BearSox

QUOTE(Reddy @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 10:58 PM) i'm starting to become very pessimistic both about this season and this club in general... i just dont like the way things are running right now. They're handling the young guys horribly, meaning all these moves that are to "help us now and in the future" are going to do neither. I agree completely... at first before ST around January I was very optimistic. But after this spring I am very pessimistic. I have no idea what the organization is trying to prove right now, and I am startig to get scared that they are going to ruin the future as well, unless their is an overhaul of the coaching and such. My pessimistic prediction of the day, which could also be considered positive is... after half-way through the season and sitting in 4th or 5th place in the division standings, Ozzie blows up and quits, and Kenny gets fired.

Logan: 11 IP, 0.00 ERA, 10 K, 4 BB, 4 H, 0 HR Sisco: 10 IP, 7.20 ERA, 10 K, 6 BB, 10 H, 1 HR Are you kidding me???... I'd really love to hear Ozzie's and Kenny's explanation for this blunder.

QUOTE(caulfield12 @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 10:48 PM) Well, Logan and Floyd should be the first two call-ups, although I think we would lose him (or maybe this is wrong) if we brought him up, then tried to send him down again. I heard he had one option remaining, can anyone clarify? Yes, he has only one option left. So, we could call him and send him down all we want to this season if he does make the big league club at some point, but if we want him for next season either he makes the team, or he has to passes waivers back to AAA, and I would bet some team like Tampa would pick him up in a case like that.

From what I have read and heard, it seems like the roster is officially set. The most surprising move as well as the worst move this spring is Logan not making the team, for some unknown reason... SP: Contreras, Garland, Buehrle, Vazquez, Danks RP: Jenks, MacDougal, Thornton, Massett, Sisco, Aardsma C: Pierzynski, Molina INF: Konerko, Iguchi, Crede, Uribe, Cintron OF: Dye, Erstad, Podsednik, Anderson UTL: Mackowaik, Ozuna DH: Thome At least the future looks bright...

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 10:34 PM) Comcast just stated that Logan and Floyd didn't make the team. I have no faith in our organization right now to make the right decision....it's really sad. So it is Sisco and Aardsma? I have no problem with Aardsma to be honest, and it was quite evident Floyd would start in AAA. But Logan not making the team??? This is clear to me that Ozzie has some vendetta against him. As most of you know, I have been a firm supporter of this team for most of the spring and have backed Oz and KW almost 100%, but this last week with the way the team has played and with some of the decisions made by management is just amazinly absurd, and I have lost a ton of faith in this team right now. Well, I am looking forward to the future... QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 10:35 PM) Well thank God that Floyd isn't making it, at least. I'd rather have Boone and Floyd over Sisco and Aardsma...

Right now our stopper is looking like Contreras or Vazquez. Out of the bullpen, I'd have to say Thornton. I would say MacDougal but he has been very hittable this spring, but I hope that is mainly because he is just building up arm strength and not overworking (and hopefully that is what Bobby is doing). For hitting, I'll say PK.

are you kidding me? Sisco and Floyd make the team... I bet KW is praying that they do really good, so it doesn't make him look bad that two of the three 'major' trades he made don't look like complete failures with the 'two' major peices in those trades don't start the year in AAA... Logan not being on this team is an absolute joke... yeah, Sisco has pinpoint control

