beck72

SD could use a LHP for their bullpen. ALan Embree is it. I bet Health Phillips could come in and at least be a LOGGY for them. Maybe Boone Logan as well. Jon Adkins is in their pen w/ an under 4.00 ERA. Interesting as well, that the best SP's in the NL west who SD must face are RHP's--Webb, Batista, Penny, Lowe, Schmidt, Matt Morris. Getting a versatile guy like Mack with his lefty bat would be a decent pick up for them.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jul 18, 2006 -> 02:12 AM) Frankly I think the whole switching leagues thing and your ERA will jump is a bit overrated. Scott Linebrink is one of the PREMIER set-up pitchers in all of baseball. He's only what 31 IIRC, so if you traded for him and get him locked up, he should be able to produce over that period of time. His numbers are very good from the past couple of seasons. Antoni Otuska left San Diego, switched teams and league to Texas, and he seems to be doing just fine. Atlanta and Jeff Francouer comes to mind. The situations are different. If SD trades a guy like Linebrink, they should expect their new guy to come in and immediately be an upgrade over the two stiffs they have now [bellhorn and Castilla]. Fields may not hit much more than those two [and his d isn't gold glove caliber]. A guy like Mack hands down would be an upgrade over those two. Francouer was brought up from the minors w/o the pressure of replacing a solid major leaguer. If he struggled, no big deal go back down. If Fields struggles, SD is back to square one w/o a solid 3bman. And they lost a key set up man.

Josh Fields will not step in and take over 3b for Castilla and Bellhorn. What 1st place team wants to take a huge risk to put a rookie out there? They'll want a vet.

Scott Cameron Linebrink: signed 2-year deal worth 2.275M on 1/14/05- he will make 910K in 2005 and 1.365M in 2006- + the deal includes a Vesting Team Option worth 1.75M or a Buyout worth an unknown amount- + the option can become guaranteed at 1.75M with 100 or more games pitched combined over 2005 and 2006- + the value of the option can rise up to 2.25M with incremental bumps depending on appearances in the first 2 seasons: if he makes more than 150 appearances the option would be guaranteed for a worth of 2.25M Agent: Service Time: 4.016 SD has a "vested team option" for 2007. Sounds like he'll be making a guaranteed $2.25 mill in 2007--he's made/ will make near 150 appearances last yr and this--a raise of nearly $1 mill

FWIW, Mackowiak has hit very well vs SD the past 3 yrs with splits of .283/.365/.602, going 13 for 46, with 6 2b, and 3 hr's. I don't know how he's hit at their park, though. Mack would be an upgrade over Castilla and Bellhorn at 3b. He wouldn't be enough for Linebrink by himself. But seeing how the NL is like AAAA, a guy like Tracey, Haeger, or Phillips could throw this year for them.

Mackowiak would make sense at 3b for them in a deal involving Linebrink, not Fields. Besides RF, Mack has played the most games at 3b in his career. Remember when he was brought in case Crede's back wasn't OK?

It would take Garcia to get Sanchez. It depends on if the sox staff thinks Freddy can get his act together or not. Humber was thrown in IIRC, three A games since coming back from Tommy John. He's definitely below Pelfrey and Milledge. Sox scouts would have to watch him throw to see what he's got.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Jul 17, 2006 -> 04:19 AM) It might have been better if you just put it in your sig (below line) or something.. Eh... what the hell, I'll join, even though I don't get this thread. I'm pretty inept when it comes to that stuff. But I might give it a try. Like I've said earlier, a lot of this is tongue in cheek. I just thought there were too many gloom and doomers who are quick to jump on how terrible the sox are. An off day filled with ".......... sucks!" seemed inevitable and I wanted to try and head it off. Maybe fans even need days off, where we can take a step back, and put things in better perspective--that this isn't life and death, that we should enjoy the season as well as the possible end result of winning another title. We all know they've played terrible ball lately. But there are still a lot of positives out there surrounding this team. I know almost everyone is on board with the sox. This really isn't an "in or out" thread. More like a reminder we all support a team that plays 162 games--time enough where we will see horrible baseball, slumps, errors. Yet this is still a team that very much can win another World series.

