witesoxfan

Wait George Brett knows how to do the T-Pain robot voice too?! I want to learn it!

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 11:49 PM) Hmmm, wonder who they would select for that one. that would be complete bulls*** and I would hope that the Sox would protest those games.

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 03:40 AM) ^^Just what we need,another old guy^^ What's wrong with old players (or if you want to more cool and hip about it, 'guys'), who produce well and have postseason experience? What was wrong with the two players who had been on this earth a combined 75 years that won game 163 for the Sox last year? What the hell is wrong with giving a legitimate response with good research backed up with facts and well thought out opinions? I mean..."omgz, HES OLD, MAYBE HIS SMELL WILL KILL HALF THE TEAM" would have been a better thought out post than that.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 07:32 PM) Unless Williams developed a new pitch since Sping Training, he'll probably be worse than Gobble. He gets AAA hitters out, but if I'm not mistaken, he's a minor league vet in his 30's. that's outstanding reasoning as to why he'll fail. Great analysis.

offer 45 hot dogs for $27 dollars

QUOTE (chisox2334 @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 09:31 AM) toronto still pisst about parque for david wells deal. Philadelphia is still upset about acquiring an injured Freddy Garcia too then I assume? your statement is absolutely ludicrous

QUOTE (beck72 @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 06:19 AM) Lexi should be shopped in the offseason--depending on if the sox can get Figgins for 3b. A Lexi trade should net the sox a young SP, who the sox can plug into the rotation for 2010. If the Sox sign Figgins, it's to play CF. Signing him to play 3B would be one of the most monumentally bad free agent signings of the free agency period, even if he was good. I don't believe in getting power players at power positions, which is why I have no problem with a guy like Carl Crawford in LF (though he would play CF for the Sox), but you don't get a guy who hits for absolutely no power at all and doesn't bring elite defense at 3B to put an .800 OPS for you when you can just as easily put him in CF, which is a much more important position while putting even a .725 OPS at 3B.

On the optimistic side of that argument, that mediocre 3-4 - I assume you mean Floyd-Contreras - has proven that they can be solid and even very good this season alone, even at Contreras's age. Clayton Richard has been fantastic his past couple starts, and that could very easily continue (and I still think the worst case scenario for him is becoming an above average left handed reliever). The bullpen, though struggling right now, struggled around this time last year and started to figure it out around this time last year as well (though they were without Linebrink). The lineup is starting to get healthy, though they are pretty awful defensively; a good offensive 3Bman would do a hell of a lot for this lineup right now, especially if Alexei is sidelined for a while (Rolen has been mentioned for a while on here, and I think he'd be a pretty good player to insert into the 6 spot in the lineup while moving Beckham to 2B). And, beyond all of that, even if this current core is kept in tact, the Sox have introduced a number of younger pieces from the minors over the past 3 years, either via trade or drafting, that have come up and produced quite well for the big league club, and more help is on the way. Now is not the time to be selling; now would be the time to make minor moves in hope that you strike gold and it helps propel the team to a division winner.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 03:39 AM) Ditching Jordan is probably not going to make older Danks too happy. That alone is a reason to be very weary of trading him. And then you calmly explain to him that this game is a business, that they had interest in Jordan before they did you, and that the player they acquired is going to make the major league team that much better. If John has that much a megaboner for playing with his brother, then the Sox can get great value for him in a deal come the 2011-12 offseason.

QUOTE (Markbilliards @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 10:34 AM) Minus JorDanks, I agree. The guy and his brother ditched Boras for us and I think that deserves respect. He also will solve a much needed spot in the future. QUOTE (bighurt4life @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 01:24 AM) Yes, we have no other CF spects who will be ready to contribue anytime soon. We need him around, mitchell is 2 years away minimum and may not even be a CF. Gordon Beckham was a can't miss prospect who has not disappointed at the major league level. Jordan Danks is not a can't miss prospect, and if he could be used to acquire Dan Haren, KW better not end talks based upon his inclusion. Dan Haren isn't going anywhere, so that last sentence is really irrelevant, but Jordan Danks should not be an untouchable player by any stretch of the imagination.

