BearSox

Have I ever told you guys how much I love Quentin?

People really underestimate what a loss in 3-4 mph off of a pitcher's fastball can do. First off, it makes the change a whole lot less effective. The change didn't loose any velocity, it's still the same speed. Whats the point of the change if it's only a 5 mph difference? It also makes mistakes easier to hit as well. Every pitcher makes mistakes, but it's a whole lot easier to get away with mistakes with more zip on the ball. An 86-87 mph fastball is BP. An 88-91 fastball at has the ability to sneak up on hitters. To think 3-4 mph doesn't make a difference on a pitcher, whether that pitcher be a flamethrower or junkballer, is being naive.

Look, I know odds are it isn't Walker's fault, but moreso the players' fault. But, like someone else stated, you can't fire 12-13 hitters, but you can fire a hitting coach. When you have the worst offense in baseball for well over a year now, dating back to the second half of 06, a change has to be made. An example needs to be made, and Walker is the guy you do that with. It has happened before where teams struggling on offense get their hitting coach fired, a new guy is brought in, and they start hitting. It could be a mental thing with the hitting coach for all I know. But something has to be done, and it makes a whole lot more sense to make the change with the hitting coach before you do so with eating tens of millions of dollars with some of these player.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 14, 2008 -> 05:34 PM) Dammit Bearsox, quit your b****ing in the palehose forum and update this s***!!! Logan is raking ask, and you shall receive. So far through 34 games this season, Logan Johnson has had 38 hits, 5 homers and 16 RBI's. In the South Atlantic League, he ranks 10th with a BA of .328, 11th with a .397 OBP, and 8th with a .534 SLG, and 7th with an OPS of .931. Also, he has been HBP 4 times already this season. And he has a little speed and been 2 for 2 in his stolen base attempts. He's played primarily 3B this season, but he possesses the ability to play all along the INF. He might never be anything special, but he seems like the type you'd hate to doubt.

You bring up the point about SS, and we did draft Miranda last year in the first 10 rounds I believe, and we signed a bunch of Latin American who can play SS as well, to go along with Ramirez. While it would be nice to have a toolsy shortstop like Beckham, a bigger need would probably be a bigger bat in the middle of the lineup to replace one of Thome, Konerko, or Dye.

I like Gordan, and I wouldn't mind him at all. And while Wallace is a very good hitter, if we draft him at 8, I'll be very upset. In no way would he be worth 8th overall. The only 3 1B in this draft worth 8th overall is Smoak, Alonso, and Hosmer. And as of now, it looks like Hosmer is going to fall due to the fact he wants a signing bonus in the 7 million range, and one of Alonso and Smoak is likely to go in the top 6. My dream scenario would be Smoak at 8. Well, my no. 1 scenario would be Crow, but Crow is pretty much an impossibility.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ May 14, 2008 -> 01:21 AM) What part of Chicago do you live in? one of the not so good parts. Shootings are far too common around me.

This was a big thing at my school last year....

As long as Conan and his show (they better keep Max and the 7) stay virtually the same, except is aired one hour earlier, I have no problem with him taking over for Leno... but I know past 11:30 cst, I won't be watching nbc. Jimmy Fallon and Carson Daily = garbage.

I saw Eldred in spring training... it's no wonder why he can't hit his weight vs. MLB pitching. He's a powerful guy, but he has no clue up there (at least vs. MLB pitching).

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 14, 2008 -> 12:37 AM) So what genius hitting coach are we supposed to aquire to get career-long bums like Jim Thome and Paul Konerko to hit? Career long bums? Wow.

Buehrle's problem has been his drop in velocity. When he had his velocity in the 88-90 range, he was able to get away with more mistakes. An 88-90 mph fastball isn't good, but it can get the job done for lefty pitchers (different story for righties). However, when you can only throw that fastball at 85-86 (once in a while he'll get it up to 87-88), it not only makes more mistakes more hittable, but it also makes your change up and offspeed stuff more hittable. Yeah, I know Buehrle's never been a flamethrower, but you need some velocity. Right now, Jamie Moyer has more velocity than Buehrle. Could this be injury related? Maybe, but I noticed this velocity drop in the 2nd half of last season. As of now, I have a feeling that Buehrle contract will bite us in the ass.

white sox offense at it's best once again...

I remember a person was calling me out for being worried about Buehrle and his big drop in velocity (did he even hit above 86 last night?)... Well, I'm smarter than you

Remember how everyone was saying how bad of a pick that Ben Reveere guy was last year by the Twins? Right now he is tearing the cover off the ball and looking like quite the prospect... God, I hate how the Twins actually have good scouting and plan long ahead of time.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ May 11, 2008 -> 08:43 PM) Konerko ain't looking so hot either and when is the last time he had a good game or hit a homer? Thome is almost a K machine anymore. I know slumps happen to everyone, but these two are making it worse than it has to be. Floyd was mediocre today. Too many baserunners and losing hitter with 2 strikes on them. Just wasn't a good performabce highlighted by the Sox unable to get the big hits again Konerko has been coming around. At the very least, at least he has been putting the bat on the ball.

people called me an idiot earlier for hating the Swisher trade earlier in the season.... well, while it might eventually turn out I'm an idiot, I am smart right now...

is the game over already? If so, mlb.com gameday is extremely slow.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 11, 2008 -> 05:46 PM) Well, I've been told by people on here that Jenks' strikeout total doesn't matter, so I guess Garland's doesn't either. He is what he is...a solid #3 AL starter. We should have gotten more for him that a one-year rental. I agree completely. But the Garland for Cabrera swap has been more stomach-able due to the fact Garland (yet) hasn't really lit the world on fire.

I already see it as a for-gone conclusion that Thome will be back with us next season... however, I hope next year we have Quentin in the 3-hole, with Thome in the 5 hole (with some righty on the bench who kills lefties to platoon with him).

QUOTE (fathom @ May 11, 2008 -> 05:35 PM) Garland's ERA is 4.30...that's not bad at all. If anything, hopefully OC improves in order to lock up the A slot for draft comp. Yes, that's good, but he can't strike anyone out anymore it looks like. Only 12 K's in over 50 innings of pitching. He's never been a big K guy, but that is pitiful. He's on pace for about 50 for the season.

QUOTE (scenario @ May 11, 2008 -> 04:16 PM) Kyle McCulloch... 6 innings; 0 runs; 6 hits; 6 strikeouts; and 0 walks. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/st...wtdaax_biraax_1 He obviously made a deal with the devil... 6-6-6, 0's don't count.

so far the only things that have made the Swisher and Cabrera trade's "stomach-able" has been the facts that Contreras has somehow not been awful, and none of Garland, Sweeney, DLS, or Gio have done much either. However, Sweeney has just barely outperformed Swisher.

I'm still no big fan of Anderson's, but he's a good 4th OF to have.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ May 11, 2008 -> 02:27 PM) Wouldn't mind CQ in RF and Swish in LF, but not bad. Well, I don't think they want to mess with CQ at all. Just let him be, and not shift him around. He will be in RF once Dye is outta there though.