witesoxfan

QUOTE (heirdog @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 10:55 PM) Pierzynski and Quentin both seem so frenetic up there and seemed to be in a rush to swing the bat as early in the count as possible. It's expected with AJ but it's odd for a high OBP guy like Quentin. A poster over at SouthSideSox did a little research into this. Quentin goes up to the plate and generally looks to hit the 1st or 2nd pitch he sees. Also, his high OBP is inflated quite a bit by his HBP, which isn't a terrible thing; it's just a bit scary because those HBP can occasionally hit small bones, and those break pretty easily.

QUOTE (daggins @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 10:50 PM) I'm more concerned about his FB velocity being way down than his not being able to locate. I would say that's more due to it being April 12 than anything wrong with him physically.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 10:41 PM) Give the dude a break. Some of the best pitchers in baseball are getting lit up all over baseball in the first week. Jake's first start was decent and tonight he just didn't have it. He's fine. He's not a freaking robot. And if the AL is suddenly too much for him how did he dominate at 80% health with a 3-0 1.35 ERA against KC and a Tigers team twice that was fighting for their season last year? Detroit averaged 4.42 runs in September and October of last year. That's a 717 run pace over 162 games. That is not very good. They actually scored 743 runs last year. That is not horrendous, but still not very good. KC was a bit better in in September and October, averaging 4.87 runs a game. That's a pace to score 790 runs during a 162 game season. Instead, they scored 686 runs, which is really bad. The two teams Peavy has faced this year - Cleveland and Toronto - scored 773 runs and 798 runs respectively last year. Those are two good offenses that Peavy has faced. That, and adjusting to pitching in the AL, will hurt him a bit. I agree that Peavy is fine, but it's completely understandable as to why he shut down Kansas City and Detroit last year, because they were not very proficient offensive teams.

QUOTE (SockMe @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 10:34 PM) I wanted Jones before the season started and I think he proved himself tonight. Because he had a multi-homer game? Because he was great against a terrible left handed pitcher? I'd say that this is one game, and he has a hell of a lot more work to do before I consider him anything more than a viable bench option. I think it's entirely possible and even likely that he will be just fine as an everyday player, but you don't prove yourself in one night. That's a bit ridiculous.

Thornton is by far this team's best reliever, but he loses value when he loses his "ability" to come in during the 7th or 8th when a group of lefties come up. Lefties have seemingly no chance against him at all, and if he becomes the "closer" and Ozzie uses him strictly in the 9th, then Randy Williams becomes the main lefty in the pen. As great as Thornton is, I don't think he's ever considered as a closer by the Sox unless they bring in another lefty (or two) capable of being good to great. Putz is very likely next on the list, followed by Pena and then maybe Santos (though thinking of Santos in that manner is scary too...3 or whatever good performances be damned, he's still relatively new to this whole idea of pitching in the major leagues).

from rotoworld... A team source tells Ben Goessling of MASNSports.com haven't had any discussions with free agent outfielder Jermaine Dye "in a while." According to Goessling, the team's sabermetrics analysis found that they would be better off with a platoon of Willie Harris and Willy Taveras in right field, just because of Dye's defensive limitations. We're guessing this analysis consisted of a simple visit to Fangraphs.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Apr 11, 2010 -> 11:24 PM) Same here. But many were pretty high on Matt Garza. I loved Garza. Still do.

QUOTE (The Baconator @ Apr 11, 2010 -> 11:15 PM) It's slipping my mind now, but why again didn't we bring back Carrasco? Someone posted an article a ways back about the value of long relievers and he was far and away the best in some arbitrary rating system that I can't remember (yes, I know, I'm not really contributing anything at this point). Point is, Carrasco got a flack early but turned into a great long guy, and I can't remember why we didn't bring him back. Was it that he wanted to be a starter somewhere..? The Sox didn't want to spend $1+ mill on a pitcher who essentially pitched in meaningless situations, even if he was very good at it.

Santonio Holmes to the Jets for a 5th round pick.

