Dick Allen

Pods has a hit tonight. Don't the Sox win when he gets a hit?

Riske did the job. Its time to score a few runs, and keep Joey Cora's judgement out of the equation please.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Aug 15, 2006 -> 09:11 PM) No, he was sent to the minors right after spring training because he was 40 pounds overweight. Let's not forget, this chump shut us down back on opening day in 2003. Yeah, I didn't remember him being so fat. I don't know how a professional athlete who can make millions using their body would let themself go like that. Pretty pathetic .

Has Hernandez been this large his entire career?

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Aug 15, 2006 -> 09:02 PM) Javy=Danny Wright with a much bigger contract. Or actually, at least Javy is usually good for 5 innings I guess, so maybe he's a bit better. It goes to show how far pitching performances have slipped to still be called good. Some people still love Vazquez but thought Danny Wright sucked. Wright had a 5.18 ERA in 2002 and won 14 games for a team not nearly as good as this one. I believe Danny's paycheck was $220,000 total that year.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 15, 2006 -> 09:00 PM) If we do lose this game though, who's starting the Congratulatory thread for Javy? It would be nice if even his biggest admirers see that he probably isn't the guy you want on the mound in games that really need to be won.

KC averages 3 losses every 4 games on the road. I don't see where expecting a 4 game sweep is out of line.

JD isn't a good bet for player of the game tonight.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Aug 15, 2006 -> 08:50 PM) You know that doesn't apply. You can say it was a terrible decision, but you can't say it was a terrible decision because Paul got a hit next inning. But you know that. Considering the previous 4 batters hit Hernandez hard, I think I'd take my chances with Paulie and ducks on the pond rather than seeing yet another runner easily thrown out at home.

The good news is we still are going to see KC pitching the rest of the evening.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 15, 2006 -> 08:43 PM) Did anyone hear Hawk embarrass himself with Carmen/Silvy this afternoon? Was he talking about how great Cora is, or was he lambasting umpires? Funny how when Uribe was obviously out, Hawk said it was a tough call.

QUOTE(rafacosta @ Aug 15, 2006 -> 08:41 PM) If he ends this inning, it is a good line for him 6 IP, 3 ER. He gave the tie to the Royals, but our O should be more blamed, 2 runs agst one of the worst pitchers in baseball... And those 2 were a gift from the first base umpire. He wanted to give a couple more, but Joey wasn't having any of it.

The scary part about Vazquez's struggles the first half was he wasn't giving up many homers, something he has really struggled with the last couple of seasons. It appears those totals are starting to rise quickly.

Its the dreaded sixth inning for Vazquez.

I wonder how many guys the Sox have had thrown out at home this season, and how it compares to the rest of the league. Being aggressive is nice, but sometimes its just stupidity.

Cora is a horrible 3rd base coach. A blown umpire's call gives the Sox 2 runs. I hope Hawk remembers that.

QUOTE(Felix @ Aug 14, 2006 -> 11:52 AM) Power is not just homeruns, it's also doubles, triples, etc. This year alone, Sweeney has a .459 SLG%, while Fields is at .525. Thats a considerable difference. There have been posts on this site stating Fields could give the Sox 20 homers next year. He may not get 20 at Charlotte. Sweeney doesn't fan nearly as much and is a couple years younger. I bet if he was still in Charlotte in 2008 his slugging pct. would make Fields' look like Ron Kittle's batting average. Sweeney is the better prospect and will be a far superior hitter in the major leagues. Sweeney will have more career homers than Fields as well. You heard it here first. QUOTE(aboz56 @ Aug 14, 2006 -> 11:53 AM) Maybe because this is the first year that Sweeney has shown any power at all and he's playing in a park where Willie Harris regularly homered. That could have something to do with it. Personally speaking, I'm not very concerned with Sweeney's power (or lack thereof) at this point. If he can hit for average, get on base, run the bases well and play good defense, that's fine by me. We've got enough players who hit the ball out of the park. Its also the first year Fields has been considered anything but the reincarnation of Drew Henson.

Pods is arbitration-eligible, so he most likely is gone because for what he brings to the table he'll cost way too much. People around here are really down on Uribe, but until the last couple of weeks he's been great defensively, and has 50+ RBI. He's streaky, but may hit 20 homers and have 70+ RBI. I'd take that any day with a glove as good as his. If the Sox were ever going to upgrade Uribe, its going to be a guy like Tejada. They went after Vizquel last year, but Uribe would have wound up at second, third and SS. KW loves him. Another thing I don't understand is why is it assumed that Fields has tremendous power and Sweeney has none? Fields has 5 more homers than Sweeney in about 40 more plate appearances.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 14, 2006 -> 08:15 AM) Here is a question for you folks who follow our farm system more closely than I do... Who of our AA and AAA outfielders could play LF AND be a better leadoff hitter (immediately or eventually) than Pods? Does Sweeney have some speed, and can he get on base enough? Fields, same questions, plus add in the issue of playing OF defense. Does Owens have the stuff to be ready in 2007, or is he not ready yet? Who else might be a possibility? I don't think its all that necessary to have the typical leadoff guy as a leadoff man. Detroit has done fine with Granderson leading off, and he's far from typical. He has 8 steals and strikes out more than Thome. Detroit has been winning this season just like the Sox were last, as a result of excellent pitching. I think the Sox definitely want a better player in LF than Pods and they have young guys and money to get that done. That's why I'm intrigued with Sweeney leading off right now. He's not going to steal a ton, but I believe he will get on base. It may be too much to ask for a rookie however. Regardless, it will not matter who is leading off if the Sox pitch like they did in 2005. They would win most of the time.

I posted somewhere else that Levine said yesterday that he has heard the Sox have interest in Juan Pierre to play LF next year, and that Pods was on his way out. While I know Ozzie is a huge fan of Pierre, I couldn't see the Sox giving him more than a 2 year contract. I also find it interesting that Sweeney has been leading off in Charlotte.

Anyone hear Levine say Pods is a goner and he heard his replacement just may be Juan Pierre? This is for next year BTW.

Hopefully this is the roll we've been hoping for. They must get at least 3 of these 4 against KC.

If it was authentic, it wouldn't have a name on the back.

QUOTE(beck72 @ Aug 13, 2006 -> 06:19 AM) Cruz, Jr.was DFA on Aug. 1st. Isn't the 10 day period up as to what the LAD can do w/ him? I'm pretty sure he was released.

I think a lot depends on today's game. A win today and you still have a shot at the division. A loss and it really is a longshot. I know its "only" a 2 game swing, but I still think that is how it is.