witesoxfan

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Mar 25, 2010 -> 10:48 AM) On his BR page click 'batting' at the top then scroll down to 'Baserunning & Misc. Stats' and the 'PO' and 'PO CS' stats are right in the middle. 8 in '05, 7 in '06 and an absurd 9 last season, 11 total. Last year he was caught stealing 13 times and picked off another 9 times and only produced 30 SB, 23 unnecessary outs on the basepaths with a payoff of only 30 SB? He truly is an awful baserunnner. You really are my favorite. I also just realized how gratifying it's going to be to have Buehrle pick him off this season (assuming he's healthy or is even able to get on base against the Sox).

I fully believe Vizquel will be a valuable member of the White Sox. I think the problem within lies in the fact that he may be in the lineup as a DH and the fact that he has never DH'ed a game in his entire career. Nothing against the hitter Vizquel was 10 years ago or so - he was solid but not spectacular - but he's nothing more than a washed up mediocre singles hitter at this point in his career. If Omar Vizquel DH's one game, it will be a very sad day for all of baseball. He should be used as a backup infielder and as an injury replacement. Even if it's not desired, having Vizquel's glove in the field for 4-10 days wouldn't be the end of the world and it would be a hell of a lot better than having Nix play SS.

If it helps matters, that's what I've done with my situation, even though I'm technically the ex - labels are stupid and situations are different. I've basically told her that I want her to have as little to do with this other guy as possible. I understand them being "friends" but that anything more (in this instance, going to the bars with him and a couple of their other friends) than that really is a violation of trust and it ultimately hurts the relationship, and eventually it will be beyond repair. She has listened and, whether it was due to me telling her this or because she had other things to do, she has blown off the last 3 times she has had an opportunity to hang out with him (and I think it's a little bit of both).

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 07:28 PM) I guess that would be 1 AL player since 2000 or only 1 over 70. Only 69 times has a player stolen at least 40: #1 is Pierre with 8, #2 is Crawford with 6 #3 Podsednik, Rollins and Figgins with 4. Of course only 8 times as a player been caught stealing 20+ times since 2000 and Pierre leads the way with 3 (he's also #1 with 24 CS in '04, tied with Alex Sanchez) no other player has done it multiple times. Though it's not considered a caught stealing, Podsednik has done it 3 times too if you include getting picked off. Haven't seen the statistics, but he was caught 23 times in '05, 19 times in '06 (and I'm assuming he got picked off atleast once in '06), and 13 last year and I believe he was picked off more than 7 times last year. The Sox are really good at getting mediocre base stealers.

Darin Erstad vs RHP in his career - .289/.346/.415/.760 (and yes, this counts the final 4 seasons and 942 plate appearances where he put up a .247/.299/.344/.643 line) Mark Kotsay vs RHP in his career - .282/.340/.418/.758 That doesn't look a hell of a lot different to me, and in fact, it looks like Erstad is the better hitter and was regarded as an even better hitter against righties when he was signed. To me, the only saving grace in all of this is that Kotsay's floor appears to be a bit higher than Erstad's (.700ish OPS opposed to .675ish), but if he's hitting third, than it's worse because he's in a power and run producing slot in the lineup as opposed to a more conducive spot for him in the lineup, like 7th or 9th or not in the lineup at all. s***, I'd rather have Kotsay lead off or hit 2nd than hit f***ing 3rd. I'm hoping and praying that KW is almost overly trigger happy to end this experiment, or that Andruw Jones lights it up. I don't know that I'm going to be able to handle 300+ plate appearances of Kotsay. Hopefully he hits. And, for s***s and giggles to sort of prove how valuable Kotsay would be off the bench... Career as a starter - .279/.334/.410/.745, 5987 plate appearances Career as a sub - .345/.400/.515/.915, 181 plate appearances Career as a pinch hitter - .338/.378/.519/.898 in 82 pinch hitting appearances It's only sort of proof, because the sample size is ridiculously small and you can't get any sort of significance out of it, but a career .745 OPS as a starter? --- At the end of the day, I think I just wasted 15 minutes of my life with this post because I think Ozzie's just bored of Spring Training and just spewing random BS ideas rather than actually thinking about what he says (though I sometimes think he never thinks about what he says).

It might be possible that there will be a player I hate more than Darin Erstad.

If we are talking about non-pitchers with shoulder problems (because I imagine we'd hear about shoulder problems with pitchers), I would guess one of them is Quentin. I would imagine it's uncomfortable to play with, but I also would imagine it's not completely intolerable.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 08:15 AM) Sox fans despise guys like Andy Gonzalez for a few months of horrible baseball on a terrible team at the league minimum. Its not like we are any different. Andy Gonzalez was legendarily bad. Andruw Jones actually had a pretty decent season for Texas last year.

QUOTE (striker @ Mar 24, 2010 -> 01:47 PM) You should consider selling merchandise and using the proceeds for the site. I'd love a soxtalk beer mug. Or how about tshirts with our screennames on the back? They did that a few years back and really couldn't make any money.

