AddisonStSox

I think Uribe is going to end this game with some walk-off defense.

The baseball gods are not just. The White Sox deserve to get hammered after this pathetic showing and now they get bad calls going their way. Cruel.

The White Sox absolutely deserve to be playing extra-innings today. In fact, I hope they have to stay out in that weather as long as possible. Fail to get guys in at that epic level and you deserve to be playing extras.

QUOTE (TitoMB345 @ Apr 28, 2008 -> 12:47 PM) True. Ozzie was, like Juan, one of the worst hitters the game has ever seen, but was great (for a period anyways) at defense. Maybe he just feels bad for him, and sympathizes, who knows? Are you kidding me? Juan makes Guillen look like Ted Williams at the plate. Uribe is completely hapless at the plate. Guillen was not. Guillen was a sound baseball player, that, at the very least, held his own at the plate.

Don't know what the weather is like on the South side, but, if this game gets played, I'll be very interested in watching Ramirez at 2B today.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 08:30 PM) Because he had a dynamite spring training. But so far it hasn't carried over to the role he's been put in during the regular year...and thus it's time to consider changes. "Because he had a dynamite spring training." Right. He hit the bejezus out of the baseball and looked like a grizzled veteran, not a 26-year-old rookie. Now, he is not in a position to get regular at-bats. The role "he's been put in during the regular year" is not conducive to him "getting hot" as has been previously argued. Given regular playing time, he would run circles around Juan Uribe's offensive production. It is time to consider a change. It's time to put Ramirez at 2B and let him take his lumps defensively. Oh, but, don't worry, Uribe has awesome range. QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 09:09 PM) He earned it during his spring AB's. However, he has been pretty overmatched during his time up with the club on the regular season. Seeing as this is his first taste of American ball, Alexei should be getting 4-5 AB's per game, every day. There isn't a place for him to do that on this club. In turn, he needs to go to AAA. It's really quite simple. No s***. It really is quite simple. I'm not turning this into Fields v. Crede part deux. I'm out.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 06:09 PM) If you wanted to get him used to the pitching in America, why wouldn't you have him spend some time in Charlotte? It's not like they seceded from the union within the past 100 years. My memory...it ain't what it used to be. Please remind me, if you would be so kind: why is it that the White Sox broke camp with Ramirez on the roster?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 12:34 PM) Until Richar gets healthy or Alexei gets hot, not much can really be done about it. Uribe's offers very good defense, whereas Richar offers nothing while he's hurt and Alexei is offering no defense and no offense. Uribe is currently the club's best option at 2B because they have no one that can play a legitimate 2B. Perhaps Chris Getz could be given a shot, but that's about it, and I think he'd be a worse overall hitter than Owens was without the speed. Have you ever seen a guy "get hot" while sitting on the bench? If you have, let me know. You must play him in order for him to "get hot." Therein lies the problem. It's a shame Uribe's plus-arm can't hit above the mendoza line. To quote Mugatu, "I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!"

QUOTE (SpringfieldFan @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 12:46 PM) Okay, I have to ask - when security busts underage drinkers for breaking a well known rule, who exactly is the "bad guy" here? Take that to the SLaP forum. No place for that here.

QUOTE (Felix @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 12:10 PM) Yeah, I can understand why you say that (and it makes sense), but I wouldn't count the kid out just yet. Here is a pretty good interview with him, he seems to realize he made some mistakes and that he needs to get his act together or else he could be throwing his basketball career out the window. Also, I think Tubby could be a really good influence in his life, he already appears to be a mentor of sorts for him (there's a quote here of him talking about how he already talks to Tubby and gets advice and such). I realize I'm being optimistic about him, and there's just as good of a chance that he'll end up having serious character issues, but I think its a risk worth taking given his talent level. And yeah, it's huge that they got him since he's the states top prospect. I'm tired of having Minnesota players go to Bo Ryan and other Big 10 schools, it gets annoying. I have absolutely no ill-will towards Minnesota. I'd love to see quality teams top-to-bottom in the Big Ten. I've always felt Tubby was a class-act and if anyone could keep the kid out of trouble and on track, it'd be Tubby. Here's hoping for the best with this situation

QUOTE (Felix @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 09:43 AM) He's an idiot. Gophers got a commitment from Royce White for the 2009 class. White is Minnesota's top prospect, and ranked the 32nd overall prospect, regardless of position, and the 9th best small forward prospect. This is huge news for the Gophers, and a definite step in the right direction. Royce has major character concerns and has been dropping like a stone according to most ratings. It's a nice pick-up for the Gophers, especially consider he's the state's top prospect; but, I doubt he gets his act together.

No, you have to leave things the way they are. Ideally, Swisher would be in a position to hit somewhere around the 6-hole. Unfortunately, this current roster doesn't allow for that. Swisher is being a good solider in hitting lead-off, and Cabrera needs to remain in the 2-hole. ...taking Uribe out of the lineup would improve things some...

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 24, 2008 -> 12:53 PM) He's going to have a lot of work to do to beat out Mike Hampton. He's losing games but at least he's taking the ball. Hampton: eight-year, $121 million Zito: seven-year, $126 million Not only is Zito getting roughly $3M more per season, he is harpooning his team's chances each and every time he takes the mound. Not only is he getting absolutely torched, he has taxed the bullpen tremendously and completely hamstrung his team's chances of signing any other premier free agents. Advantage: Zito

I don't know why Barry Zito is now amongst the league's worst pitchers. And, frankly, I don't care. But, I do know that when all is said and done, his contract may go down as the worst in Major League Baseball history--perhaps even all of professional sport seeing as it is all guaranteed money.

