YASNY

QUOTE (Texsox @ Oct 11, 2008 -> 08:45 AM) Basically I agree with you Yas. But once again I ask, How much better will Broadway now have to pitch? If he is 2-1 in Spring training with a 4.3 and someone else is 1-2 with a 5.2, does Broadway have no shot? You don't think Anderson's situation was more his performance on the field? I find it hard to believe that hitting .235 and being "supportive to his teammates" is better for his career than batting .285 and not talking to them. No, I don't think it was BA's performance at all. There were countless times that he should have been in CF late in the game to replace Swish/Jr. that he wasn't. If he would have been inserted more often defensively, he would have gotten a few more PA's on a regular basis and very possibly would not have been quite so rusty facing live pitching. As for Broadway, he might make the team, but he's going to have a short leash when it comes to attitude. As I said, he might get the chance to prove himself but he's made it that much more difficult for himself.

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ Oct 11, 2008 -> 07:00 AM) i have nowhere near the emotional attachment to those 4 players as i do dye/jenks/buerhle, it will come with time i'm sure Emotions aside, it's about the future. Those four guys are the foundation of the future of this franchise.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Oct 11, 2008 -> 08:12 AM) My not getting paid is more to the point that "it's a business". You can talk about bonding and being a team mate, but IMHO that lasts until the next contract negotiations. Thomas came to the park during 2005, yet he still was not offered a new contract? Did KW not see him? He was loyal to his team mates for years, even accepting lower contracts to play for the Sox. He was arguably the greatest player to play for the Sox, AND flew in special to be with his teammates, and the following year was playing for Oakland. So we know how unimportant it is if you are a HoF caliber player to be around the team and bonding. Clearly these guys are not HoF material. So now let's look how important it will be for a AAAA player. Setting aside a few things, and for the sake of the discussion. I'll agree with all you said, now, let's put this in a practical manner. How much better will Broadway now have to pitch to make the team over someone who stayed? IF during Spring Training Logan or Broadway are putting up better numbers compared to guys who were in the clubhouse, will people here argue that they should spend more time in AAA and leave the roster spots to the guys that stayed? I've never heard an argument around here for keeping someone with less stats than someone playing better because they are better ass patters and cheer harder for the teammates. If that were the case, we would have a whole lot more Anderson love. Bottom line, by Spring Training, all this is forgotten. Guys are going to have to earn their roster spots by their play on the field, not by donning cheerleader outfits and patting asses in the clubhouse. I don't think it will all be forgotten. These things linger. Jon Rauch's antics weren't forgotten, nor were D'Angelo Jiminez or Royce Clayton. Orlando Cabrera's crap won't be forgotten either, I don't care how good he was. I can see AJ as one of the guys shaking his head. Ozzie won't forget it either, at least until these guys prove themselves over the lang haul, if given the chance. I think Brian Anderson is a prime example. His attitude was not looked upon favorably at the end of 2007. I believe 2008 was his year of 'paying his dues' and proving to Ozzie and the team that he had matured. I also believe that BA will get a legit shot to earn the starting CF job in ST of '09, because he took his lumps in '08 and never complained about lack of playing time or lack of opportunities. At least, nothing publically came out from Brian that indicated he was a problem in '08. These 3 guys have to prove something to their teammates and management. That is a hurdle none of them needed and could turn out to be their ticket right out of the organization.

Meanwhile, back at the Cell ...

Cut bait. Go fishing.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 09:42 AM) Yeah, the studied Javy and Thome . Who were the non roster guys on the bench in 2005? That would be really interesting to see how it affected their careers.We know Anderson was there every step of the way. BMac was there also, I believe.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 10:32 AM) But that gets back to the issue - why would you want a good hitter sac bunting? You slightly increase the potential for one run while drastically lowering the chance for more than one run. Because with a runner on second with no out in the bottom of the ninth of a tie game, you want to get that run home. Putting him on third with allows him to score on a wild pitch, pass ball, sac fly, grounder ball to the right side, etc. Everybody that regularly has a bat in their hands and is on a major league roster should have the ability to lay down a sac bunt.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 10:26 AM) Statistical data would show that power hitting lineups tend to out-produce small ball lineups, no? A major league ballplayer should know how to put down a sacrifice bunt, unless it's a pitcher that never has a bat in his hands.

QUOTE (StatManDu @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 09:53 AM) Were the 2008 White Sox the slowest Sox team ever? Consider ... *The 13 triples were an all-time franchise low *The 67 steals were the fewest by a Sox team since the 1977 team swiped 42 In 77, there were quite a few larger ballparks in the AL than there is today, including Old Comiskey. However slow that 77 team was, they were fun to watch.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 09:56 AM) I agree it was probably a mistake for these guys as it appears now. But I do care how it was presented. I care if this is highly unusual to have AAA guys asked to hang out and be the posse and the norm is for only the team and the one or two alternates to stay. Do any of these three know what the "norm" is when it comes to Sox and the playoffs?

QUOTE (Texsox @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 09:19 AM) I do not disagree at all, I am certain their some of their AAA teammates would have killed for a chance to sit in the clubhouse. But if the roster had been set before leaving Chicago these guys probably would not have even been invited. Plus we really do not know how the offer was made. Was it "sorry you guys had to make the trip to Florida, but Oz didn't put you on the playoff roster. See you in Spring Training. BTW, we feel bad you made the trip so if you want to just kind of hang out and watch the games from the Clubhouse, you can. No biggie, it's up to you". Some are acting like they flew these guys to Florida knowing they would not be on the roster and the club asked them to stay and they refused. I can't remember a club talking about their AAA guys being invited to sit on the bench or hang out in the clubhouse before. So what message does it send? We don't really know, because we don't know how common it is to fly in your AAA guys to be a posse for the MLB team. I don't care how it was presented. This was a major mistake by each of these guys.

