JohnCangelosi

I don't understand for the life of me why we wouldn't bring in Sale there but that's just me what do I know.

Fathom's gotta be happy with seeing Flower's drop the head of the bat there on a fastball down for Flowers.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Aug 15, 2011 -> 01:50 PM) I know what you mean, but I do not think he could actually perform that well over 3 years to negate what has been one of the worst seasons of individual play in the history of the game. He'd have to hit 50 HR's a year the next 3 yrs to justify it after this year, IMHO

Can we get a Brian Bruney appreciation thread going please?

Yes. At least we're playing important games here in the dog days of summer, despite being just at .500. We're lucky this division is weak, yes. But we still have a chance and it is nice to be in that position going down the stretch as opposed to watching meaningless baseball. This team is better than what we've shown (I think?), and it is time to claim this thing on our own over the next 6 weeks.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Aug 15, 2011 -> 11:32 AM) To let him catch on with someone else I guess Yes, my guess is he probably requested it?

I really think it's one of those deals where you have to bring him back, at any price. MB is the type who would just retire if he was having an Adam Dunn type of year so I don't see a problem in going 3 years and worrying about the money and the years he is locked in at. Besides that he probably could pitch another 5 years or so anyways in all likelihood.

I fear next year we'd run into the Humber dilemma with Sale as a starter, and him wearing down after around 140 innings. If we're rebuilding I think it makes perfect sense for him to start. If we're trying to win next year, you have to at least consider him for the pen- given we have other options at the SP position and secondly may need another arm down there if Thornton goes somewhere in the offseason.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Aug 14, 2011 -> 04:13 PM) Take this for what it is worth. Spoke with my guy on 35th today. This is the only scenario he knows that has been discussed. 1.) Guillen/Cooper out (presumably will go to Florida) 2.) Williams moved up or moved out. 3.) Hahn new GM. 4.) La Russa/Duncan hired. La Russa/Duncan hire would mean no rebuild. And hence why I've been saying there will be NO $100M payroll next year. It will be 125 or so, we're "all in" for 2012 as well. Would love to see new management in place from top to bottom, unless we get to the World Series this year which we know is a pipe dream.

Time to shut down Humber. Secondly, Omar's range was awful in that inning, he should have cleanly fielded both of those balls, the second one we had a force and third....

Alexei would've had that one...

Who is our long guy in the pen? We really need a Santiago or something in there to give us some innings before everyone else's arm falls off.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 9, 2011 -> 05:27 PM) Still go with the Contreras forkball (05-06) and Loaiza cutter in 2003 on that score. McDowell forkball/splitter as well. Jason Bere "foschball" Takatsu "frisbee"....joking, at least he was fun to watch I loved the frisbee in 2004. However, regarding Jose, this was right up there with my favorite game he ever threw for us: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/media/play...b_tp350&v=2 NASTY!

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 9, 2011 -> 05:22 PM) His slider is untouchable. Might be the most dominating pitch a Sox pitcher has had in our lifetime. Even better than the 2005 Bobby Jenks Uncle Charlie? I don't think anyone hit that pitch that year

