CaliSoxFanViaSWside

Big Jim is and always will be a fine example of everything a person representing the White Sox and a professional in any endeavor should be. Total class 100 % of the time. Also if you figure walks into the equation Thome was by far the most productive player on the Sox this year.

QUOTE (Wanne @ Aug 30, 2009 -> 11:27 PM) I still don't understand why people automatically want to see/or think Beckham as a number 3 hitter next year (Because Hawk said so?). I don't see it for a few years... Why through him into the fire that quick. Personally I don't think he's ready. Q at 3 next year IMO. I think I was one of the first to say Beckham to 3rd in the lineup ( in the is Ozzie too complacent thread) just as I was one of the 1st to see him as the future 3rd baseman (predicted at the end of spring training in the predictions thread.) Had no idea Hawk was saying it or when he started saying it, maybe after reading me saying it . We've had plenty of players succeed in the 2 hole, AJ, Beckham and Alexei. What we need for a #3 is someone who can hit with men on base. Beckham has shown that ability in the big leagues so far and the kid probably loves being in that situation as he was with Georgia. He's a doubles machine and he'll hit more HR's in the future too. A double drives in a runner from 1st with 2 outs. Q's power bat will be needed at cleanup with Thome gone.

QUOTE (son of a rude @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 08:29 PM) we arent getting chone god damn figgins. i will stick a cucumber up my butt on webcam for everybody on this site if we sign him. it aint happening. he is going to want a lot of cash after this season. How are we to know that you don't do that every other day and enjoy it ?

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 12:14 AM) Only Getz and Beckham are allowed to be less than they can be, because they are rookies starting their first year at the major league level. Nix is a rookie also.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Aug 30, 2009 -> 11:20 PM) Our starting pitching is now our most dangerous weapon, so we need to make a run for the cup in the next 2-3 years. More or less the future is here starting in 2010, not 2011. Like some of you guys are sayin, I think the smart move is to put the best defensive team we can behind these 4 guys. I don't know why Beckham at short scares me, but it does; so keep him at 3B where he is excelling. Lexi is fine at short, and Paulie picks everything at 1B. Get Dye the hell outa my outfield and pray to God Rios hits next year. That leaves us short a corner outfielder and a second baseman; but I wouldn't mind a Getz/Nix platoon next year, especially since both would be valuable bench hitters. Neither is bad IMO. So really all I need is a great defensive corner outfielder and a new DH. Only 1 baseclogger is allowed in my lineup and that's Paulie. 2 Cloggers can really hurt us in a given inning. Dye and Thome go away. I actually didn't mind Pods at DH when he was there. With our pitching staff we don't have to outslug anybody (even though we still have plenty of pop). My point is that DH doesn't need to be filled with a big guy who can only hit. It can be filled with a good overall hitter who gets on base, he doesn't have to be an RBI guy necessarily. We'd be built ike 2005 again only better IMO. What do you guys think of these points? What about calling Tyler FLowers up for September and seeing how he would look for a fulltime DH/backup catcher to AJ. Oh man would that be sweet if it worked out. I think it's pretty much what I said the post before yours. One other point. Wouldn't Flowers as a full time DH and AJ be 3 base cloggers in your lineup when you just said only one ?

I didn't vote in the poll because there's so much blame from the top on down to go around. However I think KW already made moves in the right direction for the next few years . Build the starting pitching staff and play good defense around them. Rios and Peavy fit this scenario. I expect more moves in the offseason towards those particular goals especially defensively. Sure Rios has looked bad at the plate and Peavy has yet to pitch. It was a calculated risk for this year and we all knew that. More speed, more defense , more pitching and let the chips fall where they may offensively.

