witesoxfan

offense is down around the league. These numbers don't surprise me in the least. The Sox are on pace to score less than 800 runs and have one of the "top" offenses in the league.

QUOTE (alexgtp @ Jun 26, 2008 -> 10:08 AM) Dont worry Paulie and Thome will save us they are bound to go on a massive rampage for probably the 7th time, Jim Thome's June OPS is over 1.000. He already is starting his massive rampage.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jun 27, 2008 -> 06:55 AM) I really don't see how we can go into next season with the same three big base cloggers. So judging by age and production (or lack thereof), Thome is the odd man out. I love Thome, as a lefty hitter growing up, I loved to watch him hit. However, Thome doesn't have it anymore and isn't worth the starting role. The only way I'd keep Thome if his option doesn't vest is if he is willing to take a reduced role as more of a platoon player. Looking at next years free agent class, there's nothing to get excited about either... Thome's been better than Konerko all 3 years he's been here. He can't be traded obviously, but seeing how he hits left handed and he's been better than Konerko, I wouldn't automatically label him the odd man out. I also think it's very reasonable and rather probable that all 3 will be back. QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 27, 2008 -> 07:13 AM) $22 million=$22 million. Whether they paid the White Sox off in 3 or 4 years isn't very significant. In fact, it probably is better if it were only 3. As I understand it, when a team agrees to pick up part of a contract, they just give money to the other team, so its not like Philadelphia is actually paying Thome. Its not like they are sending the Sox money every payday. The White Sox can spend that money on whatever they like. There was no way that option was going to vest. I think if Thome plays decently the last 3 months, he will be back, but it will be a reduced rate. I just don't understand that then. Why would they say that they're paying it over a 3 year period? or over a 4 year period?

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 27, 2008 -> 01:44 AM) It's a blog. We shouldn't give it credence. I think the mods should take it of the board. Makes everybody on here look bad. It's dumb and not true. I'll respectfully and completely disagree with giving blogs no credit. I'm stopping there and if I open a can of worms, I apologize ahead of time.

Is 1000 K's really that big of a milestone? Honestly curious, because it was something I just brushed under the rug. 100 wins, hell even 150 wins, is far more rewarding than 1000 K's. You could hypothetically be a god awful pitcher but with good stuff, stick around 12 or so years, and strike out 1000 guys. just not a big deal to me.

I'd say rather you are just right and they are going to ease Beckham into the minor leagues, and this opens a roster spot for him. Perhaps he could be in Kanny or W-S by the end of the season too, depending on how he starts off at Great Falls. Not a big deal in my mind.

QUOTE (forrestg @ Jun 26, 2008 -> 05:39 PM) Quentin wasn't meant to be our savior either.. He made the team instead of Owens.. Where would we be with Owens? I really like Brian he's improved much.. To put Wise in the #1 spot would be an experiment but the Cabrera might take that as an insult and throw a tantrum.. A selfless hitter with results is needed in the #1 and 2 spots.. Cabrera has his own agenda.. I would love to follow this experiment.. I like what Aj brings in the #2 hole but I can see Alexei hitting #2 also.. As far as Wise playing so far.. I'd say he deserves a spot whether he'll keep it up I'd say he should remain and I always go by the words from the song" when you're hot you're hot" he's a better option than Swisher in center I wonder if Wise can play first....................................... Quentin was the 20th best prospect in baseball in 2006 according to BA...Dewayne Wise is a 30 year old journeyman minor leaguer who has a career .210 average. There's a reason why Quentin can be realistically thought of as "the savior." I also don't know where people get this idea that Cabrera is some rebel who only cares about himself, but I do think he cares about his future financially and will do a lot to make himself an attractive option to teams on the free agent market. Having a reputation as a shortstop with a good glove while also having few errors this year would make sense as to why he did what he did. It doesn't make it right, but it makes sense. I've seen nothing on the field to suggest that Cabrera isn't a team player. So "his own agenda"...yeah, it's to make money in the free agent market this offseason. And Nick Swisher is probably 3 times the ballplayer Dewayne Wise is. And wondering if he can play 1B is the same logic that went through Ozzie's head when he wondered if Timo Perez was a 1Bman, because comparing Dewayne Wise and Timo Perez is a hell of a lot more realistic than comparing Nick Swisher, Orlando Cabrera, or Alexei Ramirez to Dewayne Wise. And no, Dewayne Wise shouldn't hit anywhere near the top of the order. Don't do something that crazy with the lineup. If anything, just wait for big Jim to get back in the middle, let it marinate for a few days, and see if what comes out tastes good.

