BearSox

QUOTE (fathom @ May 17, 2009 -> 02:25 PM) Yes, we can afford to lose a guy like Konerko. You trade players you can actually get some value for. I disagree. I think all teams need veteran leadership, and if we decide to trade away all of Dye, Konerko, etc. and just go into next year with basically our double A lineup, you're setting yourself up for a huge disaster. I think you gotta choose between Dye and Konerko and which one of the two you would rather keep for the next couple of years while the young guys develop. And I think the easy choice would be Konerko. He's the "captain", doesn't make excuses for anyone, and is just an overall solid player.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 17, 2009 -> 02:19 PM) If you can't find it, I don't think it can be refered to as handy. Nope, I'm just an idiot and overlooked it when I first checked the sticky posts.

I personally would settle for a new Bench Coach. Ozzie ain't going anywhere, but Cora seems like Ozzie lite to me. I don't think there's much of a difference of opinion between the two. I think we need someone in there with a bit of a different perspective and point of view. I don't want someone who is going to butt heads with Ozzie, but someone who isn't going to agree with every thing he does.

Any chance we see Flowers up here as a platoon catcher with A.J. come August or next year?

Where can I find Kalapse's handy contract info sheet?

Where can I find Kalapse's handy contract info sheet?

I'm hoping if the season continues to go down this path, KW will be willing to do a fire sale, which he wasn't willing to do in 07. I figure because of all the young talent we've accumulated already, KW might be much more inclined to than he was in 07 because we'd be putting actual prospects with potential on the field at least. Who's some of the potential trade bait we have? Right now, we only really have Dye, Jenks, Colon, and Dotel. I don't see us getting rid of either Konerko or Buehrle as right now they are the faces of the franchise (and PK is the captain), and Thome and Linebrink aren't really tradeable with Thome only being able to play DH and Linebrink's contract. No reason to deal Carrasco, but I guess if some team offers a really good package for him. Betemit could be included in a trade as well since he has no spot on this team. Oh well, at least the draft is close.

QUOTE (chw42 @ May 17, 2009 -> 01:32 PM) Why is Gavin Floyd so bad? My theory is that he just quite frankly isn't that good. He's never had great command, it's much of a "pitcher", and he only has 1 plus pitch, his curve. Granted it's a really good pitch, you can't rely on it all the time. He did good last year because that was his first time throughout the AL, but hitters have now adjusted and figured him out.

Is anyone totally surprised by Gavin Floyd's suckiness this year though? I'm surprised he's been this bad, but odds were last year was mainly a career year in which he faced the AL for the first time. Second time around the league, and now Floyd is getting rocked.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 17, 2009 -> 01:17 PM) You sure? I thought he's a junior. This article, written in March of 09, lists him as a Sophomore: http://www.boston.com/sports/schools/baseb...10/teen_bopper/ And his perfect game page lists him as a 2011 prospect: http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerp...e.aspx?ID=56125 And I might be a cynic, but I think the kid has been put on HGH. In pictures of him from last year, he already looked older than I do now, and I'm graduating from high school in a week. Also, hitting 500+ foot homers when he's just 15? Either this kid is Roy Hobbs in real life or had some extra help (wouldn't surprise me if it was forced on him by his Dad).

QUOTE (fathom @ May 17, 2009 -> 01:07 PM) When you're mad about how bad this team is, just keep this in mind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liS3kGvQ9Bk That's no good unless we are the worst team in baseball in the 2010 season. He's only a sophomore right now.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 17, 2009 -> 12:57 PM) It really is time to send down Fields. I agree. I'm all for letting young guys develop, but his AB's are brutal and provide no positives. At least with Getz and Ramirez, they put the ball into play and don't strike out a crazy ridiculous amount of times. I'd much rather see some sort of combo of Betemit/Nix/Andy Phillips at 3B. Plus, maybe Fields could hit AAA pitching and regain even a slight amount of trade value.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ May 17, 2009 -> 12:58 PM) unless you think last year's injury set him that far back, no. He's 27, has had a good number of minor ABs. He needs to sink or swim in MLB at some point, and he should be up here working with the major league hitting coach to adjust to MLB pitching He's been sinking for a while now. I think it's time we pull him out of the water before he drowns to death.

I think the organization would prefer to keep most of the real prospects and borderline prospects in AA. Right now, Charlotte isn't a winning ball club, and I think the organization wants the top guys to learn how to win, and winning together.

I'm with Fathom on this one, you keep Thornton and trade Jenks. Jenks has much more trade value and will bring in as much or more than anyone else we might trade. Plus, he has potential arm troubles and will see a great increase in salary of the next couple of years. And, I think a possible trade partner for him might be the team we are facing today. They could use a closer with Ryan's arm being practically dead and Scott Downs, well, I doubt he's their ideal closer.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 17, 2009 -> 12:46 PM) And there's something about the development time they miss playing football that cannot be made up. Also, I'm not sure of how big of an issue this is or not, but football workouts and baseball workouts are very different and focus on different aspects of the body. And especially if you're in a D-I program, the workout programs are very detailed and intense.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 17, 2009 -> 12:38 PM) I'm leary of football players playing baseball. Most don't turn into the players they were advertised. I think they get drafted higher than they should because of how good of athletes they are.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ May 17, 2009 -> 12:36 PM) He might be trying to set a record. He figures he can't set a productioin record so let it be non-production Well, if he wants to set the record, he better start going 1-3 with 2 k's and a double or a homer rather than 0-3 with 2 k's and a bloop out.

QUOTE (TitoMB345 @ May 17, 2009 -> 12:33 PM) So I really don't like Fields anymore. He looks 100% lost at the plate. I've come to the conclusion that the guy just isn't a baseball player. He's got the tools, but lacks instincts and baseball know-how.

When Wise comes back, who would you prefer to see the Sox keep, Pods or Wise? Wise plays better D and hits for a lot more power, but Pods is probably the better hitter and the better base runner. Right now, I'd rather keep Pods when/if Wise ever comes back.

Nice, Birmingham now has officially the sickest lineup: 1. Danks, CF 2. Beckham, SS 3. Flowers, C 4. Allen, 1B 5. Viciedo, 3B 6. Gartell, RF 7. Cook, DH 8. Shelby, LF 9. Retherford, 2B

^^^ All I can say is.... owned.

It really doesn't matter what you think of Walker right now, something needs to be done. Every year since I've been here, there has been talks about firing Walker. I do blame the hitters more than Walker, but guess what.... Walker is the hitting coach. And quite frankly, Walker has failed to provide consistent and positive results. Also, I don't give him credit with players like Dye, Thome, Konerko, etc. and don't take away credit for players like Cabrera, Swisher, etc. Those guys are vets and really, they don't need hitting coaches, IMO. I think the hitting coach needs to work with the young guys most importantly. Dye, Konerko, Thome, they all could be hitting coaches when they retire, if they wanted to. You could even throw young guys like Quentin, Longoria, etc. in that category because those players study and practice so much, they don't need a hitting coach to help them with that stuff. It's guys like Fields, Getz, Lillibridge, Ramirez, Anderson, etc. that need the hitting coaches help, and quite frankly, Walker hasn't gotten through to them.

I like how this is in filibuster.... somehow, this will get political!

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 15, 2009 -> 06:37 PM) From ProjectProspect.com Pretty telling statistic and if I were a scouting director it would probably scare me a bit about taking a SS super early in the draft. Than again, I tend to believe shortstops are the best athletes in the field and as a rule of thumb I'd draft quite a few of em throughout the draft with a theory they could play any up the middle position. Does that count SS who eventually move to 2B, 3B, CF, etc.