fathom

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Aug 26, 2005 -> 04:20 PM) Yeah but they'd have no chance of doing it for a whole season, and then there's the stolen bases. and caught stealings Trust me, I wouldn't want these guys leading off for a full season. However, they're definitely not responsible for our offensive struggles. For everyone that complains about guys like Timo and Blum (myself definitely included), they sure picked us up yesterday in what could have been a very critical tank job. Yes, the ball was foul....but catch the f'n ball PK!

On the bright side, it's the first time we can use the words Crede and hit in the same sentence for the first time this week.

QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Aug 26, 2005 -> 04:15 PM) I just pray it's his last year in a Sox uniform... Sadly I have a feeling Ozzie will be pushing to get him a raise... I've stopped dreaming of the day he's off this team, and realized that I might as well hope for the best with him. If he can go on a 5 for 40 slump and get promoted the 5th spot and then leadoff spot in the lineup, it's safe to say his roster spot is safe. To be honest, I have a lot bigger concerns now than Timo....like our left side of the infield and a center fielder that has regressed this season at the plate.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Aug 26, 2005 -> 04:12 PM) Timo and Pablo have done a better than advertised job in the leadoff spot in the last week or two. You could argue they've done better in that time than Pods would have done. However, I don't want to diminish the legendary Pods....so I'll leave it at that.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Aug 26, 2005 -> 04:13 PM) Not unless the Sox can find another lefty (and no not Kevin Walker) to replace him. Then you can ship him out in a Chad Tracy deal. I'm just saying, with the emergence of Cotts, Marte's going to be a big trade chip this offseason along with Contreras. The good news for Sox fans that want Tracy or Overbay is that the Brewers and Diamondbacks both could really use a lefty late inning reliever.

Prediction: Marte is traded this offseason.

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Aug 26, 2005 -> 03:47 PM) KC would never trade Sweeney to the White Sox. You don't trade your best marquee player to a major rival. Unless you're the Pirates

QUOTE(SnB @ Aug 26, 2005 -> 03:31 PM) see, here's what i think: we don't hate timo. we hate all the good things that happen to timo ie: getting that contract and getting WAY too much playing time. but as of right now, i'm willing to give credit where credit is do. yay for timo don't forget the one handed catching and trying to be too cute at the plate sometimes

No one dislikes Timo more than me, but he's really stepped his game up with Pods out. Hell, I'll even suggest he's a better left fielder than Pods is. I cheer for the Sox more than I root against any player.....so congrats to Timo on some big Timoments lately.

QUOTE(SnB @ Aug 26, 2005 -> 03:24 PM) have you seen him pitch? or even looked at his stats so far? I take it that wasn't for me, but rather for daa's post? Yes, I've seen him pitch. He has "IT"! However, I like our chances better against him than I did against Johan. It's not like Hernandez was unhittable in the minors. However, if we go to the plate swinging at everything he throws, we're not going to have a productive offensive game.

All I know is that the last time the playoff rotation was discussed, we lost about 7 games from our lead in two weeks.

It must be me, by no way would I consider starting Duque early in the playoffs if we make it. Even during his best outings, he's still allowing 3 or 4 runs. I'll trust the big three, and I don't see why we'd have to start Duque over Contreras. Duque could be better off as a righty specialist in the bullpen. Many of the potential playoff teams have a lot of lefty hitters, and Duque struggles with his command vs lefties.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Aug 26, 2005 -> 03:07 PM) If by "soft-tossing" you mean a guy who throws 98 with a mid 80's curveball... then yes. Trust me, I know all about King Felix. The people at Baseball America think he's the best looking young pitcher in the modern era. Shockingly, second on their list is Felix Diaz.

Are we going to get shutdown by another soft-throwing scrub that we're seeing for the first time?

