balfanman

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Jul 11, 2012 -> 12:28 AM) Zambrano worked on his hitting. Zack Grienke is one of the best bunters in baseball. The Brewers actually used him to PH because he could lay down a bunt. Well, if you institute the dh everywhere, you could always use the 1 or 2 pitchers on a team that can handle a bat at least somewhat competently for pinch hitters. If they happen to be extremely good hitters, like Zambrano, they can be your dh. This concept actually gives a manger much more flexibility with their rosters and gives pitchers who like to hit a chance to hit once in a while. Wasn't one of Peavys issues of coming to the American league was that he liked to hit. Peavy is probably a better option than half of our bench right now.

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Jul 10, 2012 -> 09:28 PM) It does cast a cloud. That said, if the HOF begins admitting ballplayers not necessarily proven, but suspected of PEDs, then he has to go in. To me, if your name keeps making an appearance in PED discussions, there is usually a very good reason for that. I thought that AROID already admitted his use, you know, the standard 1 or 2 times, yeah right.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jul 11, 2012 -> 05:37 AM) http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,5498797.story Yea, apparently Jaffe signed too.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jul 11, 2012 -> 05:53 AM) I still don't get why so many people are saying this. I've people saying this on espn.com, Sports Illustrated, and here. The Tigers are giving up nearly 4½ runs per game, and they have a lot of games left against the top 5 offenses in the league (TEX, BOS, TOR, NYY, SOX). Their defense isn't going to get much better. Now, something could always happen to cause the Sox to fall apart, but I don't see the Tigers winning more than 85-86 games. I agree with this sentiment.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Jul 10, 2012 -> 10:53 PM) Ozzie and Cora were glove guys. Even under Ozzie the Sox were some of the best fielding teams. This is not true. They were okay with the glove itself, well except for Pierre. But the Sox until this season were horrible on fundamental baseball. Defensively, offensively, base running, you name it. Ozzie talked often of fundamentals, but never seemed to do anything about it. Not to mention his assinine use of players out of positon, centerfield mostly, but others as well. Ozzie had his good points as a manager and I'll give him plenty of praise for the things that he did well, but having good defensive, fundamently sound teams was not one of his positive attributes.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 9, 2012 -> 02:49 PM) Off days suck. Multiple off days suck more. Agreed, I know the players need a few days off, as anyone does from their profession, But man; I hate the All Star game. This is going to be one long, boring week. Maybe K.W. will spice it up by leaking a few trade rumors.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 9, 2012 -> 01:17 PM) One thing to keep in mind is even if he wants to hit the ball to LF, when there's a radical shift, he's going to be pitched to accordingly. Unless a big mistake is made, he's not going to be given something that can easily be slapped the other way. He can hit the ball to LC very hard, but I don't think he hits ground balls to the left side much. They used to shift for Baines on the infield, but the OF would play him to hit the other way. That's true, they usually pitch him in. Listening to the game on radio however, I've heard D.J. and Farmer describe many of the pitches to him as being outside, or even strikes over the outside half of the plate. Mistakes or not, he seems to be getting plenty of chances to make a point of going the other way, which tells me that he doesn't want to.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Jul 9, 2012 -> 10:47 AM) If Adam Dunn comes up with runner(s) on, he should be swinging for the fences. If Adam Dunn comes up with nobody on, a walk is as good as a hit (and probably more likely to occur than a successful bunt from a man who hasn't bunted since little league), so you'd rather just see him take his normal approach. Even the occasional bunt hit won't get them to stop shifting against him. By the way, I'm not saying bunting in these situations, although that's one way to do it. But you can let up on your swing and go the other way without bunting.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Jul 9, 2012 -> 10:47 AM) If Adam Dunn comes up with runner(s) on, he should be swinging for the fences. If Adam Dunn comes up with nobody on, a walk is as good as a hit (and probably more likely to occur than a successful bunt from a man who hasn't bunted since little league), so you'd rather just see him take his normal approach. Even the occasional bunt hit won't get them to stop shifting against him. At the start, he would probably have to do it a few times to really let it sink in to other teams. If Dunn doesn't want to do this, fine, that's his choice, but I think that makes him much less of a feared hitter late in games. Any pitcher with control seems to make easy work of Dunn with the game on the line. I remember when Thome came up late I really wanted him up there because it just seemed to me that he had the attitude of whatever it takes, even a measley single, to help his team win. With Dunn I get the feeling that it's home run, walk, or oh well, that's what I do. Maybe it's because he is slumping, but Adam Dunn is pretty close to the last guy on the team that I want batting with the game on the line.

