Pants Rowland

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Jan 27, 2007 -> 10:10 AM) But his .276 OBP and .310 SLG% against him isn't surprising. That's why you don't look at one stat while evaluating a hitter, especially batting average. League v. Johan 2006 BA: .216 OBP: .257 and SLG%: .360 OPS: .616 SO/BB: 5.21 League v. Johan 2004-2006 BA: .206 OBP: .251 and SLG%: .341 OPS: .592 SO/BB: 5.12 Erstad's OPS v. Santana was below the league average in 2006 at .586. He had no walks but also had only one strikeout in 29 AB v. Santana. FWIW, only Crede (.623), Ozuna (.783) and Thome (.880) had better OPS v. Santana on the entire Sox squad. Only Cintron and Mackowiak struck out as few times and that was in 7 and 3 AB, respectively. The fact is Santana is a freak of nature who has dominated the Sox and the league at a level I can not recall seeing in my years of watching baseball. He does not walk many per nine innings and does not hit many batters either. He strikes out a ton as well. It is not a surprise for Erstad to have identical BA and OBP against him. It is also not surprising that his slugging percentage is so low. The fact is Johan does not give up much in the way of extra base hits. The teams tht beat him manufacture runs. A .276 BA or OBP ain't bad. Unfortunately, the next time the WS face Santana, Guillen will put an all RH lineup against Johan and he will get really comfortable on the rubber and dominate. The one thing I truly agree with Hawk on is Guillen has to stop overplaying the righty lefty act with Santana, among others. It makes it too easy for him to get comfortable on the mound.

QUOTE(Hangar18 @ Jan 26, 2007 -> 12:33 PM) 2006 - What really happened. He rightly got rid of the 2 crutches on the team ..........lefty Marte and Vizcaino. In turn, he NEVER REPLACED their bad arms with Better ARms. This proved COSTLY as the other solid arms in the bullpen, Neil Cotts and Cliff Pollitte each took 6 steps backward, and the bullpen proved to be our downfall. DING!DING!DING!DING! We have a winnah! To me the combination of a terrible bullpen early in the season combined with inconsistent defense in the outfiled (Pods and Mack) had a huge ripple effect on the entire team, in particular the starting pitchers. The starters were inconsistent to ineffective at times (see Beuhrle v. Cubs before the ASB) but I strongly believe this was a combination of postseason fatigue, followed by morale lost due to blown saves coupled with poor defense extending innings, followed by even more fatigue because Ozzie was forced to leave them in when the bullpen was ineffective. I do believe this really spiraled out of control and manifested considerably in the second half. The weak bullpen took a terrible toll on this team and gradually ate away at their ability to compete at a championship level.

QUOTE(CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jan 25, 2007 -> 08:22 PM) Dotson came up with the Sox and spent most of his career with them. How could he get on this list? All but maybe 15-20 of his career win total came playing with the Sox The Chicago White Sox acquired Richard Dotson, Thad Bosley and Bobby Bonds from the California Angels in exchange for Brian Downing, Dave Frost and Chris Knapp during the 1977 Winter Meetings.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jan 25, 2007 -> 06:48 PM) No; GGs are insignificant. Good fielders sometimes win them, bad fielders sometimes win them. But they shouldn't EVER be used to justify whether or not a player can play good defense. Okay. I won't argue whether the GG is a joke or not with you, but do you think Erstad was worthy of a "true" GG (as opposed to the joke that it truly is) in the years he won it?

QUOTE(retro1983hat @ Jan 25, 2007 -> 02:27 PM) Mike North, while annoying sometimes, went from a regular fan to a millionaire on sports radio and probably considered one of the top sports talkers in the country. The hating on him gets a little tired on this board sometimes. How can anyone even think of defending a colossal buffoon like Mike North. I really dislike Murph, but I have to confess I can tolerate him for short durations of time. I practically break my radio scrambling for the dial whenever I hear North's voice. Millionaire or not, he is an imbecile and always will be. You do not need to be a genius to make money. You just need to find the right audience for your schtick. Geraldo Rivera is even bigger proof of this fact.

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Jan 23, 2007 -> 02:31 PM) I know Buerhle was invited to pitch but declined. So i guess that counts the U.S. Garcia represented Venezuala Vazquez represented Puerto Rico Carlos Lee's lil brother represented Panama?!? Iguchi declined to play for Japan but he was invited so Japan. So 5 countries?!? Japan, U.S., Venezuala, Puerto Rico and Panama? I was only considering those that actually played and were on the 40 man roster last year so Puerto Rico (Vazquez and Cintron) and Venezuela (Garcia) were the only countries I considered.

