Kalapse

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 10:04 PM) Join the club. We've speculated about this, and while we agree it's a possibilty it seems more likley that KW made this signing with a "Coop can Fix him' mentality. I believe JVB stated this offseason that he doesn't want to go back to hitting, he sees himself as a pitcher.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 10:02 PM) Agree with Kalapse. When used properly, Mackowiak was great at what he did. I remember feeling so bad for Mack back in '06 when Ozzie was forcing him to play CF. They'd interview him after the game and he'd come right out and say that he's incapable of playing centerfield but he'll continue to do what the manager asks of him. Mack was in an impossible position and it tarnished his reputation as a ballplayer in this city. He was actually a very good corner outfielder, he just couldn't handle center.

QUOTE (Soxpranos @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 09:45 PM) Thanks did the update, but If I change the roster can I still use it on SC play? No, I don't think so. They haven't released a full update yet just a small one fixing some major problems in the original rosters, the Sox will be much better once the season starts and they make a more comprehensive updated roster available. Now that I think about it, I believe you can use your own roster if you wish. I'll have to look into it but if you make your roster available for download in the roster vault and the other player downloads and uses the same roster you should be good. I've yet to play online so I'm not positive of the specifics, I've mainly been playing exhibition games and fixing the rosters manually.

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 09:53 PM) Really? Wow, then I must've seen most of the games where he struck out and hit into an out. He just never stood out for me. Cintron was worst than him, though. Cintron was an unmitigated failure. Mackowiak on the other hand hit .285/.360/.411/.770 in 492 AB with the Sox, if we could get that out of our leadoff hitter this season we'd be in terrific shape.

QUOTE (Want2Repeat @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 09:51 PM) I know it was spring training and super super early, but the dude looked brutal on Sunday trying to field the ball. Please tell me this guy is a better fielder than that.... He's been a steady yet unspectacular defender at 4 infield positions for his whole career, I'm not about to throw 4 years of a player's history out the window because he has a bad game.

QUOTE (scenario @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 09:47 PM) I think the only time people are really going to dislike him is when he bats right-handed. Left-handed? Very likable. Hopefully Ozzie uses him as a semi-platoon with Fields, that's a deadly combination right there. If any more than 25% of his ABs this year are against lefties then Ozzie is doing something wrong.

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 09:45 PM) Home-Run!!! Wilson Betemit! You can put it on the boaaaaaaard! A power-hitting reserve off the bench, exactly what we need on this team. Thank god Betemit's bat won't be pathetic like Mackowiak's or Cintron's. Yeah, the one thing Rob Mackowiak did while he was here was hit, especially in 2006 when he put up a .350/.458/.500/.958 line as a pinch hitter. He should have started in LF and led off in '06. I still don't understand why Rob Mackowiak's time with the Sox was viewed as such a failure, if Ozzie hadn't asked him to do something which he's incapable perhaps things would have been different.

I LOVE Wilson Betemit. LOVE. I have a feeling a lot of people are going to dislike him which is a damn shame.

QUOTE (scenario @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 08:23 PM) One of the more interesting parts of the game tonight should be the pitching. Van Benschoten is scheduled to follow Danks. Then Poreda... Nunez Link and a few others So we'll get to see a few new arms out there. Definitely the saving grace for this game. Can't wait to see Poreda and Link.

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 07:31 PM) How did they screw Alexei? What's the default Sox rotation? Buehrle Floyd Danks Colon Richard Broadway Wassermann Russell Thornton Dotel Linebrink Jenks change it to Buehrle Floyd Danks Contreras Colon Richard Carrasco Thornton MacDougal Dotel Linebrink Jenks and the team greatly improves

With the update the Sox are the 6th best offense in the game, 11th best pitching and 20th best fielding. If anything they're a little high defensively, the rest seems about right. Alexei, Quentin, Thome, Dye and Konerko are all very good offensively. Buehrle is the best starter followed closely by Danks. Floyd and Contreras are about equal (Floyd is slightly better). All 4 are good.

There already has been an update, go into Sports Connect and download the online roster. Contreras is in AAA and Broadway, Russell and Wassermann are in the MLB bullpen which makes the major league team much worse. Move Contreras, Carrasco and MacDougal to the big league roster and the Sox go from 21st to 16th. Which seems fair.

If I had to guess: Owens, CF Wise, LF Konerko, 1B Dye, RF Pierzynski, C Betemit, SS Fields, 3B Getz, 2B Danks, P Should be a considerably boring game.

