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QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ May 17, 2011 -> 05:23 PM) If neither Lillibridge nor Vizquel can handle the full time duty, perhaps they can share it . Rios hasn't been much of a run producer, that's for sure. But he's fast and is a better hitter than Pierre. I can look at the back of Roberto Alomar's baseball card. I think he'd be a great fit as our leadoff hitter. Oh wait, his skill set is so diminished that he cannot suffice anymore? That seems to be the same problem with Pierre. Oh well, Pierre is already on the team so he should be fine. It boils down to this. The best argument anyone can make in favor of this move is "it is what it is." I'm not not making an argument that it's right. I'm just saying this is what he is going to do, and it's probably not different from what most managers would do. There really isn't another option currently on this team or in the system from Ozzie's point of view. I see his rationale but I don't really agree with it.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ May 17, 2011 -> 05:10 PM) Whoever hits leadoff would be as much of a leadoff hitter as Juan Pierre has been. It would be damn near impossible to suck as much at getting on base and stealing bases as Pierre has. Remember the debacle of putting a non-leadoff type guy with a career high OBP in the leadoff spot? Ozzie does. When the Sox tried Swisher who had a high career OBP, he couldn't handle the leadoff position and had his worst year. This experiment just reinforced Ozzie's idea of the leadoff hitter archetype.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ May 17, 2011 -> 05:12 PM) Look, Juan Pierre is the worst player in baseball. Anybody would be better than him. If it absolutely must be a fast guy, then it can be Lillibridge or Vizquel or Rios. "I'm not sure why you don't understand this from past tendencies with Ozzie's lineups." This argument is so flawed. You're basically saying that, because Ozzie is bad at managing and sticks to a bad theory of who has to lead off, we have to be content with his decision to leave Pierre in the leadoff spot. And even if that were the case, I just mentioned three other guys who are capable of taking his spot. I'm not saying it's right. All I'm saying is that that is what is going to happen. Vizquel is too old to handle the duty full time. Lillibridge is has proven that he can't handle full time duty and Rios is more of a run producer. Ozzie knows Pierre is off to a bad start but he also thinks that based on history he will get better. What's the quote that Stone uses "look at the back of the baseball card." I know you dislike Ozzie but this is what he and most other mangers will do. You can let it frustrate you all you want but it's not changing.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ May 17, 2011 -> 05:03 PM) Perhaps that guy will know the difference between a good speedy player and a bad speedy player. I would hope that most managers, upon realizing that their leadoff hitter is the worst professional baseball player in the game, would go to the next best option. But the Sox do not have that good speedy guy anywhere near ready for full time play. So, the only option is to stick with Pierre.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ May 17, 2011 -> 03:57 PM) There is no need to bring up Dallas in the first place. That's the whole point. Make a move that actually helps your team. Subbing Dallas for Teahen does nothing since he'll be riding bench anyway. Bring up Dayan with the extra roster spot and have him play for Pierre. Why is this so hard for people to understand? Because Ozzie will not have a leadoff hitter. This is the way most mangers want their team constructed and there would be no one capable of filling this role if Pierre is not in the lineup. I'm not sure why you don't understand this from past tendencies with Ozzie's lineups.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ May 17, 2011 -> 04:30 PM) Its real simple. The only way that Juan is out of the lineup is the following. 1.) Pierre retires, not happening. 2.) Pierre is injured. Not happening. 3.) Kenny gets fed up and takes away Guillens toys. Not happening. This is the same manager who was going to start Jerry Owens over Quentin. He believes that the leadoff hitters are fast grindy guys who distrupt pitchers on the basepaths. He learned this from his time with the Marlins. Pods was to elmulate Juan Pierre as that disruptive force on the basepaths. Do you think for a minute that Guillen is going to change his mind on his philosophy. Its not going to happen. He will demote Juan from leadoff for a short period of time in hopes of getting him fixed. The minute he strings a game or two together he is back at the top of the lineup. So the only way Viciedo makes it up before the Allstar break is if Quentin or another OF gets injured. We replace people on the DL in the most part based on what position they played. If a SS gets hurt, they are bringing up a SS. This entire experience is maddening of watching Pierre auto-out and kick the ball. But its going to happen a lot this year. Everyone is acting like Ozzie is the only manager that wants the speedy, pitcher-disrupting guy at the top of the lineup. Almost every manager tries to do this. I hate to tell everyone this but the guy who replaces Ozzie will try to do the same thing.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ May 17, 2011 -> 04:37 PM) Thats to give him a mental rest. He will be back in the lineup tomorrow. The Guillen vision of a lineup starts with a fast grindy guy up top who disrupts on the basepaths. He has wanted a Juan Pierre like player since he came here, he is not going to give up on the actual Juan Pierre. He will start with this rest, then he will demote him to 9th which inevitably makes him worthless on this team. The minute he has a decent game, he is back at the top of the lineup. Ozzie Guillen in his mind believes that Juan Pierre is the secret ingredient to making the offense go. His rotating DH idea last year should show you that he believes some slap and tickle baseball filled up with generating lots of outs in the name of hustle will solve all problems. This is why DV will not replace Pierre. Ozzie likes this type of guy at the top of the order. If Pierre is out of the lineup, the Sox do not have this type of player.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 10, 2011 -> 08:04 PM) John danks does not make the team not score runs for Danks. Just an excuse for losers. Good pitchers will win alot of games over their career. There maybe an outlier year where the lose despite pitching well but over a career they will win games. I personally don't care about the stats for pitchers. The only one that matters is if the team wins when they pitch. No they don't control all the variables but they are the primary factor. I'm a bigger White Sox fan than I am a John Danks fan. I want him do well only because it helps the team win.