I would like to know the specifics on the exact details of Thome's option for next year. I've seen conflicting reports, some saying the Phillies only paid 22 mill over 3 years and some say 22 mill over 4. If it's 4, cutting Thome loose would be a terrible move IMO; if it's only 3, then it's an entirely different story and he should be cut loose, though a big bat should still be brought in regardless.

QUOTE (Cali @ Jun 26, 2008 -> 05:05 PM) Is Jenks throwing a cutter these days? He was throwing some 96 mph heat with late inside movement to the lefties in the 9th. It was a nasty little pitch. Jenks has been throwing a cutter for about a year and a half now.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jun 26, 2008 -> 02:36 AM) Or, they can always send Wise to someone for a prospect. The White Sox aren't going to get a prospect with any consequential value for a 30 year old who has a career average of .211 because he has 24 good appearances in the majors and half a good season in the minors.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 25, 2008 -> 07:51 PM) According to the ESPN critics, Jeter is an awesome shortstop, on both offense and defense. That was part of the sarcasm. He was talking like Uribe could hit like Jeter and "field like a gold glove shortstop" like writers thought last year when they handed him his gold glove. except, of course, that Juan Uribe actually does bring gold glove defense at SS. I look at this two ways. #1, if Cabrera goes down, are you happy replacing him with Ramirez and then letting Ozuna/Richar/Getz take over at 2B? #2, if you get rid of Uribe, who can you replace him with that fits that role as a great defensive supersub with power? if you get rid of Pablo, who can you replace him with that fits his role as a solid average bat on the bench and player you can let sit at 3B, SS, and 2B? To me, Pablo is the clear cut choice to go. If you replace Uribe, you have like 2-3 different Ozuna-esque players in the minors; if you get rid of Ozuna, you have like 2-3 different Ozuna-esque players in the minors.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jun 25, 2008 -> 08:07 PM) Thank god, some sanity here. Thome will likely finish the year with around 30 homers and around a 250/350/490 line, which is about A BILLION TIMES MORE production than Willy Taveras is going to give us. I exagerate, but come on people! Crazy thing is I wouldn't mind bringing in Willy Taveras, but anybody who wants to give him the most at bats and replace Swisher/Anderson/Wise in CF with that is ridiculous. Taveras is a 4th outfielder at best right now. Fast as hell, steals bases, can do a bit of situational bunting, can play all 3 outfield positions, and he's got a cannon. Pretty much every characteristic of a 4th outfielder.

QUOTE (joeynach @ Jun 25, 2008 -> 10:05 PM) The offense is summed up in 1 word...LETHARGIC!! No, you're wrong Inconsistent, frustrating, explosive, volatile...sure. Lethargic...no. You know why you're wrong? Because the definition of lethargy (root word for lethargic)... "–noun, plural -gies. 1. the quality or state of being drowsy and dull, listless and unenergetic, or indifferent and lazy; apathetic or sluggish inactivity." ...does not agree with the number of runs the White Sox offense has scored, which is 373 runs, which is good for 4th in the AL. I understand the premise of the point though.

QUOTE (scenario @ Jun 25, 2008 -> 02:29 PM) Good point. On the other hand, it's hard to predict the timing of him signing, etc. I'm not sure it would affect the current moves. Whenever he does sign and report, they'll probably just move guys to create an opening for him. BTW - there's a nice article on whitesox.com today about Beckham (I think it's called 'Beckham doesn't bend'). Pretty interesting. According to the article, GB has called several of his homerun shots this year. Ballsy for a college player... but I like it. Beckham, when signed, will definitely be my new favorite minor league player, just ahead of probably David Cook. Josh Fields is on there somewhere too, but whatever. He's just got such a good combination of athleticism and baseball tools that I just drool watching him play every time Georgia takes the field. Whether he ends up at SS, 3B, 2B, or even LF, I don't care, because he appears to have the bat to handle any position on the field. It's also good having a glut of SS's like this...they almost always have atleast a bit of value, unless they hit like f'ing Valido.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Jun 25, 2008 -> 01:15 PM) So yesterday after the game, Chuck Garfien was reading off the white sox lineups batting averages. I noticed outside of Swisher and Buehrle of coarse, they all were in the .260-.300 range. I was suprised and looked it up online. Over the past 30 days, our team batting average is .301. Damn. Thome's still hitting .230 and Konerko's at a whopping .215, but yeah they're starting to hit well. Average isn't everything of course, but the power is coming with it. Swish is almost up to .240 now a days too and is basically a league average player while he continues his hot hitting. I'd imagine he'll still end the year with 20-25 homers and a very good on base percentage.

