Dick Allen

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 1, 2014 -> 12:16 PM) If I told Soxtalk in the pre-season that on May 1, Viciedo and Ramirez would be 1/2 in the batting average leaders, and that FLowers would have been on that list had he had enough PA's, how hard would you have laughed? Or except for Adam Dunn (I am not counting Jor Danks due to ABs) Viciedo would have the highest walk rate on the team, would people have laughed or cried?

This thread is about future payroll obligations. Sale and Q are signed to very team friendly contracts. Future obligations aren't very high. If a couple of these younger guys pan out, there should be plenty to spend on guys better than the Felipe Paulinos of the world. We already know there is plenty now or they wouldn't have risked Tanaka saying yes.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ May 1, 2014 -> 08:55 AM) We did have one of the toughest April schedules and we have a much easier one in May. I expect to finish the month above .500 barring any injuries. You never know how it will turn out, but the April schedule was pretty tough. The Sox did have to use 9 starters, and lost their best starter for a couple of starts. They went through a stretch where their bullpen couldn't have been worse. They weathered a 1-25 from Abreu. There is reason for some optimism.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 1, 2014 -> 08:36 AM) Perhaps several reasons. "They're really good at developing their own starting pitching even using other teams castoffs" plays into it, as does the not wanting to give contracts to guys likely to be hurt. They still have several castoffs from other teams with potential this year even if people don't want to admit it. Who are these castoffs with potential? They didn't sign any high priced free agents from other teams from 1997 when they signed Albert Belle until 2010 when they signed Adam Dunn. It was the first time they gave a free agent from another team more than $20 million during that stretch. The Sox spent a lot of money on pitching. They didn't sign expensive guys, they traded for them. Wells, Colon, Garcia, Peavy, Vazquez, Jackson, Contreras....these were high priced guys they brought in.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Apr 30, 2014 -> 03:23 PM) Really 2 bad innings last 2 days have done the Sox in. That and a lack of offense. Verlander and Scherzer could be to blame.

Flowers, 0-2, 2ks, 6 pitches. I think he was hoping Nieto was getting the start today.

Tyler has to realize he has a 60% chance of reaching base if he just puts the ball in play.

Tumbleweeds

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 30, 2014 -> 02:24 PM) Noesi's just not a good enough pitcher to store on your 40 man when you're already having issues creating room. However, after seeing him get hit hard all over the field in the 4th, it seems Ventura was one batter too late in getting him out while the deficit was still manageable. If you're going to have the bullpen day, you can't keep guys in when they're clearly gassed. Maybe he read Soxtalk and figured he had to prepare himself for a 14 inning game because he was toasted that day for removing ineffective pitchers.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 30, 2014 -> 02:20 PM) If I was told before the season that the Sox would use 9 different starting pitchers in their first 29 games, and Sale would only start four of them, I would have guessed 9-20 as a record. So 14-15 ain't too shabby. Still believe in this team if they get healthy and stay healthy in the next two weeks. And if someone told you a couple weeks ago when the Sox were pounding him, that Noesi would be starting for the Sox vs. Scherzer, you would probably have to be insane to think there was any chance to win the game. Maybe Viciedo can keep his dropped fly ball streak alive.

Is Noesi the White Sox 9th different starter this year? Sale, Paulino, Quintana, Johnson, Danks, Leesman, Rienzo, Carroll, and Noesi. That's a lot for April.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Apr 30, 2014 -> 02:12 PM) Det 4-0 ...............had guy dead to rights at 2nd Abreu does not cover 2nd base in rundown as the trailer. When I was at the game Sunday, they showed some sort of clip between innings of guys in spring training lifting, hitting, doing drills. They even showed them practicing rundowns.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 30, 2014 -> 02:08 PM) Yep, that's what made it such a brutal loss. Good effort by Noesi, but time to get him out now as they are crushing him the second time through the order. At least he made it to the 4th for the second time through the order. Occassionally, it's the first inning that he's pitched.

Get the bullpen ready.

Now, according to Hawk's theory, challenging any call made by the umpire who blew that one, will not be won.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 30, 2014 -> 01:54 PM) That is the first challenge Robin has won. Lovie is jealous.

Hahn needs to buy out Noesi's arb years between innings.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Apr 30, 2014 -> 01:39 PM) At this rate? Whenever his contract is up. I believe he'll pick it up at some point though. I really think if he would back off the plate 6 inches, he would be on fire.

Noesi working on his Cy Young award.

Donald Sterling's wife isn't exactly his opposite. She's actually getting the same pass Donald has received for years. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baske...0,4805353.story I also wonder who these people are who call Sterling and comment about his girlfriend taking photos with black people.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Apr 30, 2014 -> 12:26 PM) Not the best of plans for winning a ballgame. Any other option was just as bad if not worse.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Apr 30, 2014 -> 11:50 AM) So we want 2 or 3 innings from our starter? They really don't have many other options. They could call up Axe or Hanson for a start, but then they would have to mess with the 40 man.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Apr 30, 2014 -> 11:00 AM) That's a very curious plan. Off day tomorrow, they can give the bullpen a workout.

Besides, if Flowers "knew what was coming" to a rate where 60% of the balls he hits fair are hits, why is his k-rate so high?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 30, 2014 -> 07:06 AM) There is more to the game of baseball than statistics. If you watched the games at all, you would know exactly what is going on with Tyler Flowers. It isn't luck, it is adjustment and game planning. It won't be bad luck when the pitchers adjust to his adjustments. I think in this case people are misusing the numbers when the answer is right in front of them. To say jam shots into RF or little loopers off the end of the bat just over the SS's head for a single or swinging bunts isn't luck is crazy. Of course it's luck. It will be offset by line outs right at somebody or flyballs caught at the base of the CF fence against 30 MPH winds. Whatever the cutoff is for BABIP for considering one lucky, hopefully Flowers stays above it. I do know one thing, if we all knew Flowers would have 3 extra base hits, 1 homer, 5 walks and his current K-rate one month into the season, and nothing else, we would think he was having an even worse season than imagined. I do agree with the premise his new approach probably enhances his chances at being "lucky", but IMO unless you are hanging ropes all over the place, even then it's debatable, and Tyler is not, a .600 BABIP is incredible luck.