kwolf68

Mark Buehrle = Not bad /ridiculous understatement

QUOTE (Chisox88 @ Jul 23, 2009 -> 02:52 PM) Was just a joke dude. Some people enjoy math, others have a serious aversion to it.

QUOTE (Chisox88 @ Jul 23, 2009 -> 02:50 PM) Uh, isn't it 18? He's gone through 3 innings.. 9 batters. 27-9 = 18. Someone is doing math. Ban?

QUOTE (WHarris1 @ Jul 23, 2009 -> 02:48 PM) Tigers trail the Mariners 1-0 through 5. Jarrod Washburn has morphed into Sandy Koufax this year, the guy has been masterful. Don't put it past the Ms to take that game with JW pitching. Just think, could be going for a HUGE sweep today if not for that game two nights ago. Oh well....lets get this one.

Very important to see how he reacted to the homer...he passed that test with flying colors.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 22, 2009 -> 08:50 PM) I thought the Rays would have at least scored a couple by now. If we can get 5 out of Torres and still be in the game, it would be real nice. I think he could go 6...on pace for about 100 pitches if he goes 6...that's taking into account his wild 2nd inning. If he settles like he did the third I think we can get 6 out of it.

Not a bad 3 innings...2nd inning was rough, but Torres is not being hit hard at all by these guys and despite the 1 strikeout he's missed a few bats.

This kid needs to settle down.

Another argument to McDowells comment was Cliff Lee for the Indians last night...entered the 9th at or over 100 pitches and they let him finish the game, which he did in 12 pitches. Ozzie needs to 'manage' and not just 'follow the protocols' ... really, HOW HARD is it to manage when every situation has a stock response on how to react? Leading by 3 or less, entering 9th, insert closer. I'd rather for him to send Jenks out sometimes and other games let the SP stay in, and no rule exists that says you can't use Thornton to close out a game (esp if you have strong lefties coming up). If Ozzie were to do a variety of things that would tell me he's actually trying to manage and using his instincts (which Ozzie does have great instincts) instead of just going by the standard issue response to baseball play 101. Baseball is a great game because the nuances of the game...when every situation has a standard response, those nuances are neutered and rendered sterile. We can debate the decision to put Jenks in last night, but McDowells commentary is very valid.

The problem isn't that Ozzie went to the closer, but that he went to a struggling closer. Jenks has been garbage lately and in a 1 run game against a high octane team like the Rays, he was ripe for the picking. He got lucky the previous night. That's my only beef...I'd like to see Jenks work in some 'non save' situations to get his act together, situations where he can't blow the season for this team. Last night's loss was a bad loss, it sapped momentum heading into a brutal stretch and it sent a game back to Detroilet. Just because Jenks 'is the closer' doesn't mean he has to pitch in every freaking 9th inning situation, ESPECIALLY when he is barely major league calibur at this point. Jenks has been AWFUL lately, no two ways about it, he fooking sucks and when you keep running out bad pitchers you WILL GET burned. I think Jenks will get it turned around, but at this point im no so sure...not only does he not look physically overpowering anymore, but he is not showing ANY mental toughness.

Jenks has never been an elite closer. His career ERA and WHIP are decent, but not elite level stuff. When a decent pitcher has a slump, he is below average and that's what is happening with Jenks. He's a player I'd most definately deal as I think we wouldn't be so much worse off with Thornton closing games (though it'd shuffle the lefty setup guy).

Utterly laughable. Is Jenks drinking again?

Good lord...Jenks already on meltdown alert.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 21, 2009 -> 09:14 PM) Ozzie wanted to avoid Crawford and Pena off the bench Excellent point Fathom.

Niemann has really looked pretty good tonight.

Wow...thats why Oz is the manager. Richard has been lethal tonight.