QUOTE (CQMVP @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 10:39 PM) They're all slow as hell, streaky, and swing for the fences almost every at bat. You can realistically live with two of them in the middle of the order, but we need some more speed on the basepaths. The only way to score those guys is home runs, or 3-4 consecutive base hits. We are just too SLOW. STARTING pitching has been solid, but our bullpen has been pretty flawed since 2005 as well. You can have an entire staff of Mark Buehrles on the team, and it wouldn't matter if we're only scoring 2-3 runs a game.... Quentin (4 MVP) has been slow, streaky, and swinging for the fences all year. To top it off, he's been injured for most of the year too. For some reason, you aren't calling for his head. I think this team is in dire need of a 3Bman to move Beckham back to the middle where he belongs. Rolen sounds about right to me.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 07:47 PM) I really believed in Neal Huntington or whatever his name is, until I saw what he dealt McLouth for... what's wrong with Morton, Locke, and Hernandez? I also think this is probably the best Pirates fans have felt in years. Their minor league system looks like it's actually going to be producing good players here, and rather than just selling off a piece or two every year, they are going all out on selling this year. Good for them, that franchise could very good within a couple years.

In case you missed it, Liriano is officially scrated and Duensing is starting in his place.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jul 27, 2009 -> 11:26 AM) My thing about Bartman is how do his actions, which had minimal impact on the game at best, explain the 8 runs that followed? And the loss in Game 7? These things are completely glossed over every time. Alex Gonazalez's glove made of stone has no emotions, so the media couldn't sensationalize it's emotion and make it out to be the bad guy. (you mean Alex Gonzalez is a person, and that part of the reason the Cubs brought him over was his defense?)

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 07:39 AM) I believe Johnson was a Boras client, and he deteriorated quickly after the 2000 season. And no one put him in the same sentence as Widger. No one ever should. People try and compare Quentin to god (AKA Widger). Well, atleast Widger finished the 2005 season on the active roster. Widger's last game with the Sox - July 20th. The Sox were 58-36, 22 games over .500. White Sox record after July 20th? 32-36, division lost. Coincidence?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 07:28 AM) Charles Johnson (along with Pudge Rodriguez) was once the best catcher in the NL. Unfortunately, his defense had deteriorated...and offense had improved greatly...when he came to us in the 2000 season. But I would still never put him a sentence with the likes of Fordyce or Widger. I believe Johnson was a Boras client, and he deteriorated quickly after the 2000 season. And no one put him in the same sentence as Widger. No one ever should. People try and compare Quentin to god (AKA Widger). Well, atleast Widger finished the 2005 season on the active roster.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 12:08 AM) All the talent in the world with very little motivation to use it. I don't think Alexei isn't trying though/ Trying and being lazy can go hand in hand. I'd prefer executing over trying. I could try to field a 100 MPH ground ball in the majors, but I imagine I'd "Olé" it.

9.1 perfect inning streak on the line. Oh yeah, and that s***ty outing he had against the Twins last time. Let's change that to an 8 IP, 4 H, 1 R performance with the Sox putting up their usual 4 or 5, so the Twins can only get it close in the 9th without actually tying the game.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 07:13 AM) IIRC, the first month or so, the Sox were doing a lot more damage from the 6th inning on than they were from innings 1-5. I prefer the roughly ..580 winning percentage since they were 7 under. I'm not doubting your point, just saying I'd rather them be winning from innings 1-6 and later rather than them winning from innings 7-9. Wins from innings 1-6 are much more predictable than those from 7-9. I would like one win like Swisher's extra inning walk-off homer against the Tigers last year though. I'm a big SABR guy and like to play most things by statistics, but this team, even with the young, fiery Beckham and a rejuvenated Podsednik, lacks some type of flare. It's just a boring team to watch (outside of only Beckham and maybe seeing Quentin get back on track, because I seem to recall seeing 4 good balls off his bat this evening, even if one was merely your average deep flyball to left field...it did take a hell of an adjustment by Span in the 9th to catch that ball), especially in the later innings, mainly because you know what you are going to get and there is no pop off the bench. Ozzie never pinch hits with his catchers...didn't really have the opportunity tonight, but Getz/Nix, Wise, and Fields don't inspire much confidence. To be fair though, Fields was pretty damn close to hitting a flyball go-ahead homer tonight. I thought it was gone when he hit it, and it probably was, but I'm sure the air conditioning was going and it would have been gone had Brendan Harris hit that ball.

