BigEdWalsh

KONERKO!!!

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 27, 2013 -> 09:17 AM) Unless they signed him to a cheap extension (which I doubt), I assume he's going to retire at this press conference. If this is the case which I assume it is, it makes me genuinely sad. Sadder still that I can't be there to see his last game. Ahhhh, the memories though.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 26, 2013 -> 08:42 PM) WE DID IT! Congrats on getting the 3rd pick White Sox.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Sep 26, 2013 -> 03:06 PM) Merry Clinchmas! Sure. I'm looking out my window and I see snow in the mountains. Feels like Clinchmas to me.

DeAza

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 26, 2013 -> 01:14 PM) I can't believe I forgot Juan Uribe, who somehow I loved and hated at the same time. That's the problem with Uribe for me too. It was love/hate. Valentin was kinda like that for me too.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Sep 26, 2013 -> 01:17 PM) I'm blinded by his stat line: .253/.283/.317, 59 wRC+, -4.9 defensive runs, -3.7 UBR, -1.6 fWAR. I mean, holy s***. BAD to be sure but all the same a guy who in two and a half months time hits .300 is doing SOMETHING right, therefore not deserving of an F. He had an absolutely horrendous start and I think his overall stats which you quoted are a wee bit clouded. Still, I agree he was bad. At the seasons start I hoped for a B or C type season from him not a D or an F.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Sep 26, 2013 -> 08:51 AM) Where do I begin? "Over-use pitchers" Ok first, in whose opinion has Ventura overused his staff? Yours? You know more than Ventura and Cooper about what a Major League pitcher can and can't do? The only person that was overused in my opinion was Crain and Ventura was forced into that by the fact that the rest of the bullpen was hot garbage and we were still somewhat in it at that point. "Never sit Alexei (he still won't in September garbage time)" If Alexei is the best option and is physically able to play everyday, why not play him? He has, in fact, sat out two games in September. Not a lot but some. Ventura has rotated the young players around enough to give them all plenty of playing time. I have no problem with the way Ventura handled this. "Intentionally walk Chris Getz" If you honestly have a problem with this, then I really question your baseball knowledge. The game where Getz was intentionally walked was a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the 10th with 2 outs, a runner on second, Omogrosso pitching and Kotarras on deck. In this situation, Getz's run meant absolutely nothing. Getz has a better chance of beating you than Kotarras and I'm wouldn't be surprised if Omogrosso was given the option of who to pitch to. This was the right call in this situation. "Intentionally walk the batter to clog the bases" This is usually done to set up a double play. If you have a problem with Ventura doing this, then you must have a problem with every manager that has ever managed because they ALL do it. "2 runners on down 2 in the 9th" If these runners are at first and second with no outs, this is the right play (depending on whose batting). I would have a hard time believing this happened this year other than if there were 2 on nobody out. You would have to provide some sort of evidence for me to believe it and I bet you can't. All in all, Ventura is not a great manager but is nowhere near as bad as some make him out to be. As pathetic as the team played this year, it did not matter who was manager. Excellent post. Though I'm not so sure about your last sentence; I would say a really good manager probably wouldn't have made too much of a difference.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Sep 26, 2013 -> 12:46 PM) I'm gonna bust out some elaborate grades to help me kill some time. Gonna give every starter a numeric grade by month, F-1, D-2, C-3, B-4, A-5, then average them out to get my grade. Dayan- D- (2.67, made him a minus for his D) Beckham- D+ (2.8, people forget that he was a .300 hitter the first 3 months) De Aza- D (2.8, see Tank grade) Dunn- C- (3.1) Flowers- F (1.1) Garcia- 8 (4.5) Gillaspie D- (2) Kepp- D (2.3 He actually had 3 "good" months) Konerko- F (1.5) Phegley- F (1.3) Ramirez- C (3) Axelrod- F (1.5) Danks- D (1.6, upped his grade because he's coming off an injury) Quintana- C+ (3.8, a "bad" June kept him from a B) Sale- B+ (4.8...pretty much impossible to get an A in this scale) Santiago- C (3.5) Rienzo- C- (2, didn't count his start in July so I'll up him a grade for that, and the fact that he's a rookie) Jones- D (2.5) Reed- C (3.1) I like how you came up with the grades and as far as Keppinger goes, that's exactly what I was talking about. Because of those months where he hit .300 or better, he does not deserve an F. I think too many here on Soxtalk are blinded by their hatred for him.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Sep 26, 2013 -> 09:16 AM) I would have to add the names of Smoky Burgess Joe Crede Jorge Orta Brett Lillibridge Herbert (The Milkman delivers) Perry There are so many Can't believe I forgot Lilli on my list!

