RME JICO

Ozzie just loves utility players.

QUOTE(IowaSoxFan @ Apr 7, 2008 -> 08:44 AM) We can all remember the show that Chris "The Babe" Shelton put on in Detroit and now he is struggling to make a major league roster. He has potential to be a great player if he can maintain his level of play.Fixed. You're right. It is too early to annoint him, but his track record says that he has the ability to produce.

This team could easily be 5-1 and the team still has not peaked (which is good). Our 2-3-4 batters are all hitting .200 or below. Nice to leave 6 road games in CLE and DET and be 4-2.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Apr 6, 2008 -> 08:45 PM) .174/.167/.200 That's our 2-3-4.... Just think how we will be when they start hitting.

We're 3-2 against DET and CLE on the road and we have 5 regulars batting .200 or less (Swisher, Thome, Konerko, Cabrera, and Uribe). Those 5 will all come around. Dye and AJ have 10 of the team's 21 XBHs. Danks, Masset, Quentin, and Floyd all have performed better than expected, and the bullpen has been lights out.

QUOTE(TitoMB345 @ Apr 5, 2008 -> 08:06 PM) Chris Young has 2 homers tonight.. just saying.. Sweeney was 4-4 last night.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Apr 5, 2008 -> 04:41 PM) I also want to give the Sox offense some credit. THey didn't get a lot of hits but they had a great approach at the plate for the most part (ie, they saw a lot of pitches, got good hacks and really worked the count and put them in a position to get those runs despite not getting many hits at all). Last season this club would have lost the game and this year they won it. This is a much better baseball team, imo. 3 hits and 8 walks. I can't remember the last time this team had that many walks. Floyd is also the first starter to get a win. Bobby has three saves already.

The Sox have 11 Doubles in 4 games. AJ on fire. Logan, Linebrink, and Jenks have pitched a combined 6 innings without allowing a hit. Logan and Linebrink have yet to allow a baserunner. My only concern is the rotation. Danks has been the only solid starter. Hopefully the others will come around.

AJ, 9-16, 4R, 7RBI, 2HR, and 0 K's in 4 games. If guys like AJ step up, this offense is going to be hard to beat.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Apr 3, 2008 -> 03:34 PM) Remember, there are rumors of a hand shake deal between KW and Philly that would have the Phillies kicking in some cash (around half I believe) for Thome's option year which would mean you're getting Jim Thome, who put up a .973 OPS last year on a one year deal worth under $10M. Great point, completely forgot about that. The choice would have to be Thome hands down unless he gets injured this year. Thome has never had an OPS under .900 when he plays over 100 games. That's 12 seasons with an OPS over .900, and 5 of those were over 1.000. Dye has only 2 seasons with 100 games and an OPS over .900 (2000 and 2006).

To put Danks' performance into perspective: This was his first MLB start he had giving up 2 or less hits. His previous low was 3. He only had one start longer than his today all of last year (8IP vs KC). He only had 3 starts where he went at least 6 innings and let up 1 run or less all of last year. His 6.2 IP start without giving up a HR was the longest he has went in a start without giving up a HR.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 3, 2008 -> 02:55 PM) Darin Erstad, Luis Terrero, an injured Scott Podsednik, an injured Alex Cintron, an injured Joe Crede, an injured Toby Hall, Andy Gonzalez, Gustavlo Molina shared some 1316 at bats last year. That many ABs is equivalent to 42 games (just over a quarter of the season). If we replace those ABs with at least league average players, the offense will be much improved.

QUOTE(SoxFan562004 @ Apr 3, 2008 -> 02:59 PM) depends, are they skipping Floyd with the day off or are they going with the 5 man out of the gate? Contreras - Robertson @ Detroit on Friday Floyd - Willis @ Detroit on Saturday Buehrle - Verlander @ Detroit on Sunday

QUOTE(sox-r-us @ Apr 3, 2008 -> 12:57 PM) Royals up 3-0 in the 6th again.....going for the sweep against the mighty Tiggers....and Cabrera out with a quad injury.....hopefully, we miss playing Cab too this weekend. It looks like this is not a new injury either:

Danks and Masset.

0-162 season averted! Rejoice! Funny how the 2 players everyone (including me) want off the team generated the only runs for the Sox. Danks pitched a hell of a game, and Linebrink/Jenks looked solid. Nice to close out a tight game. Winning 1-run games are critical to success. We won a bunch in 2005 and lost a bunch in 2007.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Apr 3, 2008 -> 10:47 AM) Depends on what is needed at the time. If the team is in contention (ok I'm laughing too) then I'm not certain Bonds is the best option, but worth considering. If the team is out of contention, a sideshow to sell tickets could be just what the ball park needs, and I could see a call to Bonds. Bring in Ricky Henderson to leadoff and Canseco to DH instead. Now that would be a show.

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Apr 3, 2008 -> 09:06 AM) They commented on the radio broadcast yesterday that AJ wanted to "lead the league in hitting" this year. That may be a bit of a stretch, but hopefully it shows where his focus is going to be. He is, mission accomplished.

I hope AJ keeps hitting. He looks like a completely different batter. He was one of the guys that needed to improve this year. Now if we can get Quentin or Anderson in there, move Ramirez to 2B while dropping Uribe, then swap Fields with Crede, our lineup becomes pretty solid 1-9. BTW, AJ currently leads the league in batting and Thome leads in HRs. YES!

BLOW THIS TEAM UP, THEY SHOULD BE CALLED THE WHITE SUX! Fire KW! Fire Ozzie! Firesale starts now. Only player to retain: Toby Hall

Can't get swept in the opening series, especially with Detroit coming up in the 2nd series.

Time for a new Soxtalk banner. We've had a pretty brutal record with that one.

This is a must win, otherwise we might be looking at an 0-5 start.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Apr 1, 2008 -> 06:37 PM) I said it then, and I'll say it again, Garland for Cabrera was a horrible move. I'm not going to hold judgement yet, but he looks really sharp, especially compared to how bad Mark looked.

Good trade for the Sox. OT, I can't believe Soxtalk.com is closing until mid-August.