I don't know if it is just a goofy quirk of mine or what; but, I really dislike players that are jersey collectors (i.e. Kenny Lofton). I especially dislike it when it is a former superstar hoping to hang on for another season or two. I understand they are looking for a paycheck, but, have at least some respect for tradition and legacy. I would hate to see that happen to Frank...despite me firmly believing he has put himself in every bad situation he has ever encountered. If he goes into Cooperstown wearing only three hats, I would be pleased.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Apr 24, 2008 -> 08:47 AM) They are playing under 500 since last Monday. Is it going to take a 5 to 10 game losing streak for Ozzie to give up on Profundo. The guy never gets taken out of a game. Well, that, of course, is the catch-22. Uribe's magnificent range won't ever allow for a 5 to 10 game losing streak. The legend lives on.

Orlando Cabrera v. Edgar Renteria = Tony Montana v. Alejandro Sosa

Don't quit your day-job. Then again, if you had time to compose such literary prose, I doubt you are currently employed.

QUOTE (max power @ Apr 21, 2008 -> 01:50 PM) So was iguchi last year. Not sure I trust that noise. Bingo, I pay no attention to that nonsense. What I am finding hilarious is people are outraged at the thought of plugging Ramirez at 2B this season and letting him take his lumps defensively--a fine alternative given just how terrible Juan Uribe is offensively--but, are fine with him taking over at SS in 2009. That's just not how it works. I've become a believer that having a sound defensive SS helps a ballclub dramatically over the course of a season--in fact, it may affect the outcome of 4 or 5 games during the course of the year. So, to think you can send Ramirez down to Charlotte and teach him to play a Gold Glove SS in one season, you are probably mistaken. However, plugging him in at 2B, a position that is much easier to master and learn (even on the fly), seems to make a lot of sense for both 2008 and beyond...Richar is an extremely limited ballplayer.

I contend that if given the same number of ABs, Ramirez's offensive production will be equal to or greater than that of Uribe--ditto for the course of an entire season. Hence, my question, is the difference in defensive ability so great that it merits the continued start of Uribe at 2B over the organization's other internal options? In my estimation, it is not. (For the record, Williams went on record as saying they were looking to lock-up Cabrera with a long-term extension. This all rests on the presupposition that Cabrera will be the SS for 2008 and beyond. It may have been posturing on the part of Williams. In any event, Uribe should not figure into this team's (or, any other team, for that matter) long-term plans.)

What's stopping this club from putting Ramirez at 2B as the team's starting second baseman? Uribe is a proven commodity. He's going to give you a cannon for an arm (and I'd say average to slightly above-average range at 2B), but is one of the most frustrating hitters in all of baseball. By all accounts, he is an excellent clubhouse influence (and a favorite of the team's Latino players and coaching staff), but simply isn't producing. Having seen players making twice as much money as him (Frank Thomas) get cut, there is no reason to hang on to him simply for his $4.5M salary--if not comfortable cutting him and getting no return, use him as a utility infielder at both middle infield positions...the bat will never be there, but he would be one of the better utility players in the AL. So, I ask you, why not make the transition to Ramirez now? If Williams and co. are serious about locking up O. Cabrera long-term at the SS position, why not move Ramirez to 2B right now? He clearly has the highest ceiling of all the organization's viable 2B candidates and I have been completely impressed with his approach at the plate. He looks the part. Is it a matter of defense? For those of you that watched a lot of spring training or are simply more familiar with the "Cuban Missile," is he simply not ready to play Major League quality 2B? What's the rub on this? If it is simply a matter of defense, I would also endorse sending Ramirez down to Charlotte to learn the position when Richar is healthy. I just think having an automatic out anywhere in the lineup really hurts a ballclub, and with this team in a position to contend for the AL Central Division crown, there is no reason to let a guy like Uribe torpedo a team's chances. The offense is good...it could be better. Your thoughts on the White Sox 2B situation?

It seemed that somewhere around the 2003 or 2004 season(s), Frank finally started to get it. His checkered reputation with his former teams and teammates is well documented. But, for whatever reason, it seemed like Frank finally embraced Chicago around that time and the fans were very appreciative of that. Then, onto Oakland where he had a very nice season and fit-in very well with that club. But, things never seemed to be working in Toronto. He has definitely regressed and it seems what little headway he was making with his reputation has now all but vanished. I'd like to give Frank the benefit of the doubt given all his years of production in a White Sox uniform--and I know Gibbons, by all accounts, is a throbbing rectum--but, I'm sure there are two sides to this story. He simply has a track record. In any event, I'd like to see him land on his feet somewhere--its never good for the game to see a superstar go out like this.

Had my first Chris Singleton sighting last night on BBTN. He wasn't awful. I think he could carve out a nice position for himself on that show for a long time. By the way, ESPN still sucks.

QUOTE (thedoctor @ Apr 18, 2008 -> 10:02 AM) deandre mccamey "loves" siu Well, we can't take him. No room. So, I hope he decides to stay in-state.

If I were a GM, I would have a policy: give all former steroid guys one full season off the juice before making any long term decisions on their future impact. EDIT: In other words, don't trade for Roberts until you see a full season's production sans steroids.