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QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 15, 2014 -> 10:28 PM) http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2...shifts/9010489/ Good article on the proliferation of defensive shifts this season. One problem, is that technically they're only counting shifts when there are three players to the right of the 2nd base bag for lefties and three to the left for righties...so there are lots of times when the player is "close" to being in a shift but not technically being counted for statistical purposes. And there's no simplistic way to account for individual players shading a couple of feet in one direction or another, like the Tigers work on with Vizquel as their infield coordinator. I think the reason is that the "small" shift one way or another has always been done. All infielders will move slightly depending on who is hitting. We did it in little league in the 70's. It's the proliferation drastic shifts that is new.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 14, 2014 -> 11:23 AM) I don't think that's true. Pitchers aren't working their arms that much besides throwing their regimen usually includes running for 45 minutes after starts and squats/lunges and an emphasis on the core. What I found more interesting, something that I can't comment towards intelligibly, was their ideas surrounding the height of the mound. Supposedly if the MLB raised the mound 2-3 inches it would be a lot easier to get the tilt on the offspeed pitches. This is true only from the fact that it would increase the downward angle of the pitch and release.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 13, 2014 -> 06:47 PM) You're right, I don't. I never made that point though. I agreed with another poster that Hahn should have the autonomy of running the team. I didn't even dabble my opinion towards the power structure or the decisions, if any, that are at hand. All I had said was that we shouldn't be using what Reinsdorf did when Hawk was the GM as any basis of what is going to happen with the team today. Other than that, it's all conjecture. Ok. I still don't see why not. It's past practice. If it's what he has done, I don't see why it should change unless there is evidence to show he has changed the power he gives his GM.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ May 13, 2014 -> 06:38 PM) Facing a lefty, Johnson grounds out again. how could they bat him leadoff against a lefty in his first game? Ventura should be fired for this!!!!!

QUOTE (Jake @ May 13, 2014 -> 04:41 PM) FWIW, I worked for about 10 years with a House disciple in the Chicago area and he didn't teach a "wrist/elbow snap" slider. For the most part, he didn't teach sliders. He'd teach circle changeup as first offspeed pitch, then curveball, and then reluctantly would teach slider as essentially a variant of the curveball (which is basically what it is). He was a big fan of the knuckle curve, but I never worked with him on that. He started working with that a lot right as I was going out the door. The elbow snapI was referencing was for the curveball not the slider. You're right he did not like the slider. He preferred the curveball to change the hitter's eyes in both speed and elevation. The way he used to describe the curveball was to picture pulling the string on a light bulb switch. He would have pitchers throw a football to get the same motion. The towel drill was another form of this. This put a lot of stress on the flexor carpi ulnaris and the wrist flexors. The teaching of the change up first was always something I agreed with him about.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 13, 2014 -> 04:40 PM) There is rumors this happened with both Ozzie and Walker. It's all conjecture though. No one knows what really happens behind closed doors so it's moot. This is the type of stuff that makes me want to join the De Aza haters. What is this s***? He should be grateful he had the opportunity with the way he's playing. Take some pitches, do your best and shut up. De Aza is not the manager, he should play the role he is given and be happy he has any role at all. You still have no basis for the conclusion that JR wouldn't let Hahn fires Ventura. Any examples regardless of how old or different sport, Krause not bringing Jackson back, point to the opposite. Hahn thinks enough of Ventura to give him an extension. It's not JR dictating Hahn's actions.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 13, 2014 -> 02:29 PM) Every inch of sea level rise we've already had pushed the peak storm surge from hurricane sandy 25 feet further inland. Finally, a reason to live in the Midwest. After this winter, I was having difficulty finding a reason to stay here.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 13, 2014 -> 02:59 PM) Seems unlikely in this case. For one, the guy has never played there - you want to have him make that shift now, mid-season, on promotion to AAA? That's a little nuts. Not to mention that Johnson's elbow issues likely came from bad throwing mechanics, and you want to put him where he's having to make much harder throws? Seems stupid. But not impossible. Many people think that elbow problem from infielders are due to the weird off balance throws they make. In the outfield you rarely make this type of throw. However, I agree why mess with the kid unless you are convinced he cannot play the infield.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ May 13, 2014 -> 03:55 PM) Well obviously but a lot of these coaches don't know that and don't teach teens the right way to throw it.. Believe it or not there are some coaches who still teach it. Especially in the south suburbs where the house/rothschild teachings were so strong.

