2nd_city_saint787

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 15, 2012 -> 04:38 AM) You're forgetting replacing Mark Buehrle and the fact that John Danks except for one start has been one of the worst starting pitchers in all of baseball. I replaced him with CY Peavy, I know he was on the team last year but not this Peavy Talking trades and actually consummating one are two quite different things. I'm sure if someone made an amazing offer for Matt Thornton or Jesse Crain that KW would pack their bags for them. As Balta kept on saying all offseason, we had/have to replace 8 wins just to get back to a 79-83 team. That was predicated on getting positive contributions out of Dunn/Rios/Peavy (check, check and check) but also Viciedo, Morel and Beckham. So this team needs to be 9 deep in the lineup to replace 8 wins? Adding more than likely 30 more Hrs and 50 more RBIs out of Dunn, 30 more RBIs outta Alex, and a CY worthy Peavy dont equal 8 wins? at least??? As I stated in my rant the books still open on Dayan, gotta wait and see if hes like his fellow cuban Lexi and starts to get hot with the weather. Morel has GOT to go at some point soon as I dont see him figuring it out in the bigs. I still believe in Gordo to turn it around, while he hasnt had a hit the last few days he alsos on K'd once so he still hasn't looked terrible at the dish this month. If you take the steady contributions of Buehrle out of the equation and add in Danks as one of the worst and Humber continues to look more like a 5th starter than he did in the first half of 2011...as well as figuring in Sale in all likelihood can't withstand pitching anything above 125 or max 150 innings, and you're going to be shutting down Sale or putting him in the bullpen in the heat of the pennant race, well, everything that can go right almost has to go right, and that means we also have to rely on DET to falter for almost the entire season. Finally, add in the mysterious disappearing bat of Alexei Ramirez. There are 2 WC so we don't have to rely on Det to falter... Lexi starts off slow every year.... I also stated in my last post that if Danks and Humber still are shaky at the deadline then yes this team is in trouble and trade away. Even in the rosiest point of view, we're an 84-85-86 win team as currently constructed. Is DET likely to finish that low? Second, we KNOW Detroit and Illitch will be willing to go "all out" in June/July to make improvements to their bullpen, 2B, DH abd RF positions. 86 wins still gets you in the playoffs IMO and if Danks turns it around and Peavy and Floyd are still the Peavy and Floyd they are not this team can make SOME noise in the playoffs. We're certainly not in a position to add payroll this season, either. You never know how much money they have to play with. And we have almost nothing in the minor leagues to work with in terms of commodities that could get something useful back for the major league roster. Best case scenario, we find a veteran 3B ala Herb Perry in 2000 and he catches fire. I suppose that's possible. But it's also trusting KW when he hasn't shown any reason for us to trust him since the end of the 2008 season. QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ May 15, 2012 -> 04:38 AM) I consider a loyal fanbase one that sticks with a team when it is bad, not blindly believes they are always a good team. That's the difference. Just taking time out of our day to post about this team on a message board all the time proves our loyalties. I agree with this too but its MAY 15th, i capped that in this post and my last because well...ITS MAY 15TH and we're 2.5 games out! They've been in nearly every game too, and have only been blown out what 2 or 3 times?? I just dont think it's time to start talking about trades yet and thats that

