South Side Fireworks Man

QUOTE (WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Jun 15, 2008 -> 04:13 PM) It better be Fields who gets called up Where's he gonna play? Seriously. Call up Owens and start BA in CF with Swisher moving over to 1B.

QUOTE (WilliamTell @ Jun 15, 2008 -> 03:16 PM) I like Thome, I really do, but I've always felt like he clogs up our lineup. Occasionally he'll get a home run or a walk, but normally it's a strike out or some put out with the shift. Thome is a great guy, but as a ballplayer he sucks. Not a winner--doesn't hit in the clutch (or any time, lately) and can't play in the field. And he makes a lot of money too.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 14, 2008 -> 10:35 PM) I used to think Ozuna was an extremely valuable bench player, but now that we're carrying Uribe and Ramirez on the roster, there's just no need for him. I love Ozuna, but I have to agree with you there. I'd like to see Thome and Ozuna replaced on the roster by Fields and Lofton myself.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox15 @ Jun 14, 2008 -> 09:14 PM) Too bad none of our "sluggers" have the balls to put the team on their backs for a while and keep this team in this. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Exactly.

Just like last year, the problem with this team is the middle of the order. The guys making the big bucks who are supposed to be the big RBI men aren't doing their job. The ones who were supposed to carry the offense are the ones dragging it down.

QUOTE (tommy @ Jun 13, 2008 -> 09:49 PM) Juan Uribe! Yep!

QUOTE (quickman @ Jun 12, 2008 -> 08:50 PM) If he ends up being a mop up guy like loiaza then who cares, I just think as the time wears on they will want a veteran guy. they will be available after this month. Paging Freddy Garcia...

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jun 12, 2008 -> 04:59 PM) In short, nothing. He is just having a slight cold spell. And still gets on base and hits a bit. So you're saying he does not have a sore hand?

KW has done an outstanding job as Sox' GM.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jun 8, 2008 -> 03:59 PM) There was a nubber that was behind the plate and foul and he decided to throw it to 3rd for no reason. I was just reviewing the game thread and wanted to comment on this. Since Gomez was running on the pitch and was already around third when AJ threw that ball, I suspect AJ threw that ball away on purpose to fool him so that Gomez would continue running hard all the way home and tire himself out a little in the event that on the next pitch the batter got a hit so maybe they might have a chance to throw him out trying to score from 2B. Hawk seemed to think AJ was just being "Dennis The Menace" again, but I think there was a method to his madness.

QUOTE (Cubano @ Jun 8, 2008 -> 04:23 PM) Those scouts were saying that Alexei was projected to have Julio Lugo type power numbers. Scouts do not see cuban players often. They only see them 5 o 6 games in a year during an international tournament. Yeah, and I remember reading here that Alexei projected to be another Omar Infante or Pablo Ozuna. Keep us posted on the Cuban baseball scene. I appreciate your insight.

It's nice that Hunter's not in CF for the Twins anymore. JD is glad too.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 4, 2008 -> 06:05 PM) So Loaiza's going to be starting now? Hopefully Levine was stating hypotheticals, becase Loaiza would be a huge step backwards for the rotation. I doubt it. If the Buehrle injury story is true, Masset would probably start with Loaiza taking Masset's spot in the pen.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 4, 2008 -> 05:35 PM) Greg Walker is a class act and old school. In his world you don't throw your teammates or coaches or managers under the proverbial bus. If there's something that needs to be said you say it to the individual, not to the press. A general rant is fine, but when specific names get thrown around, that doesn't fly with a lot of people, not just Greg Walker. If Walker was such a class act why did he go over his boss's head and over his GM's head and plead his case directly to his buddy the owner? And why was he so "hurt" just because Ozzie mentioned his name along with his own name? Why is Walker immune from any criticism or accountability for results? Walker may or may not be a "good Coach" depending on how you define and judge that. But going purely by results, his hitters have underperformed for the past two years. Ozzie never made one negative comment about Walker before and Sunday didn't really say anything about him other than mentioning his name once during a frustrated rant. Big deal. If Walker can't handle that, he shouldn't even be there.

QUOTE (quickman @ Jun 2, 2008 -> 09:50 PM) how about thome for coco crisp. Red sox need a DH and we could use crisp. I'm just saying. Sold.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jun 1, 2008 -> 09:43 PM) I'm guessing a couple things, the least likely being a trade. I'm thinking Greg Walker will be fired and Josh Fields will be called up (and we'll see him get significant playing time at 1st base/DH (with Paulie/Thome/Swisher all getting some time off). We are also going to see more of Brian Anderson, me thinks. Is Fields even healthy now?

Ozzie has always been squeamish about letting guys go. Whenever he had to cut a player he always wanted KW or someone else to let the guy know because he said he hates that part of his job. Maybe Ozzie was trying to get KW to do his dirty work for him with Walker and KW is throwing it right back into Ozzie's court--"Ozzie, if you want Walker gone, be a man and do it yourself. You used your authority to hire any coaches you wanted, now be a man and use your authority to fire one if that's your choice. I expect more out of you than to rely on me to do your dirty work."

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 1, 2008 -> 05:00 PM) Wow, awesome comments by KW! I missed them---what did he say???

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Jun 1, 2008 -> 04:50 PM) It wouldn't serve much of a difference, but I'd love to see this order: Cabrera Ramirez Quentin Dye Pierzynski Crede Thome Konerko Swisher Not bad, but put BA in place of Swisher in CF for a series or two.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Jun 1, 2008 -> 04:50 PM) to me that really sounds like ozzie has had enough of walker....saying hes "done protecting people" and what not...and the whole year and a half thing, i mean i dont think realistically there can be major changes to the roster that will bring about change by tuesday....so i think ozzie is referring to walker (not saying that will bring about change either) That's how I interpret it too. There's nothing KW can realistically do with the roster by Tuesday to have any effect. I think Ozzie is saying that he's been watching the same horrid approach by his supposedly good major league hitters for the past two years now and it's the hitting coach who is in charge of that aspect of the game. Ozzie has never said a negative word about Walker. But now he may be telling KW, "Either get me a hitting coach that can get through to these hitters or get rid of me because I'm tired of watching this s***!"

Carl Everett.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 31, 2008 -> 08:03 PM) Who should be the hitting coach? Dick Allen? Walt Hriniak?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 30, 2008 -> 10:38 PM) Unfortunately, there's a better chance of Wise taking over as the full time CF than there is with Anderson doing so. Well, if that's the case then Ozzie should replace Swisher in CF with Ramirez. I was just reading that Ozzie said he wants to keep giving Ramirez ABs but also said the Sox need Uribe at 2B. If that's how he sees it, why not sit Swisher for a while and let Ramirez play CF while Uribe is back at 2B. If Uribe gets hot, you leave it like that. If/when Uribe goes ice cold, Ramirez goes back to 2B and Swish comes back in CF. Maybe the rest will do Swish some good---it certainly can't hurt.

At this point I'd replace Swisher with Anderson as the everyday starting CF with Swisher becoming the fourth OF/back-up 1B super sub. If Anderson produces you leave it that way unless Konerko is still slumping by the end of June, then Swisher takes over at 1B. If after three to four weeks Anderson isn't getting it done, you put Swisher back in CF and hope the time off did him some good and cleared his mind.

CQ is just amazing. Slowing down? I DONT THINK SO!!