RME JICO

This guy might be available: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6798

2008 2B Free Agents: Ronnie Belliard Miguel Cairo Luis Castillo Damion Easley Marcus Giles Chris Gomez Mark Grudzielanek Jerry Hairston Jr. Tadahito Iguchi Damian Jackson Jeff Kent Mark Loretta Chris Woodward Recently Optioned Players (trade): Chris Burke Jorge Cantu Organizational Players: Andy Gonzalez Christopher Getz So the list looks pretty thin if the Sox intend to replace Iguchi. The way Gooch has looked on offense and defense, any of these guys could be an upgrade. What do you guys think, will the Sox resign Gooch or will they go in another direction?

They should've used a substance to give it a little character.

QUOTE(knightni @ May 13, 2007 -> 10:41 PM) Today, his stuff sure smelled like no. 2. Actually more like a #3 (1 + 2). On another note, BP's 5 highest VORP ratings for Sox positional players (hilarious and sad at the same time): Thome - 13.9 Uribe - 4.5 Pierzynski - 3.5 Terrero - 1.8 Podsednik - 1.8 Crede is 11th from the bottom of the entire MLB listing with a VORP of -6.6

QUOTE(Balance @ May 14, 2007 -> 04:46 PM) If I were forced to pick only one, I'd rather have the pitching. Even so, it gets so frustrating to see the Sox offense be so impotent. Maybe some Viagara would help. It helped Rafael Palmiero.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ May 14, 2007 -> 03:19 PM) Those size increases in hat and shoe are smoking gun proof he used, if true. Those size increases do not happen in your mid to late 30's, it's impossible. Yeah, the head and feet don't grow naturally that late unless you have some sort of disease. However, 10 sizes in a jersey is possible (very unlikely) because he could wear a baggier jersey compared to the skin tight jerseys of the 80's. Either way, we all know he used something artificial to obtain that size. Now my question is, can you maintain that size without supplementation?

The size thing has been debated for years. Just look at picture of Barry in a Pirates uniform and today. The jersey size is not as big of a deal as the head and foot size. Those are hard to justify, except for the fact that many people believe that Barry always had a big head (ego-wise). vs

QUOTE(fathom @ May 14, 2007 -> 02:16 PM) I swear, that on the replay, the pitcher deflected that ball. I thought it was great base running by Terrero. Duckworth was a little late on it and missed it completely, but it did have a little curve on it as it went into the outfield. I was a little surprised Grudz was playing that far into the hole.

QUOTE(caulfield12 @ May 14, 2007 -> 12:05 PM) • • Paul Konerko's average is down to .194 while Dye (.203), Iguchi (.210) and Crede (.205) are just above .200. Uribe's .255 is the best among the regulars. The Sox could possibly make some moves and acquire Delgado (batting .209), Baldelli (.206), Howard (.204), Rolen (.204), Cameron (.200), Kendall (.187), or Sexson (.183), so we could have all our regulars batting under .210.

QUOTE(JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ May 14, 2007 -> 12:05 PM) I know a lot of people are fed up with the offensive production out of thw white sox these days, but here's an honest question, would you rather see the sox play the way they have been playing this year or the way they played the end of last year? No offense, solid pitching OR no piching, solid hitting? I can't make up my mind as to which is more frustrating of the two but I think that last year was quite possibly a bit more frustrating, what do you guys think? Solid pitching is much better IMO. If you have solid pitching, you are going to win ballgames. Even if that is by getting HRs only, scoring on errors, etc. Solid hitting also doesn't always translate to scoring a lot of runs. If you look at the playoff teams from the Wild Card era, a very high percentage had a top pitching staff, where as the Cleveland Indians in the late 90's were the only good offense/bad pitching to make it deep in the playoffs. Solid pitching >>> Solid hitting

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ May 14, 2007 -> 11:49 AM) Of course...but personally, I think it's a lot easier to come out of a hitting slump than it is a pitching slump. All it takes is one game of good at-bats and that can change a hitter's approach/give him confidence. Maybe not every hitter on the Sox will pull out of their slump, but I would imagine a few will (Kong, Dye and Iguchi come to mind). I agree. I just think the length of the slump and the number of players affected is absolutely mind boggling. Especially when you consider that Dye and Iguchi are in contract years. I believe they will break out soon. Also, I didn't realize it, but could some of this be associated with the amount of new pitchers the Sox have faced thus far? I know it sounds like an excuse, but the last thing a struggling hitter needs is an unfamiliar pitcher to face, or one that he struggles with anyway (CC, Johan).

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ May 14, 2007 -> 10:56 AM) So, you are aggravated about an underachieving team that is two games over .500 and 4 games back of 1st place in Mid-May? I'm thanking my lucky stars that they aren't in last place the way they've been hitting. But they aren't. So, let's see how this goes. I would say it is more frustration than anything. The pitching has carried this team thus far, and it could be a lot worse if the pitching wasn't so strong. However, just think how good this team would be if the hitting was just average.