Danks had a comment in the paper about the support of his backbone during this tough stretch. The backbone included his family and agent. There is no way he is not filing for free agency and testing the proverbial waters.

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 8, 2011 -> 07:02 PM) Has Peavy been with the big league club in the dugout much this season? I wish in between minor league starts they'd have had him in our MLB dugout. He seems like a bad ass that wouldn't stand for some of the horses*** play we've had during the season-opening skid. Everyone on the team would laugh at him. Guys who are on the DL and aren't playing are ignored especially one who has been out as long as he has. It's the "big talk from a guy who hasn't helped us" mentality. Once he si pitching for thebig club it will change though.

QUOTE (Pale Sox @ May 6, 2011 -> 11:49 PM) What about Baines? Only if the players don't mind learning from as mime. He is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet and was an outstanding ballplayer. However, I don't know if I've ever heard him string two sentences together.

QUOTE (forrestg @ May 6, 2011 -> 10:24 PM) I know that Walt Hriniak had great influence on the swings of frank Thomas and Robin Ventura's. I hear very little about Robin but I was wondering if anyone thinks either would be any good as a hitting coach. They both had such great swings. Hawk always described Ventura as "sweet swinging Robin" Frank, a loyal student of Hriniak. I know that just because someone did something well doesn't necessarily mean that they could teach hitting. just wanted to hear what people thought. Walker learned under Lau and Hriniak as well. Thomas had that front swing that only he Aaron and Clemente could use. He could talk philosophy but not mechanics.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 5, 2011 -> 02:13 PM) Nothing short of injury will stop him from being a star. I look at skillset moreso than I do raw numbers. I'd trade anybody on our team for Castro. he can hit but until he learns to actually catch and throw the ball he cannot be considered even a good shortstop.

QUOTE (Real @ May 4, 2011 -> 08:39 PM) Rose has decided to be a jump shooter again, when will he learn he needs to initiate contact in the paint With the sore and unstable ankle, he may not hava choice for awhile. He will have difficulty moving laterally and quickly changing directions.

QUOTE (LVSoxFan @ May 4, 2011 -> 09:37 AM) Sorry, that's all you got? That story from back in the Giants days? Which we've all already heard? Again, I'm hearing very few specifics, just insinuations and gossip. Remember when Garland was asked about him during the WS run and his reply was "we tolerate him." There was an incident in the minors where a pitcher wouldn't listen to him so when the next guy tried to steal he threw the ball into center field. His comment was "will you listen next time." You don't have to believe any of this but I was there for that one. It's not just about specific issues. How do you know when someone is a bully? It's just part of their everyday attitude. He has had many problems and will continue to have them. Go ahead and think he's an ok guy. Because in the it doesn't matter if he helps the team, people tolerate it. When the team is doing poorly, people will complain. These guys are professional enough to deal with it, that's why most of the time it never discussed.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 3, 2011 -> 03:31 PM) Not bball, but yes it involved a ball. It hurts like a motherf***er and to this day I have to wear active ankle braces to stabilize it, but he will be able to play through it if its stabilized so it doesnt roll again. Those are my favorites to give to patients. It's near impossible to severely injury your ankle wearing them.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 3, 2011 -> 06:03 PM) You're right, it didn't happen at least not the way it was reported. It was reported AJ took a shot to the nuts, the trainer came rushing out to see how he was and AJ kneed him. Wouldn't there have been a ton of witnesses? If he really kneed him wouldn't the trainer have gone to the ground? It was during warm ups before the game when there weren't many people around. There were alot of team personnel around.The trainer did double over. I know the guy he wouldn't lie about it. The Giants didn't cut him after trading 4 prospects for him because they really thought he was a valuable asset.

