NorthSideSox72

Why are they leaving Dotel out there, especially pitching for a second night in a row? Get Whisler some more work or something.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 4, 2009 -> 12:47 PM) WHO THE HELL ELSE IS HE SUPPOSED TO PLAY OUT THERE??? Assuming Anderson is still not well, same with Getzobviously Wise has to play. Unless you want Ramon Castro or Jim Thome in CF - because that is the entire bench for this game (scary thought, actually).

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Jun 4, 2009 -> 12:42 PM) I'm not going to get into this whole hornets nest with you guys on the Pythag thing, but a think a huge amount of this depends on the relative crappiness of middle relief, an area that many or most teams skimp on. When a team is down, say 5-2 in the sixth inning, and they need to replace the starter, it's not going to be with their best bullpen guy. A 5-2 deficit frequently becomes a 10-2 deficit in a blink of an eye. This is one of the big things that can skew Pythag, making you look worse than you really are, in a game you're probably going to lose anyway. It should even out over 162 games, as you should beat up on the other team's middle relief in the opposite situation. However, if you have a good back end of the bullpen (protecting small leads) coupled with super-crappy middle relief (this is not uncommon), then the Pythag numbers can be deceptive, especially if you have more of a small-ball offense (team designed to win games 4-2) as we did in '05. For the record, I am actually not saying that pythag is some great way to measure a manager's success. I was just clarifying for lostfan, but also I had brought it up before when Big Hurt was screaming to the rafters that no one was providing any evidence supporting Ozzie being a good manager. Just wanted to throw in there a piece of evidence.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jun 4, 2009 -> 11:37 AM) Huh? Wait I f***ed up. What I'm trying to say is that the inconsistency of the offense throws off our run differential. That we put up a lot of double digit games but then get shut out a lot, or held to 1 or 2 runs even when the pitching matchup favors us. Yeah, it just works the other way. If you do this in two games: Win 10-2 Lose 2-1 Your run differential is +7, or +3.5 per game. That would result in a really good final record, according to pythag. But in reality, if you do the above two games over and over, you are just a .500 team, thus UNDERperforming the expectations of pythag. If on the other hand, you do this: Win 2-1 Lose 10-2 You are -3.5 per game, and pythag will say you should be a crappy team. But if you do this as a pattern you will be at .500, and BEAT expectations. So in conclusion, if your theory is that the way the Sox play makes them look like overperformers, then it is because we are doing the latter example, not the former.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Jun 4, 2009 -> 11:32 AM) Looking at the breakdown, with Negron on the DL, they really need another outfielder... C- Armstrong, Lucy, Miller 1B- Myrow, Phillips, Ward 2B- Ginter, Lillibridge, Phillips, Torres 3B- Castillo, Ginter, Phillips SS- Lillibridge, Torres LF- Restovich, Phillips CF- Lillibridge RF- Kroeger, Restovich I'd like them to just release Miller and promote Cook.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jun 4, 2009 -> 11:21 AM) I would venture to guess the reason we outperform our Pythagorean is because we tend to win games 11-4 and lose games 2-1. And if that's the case, this is not something that should be attributed to Ozzie as a reason he's a "good" (or "bad," as the case may be) manager. It's just the way the team is. Solid pitching, inconsistent offense. That would make us UNDERperform.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Jun 4, 2009 -> 11:12 AM) So, he did accept the assignment to Charlotte. Makes sense, who needs another outfielder when you can carry three catchers? Especially when Lillibridge is the only active player who can play CF. The catching situation down there was already messy with Lucy and Armstrong splitting time, now its terrible. I can't think they will keep all three there for long.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jun 4, 2009 -> 10:46 AM) Ozzie's reading this forum? I sometimes think he or other Sox people do, with some things they have said in the press.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jun 4, 2009 -> 10:41 AM) I was referring to NSS72's assumption that Getz or Nix get dealt and Fields moves back to 3rd. Would Allen come up right away in that scenario? if Nix is the utility IF, he can certainly handle it. If its Getz, then Fields can slide over and Beckham or Getz cover 3B. Also, if the trade happens soon, its possible they call up Kroeger. If its later in the season, don't be surprised to see Allen up. If the trade doesn't happen at all of course, then its Fields. Thing is, PK rarely misses games anyway, so I think it only comes up a few times a year, unless he gets hurt (then its definitely Allen, I think).

Wow, this is going to be fun. A few random thoughts, having read the thread... 1. I think Beckham's eventual home is 2B. When he was drafted, it was commented that his arm was a question mark, and they weren't sure he'd stick on the left side of the infield. Plus Alexei is doing so well at SS, and there are guys like Fields, Viciedo and Retherford to consider at 3B. 2. This means, IMO, that Getz or Nix (probably Getz) will be traded, probably as part of a bigger package, since neither have a ton of value. The other of those two becomes the utility IF. 3. Fields is figuring it out, so I hope he continues to improve while playing part time 3B, 1B and DH. Once Getz or Nix are gone, Beckham slides to 2B, Fields back to 3B, IF Fields is doing well. 4. People's expectations are a little ridiculous. I think there is maybe a 25% chance that Beckham puts up big numbers at the plate this year. More likely, he struggles on and off, both defensively and at the plate, but looks better as he adjusts. Some of the panicky types on here will become even more bi-polar as this happens. 5. I hope they really do get Beckham at least 3/4 playing time somehow, so he can develop quickly. 5. GO BECKS!!!

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jun 3, 2009 -> 11:15 PM) I highly doubt it's needed. I think its just because of how big of an ego Barry has. Absurd. You think his ego drove him to request this? USSS staffs based on needs. Forgetting for a moment what you think of Obama personally or as President, the reality is that he IS the President, one who has a lot of controversy around him, travelling to the Middle East. If that is what the USSS says he needs, then that is what should go.