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 06:34 PM) I'll play Here's what I kinda see... and what I would do if I was Ozzie... CF: Owens (someone's gotta be lead-off) 2B: Getz LF: Quentin RF: Dye DH: Thome 1B: Konerko SS: Alexei C: AJ 3B: Fields Bench: Wilson Betemit: 3B, SS, 2B, 1B Dewayne Wise: LF, CF, RF Jayson Nix: 2B Backup Catcher: leaning towards Corky Miller or Stewart. I'd send Brian Anderson and Brent Lillibridge to Triple-A. I think Lillibridge needs to work on improving that .200 average. And I'd send Anderson back down because he had his chance in 2006 and all he's really good for is as a late-inning defensive replacement, I'd rather have more late-inning pinch-hit home runs by Wise. If the Sox can't score late in the game, then I'd rather see them switch out Owens for Wise instead of Owens for Anderson. Plus, I don't think Anderson and Owens should be on the same team together, that's too much of a bad thing, and since Owens can lead-off, despite being mediocre, Anderson should go to AAA. I'd also keep a close eye on Viciedo, and if he RAKES in the minors, then he's gonna be on the major league club no matter what. Starters: 1. MB 2. Floyd 3. Danks 4. Colon 5. Contreras Bullpen: Closer: Bobby Jenks Set-up 1 (9th): Linebrink Set-up 2 (8th): Thornton Set-up 3 (7th): Dotel Middle-Relief: Carrasco Middle-Relief: ???????????? Long-Relief/Spot-Starter: Richard I'm still not sure who I'd put in that last bullpen spot. I would rather see Aaron Poreda and Jeff Marquez start the year in AAA because I think Poreda should work on his secondary pitches and that Marquez should get regular playing time as a starter so he'd be ready to jump in the rotation in 2010. If I had to scramble to put someone in the bullpen in that last spot, then I would probably take a risk on either Link or Jimenez. None of the bolded portion makes sense. Dewayne Wise hit 1 pinch hit homerun last season and had nearly identical PH numbers to Brian (same OPS, same PA). So Dewayne Wise turns on a first pitch fastball from Kyle Farnsworth in the 8th inning of a tied September game against a last place team and it totally makes up for the fact that he's truly incapable of doing anything well on the ballfield? Yeah, that makes sense. Anderson has a disappointing season as a 24 year old and he's out of chances yet Dewayne Wise builds up a 12 year resume of failure and that counts for nothing. Aside from maybe being slightly faster (maybe) I can't think of a single thing Dewayne Wise does better than Brian Anderson, at least one of them can play competent defense. I'm befuddled I can't think of a single thing Wise does well and yet it looks like he has a decent shot at a major league starting job this season. He's 31 years old, he's sort of hit his peak. Owens apparently possesses the necessary skills to be the leadoff hitter and beneficiary of the most PA on a contending American League club yet having him on the same roster as the AAA bound Anderson is "too much of a bad thing." I'm wondering what these skills that you and Bill Melton see in Owens that make him the most qualified leadoff hitter on the roster. I assume it's his volume SB ability. I say volume because I'm not convinced he's a skilled baserunner, when he somehow manages to get on base he's likely going to take off for 2nd but he's done nothing in the past that makes me believe he's going to make it to second more often than 75% of the time. Oh I know, he's the closest thing to a "prototypical leadoff hitter" that the Sox have, unfortunately the prototype blows. Sure he's a bad baseball player but he's fast and someone fast has to hit at the top of the order so lets give this s***ty baseball player an obscene number of plate appearances so he can lead the league in outs. Oh if only Chris Getz could get hot and start tearing the cover off the ball during these meaningless March games and win himself a starting job. Stick him in the leadoff spot, hope he reaches a .350 OBP and fill centerfield with an above average defender. Centerfield is one of the most important defensive positions on the field, put 2 s***ty defenders in left and right (I'm looking at you Dye and Quentin) and suddenly it becomes even more important. The Sox aren't exactly littered with strikeout pitchers, they're going to rely on the defense behind them. They were already one of the worst defensive teams in baseball last season, now they've removed the only true strikeout pitcher from the rotation so that defense that looks to be even worse this year than it was last is going to get even more opportunities. Perhaps using the 2B position to fill the leadoff spot and plugging a great defensive player in the middle of the outfield could help make up for the 4 or 6 below average defenders the Sox are going to have to run out there this year. Sticking the puss armed bantam track star or the career minor league butcher in centerfield and adding another below average defender to the mix just because of a perceived need for a speedy douchebag in the leadoff spot is just epically retarded in my mind but what do I know, I'm a raving lunatic.

