Rex Hudler

Josh had barely played. Yes he played well on Saturday against the Cubs, but he has only had 13 AB's for the month of June. Only 2 hits since June 12th. Josh was merely backup and Riviera will serve as the same.

They factor in how a team is doing and if they are making a run at the playoffs, but that isn't only thing they consider. I do know that is what kept Olivo in Birmingham all year last year when he could have gone to AAA. I would expect them to promote some guys from Winston-Salem to Birmingham, but I do not expect them to make wholesale changes. My guess is Rogowski would be targeted for Birmingham next year barring injury to someone this year.

SoxFan, you get so excited you had to post it twice? LOL

Totally agree. I won't blame the umpire for the loss, but it's hard to have an approach to hitting or pitching when you have no clue where the strike zone is. Two cases in point, when in Colon's first at-bat he got strike called on him that was easily 6 inches off the outer edge. When he went out to pitch the following inning, he kept trying to hit that corner to find out where the edge of the strike zone was. That edge kept changing on Colon and Zambrano all day, so it's no wonder that they both had about as many walks as strikeouts. Marte, didn't have the same benefit. When out in a tight situation after getting O'Leary and then giving up the gork to Grudhsjkdfhwe; he needed to try and get Martinez to hit his pitch (to get the DP or K). When Marte attacked that outer edge on Martinez he missed with a fastball which was a outside, but then clearly hit the corner with his breaking ball, but that too was called a ball. So Marte on 2-0 had no choice to throw a fastball toward the middle of the plate because, at that moment, the corner wasn't being called. Martinez got a pitch he could drive, and you know the rest. My point is that the players only desire consistency in how balls and strikes are called. That game was confusing for all of them because it seemed the zone kept moving depending on who was up. Frankly, I'm surprised no one got tossed yesterday for arguing balls and strikes. I disagree. With the exception of a couple of pitches early and the one late on Grudz, I thought he was very consistent.

No one knows..... You don't groom a guy to be a utility guy by using him that way in the Minors. You play him as much as possible and allow him to play different positions. There isn't a whole lot of pinch-hitting in the Minor Leagues. They have smaller rosters and player development is more important than avoiding a lefty-lefty matchup in most situations.

I don't have another name, so you wouldn't know me as someone else. I was just bored last night and I told HSC I was going to try to stir something up. I saw you on and knew you would not back down from a good debate. She warned me it could go on all night. Hence my disappointment that I didn't get your fired up more. I thought some of my comments were "out there" enough to get you fired up. LOL Don't take it personally, it was just a matter of timing. It was late, I was bored and you were online at the same time.

I'll let you off the hook this time, UNS. LOL I agree with the fact that we shouldn't give up on Crede. He'll be fine. And because of that, Blalock is not an interest for the Sox (unless you can parlay it into a 3-way deal, which won't happen). With Crede at 3B, the Sox need to look to other needs, even if that means passing on a potentially better 3Bman.

Half my original comments were designed solely to get Ncorgbl into an argument. I was bored and it was a slow night. LOL

Come on UNS, what's the .211 reference to?? Blalock hit .211 in only 147 AB's last year in Texas. He bounced back nicely to hit .307 with 8 HR and 62 RBI in 95 games in AAA as well. He is a career .324 hitter in the Minors. And if Minor League numbers don't hold their wight, then how about these? .335 Avg .391 OBp .558 SLG 18 2B 12 HR 44 RBI Those are Major League number for only 65 games this year. No, Texas would never trade him for Buehrle or anyone else, but don't try to knock this guy down because he had a rough first month or so in the Bigs.

Perhaps you should.

That's a good idea in theory, but Great Falls season is only 4 or 5 games old. If they thought he was ready for Kanny, why not assign him there earlier, rather than make him wait until June to play?? Maybe they felt he wasn't ready for a full season yet? Maybe they didn't have room and had other players that were ready for full season that they didn't want to release to make room for him?

