Dick Allen

Did anyone hear DJ or Hawk say yesterday that Konerko said Gload would be the best hitter on the White Sox if he got regular playing time? I can't believe KW is getting roster advice from him.

Its funny how much worse of a player Izturus has become on this board once its gone from KW wanting to get him, to his now being on the Cubs.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Jul 31, 2006 -> 09:16 AM) Something I've noticed about Hawk lately is that he is back into '2000-2004 voice'. Hawk is on the inside and gave up on all those teams. He didn't sound that way last year at all, even during the 'collapse'. Hawk is as optimistic as they come, but he is back to the "Sox are 8 1/2 back but have 10 games left with the Tigers" crap. How many years did we hear that about the Twins? The Sox can't sweep Baltimore, how do you expect them to take 10 from Detroit?

So the reason Buerhle's location is off is the guy behind the plate. Interesting that a guy with a CERA over his team's ERA for his career is a guy that will turn Buerhle around and get him to get his control back.

I think KW doing nothing is a mistake. He needs to be working the phones trying to better this team. This is not 2005. This team has not shown it is better than the rest. As it stands now the Sox are competing with NY and Min for the WC and got swept by both recently. NY has improved themselves, Minnesota might. Overtaking Detroit is a pipedream at this point in time. You should never be satisfied with your roster,no matter what position your club is in. QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 06:35 PM) Umm....wouldn't pessimism towards the Sox equate to the opposite view of opposing teams? I thought I had stated in my post about the Yankees that they would be very tough to beat if they can get their guys back healthy, and then be able to keep that lineup the rest of the way. Right now, they only have two reliable pitchers in Mussina and Wang. Johnson looks injured yesterday, and Wright's been awful recently. 2 reliable starters. Sounds familiar.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 04:24 PM) Well Ozzie is full of spiff. He was quoted in Monday suntimes that he would have the pen ready and would pull him on the first sign of trouble. I call a dong a sign of trouble. But Ozzie had to wait until he was on the verge of a nuclear meltdown. Vazquez's last 6th inning meltdown, he had Cotts ready to start the inning, but didn't insert him until the damage was done.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 06:12 PM) This was one of the poorer managed games of the season, and I don't think many people would argue with that. I'm still puzzled why our middle infield wasn't at DP depth for the last batter. I was wondering that as well. And why does Ozzie wait until Vazquez has the lead run on base before he is pulled? Note to Ozzie: waiting for a few more hits doesn't do anything for your bullpen. They still have to get the same amount of outs. Its so apparent when Vazquez is going to fall apart, yet the dugout seems to want to look the other way.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 01:11 PM) With the Yankees picking up Abreu and Lidle, the Sox should really make a trade to bolster the offense or starting pitching. Dye,Paulie and Thome told KW the roster he's paying $100 million for is good enough. Who are you to question it? I think they could use a boost myself. It probably isn't going to happen, but you never know until tomorrow.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 01:08 PM) It only took them 4 months to realize that Politte was worthless this year. And they still haven't figured out that Sandy Alomar Jr. is a nice guy, but not a very good baseball player at this point.

The back-up CF issue needs to be addressed. I don't know how many times Mackowiak has to show you he can't play CF before Ozzie and KW realize something needs to be done about it.

Supposedly Tejada is balking at playing 3B which is where he would play for both the Angels and Rangers. I think he stays in Baltimore.

To answer your question, the most the Sox HAVE to pay Crede next year is $0.

QUOTE(TLAK @ Jul 30, 2006 -> 08:57 AM) Rob Mackowiak, Jim Thome, Brian N. Anderson have combined for 42 HR, 121 RBI. Carl Everett, Frank Thomas, Aaron Rowand have combined for 43 HR 128 RBI. I don't see the huge gain. Your numbers are skewed. Everett and Thomas, if both on the White Sox, would not have had the ABs they have received this year. The White Sox offense is so much better than last year when Everett, Thomas and Rowand were on the team, it isn't even funny. Thome has had a big effect, and his being left handed has had a big effect, as it has caused intentional walks and numerous pitching changes which get the Sox deep into the opponents bullpen. I can't see how anyone can argue with keeping last year's guys. The offense is so much better now.

