scenario

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Jun 20, 2010 -> 05:48 PM) Well, you can not like the nickname, but you can't deny that it makes sense. I can tell you like it. But IMO the odds of it catching on are about the same as Lloyd Christmas had hooking up with Mary Swanson.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Jun 20, 2010 -> 01:52 PM) Players don't usually see a dramatic improvement in their plate discipline, especially not when they start to hit 22/23/24. I'm not expecting a major adjustment. But it is reasonable to see early struggles and then improvement in the first few months of AAA.

It takes alot of players a while to adjust to all the junk pitches they see in AAA. It's the level where they'll see the best offspeed stuff they've ever faced in their careers. Guys who are good fastball hitters won't see many of them until they demonstrate good batting eye and plate discipline to lay off offspeed pitches just outside the strikezone. The key is to watch their adjustment. Looks like Danks may be starting to adjust.

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Jun 20, 2010 -> 12:59 PM) Adam Dunn would look good in a ChiSox uniform no? This guy might realistically hit 500 HR someday. . . I wonder how the HOF voters will look at him when he retires. Dunn, by all accounts, wasn't a steroid user. . . has had a weird career though. Yeah. One of my random conspiracy theory thoughts is that the Sox brought up Viciedo to give a few teams, especially Washington, a look at him for a potential trade. He was tearing the cover off the ball in AAA. No sense in leaving him there, letting him cool off, and risk reducing his value. If he does well up here, I could see him dangled in Dunn deal.

Nice swing too. Love seeing Viciedo drive a ball to the opposite field with power.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 19, 2010 -> 10:56 PM) Wow! I knew that but didn't even really think about how bizarre that is! Damn Phils! I made a mistake... Gload's HR was in the 10th. One other interesting note. Both Thome and Gload's homeruns were pinch-hits.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Jun 19, 2010 -> 08:47 PM) Mark Salas (our bullpen catcher) is out for the Nationals series, because of his kid's graduation. John Orton (catching coach in the minors) cared the spell some info on Flowers defensive abilities: "Defensively, we are real happy with what he's doing. He's definitely a Major League catcher. He has good hands, he blocks. He throws good enough. He's smart. He has a great personality. He's able to handle different pitchers. That's one thing I really like about him. He makes visits at the right time. He has a good feel." Rest here. Here's more from the article. Thought I'd post it to help put an end to the misinformation floating around about Flowers. WASHINGTON -- White Sox Minor League catching instructor John Orton will be filling in this weekend for bullpen catcher Mark Salas, who will miss the Nationals series to attend his daughter's college graduation. Orton's presence also gave him the opportunity to evaluate Tyler Flowers, the club's top backstop prospect and heir apparent to A.J. Pierzynski. A .290 average with five home runs in his Past 10 games has raised Flowers average to .223, but Orton was more focused on Flowers' work behind the plate. In that area, the 24-year-old received good grades from his mentor. "From day one, he has been a kid who wants to win and asks the right questions," Orton said. "He picks up things real quick. It's always been just a matter of adjustments. The things I've heard about him being more of an offensive player, which he probably will be, but I didn't know much about his defense. It has been outstanding. "He's starting to look comfortable behind the plate. When you don't have to worry so much about what you are doing, then you can get into the calling the game and handling the pitching staff with all your concentration. He's been good doing that." When Flowers first arrived, he was classified as a Major League-ready hitter with a significant road to travel defensively. That defense is no longer a worry for Flowers is a greater positive in Orton's mind than the concerns coming from his hitting woes. "That's a good thing, not that he's struggling offensively," Orton said. "That first [full] year in Triple-A is tough for a lot of guys. You see a lot of guys that have been around pitching-wise and know how to pitch. They find out your holes and so you need to make an adjustment. It takes that learning curve at that level. He's going to be fine offensively. "Defensively, we are real happy with what he's doing. He's definitely a Major League catcher. He has good hands, he blocks. He throws good enough. He's smart. He has a great personality. He's able to handle different pitchers. That's one thing I really like about him. He makes visits at the right time. He has a good feel."

Interesting to see the ex-Sox factor in the 9th inning of the Twins-Phils game today... Jim Thome cracked a two-run homer in the top of the ninth off Jose Contreras. Then Ross Gload hit a game tying homer off Jon Rauch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to send it to extras.

