BaseballNick

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 2, 2007 -> 12:08 PM) So you are saying he can't pitch against teams the Sox will play 38 times a season. That's scary. What about Gavin's failures before 2007? BTW the only reason the Sox won that game was because Floyd was out of the game. The beleaguered bullpen was able to shut them down, but Gavin had the excuse of pitching against a great team. The Tigers are a great team. They average more runs per game than any other team in baseball. Our bullpen was awesome that game, so I give them a lot of credit for a great performance. I'm not saying Floyd can't pitch against the Tigers, Twins, or Yankees, but there are a heck of a lot of pitchers who lose to those teams. Those line-ups can make a lot of pitchers look bad. I have no idea if Floyd will pan out or not, but I don't think it's the worst idea in the world to let the kid start a few games. Some of the posters on here are acting like starting Gavin is going to cost the Sox a spot in the post-season. It's not! We're in LAST PLACE. Nothing bad can come of this. Worst case scenario is that he continues to suck, we lose a few more games, and we realize that he can't be a major league pitcher. Even Danny Wright had more than two starts with the Sox didn't he?

QUOTE(Hideaway Lights @ Aug 2, 2007 -> 11:27 AM) Because Floyd has zero percent chance to succeed at this point. The other players can be groomed to be successful. Floyd is done. What is it exactly that you're basing this on? Those are just ridiculous statements to make. Floyd has not pitched well at all since being called up, but he's made two starts this year; one against a red-hot Twins team that tore apart our whole pitching staff, and one against the Tigers, who are arguably the best team in baseball, in a game that we actually came back to win.

QUOTE(Hideaway Lights @ Aug 2, 2007 -> 10:41 AM) In my opinion, this is about Kenny's ego, not what is best for the team. Would you rather they hand the job to Haeger, Masset, or Sisqo? They've all proved that they are no more ready to start than Floyd is at this point. This isn't about ego..are you serious??? This is about giving the guy who was drafted 4th overall a chance to live up to his potential. Seriously, what is the harm in giving this guy a few starts when our team has NOTHING LEFT TO PLAY FOR?

Now we can finally make our run.

Wow, slim pickins. Rivera has to be looking for a closer's role. Despite what has been said, you have to think he'll wind up in NY next season.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 04:04 PM) The difference between Rowand and Hunter money-wise this offseason is going to be less than the price of 1 relief pitcher, IMO. I agree, but my point was that the money saved could possibly go to acquiring a better reliever...maybe monetary difference would be so insignificant that it wouldn't make any difference. I'm sure that KW/JR wouldn't mind spending a little extra to acquire the player Kenny was targeting over the next best option.

QUOTE(JoeCredeYes @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 05:40 PM) I went to Providence with Honel and Pignatiello. Those two as your 1 and 1a, figured we would have won a state title. Ahh anyway, bad breaks for Honel both physically and mentally was what I have heard. Back when Honel led the league in strikeouts I always thought it'd be cool that I went to the same high school as a Sox pitcher at the same time he did. Oh well. But hey, Carmen is doing pretty good for Iowa, maybe he'll get called up and the Sox can rock him next year. Yeah, I'm still kind of amazed that Providence didn't roll through the state tourney with those two on the mound. Just days after Kris signed with the Sox, I played in the the Catholic League All-Star game (which the Sox didn't allow Kris to play in of course) and there were some stories about how he may have let some of the press and accolades get to his head. I don't know Kris, so I'm not sure if any of that is true, but it's definitely understandable. Anyway, I'd love to see Pignatello and Cesar make it and be successful in the bigs some day.

QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 05:07 PM) mt. carmel? I went to De La Salle...I remember when we had a good baseball team... Yeah, I played at MC. Carmel and De LaSalle had some great games back in the day. I always hated playing at De because it was about 250ft to RF (or so it seemed).

I'm the same age as Kris and we faced one another our senior year of high school. My team actually had Cesar Carrillo take the mound against him, so that game was a scout's dream. Anyway, Honel had easily the nastiest stuff I've ever seen, and having played in the Catholic League, I saw Gorzelany, Pignatello, Bogusevic, and Keefner who were all highly regarded. It's a shame he injuries got the best of him because I think he'd have been a pretty good major league pitcher.

QUOTE(Beltin'Bill @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 03:22 PM) Why do so many people think Aaron Rowand will not cash in significantly this offseason? He is beloved in Chicago and Philly by both fans and teammates. His numbers this year have been outstanding. He is getting a fat paycheck unless he decides to give a hometown discount to the Phils or Sox. I know he loves Chicago and Ozzie, but there has to be a tipping point with respect to salary. He'll get paid, but he'll still be cheaper than Hunter...and I think that's why most people on here think he'll be with the White Sox. Plus, he's made it clear that he loves the city and the White Sox organization. We should be spending every dime we can on the bullpen, so I'm fine with Rowand instead of Hunter.

