Balta1701

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 11:09 PM) Exactly. This team will always have scoring challenges because they think of nothing but swing for the fences unless you are Jaun Pierre. The roster has changed but you still see the same lame hitting like last year and Thome was part of that. This team has scoring challenges because they're 8th in the league in OBP. They're 6th in the league in slugging, 7th in the league in batting average, and 3rd in the AL in batting with runners on base. We are hitting fine with runners on base. #3 in the league with runners on base. BUT...we are #13 in the AL in at bats with runners on base. We're getting fewer runners on base than Seattle. When we get runners on base, the offense has been very effective. We are abjectly awful with no one on base.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 11:07 PM) He's done that about 5 times over the last three weeks. It just seems like he has no plan at the plate, and giving up at bats more than usual. He's been giving up atbats all season. Doesn't mean I want him replaced with Flowers next year. Or Martinez.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:58 PM) With Edwin Jackson now in the projected payroll, where's that money for Martinez going to come from? That's already assuming AJ, Jenks and Konerko are gone, yes? We were most worried about salary cuts prior to the winning streak, which honestly gave us a decent attendance surge. We also still don't know if there's any sort of insurance on the Peavy deal.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:48 PM) You'd have to bring in Castro and AJ on one-year deals, telling them the team is basically in a holding pattern for one more year and waiting to see who emerges from that 3 headed group to be the starter in 2012. If you can pull that off for $2-$3 million...it's just about the right decision. Flowers just has struggled too much trying to fix his swing holes this year. He needs AFL time and serious offseason work, and probably at least several months tryout in AAA next year.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:46 PM) You act as Thome never had hitting slumps. If you are not a member of this Jim Thome fan club there's a lot of logic on why he's not here. I don't even want to bother. If you've watched this team this year and haven't seen the gaping hole in left side offensive production, and at the same time you've watched the Twins and seen how ridiculously effective he's been as a part time DH...then you've been closing your eyes during too many games. Of course, if you closed your eyes during every Sox offensive appearance the last few weeks, you'd be in a better mood than many of us.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 05:47 PM) Oh I know...but even if they win 40 games in a row you will not see me give credit to Buck Showalter. There is something about him that prohibits me from accepting that he could possibly be a positive influence on a ballclub. I'm sure he's a positive influence in the long run...but right now, just getting a new voice in the locker room probably helps wake people up. Plus, hitting a team like the Sox who forgot how to hit doesn't hurt.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 04:55 PM) Phegley really has a nice offensive upside. The key question is will he be able to go get past his lifetime illness. I certainly hope so. Even if he does...this has probably set him back by at least a full season if not more. Considering we need a catcher next year...that's troublesome.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:39 PM) For catchers, isn't Victor Martinez a FA after the year? Or how about possibly try to re-acquire Miguel? I hesitate to try to bring in a major FA this offseason with as many holes on the offense to fill as we have...unless we're talking about a $105-$110 million total salary.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:39 PM) When did we trade away Garland? Prior to 2008, we dealt him straight up for Orlando Cabrera. We saved a million or two on the deal and got an extra draft pick out of it, in addition to winning the division and clearing a spot for G!

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:37 PM) And Ozzie puts in a defensive replacement in RF where everybody insists Carlos sucks and gets ripped for it. I repeat ... you can second guess the manager in any win, much less any loss. We led 2-1 in the ninth and lost the game. Guess who deserves the blame? First and foremost the closer. Then yes, I agree IF we hit better earlier, etc., we coulda also won, so he's not the ONLY goat. But just as some blame my favorite White Sox for losses, one could blame tonight's closer for the loss in Baltimore and tonight' implosion. Oh and it's shortsighted to blame tonight's beloved closer and not shortsighted to blame the fatter closer when he sucked. ...Right, that makes sense. Putting in Jones into RF was 100% the right decision and ripping him for that was crazy.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:37 PM) I have no faith in Ozzie to actually use a platoon correctly. I agree with you about Flowers, and have little doubt he'll be traded this offseason. I'd seriously be surprised if anyone would want Flowers for anything of use.