I think it's probably a good idea not to set high expectations for Viciedo too early. He's a 21 year old about to see major league pitching for the first time. And he's vulnerable to good offspeed stuff. At this point, I would gladly settle for not sucking while he gets valuable experience. And if he makes a contribution I'll consider it a plus.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jun 19, 2010 -> 08:23 AM) Maybe we see Dayan today . Viciedo gets 1st start Saturday at 3rd Sox want to see what he can do right away WASHINGTON — Dayan Viciedo will make his first major league start Saturday at third base, a position the White Sox moved him from this winter. "It's no problem," Viciedo said of moving from first base. "I've been practicing on both sides, so it shouldn't be a problem." Viciedo, 21, played in 51 games at first and 10 at third for Triple-A Charlotte. He arrived Friday in the best shape he has been in since the Sox signed him to a four-year, $10 million contract in December 2008. "I feel everything is coming together," said Viciedo, who was batting .290 with 14 home runs and 34 RBIs in 62 games at Charlotte. "I'm really feeling as good as ever." Manager Ozzie Guillen wants to "mix it up" at third with Viciedo and Omar Vizquel, whom Guillen admits is playing well in place of injured Mark Teahen. But the Sox don't want to stunt Viciedo's development. "I trust (general manager Ken Williams)," Guillen said. "I trust (farm director) Buddy Bell. I've trusted those guys for seven years. I don't think Kenny is going to bring up somebody who can't help us. If he brings him up here, I play him." Flowers blossoming: Charlotte catcher Tyler Flowers is capable of being an every-day major league catcher, according to minor league catching instructor John Orton. "He has good hands, he blocks," Orton said. "He throws good enough. He's smart. He has a great personality. He's able to handle different pitchers. That's one thing I really like about him. He makes visits (to the mound) at the right time. He has a good feel." Defense was once considered Flowers' deficiency.

Jon Gilmore continues to roll. 2-4 tonight. Batting .395 over his last 10 games.

QUOTE (Dizzy Sox @ Jun 18, 2010 -> 08:40 PM) And he played in Birmingham! That's quite the accomplishment! I saw that. The Barons must have cloned him.

Morel finally having a good game. 3-4 so far.

Charlotte @ Rochester Zaleski Jacksonville @ Birmingham Lowe Wilmington @ Winston-Salem Leesman Kannapolis @ Lakewood Bayne

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 18, 2010 -> 07:27 PM) Gotta do our best to take away the bunt here. Or not... Finally a weakness in his game... he's an absolutely horrible bunter. LOL.

A 91 mph changeup? Yikes

Floyd's got a little extra juice on the fastball tonight.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Jun 17, 2010 -> 06:19 PM) Picked off! schooled

It's a short trip from Charlotte to DC. It is possible that they just have Hudson make the trip, in case Peavy isn't able to go, and they need to activate him. If so, no roster moves would take place until that decision was made. And if not needed, he simply returns to Charlotte. If I had to guess, I'd bet Hudson pitches Friday vs. Strasburg... allowing Jake to skip one turn in the rotation... and that they send down Lillibridge to open a spot.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Jun 16, 2010 -> 05:35 PM) Cool. Now I will have another team to follow besides Charlotte. Do it! I love following rookie ball. It's the most fun of all minor league levels IMO. You can pick up the games on internet radio. I particularly like listening to Great Falls games. You get to hear about alot of pretty high picks from various team as they take their first shot at pro ball.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 14, 2010 -> 03:30 PM) I personally don't think Cowley is reporting anything false right now. Ok. It's free country. But, I think you're being duped by a guy who IMO routinely creates controversy rather than reports facts... because the controversy draws more attention.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 14, 2010 -> 03:14 PM) So scenario, how can you still think nothing is going on when Konerko and Garcia confirmed that there was a very loud shouting match between Ozzie and KW? Geezus... why is this so black and white with some people? Either nothing is going on... Or it's inevitable Armageddon with someone on the verge of being fired and the organization coming apart at the seams? Obviously there is going to be tension given the personalities involved and the way the team is playing this year. I just don't buy into the National Enquirer-like soap opera headlines... created by people whose job it is to sell headlines.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 14, 2010 -> 03:13 PM) You really need to give guys like Heyman and B. Olney more credit. Give him credit for what? He didn't write a story about it. He put a few sentences at the end of an article on something else. The big revelation... One person who's familiar with the skirmishes between White Sox general manager Ken Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen said even before their latest blowup, "Kenny would like to fire him if he could.'' Wow. Hugely revealing. One person familiar with the skirmishes... I wonder who that was. /green

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 14, 2010 -> 03:05 PM) Seriously? Even with guys like Steve Stone saying their relationship is horrible right now? Just look at the tweets from Ozzie's family, and you can tell there is some bad blood between the families. Yes, seriously. Stone hasn't said squat. The vibe being thrown out there is coming from Cowley... and echoed by sportswriters who know nothing about what's going on and are simply reacting to his stories. Somewhere Joe Cowley is sitting back and laughing that he can yell 'fire' and watch all the little people run around in panic. Yawn.

We'll see. I still don't believe there's much substance to any of this.