He will be here in Sept, if not earlier.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ May 13, 2014 -> 03:48 PM) It is completely stupid for youths to throw breaking balls.. The first breaking ball that should be taught is a knuckle-curve. That is the first one I was taught when I was around 14.. You don't have to snap the elbow and really does no strain. You should never snapthe elbow. That's the ryan/house theory of how to throw it. I've never like that method of throwing the curveball. The knuckle curve is starting to gain popularity again as the spin is imparted to the ball with the finger not wrist position. However, it's more difficult to learn as not a natural motion to "flick" the finger while throwing.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ May 13, 2014 -> 03:02 PM) Just over-throwing then? Too many pitches too young? What would be your guess? I think it's a combination of odd mechanics, throwing too hard too often and tissue overuse. He is just one of those guys who is going to have problems and will need rest throughout the season for a combination of reasons. I don't think the number of pitches alone is a reason but it can factor in over a period of time.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ May 13, 2014 -> 03:14 PM) All you need to look at it youth baseball and when kids begin throwing breaking pitches that are not change ups. Not to mention the number of innings they throw. Most change ups are not really considered breaking pitches as you are not trying to put a different spin on the ball compared to the fastball. It just the fastball with a different grip to make it go slower.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 13, 2014 -> 03:29 PM) I thought he stopped Kenny from firing both Ozzie and Greg Walker at different points? As far as I know JR got the three of them in a room and tried to have them work it out for a year and they all agreed to it. When that didn't work, JR allowed KW to trade him to the Marlins.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 13, 2014 -> 03:25 PM) You're right here but my post was launched because I think it's silly to say, "Reinsdorf did this 28 years ago, he'll do it again now." It's all circumstantial. It's important to note that Harrelson and Hahn are about as far a part as individuals that you can possibly be. Hawk = uneducated, old timer, former player, loud mouth, open spigot Southerner. Hahn = awe-inspiring scholar, new-age, analytical, intensively calculated Jewish guy. It's not silly. JR hires GMs and let's them handle the job. I gave an example of him letting the GM do something he didn't want to happen. That is JRs policy. Can you think of an instance where the GM wanted to fire a manager/coach and JR wouldn't let him??

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 13, 2014 -> 03:13 PM) That was 28 years ago. Not sure how it is relevant today. This. However, Hahn has given every indication that the team is Ventura's and as crazy as it sounds, I don't think winning or losing is all that important to Hahn right now. It's relevant as JR allows the GM to control the manager/coach. I can't think of an instance where he hasn't.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ May 13, 2014 -> 01:54 PM) Yes, I believe he will be managing in 2017. He isn't ozzie, his mouth won't cost him. He's a White Sox legend; JR won't approve of any firing I don't think. If he "let" Harrelson fire LaRussa, he will "let" Hahn fire Ventura.

QUOTE (Buehrlesque @ May 12, 2014 -> 02:00 PM) Yeah, I get that. But injury concerns apply to most any pitching prospect. Chris Sale and Tyler Danish were thought to be risky. Erick Fedde and Jeff Hoffman didn't seem any more likely to go down to TJ than the next guy. It is a super important concern, but I don't think it applies more specifically to Kolek (who I think is clearly behind Aiken and Rodon but ahead of the lower-ceiling college guys) than others. Injury concerns considered and weighted among the risk/reward, Kolek is still a better prospect than the others. Now, if the Sox feel that another prospect grades out ahead of Kolek, by all means they should draft him. Thus if the Sox pass on him for injury concerns, they must really have a reason.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ May 13, 2014 -> 12:45 PM) Do you think it was sliders that did him in, looking at the delivery? Yeah, no guarantees. I'm sure you've read where Sale has been encouraged to throw more changes and less sliders due to this belief, though. If he were only lefty...Then again, could make Tank prime trade bait. No, i don' t think it was from that pitch.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 13, 2014 -> 09:58 AM) Once those go, it will be the equivalent of the Hurricane Sandy Storm Surge, worldwide, on an average day. The results just out suggest that those glaciers melting cannot be avoided; nothing we change will prevent it. Hopefully it'll take a few hundred years, but yeah, I'd be selling my oceanfront property if I had any. It's only going to effect rich people so who cares.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ May 13, 2014 -> 12:21 AM) Agreed, it's a big blow to the game. He is fun to watch pitch. His velocity has dropped Erik Johnson-like in his last few starts. Just sucks because the slider is Sale's most devastating pitch. As bmags said though, in a way you have to ride your guy and hope for the best. In a way, that's why I'm not too concerned about guys like Kolek (real high velocity at 18) or Rodon (real high pitch counts) to an extent. The slider is not inherently a more stressful pitch. It is only more stressful when you drop down to get more slide to it as opposed to drop. If you throw it properly it's no more stressful than a fastball, the problem is many pitchers change either the elbow or shoulder angle to make it move more. This makes it a better pitch and tougher to hit but causes more stress.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 08:36 AM) pretty sure my wife got turf toe walking on the treadmill. blaming it on the cheap nikes she switched to a couple of weeks ago. Nikes are very narrow shoes. They tend to do this to people who don't have narrow enough feet. Try New Balance or saucony if she continues to have issues. They have wider toe boxes.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ May 12, 2014 -> 07:48 PM) Not a big fan of his first comeback start being against Tanaka. I don't want him trying to prove anything. They have been conservative enough with him. This is a time when I would follow a pitch count.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ May 10, 2014 -> 02:02 PM) We have to give credit to Coach Steversen. The hitters are being patient this year and the results are evident. This is always the question. Is it the coach or is it having someone like Abreu in the lineup taking pressure off the others?

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ May 10, 2014 -> 12:30 AM) I think it is just a sprained ankle but I am not sure.. Yes, probably an ankle sprain or capsulitis "jam" from hitting the bag. The bone bruise "periostitis" is also a possibility since he is playing on it. Speed and mobility is not his game anyway.