Harry Chappas

QUOTE(vandy125 @ Jun 12, 2007 -> 11:31 AM) Yep, and since they keep on swinging at it, the ump starts calling it a strike later on in the game. So, they have to keep swinging at it. We need a patient approach at the very beginning of the game. Seems like it builds on itself. I have been saying this for over a year now. The White Sox do not work the count and swing at really good pitches instead of letting them go. They try to cover the entire strike and have no strike zone recognition on top of that. A pitcher never has to worry about falling behind in the count becasue the White Sox will swing at a good pitchers pitch on 2-0 or 3-1 and not make the pitcher come to them. Boston, New York and Oakland are great at this.

A team with needs that likes the draft like oh say.....Oakland would take an Iguchi or Dye and turn that player into the picks. This is a way to trade for draft picks with some risk involved. Neither Dye or Iguchi make a ton of money where arbitration would kill them should the player choose this. Here is why neither should accept arbitration......they would be a year older. Both need longer term deals which may cost them a year at a higher rate but in total they would get a larger package and thus they would turn down arbitration. A team could trade a couple of decent/good prospects that are blocked in exchange for the draft picks and the player. The Sox could also eat the contract and get better players, see the reverse of the Everett and Alomar deals.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 12, 2007 -> 01:33 PM) If KW was so worried about the bandwagon fans jumping off the ship if they struggled during 2007, then he should have received major league-ready players in the Garcia trade. It would make no sense to stop the semi-rebuilding process that started last offseason just because you're scared of losing some bandwagon fans. The real easy solution to keep these fans would be for Reinsdorf to open up the wallet and spend a ton of money to re-sign Buehrle, bring in Ichiro, etc., this offseason. Then, you can not only make the Dye trade for prospects, but you can have a team ready to compete for 2008 also. I think we just disagree but in my view, this 2007 team isn't good and isn't a playoff contender. The main question though is, is it implosion bad or retooling bad. If KW decides it is implosion bad than Contreras, Buerhle, Iguchi, AJ, Pods, Erstad, Crede and Dye should be moved by hte start of next season. If it is retooling bad Dye should be moved for an MLB ready average young OF or held for draft picks, Buerhle resigned and some decent cash spent on the outfield. My hope in all of this is that Buerhle is signed and some minor league pitchers are traded for positional players with good Sabermetrics realted to speed, OBP and defense. This would make the best business sense in my mind.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 12, 2007 -> 11:40 AM) Dan Bernstein is a fantastic analyzer of the White Sox. When they're good, he'll say they're good. When he sucks, he'll say why they suck. He also has a lot of inside information about the team if you pay attention close enough. Dan Bernstein is very good probably one of the most informed sports jounalists around covering any and all media. Terry Boers brings him down from time ot time. Boers was Mariotti though when he used to write for the Times and that is how I remember him and why I dislike him.

I think the pieces that need to be in place are there; Konerko, Thome, AJ and Uribe along with Iguchi should be able to hit and hold their own if the others in the line-up are not automatic outs like the entire outfield and third base are right now. Uribe ahs the defense necessary to stay. They need to replace these four positions with guys that can create some offense not heel swinging power hitters. Guys like Garland, Buerhle and Vazquez can carry a team. This rotation should be held together until Contrearas retires. They need to retool the line-up and Dye and Crede are the one's that should go. The rotation is solid as far as health is concerned and right now the pitching should be locked down for another three years no matter what the cost. If you are going to spend the six first rounds on only drafting pitchers, you need to move some of the minor league talent you have for younger position players that fit your need. You know the names. Losing Buerhle to FA and replacing him with Floyd or Gonzalez is a huge gamble and not one that I am enamored with. I am sorry but the 5 year window will be closed as the fickle White Sox bandwagon has the shrine to run back to. Baseball in this city is different than any other in sports. Yanks/Sox struggled to draw 30K on warm nights in June.

QUOTE(Vance Law @ Jun 12, 2007 -> 11:16 AM) We were 6 games out of the playoffs then, only 2 games different from right now. And JR was right, we weren't going to catch the Cleveland Maulers that year. Weren't they 3 1/2 games back?