QUOTE(VAfan @ Jul 17, 2006 -> 03:29 AM) We are just lulling Other teams into thinking They can beat the Sox In fact, the White Sox Are still baseball's best team And we will prove it Have no fear Sox fans Would you swap our warriors For another team? Winning July games Is not essential prelude To October wins Pitching and defense Will reemerge and become Our team theme again Until it comes back Power bats will carry us Into the playoffs Once in, we won't care If we have the Wild Card slot Or win the Central No team can stop us From repeating as World Champs We will find a way Ya gotta believe In this solid White Sox team To go all the way! Back-to-back titles Flying over the South Side It's gonna be sweet. Nice touch. BTW, you might have too much time on your hands

QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Jul 14, 2006 -> 07:08 PM) I'm hoping it's Tyler Lumsden. He would be a solid lefty addition to the rotation. I'm just somewhat perplexed by his relatively low K numbers. He has better stuff than that. After a year off due to injury, his numbers are great. It's good to see him bounce back like he has, low K numbers and all.

QUOTE(danman31 @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 07:02 PM) There was a long rain delay therefore he was pulled. Good. BTW, Baseball America envisions Russell as a reliever down the road after he gets some innings. Do you see him as a Jon Rauch type set up guy as well?

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Jul 17, 2006 -> 01:29 AM) Geez are we already starting the 'are you in or out' thread? I'm convinced some of you guys just enjoy worrying. Not really. Just a way to head off the pessimists from an all out take over of Soxtalk Hopefully, the in or out thread won't be needed this year

Here’s a tentative “2006 Playoffs or Bust!” list. I may have inferred some in error, or omitted others. Let me know. There’s plenty of time to be added or subtracted. Beck 72 Gregory Pratt Rangercal ZoomSlowik SleepyWhiteSox Stretchstretch Milkman Delivers Chisoxfn Jake EvilJester99 Jphat007 GreatScott82 Shawnhillegas SouthSidePride05 MHizzle85 Tony82087 Vandy125 Greg Hibbard Sonik22 Goldmember LosMediasBlancas ChiSoxFan

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 10:48 PM) Thank you Beck for shedding a ray of hope on a bad sunday as we just got swept in New York. Hell we can return the favor and sweep them at home later in the year. We can win 2 of 3 in Boston and go 6-6 vs the 'beasts from the easts' and everyone can stop panicing. Its better to struggle now and get it over with, than down the stretch when the games matter the most. THank you Beck! You're welcome! QUOTE(shawnhillegas @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 11:01 PM) IM ON! but i am off if freddy garcia tries to join. You got it. Only the good Freddy is allowed! QUOTE(SouthSidePride05 @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 11:15 PM) Count me in as on board.. The off day tomorrow is a good thing for the Sox. The team looks sluggish, tired, and not hustling at all. And it's all contagious from player to player. I wonder if they're still feeling the effects of the 19-inning marathon of last Sunday.. and then straight to the all-star game with millions of interviews..surely it's been a long week for some of the guys. If Garland can hold his own Tues night like he did in his last start (shutout through 5), it'll put a spark in the rotation, the rest of the SP will feed off the others' performances, and we might see a little winning streak on the horizon. After Detroit, our home crowd will give the Sox the boost to roll through the 2nd half. I'm not worried yet at all. Now that's optimism for you QUOTE(MHizzle85 @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 11:20 PM) Count me in as well...The way i see it, we haven't even played our best ball yet. That's the ticket. And I fully agree. The sox haven't been near as good as they have the talent to be.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 10:39 PM) Sleep do you see the pitching staff overall. Any similiarities to 2001-2004. In fact great O, medicore pitching staff, bad fundamentals, too reliant on the long ball. That is pretty much the formula for the Pre 2005 world champion whitesox. This team is not like the 2001-2004 sox. Even when they lose they have a pulse, and show heart.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 10:35 PM) Realistic optimism or blind optimism? Once you throw away stats, current and past performances and trends and just go with odd gut feelings and optimism to form your arguments I'd say you've lost any attachment you once had to reality. Four of the SP's are doing far worse than their career avgs, not to mention their most recent yr. And Jose is even slumping compared to what he had been doing the past year. Barring any injuries [which may be in Freddy's case] there is a lot of reason to expect the sox pitchers can realistically turn it around in the 2nd half