QUOTE (hometeamfan @ Apr 11, 2010 -> 06:25 PM) The Sox are 4-2 and you want to beat up on the minor leaguers??? 2010 Stats: Rios 23AB 1R 4H 2DBL 1HR 3RBI 3BB 4SO ($69M) Quentin 18AB 6H 2DBL 1HR 3RBI 5BB/HBP 2SO Beckham 22AB 3R 5H 1DBL 1HR 1RBI 3BB 4SO Danks2 17AB 5R 5H 2DBL 1HR 2RBI 3BB 6SO 1 TRPL ($1800p mo) Yeah, what a loser JorDanks has been so far..... Put down the nachos and exercise....... hahahahahaha uh, wha? QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Apr 11, 2010 -> 07:07 PM) Both Granderson and Sizemore have 25/30 HR power. Big difference. Granderson showed power in the minors, but Sizemore never really did. Sizemore hit 27 minor league homers and 161 XBHs in 2312 minor league PA's. He's a much better hitter than that in the majors. Then again, Sizemore didn't strike out nearly as much as Danks did either. I'm not worried yet. They project 15 homer power for Danks. That's decent power, and if he's as good defensively as Buddy Bell says he is (and some guys on here have agreed), he'll be a fine player.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 11, 2010 -> 05:42 PM) But...their strikeouts have been the key thing preventing them from becoming elite players. And there are a number of players with similar skill sets who have thus far not become great players because of how often they're striking out (Upton, Young come to mind). I would say both Granderson and Sizemore are elite players in this league.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Apr 11, 2010 -> 04:10 PM) I don't care how many extra-base hits he he has or his average, if he continually Ks at the current rate (1.5 per game) he will never be a solid major leaguer. And even if he cuts that to just one per game unless he hits for power like Howard or Reynolds, it still isn't going to cut it. Jordan brings a lot to the table athletically and other ways, but I just can't be excited over him til his K rate comes down significantly. He needs to improve his K-rate, but you can still strike out and be a very valuable player, especially with his defense. Both Granderson and Sizemore strike out at terrible rates and great players.

QUOTE (hammerhead johnson @ Apr 9, 2010 -> 02:22 PM) Gordon Beckham is a .270-to-.280 hitter until further notice. People already have him in the hall of fame, for some odd reason. It is also not beyond the realm of possibility for Konerko or Andruw Jones to get a base bit. That means there is a 27-28% chance that Pierre moves to atleast 2B with Beckham winding up on 1st due to a base hit with no outs for Quentin. It also means that there is probably a 34-36% chance that Pierre moves up to 2B and Beckham to 1B with a walk, HBP, or a hit. It also leaves somewhere right around a 40-42% chance that either Beckham is retired at 1B with Pierre ending up on 2B or Pierre is retired at 2B with Beckham at 1B, or any of the aforementioned situations. There's probably a 5% chance of a GIDP in that situation. I'll take my chances, assuming Beckham is only a .270-.280 hitter. But here's the best part. Rafael Perez throws with his left hand...this is the constant debate - "Pierre shouldn't have stolen because Perez has a balk-ish type move to 1B and Pierre may have gotten thrown out." Beckham hit .318/.372/.518/.890 against left handed pitching last year. You are seriously going to look me in the internet-eye and say it was the right move to bunt Beckham when he hit lefties at a strong .320 clip last year? That's about the equivalent of bunting with Jim Thome or Jermaine Dye in that situation. That's absolutely insane. Gordon Beckham bunting at all is the wrong move because Gordon Beckham is a good hitter. Gordon Beckham bunting in the 9th against Rafael Perez when bunting isn't even going to get the runner on base to 3B with less than 2 outs is even more disasterous because it involves someone on the White Sox getting a hit (which they have proven in the early going they are not very good at, considering they have 8 hits in the last 18 innings). Gordon Beckham just should not bunt unless it is the most extreme of circumstances.

Hello, my name is wite, and I am a Reese's peanut butter cup-aholic

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Apr 9, 2010 -> 12:18 PM) So I missed my Econ 302 midterm last night because of illness, I was throwing up do to bad leftovers I ate (atleast I believe thats what upset my stomach, couldve just been dorm food). I emailed the professor about it and I am hoping he lets me take it at another time or combines this test amount with the next. Anybody have experience missing one like this? Or have advice? Im kinda freaking out because it was 25% of my grade. I haven't had this experience personally, but I know that I've had professors who have given make-up exams after having printed "ABSOLUTELY NO MAKE-UP EXAMS" on the syllabus. If you e-mailed your professor ahead of time, you should be fine. Otherwise, you better hope the professor likes you a whole lot. In other classes I've had, professors have allowed for make-up exams during finals week, while others just want it in before they actually give the test back. Definitely go talk to the professor in person though, that is a key.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Apr 9, 2010 -> 12:31 AM) Oh my lord.. wite has seen the light!! :notworthy And as far as this poll, i'll say Kotsay as well cause of the reason Kalapse brings, though Teahen isn't looking good right now, though he's on pace to walk more than he ever has in a season cause of his discipline. (hey he might live up to the money ball ways after all ) I had never actually seen Getz play, so shame on me. He doesn't have much to work with.