QUOTE (The Baconator @ Mar 20, 2010 -> 02:21 AM) Wasn't he penned as the Nats' starting OFer last spring but didn't make it through May? And the All-Star ballot was already written by then so he was on the ballot while having only played like 4 games? I remember the Nats fans trying to 'stick it to the system' by voting for him to start in the All-Star game despite him being in AA... too bad all 17 of their fans weren't enough. No, that was an internet craze to try and prove how stupid fan voting is.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Mar 24, 2010 -> 07:02 AM) you would enjoy some of the deadspin articles that have candid photos of him creepily trolling bars... http://deadspin.com/5467201/our-deadspin-s...ct-jay-mariotti And holding the drink in his right hand. Everyone knows you hold a drink in your left hand!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 24, 2010 -> 08:10 AM) I think they'd do this if they had a willing trade partner. But you gotta remember, there are very few teams willing to give up decent LHP Relievers most of the time. We've been spoiled because KW pulled off perhaps the best LH steal in the last 20 years by getting a guy who's mechanics were screwed up and who was out of options. Oh, you mean Damaso Marte (obviously you are talking about Thornton) Williams is good at finding left handed arms with upside. Some work out, such as in the case of Thornton and Marte, and some don't, such as Sisco.

QUOTE (scenario @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 05:03 PM) Viciedo? Or Marrero? That implies Viciedo, and from everything I've read from people who saw him play, it sounds very reasonable. The kid is still rather raw. From the sounds of it, he's having trouble hitting breaking balls rather than fastballs. It's obviously not good, but I'd rather a player struggle with good breaking balls than fastballs due to the "you can't teach speed" argument. If you can't catch up to a major league fastball, you're screwed, but with work and coaching you can learn how to read and hit breaking pitches. Having him in AAA wouldn't be a bad thing mainly because of the seasoning that a lot of those pitchers have. If he hits there, I have to imagine people will start to feel quite a bit better about him. I know the piece states that it's a make or break year for him, but I don't know exactly how I feel about that. I think next year is closer to a make or break year for him, but even then I don't think it is. Kendry Morales signed as a 22 year old, and he spent 4 seasons in the minors (although he hit very well in all 4 of them). At this point in time, I don't think the Sox are in any rush to get Viciedo up to the big leagues, just so long as he's up before the 4th year of his contract is over.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 05:26 PM) The problem is they are going to be so outgunned by the opposing team in left and at DH that it will negate whatever advantage they may have in the center of the diamond. The gamble I think is that they believe they'll be able to hang in the division race and pick up a hitter at the trade deadline. Time will tell. I don't think that worries them at all. To bring up the oft-used example, they were outgunned by quite a bit in quite a few spots around the diamond in 2005, and it didn't affect them at all. If the pitching is there and the offense is capable enough, there isn't going to be a lot of worries. I'd like to see the team go with 5 bench players, but only time will tell.

New overtime rules passed for the playoffs. Touchdown is the only way it can be won on the first possession. If there is a field goal, the other team gets a possession to try and tie it up or win it. I like it enough, though I still think that you need to shut the other team down from scoring period if you get a chance...just always been my thought. If they approve the same set of rules for the regular season in May, they need to consider doing away with ties all together and then go until someone wins.

