NorthSideSox72

What's gotten into Wes Whisler? Dude is 4-0 with a 0.83 ERA so far in Charlotte. Before the season, I was thinking it was time to put him back in the outfield. Seems he may have turned a corner. And yeah, Wassermann has been stellar down there. 8 appearances, no runs, no hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 04:22 PM) Shelby hasn't played in forever. Any idea why that is? I had the impression going into this year that he was seen as one of the top prospects left in the org.

You have John Shelby on the bench at W-S, and Colina starting at 2B? Is that right?

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 04:26 PM) Valido really sucks I was figuring that Miranda would end up replacing him at B-Ham sometime late this season, given that Valido sucks and Miranda looked like he might be the only real shortstop prospect in the minors right now. But, Miranda has started very slow - which isn't really a huge surprise, he's 21 and has less than a year's experience in pro ball, and is now playing at High A. If Miranda does what he did in 2007 at Kanny, and get significantly better each month... then I'm betting he replaces Valido before the end of the year.

QUOTE (Cowch @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 02:30 PM) Is it strange to anyone else that Quentin is leading the team in runs out of the 7 spot? Not a surprise when Crede is hitting 8th and Thome/Konerko are off to somewhat slow starts.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 12:51 PM) It's really a combination of both. I think most Sox fans are intelligent enough (or perhaps heartless enough) to understand it's all about putting the best team on the field as possible, and a major function in doing so is making solid business decisions. I think no matter which players are on the field, if the team is winning, our fans will show up. That's not to say the South Side doesn't have it's favorites though, and you can hear that simply by going to a game and listening when the players take the field. That's pretty much what I am saying - winning is the biggest key. The two caveats I was placing were the occasional fan favorite like Joe (which is a small but still present part of the equation), and the fact that winning is also not always 100% aligned with the best INDIVIDUAL players in a vacuum.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 11:27 AM) I don't think you could be more wrong. His job is to put together the best team on the field. It's marketings job to use this team to get the butts in the seats. Better team = more butts, and if it were advantageous to the current team to move Crede, he would. That in itself is a hard sell though. As to your first line, that is 90% true, as I alluded to. In your second line, you make my point for me. QUOTE (Controlled Chaos @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 11:36 AM) Yeah have to disagree....Aaron Rowand is your perfect example. IMO, Kenny's job is to put the best team on the field. Of course, you want good character guys, but I don't think you sacrifice talent for that. I wasn't talking about character. Someone may be an awful person but loved by the fan base. I was talking about what draws fans. Its part of the reality. Getting the best individual players is 90% of the battle, but its not 100%. That other 10% takes into account the effect on the fan base for other factors. Its part of the reality.

Something for folks to consider, which is sometimes forgotten in these discussions about keeping or getting rid of players... KW's job is actually not to put the best team on the field. His job is to put the team on the field that puts the most butts in the seats. Now, it happens to be that putting the best players on the field generally leads to the most wins, and most wins generally leads to butts in the seats. But having the "best" players at each position is not in itself the entire story of his job. Why is this important? Two reasons. One, sometimes, the right player for the team isn't necessarily the best player individually. And two, certain players are particularly loved or loathed by the fan base, beyond what their play on the field may indicate. Joe Crede is a HUGE fan favorite, and I guarantee you that will come into play in considerations of future contracts.

Durham (8-11) @ Charlotte (9-9), 6:15pm CDT, Wes Whisler (3-0, 1.80, off to a surprisingly good start) goes for the Knights Montgommery (8-13) @ B-Ham (11-10), 6:05pm CDT, McCulloch (1-2, 4.09) to start for the Barons Winston-Salem (9-7) @ Wilmington (7-12), 6:05pm CDT, no starter named yet Lake County (14-7) @ Kannapolis (10-11), 6:05pm CDT, Rice (0-2, 3.29) starts for the Intimidators

QUOTE (Controlled Chaos @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 09:52 AM) Devin Hester threw out the first pitch to Buehrle. When Buehrle ran up to Hester for the handshake he did a little juke spin and went right around him. Awesome. I wish I had gotten to see that.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 10:31 AM) Buehrle schooled Hester. Huh?

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 09:44 AM) I'm always unsure on this one. I think it is a realistic possability for me at some point in the future considering I'm an attorney and all. Right now I would lean towards no. I think I'm far too moderate in my stances and really split between Dem and Rep depending on the issues. For local offices, that can sometimes work quite well - especially since there is far less party involvement at those levels. Once you start getting to county, and then state level offices, you pretty much have to align with a party.

QUOTE (Controlled Chaos @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 08:17 AM) You know he wasn't talking about Anderson when he said that.... "Today, I want to thank my players to come out and win because I think that's the worst day I ever managed by gut feeling," Guillen said. "I let Cabrera hit the home run with a lefty up [in the bullpen]. "After that happened, you kick yourself in the butt. But this kid was throwing the ball well and just didn't get it done there." Yeah, the example he used was Floyd. And you're right, I doubt he was talking about BA. And I agree, BA should have gone to CF in that scenario.

I read an article this morning (can't remember where) in which Ozzie basically came out and said that he had a bad game manager-wise last night.

QUOTE (shipps @ Apr 25, 2008 -> 09:01 AM) Is cougar a new term for the old hot chix?It seems like people use it all the time now. That term has been around for a long time. Specifically, it refers to older women who chase younger men. And usually, the women are portrayed as older, rich women. Which is why the article that came out prior to the Chicago cougar stories, titled "Cougar in Wilmette?", was particularly amusing.

