Princess Dye

Encouraging defensive plays all over the place tonight. Floyd and Wise putouts, Getz and Konerko picking it

Choo goes in determined not to let Gavin keep picking away, yet he still gets outworked. 1 out

Hopefully Alexei stays with the low laserbeam throws to first. just like that one. Guillen I dont get b/c he embarasses him publicly but then indicates there's no chance of him being moved away from SS. Or at least for sure not to CF. I dont get it.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 29, 2009 -> 06:51 PM) 29 pitches through 3 for G. Hopefully our offense can go for the throat while CLE looks unenthused here early

This is absolutely Catch-All worthy (if that)...but who would catch if an emergency called in the need for a 3rd catcher? Was thinking about this when Castro was pinch hit for recently

yaha - Richard woulda put that throw to first in Akron

Slayer slays. 2-0. Gordon however is not fast

Cool. rib opportunity for GB

The thing with Pods is he has gotten this batting average up without necessarily looking any better at the plate... or getting better consistent contact Hawk seems really laidback tonight

I was totally unaware Sizemore was having this kind of year. Whoa. Hafner apparently is on his way back to being a monster movie protagonist at the plate however. Ground Ball Gavin, 1-2-3

We need Beckham in 2hole, Alexei 7th Also ha, suddenly our team is a stone cold killar

The MIP gets on.

The Cubs would have use for Pods. The deal was even rumored back when Pods was real bad a few yrs ago. Also I really do think Thome would go play for a bigtime contender for a few months. Granted he's near family here, but the second half of the year living away completely would be comparable to the time he'd be away from Illinois staying as a Sox on roadtrips anyway. I might not say this if not Thome's own history in World Series close calls and his comments about how frustrating that has been.

On pace to add about 20 onto his total # from last year. Can we hypothesize that he's made this a goal coming into the year, and that perhaps some of his poor start can be explained by the unfamiliarity he's had with these changes?

QUOTE (Frankensteiner @ Jun 29, 2009 -> 01:44 PM) The thing is, I don't see any "great longterm FA acquisitions in 2010." Free agency is really weak this year. Jason Bay and Matt Holliday are the two best players. I can't imagine Boston letting Bay go, and it's doubtful the Sox would deal with Holliday and Boras. Figgins and Orlando Hudson are the other possibilities but I wouldn't really classify these guys as anything more than good players. As sad is it sounds, our best bet might be to try to stick it out with our old codgers on short-term deals and wait until 2011. of course in 2011 more frees up with Konerko and AJP coming off

I hate to say this, but I think we're setting up for a situation just like the White Flag year. Except this year we probably wont make a deal. But Pods has come here and made us JUST good enough to contemplate not selling pieces. And I do enjoy watching this team. But he has come here and gotten us how many wins of our last 20? Eleven i believe. And that's just good enough to look decent in the standings, but we have to look at the current farm system and take any opportunities to make it go from good to outstanding. Reason being, a lot of money is about to free up. We could have one of those rare perfect storms where we have an excellent farm system plus great longterm FA acquisitions in 2010. And yet on the other side, we can stay content with our 33 yr old leadoff hitter with history of injury. And we can enjoy our aging DH who has started to experience a dip in average (which usually leaguewide leads to a later downturn in OBP when yr at his age)

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Jun 29, 2009 -> 01:14 PM) No. You don't trade a guy who's inexpensive & putting up numbers. Unless you're gonna get a really good package, you don't let that go. Thats the whole thing though. Cheap teams could see .319/.370 and get really intrigued. Perhaps could offer someone that helps for 9 more yrs as opposed to 9 more months We go round n round. Heck even Cincinnati. Humorously enough to replace Taveras, who many here wanted.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jun 29, 2009 -> 12:38 PM) He has returned to his norm and that is being a good lead off hitter with good speed. Why are we talking about trading our good players again. We are contenders. I would argue Pods' norm is well below what we're seeing now. If anything Pods' norm has been getting injured. I definitely hope it continues, but at the same time anyone who's willing to overpay with prospects - you would have to listen. The one argument for keeping Pods at all costs...isnt so much based on how skilled he is, but how much of a dearth of leadoff hitters there is.

What I would hate to see happen is Pods be depended on for next year. Then things fall apart, and perhaps we are once again in the familiar spot of having a productive team w/ no leadoff hitter. If they want to cover leadoff and bring back Pods anyway, then great. I suppose if there's a leadoff hitter brought in perhaps at 2b......it's possible they could have Pods replace Dye and then have Brandon Allen waiting in the wings if it doesnt work out. Again all that comes down to whether or not he even has trade value right now. I would think yes, especially if a team is not super familiar with his CF fielding. (defensive pct notwithstanding)

Yea, I mean with all the stats we throw around here, we have to (sadly) be very open to the possibility that this player will return to his norm. and on top of that be ready for decrease in physical abilities as aging furthers.

What contending team lacks a leadoff hitter that would be willing to give up a corner OF spot for Pods? Do any contending teams lack a DH? We may not be able to move people anyway. I'm looking forward to watching a full year of baseball. Maybe just move Dotel for a prospect.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jun 19, 2009 -> 09:25 PM) Never fear, Brandon Allen will soon be here. But you said for the bench, and there's no way he can be brought here just to PH

do you think he wishes he signed a Gavin type deal when it was offered? Would the sox still offer?

If yer depending on Ramon Castro oodles and oodles something is wrong. But that situation aside, the roster is just very flawed. Even on a day where the aging guys came through, it's still a pretty horrid bunch of supporting cast guys here.

Team's bad