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 14, 2012 -> 11:32 PM) So is your position different than Marty's? We're not rebuilding, but we're trying to compete this season and KW very well might get fired if we don't make the playoffs or finish below 1.6 million for attendance? I get it, we're only 2 1/2 behind first place and only 1/2 game behind our primary competitors. The problem is that we do have players with value to other teams (Thornton, Crain, Peavy, Floyd and AJ, not to mention Dunn, Konerko and Ramirez) and that if you subtract away that first group, how realistic is it that we can come close to competing in 2013 and 2014? Then you get in that "wait it out" situation for the fourth year in a row where the team is stuck in-between and has no clear direction or strategy for the future. That's not much fun, either. It's like being in purgatory. Despite the momentary ups and downs (2-4 game streaks either way), the path to be competitive in 2013 and 2014 is just as important as this year. We can't keep mortgaging the future for a 10-15% chance at making the playoffs. Actually, according to espn, right now its a 37.9% chance at making the playoffs, which is the 5th highest % in the AL and 5 teams make the playoffs... My "position" is that if your team is built to compete, and with a good Rios and Dunn, they are then by god you compete.... If Danks, Lexi, and Tank are still shaky and they're out of it in the standings come time for the trade deadline then yes trade away....but on MAY 15th when they're right in the thick of things its not time to talk about trades, like you smarks are doin already. Unless youre getting someone like Dylan Bundy, Trevor Bauer, or Bryce Harper there are no sure things as far as prospects go. So there's no guarantee that a "fire sale" or whatever you "fans" on here want is gonna mean you're gonna be be any better off in the future. If they're competing as the season goes on more fans are gonna come out, there's zero doubt there IMO whereas if you sell off the team no ones gonna wanna come out and watch that team. Look this team is a year removed from being "all in" and what failed about that team?? Dunn and Rios being historically bad...From the looks of it so far this year were getting what we expected last year out of them this year...What has changed from this year to last year?? They lost MB, okkkk but this year we have a healthy CY Peavy. They lost Juan Pierre, okkkk ADA is one of the best lead odd hitters in the game right now. They lost Sergio Santos, okkkkk well before yesterday Addison Reed had an era of 0.00. They lost CQ, ok well the books still open on Tank but it was long believed that he can equal the production of Carlos....Am I missing something here on why this team CANT compete and I should be talking about trades on MAY 15!

Sox are now the only team in the AL central with a positive run differential at +1, a half game behind the Tigers, and 2.5 behid the indians who aren't supposed to contend...and everyone here is talking about trading off parts at the deadline lol smh what a loyal fan base we have here

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ May 14, 2012 -> 07:21 PM) I think the article is speculating on position, I dont understand why they dont give Carimi a shot at LT, but who knows. It is, as long as Carimi and Williams are the tackles im happy no matter what side theyre on.

Looks like Chris Williams will be moving back to LT (as i expected) http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,7870245.story

lol ohhh soxtalk how you entertain me. You guys have more mood swings than my girlfriend.

Sorry guys its my fault for picking up Reed on my fantasy team....I picked up Santiago, he then proceeded to lose the closers spot. Then I picked up Thornton when his ERA was under 1, now its above 4. Then when I found out Sale was going back to the rotation I knew it was FINALLY gonna be time for Reed to be the man, then he does this.

its been 1 inning guys...albeit a bad inning on bot sides of things, theres still 8 innings to go, relax.

I believe this is a play off his "Robin Ventura is DA MANager" thread...either way...turrable...ADA not turrable

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 11, 2012 -> 02:40 PM) I think they were referring to the games at Wrigley next weekend, where there is no DH. I'm an idiot

QUOTE (flavum @ May 11, 2012 -> 10:37 AM) So is Dunn playing LF next weekend? QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 11, 2012 -> 10:39 AM) Unless Dayan has gotten really hot, and Dunn has slumped, you have to think about it. Interesting thought, Id still give Dayan a couple more weeks/a month to get it goin. Itd be a shame if he can't get it goin and they have to give up on him. If they're still contending though(I still believe they can still contend with a struggling Dayan) thats certainly one way to rev up the offense. Who do they DH though? Dan Johnson? Tyler Flowers and call up Phegley?

I recorded inside the NBA after the lakers game to see what all those guys had to say and just like I thought CJ was fouled twice before Asik got fouled....That final minute of the game was a hell (or hail) storm as Barkley said. Was it Thibs call to crash the boards after the miss or is it just a mental lapse?? Either way it should have never got to that point as 1. CJ got fouled twice and 2. With the no calls CJ should have never gave the ball up to Asik, a Marion Barber moment right there...

So what was the diff between the flagrant on Faried and the no call on Asik??

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ May 9, 2012 -> 04:06 PM) There isn't a player I dislike more than Josh Hamilton. He is really damn good at hitting baseballs though. Read his book and then tell me what youre level of dislike is...Only book ive read cover to cover multiple times...Hes hands down my fav none Sox player. BTW I'm just now noticing how turrable my sig is...somewhere between photoshop, photobucket, and here the sox logo in the middle vanished....sorry you guys gotta see that every time i post lol

CJ should have never passed that ball..nuff said...season over...go lakers/OKC

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 10, 2012 -> 08:21 PM) I'm following online. What happened? Ball goes outta bounds with .4 on the shot clock taj hits a 3 but it was a 24 sec violation......Once again getting beat by the refs in the first half

