NorthSideSox72

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Aug 27, 2007 -> 02:35 PM) I wonder if that AFL spot might be for Anderson, but they're not putting his name specifically in it until they know if he's wrist-strong enough to be ready to play. Same could be said of Sweeney.

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Aug 27, 2007 -> 02:33 PM) Yes, and several players aren't bright enough to apply the direction they've been given. Or talented enough. But I do agree that making coaching changes solely for the reason of shaking things up should be a consideration. Sometimes it's a fresh voice. I was thinking of an example... who in their right mind thinks that Juan Uribe could easily be coached? I mean, the guy clearly knows what to do, he occasionally even does it (staying back, aiming for right centerfield on a fastball, and pulling the breakers). But from what I have seen (and I am not in the dugout of course), it seems like he is just not coachable.

Seems like the right 6. All players this organization seems to think have potential to be on the MLB roster, but who need more work. I wouldn't be surprised to see 2 or 3 of those guys on the roster next year. I'd guess the OF slot is Sweeney, but coming off an injury, maybe not.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 27, 2007 -> 02:21 PM) AJ's comment makes me feel like maybe the players feel that Walker doesn't do a good job preparing them for pitchers with scouting reports, etc. That may very well be. It would explain a lot. Or, maybe these players don't take direction. or perhaps some of both? Walker is the one coach I'd suggest should probably be fired this offseason (if not before).

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 27, 2007 -> 01:50 PM) Before anyone wants to send AJ out the door, please remember White Sox catchers not named AJP have driven in exactly 2 runs this season. Molina was bad, but Hall whether it can be blamed on his injury or not, might just be the most worthless player in major league baseball. He has not hit at all for average or power, he doesn't seem to call a particularly good game, he cannot throw at all.................... Just for the record, since I started the thread... 1. I am NOT saying AJ should go. Not at all. I think he is key to the team, and would be exceedingly difficult to replace. He needs to be kept around at least until the end of his contract (any options included), and probably past that. 2. AJ was my fave player in 2005, and even now is still one of my favorite players on the team. 3. Aj's "attitude" was a key piece to the 2005 success of the Sox. That all said, that same fiery attitude that can be used for good, can become a drag on a team if used indiscriminately and selfishly. This year, with things going badly, AJ's fire has been directed all over the place and not on himself - something I think there is no denying if you watch him play. And that might have consequences on and off the field. THAT is what I was pointing out, and wondering how much it has effected his play and the team's results. And I agree on Hall. I'd be ecstatic to see Donny Lucy back up AJ in 2008.

QUOTE(spiderman @ Aug 27, 2007 -> 12:31 PM) Gonzalez can play 3B, none of the others can. Also with Fields in LF, Owens in CF, and Dye in RF, it's unlikely that Sweeney would play much anyways. On top of that, he isn't playing particularly well either. Bourgeois plays about every infield position, and Cintron is back shortly. I am assuming Fields is still playing mostly 3B - but I could be wrong on that. My point is, if we have to have a player struggling, why not make it someone with a future?

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Aug 27, 2007 -> 10:03 AM) Two films I'm looking forward to this fall: "Into The Wild' directed by Mr. Sean Penn. "I want someone to eat cheese with". The hot dog stand he's standing ouyside is 1 block from my old home in Chicago. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808745136/video Is Into the Wild based on the Krakauer book? Interesting. Its a one man show - kind of like Cast Away, except instead of a nice little tropical island, its Alaska. Could be a good acting vehicle.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Aug 27, 2007 -> 10:00 AM) They are probably waiting until the rosters expand. Yeah but, why bother? I mean, unless they are trying to show of Gonzalez for a trade (which seems doubtful), I don't see why he is there over these other guys. To me, the time to make moves and send a message is a few days ago.

QUOTE(Rex Kicka** @ Aug 27, 2007 -> 08:49 AM) There's no real reason for joy. People made that mistake about Ashcroft. And then we got Gonzales. The only saving grace to that is that Gonzales might have ended up on the supreme court if he hadn't been made AG. Gonzales a Supreme. There is a scary thought. That guy was overmatched as AG - on the Supreme Court he would have looked like an imbecile.

Perhaps someone can explain this to me... If a player like Gonzalez is not part of the long term plan, which it seems he isn't... and you have guys like Sweeney, Bourgeois and even Collaro in the minors who MIGHT be part of the long term plan... and what you are looking to do is inject some new energy and get a look at some younger talent... why on earth would you NOT bring someone like that up instead of Gonzalez? Is it an Arb clock thing? Because I think Sweeney's has already started, yes? Or am I misunderstanding? And aren't guys like Collaro and Bourgeois going to be exposed next year anyway? Is it that the 40-man is full (in which case, why not put a couple or three of the guys you KNOW won't be around next year through waivers)? Is it that I am missing something, or is the organization just hesitant to do that sort of thing?

Trib article. Its a Lambo.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Aug 25, 2007 -> 07:23 PM) We are now working on 50 hours without power, and are back at the in-laws for showers and dinner. I hate NIPSCO. They suck. There is still a wire laying on my fence that they haven't done anything about. Well, if it makes you feel better... there are still about 8000 homes in the Chicago area (ComEd) without power. Mostly in Wilmette, Glenview and other North Shore burbs. Supposed to be 100% back up by tomorrow night. Did you get power back yet?

Oh cripes. I just read that its likely to be Chertoff taking that post. Are you kidding me? We go from an AG who is more interested in making his master happy than obeying the law to a guy who thought that more bureaucracy would be good for Homeland Security?!