They need to sign Buerhle or risk losing half of their fan base. I believe the season ticket base last year was 24,000. Next year it could be down to 12,000 if they sell everything off. I know a few things about baseball and here they are, pitching wins games, defense wins games, and hitting goes into slumps. We have 5 good starting pitchers right now that should stay here. These are the guys that this team should be built around. I have no faith in Egbert, De Los Santos, Gonzalez, Floyd, or any blue chip prospect coming up and succeeding. Nor do I want prospects from other teams which may or may not pan out. I do not want Buerhle traded for the likes of a Brian Anderson, Ryan Sweeney, or Josh Fields. Iguchi is one of the best hitting second baseman in baseball and will be afforable. His range is not that great but he is a solid hitter and he and Uribe are fine. Dye is old and should be moved. Problem is, nobody is going to risk a prospect worth anything for him unless he gets hotter than s*** real soon. The media will fry this franchise and rightly so if these pieces are sold off for nobody's. I am not sure what is going to happen to Crede as I assume he will not take a pay cut and that situation will get really ugly really quick. Since the end of last season KW traded two pitchers making a combined $10M and added nothing. I understand the other players got raises but that is not what is put in the media. Losing the three free agents and Crede opens about $27M. That is a preceived $37M decrease in two offseasons. The chances of Ichiro hitting the market are very slim especially with the M's making a playoff run. Andrew Jones will not be worth the money and Hunter will be overpaid as well. If KW does not want to overpay the payroll will be under $80M next season and in exchange for the fans coming out for two seasons they will get jobbed. I will not pay the money for a team that is slashing payroll. They increased ticket prices a good amount the last two years and have regressed. Think prices will come down next year....... In closing, they need to resign Buerhle.....and I can't believe I am saying this, Rowand, for simple PR. If not attendance will be back to blue seat pre renovation days.

Gonna be real ugly tonight. They should stand up there and take pitches until they strike out looking and hope to get the pitch count up and then fail against the bullpen. Greg Walker should take a leave of abscence or something.

Taking Floyd and Gio out of the equation, there are $9M reasons why this trade was productive.

Helped the Sox gain a game yesterday (if it matters). Great flyer pick-up right there. Think Tampa would rather have him than Dukes?

AJ that first pitch is really good to you keep hacking away douchebag.

Without shadows this team sucks. With shadows this team will be embarassing as hell.

I think they are going to score a couple here. Maybe not.

QUOTE(Brian @ Jun 9, 2007 -> 03:39 PM) My cousin in St. Louis says the Cards maybe down on Reyes. Wonder if Buehrle would bring him in a deal. Reyes not really showing much this year.

QUOTE(Hideaway Lights @ Jun 9, 2007 -> 03:36 PM) guys, don't fret: winning would be the worst thing for this team right now. Just a few more losses and we can clean house. There is nobody to trade this year that makes us better next year.

sad

Well that first pitch looks real good. That was stupid base runnign there. What the f*** is the point with two outs.

If Mack gets ahead double steal.....big if

To Soxtalk that said he blew, I am really starting to like Terraro as a 4th OF.

Nice pitch, what the f*** was Berkman looking for?

Watching hitters work the count and make the pitcher throw strikes is truly killing me as I watch the stupidity of White Sox hitters fail to realize this aspect of the game and a question I would like to ask. The strike sucks today and the White Sox refuse to use this to their advantage. Garland running out of gas.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 9, 2007 -> 03:15 PM) Another magical turn by our pathetic double play tandem. I don't want to see either of those guys back next year. What happened I went to let the dog out?

QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 9, 2007 -> 03:10 PM) We're getting shut down by someone with an 85 mph fastball. If this follows the typical Sox game, we'll go down by about 3 or 4 soon as the opposition will get 3 hits in about a span of a minute. You are 100% correct.

QUOTE(briguy27 @ Jun 9, 2007 -> 03:10 PM) no im not, its just this team continues to break my heart, game in, game out. even though paulie had a nice rip there, the first pitch was good for a 400 foot bomb. since he hit the grand slam in game 2 of the WS, he hasnt learned his lesson that the first pitch is the best pitch u will probably see in the whole at bat Sorry but I have to disagree with you. The pitcher will let you know what the best pitch to hit is. The worse the pitcher the earlier in the count to swing. The inability of this team to work a count and recognize the strike zone is its downfall. Swinging on the first pitch in my opion is the worst thing a hitter can do.

AJ made him work. How f***ing hard is it to take a pitch when you are hitting .250???????