RME JICO

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 13, 2009 -> 06:01 PM) Ironically, if he picked up a couple of pieces before the trip he could theoretically make that trip more successful. I don't buy that report. If there is a deal that can help the Sox win and they can afford it, KW will make it sooner rather than later. At worst, its one less thing he'll have to try to acquire in the off season. I don't think it is necessarily true when you talk about timing (sooner or later) when you are the buyer. You buy when available, not really when you want to. Sellers also get a little desperate near the deadline, which is also when most teams finally commit to becoming sellers. That may be the best time to make a deal (2 months left and more players available).

Buy Mode, but we will have to wait until the end of the month. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Arjc...ype=team_report

Teahen has a 18.7 VORP, which would be second-best on the Sox behind JD (28.3). That would be a huge upgrade. He can play 3B, 2B, 1B, LF, and RF. He could give JD, PK, and Thome some much needed days off down the stretch.

Each division looks like it is going to come down to the wire. CHI, DET, and MIN in the central, BOS, TB, and NYY in the east, and LAA, TEX, and SEA in the west. I like our chances with how good our pitching has been.

What is their record in Chicago over that same period? I bet it is really close because I thought we were something like 69-69 vs Minnesota since 2002.

This tracker is pretty accurate: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/features/cy It is hilarious to see Aardsma there though.

Since 1999, players that either have or will have 300 2Bs, 300 HRs, and 1,000 RBIs by the end of the year. Paulie and JD are in pretty good company. A. Rodriquez 299 2B, 461 HR, 1298 RBI M. Ramirez 347 2B, 380 HR, 1232 RBI C. Delgado 365 2B, 368 HR, 1179 RBI A. Pujols 362 2B, 350 HR, 1059 RBI V. Guerrero 353 2B, 346 HR, 1139 RBI A. Jones 291 2B, 328 HR, 988 RBI C. Jones 338 2B, 309 HR, 1000 RBI P. Konerko 293 2B, 307 HR, 985 RBI L. Berkman 344 2B, 305 HR, 1010 RBI J. Dye 322 2B, 294 HR, 960 RBI C. Lee 353 2B, 293 HR, 1048 RBI T. Helton 455 2B, 289 HR, 1063 RBI D. Ortiz 340 2B, 288 HR, 955 RBI (sorted by HRs)

I also love the fact that JD is a consummate pro and great in the clubhouse. Bradley is a cancer and you don't hear too much about Soriano.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 09:52 AM) If they didn't, it's King Felix. For June: Felix 3-0, 0.94 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 2.92 K/BB Gavin 3-0, 1.28 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 2.73 K/BB

Mark is now 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA in his last 5. Also, here is an interesting note about a change he made to his sinker grip that he did last night: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap;_ylt=AtX...B?gid=290702107

If our pitching stays the way it is, we will win the Division. I like our rotation over Detroit's.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jul 2, 2009 -> 06:50 AM) Does such a player even exist? If he does, he'd be impossible to get. Do you realize how high a bar you just set? Not LH, but Matt Holliday?

QUOTE (JohnCangelosi @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 06:49 PM) I am NOT complaining! However, when we see something good, like we all knew in ST, why put it back into AA?? Pointless. I don't want us to be making the same mistakes, that's all. I think KW has this team very well situated for a second half run.... Who knew? He batted .270 in 37 ABs. Fields hit .391 in 69 ABs and was looking good. Getz batted .333 and Ramirez batted .319. They weren't going to stick him on the bench, so the minors allowed him to get his feet wet. Also, if Fields didn't falter, there would've been less pressure to bring him up, so you should be happy that he is here and producing. I know I am.

Thome Walks - 49 Next two Sox combined - 49 (Fields - 23) Thome HRs - 13 Fields HRs - 6

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 02:30 PM) Yes, after being a huge disappointment for THREE years, he waited until we were backed into the corner and signed another goaltender before looking like the Khabibulin of old. There were more bad times than good with Khabibulin, and his being gone isn't that huge a deal. Huet needs to step it up. QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 02:31 PM) Khabby had a good season last year, but overall he did not do the job that he was brought here to do. He wasn't a workhorse and he didn't play consistently well (albeit on bad teams) for the better part of his 4 years. I was talking more about the nickname. Huet has the skills, and I think he can really flourish if given regular playing time. That save he made against Franzen in the Detroit series was just silly.

I will miss The Bulin Wall.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 01:47 PM) You left a few out there... 90 point seasons - Hossa - 2, Havlat - 0 100 point seasons - Hossa - 1, Havlat - 0 40 goal seasons - Hossa - 2, Havlat - 0 LOL, that's funny because I lowered the numbers so Havlat would have something.

If Hossa is a direct replacement for Havlat, we are doing pretty good: 30 Goal Seasons - Hossa - 7, Havlat - 1 70 Point Seasons - Hossa - 6, Havlat - 1 80 Game Seasons - Hossa - 6, Havlat - 1

I like the flexibility right now. You have Fields, Beckham, Getz, Nix, and Ramirez that are all interchangeable to a certain degree. Each one gives you something a little different. It has actually worked out pretty nice in interleague play.

Also saw this:

I could see the Sox picking up someone like D. Cabrera as a reclamation project.

If Poreda and Richard pan out as decent starters, do we even need to pick up another starter? Also, does it really matter if that pickup would be a RHP? Many teams have 4 RHP and 1 LHP or even 5 RHP, so would it matter if we had 4 LHP and 1 RHP?

One of the problems I see with the Sox is the younger guys have not stepped up as expected/anticipated. The top players on the team (OPS) are Thome, Dye, Konerko, AJ, and Pods with Quentin being injured. Players like Ramirez, Anderson, Getz, and Fields have somewhat under-performed. Most of the guys that they replaced are doing better elsewhere (besides Cabrera). If you look at pitching, it's basically the same thing. Thornton, Linebrink, Dotel, and Carrasco have outpitched most of the young guys out of the bullpen. So this puts the Sox in a really delicate position. If you sell some of the only guys that are producing, and the younger guys don't step up, you are worse off than you were to begin with. With that, I think the Sox are in the buyer's mode until they are least 10 games out (before the deadline). Even then, they may make 1 or 2 moves, but I don't think they will be huge deals.

Top 10 HR Hitters from 1987 - 2009: Barry Bonds - 746 Ken Griffey Jr. - 617 Sammy Sosa - 609 Mark McGwire - 580 Rafael Palmeiro - 566 Alex Rodriguez - 562 Jim Thome - 553 Manny Ramirez - 533 Frank Thomas - 521 Gary Sheffield - 506 http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4266870 So the only ones that are clean (never really linked to anyone) all played for the Sox (Junior, Thome, and Thomas).

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Jun 17, 2009 -> 07:30 AM) Does anyone wish that Nick Swisher was still on our roster FWIW? If it was the same Swisher who ended 2008 no. Obviously he would be an upgrade over Wise, Anderson, the way he is currently playing. At first I thought he was hitting so well because of the new stadium, but he has actually been raking away from home with a 1.073 OPS.