jeremyb

Exclude me from the much-celebrated "we" group. I most certainly want Judy back....as a 5th starter. Imagine having a 5-guy who goes 14-7 with a 4.00 ERA - I wouldn't be suprised if she could do that as early as next year, Coors Field East or not. Then contrast that with the 5-guy composite (Wright-Cotts-Diaz-Porzio-Stewart-Munoz-Rauch) from 2003-2004. Remember how Sox were 2 games up on the Twins in mid-September 2003? How would you have liked if that lead was 6-7 games instead courtesy of a good 5th starter? I reckon even the Sox would be hard-pressed to choke away a 6-7 game lead with only 2 weeks to go....

It all depends what you get in return. Since Lee is faster, stays out of GIDP and can play OF, he is more valuable than Paulie if their OPS are within shooting distance. Then again, if they could ever veer into 1000 OPS territory, I wouldn't mind Sox keeping both.

well, he did have that game against Detroit where he went oppo and also had 3 hard line-outs in the previous at bats.....

I'll say this: Sox are desperate for their own Lew Fords and Justin Mornos, and Joe Crede and Joe Borchard are gonna have to step up in a major way next year. The difference between 1st and 2nd place is often just a couple of prospects cashing in on their potential. Time to produce, or get off the pot for both. No excuses.

Well, back in 2002 Crede was a deceptively quick, aggressive and coordinated hitter. You didn't mind the lack of patience or suspect mechanics because everything else was there as he was effortlessly smacking offerings by Clemens, Lowe, etc. In short, 24yo Joe was already a ML hitter who would become an All-Star with a few years of experience under his belt. Granted, Crede has regressed big-time since then, but at least I can honestly say the talent is there. With Borchard, I have yet to see "it" at the ML level. He's totally overmatched. And it's not like he is 21, know what I mean?

White Sox docs in particular have such a long illustrious history with initial dignosis, don't they? Danny Wright? Uh, he's got a dead arm. A year and countless meatballs later? Oh, it's only rotator cuff and labrum tears....rolleyeyes.gif It's scary how many pitchers lose armspeed soon after putting on the ol' Silva'n'Black.

Unless of course it's structural... Come to think of it, Contreras hasn't topped 92 on the gun in a while, either.

Ooh my little pretty one, pretty one. When you gonna give me some time, Sharona? Ooh you make my motor run, my motor run. Gun it comin' off the line Sharona Never gonna stop, give it up. Such a dirty mind. Always get it up for the touch of the younger kind. My my my i yi woo. M M M My Sharona... Come a little closer huh, ah will ya huh. Close enough to look in my eyes, Sharona. Keeping it a mystery gets to me Running down the length of my thighs, Sharona Never gonna stop, give it up. Such a dirty mind. Always get it up for the touch of the younger kind. My my my i yi woo. M M M My Sharona... When you gonna give it to me, give it to me. It is just a matter of time Sharona Is it just destiny, destiny? Or is it just a game in my mind, Sharona? Never gonna stop, give it up. Such a dirty mind. Always get it up for the touch of the younger kind. My my my i yi woo. M M M My Sharona

Hopefully it's not related to the loss of velocity Freddy has experienced in his last 2 starts. Any word?

Painful to watch this guy try so hard and yet be so overmatched. Ok I understand that some (read: most) are not blessed with very quick hands, but Borchard's problem at the plate goes far beyond that. It's the way he reacts to the ball - so late, so arythmic and robotic - that presents such a serious long-term concern. Long swing path, mediocre batspeed are a big problem as it is, but when you have a hitter who is not picking up on the release point, can't recognize the rotation early and doesn't seem to have much of a plan up there judging by some of the ugly, tentative swings......not good. How do you fix something like that? At 26.

I am sorry. Are we watching the same Imaginary TV where everything is rosey-dovey and Neal Cotts is not a 1-pitch pitcher who can't throw strikes half the time and the other half - meatball city? Look past the pretty, people. See Cotts for what he is.

I wish I shared your optimism. If there is anything 2001-2004 has taught us is that Sabathia is going to toss a 2-hitter against us tomorrow. Sox do not have the talent or heart or smarts to play .700 ball the rest of the way. Not even close.

We'll be 7 games out in the loss column after tonight. 37 games left, including 6 with Minnesota. Not enough time. Not enough talent. Not enough heart. Not to be.

Not unless his control and breaking arsenal improve dramatically in the off-season. There is no short-cut to ML success - hide the ball, hit your spots, get ahead of the hitter and wipe him out with an 'out' pitch or two. Can't do that? Then pay the price. Right now, Cotts flat-out sucks. It remains to be seen if he is even in the majors a year from now.

