AddisonStSox

Before the Marte talks go any further, let us keep in mind why he isn't pitching for the White Sox in 2006. As has been said here on multiple occasions, Damaso Marte and Ozzie Guillen could no longer co-exist. Period. Damaso, since day one, has been described as a sheepish guy that avoids confrontation on all fronts. During the Manuel administration, Marte flurished because he had a manager that would not press him or challenge his sheepish demeanor. As soon as Ozzie arrived, we see Marte's numbers go in the tank and what was one of the better left-handers in all of baseball quickly turned into someone that could not be trusted...especially in the later innings. A lights-out pitcher becomes a "head-case" under Guillen's watch--coincidence? I think not. Ozzie is a pretty intense guy. You're either with him or you're not. You're either going to play his brand of baseball both on the field and off or you're not to be trusted. We can draw a similar parallel to Javier Lopez. Although it has been said Lopez has been nothing but professional since signing with the Sox in the off-season, it's pretty clear he was one of those guys Ozzie did not want to go to war with. Clearly, Lopez's success in Charlotte would merit a call-up over the likes of an Agustin Montero and a Sean Tracey, but, the call never came. Williams was able to turn a guy with no value to this club after the 05' campaign into one of the better utility players in baseball--the Chicago Marte saga ends there.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jun 15, 2006 -> 12:33 PM) So, the one thing I will note is that the Sons of Sam Horn, and Boston's media in general, appear to have soured rather quickly on Riske. He's been described thus far as inconsistent, among other things. I've learned to complete ignore any harsh sentiments coming out of Boston or New York. If you remember the Loaiza trade, you would have thought the Yankess acquired a right-handed Warren Spahn. They'll talk up Lopez as if he was one of the game's better prospects, Gammons will enlighten the country on the trade, and, before you know it, the Red Sox fleeced the White Sox. Things are par for the course.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 15, 2006 -> 12:21 PM) Riske can bring it, the back is definitely a question mark, he's had problems with it in the past. His back simply needs to withstand three and a half months of baseball; after that, the Sox are no longer on the hook for him. The price for a reliever like Riske--all things considered, including injury--will skyrocket in three to four weeks' time. This is a relative steal.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Jun 15, 2006 -> 12:19 PM) Yes. If Hangar would stop playing "victim" and make more posts like this one, he'd have a lot more fans here. Inferiority Complex defined.

QUOTE(Capn12 @ Jun 15, 2006 -> 12:07 PM) Sounds like it coulda been a deal spurred on by 2 managers disgusted at what they saw, and pressed for a move sooner than later to fix their needs....hope someone else confirms this soon enough. I understand the skepticism regarding Levine, but, after the Vizquel fiasco, the guy has been completely professional. He's not going to make that mistake again. Come on, the guy is a member of the media...he has a little more credibility than some wish to grant him.

Why are you now frequenting this website? Did the WSI crew grow tired of your media who-ha?

Anytime you trade one of the left-handed "pitchers" brought in for the 2006 left-handed reliever competition for a certifiable MLB talent, you've improved your MLB club. Lopez had no future in this organization. If he wasn't called up after the Boone Logan experiment or after call-ups including 40 year old rookie Agustin Montero, Sean Tracey, and someone who was out of the game of baseball after having been cut by the Cardinals in spring training, he wasn't ever going to get the call. Hopefully this trade pays dividens in terms of that right-handed set-up situation. He is a veteran, he has an expiring contract after the 2006 season...there is no down-side here.

Are PMs no longer working?

Am I missing something, are PMs no longer working?

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ May 8, 2006 -> 06:19 PM) And yet, guess what... It wasn't. And you are still trying to put the blame on someone else for people's own actions. Thanks for proving my point exactly. Behold, Soxtalk's moral compass. :headshake Christ.

The avatar move was adorable, guys. Having a civilized talk. Very professional move on your part. Later.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ May 8, 2006 -> 05:35 PM) It amazes me that more guys with very little chance to pitch in the majors don't make an effort to become knuckleball pitchers. Obviously, its not that easy, but its worth a shot if your career is in the toilet. A decent knuckleballer is invaluable to a pitching staff. They're innings eaters. Honel was throwing knuckle-curves. With all his arm problems, maybe he should try to add a straight knuckler to his reportoire. Thanks, Hawk.

