fathom

QUOTE(whitesoxfan99 @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 02:29 AM) Huge break for the Diamondbacks, now take advantage. Actually, the Cubs got quite lucky. Lee missed that ball, but somehow, it got wedged between the glove and the ground.

QUOTE(whitesox61382 @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 09:36 PM) I don't think anyone is claiming that the Sox have one of the top 5 minor league systems in baseball. With that said, the Sox system is certainly heading in the right direction(really only one way to head from the bottom). Last year the Sox minor league systems was one of the 5 worst in baseball(could make an argument that it was the worst). Thanks to some offseason traded(see Gonzalez), breakout years(see Carter, DLS, etc), and what appears to be a very good draft(see Poreda, etc) the Sox minor league system has taken a pretty big step forward and might even be in the 15-20 range overall. So I guess the answer to your question is about 10 teams would probably be willing to trade their minor league system for the Sox. The Sox upper minor league system isn't that strong, but it did produce some positive contributions from prospects like Fields, Owens, and Richar. Furthermore, the Sox have 3 solid looking pitching prospects who appear to be ready to contribute next year(Broadway, Gonzalez, and Egbert) and while none of those guys have ace stuff they have the potential to be solid middle of the rotation starters(Gonzalez having a little higher upside). The Sox lower minor league system is where the strength lies. In fact, I bet only a handful of teams would NOT trade their low A ball AND advanced rookie ball rosters for the Sox. They had a handful of all star potential players have breakout years(Carter, DSL, Shelby) and had a handful of sleepers to keep an eye on(Allen, Sanchez, Marrero, Moreno, Martinez). Plus this years draft was a big success based on early indications. Poreda put up impressive numbers(has no control what level he starts at). Miranda instantly became the Sox best SS prospect(not necessarily saying much). Ely was very impressive(although I am not a huge fan of his). Gallagher, my sleeper for the 2007 draft, put up some guady numbers. Mabee might be a closer of the future with his dominating numbers. Plus you have a handful of talented high school players who just got their feet wet(Griffith and Gilbert). Point being, while the Sox minor league system is average at best right now it is certainly heading in the right direction. If some of these lower minor league players can continue to produce as they progress up the system, than the Sox might be in the top 5 before too long. I think people are going to be disappointed then to see where the Sox minor league system is ranked this offseason (and no, that information is not just coming from BA).

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 03:52 PM) Hahaha. Cubs fans are accusing Webb of having grease on his hat. No matter that he was wiping his sweat on the brim of his cap, he OBVIOUSLY was cheating. Also they are accusing the Dbacks ground crew of softening up the dirt in front of the plate to help his ground balls. That same "soft" dirt that led to the only Cubs run?

QUOTE(BHAMBARONS @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 05:34 AM) Nope he wasn't he was on the radio post game saying his adrenaline was pumping causing some of his sinkers to be left up a little too much. Too bad nobody got to see him on his 42 inning streak he was dominating nobody stood a chance against him. I saw a shutout he pitched in Atlanta, and it was the best pitched game I had seen all year until Beckett's game yesterday. His sinker against lefty hitters that night was amazing. It reminded me of the legendary game D. Lowe pitched against the Sox about 6 years ago.

QUOTE(3E8 @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 04:42 AM) Me too, that sinker is unreal He wasn't even close to being on tonight either.

Just a horribly managed game by Piniella tonight. Unfortunately, the Chicago media won't have the balls to rip him.

Hell yeah! Big win.

Ugh, this reminds me way too much of Game 1 of the NLCS against the Marlins from 2003.

Where the hell was that pitch?

Use two hands Chris!

There's Howry again with his invisible fastball. Byrnes' bat speed looks awful.

What were the Fox commercials about, in terms of shows, when the Sox were in the WS? Wasn't it Prison Break? No wonder it was the greatest week of my life.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 04:12 AM) YES, good inning and now it's 7-8-9 due up in the 9th against Valverde. I like where this is going. Soto, Theriot, and Ward. If they get someone on for Soriano....throw him nothing but splitters.

Excellent inning by Lyon! He's been superb vs the Cubs this year. I'll take at least a two run lead into the 9th inning with Valverde on the mound every game.

Great job CoJack! Another bad managing move, as Jackson is a contact hitter. Should have walked him to get to Young, who would have a tough time hitting Marmol.

That might be as far as Ojeda can hit the ball.

I really wish he'd let Webb start the 8th, especially to face Ramirez and Floyd.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 03:56 AM) Yeah he's ready for 3 days rest now, but their 6 outs from losing against Webb and one of the best bullpens in the league. It's October, if your worrying about pitch counts and 3 days rest, your making a major error. Lou has managed a horrid game tonight. I agree with you...not having Zambrano bunt earlier was just terrible.

Will Melvin go to Lyon or leave Webb in there?

Holy cow, that might be the most surprising homer I've seen since Pods off of Lidge. You had the guy with the nasty K/9 inning numbers against the guy who K's a ton. BTW, did anyone get worried that it might not have been gone due to the camera angle and Stockton not sounding excited?

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 03:53 AM) I'm bewildered as to why Z is out. He's not due up here anytime soon (and he hit the ball hard anyways), he only threw 6 innings and 85 pitches. I also doubt he'd have cramps, it's Phoenix so the humidity is absolutely zero, plus the Cubs don't have the bullpen depth to just do this for the heck of it when their starter is pitching really well. To have him ready for 3 days rest. However, if they were going to pull him early, they should have had a ph for him with the bases loaded.

QUOTE(ChWRoCk2 @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 03:49 AM) Cubs bullpen isnt all that great, its alot better than going up against Zambrano whos been on tonight. The Dbacks offense makes any pitcher look on. Zambrano got into a lot of bad counts tonight, but the Dbacks are just too weak to make him pay.

Much better inning for Webb there! Hopefully the Dbacks just swing hard and hope they hit Marmol.

This has the feeling of the inning that the Cubs go ahead. I can't imagine how the Dbacks are going to be able to score against Marmol. Marmol vs Mark Reynolds next inning should be comical.

Chris Young just chase ball 4, and then K? I still am pissed that the ump changed the face of the top of the 6th by calling that 2-1 pitch on Steroidosa a ball.