agree 100% with him bumping Valido...one thing I hadn't thought of though is that they may just be saving SS in W-S for Beckham. You'd think that once he's signed, which could be shortly after the CWS is over, he'll head there rather than Kanny, because there's no way a hitter of his caliber is going to start in a rookie league. And then by next year, he'll be ready to be the SS for the Barons, if everything goes according to plan.

They may as well make Valido a minor league utility guy because he has no shot at making it in the majors. I know Ozzie likes him but the dude just can't hit period. Paiml isn't exactly setting the world on fire either.

QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Jun 25, 2008 -> 12:37 PM) But thats my point exactly. People just say "go get him" like there is an abundance of awesome lead-off guys just sitting around somewhere. If there actually were, and they didn't require us trading away half of our starting rotation, I am betting that it would be done already. Not necessarily. There are teams that are still in the race now that won't be in the race 3 weeks from now; right now, those players are currently unavailable whereas they will be available 3-4 weeks from now. Adding to that, the price may also be too high right now, whereas in 2-4 weeks, that price may have lowered a bit and KW can strike quickly. A potential buy-low candidate could be Willy Taveras. He's probably not a starting caliber player, but he'd be a nice outfield option off the bench who can steal a base, get the bunt down, and score from 1st on a double. He is 35 of 37 in steals this year so that could easily drive his value up, but if the Rockies trade him at face value, the Sox should definitely inquire.

One missed game with back stiffness and the board sorta freaks out about it, yet some people want this guy signed to a long-term extension? This thread should close the door on that thought; if we are so worried as to the rest of his season and his back that a thread is started when it gets stiff, which isn't even sore, you really need to consider a new option at 3B next season.

QUOTE (joejoedairy @ Jun 25, 2008 -> 03:27 AM) Thome has been better than most people give him credit for but most of his hits come in bunches then he goes 0 for a week with no productive at bats. I would like to see a platoon at dh with paulie and thome although that probably isnt realistic considering it would be the most expensive platoon in history but sometimes you have to accept sunk costs. Why would you want that? Konerko has been absolutely terrible no matter what hand the dude is throwing with, and Thome's OPS against righties is .752 while it's 1.012 against lefties. A platoon makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Jun 25, 2008 -> 12:07 PM) i cant believe we havent had trade winds open yet...mainly because there has been so little talk...i cant honestly remember a period of time during the last few years when there has been so little sox trade discussion as there has been the last 6 months....i guess thats what happens when you have absolutely no bullets left down on the farm along with no/limited bullets, what are you going to upgrade? Both those factors included, it's tough to do much of anything.

I didn't know it was trademarked...from roto...

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jun 25, 2008 -> 12:12 AM) Wise sucks. I can't believe some of you people think he's good. I don't think anyone's penciling him into CF for the next 3 years, merely that he's off to a nice start for the Sox. He was hitting the ball pretty damn well in Charlotte too so there's a little something to this. Not .360, but a decent bat, decent pop, and decent glove.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jun 24, 2008 -> 10:41 PM) I like the nickname Slayer, but where did it originate? Hopefully he has a big game tomorrow and leads Georgia to the ultimate glory in college baseball. He's a fun player to watch, the limited time I've seen him makes me see why he's compared to Michael Young. http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?s=...t&p=1660599

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jun 24, 2008 -> 01:50 PM) Thank you sirs, I can remember when I first started posting here, a lot has changed and im glad that I have gotten the chance to meet many of you. (And by meet i mean in the metaphysical internet sense of the word). Perhaps one day well change that metaphysical meeting into something more tangible. You just made my head explode