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QUOTE (iamshack @ Apr 8, 2008 -> 09:12 PM) I do not believe Jose has any no-trade protection any longer. He doesn't

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 8, 2008 -> 04:12 PM) Here's the problem with any OF scheme involving Josh Fields...we're right back in the "too many OF's" boat again. Right now, I count 5 guys on this team that seem like they deserve playing time at an OF slot. Dye, Swisher, Quentin, Anderson, Owens (read whatever you want in to the order). The reality is...we have more guys in the OF than we can play there already. If we try to move Josh to an OF spot, we're blocking him even worse than he's blocked at 3rd base; we're literally counting on 3 guys to get hurt before he gets a shot. Overall, I think a 30-40 home run 3rd basemen is generally more useful and harder to find, especially cheap, than a 30-40 HR corner OF. Case in point, the White Sox, who have one of those guys playing LF, CF, RF, and 3rd base in the minors. If Josh's defense can improve, even slightly, then that makes him more valuable there, and most importantly, gives him a place to play where we have no one else. The way I keep looking at this lineup...within 1 year, it's entirely possible we could have Fields at 3rd base, Alexei at SS, Richar at 2nd, Konerko/Thome/Dye at 1b/DH, Quentin, Anderson, Owens, and Swisher in the OF. That fills 7 positions in the field, every spot except catcher, with a guy who is 28 or younger, the most expensive of which is Nick Swisher, many of whom are still on the pre-arb pay scale. With a little bit of successful development...any complaint about this team's age or organizational depth will totally vanish, and the team will have about $30 million more available in salary. That's an enviable position to be in. If Fields spends only 1 month or less in the majors this season his service number will remain under 1, meaning starting in 2009 he'll still be 6 years away from free agency (2015). Insanity.

QUOTE (sox-r-us @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 05:46 PM) Serious question - I have always been a Crede fan and fully expected him to revert to being a solid contributor this year. He is not going to be a 0.350 hitter of course over the course of the season; but what if he continues to be a 0.300 or so hitter with a steady glove and the Sox keep on winning? What do you do at the deadline then? If teams ask for Crede, how can you trade him if you are in a pennant race then??? Especially if it is an AL team that asks for him.... I have a feeling we will keep Crede all year and then make the decision (extend Crede and trade Fields or let him go and get draft picks) at the end of this season.....I know there will be people here crying about how we did not get any overhyped, over-rated spects instead .... but you cannot give up a player if your team is in a pennant race.....that would not sit well in the clubhouse or with the casual fans (White flag). 1 sandwich pick probably somewhere between #50 and #65. (if he has a HUGE season and qualifies as a type b free agent, he will not reach type A status.)

And suddenly this is looking like a pretty damn good outing from Javy. 6IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 6 K.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 03:46 PM) It's actually not so insane to think that Swisher being lower in the order could be a better RBI guy than Konerko this year. His power stats last year in non-hitters park. The necessity of having Quentin and Swisher both play, and the need to get more speed on the team. The idea would only be worth exploring more, however, if there was actually a proven leadoff hitter in the equation instead of the unknown Owens. Swisher's offensive value takes a huge hit when you move him in from the outfield. You can usually find guys who can put up Swisher-type numbers and play 1B/DH, it's rare however that you find a centerfielder who can do what he can at the plate.

It just seems like Konerko isn't seeing the ball all that well up there. He's taking pitches on the corner and looking perplexed when they're called strikes.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 03:41 PM) Correct. However their combined .183 average have hurt this team. Eh, wants Thome starts struggling in clutch situations I'll b****. He's had some huge hits these last few games.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 03:37 PM) Wow, Thome and Konerko are killing this team right now. Except Thome has 1 of the 2 RBIs in this game thus far.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 03:30 PM) Ouch, Cox with a bad read there, but with the top of the order coming up, I understand. Crede was just past 3rd when the ball got to Span, he has a cannon, there's nobody out and Crede is slow as s***. It was the right call.

1994 - Tim Raines

Oh Carlos how I love you so. He's just that intimidating.

'bout f***ing time

Blackburn threw a TON of strikes in the 1st. After going 2-0 on Swisher I believe he only threw 2 balls to the next 5 hitters. 19 pitches 15 for strikes

QUOTE(vandy125 @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 02:21 PM) Broken bat shot through the shift. The bat didn't even break it just slipped out of his hand.

There was nothing "on the cusp" about that check.

A double and 2 singles plate a run, great start.