Since we're not likely to spend the money necessary to acquire Hunter and Fukodome, we're probably looking at something like Owens, Rowand, and Dye.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 1, 2007 -> 01:34 PM) Floyd's stuff sucks. The only pitch which is close to being above average is his curve. His fastball is average with little movement. I put this in the game thread last night, but he almost throws a hanging fastball. He has no chance to get lefties out right now with the tilt of his pitches. OK, let me rephrase that. It looks like Floyd CAN have good stuff. A guy who has an ERA over 10.00 obviously hasn't located his pitches to lefties, righties, you name it. At this point in the season, there is no harm in having him pitch the rest of the way.

I agree with Chisoxfn. It looks like Floyd has some good stuff, but the kid has been getting ripped all over the yard since he's been called up. At this point we're not playing for much more than a draft pick, so I say we let Floyd make a couple of starts in place of what hopefully is an ailing Contreras to see if he can figure some things out. The worst case scenario is that he continues to get shelled and we move that much closer to a top ten draft pick.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Jul 29, 2007 -> 04:20 PM) hopefully the M's will get desperate and trade something decent for Contreras and about 8-10 million in considerations. After seeing that Iguchi was essentially worth nothing at all to a team in desperate need of a second baseman, I think we'd be lucky if a team took on Count's salary, and gave us a B-level prospect in return. I know he's signed for another year, but who wants to pay $10Mil per season for a guy who now has Single A stuff? Hopefully we sat some scouts in the Jim Beam Club when they were checking him out because that's the only way I can see a team taking chance on him at this point. Garland on the other hand...I wouldn't trade him unless we're getting the farm in return, and I don't think Kenny will budge either (not unless Michael Dubee has a brother out there somewhere).

Pads GM, Kevin Towers, is looking to upgrade at second base due to the struggles of Giles and Blum. It appears, however, that he'd prefer to acquire Mark Loretta if possible. Injuries to Chase Utley and Jose Valentin make the Phils and Mets potential suitors for Iguchi as well. LINK

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jul 26, 2007 -> 05:34 PM) Yep my thoughts too. Try to re-sign Garland, hang onto Javy (because he's thrived this season), but just do what you can to get Jose Contreras's contract off the books. We've got 3 excellent SP's, a good young developing SP, and we should build the rotation around that. If anyone's willing to take Jose's contract, make that deal. I actually wouldn't mind seeing a Garland trade now. He's near his peak value, and this story about him having a knot in his shoulder that he claims he'll have to learn to pitch through makes me wonder is he's going to break down. Garland should bring some good young players our way.

I'm excited to see what the kid can do up here. He seems like he's developing into a very solid top-of-the-order bat. He's hitting for extra bases and from what I hear he's got some speed. I'm a little surprised about the scouting report mentioning Richar's greatest strength is his lack of a significant weakness because I've read a couple reports about his sub-par defense right after he was traded to the Sox. I wonder if he's improved with the glove or if maybe those reports were stretching to find a weakness.

According to the Seattle P.I. the Mariners have been scouting several starters including three from the White Sox: Vazquez, Garland and (for some reason) Contreras. There's probably a 0% chance Adam Jones would be included in any deal. I don't know what the rest of Seattle's farm system looks like. Thoughts? Proof

I think this team has enough holes that it's worth listening to what the Angels have to say. I agree with most of you in doubting anything would get done, but I would at least hear them out.

QUOTE(hitlesswonder @ Jul 24, 2007 -> 02:37 PM) How about Cedeno & Murton for Dye? I think that's better than 2 draft picks. Of course, with Murton in LF and Sweeney in CF the Sox would need to find someone with some pop for RF.... Fukodome?

QUOTE(shoota @ Jul 24, 2007 -> 02:39 PM) They placed Terrero on the DL. Sweet sig JB.

Anybody know who was sent down for Pods?

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 23, 2007 -> 10:49 AM) Seriously, folks, he's a rookie. He barely has any at bats in the major leagues, and overall, there are high school kids who have probably played more baseball than he has. He may well stink. Or he may well turn into something useful. Long term, I don't have a clue. His numbers in the minors do give reason for hope, but you never know how that'll translate to the big leagues. So, we may as well give him the chance to learn the league, because if he could turn into a decent leadoff hitter, which I don't think anyone here can possibly rule completely out, then he solves an awful lot of the Sox's problems for the next 5 years. I understand that he's a rookie and it takes time to adjust against this level of competiton, but let's face it - it's not likely that he's going to develop into a difference making player. He's got speed but he is a below average defender with a weak arm, and he's not much of a hitter. That being said, I'm rooting for him.

QUOTE(greg775 @ Jul 23, 2007 -> 01:00 AM) Just wonder what you all think? Does Owens stink or is he just learning how to hit in the bigs? I have not been impressed with his slap hitting. Wouldn't Harris have been just as productive as this guy? Just wondering. Does Owens have a future? Or should he have remained in football? If you need to ask whether or not he's any good, then I think you already know the answer.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 22, 2007 -> 04:42 PM) And our draft slot keeps improving. Way to find the bright side. Hopefully there aren't many Boras clients atop the draft class because we're on the fast track to our first top 10 pick in about a decade. I can't wait for some of our youngsters to get here. Losing sucks, but losing with some of our young talent would be easier to watch. I especially want to see Richar, Sweeney, Russell and Gio out there (although I doubt KW would call up Gio so soon).