South Side Fireworks Man

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ May 10, 2008 -> 09:42 PM) Yeah but they don't see Crede on a day to day basis. From everything I've seen and read about Crede's defense, it's terribly mediocre this season, and you saying otherwise won't change my mind. Actually, Crede's fielding has been outstanding this season. He's made some very nice plays and looks to be completely healthy He has looked bad on some of his throws however, as it appeared that he was dropping down and throwing sidearm instead of over the top. I think (hope) that was more of a mental thing and I chalk it up to rust. He hasn't been doing that lately. Joe's defense is fine.

QUOTE (palehose23 @ May 10, 2008 -> 08:06 PM) 421 more plate appearances until Thome's 2009 contract is guaranteed just FYI Ozzie should keep starting Brian Anderson in CF against left-handed pitchers, with Dye and Konerko taking turns at DH. It will serve multiple purposes: Improves the Defense as well as the Offense against LHP; Limits Thome's PAs; Keeps Thome fresh for the long haul of the season, hopefully lessening the chance of his recurring wrist and back injuries allowing him to be more productive with less playing time.

QUOTE (rafacosta @ May 8, 2008 -> 02:34 PM) Like I said before...Uribe is not our major problem...Thome and PK are! Worst 3 & 4 hitters in baseball. Amen to that!!!

QUOTE (TheBigHurt @ May 7, 2008 -> 11:17 PM) Great, NOW they start hitting... Everyone but Konerko so far...

Why is it that players that suck against everybody else (Punto, Scutaro, etc.) seem to always kill the Sox?

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ May 7, 2008 -> 10:14 PM) And bench Thome? The only guy with the right approach tonight? Yep.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 7, 2008 -> 10:09 PM) I'll tell you exactly what happened. Usually in those spots, the RF will take control due to having a good throwing arm. Swisher thought Dye was going to call him off, but he never did. Put Anderson in CF, move either Quentin or Swisher to RF and Dye to DH.

QUOTE (Capn12 @ May 6, 2008 -> 09:12 PM) Gavin is.....hes pretty damn good....he has proven lots of Sox wannabe GMs wrong so far this year... But his peripherals suck

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 5, 2008 -> 09:30 PM) So basically, replacing Thome and Konerko with Owens and Fields/Anderson is a big positive change and puts out a "Much better lineup than the one they've been trotting out"? (Getz/Uribe is more understandable). Yep.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxfan1986 @ May 5, 2008 -> 09:04 PM) 1. Fire Walker 2. Call up Getz, Fields, and Owens. Owens LF Cabrera SS Quentin RF Dye DH Swisher 1B Crede 3B Pierzynski C Anderson CF Getz 2B OR Owens CF Cabrera SS Quentin LF Dye RF Swisher 1B Fields DH Pierzynski C Crede 3B Getz 2B Either one of these lineups is better than the one they've been trotting out for the past two years.

[/color]QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ May 5, 2008 -> 04:54 PM) Crede was scratched, Ozuna to take his spot per Cowley. Ozuna Uribe Hall at the end sounds like a recipe for lots o runs. Wonderful.

I just hope the idea isn't to have their most productive hitter "give himself up" to move Cabrera from 1st to 2nd. Why screw with Quentin's approach now? Bat him third and let him try to keep doing what he's been doing. Now, if the idea is to let him see even more fastballs in the 2 slot, that's OK, I guess.

Ozzie has to get over the idea of Thome Konerko and Dye being 3, 4 & 5. Maybe 5, 6, & 7 would work, but at least move Thome down and split them up. Quentin should be given a shot at #3. This isn't 2006 anymore.

QUOTE (BearSox @ May 2, 2008 -> 09:55 PM) 1. Swisher, CF 2. Cabrera, SS 3. Quentin, LF 4. Konerko, 1B 5. Thome, DH 6. Dye, RF 7. Pierzynski, C 8. Crede, 3B 9. Ozuna, 2B That's a much better lineup than the illogical one Ozzie has been putting out there all season. I like Quentin in the three hole and having Thome down fifth where he belongs.