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 10:10 PM) And to think we make fun of the fans to the north for doing the same thing that this thread is preaching. A lot of this is tongue in cheek. But the optimism is real. And if you aren't aware of the power of the Rally Crede, there is no hope for you

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 10:07 PM) They sure look motivated to me. I see you have lost some faith. Be strong and let the power of the Rally Crede be your guide

I have had the Rally Crede up since the 1st four game losing streak this year. I dropped it in the offseason after the Sox won the World Series. Never again will the Rally Crede fade

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 10:03 PM) Anyone in here trying to draw comparisons from last August need to drop that. We had a nice cushy 15 game lead on the next best team in our division. We blew nearly all of it. This year we are sitting at a nice 4 1/2 game deficit and a 3 game cush for the wildcard. Our fallback cannot be so far this year. If we slump like we did in august we are done. Makes them keep their "eyes on the prize" all the more QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 10:05 PM) I still believe but these starters are testing my sanity of late.... As they are to all of us.

QUOTE(Jake @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 10:02 PM) I believe! Very well then!

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 09:59 PM) I guess you have to keep some traditions alive. no matter how silly they are. Would you call the "Rally Crede" a silly tradition, too!? Blasphemy! Which, BTW, I put back on after the sox 1st 4 game losing streak

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 09:58 PM) Would this qualify as an "In or Out" thread, version 2006? Who knows, just felt like now was the time.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 09:55 PM) Some of that was against the NL central. The NL central was a real tough division to run up some winning streaks on. The Royals could challenge the NL Central for dominance. A win's a win, my boy, any way you can get them

QUOTE(stretchstretch @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 09:54 PM) on paper all true, each of our guys has shown what they CAN do so there's reason to have faith for sure, but this is White Sox country and one dominating post season and WS championship, isn't enough for all of us to act like Yankee fans who believe our billion dollar payroll of all-world talent will come through in the end, just like it will this year when they take the east.....again...... I do however gotsta believe that we can't get any worse or unlucky. Things just seem to come in waves. Crede's double today being short of a two run jack, Iguchi's double hitting just 1 foot below the top of the wall, every Yankee DP turned with perfect accuracy. Thome just getting called out at second, even though he was safe, Dye just barely not beatig out that DP. Once we can start capitalizing in the early innings, which we will, our starters can pitch a little more relaxed, and then the team can start to get that "believing" attititude back and the luck can start to change directions. AND I still contend that Detroit's staff cannot sustain the same level all the way through September, three guys who no one ever heard of CANNOT simultaneously sustain ERAs around 3.5 to the very end. Every team has to have a bad stretch and they have their day of mental doubt still ahead of them.... However, a few things that have to change for the SOX by force + Freddy's got to go, a guys who's changeup and fastball are both 85 mph will get rocked in a high school game + Konerko has got to rember how to go opposite field again, which was so freakin effective last year + Thome has to layoff that low outside slider from left handed pitchers + Iguchi and Pods have to remember how to bunt + Cora can't keep sending guys like Crede when the ball is going to arrive at the plate before he's 1/2 there + The whole team has to be more selective and force pitchers to put it over the plate or surrender the walk like we did ALL of last year I smell a yes in there! QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jul 16, 2006 -> 09:57 PM) Looking at the starting rotation, I suspect that may not be the case. One or two of them may be hurt. And I still think the Sox will make the playoffs, if that counts for something. Yes it does! Don't discount the power of positive thinking