beck72

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 17, 2006 -> 02:13 AM) Another decent option would be Juan Cruz. He's probably not going to make the A's bullpen and KW and Beane have dealt quite a bit with each other. Juan Cruz can pitch in the majors. That's a bit more realistic than Osuna

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 15, 2006 -> 02:18 AM) I still think Antonio Osuna should be brought in on a minor league deal if he's healthy. He appears to be as he pitched an inning for Mexico in the WBC. I threw an inning for Mexico

QUOTE(JimH @ Mar 15, 2006 -> 03:28 AM) I'm expecting yet another deal with the Diamondbacks. For Vizcaino?

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 17, 2006 -> 12:42 AM) All the more reason for KW to sign a guy like Osuna. If there is an injury to our rotation, McCarthy will have to move into the rotation and our bullpen will be further weakened. USA versus Mexico just started. Maybe Osuna will pitch an inning or two. Osuna isn't the answer.

In all three cases, it sounds like they know what the injuries are, and what the prognosis is. Jose's sounds like an irritation of the muscle going over the bone spur [which wasn't a problem in the past].

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/whitesox.asp Herm Schneider is usually very cautious about injuries to players. From the sounds of it, the injuries to Pods and Jose don't seem that bad. He makes it seem like rather minor issues and not something that could linger. He still is concerned about Dustin though. Even with him, he states that Dustin's back won't get worse with pitching. It may be a matter of how effective he can pitch with the back pain. Good news overall.

It would be interesting to see which teams have overpriced relievers who they'd like to part with. The team would have to be a non-playoff contender with young arms to replace the guy they want to get rid of.

QUOTE(PaleHose35 @ Mar 12, 2006 -> 07:05 PM) This is my first post here but I've lurked around here for some time now. Anyways, I think Thome will play a little first base come Interleague play. I remember reading something about him not being 100% healthy to play the field right now. I would rather see him play first during Interleague and a few times a week to give Paulie a break then to see go out there and play the field and have him risk an injury in spring training. Welcome aboard!

QUOTE(The Critic @ Mar 12, 2006 -> 01:02 PM) Good point, but I'll add that the Sox have made a point of mentioning that Mack and Cintron could play 1B. I think it'll come down to which area Ozzie feels more comfortbale with (OF backups vs. 1B backups) as far as Borch vs. Gload is concerned. Mack can't be everywhere. He should get most of his AB's in the OF and some at 2b. Cintron will get his at 3b, SS and 2b. I think it comes down to which player needs to be protected, seeing how little either Gload or Joe B would play. My guess is Thome and PK. Who better to provide protection for these two key players than a backup 1b man?

QUOTE(FlaCWS @ Mar 12, 2006 -> 02:05 AM) Does anyone know if Ozzie plans to give Thome any time at 1B this spring once he's 100% healthy? Is the plan to have him be a DH exclusively all year? If Gload doesn't make the team, we can always go with Ozuna, Dye or Makowiak (or maybe a combo of the three) to back up Konerko. I'm just curious if anything has been discussed about this. The only thing in the papers about this is Ozzie has said is that they don't plan on playing him at 1b in the spring. And that Ozzie didn't want him getting hurt playing 1b. This leads me to believe that Gload will come up north. Why risk Thome getting hurt playing the field when the sox need his bat all season long? Thome out at 1b diving and throwing could get him hurt. Stick him at DH, where he doesn't have to throw [so as not to put stress on his healing elbow] and move around as much. Why increase the risk of injury playing the field when you don't have to?

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 11, 2006 -> 07:31 AM) His performance is just a sign of things to come. He blows chunks just like all the other lefty candidates. Lopez' stuff doesn't impress me. He's Kelly Wunsch-lite. Lopez doesn't seem to have a pitch that can get hitters out

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 9, 2006 -> 11:54 PM) Sweeney on the other hand...just such a sweet swing. Its one of those swings that will translate to a very high average. I've long said I think he'll develop power later on in his career as he learns to drive the inside pitch. I honestly think he could come up and play this year and hit in the .270 range. He'd have to make some adjustments and would struggle at times, but his swing is too good not to (if his wrist is healthy). I completely agree. The fact that Ryan has made adjustments as the years have gone on, and upped his average hitting better later in the year [iIRC, each yr], shows he has the ability to hit for a high avg.

I still see Gload being kept over Borchard. Having Thome out there at 1b pulling a Frank [a season ending injury playing the field] is one of the biggest reasons. Keep Thome fresh [and PK for that matter] by having a real defensive replacement

QUOTE(Drew @ Mar 8, 2006 -> 11:27 AM) God, I hope not. Not ideal. But you have to think of a back up plan in case of an injury. Owens may not be better than Pods in CF.