QUOTE (qwerty @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 04:24 PM) The giambi comparison was an unfair and unrealistic (yes, at the time even) one to live up to for teahan... especially at the time. Giambi was nothing short of ridiculous for a 3-4 year stretch, his last .1000 ops+ year was in 2002, the year teahan was drafted. Nothing shocks me anymore with the athletics. Mainly they are all about the hype, and having people buy into the unwarranted hype. Now don't get me wrong they produce major league talent, but rarely, if ever (past decade), do they end up panning out to the level that they were supposed to reach. The athletics organization aggravates me to no end, and it does not help that wite would suck off billy beane if given the chance. He's the best in the game at getting value in trades, whether it's actual prospects or pick compensation (looking at the return he got for Dan Haren is still amazing, even knowing how good Haren has been for the DBacks). However, he's made more than his fair share of mistakes, and, in hindsight, trading for Matt Holliday was one of those. He acquired Holliday in hopes that his addition would help boost the offense into contention, and if not, then he'd either trade him or get picks. He accomplished that, but in the process lost Huston Street, who is still a great reliever, and Carlos Gonzalez, who, if nothing else, looks like he's going to be an absolute monster against RHP and could potentially be a very good full-time starter too (.800 OPS against LHP last year, though it was only 68 PA's and he struck out 1/4 of the time he faced them). That trade actually set them back by 2 years at the very least, and it could be more too. I'd say "we'll see how his plan to go with a defense-oriented team will play out," but it already has been played out in Tampa and Seattle. Tampa, in 2008, actually had a couple of good offensive players in Longoria and Pena and had a good lineup in general, and Seattle last year had the same two good hitters, but had no other offensive depth to speak of. Oakland does not have a good offense, and will either need to get big years out of a few of their hitters, or do what they can to get Gonzalez or a similar type of bat into their lineup, because it will likely leave them around .500, give or take, otherwise.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 04:33 PM) Exactly. They are more or less rebuilding. They are not taking the division away from the Angels or Mariners. I like Sweeney to have a nice year though. Gotta get out of that hell hole of a stadium for power though, but he should hit alot of XBH. Not that the A's lineup is good, but it should score a few runs here and there. Further, with the defense, the talent of the pitching staf, and the park they play in, they could put up the best pitching staff in the majors without having any truly elite starters, and if they are in contention, I could easily see them also being a player in the Adrian Gonzalez sweepstakes, and they should have the pieces to put together a pretty damn good package for him too. Adding Adrian Gonzalez's bat to that lineup makes it a hell of a lot more impressive. I also think you may be giving a bit too much credit to the Angels - losing Figgins and Lackey is going to hurt their team quite a bit - and you are not giving enough to the Rangers. The Rangers could be a pretty solid team this year too. As of right now, I have the Mariners winning the West, but really it's probably more open than any division in baseball and I could see all 4 teams winning that division given certain circumstances.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 02:34 PM) Two points Ranger: 1.) I think you'd agree that LF is an offensive position. You're already giving up power with Pierre so a .330 OBP should be unacceptable, heck .340 isn't great. 2.) Cabrera's .334 OBP was backed by Thome's .372 and Quentin's .394. IF they get that type on base Quentin and the DH spot this I'll grudgingly live with Pierre at .330. 1) That production can very easily be made up for in CF with Rios's bat, at 2B with Beckham's bat, and possibly at SS with Ramirez's bat. Those are all generally regarded with defense as the priority. Sure, you want offense from your offensive positions, but above anything you want a good lineup, and that is something the Sox can put out there. 2) It's insane to think they'll get that type of production out of the DH spot, and even mentioning it is quite ridiculous. What the Sox could very easily get is a .390 OBP out of Quentin and a .370 OBP out of Beckham. They could also get .350 or so out of Rios, .350 out of Konerko and a few others in the .330's. There may also be surprises too. It's just hard to gauge at this point in time. 3) I don't like Pierre either, but he's the least of my concerns. Atleast there's a safe assumption as to what type of numbers he can put up.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 04:46 PM) I can't donate right now, but with a new part-time job and my tax refund coming in the mail within the next 3 weeks, I will be able to make a donation shortly. And it would also seem that any donation you can receive would be welcomed, whether it's $1.27 to $1000. Even so, let me get my financial situation just a little more comfortable before I go spending money on a website. At some point in time, you have to ask yourself whether you'd want to eat or get on the internet.

I can't donate right now, but with a new part-time job and my tax refund coming in the mail within the next 3 weeks, I will be able to make a donation shortly.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 12:14 PM) jesus, how old is he? As Kyle mentioned, Jesus would be very old. Kila, on the other hand, was drafted out of high school and has spent 8 seasons in the minors. He'll be entering his age 26 season this year, so it's about time the Royals either give him a shot or get something for him.

It's hard to predict the shelf life of closers. Some are great for a stretch of 4-6 years and then fade away, such as a Keith Foulke and Eric Gagne (though Gagne's may have been due to PED's), while others keep on doing what they do, like Mo and Hoffman and even, to some extent, Billy Wagner. If Nathan retains his velocity and can still get the snap he did on his slider, he'll be back and could even pitch into his 40s. He wasn't any less dominant last season than he was in previous seasons, so it's very possible that he could come back and be just fine for another 4-6 seasons.

QUOTE (Rooftop Shots @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 07:12 AM) One thing I can't fig out! Hermy is known as one of the best trainers in baseball, but yet when a player gets injured and he comes out of the dugout, he almost looks like an oversized blob that can barely walk, let alone run. You gotta think that the players have to say in the back of their minds......"Man, why should I listen to you on how to take care of my body, when you continually grow 2 to 3 pants sizes bigger each and every year?" "How about yourself, bub?" He's a martyr for the cause.

New shoes suck. I got a blister on my left heel and Curt Schilling'd my sock

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 07:49 AM) Just a thought here... Kila Ka'ahuie has a .344/.447/.656/1.104 line in ST. Royals appear ready to stick with Butler at 1B. Kila would be sent back to AAA. I cannot believe the Sox haven't looked at him - he looks to me like he's in the position TCQ was prior to 2008 (raked in minors, then had a bad AAA year, and is stuck behind someone), and he's a lefty power bat that could be had for cheap. Would you rather give up Hudson/Flowers/Danks2/Morel for 1.5 or 2 years of Gonzo, or give up only one of those (at most) and get 5 years of Kila for cheap, and still leave money room for some other big acquisition later if Kila ends up a flop? He's got a great eye at the plate, that is the one given. But in his one fantastic season in 2004, he was in AA for the 3rd straight season, and then only had ~30 games in AAA (where he did produce very well). Last season, his average dipped again, though his power and his eye were still there. If anything, I think he'd be a better option off the bench than Mark Kotsay (who, even if considered an outfielder, really isn't anything special out there and is more of a backup 1Bman at this point), and I'd much rather have Kila as a stopgap than Kotsay.