A socialist group honoring Hitler? Anyway, IN should be a fun one to watch. Polls are currently very tight, and it really seems like the difference maker state for the next few weeks. Recent polls, excluding Zogby, PPP and ARG (most recent first)... R2000, 4/23-24...........Obama +1 Indy Star, 4/20-23......Obama +3 Downs, 4/14-16..........Obama +5 LAT/Bloom, 4/10-14....Obama +5 SUSA, 4/11-14...........Clinton +16 All polls prior to SUSA's showed a Clinton lead. The PA primary was on 4/22. So apparently, Obama has been making ground there. History indicates that, in general, Clinton holds big leads in states until Obama starts campaigning there. Then the gap closes or goes away. Will that happen again here? Or has it already happened? Or will the reverse be the case? Should be fun to watch.

Or, we could all just join the Sox Fan group and not look like we have short-man complex.

B-Ham down 5-3 in the 7th.

Kanny lost 4-2. Turns out Shirek is actually human. Of note... Morales: 2-4, R Marrero: 1-4, 2B, R Martinez: 3-4, 2 RBI Shirek (L): 4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

QUOTE (knightni @ Apr 24, 2008 -> 06:57 PM) You'll know when you see Andy Griffith. Peter Griffin, as it turns out. Anyone know what time they plan to start the game?

More importantly, any word on a delay? Looking on TV at the pre-game its pretty rainy and the tarp is on the field. But they haven't said anything of a delay.

According to CIBC, a major Canadian bank, they expect oil prices to reach $150/bbl shortly, and $225/bbl by 2012. This due to huge increasing demand pressures, minimal production increases, and the dwindling oil left in major reserves. I cannot say enough times... finding alternative energy sources HAS to be a gigantic priority for the next President and Congress. The consequences otherwise will be dire.

QUOTE (JFields27 @ Apr 24, 2008 -> 03:19 PM) I dont think it'll rain tonight, tomorrow for sure tho Its already raining right now, at least on the north side of the city.

Charles J. Shirek, RHP Born 10/25/1985 in Minot, ND 6’3", 205 according to MILB (Baseball Cube has him at 6'4", 180) Throws: R Bats: R OVERVIEW Charlie Shirek pitched 2 years at Nebraska, starting a bit late at age 20. Charlie was drafted in the 23rd round of the 2007 draft by the White Sox. He played briefly at Kannapolis (low A) in 2007, only pitching 6.2 innings, all in relief. Shirek skipped Rookie and short-season leagues. As of this writing (4/08), he is starting the season at Kanny, with a lot of early success. Stuff-wise, Charlie is said to have a fastball that hits 96 mph with good sink, as well as a solid slider and a change-up, but his delivery is said to have some inconsistencies. PRE-COLLEGE NOTES Charlie was a 3-sport athlete at Minot HS, and was an all-state defensive back in football, in addition to playing basketball and baseball, earning 10 varsity letters. In his 2004 senior year, he was selected as the North Dakota Player of the Year, as well being added to the ABCA Rawlings All-Midwest team; he was 8-1 with a 0.39 ERA, striking out 88 batters in 54 innings that year. He also put up impressive hitting numbers that year, hitting .442. Also played American Legion ball in '04, going 3-3 with a 1.98 ERA and striking out 76 in 54 innings' work. Prior to the 2004 MLB draft, Shirek was named by Baseball America as the top draft propsect in North Dakota, but elected to go on to college. COLLEGE Charlie was redshirted for his freshman year (2005) at U of Nebraska. But he did play amateur ball with Duluth of the Northwoods league that summer, compiling a 9-2 record and a 1.69 ERA. He was a bit on the old end of his class, so by the time he played in his first year of college ball, he was already 20. In that first year of play (2006), he was 4-2 with a 3.23 ERA, starting 8 games and appearing in relief 10 times. He led all Big 12 freshman and was 7th overall in ERA. He then played for Duluth again that summer, going 3-2 with a 1.11 ERA. Baseball America labeled him as the #2 prospect in that league that year. In his second year of play at NU however (2007), his numbers declined. He went 2-7 with a 6.39 ERA. His strikeouts did improve a lot though - he K'd 42 in 50.2 innings, versus only 29 in 65 innings the previous year. His decline in performance would effect his draft position in 2007. SIGN/DRAFT Shirek was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 23rd round (719th overall) of the 2007 June regular amateur draft. Baseball America labeled him the best late-round pick in the Sox' draft for that year. Signed on August 16th, 2007, with a $123,300 bonus. MINORS Charlie was put immediately into Low A ball at Kannapolis in 2007 after he was drafted. This is likely due to his age and his 2 years' experience in the Northwoods League. Because that was his draft year, he only managed to appear in 6 games, all in relief. In 6.2 IP, he put up a 5.40 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, striking out 3 and walking 2. For the 2008 season, he landed again at Kanny, but as a starter. Thus far (as of 4/23/08) he has put up very impressive numbers. In 4 starts, he has given up just 1 earned run in 23.2 IP, for a 0.38 ERA. He has a 0.76 WHIP, and has struck out 16 while walking only 2, both in his first outing. PERSONAL/OTHER Shirek was arrested in April of 2007 while still with NU. He was cited for vandalism, to a bike, along with another NU player, resulting in $250 damage. They were both admitted to detox, and they registered .176 and .158 BAC. He was suspended for at least 3 games due to the incident. It is noted that this incident occurred shortly after he was dropped from the NU weekend rotation, and had been struggling on the field. STATS Year Team League W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO GO/AO AVG 2007 KAN SAL 0 0 5.40 6 0 0 0 1 6.2 5 5 4 2 2 3 2.00 .217 REFERENCE MILB page Baseball Cube page U Nebraska profile page

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Apr 24, 2008 -> 02:22 PM) NO HGH test but we will be on the lookout for water.............MLB has lost it! Did you read the posts in the thread? There IS water in the dugout, both in the cooler and in the fountain. They just don't want bottles of it, for reasons of marketing and/or safety.