Starting pitching should be the Sox strength in the next few years. Therefore that's what you build around. Find good defensive player's like Franklin Gutierrez or Jack Wilson and plug them in the starting lineup. Two very good defensive players will do wonders to improve the Sox defense along with more experience gained by Beckham and Ramirez . Get one more good defensive outfielder and infielder who aren't terrible offensive players. Move who ever you have to move via trades or defensive positioning. The whole pitching staff will be much better . This is so much more important than who will hit leadoff or where to play Ramirez , Beckham or Quentin.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 29, 2009 -> 11:31 AM) They have to replace Dye with Quentin...that will help with the range, or find another RFer, and I doubt that will be Vladimir Guerrero, who's about as limited as JD now physically. I really wouldn't even mind someone like Fr. Gutierrez or Endy Chavez in our outfield, but there's no way in hell I'm relying on Pods to be a starter next year...forget it. Ramirez moves to 2B (or is traded, or the Nix/Getz platoon again)...Beckham to SS and Fields/Viciedo/Nix (but probably a veteran 3B on a one-year contract while waiting for Viciedo) is the most likely. Fields and Getz definitely look to be the odd men out at this point, although we might need to keep Fields because his value is so low and because Thome AND Dye might both be gone, so we'll need to produce offense somehow. A better LFer, Rios in CF, Quentin in RF, Beckham/Ramirez up the middle, a better defensive 3B....we're not going to get any better with AJ/Flowers at catcher. I think the whole reason the Sox traded Brandon Allen is that Viciedo is bad at 3rd and will be playing 1st.

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Aug 30, 2009 -> 12:04 PM) Shhhhhhh,you'll upset the masses here who have proclaimed Beckham a HOFer notwithstanding his horrific batting of late... The league is making adjustments to him. More high pitches especially with 2 strikes, plus maybe he's tired . Up to Gordon now to make adjustments .

QUOTE (The Baconator @ Aug 30, 2009 -> 12:08 PM) Anyone else have little faith in Nix's at-bat right now? I admit I love seeing him at the plate, just not with RISP and 2 out. Based on absolutely no stats but it feels like he never comes through in the clutch Edit: It's looking up, Hughes is a first pitch fastballer and Nix is Nix... Edit2: Lame. Got a cookie on 3-2 couldn't do anything with it.

On the other hand Freddie hasn't been bad at all.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Aug 30, 2009 -> 11:00 AM) Johnny Damon looks like he one hands his home runs. WTF? Robin Ventura hit that way. Charlie Lau/ Walt Hriniak theories. Damon started with KC I beleive where those teachings might have influenced him.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Aug 30, 2009 -> 11:02 AM) They're limiting his pitch count for the year. I should say innings pitched.

QUOTE (PeavyTime @ Aug 30, 2009 -> 11:01 AM) 35 pitches? What did I miss? They're limiting his pitch count for the year.

Joba out already.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 30, 2009 -> 10:58 AM) That should be enough for them. I sure hope not. Joba isn't exactly mowing us down. Plus he probably won't pitch more than 5 innings , maybe only 4.

Damon belts a hanger for 3-2 Yankee lead.

QUOTE (dasox24 @ Aug 30, 2009 -> 10:46 AM) I'm pretty positive Nix was safe. Smart move on his part, though, IMO. Cano needed to make a perfect play to have a chance of getting him, and I guess he did (according to the Ump). 3 straight hits off Joba already on 2nd no out . Unwritten rules of baseball state never make 1st or 3rd out at 3rd base.

Pod's single up the middle Alexei scores Nix to second , throw rolls towards pitchers mound and Nix gunned at 3rd. Not a good decision by Nix . Was very close , might have been in there.

Nix Single 1st and 3rd no outs.

Steals 2nd.

Lead off single by Alexei.

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Aug 30, 2009 -> 10:35 AM) Whenever Jorge comes up I just want him to do something (whether it's groundout or hit a HR) quickly so I don't have to hear HIP HIP JORGE for several minutes. They were doing it the entire damn AB. Did o-wee-o Magglio bother you ?

DP. Freddie through 2.

Freddie K's Godzilla