QUOTE(TheBigHurt @ Aug 26, 2007 -> 11:46 PM) Uh, last I heard everyone said he wouldn't be back because of his contract status. Has something changed or is it due to the surgery? Here is the deal with his contract status, as far as I know it (others can fill in any blanks)... the Sox have "control" over him for one more year. As long as they tender an offer, either he can sign the offer, make a counter and negotiate, or they can go to arbitration. In any of those cases, he'd be under contract in 2008 with the Sox. The offer may only be one year, or its possible (though seemingly unlikely) the Sox might make him a multi-year offer. Now, the Sox could elect to decline even offering a contract - non-tender him. In that case, he can sign with any other team. But barring that, Crede does not become a true free agent until AFTER 2008. Its possible they non-tender him, but this Fields move, his apparent strength of recovery and other indications seems to point to the Sox making him an offer of some kind. That means, if he's healthy in 2008, he'd start at 3B. Rumors are heavy that he may be traded during or just prior to the season, though. Or maybe he comes back very strong, and they sign an extension (my hope), but since he is a Boras client, that seems highly unlikely. Is that more clear?

Well... better late than never. Underqualified, underskilled, weak in principle and overmatched for the job. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

I think this article is like critiquing the paint job on the titanic. That trade was, to me, a win. Still is. Might not be be later, but in any case, it is not even in the top 10 or 20 problems for this team. Vaz has been a very good pick up.

QUOTE(spiderman @ Aug 26, 2007 -> 05:16 PM) What I don't understand is why it takes management so long to make these decisions. They knew Crede was expected back next season since the surgery, and that Fields would have to play LF if Crede is still on the 2008 roster (which I would expect to be the case given his diminished trade value, and managable salary) so I have to wonder why it took them so long to make this move IF this is there expected course of action for next season. His long-term future is still most likely at 3B, so I'd bet they wanted him to play there primarily while getting used to the majors. Makes sense to me.

QUOTE(TheBigHurt @ Aug 26, 2007 -> 05:20 PM) I've been spending less time here lately, so fill me in, exactly what is everyone wanting Fields to play LF for??? Because Crede will likely come back next year. And given he is coming off back surgery, he wouldn't net much (or anything) in a trade this offseason. So what do you do with Crede and Fields? One suggestion has been to move Fields to LF, where the team needs help anyway.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Aug 26, 2007 -> 04:04 PM) If they were to scrap Fields in LF because on an error in the 9th, this organization is in a lot more trouble than I thought. Well, they had Floyd on a one-bad-start leash. Not the same player, but still, that makes me wonder about the lack of patience.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Aug 26, 2007 -> 03:48 PM) Fields in the 9th, Oh boy.... I hope he actually gets a real chance at this, not one friggin game. Play him there a few times a week the rest of the year, and let's see if he has even a chance of being good at it.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Aug 26, 2007 -> 02:51 PM) It's the talent factor. I don't see any possible way that Owens can become a big league hitter. I'll admit that he's a better defender than I expected but I just don't see any real chance of this guy sticking. With Anderson even when he sucked ass at the dish he always had tremendous defense to rely on, not to mention he at least had some power potential. Oh, and, I think people have different ideas of what "talent" means. Sometimes players are seen as having certain tools early in their development, so they are promoted and given expectations regardless of actual performance. It means that SOME of them end up being huge disappointments, because there are other tools that don't become clear until they are really challenged at a high level. In my opinion, that is where BA's problems came from - he was never expected to have to push hard enough and adjust his methods. No matter his talent level, I think his MLB experience showed he didn't have all the necessary tools to succeed. On the other hand, some other players manage to succeed at every level and are ignored, unless happenstance thrusts them to the big show. Example: Wassermann.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Aug 26, 2007 -> 02:51 PM) It's the talent factor. I don't see any possible way that Owens can become a big league hitter. I'll admit that he's a better defender than I expected but I just don't see any real chance of this guy sticking. With Anderson even when he sucked ass at the dish he always had tremendous defense to rely on, not to mention he at least had some power potential. Anderson had power potential, and he was a stellar defender in CF (especially for a rookie). And I had supported having him start this year over Erstad. I also think that Owens has the potential to be an MLB caliber starter. I realize that's not the popular opinion, but I think he has a good shot.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 26, 2007 -> 07:26 AM) Richar has an OBP of .300 right now. His batting average is .200. Obviously, both of these should go up a bit, but I don't know how his working a count makes him a lock to be an exceptional hitter. Mark Johnson used to work a count pretty well and they really should have DH'd for him and let the pitcher hit. Richar has made some nice plays defensively, but as the scouting reports suggest, has flubbed some easier ones. He is 1 for 3 in steal attempts. I still don't know what to make of him. He may be good, he may be DeAngelo Jimenez. If he's already earned a starting job on the 2008 White Sox based on his little trial run so far, this team will not be a championship contender. His OBP is .010 higher than Brian Anderson's last season, and we have people penciling him in to lead off. That's a little too optimistic at this point IMO. Good post. I actually do like Richar, and I think he might be pretty good, but your points are all very good. Of course, the same sort of thing can be said of the weirdness of this board about Owens. He's had all of two months experience, and is already doing far better than Anderson was in his year... yet the majority of the board has already decided he sucks. He might. He might not. But I think people come to judgement on some of these young players far too quickly, for better or worse. And once they've staked their opinion, there is no changing it.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 26, 2007 -> 01:39 PM) Fields in LF almost guarantees no Owens in CF next year. I like this move....well done Sox. I'd say it almost guarantees no Owens unless/until Crede is traded or cannot play. If Crede is traded next season, Fields moves back to 3B, and Owens takes over in LF. I'm guessing that's the plan.

I was at the game Friday night. Lots of Red Cub fans - probably a quarter or even a third of the actual crowd. But the biggest reason they were so dominant-sounding was two simple things: all the empty seats because the team sucks (which would normally have Sox fans), and because there was NOTHING worth cheering for as a White Sox fan at the game.