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 9, 2011 -> 05:11 PM) If they're at $120 million next year, then we're still in trouble. We have $88 million committed to 11 guys. Add in arbitration figures for Danks and Quentin ($9 mil and $7 mil), Frasor's option, and $4 million or so for 10 guys making the minimum, and we're already at or over $110 million with no additions or changes to the roster. If M-56 were to be brought back, then we are right back in the $120-$125 range with this team as-is. I think it was Fathom (but not 100%) who said by being "all in" for 2011 basically meant we were "all in" for 2012 (giving this as the reason with all the money committed for 2012). I actually believe this- let's see how we finish up this year in the standings. No doubt in my mind, however, we will trade away D1 in the offseason but most likely for near ready 400k a year guys who have a chance to contribute immediately (like Danks as a 21 yr old in 2007) and not ones a few years away so we can try and rebuild on the run.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 9, 2011 -> 04:54 PM) If we're looking at a "Cut to $100 million" order, do you guys have better ideas? I know it's been said that we'll "cut to 100M" but I am not buying it. I think JR and gang are making a bit more than they claim they are, and they'll find a way to be around 120 next year. Just a hunch.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 9, 2011 -> 02:55 PM) Balta, do you really think season ticket holders are going to buy Peavy/Floyd/Humber/Sale/Stewart? I wouldn't call that "stacked." I would call it arguably the worst rotation in the division except for KC...that's four huge question marks. Even if Peavy pitches as well as he has the last 2-3 starts, like a 2-3 starter and not a 5. Does anyone want to count on Humber for next year, with how things have gone south the last month? DET has Verlander, Scherzer, Porcello, Fister and Jacob Turner locked up through 2014. CLE has Jimenez, Masterson, Carmona, Carrasco and Tomlin. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/6827458/...rong-top-bottom Minnesota looks to be better than us with Liriano, Baker, Blackburn, Duensing and Kyle Gibson. We obviously don't have the hitting, our bullpen will be weakened losing Thornton/Crain/Frasor (possibly 2 of the 3) AND Sale. Ohman or Santiago would be the primary lefty, unless we get one in return for Danks or Quentin. Theoretically they keep the suddenly expensive Thornton, but payroll has to go down. It's certain they won't be able to keep Thornton/Crain/Frasor when they cut the payroll. As much as we might not like it, 2012 also is riding entirely on the shoulders or Rios/Dunn/Beckham. All of them have to be great because Konerko won't or can't keep this up forever, and Viciedo still we be essentialy a rookie, so expecting him to replicate Quentin's numbers from 2011 is pretty much unrealistic. Balta, do you imagine any season ticket holders being enthused about ponying up for tickets solely based on optimism about Viciedo and the prospects we get back for Quentin/Danks? And with the better than 50/50 chance now of losing Buehrle? It looks scary. KW simply HAS to get any trade for Crain/Frasor, Danks and Quentin 100% right. ZERO margin for error at all. I know it sounds crazy but I think JR goes for another 125M budget next year. He can cry poor all day long but my guess is they are still making money at that number, believe it or not...

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 9, 2011 -> 01:31 AM) Gordon Beckham actually had a great at-bat last night. It wasn't his homer or the AB he fouled off a bunch of pitches and then weakly popped to the left side/LF. It was the ball he lined out to the RF with RISP. How many times has Gordon hit line drives to the right side? That's the hitter he used to be. He could turn and burn on offspeed stuff, but he took fastballs on the outside half up the RCF gap for doubles consistently, or down the RF line. All the balls he has hits on in that direction this year are "seeing eye" singles or duck snorts. I bet there's only 5-10 balls all seasons that he has blistered in that direction. This is a good point, and that was what I really loved about GB when he was a rookie. Hitting the ball hard to all parts of the field...and that was exactly why I thought we had an All Star with him. It was a great win- and I thought it was ironic that Rios, Dunn and Beckham had 3 hits in the row- arguably the 3 most battered players on this forum in that order, and it was the first time all year we've seen them all produce in one game I swear. What a different lineup it is when they are hitting. I've gotten used to thinking Rios/Dunn/Beckham were automatic outs. We gotta keep the pressure on tonight and Ozzie should give 2 days off to Crain, he looked horrible last night and we were very lucky to escape. Leaving Crain in there was one of those bad % moves that we managed to play over last night. In the final hitter that Crain faced, if you look at the pitch trax, you'll see exactly where the pitches were thrown. 3 of the 5 couldn't have been more of the center of the plate. Good win and let's get em again later tonight.

Pierre really has lost a step...

Good grief. FINALLY. He only threw like 35 pitches Ozzie. Is that enough? Friggin moron. If you got mlb.tv like I do checkout the pitch trax for that last AB. We got VERY LUCKY, 3 out of the 5 pitches were center cut/middle of the plate.

I swear Ozzie should be investigated for trying to throw games on purpose. This is BEYOND BAD.

This is just AWFUL managing right now.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 8, 2011 -> 08:20 PM) Crain looked like crap last inning. I disagree with him staying in here against someone that can make you pay for leaving a pitch up. I agree with this, despite the strikeout. I have no idea what he's doing out there, I think his arm will fall off this year. As I write this, solid single to right.

Alex up to .218 now. Just sayin

Who do we bring out for the 8th?