I'm no worse than a 3rd rounder myself. Kind of sad that we've wasted so many picks. Brian Bogusevic, who was the likely Sox pick if we didn't take Broadway, was even worse in the minors as a starter.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 6, 2009 -> 03:28 AM) There's no denying Lance should be selling insurance or something for a living. But he certainly won't be a factor in if we win or lose this division. I'm MUCH more concerned with Gavin Floyd. Every Sabergeek that I've come across predicted a big-time comeback to earth year for Gavin Floyd. And he's doing nothing to prove any of them wrong. There's no way in hell we can contend if Gavin doesn't turn it around and soon. Too often, Gavin's trying to get ahead of the count with his fastball so he can then use his curve with 2 strikes. The two issues with this is that he has very mediocre command of his fastball, and when he does get it over the plate, it's not exactly a plus pitch. It's not like hitters are doing any damage against his curve, but he's getting hit hard before he can use it.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 6, 2009 -> 04:14 AM) No doubt about it. The two best FA signings to this point have easily been Orlando Hudson and Raul Ibanez. Who would have guessed that a quality hitter in the AL would excel in the NL?? Thankfully, the Cubs didn't sign Ibanez and went after the nutcase/injury plagued Bradley.

QUOTE (Chisoxrd5 @ May 6, 2009 -> 03:14 AM) This seems cruel and unusual to me. Broadway has no business being on the roster. This team has at least 5-7 roster spots right now that are occupied by marginal or sub-par major league talents. It's really not fair to single him out. Instead, be angry that the team spent a first round draft choice on a guy whos biggest criticism the year he was drafted was that he had good numbers but marginal stuff. Marginal stuff, especially from a RHP, is usually never effective against professional hitters. I can't really blame Broadway for the cards he was dealt. Broadway's stock was soaring the weeks leading up to the draft. From what I was told, the Sox didn't even think he'd last to their pick.

FWIW, Broadway's fastest fastball tonight was 89 mph.

So we're going to start a thread after every loss dedicated to a player? It's not Broadway's fault. Much like Lillibridge, he has no business being in the majors.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 6, 2009 -> 04:04 AM) Further proof that it's more than possible to consistently field a contending ML team while maintaining a productive farm system. Obviously a million things can happen between now and the end of the season. But as of right now, I think the Dodgers are the clear front-runners in the NL. The Hudson signing was fantastic for them, as he's provided such a cool demeanor to offset any of Manny's craziness. If it happens, I can't wait to root for them again when they face the Cubs in the playoffs.

QUOTE (whitesox32 @ May 6, 2009 -> 02:40 AM) I think this would hopefully jumpstart an inconsistent offense and moving lexei to center could solve our center field issue as well and hopefully the change will effect his hitting in a positive way too. I mean if we jump ahead a years time this is still going to be the same issue unless something changes. Alexei is still going to be at short, getz or nix could still be at second. someone is going to have to move eventually to make room for beckham. Indians just brought up laporta and he doesn't have much experience either, I'm a firm believer in the best player should play regardless of age. I'm Slayer's biggest fan, but the time isn't right. He's not ready yet.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ May 6, 2009 -> 02:22 AM) Ramirez and Getz struck out four times in the last three innings while Nix and Betemit sat on the bench. He did not pinch hit once for hitters that looked lost up there. Why would he ph for Getz? Coming into tonight, he was easily the hardest guy on the Sox to strike out. I hope the case is everyone's trying hard to get the big hit, and that's causing unnecessary pressure.