There's gotta be a loophole somewhere in it beyond the gold in the WBC.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Apr 9, 2010 -> 12:01 AM) Not really. I don't view Teahen as any offensive upgrade over Getz, but Getz at least brought more speed. Also. Getz costs considerably less money. Well you should view Teahen as an offensive upgrade over Getz. The fact that Getz brings more speed is more than neutralized by his incapability to hit for power. Though Teahen is not a fantastic player, he brings more to the plate than Getz does. And of course Getz makes much less money than Teahen, he's a 2nd year player. Teahen is in his arbitration seasons (and has a contract through those two plus his final year).

Marlon Byrd turns 33 in August. I had no idea that he had gotten that old that fast. It doesn't seem like long ago that he was a top prospect for the Phillies, but it actually has been quite a while.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 11:47 PM) Shut up. And I hate you. I get your point. I guess I phrased that wrong. Obviously, the Royals aren't our main competition. But Hochevar was the #1 pick just a few years ago for a reason. If that FB velocity is legit, there definitely could be something there. I guess I have a thing for high first round draft picks that, while talented, have yet to fully put it together (I guess this started for me when we acquired Gavin Floyd). I think it has intrigued Williams in the past too, and I'm not even talking about just pitchers here. There has to be some reason he acquired Jason Grilli, Ben Davis, and Darin Erstad, and it wasn't their stunning appearances. (it would not be good for the Sox if Hochevar turned into a stud starting pitcher, but the tools are there. He's only had 1 full season in the minors, and it wasn't impressive, but his career minor league totals are solid but not stunning - 3.63 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 2.7 BB/9, 1.1 HR/9 in 255 innings) --- In other news, Thome hit a home run for his 3rd AL Central team tonight.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 11:51 PM) And on defense for that matter. Man, I would love to gave Getz back..... Getz is a hard worker who will be a .750 OPS player at his very, very best, unless he lucks into a .320 average or something. He is not a very talented major league baseball player. Mark Teahen does have talent, and at his very best he is probably an .850 or so OPS bat. Expecting a .750 OPS or so out of him is pretty reasonable. Anybody wishing for Getz back after now 3 games is jumping the gun just a little bit.

Intermediate Micro was by far the hardest actual in regards to actual technical knowledge, and I was also taught by the professor who grades the hardest in regards to percentage points. I word it that way because his grading scale is adjusted to how he actually grades - 86-100 is an A, 71-85 is a B, 61-70 is a C, 51-60 is a D, and 50 and below fails. He is by far the toughest actual grader within the Econ department here, and that class is a b**** and a half. I did fine through the first two sections of the course, but when we had to deal with Technical Rates of Substitution and anything else that far into the course, I got absolutely lost. I also got one my crazier test score stories from that class. Nothing to do with me personally, but on the second test in that class, the range for the grades was 91. The dude I sat next to in class got a 100%, and some unlucky soul who probably didn't go and didn't study much got a 9%. When I heard that, it just blew my mind. I will agree with SnB in regards to his last point though...the 400 level classes have generally been a breeze. There's a bit of work to do, but they aren't hard at all.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 04:26 PM) Yeah, he was rather impressive. His FB was consistently at 95 MPH. That's up over 3 MPH from his average FB velocity last year. Not sure if he just had extra juice because it was his first start. I noticed he induced a s***load of groundballs. Last thing we need is for Hochevar to break out and team with ZG to form a nasty 1-2 for KC. I wouldn't say it's the last thing we need. Hochevar turning into a great starting pitcher (extremely unlikely to begin with anyways) isn't going to push the Royals into contention. The last thing the Sox would need would be for Quentin or Beckham to get hurt (knock on wood), for any of the Twins starters jumping to an elite level this year, or the Tigers to somehow be a great team.

The answer to this question is getting a BlackBerry. Or any type of smart phone. Laptops are bulky and unnecessary at a ballpark.