witesoxfan

QUOTE (IamtheHBOMB @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 06:31 PM) Contract year. Makes perfect sense. I don't have the study on hand, but there is virtually no difference whatsoever in players' performances during the beginning, middle, or end of their contracts.

QUOTE (mmmmmbeeer @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 04:40 PM) Honestly, with Peavy out we're now much less likely to dominate in the playoffs. There's a huge difference between running JP,JD,GF,MB and trotting out JD,GF,MB,FG. I will be disappointed if KW goes all in when our best pitcher is on the DL. Danks is starting tonight

Jeez, people really don't like Mark Teahen. He'd be an upgrade over Mark Kotsay.

QUOTE (Knackattack @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 04:07 PM) If we trade Hudson for a bat, and Fister comes extremely cheap, then it's a good idea. Otherwise, not so much. Giving Torres a shot would be worth not having to give anybody up. Fister is not a good bet to continue any semblance of success outside of Safeco.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 03:53 PM) I stand by what Greg Hibbard wrote. Then you agree that Jenks has been adequate and nothing more.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 03:28 PM) Ahh yeah I forgot about that. Our 40 is at 39 according to the official site though, even if you include Peavy. Which could be Morel's spot (if he's still with the organization, of course)

Even if that weren't the case, the Sox wouldn't even have to DFA anyone on the 40-man simply because you could transfer Peavy to the 60-day DL.

Jenks has only pitched 33 innings before the 9th inning in his entire career. Either he would get pissed and pitch terribly from here on out, or he'd accept a demotion with grace and try to earn his 9th inning duties back. I don't think it would be a huge deal to atleast see what he can bring in earlier innings and in the meantime, allow Putz to close out games. As some have mentioned, the 7th and 8th innings are just as important and can be just as adrenaline filled as the 9th inning.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 02:29 PM) I tend to agree with you, the only thing that might have prompted his firing was if the Cubs actually thought they were going to be able to dump a lot of the high salary veterans and slot a player development player type guy as the interim manager for the rest of the season, but with it looking like they won't be able to dump a lot of the crap, might as well just let Lou stick around. Some of those Cubs contracts are so bad, today on the Score they were talking about how good of a fit A-Ram would be for the Tigers, but he has a few big years left on his deal plus a player option and a NTC, meaning he would likely demand the option be picked up before agreeing to any move, basically making him immovable unless the Cubs eat 1/2 the deal, even with him starting to hit If he is traded, the team option in 2012 becomes guaranteed so long as he picks up his 2011 player option.

QUOTE (heirdog @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 03:04 PM) It's one thing to give Ozzie the type of team he wants and let him manage the team the way he wants. It's another thing to give Ozzie the benefit of the doubt on the make-up of a roster that you as a GM clearly see has a gaping hole. Now we need to plug it by giving up top prospects and perhaps a player that will be extremely needed to make a playoff push (Hudson)? If we're going to have to do the old spinning wheel for a 5th starter and basically lose every 5th day, then there is no point in upgrading the offense. I imagine that if the Sox do deal Hudson, it's because they feel that Carlos Torres can be an acceptable 5th starter.

Dunn will cost a lot because Washington undoubtedly believes they can still resign him, because he will result in two compensation picks within the first 65 (and more likely within the top 50), and because he's a pretty damn good hitter. Even though Cowley says otherwise, I do question whether or not Williams is actually willing to give up Hudson for Dunn. If he is, in fact, willing to give up Viciedo, then I'd say it's very possible, and maybe even likely that the two sides will be able to come to some sort of agreement.

If I recall correctly, Sale does have to be on the 40-man roster by September 1st. That shouldn't be a problem whatsoever though, and I have to imagine that he'll be with the big league club before then anyways.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 01:23 PM) Was Frank a Free Agent at the end of 2002 (or at the worst a guy with an expensive, not likely to be picked up unless he heals a lot and soon club option?) I seem to recall the Sox invoking the diminished skills clause in his contract after that season, and then resigned him shortly thereafter, so yes.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 12:56 PM) I've got to figure if Berkman's not in the discussion, it's because of medical reports and not because of asking price. Of course, that's assuming some level of intelligence in Houston. Would you have traded Frank Thomas in 2002?

Sale just gave up a homer.

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 12:24 PM) Then what would they do with Brandon Inge when he gets back? Play him all over the diamond, and let him walk as a free agent in the offseason.

I don't think Viciedo is ever going to walk enough to be that good. Pitch recognition is one thing, but he's still a very aggressive hitter. If we have to compare, I would say he is far more comparable to Adrian Beltre than Miguel Cabrera.

