BearSox

Danks is a lock to make the team right now, and I doubt he goes in the pen... I hope the org. has learned their lesson w/ McCarthy. Does anyone think Russell will be promoted to AAA, and someone like Heath Phillips will be traded?

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Mar 24, 2007 -> 01:08 PM) He has an option. I'd be furious if he made it over, say, Haeger. Floyd is garbage. Haeger hasn't done anything either to earn the spot. Right now, it seems to be between Floyd, Haeger, Aardsma, and Sisco for the final spot in the pen, and none of those guys really deserve it, but if I was a gambling man, I'd bet Floyd would make the team.

Juan Uribe can't bleed. Well, he can, but nothing can penetrate his skin causing the loss of blood.

The matter of the fact though is, if Danks is ready, he should make the team.

QUOTE(knightni @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 01:54 PM) Jon Rauch? Size doesn't matter! Jon Rauch is actually a very good bullpen arm for the Nats...

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 24, 2007 -> 12:32 AM) He has pitched 16 innings this spring. 16 IP is not enough to really judge a player. The only reason he has "earned" the job is due to the lack of options for this team. I am a Danks fan, and really enjoyed watching him pitch this spring. However, he is 21 years old, and has had 70 unimpressive innings in AAA. John could very well up with the big club, but in a perfect world, Danks would get some more work down with the Knights. I strongly disagree. If I was drafted by a team, and in my first spring training invite, if I didn't make the team, I would feel that I have failed. I would have the mind set of no one being better then me. I wouldn't care if I was 18 years old, I'd want to be with the major league club. That is the mindset every player should have. Look at Ryan Zimmerman, went from rookie ball to the Majors in one year. Does it look like he was rushed? QUOTE(greg775 @ Mar 24, 2007 -> 12:38 AM) No offense, but having a lot of veteran position players ... wouldn't we be better off with a fifth starter who the Sox know can pitch? Do we really believe a 21 year old is gonna last six, seven innings in the big leagues per game ... in our tough division? I really hate to be a pessimist, but I wonder. Those of you who have seen the guy pitch, are you convinced he, at 21, is gonna do the job? I mean many on the boards freak at veterans like Vazzy imploding after six innings. Aren't the odds much greater of Danks doing what Logan did at the start of last year than Danks winning games for a team that supposedly is a contender?? How else are we going to see if the young guys can preform? By having them start in AAA until they are 30?

QUOTE(rowand @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 06:24 PM) cerbaho, not sure when you talked to him, but he was always beyond cocky. at least now he is coming to terms with it. when he got drafted, he had "superstar" or something along those lines painted on the side of his car. i went to hs with him and he was nice enough, but extremely cocky. there are definatly nicer people it could happen to. but i still would like to see him pitch for da sox. well, sometimes that type of attitude for a pitcher is good. In fact, I like it. Just flat out say to the opponent, I am better then you, so try and hit my fastball, or try and strike me out.

That sounds to me like a guy who wants to start in the big leagues, right away.

QUOTE(whitesox07champs @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 08:46 PM) Even though many of you guys will disagree with me, I still think we are moving him too fast. Another year in the minors and he should be set for next year. The way the Sox are talking this might be(should be) our number 1 starter in a couple of years. I think if he went to the minors he would come back next year ready to make a HUGE impact. I know we dont have much of a choice with Floyd pitching the way he is, but I dont agree with him starting the season with the sox. It's not rushing if the player is ready, earned the job, and wants to start in the bigs, not minors. If Danks is ready, he is ready. What good will another year in the minors do? It isn't neccissary to have to master AAA before you get to pitch in the bigs. Also, I see Danks being the 5th starter, and Floyd being the long man out of the rotation. If Floyd can throw strikes, I think he can be a very good bullpen arm. He can throw 95+ when his arm isn't tired, and has a nasty hammer.

I to would have loved to get willy T. I have been a big fan of his for a while now. Also, great outing by Danks today. I think he has is almost a lock right now.