QUOTE (knightni @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:36 PM) Wasn't Garland a free agent? Garland was traded straight up for Orlando Cabrera. Cabrera's bat was key in winning the division in 2008 and Garland struggled in Anaheim to the point that he didn't make their playoff rotation. We got an extra pick for Cabrera as well.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:25 PM) So who would you rather have as the starter in 2011, AJ, Castro or Flowers? I'd go with a legitimate AJ and Castro platoon. But I seriously mean "Platoon". Rather than the AJ plays against everyone except when Garcia starts. Especially if we no longer have Garcia. Flowers flat out hasn't proved anything this year except that he's not ready.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:26 PM) with all due respect Balta, we led 2-1 in the ninth at home and couldn't close it out. The DH thing or no DH thing, we blew this game because of our relief pitching. I won't say his name lest somebody think I'm blasting him and wanting my favorite reliever back. If we're up 4-1, or if the Twins lose a few of those games, or whatever...then it's a ton easier on either closer. Feel free to blast Putz, he deserves it. Seems like whoever we put in that role now sucks just as much as the previous guy.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:25 PM) Not resigning Jim Thome /thread. Really...there's a division championship riding on this mistake. I'll go to my grave saying we lost in 06 because of how often Mackowiak played CF, and I think I'll do the same thing saying that we'd have beat the Twins if we'd kept Thome...even if we lose by 6 games, the only reason they have momentum and we don't is that they've been able to cover for Morneau.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:21 PM) The point is kind of weak and actually it's entirely moot to be honest. Who the f*** would care if someone was building a Christian center there? There would be no controversy and nothing to talk about. If someone wanted to build a Christian center in Mecca or Jerusalem, I'd support it wholeheartedly and I'd hope everyone else would as well. The locals in Mecca, for example, would not. Which is exactly why this country is right.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:25 PM) Just read the thread. Best post in the thread. Where's the outrage about Putz? He gave up the bomb vs. the Orioles and tonight's implosion. Does this count?

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:21 PM) We've never seen this happen...ugh Really...right now is when the stupid, stupid Thome decision is hurting. You could say that we weren't getting the pitching or defense the first 2 months and screwing with the DH was OK, Kotsay and Jones weren't even bad then, so it all kinda worked...now, we really, really need that bat, and we really needed the Twins to be unable to fill in for Morneau, and we've got neither of those.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Aug 13, 2010 -> 01:24 PM) Seeing Linebrink mentioned here made me think. Is his contract one of the worst ever given to a reliever? Bobby Jenks 1 year, $7.5 million. JJ Putz 1 year, $ 3 million. I don't really believe that but I'm pissed and I've been drinking.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:20 PM) But is it possible to turn over one of the best pitching staffs in baseball to Tyler Flowers? I don't know. If they could get Castro into better shape, it might be better to bring him back as the starter, but how long until he broke down catching full-time? If you traded Flowers and Castro was hurt, then you're left with who exactly? You can't go 3 deep at every position, especially at catcher with a rookie. You'd have to bring in a backup plan.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:18 PM) What kind of bulls*** post is this The kind of taunting JJ deserves after tonight. I thought he'd be the money guy, and he's been crap too.

QUOTE (Paint it Black @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 09:55 PM) So how do you Putz apologists want to explain the latest meltdown? This f***ing sucks. WHY IS CLOSING GAMES SO HARD FOR THIS TEAM!!! The Twins pull out anyone and everyone and make them a closer and they work. We spend $10 million this season to bring in 2 closers, one to cover for the other, and we can't finish anything off after the AS break.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:15 PM) KW is in a heckuva pickle with the decisions on AJ and Konerko this offseason. It will be interesting to see if AJ would be willing to sign a one-year deal. After the debacle of a season he's had...I seriously doubt anyone would offer AJ anything more than a 1 year deal. Even the Royals aren't that dumb. If someone offers him a 2 year deal they're offering him the 2nd year for like a million or so.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Aug 14, 2010 -> 10:13 PM) trying win pitching duels with teams because we have a terrible offense in a homer haven park. And Hell...we're getting the pitching to do it too.

The Sox aren't trading Danks because of a guy with 1 year on his contract. But he's been damn good. I could make excuses about the quality of teams he's faced, but it's not even worth trying...if you're not pitching well, then even bad hitting teams will get to you after a few games.