I've come to the point where I feel if Ozzie doesn't care why should I care anymore? He has repeatedly expressed his faith in Greg Walker even though his hitters have sucked for over a season and a half. He keeps trotting the same unproductive batting order out there day in and day out despite the fact that his top and middle of the order are not producing and the offense as a whole is not scoring runs. His best hitter (Quentin) is still batting seventh and the AL HR co-leader and Sox' best clutch hitter keeps batting eighth. Meanwhile his third and cleanup slots are occupied with .220 hitters. I guess he doesn't want to hurt the feelings of his aging veterans or his hitting coach. But hey, Ozzie gets paid to worry about these things, not us. So I'll just resign myself to sitting back and watching what happens.

I would try this lineup: Swisher Cabrera Quentin Crede Thome Dye Konerko Pierzynski Uribe As soon as Dye starts hitting again I'd move him to fourth: Swisher Cabrera Quentin Dye Thome Konerko Crede Pierzynski Uribe Time to move Thome down in the order. He's still good, but not as good as he used to be.

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ Apr 30, 2008 -> 08:16 PM) IMO the biggest disappointment on this team, and the most guilty player... offensively, is Orlando Cabrera. I can't count on two hands how many times he's come up with Swisher on base, and yet it takes a Thome double or HR to drive Swish in from 1st. OC hasn't done **** for this team this year, so far. Plus he slides into second base on a DP like a sissy. He's made a few good plays on defense, but he's also made some bonehead plays and on a whole has been disappointing on defense. I thought Cabrera was a good acquisition but so far I am very disappointed in what he's done in a Sox uniform. I hope he just got off to a slow start...

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Apr 30, 2008 -> 08:45 PM) Even for the position he could play, 3B, I can't imagine Crede willingly giving up one or two games a week since he's playing for a contract. Maybe since they are playing four games on the artificial turf in Toronto's dome they would want to start him for one game there to rest Crede. Other than that he's a pinch hitter and backup at third. If Ramirez is put on the "restricted list" they can probably send Josh back down after the four games in Canada.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 10:55 PM) I know I am in the vast minority here, but I'm starting to think Uribe should be the one playing shortstop with OC at second base. Every play that isn't routine seems difficult with Cabrera. He seems like he is throwing a shotput over to first base. Juan has been magnificent at second base, but ss is the more important position. You're not alone. I agree.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Apr 30, 2008 -> 03:55 PM) I cringe thinking about all those errors, especially after watching Uribe play it near-flawlessly so far. I agree. Do we really need a poor defensive third baseman playing out of position at 2B just to get another home run hitter who strikes out a ton into the lineup? The errors and missed double plays would more than offset the HRs, IMHO.

QUOTE (Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 05:07 PM) Uribe is locked, loaded, and ready to carry this team. He should be starting at SS for a few days. Let Ozuna start at 2B. Maybe OC will snap out of it with a couple of days on the bench.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Apr 26, 2008 -> 09:41 PM) Take a look at the SS on this team now. Do we really want to lock that up for a long time. Just hope Cabrera doesnt mess up enough to ruin his Elias rankings for next year. Ramirez should be down in AAA playing SS everyday. Agreed.

Whatever happened to that Orlando Cabrera guy the Sox traded for? You remember--the smart situational hitter with great bat handling skills with the gold glove?

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Apr 8, 2008 -> 09:31 PM) Even throwing all that out, they still are in a tough spot. If somehow they did re-sign Joe mid season, everyone would now know Fields is expendable. If a team wants Fields, they are going to trade for him, but it's going to hurt his value. In that scenario, Fields becomes the Sox' future DH as well as insurance at 3B.

QUOTE(knightni @ Apr 6, 2008 -> 05:11 PM) Ozzie wants to put a boot on Detroit's neck. I like it.