QUOTE (Cali @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 04:58 PM) Dammit, those are all the guys I would like to see in action in this game. Especially JorDanks... We'll see what the line-up is for the Cub game There aren't many interesting players left for tonight's game. C: Pierzynski/Miller/Flowers 1B: Konerko/Broussard/Myrow 2B: Getz/Nix/Torres SS: Betemit/Santos 3B: Fields/Castillo LF: Wise/Kroeger CF: Owens RF: Dye/Restovich Getz, Nix, Fields, Flowers and Kroeger. Whoohoo! They're not gonna have players from minor league camp travel to Las Vegas so I doubt there will be any fun surprises like Jordan Danks. A Tyler Flowers sighting would be nice. I'm sure Owens will play all nine.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 04:49 PM) IN the NL however. Does Zambrano crack a 4 ERA in the AL? I know it doesn't mean much but his career numbers in interleague play suck. 101.2 IP, 4.96 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 1.49 K/BB

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 02:05 PM) Jesus, Ozzie didn't leave us much for the televised game tonight. Who of interest is even left? C: Pierzynski/Miller 1B: Konerko/Broussard/Myrow 2B: Getz/Nix SS: Beckham/Betemit/Santos 3B: Fields/Castillo LF: Wise/Kroeger CF: Owens RF: Dye/Restovich I assume they'll use mostly players from minor league camp to off the bench in the day game since that's in Phoenix. You're killing me Ozzie.

QUOTE (scenario @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 03:55 PM) A Miguel Negron sighting. Yeah, I figured we'd see some guys from minor league camp in this game, wouldn't be surprised if David Cook gets in the game soon.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 03:49 PM) Nevermind on Lucy, I guess he's around for the day game. Ugh. Pierzynski and Corky in game 2, easily the 2 least interesting of the 4 for me.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 03:08 PM) I think he's one of those "hybrid" types that has dual roles...from listening, he does "video scouting" and also works a lot with Greg Walker. But the way they were describing him, he was officially a member of the FO. "The Sox will need 40 years to win the pennant again." --Luis Aparicio, after being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 1963 On the Sox website his official title is "Major League Computer Scouting Analyst".

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 02:50 PM) Put a fork in Lance Broadway. Say hello to Charlotte, you can join Wasserman and Russell. Matt Cassel's brother Justin coming in for the Sox. Sweeney 7/12 on the spring. Mike Gellinger (sp?) from the front office (never heard of him b4 today) and Daryl Boston the 3rd and 1st base coaches today. Mark Gonzales seems to be a big fan of his. I guess his book about the Sox from 1959-08 is coming out soon, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." Link for Gonzales' book. http://www.amazon.com/Good-Ugly-Chicago-Wh...0225&sr=1-2 Cassel not doing very well so far...ugly inning. 4-0 A's now. Another Mike MacDougal sighting. Gellinger is one of the in dugout instructors, I believe he's a fielding coach.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 02:35 PM) from nhl.com... Also, Sportsnet.ca is saying Samuel Pahlsson has been moved to the Chicago Blackhawks, who were desperate for another center. According to the Score it's Wiz and a prospect headed the other way.

QUOTE (hawksfan61 @ Mar 4, 2009 -> 02:22 PM) Someone smarter than me probably knows for sure, but they may not be able to offer him arbitration after his contract is up. This ends up being part of the contract with a lot of international players, so my guess would be we would have to look at offering Ramirez a long term deal come 2011 if we wanted to keep him. Yep, there's a 99% chance Jaime Torres included a sign/release clause in both Alexei and Dayan's deals. Come 2011, if Alexei isn't re-signed by a certain date in November he'll become a free agent. There's also no free agent compensation for these players.

Jesus, Ozzie didn't leave us much for the televised game tonight. Who of interest is even left? C: Pierzynski 1B: Konerko/Broussard/Myrow 2B: Getz/Nix SS: Beckham/Santos 3B: Fields/Betemit/Castillo LF: Wise/Kroeger CF: Owens RF: Dye/Restovich I assume they'll use mostly players from minor league camp to off the bench in the day game since that's in Phoenix.

He's on the list because the Sox replaced the final year of his old deal ('08: $5.5M) giving him a $350K bump in salary for that season as incentive to sign on for 2 more years a year before he hit free agency. Apparently this is a bad thing? This offseason's top free agent catchers? Ivan Rodriguez (still without a job) and Henry Blanco. AJ would have easily been the most desirable catcher on the market, it was great foresight by KW locking him up a year early rather than getting into a bidding war with another club desperate for a starting catcher.