Reed has been playing RF as well as CF. Wally will keep Durham in the lineup as much as possible, shifting guys around a little. After a slow start (.225 in April), Chad has really picked it up. Frankly, I can't see how the guy ever gets a hit because he steps in the proverbial bucket every pitch, in effect pulling his hips off the ball. How pitchers don't see that and don't just live on the outside corner, I have no idea. I'd do nothing but throwing fastballs on the outside half of the plate and he could do nothing with them, save an occasional infield hit or bloop. I never really noticed it last year, but it has been quite obvious lately.

If a trade would fill a couple of holes and the bats come alive that wouldn't be an admission of not looking to make the playoffs. That'd be more like what people have been asking for since 2000. A trade to push the team over the top. Wouldn't it? Unless we eat most or all of Colon's salary, we aren't going to get the level of prospects in return to fill the holes you speak of immediately.

Damn, Ncorgbl, I am disappointed in you. HSC told me I could get you into a long and heated argument tonight. I was really bored tonight and was looking for a little sparring. LOL I do think the Sox should be very careful if they decide to get rid of Colon. He certainly has the characteristics and potential to be a dominant #1 starter, which is rare. He is a guy that could be dominant and carry a team in the playoffs. I'd hate to see the Sox lose to Colon on another team in the ALCS. If they think it is best to trade him, they need to make sure they get premium prospects in return. A deal like many trades these days that is based more on money than the talent of the prospects would be bad in the long term for the Sox. They signed him knowing how much he would cost and to move him to try and save money would be detrimental unless they get real value in return. Trading him for a middling prospect as part of a salary dump would not be wise. In all, I do really feel that they should try and keep him. I am not sure at what price it needs to be and my earlier numbers were just thrown out there to get you going. He seems to be a guy you could build a staff around.

I think Loiaza has been pretty spectacular. Where would the Sox be? That's arguable, but I can think of two more victories we might have. I also think that we have a number of pitchers who can post a 6-7 record for under $500,000 a year. On this team, I don't think anyone else gives you what he does. Blame the rest of the team. He is the guy most suited to be an ace for years to come. You don't get a true #1 guy too often, so you need to hang onto him. I know you don't like his "attitude", but cliques amongst Latin players are a very common thing. The clubhouse issues would be no big deal if the Sox were winning.

Moon pies never did it for me. They're ok, but were never a fav.

Where would the Sox be if he wasn't on the staff right now?? He is 6-7 which is a better winning % than the club overall. He leads the team in IP. Has only 28 walks in 109 IP (before today). He has not been spectacular so far, but (don't look now) neither has anyone else on the team. He has been your most consistent starter.

The Sox should sign Colon to an extension. Pay him $10-$12 mil a year for 5 years.... this guy is exactly what the Sox need for the future.

Actually, I liked Chocodiles. They never quite got the respect that the others did, but they were quite tasty. LOL

Little Debbie Swiss Rolls actually

Ding Dongs and Suzy Q's are good! LOL

Don't get lost in Munoz numbers. He is still very much a prospect. The dissection of his numbers and corresponding discussion has already been had.

I think the umpire was very consistent with his strike zone today. He missed a couple of pitches early (one called outside which became a strike soon after, and one he called a strike that was too low) and the one late with Marte. Other than that, I thought he was fine. (if you don't like his zone fine, but he was consistent except those 3 or so pitches). Even if he calls the second strike against Grudz, you can't assume the next pitch gets him out just because that one was a strike. Hitters hit differently based on the count, so you can't assume the results would have been different just because of one missed strike. Not that I wouldn't have liked to have that call...

I don't think you could say that. The Schnur is 6-1, 200. He had success immediately after being drafted by raking all over Arizona in the rookie league last year. (.332 3HR 48RBI in 50 games) Micah plays 3B and although he has only played in 5 games so far this year, he has picked up right where he left off. (.389 1HR 3RBI). He is playing in Advanced Rookie this year (the level Rogo skipped) and I would have liked to see him challenged more, but that's me. Expect him to have another big year and the real test when he has to play a 140 game season next year.

HSC, with your great seats so low and close to the field, it is impossible for you to see all the way up where the minions sit. ;-)