Great as CR has been tonight, I put Dotel or Jenks in v. Upton.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 7, 2009 -> 11:09 PM) Like I told Chimpy earlier, this either means there will be big shake ups coming, or we'll see something small like the moving of Sopel and go forward with what we have. Dumping Sopel's deal would put us right back under the cap if I'm not mistaken. Unloading Sopel is just the FIRST salvo of many things that it will take to keep this franchise sustainable past next year. Counting Sopel's 2 million, we have roughly 16 million to spend next year on AT LEAST 7 players (and 3 are Keith, Toews, and Kane). This ASSUMEs the salary cap isn't going to be reduced (a long rumor). 16 million to sign 'the big 3' and at least 4 role players (players UFA or RFA next year include Ladd, Eager, Burish, Madden, Hjmarlson, Hendry). Much as I love Ladd and Eager, they may be replaced by cheaper players from the farm (Jacob Dowell and Akim Aliu for example). We have nothing on the farm at Defense that is ready behind Hammer and Hendry. Lalonde and Denis-Pepin are not ready yet. So you figure we have to resign Hammer and Hendry. Depending on if he plays in Chicago this year, Hendry could be had for cheap...Hammer's performance dictates his salary...he doesn't promise to be a big scorer from the blueline so initially we could likely get value for him and it's possible we could sign both Hendry and Hammer for somewhere around 2 mill combined. That's a best case situation. That leaves 14 million for the big 3 and the remaining two forwards. I argue 14 million won't even sniff at retaining Kane, Toews and Keith...2 at the best. Then you have to figure replacing the other two forwars will cost something. Basically the math does not add up...Tallon has much work to do...Campbell isn't tradeable, no one wants that boondoggle salary, Huet is a bit more tradeable, but how much so? No, we're stuck with them both so the next logical step is to move popular, skilled players who are pricey, but not priced so assininely...Patrick Sharp for example...Dustin Byfuglien for example. I don't want to be unloading these guys, but that is exactly what it's going to come to...either one (or more) of them go or one of the big 3 will get a RFA offer sheet and be gone.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 8, 2009 -> 12:17 PM) He won't retire when the contract offers come in... it's not often you can set up generations of your family financially by hanging around for a few more years in an occupation. At 32, he'll be in high demand, and hopefully extended, again, with the White Sox. But how often do you get to see your son turn 1 year old? Mark himself has said he's made plenty of cash and unlike most idiot athletes, he probably is very prudent with his money. I'm sure he has made all the arrangements for his family. I want the guy to pitch until he's 40 in Chicago, but if he needs to spend more time watching his kids grow up then I have nothing but support and respect for that decision.

Paulie rules. I had offered Michael Bourn for him in my fantasy league and the guy said he would accept it. This morning he countered with Jason Kubel, saying he was gonna hang onto PK. If it gets the Sox wins, I'll take it, but I'd have liked Paulie to crack 3 homers this weekend AFTER I made that deal.

QUOTE (LVSoxFan @ Jul 8, 2009 -> 11:36 AM) Having been to seven games already this year, which is low by my standards, I'd personally like to tell KW to shove it. I average 20-30 games per year (40 in '05) and one thing I've noticed is that the park has grown less fan-friendly year after year, price-wise. Of course we have the insulting tier system, where an April game against KC is $33 for bleachers but of course for the Cubs they're magically $40 for the same seat. Granted the Cubs series is always a sellout but then to make the LA series premium?!?!? In the middle of the week? No wonder you got 20,000 fans only. And of course, beer prices up, parking up, everything up, up, up even when we knew going into the season that the economy was the worst in my lifetime. Half-price promotions few and far between... really, this is all a mystery to KW? Really? Add to that the Sox didn't exactly get off to a rousing start (although looking much better now) and we have our mystery solved here. If the Sox were more flexible as an organization they would realized going into the season that with the economy they could work on the fly and make the Sox a budget-saving alternative to the Cubs or other activities... drop the ticket prices, offer family packages, realize that a full park with discounted tix is better than a half-empty one at premium prices. But none of that happened. And yet you whine about "support" when you've offered none in these dismal economic times. Sit down and STFU. +1

WTF Kenny.... just bored today and needed to wheel and deal. He brought us a WS Title in 05 so Ill see if this has bigger plans behind it.

QUOTE (soxfan3530 @ Jul 6, 2009 -> 12:12 PM) Since there is a love of JD love being thrown around in this thread (and rightfully so) i'll ask the age old question. Do the Sox really let this guy walk next year?? I hope not. I think they'll work a new deal the closer to the end of the season it gets if we're still in it (which I think we will be)

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jul 4, 2009 -> 12:58 PM) Flowers is part of the untouchable prospect group including Beckham (if you still count him as a prospect), Danks2, Hudson, and Viciedo. Why is Flowers untouchable? He's a future DH...he's definately a masher, but he's not graded to be a major league catcher at all...

Our team is still in the race and CQ has been out for most of the year...getting him back is going to be large.