I usually dont root for players to get injured, but if it isn't career threatening and it is a player in the AL Central, I root for everyone to get injured, of course for the players not on the White Sox.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Mar 27, 2007 -> 11:38 PM) This is not just Greg Walkers fault. This is a wholesale organizational issue. We generate power hitters with our system. We look for athletic football types, who can mash the ball. Put a bat in their hands, and try to get the most power out of their swing. We have seen hitter after hitter come up from the system with the same exact hole in their swing that gets exploited the minute they start to face good major league pitching. Long looping swings that will crush a fastball on the inner half, but get exposed on sliders away, the ball low and away. Watch how a lot of teams pitch us, they target low and away. Now the Johans, and CC's of the world will go after our team. But the crappy 7 ERA pitcher will paint low and away, and hope that the offense tries to pull the ball. Usually resulting in a groundout to the pull side of the field. Teams like the Twins hit both lefties and righties well because they have a more line drive approach. They put the ball in play with authority more. Yes we will bomb them into the stone age when it comes to power. It would be nice if we instructed our hitters on gap to gap hitting. A nice level swing, balance focusing on solid strong contact. It seems however we are looking more for clearing our hips, getting total extension and elevating the ball for power. Which can be effective, if you dont cheat on the pitch a bit. I think a lot of our hitter cheat a bit, and get themselves caught on the outside pitch. This is not a statement on hitting to the right side. This is a statement on solid hitting. If the ball is center cut, by all means pull it. If the ball is low and away, then drive it up the middle or to right by letting the ball get deeper into the swing. People think when I talk gap to gap that I am talking about slap hitting to the 2nd baseman. And that isnt true. Its an approach of level line drive like the twins teach their hitters. Walker the same man that they had fired before, and had fired before that. They are all the same hitting coach. This one is a bit more affable. I would love to see KW get the minors back to instruction. Replace our current instructors with someone who teaches a fundamentally sound swing. That can help correct hitches in the swing, or bad mechanics. Not someone who is going to turn something that isnt a good hitter into a batting title holder. But someone who can teach our talented young players how to get the bat on the ball. The sad thing is that our offense could be so good that no one could shut it down, except for the top 1% pitching in baseball. However as we have seen our season will be the tale of 2 halves. The first half when we look unbeatable, and the 2nd when the collar gets tight and the pitchers start to paint the corners more. Our season will ride on our pitching. If our pitching throws strikes, and forces the issue we will be in a good state. If our hitters can take some pitches, get into some counts, and then make good selections on which pitch to drive and which pitch to hit we will be a great team. Its all up to how they compete on the field. I am hoping that our situational hitting improves. Our hitters get on for our thumpers, and our thumpers drive them in. that was a fantastic post!

QUOTE(caulfield12 @ Mar 27, 2007 -> 11:29 PM) But if the Astros turned down Garland for Buchholz, Taveras (when we wanted to include Hirsch as well), how can you argue that KW would have gotten anything close to that for Garcia? Garland has a lot more value than Garcia. I guess we'll never know, because the rumor was that Buchholz failed his physical and/or the Astros didn't want to include Hirsch as well in the deal. It's all kind of a mystery, why the Astros would want Jennings over Garland, perhaps simply because he's left-handed, they were more familiar with him and Jennings' contract was more reasonable from a financial perspective, giving them more room to go after Clemens, etc. Jennings bats lefty... but he pitches righty. He did put up some darn good numbers last year given that he did have to pitch half of his games in a hitters dream land. Plus, like you said, his contract would probably be more reasonable. He was a former ROY, wasn't he?

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Mar 27, 2007 -> 11:13 PM) Jason we have to hit lefties better this year, no matter if Hall is on the team. If Thome can hit lefties, we need to see it. We hit .290 as a team for best in the AL against righties. Against lefties we hit .262 as a team that is 11th out of 14 teams in the AL. I could understand if we did bad versus lefties if this were a lefty filled offense... but this lineup consists mainly of righties. I personally blame Greg Walker. Never been a fan of his, and I think he can be drastically improved on. The only reason why he has had success is because this team is full of a lot of good hitters who don't need much coaching. And since he is a lefty himself, I could bet that he doesn't give good advice to the hitter about how to hit lefties.

oh man... I hope Molina has just been saving all of his energy and power just for this season!

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 27, 2007 -> 10:30 PM) I never knw a back-up catcher position could cause so much pain in my life. I've managed to remain optimistic throughout this entire Spring up until this week. you and me are in the same boat... and I never thought the downfall of my optimism would be caused by a back-up catcher! There is only one thing e can do right now...

I am usually positive, but I now have a sour taste in my mouth. I bet you could find garbage out on the street more productive then Molina. If we do suck this year, at least we will be able to get a glimpse of the future... Sweeney, Fields, etc. We could be like the Marlins of the AL.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Mar 25, 2007 -> 10:48 PM) Didn't see this yet, probably cause it isn't major news/doesn't mean s*** but since it's whitesox related and it's a day old.. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bal-sp....l=bal-pe-sports http://www.kffl.com/player/16717/mlb Robby Hudson's stats Here is our stud spect and noone has a thread about it?! Ace wins can he catch?