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 10, 2012 -> 01:06 PM) Counting Gordon Beckham in the "sure thing" category for the rest of the year? Hmm...will believe it when I see it. And AJ's definitely been trailing off, too. Ramirez up until the last couple of games had been worse than Viciedo overall. I said he "looks" like the golden boy, not calling him a sure thing yet. I like this quote from Manto on getting him back to where he was his rookie year "Where he was (during his struggles), I don't think he could have sustained a major-league season, 600 plate appearances. The bat path was a little off, and his shoulders were steep. Right now he's square, head with the shoulders.''. That change is really showing with him batting well over .300 when hes been in the 2 spot where Robin said he'll be staying at which that too I like. We all knew AJ wouldnt be able to stay where he was early in the season but he'll give us what hes been giving us the past years and I'll take that out of our catcher. as we all know Ramirez is a slow starter so I'm not worried about him yet and yesterdays game was hopefully a sign of things to come...its May now its time for him to get hot. EDIT: on a side note the Manto quote reminds me of my high school baseball coach having us bite our collar to keep out heads and shoulders together. Always thought that was a great way to do things, Manto if your reading, youre welcome lol =p

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 10, 2012 -> 12:36 PM) Axelrod had to be used in relief before his scheduled start in the CLE doubleheader. After that they wanted another pitcher because Sale was already out at the time, so Axelrod went down, and Quitana and Stults came up. Once Axelrod went down, he has to stay there at least 10 days, unless someone goes on the DL. Ahh I wasnt aware, makes sense now I look forward to seeing what he can do as a MLer he hasnt had an era over 3 the last 2 years he was starting down there.... I think he can be a #4-5....which he may have to be if sale stays in the pen and humber continues his collapse

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ May 10, 2012 -> 12:03 PM) But can you honestly look at this team and think "this is a playoff caliber team"? Sale is no longer in the rotation. Peavy and Humber will likely run out of gas in the 2nd half. Our lineup has AA quality hitters sprinkled throughout. The bullpen is terribly inconsistent. I just don't see it. I can honestly see a contending team. Gordons starting to look like the golden boy he was his rookie year, that leaves the Cubans that need to get it going. Lexi had 3 hits and its about time for him to get hot, gotta hope that Dayan is another slow starter like his fellow Cubano.... That would make our lineup 8 deep ADA-Beckham-Kong-Donkey-Rios-Dayan-AJ-Lexi thats a pretty damn good lineup there....For the past few years the Sox biggest hole keeping them from competing has been a LH middle of the lineup power hitter and now they have that....Morel and at this point Dayan are the only guys who can be considered "AA quality hitters" The bullpen has been fantastic as of late, if the sox get it right and use Reed as the closer the bullpen will be lights out. At this point I believe the starters are the biggest question mark....Im a fan of Axelrod and dont know why Stults is getting the starts over him at this point. The mans been REALLY good in the minors and has had good enough success at the MLB to be considered at the least a #5 starter....Humbers the biggest question mark on this team, if hes 2011 pre all star break Humber then the staff will be good enough to compete.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ May 9, 2012 -> 11:50 PM) We've been awful at home. Playing one good road game tonight doesn't change that. I missed the part where he said at home, oops.

QUOTE (jeffro2525 @ May 9, 2012 -> 11:46 PM) I don't think they'll end up there. I hope I'm wrong, but I have a feeling we're catching them at the wrong time...I mean, at some point the Sox have to start showing signs of life at home. Right? The 8 runs today wasnt enough for you?

I think everyone still wants to think this team is bad and cant say anything good about em. Feels great to blow a team out like that! The cubans are my keys to this offense turning it around so it was great to see one of them, Lexi, get 3 hits today. He's due to get hot and lets hope today is the start of that. If they can put a hot Lexi in that 2 spot we'll be seeing a lot more runs being put on the board.

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 9, 2012 -> 09:36 PM) I'm not crazy about Jones' Keith Foulke-like delivery. Why does he pitch that way? Why does any pitcher pitch the way they do?? Just needed to nit pick about somethin right....Great win for the Sox as they split the series and are only 3 games outta 1st.

QUOTE (jeffro2525 @ May 9, 2012 -> 08:37 PM) 3 hits for Alexei...I like. Hope its a sign of things to come!

QUOTE (TitoMB @ May 9, 2012 -> 08:22 PM) I've decided I have to get MLB.tv. I have to see Peavy pitch! It's torture that he starts doing well again after I move away You should see this Adam Dunn guy too, hes the LH power hitter we've been missing the last few years.