QUOTE(qwerty @ May 8, 2006 -> 05:29 PM) The only two options were redding and haeger... given the choice, who would you rather watch pitch? I realize you are also one to stir the pot, but, I'll answer. I would rather have Redding. No, Redding doesn't pitch with smoke and mirrors and may not be aesthetically pleasing, but, he has 21 wins against major league ballclubs and we know he isn't going to piss down his leg in front of 30K. EDIT: I'm not f***ing bashing the kid for the sake of bashing him, I want to see the pitcher on the mound that gives the White Sox the best opportunity to win. This is not a cute rebuilding year where we can try kids out. Kenny knows what he is doing, and if he thinks the knuckler is the best we have to try and get a win in the hitter-friendly USCF, I'll take him on good faith...he has a positive track record now and has merited that sort of trust. But, that said, he isn't getting a hall pass either.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ May 8, 2006 -> 05:29 PM) Addy, I realize you're upset, but this isn't the kiss of death to our season. Calm down, buddy. I'm quite calm, but, thanks for your concern.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ May 8, 2006 -> 05:27 PM) Didn't he get roughed up a bit this spring, and then they had Charlie Hough work with him a bit? He's been as good as you can be at Charlotte, and was pretty good his last spring training outing. Charlie also ran into some s*** luck in ST though. A lot of balls were falling, guys were comitting errors, etc... Maybe someone can explain better than I. Even when Widger was in the booth with Hawk, he said, "Charlie is wearing it right now." So, those numbers may have been a bit misleading...but, I didn't like what I saw from him regardless.

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ May 8, 2006 -> 05:26 PM) Whose bringing the Capri Suns and Orange wedges? Orange wedges at half time...YES!

QUOTE(soxhawks @ May 8, 2006 -> 05:23 PM) honestly I am pretty pumped to see what this guy can do even if it does mean losing a game or two. Ok, I just can't resist...why? Are we going for moral victories here? Or, maybe where wins and losses don't count like little league?

QUOTE(Tmar28 @ May 8, 2006 -> 04:48 PM) Do you contribute anything of any value anymore, or have you completely given up on that? It seems like anytime you post it's just to take a pot-shot at someone. Contreras to the DL is horrible anyway you cut it. This is just the right dose of reality to get me off this baseball cloud nine I've been on for the past year.

We are in a bad way right now. The no injury streak has run out and conflicting reports have Dye still hurting. F.

It has also been brought to my attention that calling up a kunckler would require having a catcher capable of catching a kunckle-baller. Does he exist on our roster? /Bard

QUOTE(Whitewashed in '05 @ May 8, 2006 -> 03:38 PM) So the only thing that's keeping this thread going is that Count might have a small ache in the back... Meh. I would chalk it up to a morbid curiosity...sort of like watching a car wreck.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ May 8, 2006 -> 03:31 PM) If you look a couple posts before, I posted why, so I didn't want to double type it being I'm all sick Well, in my defense, no you didn't. My questions was to whether or not his arb. clock starting would hurt his value to clubs other than the White Sox. Does that sort of contractual thing carry over to the new club? That was my question.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ May 8, 2006 -> 03:30 PM) Your off Fair enough. Thanks.

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ May 8, 2006 -> 03:27 PM) Hulkaddystsox very angry. Hulkaddystsox SMASH!!!! The hijack was hillarious though...props for that. Question for Jim, J: would his arbitration clock starting lower his value to other teams as well? I understand he could come up and pitch a serviceable debut, as many rookies do, but, if he came up and got bombed--which I would imagine he would--I can't quite buy things would be status quo? Now, you have a kunckler with lower value via a poor start and a started arb. clock. ...or am I off?

If Jose Contreras, the best pitcher in baseball dating back to the 2005 All-Star break, had health troubles that would merit his missing a start, it would be all over Chicago sports radio. At this point, my only vindication would be this guy's banishment. I have a very low tolerance for this trolling, playground bulls***.