I hate to say this... but I miss Sandy!

Seriously... how do you make the decision of Molina??? http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/st...&pid=435238 I heard he played good defense at least, but from what I have seen, he is awful at getting up and throwing people out... QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 27, 2007 -> 10:13 PM) And Iguchi really stunk vs LHP last year. Like I've repeated many times, if we can't beat Santana, Sabathia, and Rogers more than once a piece this year, we have no prayer to make the playoffs. The plan was to give Thome a little more rest this year. Where does Molina rank on the all-time worst players to make the Sox out of Spring Training? Honestly, I don't know. I really don't understand this at all.

I don't understand why we released Perez though. I think he would at least provide good depth down at Charlotte. Also, Molina sucks ass (excuse my French), and we are screwed at back-up catcher. At least Wiki has some MLB experience. Molina is just flat out terrible. For christ's sake, he can't even hit AA pitching! I'd rather have Dony Lucy because at least he has some potential! This makes me question the Chris Stewart trade even more.

Boone is a lock for the team... didn't Ozzie even say he really wanted Logan on the team. But right now picking between the final spot of Floyd, Sisco, or Aardsma is like trying to choice which way you want to die.

gosh Wiki sucks... I hope after Hall gets a few more opinions from other doctors, it will turn out that the injury is not as serious, and that he can return in a couple months aleast 70%.

He's a hot head, and I think it is sooner rather then later when he does something incredibly stupid, making whichever team who signs him to a monster contract next year will regret it. But, the one pitcher I would basically the whole bank book to is no other than the great Johan Santana.

Looked like Vazquez had a pretty good outing this year. He is going to be a stud this year, IMO.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 26, 2007 -> 09:18 PM) He does now. No, he doesn't. ustavo Molina is batting something like a collective .097 this spring, and his defense aint that good, from what I have seen. I'd rather have my dog play catcher because at least he has speed, Molina has nothing. Also, I'd like to see a trade for a top catching prospect for AA/AAA. Looking through our system, our catching situation right now is terrible.

QUOTE(WSoxMatt @ Mar 26, 2007 -> 06:51 PM) If Hall thought he was at risk of getting hurt at 1B, Im sure he would have toild that to management and he would have not been playing 1st...But since Hall found no danger playing 1st, why would KW or OG...All of you just like to complain about Ozzie about anything...If your going to complain like little women, complain at Hall for thinking he could play 1st...Im pretty positive Guillen didnt put a gun to his head and tell him to play 1st base! But if he didn't he wouldnt be known as a grinder!!! QUOTE(Kalapse @ Mar 26, 2007 -> 07:06 PM) Just like when Ozzie asked Mac's permission before he stuck him in CF . . . oh wait. Why would he have to move Toby Hall to 1B in order to get him more ABs? Why couldn't he just leave him at catcher where he had played for the first half of the game? Or are 1B ABs worth more than catcher ABs? I'm not even looking for answer to this question, it's more of a general post. I'm done with this discussion. Catching a ball game is much more physically taxing to a player then 1B, and since they didn't want Hall to wear down in ST, they decided to put him at 1B. Name one time this whole ST where the Sox left their catcher catch the whole game. Maybe for Gustavo Molina, but that is because he sucks and has no shot at ever making the team.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 26, 2007 -> 06:28 PM) Can we please stop stating this like it's a fact. He has two career at-bats there. Robin Ventura had more career at-bats at shortstop.....it doesn't mean he's capable of playing there. It's also amazing that Toby Hall has never had an injury at a position he is familiar with, and then gets hurt playing first base though. It's fine though....it's time to move on and hopefully the Sox find someone who can benefit the offense vs LHP. I bet Hall has had plenty of practice time at 1B however. And I bet Ozzie would not have put Hall out there at 1B if Hall said he was not comfortable with playing 1B. Obviously Hall felt comfortable enough to play 1B, and wanted to get extra at bats in.