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 09:03 AM) I don't think anybody's saying the Sox should turn themselves into the 1982 Cardinals. We are and always will be a home run hittting team tailored to our park. But bunting is a FUNDAMENTAL, just like executing run downs is a FUNDAMENTAL. Regardless of how often you do them (and I think bunt situations occur more often in games than run downs), you improve your chances of winning if you're good at fundamentals, and hurt them if you're bad. The White Sox have been bad at both bunting and rundowns. Is anyone prepared to argue that the team shouldn't try to improve itself at rundowns? Why shouldn't we try to get better at both? It seems to me that a team can get better at a fundamental skill one of two ways; by helping the players you have aquire it, or acquiring players who already have it. The first approach isn't working, so I'd like us to get a least one speedy infielder via free agency who can execute a run down and bunt. I understand the whole Billy Beane "outs are precious and you don't give them up" argument. You still need to be able to lay down bunts to win close games. Again, the White Sox are bad at this and need to get better. They aren't getting better through practice, so they need to get better via free agency or trade. That's all I'm sayin'. Fundamantals need to addressed up and down the organization. Situational hitting, bunting, hitting the cutoff man, thinking ahead on defense. These are organizational weaknesses from top to bottom and I hoping that Buddy Bell changes things for the better.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Oct 9, 2008 -> 08:06 AM) After thinking about it some more, my comment that they already have a posse of 24, do they really need an even bigger posse, cuts both ways. It probably isn't that much more distracting having guys not on the team hanging around. Especially those that were on the team before getting cut. I still think it is over rated and believe they were only in Florida because the playoff roster wasn't set. If the roster had been set, they would have had the option in Chicago after the Twins game to fly to Florida or not and this would never have been reported. You can observe all you want but until you are actually there to play, it's all theory. Danks seemed to have managed pitching in the playoffs without spending time on the clubhouse couch watching, and Javy has seen it before and still sucks in big games. Maybe some believe now that he watched Beurhle, Javy is better prepared to play in playoff atmosphere, but I doubt it. And by Spring training it will all have been forgotten and each player will have to earn a roster spot based on talent and performance on the field. Still a dumb move on their part for not sticking around. But I don't think it was that big a deal. They were cut from the roster and went home. What these guys are showing by leaving is a lack of the concept of "Team". Or another way it can be interpretted is "f*** you guys, I'm going home." For a young player like Broadway to take a stance that can possibly be interpretted in either of these ways is a huge mistake. Logan probably doesn't have a future with the Sox, but as of that moment, the Sox were his best chance and what kind of message does that send to other organizations? MacDougal? Who gives a s***?

It takes a good throw, a catch and a tag. If any element is not not executed, it's a run. That was a good play on the Twins part with the game situation as it was. If I'm coaching 3rd, he's going.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Oct 1, 2008 -> 02:26 PM) Say what you will about the trash on that Twins team that commonly talks garbage (Morneau, Cuddyer, Punto), but Gardenhire is a class act and a guy any team would be lucky to have. Yep. Gardenhire is a pro and a classy one at that.

Well, I'm sorry I'm late to join the celebration here at Soxtalk but you guys will just have to excuse me. However, that was one of the most satisfying Sox victories I have ever experienced. After we went up to the that damned dome and laid that huge egg, and watching the Twins celebrate like they had actually won something and after squandering the opportunities the Royals gave us on Friday and Saturday, for the Sox to have the intestinal fortitude to overcome such long odds and actually win the thing, well, it was inspirational. Mark, Gavin and John really stepped up with some superior clutch performances. Unbelievable. I am very proud of the 2008 Central Division Champion Chicago White Sox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 30, 2008 -> 10:21 AM) Well you have at least one new friend request! 96 members so far! Excellent. You're lucky. Tails came up, so I accepted.

Very new to facebook, but I'm in.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Sep 30, 2008 -> 07:54 AM) Haha. Yeah. Or the fact that their team choked and gagged their way to September. And our team didn't?

QUOTE (Cubano @ Sep 30, 2008 -> 08:59 AM) I do not live in Chicago. Are the ChiSox in the north side or south side of Chicago? Thanks, South side

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 24, 2008 -> 01:03 AM) Orlando Cabrera can f*** off. He's part of the team. Where are he and Swish, Mr. Clubhouse Presences? f*** you OC. You lead!!!!! I totally agree with you. STFU to the press and step up and lead the team. OC's a good ballplayer, but his attitude is for s***.

One at a time, guys. Let's go get this one.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Sep 20, 2008 -> 05:56 AM) posting from my cell phone, inside my tent, happy to have a signal. mods please clean up title and post. superstitions are good. go Sox Your dedication is admirable.

Impressive list we going here.

My list: 1. Carlton Fisk 2. Mark Buehrle 3. Robin Ventura 4. Frank Thomas 5. Gary Peters 6. Luis Aparicio 7. Bill Melton 8. Dick Allen 9. A. J. 10 Joel Horlen 11 Harold Baines 12 Wilbur Wood 13 Ken Berry 14 Pete Ward 15 Joe Crede 16 Eddie Fisher 17 Jim Kaat 18 Minnie Minoso 19 Tom Paciorek 20 Paul Konerko 21 Bobby Jenks 22 Bobby Thigpen 23 Lance Johnson 24 Aaron Rowand 25 Jermaine Dye