southsider2k5

QUOTE (newguy @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 10:53 AM) He does. We talk about this stuff after every game. Ok, I am going to back out of this discussion for now. Brad doesn't usually like me talking about him with stats & stuff too much. I probably divulged more than he would have liked. He just takes it one ptich at a time & one batter at a time. Thanks again for all your positive comments. I'll go back to being an "observer" of the discussions. Great day to you all. Again, thanks for the info, and don't be shy about giving your general insights and thoughts, especially the behind the scenes stuff that none of us will ever see. It is priceless.

Fun read, the Forrest Gumps of the http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-forr...mps-of-the-nhl/

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 12:33 PM) Well that's what I'm saying he's got like 50 low leverage innings might as well start throwing him into the fire what do we have to lose? If he can't handle at least you find out in a rebuilding year, no downside imo. He hasn't handled any leverage at all this year. Even mop up roles have been sloppy. Until he quits walking guys, that will be the case.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 12:32 PM) The problem with Ozzie is that he wanted to fill out the roster with guys that hit like he did. If KW actually put his foot down and refused to bring in some of those guys the team would have been better off imo. I really liked how Ozzie managed the pen (defined roles, something Robin seems to struggle with) and his "sunday lineups" imo were a good thing as I think it's important to keep guys fresh and I didn't mind sitting a couple starters on one designated day. Ozzie started to think that he was more important than than the 25 man roster sometime around 2006 and that was when it all went downhill. He stuck his nose in with personnel decisions and started throwing guys under the bus in the media, not a good combo. I'm here to tell you guys that neither Guillen, nor Ventura, manage the bullpen. It is Don Freaking Cooper who manages the entire pitching staff. This team always had defined roles up until this year, when it just so happened that everyone was either hurt, or really sucky. The differences you are seeing this year are 100% related to the roster, and nothing to do with Ventura managing a pitching staff.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 12:03 PM) I think you're crazy if you think Beckham would get claimed. Frankly, Dunn too. Beckham is still owed a couple million and he's been terrible this year. Dunn is still owed like $5 million, does nothing defensively, and can't hit lefties. Viciedo I'm in agreement on. Dunn is about $5.3 million left. Beckham is under $1.5 million. I have no doubt Gordo would be claimed, but I doubt you get anything for him.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 12:20 PM) On a related note, I've been critical of how Robin has treated Webb (pretty much as the 4th or 5th guy out of the pen) but now it's time to take off the kid gloves and let him see some high leverage innings. They wanted to bring him along slow well OK great, now put him under a bit more pressure and see how he responds. Stuff wise, he has the potential to be a good setup or decent closer imo, certainly as good as Reed was for the Sox. They obviously don't feel he is ready yet, or he would have been tried.

QUOTE (VAfan @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 11:36 AM) Here's a good question -- How many here think Robin Ventura is an improvement over Ozzie Guillen as a manager? I would say he was an improvement over Ozzie's last year managing the Sox, when Ozzie was trying to get fired so he could manage the Marlins. Otherwise, despite Ozzie's faults, I would take him over Ventura hands down. Guillen did some things that drove me crazy, but he did a very good job managing pitchers. And he also put the Sox on the map, getting them to believe they could compete for and win a World Series. I don't see any of that in Robin. I would say he is a clear improvement over the post- World Series Ozzie Guillen. I wouldn't even hesitate for a second.

QUOTE (VAfan @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 11:26 AM) As for how many games has Robin cost the team in 2014? Well, how many blown saves does Bellisario have? Does anyone here think Bellisario should have been the closer when Lindstrom went down? Or why does he seem to have an infatuation with Javy Guerra in tight games, when he's blown saves in all 4 of his opportunities? Actually a lot of people felt Bellasario was the next closer. And don't use the save stat out of context. Guerra has not been the actual closer in any game that I can recall. He has been a middle reliever. Calling a middle reliever bad because of blown saves is one of the worst abuses of a stat known to baseball-kind.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 11:03 AM) What has me more excited is the improvement of him overall as a pitcher. He's striking more out, keeping the control in check, keeping the ball on the ground, and even throwing harder. He's an absolute stud. Starts like last night are what really sell me. He had nothing, gave up nine hits, and still allowed only two runs.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 10:58 AM) don't get me wrong I like Quintana but I really don't see him as a bona fide #2. more like a #3 and he is more valuable to any team and I am extremely happy he is with the sox. If Q is your #3, that means you have a really good rotation.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 10:54 AM) How are you not sold on Quintana? What more can you possibly need to see? I was on that ship for a couple of years, but that ship docked and sailed off without me. Q is the real deal.