QUOTE (forrestg @ Jul 9, 2012 -> 09:12 AM) Anyone's argument about all or nothing hitting by Dunn is absurd. Jees no one is expecting to do it every time but Thome or accidentally on purpose would occasionally slap it to left for a base hit with good results. I'm not sure how well Thome was at controlling it but it was a thing of beauty when he place the ball to left. For the amount of money we pay him he should be able to hit it anyplace he wants to. I don't believe he is that one dimensional. I think the outcome of that was that teams did not employ quite as dramatic of a shift on Thome. I could be "misremembering", but I think that they only placed 3 infielders on the firstbase side of the infield, not 4. If I am also remembering correctly, Thome, beside all of his homeruns, also had several well timed singles in late innings because of this. This is why, even though Thome was slow, I would much rather have him hitting for my team than Dunn. I'm not necessarily a Dunn hater either, I just wish that he would increase the odds of him helping out the team, instead of being almost an easy out late in the game.

I believe that it was David Wells, I know that he was a real POS personally, but was a good pitcher, said that he did not mind giving up solo shots once in a while because those rarely hurt you. It was the hits / home runs with men on that really killed your team.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 9, 2012 -> 07:49 AM) And in exchange for a few more of those being hits, a few less could be home runs. I agree with that too. But I think that I would trade a solo shot or two, for a better chance at a positive outcome when men are on ahead of him in a crucial, late inning situation.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 9, 2012 -> 07:44 AM) If Adam Dunn comes up with men on base...Adam Dunn should try to hit a home run. I agree wholeheartedly, He tries every time. But....most of those time he tries to hit the ball hard and it's on the ground, or a line drive to the first base side. A few more of those could be hits, if say, once in a while he goes the other way, particularly when no one is on, or a pitcher that he doesn't see very well.

I realize everything that's been said so far. He doesn't have to hit it hard to the 3rd base side, just enough to get to the infield dirt or so. With nobody there, the chances of him being thrown out are nil. I know that you don't have a Dunn on your team to hit singles, but when a situation comes up with men on base and you just need to "keep the line moving", which happens pretty often, Dunn hits a hard ground ball to the first base side which is an easy out because they have four fielders over there. If you only had 3 fielders over there a few more of those might get through, extending the inning. Heck, this is all that was needed several times in the last week or so. I know we went 5 - 1 on the homestand, but we all know that if it wasn't for Youkilis we would of probably went, at best 2 - 4, and been in a team slump at the All Star break. I can't see a small adjustment like this hurting Dunns' swing. If anything, I think that it would help it, especially his confidence. It's obvious after last season that Dunn is a guy who can be affected tremendously by his confidence level.