QUOTE(Beltin @ Jan 23, 2007 -> 02:16 PM) I know, I caught my mistake after submitting. I do not think there were any players from Canada, Mexico or P.R. on the 2005 Roster. Oh, I forgot about Joey Cora for the coaches. I think he is from Puerto Rico, which takes the whole World Series players and coachign staff to seven. Okay. Here is a follow-up question that you may know the answer to. How many countries did the 2006 squad represent in the WBC?

QUOTE(hammerhead johnson @ Jan 23, 2007 -> 02:13 PM) Just off the top of my head: Freddy Garcia: Venezuela I can't believe I thought Javy Vazquez was on teh 05 team. I know, I caught my mistake after submitting. I do not think there were any players from Canada, Mexico or P.R. on the 2005 Roster. Oh, I forgot about Joey Cora for the coaches. I think he is from Puerto Rico, which takes the whole World Series players and coachign staff to seven.

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Jan 23, 2007 -> 02:00 PM) How many countries did the white sox represent on the 2005 world series championship team?!?! (The 25 man roster) Five Japan Cuba USA Dominican Republic Venezuela If you count coaches, I think Man Soo Lee from Korean takes it to Six

QUOTE(salty99 @ Jan 23, 2007 -> 01:20 PM) Feb. 16 To all or just season ticket holders? Anyone know the date for season ticket holders?

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jan 23, 2007 -> 01:00 PM) I misread the question. I thought you meant only two world series champs had players that won a gold glove. Well in that case, I think Guillen won one and I'd say Carlton Fisk probably won one too. Third choice would be Ventura because he was amazing but I don't know if he ever won the award. I thought it was Ventura and Guillen. QUOTE(knightni @ Jan 23, 2007 -> 01:05 PM) 5 with the Sox, 1 with the Mets. Before Guillen in '90, who was the last WS player to win a GG? Ken Berry?

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Jan 14, 2007 -> 11:22 AM) It's not James Baldwin, it's the embarrasing situation with Berry and Barry. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/010726baldwin.html How did Jon Berry end up doing in his career anyway?

I have been following the team since '82 probably. Prior to that I was too young to even care. Ron LeFlor getting hit in the head by a fly ball was an instant Darwin Award candidate but it did not put poor Ron out of his misery. I think Bevington's bar room tussle (I think it was only verbal, but it made the press) with an umpire also has to be up there. The fact that Terry "Boom Boom" Bevington was ever manager was a whole slew of stupidity wrapped into a season or two. How about a young Ozzie Guillen getting duped at 1st base on the hidden ball trick twice in one season? Overall, however, I am certain every team has had plenty of these to cite. It is the way of baseball and what made TWIB one of the best shows to watch as a kid.

QUOTE(klaus kinski @ Jan 4, 2007 -> 10:36 PM) Per Major League trade rumors-physical pending I despise that guy He is like A.J. I hate him now but would probably appreciate him if he were on my team. He plays a great 1B and would be a nice back-up to spell PK. Unfortunately there is no room on the WS roster for another reserve (or agitator for that matter), especially a left-handed hitter.

QUOTE(StatManDu @ Jan 4, 2007 -> 11:36 AM) Indeed. I think poor Jorge thought he had the rug pulled out from under him by the Sox because he felt and I think was given signals that he was the backstop of the future. Thanks for your interest. I remember that as well. A lot of folks were disappointed that that Sox let him go. I can not recall the circumstances when they parted ways, though. Was it through trade, expansion draft, free agency? Please fill in the blanks if you recall.

QUOTE(StatManDu @ Jan 3, 2007 -> 02:32 PM) YES! I was there. Keep checking every day. There will be a new "stumper" daily! If I am not mistaken, the answer to today's stumper was none other than Mr. Jorge Fabregas. Correct?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jan 3, 2007 -> 10:48 AM) Not to come across as racist or anything of the sort, because Iam not, but I was surprised when I learned about it as well considering I didnt really picture a black athlete as an avid hunter. I remember Bo Jackson was a big hunter of pheasant or something like that. That's 2 black hunters, you racist!

