Balta1701

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 30, 2010 -> 08:57 AM) Many of us had similar sentiments when we acquired Contreras, Floyd and Thornton. You'll note 1 thing...each and every one of the guys you named was acquired at basically a huge discount relative to their talent level.

QUOTE (Frank_Thomas35 @ Jul 30, 2010 -> 08:09 AM) This would also coincide with Mark Gonzalez reporting the phills had scouts at the last few games. I'd love me some werth. Werth isn't going anywhere now that Victorino is out.

At the game I was at, there was a group in LF that spent about an inning trying to start the wave. After about 9 failed attempts, I audibly yelled "Oh just watch the game!" at them, possibly including some profanity. 2 pitches later Dayan Viciedo hit his first career HR.

Here's the Castro/AJ issue worth pointing out, and I'm surprised no one has noted it yet. In most previous years with AJ and a RH backup catcher, Ozzie has treated it like a near platoon. Unless we face about 3 lefty starters in a row, AJ would sit against LH starting pitching. This year for some reason, Castro's been named Garcia's private catcher (thus ending any chance for Buehrle to throw another perfect game), and AJ has caught for everyone else. Now, we're no longer playing matchups, we're just going based on who's starting for the Sox. Now, it's possible that everyone else just hates throwing to Castro, which we haven't heard so far. But, without that, AJ has a .548 OPS against lefties and a .654 OPS against righties. Granted his numbers against righties still suck, but his numbers against lefties uber-suck, while Castro for his career, and especially this season, has feasted on lefties (.803 career OPS against lefties). Yeah, sometimes I get tired of Ozzie playing matchups all the time, but here, he's got a roster constructed to give him an advantage by using matchups, and he's not using it.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:32 PM) The sox will never DH Quentin full time. On paper it's the best however Ozzie and other players have talked about how crazy he is in the dugout between at bats when he DHs. Theoretically, it's great but it's not practical because you would see a drop in his numbers. His OPS this year when he plays RF: .818. When he DH's: .814. I think I could live with that 0.004 decrease in OPS.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 06:26 PM) Saw this earlier. They could also move Wade Davis for Dunn and put Hellickson into the rotation. That'd be a horrid move for the Rays.

QUOTE (Frankensteiner @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:59 PM) I get that the AL is a better hitting league but right now the net difference in run production is only +14 for the AL teams vs. NL teams. Once you get past maybe the top 10 guys, how many pitchers can realistically shut down the Yankees or Red Sox? Lots of pitchers can...on a given day. Anyway...it's not just about run production...it's about ballpark factor with Lilly and him being uniquely ill-suited for our ballpark. (or Yankee stadium for that matter).

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 06:08 PM) That is not guaranteed. If the Nats offer him arbitration and he accepts, which is possible considering it will be a 1 year contract for like 15-18 million dollars, then they get no draft picks and they have to pay Dunn bigtime. It is a big risk for Rizzo You're likely still overestimating the amount he'd get for that one year...and there is zero chance he'd accept.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:43 PM) Gose stole 76 bases last year with a .323 OBP and a ground ball% around 60%. Remind you of somebody on the White Sox? Hint, his initials are JP. Check his sb %age.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:28 PM) I need to clarify that i meant stuff wise. Obviously, those numbers are pretty telling. They give up HR's on about the same %age of their fly balls...so Lilly would be expected to give up 2.5 times the number of HR per season that Floyd gives up if you could drop all of the ballpark factors. That'd average out to 40-50 HR, pitching in the AL in the Cell. Lilly could lead the league in HR given up by a long shot just with his current numbers if you stuck him in the Cell.

QUOTE (Frankensteiner @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:27 PM) There is no need for a LH pinch hitter if Teahen is on the roster. Not that I think of Teahen as some uber LH pinch hitter. We don't keep guys for need/performance, we keep them because they're grinders.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:20 PM) Ted Lilly is pretty much what Gavin Floyd will be in another ten years. He's a curveball dominant pitcher who finishes low in the zone. It wouldn't be an awful move depending on the price. Groundballs/Flyballs: Gavin Floyd: 1.05 Ted Lilly: 0.41

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:19 PM) Even Ozzie knows that Berkman >>>>>>>> Kotsay. Plus, Berkman does everything Kotsay does, but better. Lance Berkman's actually pretty good over at 1B. Unless he takes Kotsay's roster spot, that'll cut down Kotsay's at bats but he'll still get plenty, somehow.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:19 PM) I haven't looked at AJs BABIP for this year vs. career, but aside from that, I don't think KW would let that stand in the way if he thought Berkman could be a significant difference maker and Flowers was the deal breaker Especially considering the disappointing year Flowers has had, I don't see a big rush to holding onto him at all costs, like I think we ought to do with Huddy.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:18 PM) Berkman has a no trade clause. Would he WANT to play here? He basically asked the 'Stros to trade him earlier this season.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:16 PM) In the end, I think the Astros did alright in the Oswalt deal. Wallace + Happ isn't half bad. Yeah, but tossing in $11 million to do it...uck.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:13 PM) His OPS+ this year is 117, Kotsay's is 74... with that simple number you would be getting a 43% better batter... it would be a world of difference. Assuming that Kotsay actually lost his at bats.

QUOTE (Knackattack @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:10 PM) Morel strikes me as a guy that is a very sure bet to be useful in the majors and I think a lot of organizations would value that. Even though he's still playing, the torn Labrum on Morel probably doesn't help either.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:06 PM) This is GOOD news. I'd prefer that Chicago winters become a little warmer. Actually that'll probably mean more snow.

QUOTE (Knackattack @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:08 PM) I really doubt Danks is going anywhere. Morel seems like the most viable piece to get moved, IMO. I really disagree on that...because it strikes me that Morel is one of those guys who isn't hugely valuable in a trade (because he doesn't have superstar upside) but could be really useful to us (by being a reliable average bat with a good glove and cheap).

QUOTE (Knackattack @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:05 PM) They just traded Oswalt for a pitcher with less upside than Hudson, I think we could get Berkman if we took on his salary and gave them a combination Morel/Holmberg/etc. I'd hate to give up Morel in a Berkman deal. Seriously.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:04 PM) Good for Uggla and the Marlins. Him and Ramirez easily make up the best offensive MI duo, don't they? You can make a case for others I'm sure. Utley and Rollins comes to mind, but they're both hurting (although better defensively). Gimme a year and maybe we can talk Ramirez and Beckham?

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 05:00 PM) too much depends on the weather to make a guess, but those 7 games against NYY and Red Sox are going to help a ton. How many against Minny left? 6 home games against Minny left.

Ian Kinsler to the DL.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 04:57 PM) That's a bummer. Outside of striking a little bit more than you would like to see, Dan Uggla is a really good ball player, and I thought for sure the Marlins were looking to get rid of his salary. Between trying to get a new ballpark and the fact that everyone knows they rake in a ton from revenue sharing anyway, they're talking to him about an extension at this point.