I know that we've had this discussion in the past, particularly when Thome was here, but I just don't understand why hitters like Thome / Dunn don't actively try to take away the shift. I know that they are "boppers", and you "don't change their style", but geez, just put the thought in the defenses mind once in a while that you can go the other way. In Dunns case, and I think the shift on him is more extreme than it was for Thome, it looks like thay have all four infielders on the same side of the field. As Farmer has said many times when he is up, Dunn can "bunt a double here". All he would have to do is tap the ball to the 3rd base side and he is on base, and if he does that occaissionally the defense would at least have to keep their 3rd baseman on the 3rd base side, giving a little better chance of getting a hit when he pulls the ball. I think that he has had a few singles taken away because all four infielders are on the 1st base side. I know the pitchers pitch him inside to make him hit it to the 1st base side, but I also know he gets balls thrown to him, mistakes or not, that are outside. It sems to me that all that is needed is a tap to the 3rd base side once in a while to help keep the defense honest. The defense would still shift, just not as extreme. I guess it must be in the "ego" of these type of players to just power their way through the shift, but I believe that they are really hurting the team when they don't try this once in a while. Other than a walk or a home run, Dunn is pretty useless right now. Another single here or there would really help him, and more importantly, the team out.

QUOTE (RZZZA @ Jul 8, 2012 -> 10:23 PM) I'm more worried about Paulie. Someone earlier today said they couldn't remember the last time he had a hit that mattered. I agree with that, he's been turrible in the clutch this year. The Dunn/PK duo is not thrilling my body recently Dunn I have absolutely no faith in. He hits the occaissional home run / walks, but seems to come up with fewer good at bats, when it counts than anyone else, especially for a #3 hitter. Konerko I have heard was hurt, and evidently still is. I don't know what the problem is and evidently he can play through it, but really needs to get well. Our #3 - 4 hitters are pretty bad right now. I really hope that neither one of them plays in the All Star game, and just rests. If it wasn't for Youkilis, instead of a 5 - 1 homestand, we would of probably had a 2 - 4 homestand.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jul 5, 2012 -> 02:52 PM) Greg... for the record... well, look at the records. Ozzie is NOT doing well in Miami no matter what you might think. All those star players and somehow they can't win... weird. Baited the hook, here comes Greg in 5..... 4..... 3......2........1.....

QUOTE (RZZZA @ Jul 5, 2012 -> 03:33 PM) He's been fantastic. A smart vet is just what we needed at the plate. I know people had doubts about his health but KW gets credit for making great decisions all season so far It's amazing how a G.M. looks so much better when the players actually play well.

Update on Dan Black. 2012 Season Team League AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG OPS WS CAR .294 79 303 46 89 15 0 11 40 137 43 58 2 1 .382 .452 .834 Minors .294 79 303 46 89 15 0 11 40 137 43 58 2 1 .382 .452 .834 Looks like he is having a pretty good season, although nothing outstanding. An 834 OPS is not terrible, but I did notice this: Splits: (Current team only) Entire Season AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS OBP SLG OPS vs Left .350 80 15 28 4 0 4 13 13 18 1 0 .436 .550 .986 vs Right .274 223 31 61 11 0 7 27 30 40 1 1 .362 .417 .779 He seems to hit lefties pretty well, maybe he has a career as a platoon / pinch hitter against lefties. I also just noticed that he is listed as a switch hitter, don't know why I didn't notice that before. Anyway, I'll continue to root for the ex Boilermaker to make it to the bigs some day.

Damn Sunday lineup !

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jul 5, 2012 -> 02:14 PM) Best lefty in the al...Q or Sale? That's a fair question now that Ohman is gone.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 5, 2012 -> 02:11 PM) Next guy got a infield single and that would of scored Danks. Oh.......nevermind.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 5, 2012 -> 02:10 PM) Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales Lights are on, and temps have dropped to 95 My goodness, get the parkas out quick.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 5, 2012 -> 02:03 PM) I wish he would not of tried against a LHP I did not see the double, but somewhere it was described as a line drive. There was one out at the time ( I think) so Danks probably would not of been running. He probably would not of scored on the double anyway. Again, I'm at work and did not see this. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong......like i need to ask this.

QUOTE (Wagz @ Jul 5, 2012 -> 01:35 PM) 11 hits and only 3 runs wow the twins are struggling this year. Yes, but it's 3 more runs than the Tigers have.