Interesting that Ryan Sweeney has been playing a lot of LF for the sox this spring. He's only played 2 games in RF and four in LF. I know some of that is Jerry Owens has been playing CF. But Sweeney has always been mentioned as the heir apparent to Dye in RF. My take is the sox want to get a look at his defense in both Rf and LF. In case of an injury to Anderson or really tanks, maybe Pods could move to CF and Sweeney could go to Lf. I'd be interested in hearing from people who have seen him play LF [or RF for that matter] to comment on his defense.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 8, 2006 -> 03:09 AM) I felt like the league adjusted to him last season as the year went on, and Iguchi struggled to make his own adjustments. This is a very big year for Iguchi, and it's important for our lineup that he avoids the Sophomore Slump. Guys like Matsui and Ichiro both had their worst seasons the first years. With all the differences between MLB and playing in Japan, it's no wonder. Rather than going through a sophomore slump, IMO, Iguchi should improve upon his 2005 year. Rather than pitchers beating him, I saw Iguchi look just plain tired. His bat slowed down, which seemed to suggest fatigue more than pitchers owning him

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Mar 4, 2006 -> 04:27 PM) I am thinking Munoz, Bentz and Tucker will be the main 3 to watch...even though Lopez thus far is very interesting and could put the pressure on those 3. Unless both guys are lights out from here on in, and throw nothing but strikes, Bentz and Tucker punched their tickets back to the minors. They looked horrible in Sat's game. I know it's "early". Yet those kind of putrid performances will stick in Coops and Ozzie's mind all spring. Both looked worse than Kevin Walker, and with less control.

I wouldn't discount Ray Liotta being considered for the bullpen. He can throw strikes, keep the ball in the park, and throw more than an inning at a time. I know he has more value as a SP should someone get hurt, but if he could help the big league club by getting outs, I don't see that hurting his development.

Nomo did pretty well at AAA in 05. Maybe the Charlotte scouts saw something in him. It would be a long shot if he could help the Sox this yr [and if the sox did need him they might be in big trouble]

Start on the Chris Getz bandwagon--it's moving

This has little to no risk involved. But it could have a decent upside. At worst Nomo can eat some innings in AAA.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Feb 28, 2006 -> 12:40 AM) I don't want him playing first base at all. Me too. My concerns were the same as Ozzie--I don't want to see Thome get hurt and be out for a while. Sounds like Ozzie and us two are on the same page

QUOTE(TLAK @ Feb 25, 2006 -> 12:59 PM) Should have been green, I had pictured Rogo in AAA at 1B this year but they keep bringing in guys ahead of him. If Jacobson and Dugan (and possibly Gload) are in Charlotte then its probably back to Bhama again. Casey's getting Rowandesque, every time I see him play on TV (in the spring games), he looks like a nice player, but management keeps bringing in guys over him. He's on the 40 man, so we know they are not giving up on him. He's like the guy who finally gets ahead in the rat race and they bring in a new rat. Rogo should be at 1b ahead of Jacobson in AAA--or else he could be traded. Bucky seems the DH type with his body. Dugan should be in the low minors. He just played at Kentucky Wesleyen. Gload is out of minor league options and won't be in AAA for the sox.

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/ds.../pro/251sd1.htm Opening shot Outfielder Joe Borchard, fighting for a reserve spot, made an early statement Friday. Borchard hit an opposite-field home run off 2005 first-round draft pick Lance Broadway during batting practice. "Yeah, if I can keep hitting a few of those I'll be OK,'' Borchard said. The blast didn't go unnoticed by Sox coaches. Borchard may be the victim of a numbers game. If the Sox take 12 pitchers when camp breaks, there will be just one spot available for a reserve outfielder. Borchard and Ross Gload, who also can play first base, are among the top candidates fighting for that spot. "I don't know how many pitchers I will take, but I talked to Borchard and Ross,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Everyone has a legit shot to make this team.'' For Gload, the key will be showing that his left shoulder, which he injured last year, has healed enough to allow him to make throws from the outfield. "We have a lot of games to go and not that many players in camp,'' Guillen said. "Everybody will get a legit chance. The guy who can pinch hit and play once in a while, he will take the job.'' ------------------------- IMO, if Ross is healthy enough to make throws from LF, it's his job to lose, esp if both play the same this spring.

QUOTE(TLAK @ Feb 25, 2006 -> 12:15 PM) No doubt Casey Rogowski is pleased.