Looks like Masset and Danks will both make the team... this could be a gigantic steal for us when it is all said and done.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 02:51 PM) Two down, one to go. who was the other one? and who has to go?

I don't know about you guys, but it seems odd to me that John Danks is scheduled to start and go 5, but Floyd is scheduled to only go 3 today in relief work. Now, I would think if Floyd was in the running for the 5th starter spot, he would have started tommorow and get his own 5 innings in against a starting lineup. But that isn't happening, he is getting 3 innings in relief. Could KW/Oz be grooming Floyd for a relief role, and think Danks, Russel, Haeger are better options as the 5th starter? If Floyd does go to the pen (and would probably make the team also, if he does good today), what will it look like? I read earlier that KW/Oz want Boone Logan on the team. Then we could possibly have Floyd in the pen as a reliever and spot-starter. If so, then there would only be 1 spot left (Jenks, Thornton, MaDougal are locks) Out of Masset, Aardsma, Haeger, and Sisco, I'd choose Masset, but the org. has some fascination with Sisco. Thoughts?

hell no, Thornton and Mac-daddy are way to valuable.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 07:47 PM) It was also in the 60's and not just humid...but also rainy & wet. Who knows. He did settle in later in his outing. Well, like most of us, I wan't in Arizona today, but from what I have read/seen, it looked like great knuckleballer weather.

shouldn't the humidity have helped out Haeger today......

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 04:41 PM) KHINAP Kris Honel is not a prospect. yes he is. QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 03:29 AM) No, that's only if you remember Aaron Myette and Lorenzo Barcelo I had such high hopes for him... What happened to Corwin Malone's bright future? Injuries, correct?

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 06:01 PM) I note that you don't mention the botched play in the OF by Erstad that helped the Giants to their first big inning, or the couple things hit over his head. I didn't know that. I just got home when I made that post and was just looking at the box score.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 05:51 PM) If Logan doesn't make this team then we zombies ought to revolt, with the way he's pitched. It could change if he's done something in B games or does something in the next week, but right now I just don't see Aardsma making it. He's just struggled too much in the innings he's had. I think Haeger might make it, or we might do something crazy like putting Russell in there. Sisco stays in for the 9th. If anyone else wants to do PBP I've got to step out. I don't think Haeger makes it as the org. doesnt seem to high on him, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him and Phillips traded sometime during the season or next offseason.

Pods having a decent game today, and Erstad and Iguchi having a good game both. We need these types of outings out of them throughout the season. I think Aardsma is going to make the team, and I am a big fan of his. I think he can be a real good MRP. I agree with Sisco gettint sent down through. Logan should make the team as the second lefty.

some stats from today... Podsednik, 1-3, 1 BB, 2 SB/0 CS, 2 runs (batting leadoff) Erstad, 2-3, 1 BB, 1 run (batting second) Iguchi, 2-4 (3B & HR), 4 RBI's, 2 runs (batting 6th) Wouldn't mind that if they could do that throughout the season...

QUOTE(qwerty @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 11:16 PM) Not what i meant exactly. He pounds batters inside so much..movement can be so good at times that it looks faster than it is in reality. I mean he can hit 94 and has hit 94 on radar... willing to bet it is faster than the average left hander tops out at. he usually averages at 90-91 mph... He might rear back and throw 94 once in a while, but not too often. But he does pound hitter inside.