I still don't like the Cubs pitching. I take back whatever I said about the Cards and Cubs having no pitching (I was plowed and wasn't thinking correctly...drunk now, but willing to atleast do research), but I still don't really like the Cubs rotation, especially without Lilly, mainly because I completely doubt Wells is going to keep up what he's been doing (especially against good hitting teams, ala the Dodgers, Phillies, Cards, and Brewers), I still think Zambrano is more of a great #2 than he is the true ace he's paid to be, though he's been great this year, I believe Harden is too fragile and strike out friendly (meaning simply that I think he will throw too many pitches and that Piniella will be very quick with him) to be as effective as he really could be, though he is quite obviously their best and would be most teams' best starter. That's 4 of their 5 starters, and they then have to hope that Dempster comes back at somewhere near where he was this year...a 4.15 ERA for 2 months would do wonders for that team. The bullpen, as I see it, has 3 good pitchers and no great pitchers in Gregg, Marmol, and Marshall with a 4th possibly included in Guzman. Samardzija seems overrated and falling out of favor, Heilman has done his best Rick White impersonation for the past year and a half, and Kevin Hart, no matter his ERA, won't be effective if he keeps his K/BB ratio right around 0.50. Their offense is starting to perform to what it can, but I don't believe that team is built for the postseason.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 06:31 AM) Edwin Jackson comes to mind for me. I thought the Rays had made a pretty good deal considering the surplus of premium pitching prospects they had in the minor leagues. Its turned out to be pretty one-sided to this point. Jackson has been one of the top 10 pitchers in the AL this year. Matt Joyce has, well, let's say Brian Anderson would point and laugh at him right now. Edit: I didn't realize Joyce has only had 32 at bats with the Rays this year. Still, a pretty bad trade by them to this point. Joyce has been OK in his extremely limited duty, but I think Tampa based too much on statistics, mainly because I don't think they realized how bad Sonnanstine was going to be. I know that Cheat once compared Jack Egbert to Sonnanstine; not sure there were any direct shots at him for that comparison last year as he shut the Sox down in the playoffs, but with a 5.30 career ERA through 69 starts, I don't think anyone is laughing now. Jackson is 1A for the Tigers right now behind Verlander, and it's been a great trade for the Tigers. I did want him on the Sox, and proposed many trades involving the Rays and the Sox, everyone of them involving Dye (at one point, it got to Garza, but that was never, ever going to happen), but they never matched up because the Sox didn't have the outfield prospect to match up, and Tampa is still generally a very fiscally conservative organization, and it may cost them a playoff appearance this year.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 06:27 AM) He's the single reason why I think the Giants would have a real shot to get to the World Series if they make it to October. He's that f***ing good. If he plays a Josh Beckett role, I agree, with Cain, Sanchez, and Zito playing the counterparts. Completely under the radar, but Zito has turned that complete albatross of a contract to merely an albatross. I wouldn't want to pay a 5th starter $17 mill a year, but he's had 10 quality starts, and he's thrown a winnable start (for me, that's 5 IP, 3 ER; 6 IP 4 ER; 8 IP, 5 ER) 14 times out of 20. For a mediocre pitcher that - thanks to a terrible GM and a fantastic agent - scored a great deal, he has shown his pride and has become a decent starting pitcher, even if he's not good. With Alderson and Bumgarner on the way, they can probably actually afford that contract for the short-term.

QUOTE (qwerty @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 06:22 AM) It was colon, rivera, santana, lee, buehrle, garland, and millwood in that order. Colon had 118 points, rivera 68, santana 51, lee 8, buehrle 5, garland 1, and millwood with one. Yes, that is votes. I also have reference to Baseball Reference. That is not the CyP rating.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 06:23 AM) Am I the only one who thinks they should just give the CY to Tim Lincecum right now? What he did to the Pirates last night was just wrong. Only guy with a legitimate case for the award to this point is Dan Haren. But they typically don't give the award to a guy from a lousy team. CLIFF LEE s*** TIM LINCECUM yeah, I would trade the entire minor league system minus any player on the 40-man that the Giants didn't want for Lincecum right now. He has quickly and, quite frankly, not very quietly overtaken Johan Santana as the best pitcher in the league.

I was completely off on Raul Ibanez. I didn't understand the Raul Ibanez signing (still really don't but I can't question it now) simply because of how much, how long, and how he'd fit into that lineup. He still leads the Phillies in homers - with a lineup that, in case you fell asleep for 2 years, still includes Ryan Howard and Chase Utley - even after a DL stint. That 1.006 OPS he's carrying? He's never been above .900, and the closest he's gotten to that were .869 in 06 and .883 in '02. He just may be the best free agent signing of this past offseason, even considering the Yankees trio. (Just in case you were wondering, he's 37 right now. He makes me feel old, and I'm 15 years younger than he is. If you are older than me, don't watch him for your own sake)