Josh looked pretty good yesterday, still doing the bat load, but changed his overall timing mechanism and bodily approach to the pitch. Looked solid.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jun 3, 2009 -> 04:18 PM) this thread is enormous. So is the giant black box in your sig.

QUOTE (TheBigHurt @ Jun 3, 2009 -> 04:02 PM) WHAT point? "But we win games!" "But there are other bad managers, too!" "But... no! You're just WRONG!" "But... he won us a WS 4 years ago!" Please tell me how any of that is relevant, much less a valid POINT. I mean, come on, it's just ignorant. As I said earlier, winning doesn't always mean you played it right. That's really just common sense. Still calling people ignorant, still getting bent out of shape, still using straw man arguments, still dismissing people who are actually giving you evidence. You keep pushing the ad hominem stuff at other posters, calling them ignorant. This is your chance to stop.

QUOTE (Downtown518 @ Jun 3, 2009 -> 02:10 PM) Castro's debut, BA is back.... Pods - LF Missle - SS Dye - RF Thome - DH PK - 1B Fields - 3B Anderson - CF Castro - C Nix - 2B I guess they changed their minds on Thome sitting.

QUOTE (TheBigHurt @ Jun 3, 2009 -> 01:41 PM) I think you just glumly and SEVERELY downplayed the situation. BA isn't anything to be happy about? I really just don't understand people sometimes. You need to tone it down. You have been pushing the insult line with other posters here, over and over again - cool it. Also, you are waaaaaaay over the top with the Ozzie hatred. You want some evidence that Ozzie is a good manager? Here is a measure for you... Ozzie fairly regularly beats most other managers in Pythagorean results analysis. The measure is used to show how many games their team should theoretically have one, referencing run differential in an equation. Ozzie's teams have a habit, regularly, of beating expectations.

QUOTE (dasox24 @ Jun 3, 2009 -> 01:30 PM) As far as the parents trying to get him eligible a year earlier, quit being selfish and let the kid finish out his time in high school. Even if he thinks he wants to go pro early, I think down the road he'd regret missing out on his senior year of high school. There will be plenty of time for baseball, and if he's as good as everyone thinks, he'll be up in the majors before you know it. Yeah that is fairly idiotic, trying to get him out of high school a year early. Its hard enough in the world without a college degree, not having even a high school diploma is a nightmare. And despite what some people think, there is NEVER such thing as a can't-miss prospect. That extra year would just be spent developing further anyway, go ahead and finish high school, he'll still have plenty of time to play.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 3, 2009 -> 11:51 AM) Getz is out for this series with that sprained ankle he suffered on Sunday IIRC. Probably could pinch hit today I'd guess but I was pretty sure they said he wouldnt' be playing this series. I hadn't realized that. So we will definitely see Betemit then.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 3, 2009 -> 11:48 AM) Watch Whisler be sent down. With Quentin's shaky health, I wouldn't mind have 2 back-up outfielders. Speaking of which, I saw the box, looks like Whisler put in a good inning. Anyone actually get to watch him? How did he look?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 3, 2009 -> 11:39 AM) Ozzie said last night Thome will get the game off. In that situation, I think I might actually DH Fields, let him focus on hitting, play Nix at 3rd and Getz at 2nd.

QUOTE (almagest @ Jun 3, 2009 -> 11:42 AM) If we're going to DFA Wise, why is he playing? We know when Quentin will be back, Pods is already in the lineup so at least we have "speed", and Anderson can at least play good defense in CF. Why even give a player who won't be on your roster in a week at-bats? Because we don't know when CQ will be back, we can only guess. Also, if you DFA Wise first, you then have to pull a player up for just a week or two - Lillibridge or Kroeger or whomever - and then option them back down, which seems like a waste of an option to me.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jun 3, 2009 -> 11:20 AM) Fail. You can want whatever you want, but its not going to happen. And Wise will be in AAA in a few days with BA starting everyday again and you will still be there pouting about something else. I hope you are right - I hope TCQ returns soon and Wise is released. I'd rather have any number of our AAA and AA outfielders be next in line over Wise, because Wise has proven he can't play at this level. Some of the other guys haven't proven it yet, and their worst case is to be DeWayne Wise anyway, but with a chance to be better.

Overall, I think there is little doubt that Ozzie is a good manager. But he is far from perfect, and this Wise thing is (IMO) the worst managing decision I have seen from him in his career. Worse than Mack in CF (who could at least hit), worse than his early handling of pitchers, worse than his off-color comments at times. He is deciding to play a guy he likes, because he works hard, and he isn't Brian Anderson. Its just a terrible management decision.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jun 3, 2009 -> 10:22 AM) Dick Cheney says he isn't opposed to gay marriage (and that it's up to the states), and Gingrich says he shouldn't have said Sotomayor is a racist. Neither of which I expected. I wonder if Cheney's daughter is having some influence on him. Has to give a person a different perspective, to have it be so close to home.

In '91, the summer before I went to college, I sold all but three of my cards. I had a feeling they were going to get too easy to copy, and that would cause the market to collapse. Well, the market collapsed, but apparently not for that reason. I kept these cards: --A signed Carlton Fisk rookie card (its actually three players on the card, Cecil Cooper is one, Fisk, and some nobody) --A 1959 Mickey Mantle card that I found in an alley, in near-mint condition --A Score card of Billy Ripken - the infamouse "f*** face" card. I actually have one. The rest I sold, pulled down about a grand for them, which seemed like a ton of money at the time.