CaliSoxFanViaSWside

I like Dexter. Always have but that's not patting myself on the back because I have high hopes for every young player who makes the team and early on this season I was hoping he could hit .285 with 15-20 HR's. This version is OK too because his OBP is high too and will be on base for Abreu . Ideally if he continues to have nothing but doubles power I'd like to see him batting 2nd. I've seen he's an unselfish hitter. Check out how he tries to pull it when someone is on 2nd with less than 2 outs. A doubles hitter behind the lead off guy is something I like to see.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jun 26, 2014 -> 09:40 AM) I've never played it, you're right. With regards Downs, I only said that he's not quite been as bad as his 6+ ERA would indicate. That's no surprise when he had an ERA in the low 2s last year. It's very difficult to truly deserve a 2 ERA and a 6 ERA in consecutive years. Having said that, I also said his walk rate made it hard to cry over it, it was obviously way too high for a LOOGY. With regards me "excusing total awfulness with bizarre stats", I assume you're referring to me repeatedly pointing out that De Aza was hitting nowhere near as badly as his basic stats would indicate. I think the bizarre stats won out there. If you're ever in California let me know and you can discover how to play catch and swing a bat .

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 26, 2014 -> 08:41 AM) This is telling. As the only lefty, Surkamp will definitely be a RP for the time being. Must mean Carroll is getting another hard look at SP. It's already been confirmed Carroll is getting Rienzo's start.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jun 25, 2014 -> 06:39 PM) Get rid of Downs already, Jesus f***ing christ It'd bad enough the Sox only have one LH in the pen . Are you proposing we have none ?

QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ Jun 25, 2014 -> 05:16 PM) I thought you can't block the plate anymore. That rule is confusing to everyone fans,players and umps. I'm pretty sure you can block the plate as long as you have the ball which means the runner can bowl you over also if he so chooses .

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jun 23, 2014 -> 08:03 PM) You got to throw over the middle of the plate in that scenario. Belly isn't good enough to paint the insider upper corner. He threw a strike low, Davis just went down and golfed it out. "Right down the middle" implies it was both over the middle of the plate and just below the belt. It was over the middle of the plate, but just above the knees. I'm not saying it was the right pitch call, which is why I blame Tyler more than I blame Belly for that. No , no you do not have to throw a pitch right down the middle in that scenario . You don't have to throw a pitch right down the middle in any scenario in a close game or if you're up by 4 or 5 runs and a HR is hit and you still have the lead. Right down the middle doesn't imply anything except it was a really good hitters pitch. Weather it was just below the knees or the upper strike zone doesn't matter. The middle of the plate is where hitters feast. Stone was saying Davis is a low ball hitter and has to be pitched high with that uppercut swing So any high heat or 2 seamer in on the hands has to be thrown. Has to. If you walk or hit the guy so what. Start all over with the next hitter. You're still ahead and still can get out of the inning with a DP.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jun 23, 2014 -> 08:10 PM) Thanks for your input. Sorry that game put me in a sour mood and you're doing exactly what I said would be done in the game thread starter if the Sox kept losing and I hate it. We just finished drafting .Can we at least wait until the next HS and college seasons start before we get all excited about our next draft ? The 2 guys you listed as the 6th/8th picks (Happ and Dean) aren't even on the top 20 of the list caulfield put up.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jun 23, 2014 -> 07:49 PM) By the way, we are currently in the 6-8 spot. Obviously 11 1/2 months away from the draft, but that would mean Happ or Dean at this point. That list is beyond meaningless right now so throwing any names out or trying to predict what pick the Sox get is pointless.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jun 23, 2014 -> 07:46 PM) I just checked the video again. It was more over the center of the plate than I had though. It was just above the knees, over the center. But it was still right where Flowers had his mitt. Pause the video as Belly is about to release, and straighten Flowers' wrist up. That's exactly where the ball was headed. If Flowers wanted a slider right down the middle, that's terrible . No one wants to throw a guy struggling or any guy for that matter a pitch like that. I think that HBP played a big part in what was thrown . Belly had Jones down 1 and 2 and tried to bust him in and hit him. A pitcher needs the confidence to throw inside and jam the guy into hitting into the DP . He didn't want to hit him or walk him so he throws junk up there and the result was predictable. Either he needs to trust his pitches or be taken from the closer's role if he doesn't have the confidence to throw what should be thrown.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jun 23, 2014 -> 07:24 PM) If you notice in the replay, Belly hits his spot perfectly. It was a slider over the outer third/corner. Davis pulled it. I agree he shouldn't have thrown that pitch, but Belly threw the pitch exactly where Flowers wanted it. I'm getting dangerously close to driving the "Suck for draft spot" bus again. God forbid we get swept in Baltimore, I think I'll be starting the campaign up against for those braves souls who are willing to have our fandom questioned again. I have no idea what pitch you were looking at .That thing was a spinner down the heart of the plate. Hit his spot perfectly ? You my friend better get your eyes checked.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jun 23, 2014 -> 07:25 PM) A low and in slider is brutal to lefties, but Belisario threw a terrible pitch over the plate that was jacked. Belisario gave up a single, HbP and a home run. The last pitch called obviously wasn't the only bad thing happening He needed to bust him in on the hands with the 2 seamer and try to get a weak ground ball, pop up or a K.Or hard and up like Hawk and Stoney were saying. Davis has been pitched in on his hands all season long . That's why he hasn't duplicated last season. Hard and in hard and in.

O's finally got the big hit they hadn't got all night.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 23, 2014 -> 07:19 PM) Well, that's 8 consecutive road losses. We have no closer (and Petricka's next in line, why not?), no catcher, no better options in LF and RF, no LH power in the minors to replace Dunn and we MIGHT be able to replace Alexei Ramirez with Carlos Sanchez, but it will still be a huge downgrade. If it wasn't for Abreu and Eaton (glimpses), this season would be unbearable. Throw Gillaspie in there please among the good things.

What a terrible terrible pitch. Davis wasn't coming close to hitting the 2 seamer and what's he throw ? A slider right down the middle hanging there to speed up his bat.

Need another DP real bad since Belly is pulling his usual act.

OK Ronnie time to shine. Lock it down.

Another run or 2 would be nice.

O's just can't get the big hit. Let's keep it that way.

Oh good Sale is done .

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jun 23, 2014 -> 06:26 PM) My god, where was he playing, CF?! They try to take away the gaps with Jose.

Was Sale getting up to start the 7th ?

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jun 23, 2014 -> 06:14 PM) What a f***ing tightrope act. I hate you tonight, Robin. I was pretty sure Sale would be back out there for the 6th. He actually had a relatively easy inning compared to the last 3. Does Robin say take a seat now ? I think so.

Thataboy Chris !

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jun 23, 2014 -> 05:56 PM) Alexei simply cannot hit with RISP anymore Start after start after start has to wear that thin body down some. He's got nothing in the reserve tank.

Thank you Cruz and Sweet Swingin' Conor !