The Sox won the series, which is what they wanted to do. Even if you have the bullpen totally rested for Vazquez and lose yesterday because of it, the very best you would be able to do is take 2 of 3. That is now the worst-case scenerio. Ozzie's no wizard when handling his bullpen, but he did the right thing yesterday, and got the all important win.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jul 29, 2006 -> 10:11 PM) Vazquez also had an ERA+ of 135 in 01, 106 in 02 and 154 in 03. For comparisons sake, Contreras had a ERA+ of 122 in 2005, and 132 so far this season. Looks pretty similar there to me. I'd rather look at 04,05 and 06 than look at 01,02,03. It seems a better indicator of what to expect. Vazquez is a far better pitcher when there is little to no pressure on him. If the Sox score 9 runs in the first 3 innings, he generally cruises. He pitched great in meaningless games for the Expos. Throw him on the mound in a tough situation and expect him to win, he will pitch well enough to lose.

Hopefully the Sox get a huge lead early. Vazquez seems to pitch a lot better when the Sox score early and often. If the Sox are facing Chen, there's an excellent chance Vazquez will have some runs to work with. 8 is the magic number. In 8 of his 9 victories, the Sox have scored 8 or more runs.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jul 29, 2006 -> 09:53 PM) Just like Jon Garland in 2004 really isn't it. Hopefully we can see the same improvement in Javy that we saw with JG in 2005. The one big difference is Garland was a 25 year old in 2005. Vazquez is a grizzled veteran, who really wanted no part of the AL after his experience with the Yankees. Ozzie talked him into it, although he really had no choice. I don't like his chances of suddenly being dominant. Hopefully he can win a big game or 2, and win a game win the Sox don't score a lot of runs, but there is just something about him that doesn't seem to click. Its not his effort, he does give it all he has, and is a competitor. If he wasn't the umpires calls wouldn't upset him at all. Ditch the curveball, and see what happens. Ozzie needs to have a lefty and righty ready in the bullpen as soon as the opposition is ready to go through the order for the third time, and needs to be at the top step. The very first sign of trouble, Vazquez has to hit the showers. See if that works.

QUOTE(redandwhite @ Jul 29, 2006 -> 02:32 PM) Gordon Edes: "The Sox this week offered center fielder Coco Crisp to the White Sox for left-handed All-Star Mark Buehrle, perhaps hoping that Buehrle's recent struggles might persuade White Sox GM Kenny Williams to move him. But the White Sox turned the deal down." *** Podsednik and a prospect? When you get a chance pass the crack pipe. This makes sense. I thought Theo lost his mind if he wanted Vazquez or Garcia for Crisp, or a minor leaguer, or middle reliever. I'm sure he knew there was no chance KW would say yes, but I guess he figured he might as well give it a shot.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Jul 29, 2006 -> 11:51 AM) Both aren't coming up unless both are starting. And there's one spot for two guys, unless a move is made. Sweeney isn't getting called up to be a fourth outfielder. Both could be on the roster and get just about the same amount of playing time as Anderson gets right now. I also think it would be pretty easy for Fields to play 1B. He could play LF, 3b,1b. Sweeney could play all 3 OF positions. Mackowiak and Gload, and Pods are all on the hot seat as far as a spot on the White Sox roster next season. I don't see them keeping Sweeney at Charlotte in 2007. Ozzie loves him, and KW called Fields a major league All Star. They will both be in the major leagues next season unless they really drop off or get hurt.

Vazquez has always been a competitior,and with his talent, the results don't add up. He's saying the right things, but I'm not convinced he's going to turn it around. He's pitching like he usually has during his career. It is a shame that he'll be missing the Royals though. He does pitch well against them. IMO, JV= KW's biggest bust. They were expecting so much more out of this guy, and what they got was a fifth starter. An extremely highly paid fifth starter which cost the Sox perhaps their finest prospect. Maybe their finest prospect in a while.

There's an excellent chance that both Fields and Sweeney will be on the roster next season. Sweeney has been playing some CF in Charlotte, and can probably play all 3 OF positions, and it wouldn't surprise me if Fields plays both LF and 3B for the White Sox next season. Pods will most likely be gone, and either Pablo or Mackowiak will probably be wearing a different uniform. This is all based on the assumption the Fields and Sweeney aren't traded, something KW has said in the past.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 29, 2006 -> 12:56 AM) Mark Buehrle was sporting a top 5 in the AL ERA before his last 5 outings. Linebrink is currently sporting a 3.72 ERA. That's not great for a National League reliever. Maybe he's distracted

Jenks has to shut them down in the ninth.

I'm glad Mackowiak didn't PH

QUOTE(My Dixie Normus @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 08:49 PM) How did Paulie leave the game? Did it have anything to do with the foul off his knee? It was off his shin. It actually looked like it was off the pad he wears.