heirdog

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 01:45 PM) No, we don't know for sure yet. But what we do know pretty well is he looked bad in ST, and he looked bad in game 1, and he looked bad last year. The fact is, I think we have to consider him "on notice". Don't cut him yet. Don't replace him yet. But if he's hitting sub .200 in his role come late May/early June, then that position has to be changed. Last year, we put ourselves in a position early in the season where AJ was basically starting every game because Gustavo Molina was our backup and he couldn't do anything. It didn't matter last year because the team sucked. But if we're looking at having a shot at this division, we don't want ourselves to be in a position where our 2 options are a guy who can't hit or playing our catcher every day and wearing him down to the point he'll break down come September/October. Toby's got to earn his playing time. Agreed.

QUOTE(daa84 @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 01:03 PM) Hahahahaha. I think I first saw this picture in the Guiness Book in 1982. I was around 7 or 8 years old and just getting into little league baseball. "Why is little Eddy so intently looking at the pitcher when the ball has already hit the catcher's mitt?" I thought to myself. "Did he not see the ball coming since it appears it was a foot over his head." Then, in later years, I got smart and realized this was actually a set up photo by Xavier Roberts. He had taken one of his Cabbage Patch Kids and doctored this photo to show that Cabbage Patch Kids have been around since the early 1900s.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 01:31 PM) In 06, we were angry enough about our backup catcher to make a trade to try to fill that position in June. Hall will, as you say, likely play 40-45 games. If his shoulder is so bad that he provides very little on defense, and also provides very little on offense, then that creates a lot of problems for this team. In the other thread, people gave the ol' shoulder shrug to Uribe, saying that if Uribe continued to struggle but played good defense, he'd be tolerable if other people kept hitting. Well, you can say the same thing about Hall. But the problem is...you can only say that same thing so often, eventually you start needing someone to hit or field or do something. If Hall's shoulder is so bad that he's ineffective with both the bat and with the throw to 2nd, then we have to look at replacing him. Do we really know that Toby Hall is ineffective? Are you saying that his shoulder is affecting his offense and defense so far...in the one game that he has played this season? Yes, it definitely affected him at the end of last season (based off his career up to that point) but I don't know that you can say he is hurt this year. Again, I wouldn't fault the organization if they had cut him because they felt his shoulder wasn't okay but at this point, going on Toby's word, I like the idea of having a decent right-handed hitting catcher that hits lefties fairly well backing up AJ.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Apr 6, 2008 -> 11:45 PM) I never said it would be a good idea. I was just adding to the thread by giving a possible justification for such a move. You need to calm down when replying, this fiery bulls*** is just going to lead to me ignoring your posts. Oh oh, you gone and done pissed off the Kalapse. I wouldn't make Kalapse angry, you wouldn't like him when he's angry. [note the green is Kalapse turning into the Hulk and not sarcasm]

QUOTE(Soxpranos @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 01:03 PM) Hall has to go, he brings nothing to this team Not sure we can really deduce anything about Hall from the time we have seen him in a Whitesox uniform. He has played 1 game so far this year and even without a hit from him, we won the game with decent pitching and more importantly rested AJ. Hall is a back-up catcher that may in all likelihood play a max of 40-45 games this year (barring an injury to AJ). He was hurt in ST last year and is now just recovering. He has hit left handed pitching fairly well in his career and is not a liability defensively. If AJ is tearing the cover off the ball as he has been, no need to play Hall against lefties, other than the occasional rest for AJ. I agree with Ozzie that he has to be able to count on Toby to be ready and not injured throughout the season and only he and the the team know best on that front. If he is healthy and he can spell AJ from time to time, great. But I'm not ready to write him off because he was hurt last year and didn't get a hit in his 1 game. Its not like he's blocking Joe Mauer in our minors or something...

Some people need consistent ABs and some people need a dose of reality. I think Brian Anderson needs both but perhaps, Ozzie feels that he needs a reality check more. Brian admits he wasn't always a hard worker and that his attitude needed improvement. What better way to hone that skill than by making him see how much fun it is in the big leagues. Right now, his hard work has allowed him a chance to be on the ball club as a bench player. He needs to continue to show an improved attitude as he gets sporadic PT and bring in some results. Winning is most important and if we are 16-7 and Brian has had 10 ABs and is complaining, then get him out of here. If he continues to help out with late inning defense, an occasional pinch hitting or pinch running role, then great. Let's see that improved attitude and then maybe you get some time.