Yep, apparently McDonough and Boyer have been working together and the 2 teams will be cross-promoting throughout the year. There will be the video of Toews and Kane on Opening day, in between innings they're going to play that puck sliding game on top of one of the dugouts and there's going to be a Blackhawks legends night at the Cell sometime in August. There's more but that's all I can remember off hand.

QUOTE(chitownsportsfan @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 07:23 AM) Quentin, Swisher and Dye means we actually have 3 above average players (when healthy for Dye and Quentin) capable of driving an offense from the outfield spots. And all 3 have above average throwing arms as well.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 11:10 AM) Morgan just isn't that smart about what players have accomplished. Ie, him saying Dye would have a tremendous season ignoring the fact that two years ago Jermaine had one of the best seasons in all of baseball. He just makes a lot of puzzling comments. I don't mind him because he has a good broadcasting voice but a lot of times you have to take his statements at heart. Including the comments about the Sox becoming a smart ball type of club because that is just a major misconceptoin about the 05 Sox. Yes they had Pods a top the order but the big key was the rotation and pen and you can't ignore the fact that the 05 Sox could still slug homers with the best of em. It doesn't get much better than http://www.firejoemorgan.com/

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 11:06 AM) I never was a big Salmon fan, always thought he was over-rated but today when looking for his stance to verify my assumptions were correct I stopped by his baseball reference page and the guy was pretty damn good when healthy (very good eye and a rock solid defensive RFer). I guess my issue was I remember him for his last few years where he was pretty broken down (he consistently posted above average OPS+'s though). Just looking at his numbers when healthy he was a 30/100 .900 guy which is pretty much all you ask of your rightfielder.

QUOTE(rangercal @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 10:59 AM) I don't understand how my hate for Uribe can leave so quickly. But, I will Listen to the praise of one of the greatest 2nd basemen ever (Joe Morgan) rather than the soxtalk uribe hate club. And, I usually don't side with Joe Morgan. Joe Morgan also thinks Carlos Guillen is a good defensive 1B. That man has a list of retarded opinions 10 miles long. But yeah Juan Uribe is an absolute stud defensively at 2B I just wouldn't use the opinions of the worst broadcaster in sports history to prove my point no matter how good he was as a player.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Apr 6, 2008 -> 09:43 PM) Right now, he is our best option at leadoff. But if we could somehow manage to get someone like Roberts, and move Swisher down, that'd be fantastic. Sadly there's no bullets left in that chamber. I agree that Swisher would be best utilized hitting down the order but there's nothing wrong with having a Grady Sizemore type leadoff hitter (minus the SBs of course) when you have a guy like Thome hitting 3rd and no other real leadoff options. Swisher and Sizemore probably have pretty similar power potential so you're not taking full advantage of that aspect of their game but at least you're giving one of your best hitters the most PAs of anyone in the lineup as opposed to a much less valuable offensive talent who happens to run fast.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Apr 6, 2008 -> 12:51 PM) What, in 16 AB's? Wow, what a huge sample size! Paulie might be going through a bit of a funk right now, and hasn't had great success vs. Verlander, but you don't bench your big bopper vs. a team's ace... especially this early into the season. Plus, Verlander has a great fastball and PK is a fastball hitter. This is as bad as people who wanted Thome benched vs. Sabathia because he hasn't gotten a lot of hits vs. him in 11 AB's. Give me a freaking break... you know you can sometimes overmanage, and benching players like Thome and Konerko vs. a pitcher they haven't had great success in 10 some AB's would be a case of that. I never said it would be a good idea. I was just adding to the thread by giving a possible justification for such a move. You need to calm down when replying, this fiery bulls*** is just going to lead to me ignoring your posts.

QUOTE(elrockinMT @ Apr 6, 2008 -> 09:10 PM) What I liked too was from McDougal. He didn't crack in the 9th and satrt giving up big hits. The guy kept battling and won He also had no command over any of his pitches once again, he should be catching a bus ride to Charlotte tonight, sadly we're probably stuck with him for a while longer.

QUOTE(lostfan @ Apr 6, 2008 -> 08:59 PM) Ironically, the only ones really not doing much of anything at the plate the last few days are Cabrera, Thome, and Konerko... and you know they will hit, this isn't like 2007 when nobody was hitting at all and everyone was pressing. When they do, my god, watch out. Well, Cabrera and Thome did have arguably the 2 most important hits of the past 2 games. Carlos Quentin is kicking ass on 2 fronts, he's playing excellent baseball which is helping the team win and he's making it a whole lot harder for Ozzie to fit Owens into the lineup when he gets off the DL. He has my undying love.