You guys want my opinions... well here they are: Pods, not a fan, but from what KW and the org have been saying, he is do for a great year. I will hold off my opinion on him until the season is 2 months or so in. Erstad, not sure I would use him as a starter. I'd rather use him as situational guy, and 4th OF'er/1B. Obviously Ozzie likes his attitude and work ethic. I like him the two spot because he is a polished vet, and when he was healthy, he was excellent at doing the little things (hitting the ball to the left side w/ runner on 2nd or 3rd) and bunting. Thome, I am expecting a good year, but not as good as 06 out of him. Konerko is konerko Dye has finally reached his potential as a ball-player, IMO. Injuries really hurt him in the past. Crede, not sure if the back can hold up. I am hoping a bigger year out of him in the OBP category. Pierzynski/Hall, good defensive and offensive 1-2 punch Iguchi, I personally think he can excell batting lower, and really help out the bottom of the lineup. Uribe, I hope he does good, but I have serious doubts The Bench, best bench in baseball Buehrle, Im on the fence about him. I think he has lost it, but it is a contract year Contreras, I am expecting a good, healthy season out of him Garland, I think he is going to have a great season Vazquez, same as Garland Floyd, I hope being less mechanical, a new enviroment, and some maturity will help hm have a good season and some-what live up to his 4th overall pick potential The Bullpen, It is a bit of a mess right now. I am really on the fence about Jenks. He doesn't look to be in that much better of shape, IMO, and if the radar gun was right the past 2 games I saw him pitch... uh oh. He better be able to consistantly hit 97+ on the radar gun by the time the season starts, or he is going to get rocked. I like Thornton and Macdougal, however. I also like Masset, Aardsma, and Logan, the other 3, IMO, to make the team. I am actually looking forward to this season.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 11:00 PM) First off, considering how you joined seven months ago you probably have no idea of Soxtalk's expectations prior to 2005. I know many here (I honestly can't remember my exact sentiments) realized our rotation was finally entact 1-5, and the lineup was significantly stronger with Pierzysnki catching and Podsednik leading off. No one really knew what to expect from Iguchi. Even without Ordonez and Lee, a general feeling of "well, hitting HR's got us nowhere" was echoed and their absence wasn't droned upon. 2007 is completely different. The division is tougher top to bottom. Our pitching staff has more recently regressed than won a World Series. I don't believe we'll finish 72-90, as Baseball Prospectus suggested, but I wouldn't be surprised with a 85 win ballclub. In my opinion, until the bullpen establishes itself and the rotation significantly improves (which I wrote in a separate post is really asking alot), I won't expect too much. See, here's the two way straight -- you can't just go around telling everyone to be optimistic based upon your gut feeling than dismiss those who believe otherwise. I know people say, "it's easy to be negative," but I look at it as having legitimate reasons for establishing doubt in this ball club. In the last six years, we've made the playoffs twice. Nothing is guaranteed. Why should I assume that what happened in 2005 is bound to happen again? Yes, I was not here on soxtalk in 05. But I was alive, and read articles, watched the news, talked with other sox fans, other baseball fans, etc. There was much doubt, and the White Sox were considered to be a pushover team. And I have not told anyone to have optimism, all I am saying have a little faith in the organization, and don't turn your back on the team and say the team sucks. If you truly, genreally feel that, fine. I don't care. But for all the true die-hard sox fans, don't crucify the whole team just yet. QUOTE(SoxAce @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 11:04 PM) 2006 WAS our underacheiving year. It's a damn shame that damn near everyone of our pitching staff had a down year. I had higher hopes last season and 05 than this season but like I said in the game thread, I'm in the "prove me wrong" state for this team. Last year was had horses, a 5th starter (like we did in 05 with El-Duque but McCarthy was the real reason [right Ozzie?]) and to what I thought a strong bullpen (besides Thornton and maybe M-Mac when he was aquired) they didn't pitch well most of the season. You have to understand the ????? with damn near a rookie for a 5th (Floyd would be the only exception but damn near when it comes to starting) some rooks in the bullpen besides Jenks-Thornton (who knows if he'll repect the success like last season)-M-Mac and we'll probably be giving up more runs thanks to the "steller" outfield of Pods-Erstad (I'll refuse to put Dye in that category since he doesn't have a choice) you can see that putting that "faith" would be our only option and see if the rooks and our horses can have great/good/decent/below average maybe seasons. Hopefully a few Amens and Hail Marys can get it done. any team can win it all, IMO. All it takes is for the ball to bounce your way. But usually it takes good teams to make the ball bounce their way.