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Sep 25, 2013 -> 07:34 PM) Coaching staff house cleaning should happen on those 19 games alone. De Aza K rate is beyond s***ty for a leadoff man. Agreed on both counts. Both horrendous!

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Sep 25, 2013 -> 06:18 PM) Without looking it up, Keppinger has about 15 xbh's in about 600 PA's. He makes up for it with awful defense. If that's not an F, I don't know what an F is. Probably more like 450 PA's. Yeah, most expected a lot better from him(I know I did) but an F is pretty harsh for someone who for a few pretty good stretches was the Sox' most consistent hitter. He had a couple of months where he hit over .300 and had a decent OBP too. I gave him a D.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 25, 2013 -> 04:09 PM) Since it seems unlikely anything could happen this week that would significantly change these grades, here it is: C. Sale-A J. Crain-A J. Quintana- A- H. Santiago- B+ J. Peavy- B M. Lindstrom- B A. Garcia- B A. Rios- B A. Reed- B- M. Thornton- B- A. Ramirez- B- N. Jones- C+ C. Gillaspie- C+ A. De Aza- C+ D. Viciedo- C G. Beckham- C A. Rienzo- C A. Dunn- C D. Veal- C- J. Keppinger- D J. Phegley- D T. Flowers- D P. Konerko- D D. Axelrod- D R. Ventura- D D. Cooper- B- J. Manto- D I would change Quintana to a B+. Santiago B Lindstrom B- Nate Jones C- Veal D Phegley C- Konerko C- Otherwise, pretty good.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Sep 25, 2013 -> 04:07 PM) Was/Is One Dawg considered a star? I'd put him on the board. I wouldn't put him in the star category. Likewise with Carlos May, kinda borderline and an old favorite of mine.

I predict a perfect game for Axe.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Sep 25, 2013 -> 02:58 PM) I always liked Scott Fletcher and Jose Valentin. Ron Hansen and Pete Ward too I remember some years ago I worked with a guy around my age who grew up within blocks of Comiskey Park and used to play fast pitch against the outside wall of the ballpark. He said Pete Ward would often talk to the kids and even play with them (please don't think anything perverted). He was a real nice guy. Good call on whoever mentioned Salome Barojas and Kelly Wunsch, two I forgot to mention.

QUOTE (Tex @ Sep 25, 2013 -> 02:04 PM) He was a huge help during game 2 in 2005! I remember feeling pretty bad for him though, like "Why him?!".

I got a zillion of 'em. Going to the Way-Back Machine: J. C. Martin, Jim Landis, Joe Cunningham, Juan Pizarro, Al Weis, Charlie "Paw Paw" Maxwell, Dave Nicholson (my favorite as a kid), Moose Skowron, Smokey Burgess, Gene Freese, Danny Cater, Walt "No Neck" Williams, Rich McKinney, Bart Johnson, Goose Gossage (hadn't becone a star yet), Pat Kelly, Jorge Orta, Wayne Nordhagen, Lamar Johnson, Jim Essian, Ron Kittle, Julio Cruz, Tom Paciorek, Ivan Calderon, Warren Newson, Ron Karkovice, Herbert "The Milkman" Perry, Jose Valentin, Tony Graffanino, Aaron Rowand, Shingo Takatsu and Scott Podsednik. I'm sure I failed to mention a lot more.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Sep 23, 2013 -> 12:20 PM) Went to see the Eagles Friday. Great show, started with the slower stuff and then at the end they kind of let Joe Walsh take over. First hour was songs and stories. Very cool Metallica was on Howard Stern this morning, very good interview I saw the Eagles (and Yes) at the Arie Crown Theater about....41 years ago. Holy sh*t, I'm old.

Ooooooh NOOOOOO!! The season's done for.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 22, 2013 -> 10:43 PM) Finally, I'll be at the United Center this year to watch Duke play Kansas in men's college basketball and Kentucky play Michigan State. I have to drive a car to the United Center and not take public transportation. Do you think a.) I'll be mugged or b.) my car will be damaged/stolen? I have to stay a while after the game waiting for a friend who works at the UC. Will I be mugged going back to my vehicle? Thank u for all the answers. A. Yes. You will be mugged, going back to your car which won't be there anyway because..... B. Sadly, your call will be stolen too. C. You might be raped too. D. Better you stay in Kansas.

Dunn, he's had a nice rest.

Well, reading that beats the hell outta watching the White Sox, I guess.

Semien