QUOTE(StatManDu @ Jan 3, 2007 -> 02:32 AM) I have added a daily Sox Stumper to my Daily Almanac http://journals.aol.com/dmarran359/Soxalmanac/ Melido Perez

QUOTE(3 BeWareTheNewSox 5 @ Jan 2, 2007 -> 04:42 PM) I think there were 2, right? Yes. I recall one against Detroit at home in September and another I think against the Twins. This one from the espn list is most amazing of all to me. "The Mariners somehow "hit" into a triple play in a Sept. 2 game in Tampa Bay -- without a ball being put in play. Raul Ibanez got called out on strikes for the first out. Adrian Beltre got nailed stealing second for the second out. Then Jose Lopez bolted for the plate and got thrown out at home for the third out."

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Dec 5, 2006 -> 12:23 PM) i for one want nothing to do with wells... he'd be a one and done type player, and i highly doubt the sox would pony up the cash to keep him. He is a heck of an upgrade in CF and would make the whole OF better, though. If you ignore the elephant in the closet regarding his pending free agency, I would definitely pursue him more aggressively than Crawford. You trade Garcia/Buehrle, Anderson and maybe a B prospect for him, platoon Pods and Sweeney in LF with either batting far down in the line-up, and move B-Mac into the rotation. Either way, you have a key component on your team that could walk for big money next year. You have surplus in pitching to trade so why not make the one year rent-a-player be something you need more in the short term, like a reliable CF/leadoff man? The only argument I can make otherwise is if you can get a cheap young talent like Crawford at a lesser price than TB is asking. I agree that the future is more important, but it sounds like the WS have to give up a lot of the future for Crawford as well.

From ESPN's Winter Meeting Notes - "The Rangers have an interest in Kenny Lofton as a short-term solution in center field. Lofton would most likely be willing to accept a one-year deal, which would give GM Jon Daniels the freedom to pursue a long-term answer next winter -- when Vernon Wells, Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones, Mike Cameron, Mark Kotsay and Aaron Rowand all hit the open market as free agents." That is a decent crop of free agent CFs to choose from next year. It doesn't guarantee anything, but this year's spending spree is primarily due to lack of talent available. The prices may not be nearly as high as we think a year from now. That doesn't mean the White Sox need to give up the farm for Wells, but if Wells can contribute in the field and at the plate, it should contribute to a good team and record. That should keep enough butts in the seats that the White Sox could compete for top free agent talent next off-season and possibly retain Wells.

This is a great opportunity to get Jeremy Reed back in the family.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Nov 27, 2006 -> 09:13 PM) Rex Hudler will love him then. Rex Hudler loves winners. I have not hung out with Rex in ages. Please explain.

Call me silly and sentimental, but I have trouble trading away two players with rings. I understand the logic behind the many reasons of trading Freddy and Joe. However, both of these guys stepped up huge on the biggest stage in baseball. With that noted, I do agree that Freddy needs to be moved for multiple reasons. However, I also think the White Sox should do everything possible to retain Crede. Joe was clearly the MVP of the 2005 postseason for the Sox. I think he deserved the Series MVP for his combined defense and offense. He does not have the monster numbers and statistics but he can take over a game with his defense and break hearts with his late game heroics, not matter if he was 0-fer with 3 strikeouts going into the bottom of the ninth. He is of the Paul O'Neill/Scott Brosius/Tino Martinez mold. The numbers are not necessarily going to dazzle you during trade talks, but the guy is a proven winner. I keep hearing about his back but I will take Joe with a full back and neck brace over other flashy names like that stooge on the northside who just held the Cubs up for more money he doesn't deserve. Joe is a winner, plain and simple. QUOTE(mr_genius @ Nov 27, 2006 -> 08:58 PM) We would need a top notch MLB starter if Garland is involved in a trade. Garland pretty much held down the rotation last year. I heard JG was not marketable enough for SoCal.

QUOTE(bschmaranz @ Nov 27, 2006 -> 03:04 PM) If he'd sign a 2 year deal worth around 8-10 million, go for it... If he costs 18-20 million over 2, forget that s***. A 34 year old second baseman converting to the outfield isn't worth nearly that much bread imo. Northside, with the exception of one game (one inning) in CF, he's never played the OF. What about that spectacular over-the-shoulder diving catch he made in medium center (running out from 2B, of course) in Game One of the 2000 ALDS against the Ms? That should count for at least another inning or two. I like the idea of Ray Ray back on the South Side.