scenario

Colon... 5 innings... 65 pitches... 40 strikes. I'll take that for his first outing against hitters in some time. Lillibridge 8/23 (.348) in July

Richard's minor league BB/9 is 2.5, which is very good. This year for the Sox, it's up around 3.8, which is not acceptable. Whatever is causing the control problem has to be identified and fixed.

I'd have Beckham bunt to Peralta.

I'd send Richard down to Charlotte. He seems to have completely lost command on his offspeed stuff. No sense giving him another start in Chicago until he shows he's regained it. Doesn't do us much good coming out of the pen with only one pitch working either.

IMO, the Sox probably felt Allen had higher trade value now than he would at the end of the year... That memories of his outstanding performance in 2008 were still pretty recent and gave them a window to 'sell higher' than memories of his so-so performance in 2009 would... Which is probably true given the way things were going for him in Charlotte. Unless things turned around for him in a big way during the 2nd half in Charlotte, his trade value would likely have fallen off the proverbial cliff. So... I was initially surprised by his being dealt, but the more I think about it... the more logical it seems. I wish we had gotten more for him, but... KW has a pretty respectable track record with deals involving our prospects, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Logan Johnson has picked up offensively after a tough start in W-S. He's now batting in the .270's for the season. And he's 14/37 (.378) with 4 homeruns in his last 10 games.

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jul 5, 2009 -> 04:36 PM) Rongey is a complete dope. He's a freakin' Rhodes Scholar next to most of the people who call in.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jul 5, 2009 -> 02:24 PM) He's been a strike out guy since the DSL and I've been saying he could be solid since then, but the Sox don't seem to think too highly of him. Why do you say that?

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Jul 5, 2009 -> 03:05 PM) Why the f*** is Carrasco still out there? Honestly, at this point I'm hoping he gives up 5 more runs. If Poreda can't pitch today, he'll never pitch. I'm guessing they're holding back Poreda for the Cleveland series.... because the Sox prefer to load up as many lefties against them as possible.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Jul 5, 2009 -> 01:46 PM) Missed it did Wise steal 3rd? or wild pitch passedball? Wild pitch

QUOTE (soxfan3530 @ Jul 5, 2009 -> 01:02 PM) How can Madden justify putting Ben Zobrist in over JD??? When it comes to reserves, managers typically take their own guys if they can. Zobrist played well enough to be in the conversation, so Dye would have needed an overwhelming edge to get the nod. Frankly, I'm happy that our guys didn't get picked. Let them rest up for the second half.

QUOTE (chisoxfan09 @ Jul 5, 2009 -> 10:23 AM) Scen, as quoted before I think Dana Eveland is the only player even in MLB right now. None of the other 5 have done anything at all. With Richard/Poreda you already have 2 lefties who are on the verge of being solid long relievers or starters. Anderson, Cunningham, and Carter began the year as the A's #1, #4, and #6 prospects. Anderson (#7 prospect in all of MLB according to Baseball America) has started 14 games for the A's this year... including a 7-1 win over the Tigers last week. Greg Smith started 32 games for Oakland last year with a 4.16 ERA. Aaron Cunningham is raking in AAA while waiting for a spot to open up in Oakland's crowded outfield. Carter lead all of MiLB in homeruns last year and is tearing up AA this year. CarGon was one of the keys to the A's getting Holliday... is only 23 and is tearing up AAA for Colorado this year. I don't think I have to go on... that's an absolute boatload of talent... all given up for Haren. I'll say it one last time, then I'll shut up... Interesting to talk about but... NOT.GOING.TO.HAPPEN