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 12:02 PM) I don't think anyone here would call Jenks an elite closer. I think he is an adequate closer, and that's the only role he can play on this team. I doubt Putz would perform at quite that insane of a clip in the 9th inning exclusively. Another point is that typically the 9th inning is set up to go through the heart of the order, whereas typically the 7th inning is going through the bottom of the order. That's probably not true at all. In the 9th inning, you will see more pinch hitters to pitch against the closer, but (very obvious point coming) who you face in the 7th and 9th innings depend entirely on how you do in innings 1 through 6. It's entirely random.

DH LILLIBRIDGE

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 11:21 AM) There are a lot of bad closers by that rubric, then. J. Rauch - 14/34 (41.2%) M. Capps - 17/42 (40.5%) F. Cordero - 18/45 (40.0%) K. Gregg - 14/37 (37.8%) O. Dotel - 14/37 (37.8%) H. Bell - 15/40 (37.5%) (initially counted one 1.2 IP appearance by accident ) D. Aardsma 12/32 (37.5%) F. Rodriguez - 16/44 (36.4%) C. Marmol - 15/43 (34.8%) J. Soria - 13/38 (34.2%) M. Lindstrom - 12/36 (33.3%) B. Jenks - 12/37 (32.4%) R. Franklin - 11/35 (31.4%) L. Nunez - 12/40 (30.0%) J. Papelbon - 10/35 (28.57%) B. Wilson - 11/39 (28.2%) (he also had 3 appearances over 1 inning where he blew way up) B. Fuentes - 8/29 (27.6%) J. Valverde - 10/41 (24.4%) A. Bailey - 9/37 (24.3%) N. Feliz - 10/42 (23.8%) J. Broxton - 9/40 (22.5%) R. Soriano - 7/34 (20.6%) M. Rivera - 6/36 (16.7%) B. Wagner - 6/40 (15.0%) That list really doesn't surprise me at all. Marmol makes up for letting as many base runners on as he does because of an insane K rate (17 K/9). Soria has made up for it by inducing a lot of infield fly balls (14.8%). Bell makes up for it by having a high fly ball percentage (33.3%) in what is probably the hardest park to hit home runs in. And a lot of the other guys really shouldn't be closing, but are doing so simply because they're the best of a bad bunch of relievers or because they're being paid a lot of money. Beyond even that, Jenks has a very high line drive rate - 22.8% - which is an indication that hitters are squaring him up really well. On this list, I would list Marmol and Soria above Jenks. As such, I would say Jenks is about a 3rd or 4th tier closer, which basically means he's adequate but not desired. When the Sox have a guy in Putz who has done a phenomenal job all year (with his numbers this year, he'd be in that upper tier), it would make sense to flip flop the two. All I really hope is that it doesn't come back to bite the Sox in the ass.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 10:44 AM) I saw realized this last night. Hard to believe a team could make the postseason with such an inability to win on the road. The craziest one ever is still the 87 Twins. 56-25 at home, 29-52 on the road. Second fewest wins for a World Series team ever, beaten only by the 2006 Cards who won 83 games during the regular season. That Cardinals team was 34-47 on the road.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 12:18 AM) Yunel Escobar didn't hit a single homer with the Braves all season. He already has two with Toronto. That's because everyone hits home runs with the Blue Jays. Juan Pierre would have 12 homers by now if he played in Toronto.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 10:53 AM) The Tigers are going to look at Miguel Tejada, Peralta, Wigginton, Alberto Callaspo, Jose Lopez....but their first options are Sizemore (900+ OPS in the minors) and moving Carlos Guillen back to that position, although who would be worse between Guillen and Josh Fields would be a question up for lots of discussion. They might also try D. Kelly there as well. I think two of the most intriguing infield names that might move are Uggla and Cantu. Let's just hope that the Tigers trade for Tejada and Wigginton to solve their offensive woes on the left side of the infield. And that they give up Porcello in the process. But seriously, I think the Tigers are going to go hard after Aramis Ramirez. His $16 mill option in 2012 becomes guaranteed if he picks up his 2011 $14.6 mill player option after he is traded, so the Tigers would be filling a hole on the left side of their infield for 2 and a half years, and they can afford to make that move too with as much money as they have coming off their payroll at the end of the year.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 20, 2010 -> 10:29 AM) We'll get to see him first hand. We got to see him last year too in his first career start. I recall watching the game, and seeing a guy who was throwing 89 MPH shut down the Sox. 6 IP, 1 H, 4 BB, 4 K. He's a decent back end of the rotation guy, but he can be disguised as a #3 starter in Seattle because of the park - the Jarrod Washburn effect.

oh f***, the Twins are trying to come back again