QUOTE(fathom @ May 14, 2007 -> 10:50 AM) Yep, that's all I'm saying. If Ozzie doesn't want to make Uribe the #2 hitter for good, that's fine....just don't use the bulls*** reasoning that he strikes out too much. You're right about the strikeout comment, but all he had to say is Uribe doesn't walk enough, which would be more appropriate for the patience comment. Striking out doesn't necessarily equate to patience, but walks do. Walks - 07 - 06 - 05 Iguchi - 14 - 59 - 47 Uribe - 9 - 13 - 34 For Uribe, 13 walks in 463 ABs is ridiculously low.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ May 14, 2007 -> 09:31 AM) I dont think its injury. Crede has a very pronounced hands high set when he bats. That will slow his swing down as he has to drop the bat onto the lower level of the ball to square it up. If he was having back problems, he would drop his bat more to help with it feeling better. Konerko is pulling off the ball when he swings. They are spotting him low and away. Plus right now he is in between and guessing on the pitch over committing. He is a combo mechanical/mental right now. Dye is just pulling off the ball. His feet are moving like crazy and he pulls his head off the ball just before contact. Iguchi is definitely pulling off the ball. His entire swing is a bit longer from when he came up. Keeping him in the 2 hole does one thing, it keeps him closed off, and allows him to concentrate on going to right more. When he is down in the order, he is trying to power it. Wow, if you can see those intricacies that easy, why can't the team or players? Do they watch tape on themselves?

QUOTE(SoxFan562004 @ May 14, 2007 -> 08:58 AM) Didn't Cle lose 2 out of 3 against Anaheim and the A's? The Sox won those series, it might not have been pretty, but they're winning games and they split a 4-game series with Baltimore, so they are 4-6 in their last 10. Minnesota has lost its last 4 series (4-8).

Does anyone think any of these slumps are from some type of injury that is not being disclosed? Crede (back), Konerko (hip), and Dye (back/leg) all have had injury problems or concerns for several years, and I was wondering if some of these lingering things were becoming an issue. Now this doesn't account for others like Iguchi and AJ, but it seems like it could be a possible scenario.

Borowski is so overrated. A closer with an ERA of 9.00 with 12 saves. When he blows a save, he really blows - wow. That was some great managing by Wedge too - Ozzie-esque. Now if the Twins can beat the Tigers tonight, the Sox lose no ground.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ May 13, 2007 -> 06:10 PM) IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROTATION ORDER THE CUBS WILL BE THROWING LILLY, MARQUIS AND ZAMBRANO IN THAT ORDERMarquis and Zambrano are both righties, and Lilly and Marquis are both pitching way under their career averages, so they are due for a correction. Zambrano has allowed 4+ runs in 5 of 8 starts, so he is not the same guy from last year. Buehrle - Lilly Vazquez - Marquis Danks - Zambrano Sox sweep.

Great, Vazquez ***ting the bed in the 5th; not like we haven't seen that before.

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ May 13, 2007 -> 02:18 PM) I don't think Iguchi is worth the $5mil he will ask for after the season. At this point with his subpar defense and non-existent offense, he is not worth very much.

They just need to give him the full ten days to take care of his personal business. Trying to do anything when a family member is very sick or dying is hard to do.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ May 13, 2007 -> 11:18 AM) For Matsuzaka, "#4/#5 starter"=bustbustbust.True, for what he will be paid and all the media attention. Hell, Rotoworld says due to his good peripherals he is a legit #1 or #2. That is hard to see. All he has is a lot of strikeouts, but there are a ton of reasons why he is getting them (new to league, lack of scouting report, first time thru the league, etc).

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ May 13, 2007 -> 08:04 AM) Danks has literally been fantastic so far, I can't even explain how happy I am with him. He has exceeded all my expectations thus far. I remember watching him in ST during the Danks/Floyd battle and he would be attacking the strike zone and getting ahead of hitters. I was totally impressed, and he is still doing that every time out. Also, I think he picked up his tempo from MB because he was pitching a lot quicker his last start, which just adds another intangible to his skill set.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2007 @ May 13, 2007 -> 08:01 AM) Or maybe it's just coincidence? It's amazing how quick some are to jump on a guy's bandwagon (not talking about you, RME, just people in general), then tear them down as soon as they go 0/4 again. Ryan has done a solid job to this point, but let's wait a little while longer before we deem him the second coming.I was being a little sarcastic, but I know what you mean. I was actually surprised at some of those records after I looked them up though.

Its funny that Uribe is now the best hitter on the team because SS was one of the positions that many wanted to see upgraded this offseason. On Ichiro, I wouldn't mind having him, but I am kind of concerned about the team's overall age.