Polanco's splits against LHP: 2002: 390 OBP, 490 Slug 2003: 364 OBP, 521 Slug 2004: 351 OBP, 490 Slug I am confident Willie can put up 370 OBP, 400 Slug against righties next year. Before Ozzie benched him in mid-June, he was right there (420 OBP, 400 Slug against RHP) this year, and I fully expect him to improve a little, maybe cutting down on warning track power and leveling the swing a little more. A better walk rate, too. Plus the steals. And the stellar defense. With some intelligent platooning, 2B won't be a problem (and might just be a big asset) next year. And seeing Uribe murder the ball lately, SS/3B might be taken care of as well.

No thanks. I've seen enough of this stiff.....last year. I was horrified when they brought him up - at least Diaz has ML talent, so he might actually get something valuable out of a ML stint, even if he is getting his ass handed to him. I'll say this however: if Garland is not the 5th starter next year (read: KW fails to secure a Carl Pavano, an Odalis Perez or some such), some people will have to be fired. If these highly-paid pro's can't learn the lesson 2003 and 2004 tried to teach them, they should be there. And they better not touch Brandon MaCarthy before 2006, either.

Rowand has a quicker bat than Hunter and is a better baserunner. What boatloads of talent are you referring to? He is probably better defensively, but even there the gap is closing as Aaron is getting regular playing time, improving his jumps, routes, throws.

How is it that Sox didn't know this guy was not ML material? He literally has nothing to get ML hitters out with - no intimidation, no deception, no command, certainly no stuff. BP. Conceeding games is not fun, whether it be April or September.

I certainly wouldn't put any plans on hold just to keep Everett in the lineup {though I do think he's hurting this yr more than he's let on] Frank will probably need some time off, that's if he's even ready for '05. So having Everett may be necessary at DH, and RF. Whether its Pierre or not, the Sox need a proven leadoff man. Willie should be penciled in as the #9 hitter. Spidale does have better numbers than Anderson though. Sox should pray Everett has a torrid (see his 2003 April) finish to this season, which would at least create some decent trade value. When he is healthy, he could still handle a corner OF more or less adequetely and doesn't clog bases. For now I am fine with Willie/Hairston or Willie/Polanco platoon. If Sox could swing Pierre without having to give up major talent, then by all means. What other lead-off man did you have in mind?

Absolutely, balance is key. It ain't 1960s anymore. JD Drew would be awesome in RF, but unfortunately he'll be out of the Sox price range come off-season. Ditto Berkman. I have no problem with 2003 Everett in right, but 2004 Everett scares the crap out of me. Randy Johnson is 41, too expensive at 17M, health risk. Pavano and Mota tickle my fancy a bit more. I guess it all comes down to what the 2005 budget is. If it's 80 M, a lot of things can be accomplished that were previously thought of as pipe dreams. If it's only 60M, then the season is going to once again ride on the progress of Crede, Borchard, Garland, Cotts and Uribe.

Saying the Sox "have no place" for Pierre is laughable. But I guess guys with high OBP, avg, and who can steal bases are pretty useless around here. OK you win I'll let it go. Lee plays LF. His bat is too live and ceiling too high to move him. Rowand is in CF; after break-out '04 campaign, he ain't going anywhere. Everett is signed through 2005, and unless Sox exercise the buy-out clause, he will start in RF next year, hopefully completely healthy and mentally fresh. Of course I'll take Pierre (who wouldn't?) if Sox could somehow get rid of Everett....not for Marte and Uribe, though. A prospect package might work for me. In fact, Sox might have a Pierre of their own in Mike Spidale, lol. I doubt Marlins would bite.

wouldn't you have to get to the playoffs first?

If Eaton could ever get his head out of his rectum, then Padres would have a fighting chance. Otherwise, not enough firepower. Same could be said for the Giants.

FWIW, I think maggs was already ailing from a knee issue before that incident. I don't doubt that in the least. He probably has a degenrating knee condition and it was just noticed due to that collision. Or maybe the bleeding was minimal before that and the crash made it worse. Has it officially been called "degenerative knee"..?? Not that I am aware of. In this case though I would not be surprised in the least if it is however. You are probably right he may have had slight bleeding in the knee and it worsened due to that hit. <Shrugs> Most times you if you have bleeding in the knee its not a good sign. I find it hard to believe that with all that is at stake, and with all the technology and resources at their disposal, Sox were willing to commit 70+ M on someone with all the markings of a genetic BM condition. Reminds me of Sox running an MRI on Danny Wright a full year after his sharp drop in velocity coming into 2003 season. A bit too late, one would think.

Hmm, that's strange.