QUOTE (VAfan @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 10:49 AM) Still waiting for someone defending Robin to argue that he's helped the Sox win more games than they would have with an average manager. You can take whatever you want into account. Instead, all I've read is that, well, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre weren't great managers at first. Which seems to me a backhanded admission that Robin Ventura isn't a good manager now either. Sorry, but we aren't debating whether Robin Ventura might become a good manager at some hypothetical time in the future, AFTER he stops making the many poor decisions he's been making over the last 2+ years. We're debating whether Ventura is a good manager NOW, and I think those of us who argue he's below par are winning the argument rather handily. Also, to the reasons I gave above for why I think Robin costs the Sox games, I would add last season's horrible fundamentals. We had to be the worst team in baseball fundamentals. To me, that speaks volumes about a manager. Yes, the players execute, but it's the manager's job to get them prepared to play. I noticed you said last year, and not this year. Does that mean they improved this year in your opinion? I know they have in mine. We are seeing fewer base running issues, crisper throw execution, and a generally baseball smarter team (with a couple of individual exceptions). Even a guy like Alexei who had one of the worst baseball IQ's I have ever seen for most of his tenure here, isn't really making noticeable mistakes anymore.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 10:51 AM) FWIW, those #1 an #2 of ours are pretty much being paid like a #2 and a #3. Not even. Our top two starts are being paid like free agent #3/#4 type starters.

QUOTE (JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Jul 29, 2014 -> 10:19 PM) Anyone else? I would say the systems to avoid over there are East Chicago, Hammond, and Merrillville. Other than that, there are a lot of nice towns through that area. Depends on where exactly you want to be in relations to schools, train, interstate etc.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 10:11 AM) Lineup protection is a myth unless you're hitting in front of Barry Bonds. I will say the changes in Miguel Cabrera are interesting, since he was brought up. He had by far his best power years with Prince hitting behind him. Prince left, and he is having his worst year in half of a decade.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 07:17 AM) Hawk used to say, "I love to watch Ray run." I love to watch Eaton run. First to home, who is faster? Eaton, because he has less of a power swing and he gets into his full stride much quicker to 1B.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jul 29, 2014 -> 08:45 PM) How about last year when someone posted this: Ha, that is awesome. I'll bet Conor has that hanging in his locker.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 09:56 AM) Meh, honestly payroll is gonna be really low. With the team friendly deals they signed Sale and Q to I really think they could sacrifice that kinda money. You probably don't do it with Danks still on the team, but if they can trade him, the payroll would be at 28M pre arbitration. A good way to destroy an organization is to give out bad contracts just because you can. Ask the Phillies.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Jul 29, 2014 -> 10:13 PM) I'm jealous dude. I've liked him since I was a kid watching him in the old style commercials. A friend of mine dated his niece about ten years ago. Cool chick, loved watching football and baseball, could also put some beers down. I worked in a pro shop at a local country club for a few summers when I was younger. He was a member at this place. He was a genuinely nice guy to all of us.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 06:06 AM) One thing to keep an eye on tomorrow morning is if Danks is pulled from his scheduled start. The game is at 1:05. FWIW. Keep an eye on the Charlotte staff and see if anyone leaves. I did think it was telling that even in a blowout, Andre Rienzo did not pitch, instead Petricka did.

For the "emotionless" crowd. It is really well known that while Ventura won't show up his players on the field, he will light a fire under guys who need it inside of the lockerroom behind closed doors. I can't remember if it was Guillen or Thomas who told the story about Ventura getting in people's faces in the clubhouse when they needed it. Just because he doesn't put on a show for the cameras, doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Baseball players spend a lot of time away from the camera's view.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 09:31 AM) There is a guy who extrapolates statistics from the Cuban League to the Major Leagues and his numbers were comparable to Miguel Cabrera's numbers. I think we all sort of held that out as a lofty best case scenario (probably even we expected that was going a bit overboard). As of today, he is outperforming Miguel Cabrera with about 40 less PAs. Unf***ingbelievable. Yeah, I will admit I though those projections were insane.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Jul 30, 2014 -> 09:13 AM) Think he means the SB/CS numbers. 10-for-16 isn't great. Which is a really narrow view. While he might not have his base stealing technique down, the guy is the best base runner the team has. He gets great reads, takes the extra base whenever humanly possible, and is always running the bases at 100%.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 29, 2014 -> 11:32 PM) If he hits the market, I certainly can see that happening. Cueto or Scherzer would be fun as well. Schezer would not be fun. I don't consider $200 million contracts for pitchers "fun".

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jul 29, 2014 -> 11:22 PM) I can see us signing James Shields this offseason IF we were to do something, I see us more in the Masterson market. I don't see us shopping at the luxury store. I see us shopping at the outlet mall for bargains.