Through 6 games (TIFWIW), I prefer a motivated Uribe's defense at SS over Cabrera due to arm strength. We didn't know if we would get a motivated Uribe so I don't mind the Cabrera trade. I like the overall presence of Cabrera on the team...I'm just not as impressed with his D as I thought I would be (again, only 6 games).

QUOTE(YASNY @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 12:47 PM) That's smart. Then what? Sorry...it was a joke...should have been in green.

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 12:22 PM) They were also mentioning that during the game yesterday. Uribe may have the best arm of all 2B. With the line-up we currently have, I don't mind having Uribe in the 9th spot swining away as he does. He'll hit is .250 and when he connects, it will go far. I like his defense at 2B. Its good to have depth and that is what Fields, Richar, BA/Owens, Ramirez provide this current line-up. If someone gets hurt, they can come up and fill in or in the case of the guys on the current bench, give guys a day off. I still can't wait to see Ozuna in there mixing things up every once in awhile. I really think Alexei needs to go down to AAA and get consistent ABs as a SS and see if he can be the guy there next year or in the future. Let him and Richar work there together and develop some chemistry. He is fun to watch but a little seasoning wouldn't hurt.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Apr 5, 2008 -> 06:54 PM) Hall looked terrible today too. Time to end the Hall experiment. Play AJ until he can't get out of his crouch.

QUOTE(rangercal @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 12:31 PM) 3.) Uribe/Cabrera-Last night-5 double plays White Sox 5 double plays...Uribe and Konerko 5 double plays, Cabrera 3 double plays, Crede 2 double plays Three 6-4-3s Two 5-4-3s

Quentin and Linebrink. Quentin looked terrific at the plate and in the field (save that muffed catch in the 9th). Linebrink has made the 8th inning a non-issue, which is great!

Linebrink looks awesome!

Seriously, with the way Quentin is swinging the bat, I don't think we're gonna see Anderson any time soon. Why not give him the 9th inning CF job and shift Quentin and Swisher?

He's setting up the forceout at 3rd

Here comes DPO...double play ordonez

how many down?

Who was that hayseed from Detroit a couple years ago that started off batting like .700 with 10 dingers (Chris something I think)...is that Charles Thomas this year?

QUOTE(striker62704 @ Apr 4, 2008 -> 02:15 PM) Hey Contreras, now I know why your wife dumped you, she went to find a real man. Low blow dude.

QUOTE(WilliamTell @ Apr 4, 2008 -> 02:12 PM) he was a quarterback. I love it how when Crede does something awesome, the Crede lovers come out, when Crede doesn't something bad, the Fields lovers/Crede Haters come out. Um, that was tongue-in-cheek as I was replying to the guy that said "For all you Crede haters, Fields wouldn't have made that play look so easy." I find it funny that people think there has to be an East Coast- West Coast, Joe Crede- Josh Fields deal on every play that happens to Crede so I was only ridiculing the point by saying what Josh would have done.

QUOTE(sox-r-us @ Apr 4, 2008 -> 02:10 PM) Those who knock Crede all the time....I doubt Fields makes that play look that easy Fields would have more mustard on his throw to first

vs. the Woods on ESPN Sunday night

Tomorrow's starter for Detroit is Robertson so I expect that Anderson will be in CF batting 8th or 9th with Swisher in LF. If not, then Ozzie really has it out for BA. I hope he does well so he can stay in there against Dontrelle on Saturday as well. Ozuna will need to play some too. I think Alexei is ticketed for the minors when JO returns because it would be sad to see him up against Verlander (if the first couple at-bats against Sabathia is any indication).

Brandon McCarthy for netting us Danks and Masset Josh Fields for being young with minor league options allowing us to force in Crede Brett Tomko for shipping AJP out of San Fran But seriously, Masset and Danks were lights out!

I want Uribe's defense in the 9th more than I want the ball maybe...possibly...put in play for an insurance run.