QUOTE (scenario @ May 3, 2011 -> 02:51 PM) I did a little digging a couple of years back to find all AJ incidents that could have classified him as a prick. I posted on Twins and Giants boards and asked for specific examples. The Giants incident you named above is the ONLY one anyone ever could come up with. And the only evidence that it ever happened was anecdotal. Several knowledgable fans I talked to said that never really happened. And that the real reason AJ was not liked is that the Giants had a clique of pitchers with fragile egos and AJ wouldn't kiss up to them. Besides that questionable "incident"... the other things were all game related... like the 3rd strike against the Angels, etc. So I think the myth of AJ's behavior has grown way out of proportion to the reality. There was one game-related one that I loved which probably set the stage for his hatred in San Francisco before he got there. It had to do with a playoff series between the Twins and A's when AJ was still with Minny. I guess he was chirping back and forth with a couple of A's trying to get into their heads while they were at the plate... and it started to get a little heated. Then he came up to bat late in a game and hit a homerun to put the Twins ahead... and as he crossed the plate he turned to the A's catcher and yelled "BOOYAH"... practically inciting a riot. Twins fans remember it (and him) very fondly. They only started to dislike him after he left. So, if this was Politifact... then I think I would find B&B's claim of AJ hatred to be... I knew him in the minors. He just isn't a nice person. He has had many incidents that may or not be printed or reported but he has had plenty of them.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 3, 2011 -> 01:49 PM) David Kaplan Breaking News, Rose did have MRI despite reports to contrary. Grade 2 sprain to ligament on outside of ankle. A grade 2 sprain is a partial tear of the ligament, up to 50%. The ligaments are extension of the joint capsuleso there is concomitant laxity in the joint with special tests. The results don't change much during the playoffs. You tape it tightly add a functional ankle brace and hope he doesn't make it any worse. The downside is he may play a little more tentative due to the possibility of making it worse.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ May 3, 2011 -> 10:29 AM) I don't believe it. That's like saying nobody liked Carlton Fisk. these situations are different. People didn't get along with Fisk because he was stand offish and arrogant. He just didn't really associate with people. AJ is just a pain in the a** to everyone. He is tolerated because winning teams will tolerate it if he is helping them win. As soon as the losing starts so will the complaining about the personality.It's similar to the Yankees with Gary Sheffield, although AJ is not the class of Sheffield.

QUOTE (LVSoxFan @ May 3, 2011 -> 10:05 AM) Just how is he a jerk and a bully? I hear a lot of accusations, but very, very little details or specifics. He likes to berate people. He not only doesn't help others he tries to make their life more difficult. The classic example is when he was with the Giants and he took a bouncing pitch in the nads during warmups. The trainer asked how he was feeling. AJ still kneeling hit the trainer in the nads and said "it feels like this a**hole" and began laughing about it.

QUOTE (La Marr Hoyt HOF @ May 3, 2011 -> 09:55 AM) This is total crap ... if there was a real clubhouse issue, they would not have re-signed him. Additionally, AJ has made average starting pitchers outperform for years and we all know that at a minimum Buehrle respects him. GMAFB May I refresh everyone's memory: http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3657165 It isn't crap. AJ is a classic jerk and bully. Nobody likes him. They tolerate him because of how he can help a pitching staff. MB may repsect him, I don't know for sure, he tends to try to get evrone to play niceand is usually postive but I guarantee he doesn't like him.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ May 3, 2011 -> 08:44 AM) This may be morbid, but curious to know what kind of gun they used to kill Osama Bin Laden. Navy Seal standard weapons are the M4 Carbine and the HK MP4. My guess is that in the close quarters they were expecting it was the HK.

QUOTE (since56 @ May 3, 2011 -> 07:41 AM) A.J. has been the most hated man in baseball for a long time. He behaved himself when K.W. took a chance on him and now the ass***e in him is re-emerging. The biggest ass is the manager. I could see it being an uncomfortable situation for some guys. But so what, make your big money and win ballgames. Winning is fun remember. It cures all ills. Actually there are very few people who do not like Guillen. He is a very fun and entertaining person to be with. He is a very likable person. He is the loudmouth friend at the end of the bar that everyone has fun with. Now, his in game strategy is a totally different thing.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ May 3, 2011 -> 12:27 AM) This whole organization is full of losers, chokers, and softies, and being that AJ is not one of them, it certainly makes sense that he'd have some enemies right now. There is zero reason for a team with this much talent to pack in it, night after night, series after series. This is the same s*** they did this time last year, only Kenny and Ozzie could be blamed for it that time. Now, there's no one to blame but the sorry ass players themselves. It's not September yet, boys, and these aren't the Twins. You don't have to tuck tail yet! Maybe Kenny needs to send off everyone who has a problem with AJ and fire Ozzie's ass too. Change the culture and just start this whole damn thing over. Please, Mark Buehrle, go somewhere else and win. You too AJ, and same with Paulie. John Danks - what a great call on not signing that extension! Money aside, why would anyone with your abilities want to play here? Go make some cash and win some games elsewhere. This team is 100% capable of not only righting this ship but trouncing those pretenders atop the division, winning the division, making the playoffs, and winning a WS. The talent is definitely there. But this AJ hating s*** is exactly why they'll do nothing but founder once again when the going really gets tough. This is a rant, but I mean Jesus, it's like half the noteworthy and conversation inducing team related events occur over Twitter posts by a Guillen family member. That's what we get as Sox fans instead of a baseball season, Guillen family Twitter drama. And choking. And now hating on AJ?! Really?! If you're a player and AJ's behavior is pissing you off then how about you take out yout tampon and let your balls drop and take it out on the field of play instead of confiding in some dbag Score host. Ugh. I'm done now. Don't worry AJ has a history of punching trainer's in theirs so he'll take care of it for you.