QUOTE(GoSoxGo @ Aug 26, 2005 -> 03:34 AM) The Red Sox fans cheered for Pokey because Bellhorn's bat was slumping. It wasn't because of his defense... http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/scouting?statsId=5831 I vividly remember at least twice when Bellhorn made costly errors, and that's what started the Pokey chants by the crowd.

Garland's been our best pitcher all season, and he should start the first game IF we make the playoffs.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Aug 26, 2005 -> 03:23 AM) Hmm... what to trust... defensive statistic like UZR, or fathom's eyes. Tough call. Hmm....who will I let influence my perception.....what I see with my own eyes, or a statistical analysis? Like I said earlier, Bellhorn was so bad on defense that Red Sox fans used to cheer for a bencher to come in and replace him. Also, I'm not saying there's something wrong with striking out....but a lot of fans would get quite upset with Bellhorn's strikeout frequency. If anyone thinks Bellhorn is the same player this season as he was in the past, then I definitely disagree.

Wasn't Pods supposed to start playing tonight in the minors? All I know is that he wasn't playing tonight, and he's not supposed to join Charlotte until Saturday.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Aug 26, 2005 -> 02:18 AM) You're not going to find a good defensive thirdbaseman out there. So, you're gonna need to find a guy who can hit. Bellhorn can hit -- well, he can walk. And, over his career, he's both hit and walked well against lefties. Late in games, he can be replaced by Blum. You keep saying he's bad defensively, yet there are Boston fans -- primarily many over at BTF -- who say he's average, even slightly above. Now, at third, that'll change, and he'd probably be a little bit below average, accounting for longer throws, etc, but he's certainly not as bad as you make him out to be... You think people dislike Crede now? Just wait until Bellhorn starts striking out at an alarming rate. And I don't care what other Boston fans say....I've seen Bellhorn play plenty to make a judgment on his defense.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Aug 26, 2005 -> 01:48 AM) This is no dynasty. This team is overachieving and it will NOT happen next year, not unless we get more offense somehow and I mean a LOT of it. That being said, I don't see why they can't ride whatever it is they've been riding so far all the way to the WS this year. I thought we were going to have a dynasty during the early 2000s with the young talent we had. Those yearly failures since makes you appreciate any time you can get into the playoffs. How's that Cubs dynasty with Wood and Prior going? With the Indians being loaded with young, terrific players...this is the year to win the AL Central!

QUOTE(GoSoxGo @ Aug 26, 2005 -> 01:45 AM) You forgot to add -- "but instead, he would probably end up popping it up to 1st baseman." I actually think that when Crede concentrates, he can hit the ball on the ground. It's the whole swinging away aspect which results in more pop ups than a cheap porn site.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 26, 2005 -> 01:31 AM) BTW, how many unsuccessful bunt attempts does Crede have to have before Ozzie realizes he cannot bunt. Today's effort gets him injured, which turned out to be a blessing because it got him out of the game and the runner, who never would have advanced if Crede stayed in, moved over. It's one thing to keep Crede in to do it around the 5th or 6th inning. However, in a situation in the top of the 10th in a big game, and with two great bunters on the bench in Iguchi and Ozuna.....that was a very poor decision by Ozzie. Crede's the type of player who would have a much better chance at hitting the ball to the right side than he would if he was trying to bunt the runner over.

QUOTE(JimH @ Aug 26, 2005 -> 12:51 AM) Think very good defensive 3B though ... again if Crede is out for any length of time ... my thought is the White Sox would want someone who's damn good defensively. Like it or not, they are built on pitching first, defense second. Exactly....and Bellhorn is just not a good 3rd baseman.

I doubt I'm the only one, but I think this could be a blessing in disguise. Crede has been struggling so much at the plate, and there's the possibility that we can add someone that will help the bottom of our order. Of course, I don't wish an injury on anyone. However, if there was one player in our starting lineup we could afford to lose for an extended period, I honestly feel it's at 3rd base.

It was a matter of time before Crede got injured on a HBP. He's been slow reacting on inside pitches all season, and there were quite a few times it looked like he barely avoided serious injury.