A few of the many reasons there is no freaking way the DBacks will trade Haren... Haren, who turns 29 on Sept. 17, is a logical target, but he will remain the Diamondbacks' sole ace if the team declines its $8.5 million option on righty Brandon Webb, who is facing possible shoulder surgery. The D-backs picture Haren continuing not only as their No. 1 starter, but also serving as a mentor for two of their younger pitchers, righty Max Scherzer and Class AA right-hander Jarrod Parker. Haren also is signed to a club-friendly contract that includes salaries of $7.5 million this season, $8.25 million next season and $12.75 million in both '11 and '12, with a $15.5 million club option or $3.5 million buyout for '13. The Diamondbacks paid a steep initial price for Haren, acquiring him from the A's along with pitcher Connor Robertson for six players on Dec. 14, 2007. The A's received pitchers Brett Anderson, Dana Eveland and Greg Smith, plus outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Aaron Cunningham and first baseman Chris Carter. So... the DBacks pay a small fortune in prospects to acquire an ace with a very reasonable contract... then sign him to an extension... and then are supposed to turn around 18 months later and trade him for prospects? One of those things that fans of other teams love to think about that will never ever happen.

Alexei is batting .272 with 10 homeruns at the halfway mark and grades a D? Tough crowd. And how does Linebrink who has a 2.05 season ERA get a lower grade than Dotel who has a 3.23 in the same number of innings? Because he's had a few tough outings recently? And Danks and Floyd are significantly better than league average ERA... how come they grade a C?

A few really good pitching performances tonight worth noting... Carlos Torres strikes again... 8 innings; 1 run on 4 hits; 9 K's and 2 BB's; lowers his season ERA to 2.30 Gregory Infante in his Winston-Salem debut... 5 innings; 2 runs on 6 hits; 2 K's and 1 BB in a losing effort. Dexter Carter... dominant... 8 innings; 1 run on 5 hits; 9 K's and 1 BB. Steven Upchurch with a quality start... 6 innings; 3 runs on 8 hits; 3 K's and 1 BB. Joucer Martinez... 7 innings; 0 runs on 3 hits; 4 K's and 1BB.

QUOTE (sircaffey @ Jul 4, 2009 -> 09:36 PM) I gotta agree with WC on this one. The switch from SS to 2B is much more of a technical switch. Beckham's footwork around the bag would be attrotious to start of with. Sure, he has the range and instincts to play the position, but learning the footwork takes a lot of time. Not to mention you risk injury putting an inexperienced player at 2B without the correct skills to avoid runners. I'd rather keep him at 3B for this season, at the very least. He played 2B in the Arizona Fall League last year and looked pretty good. I saw a couple of his games and he played well there... had several very good defensive plays.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Jul 4, 2009 -> 03:52 PM) It was an ignorant comment on my part. As long as I don't lose any respect over it, I guess it's okay. No respect lost. Stuff like that is sort of fun... keeps us all humble. I was once quoted as saying the Sox would be stupid to trade Contreras for Chase Utley. DOH.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jul 4, 2009 -> 07:09 PM) I like Colligan after seeing him in action in the Big 12. I wrote a piece on FutureSox about him. I think he could make some noise in our system. Link I just read it. Nice job. Provides a helpful picture of him.

We are now 2-31 when trailing after the 6th inning?? Seriously??? That's brutal.

Sad. We're going to lose this game because of our inability to turn a routine double-play. Booooo.

No excuse for Alexei not to turn that DP. No error there but it might as while be. Ridiculous.

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jul 4, 2009 -> 01:37 PM) Hail me, b****es. If I were you, I'd go buy a lottery ticket before the aura wears off.

QUOTE (joeynach @ Jul 4, 2009 -> 01:01 PM) Seriously what the hell is up with this guy. He wasn't pitching that awful, I believe his ERA was around 4. Then all of a sudden he goes to the DL with swelling in his knee. Since then I have heard absolutely nothing about him or his situation. Anyone got anything? He's down in Arizona... conditioning and working on pitches. I wouldn't be surprised to see him reappear later in the year.

3rd blown call against the Sox so far... and it's only the 3rd inning. These umps are having a brutal game.

12th round CF Kyle Colligan making rookie ball look pretty easy in his first 10 games. So far batting .400 (11 for 35) with 7 of his 11 hits coming for extra bases... 3 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 homeruns.