caulfield12

QUOTE (iamshack @ Apr 15, 2015 -> 04:11 PM) It's not even a lack of talent that is costing us defensively. This isn't a guy not getting to a ball he should have. These are fundamental mistakes that basically every professional ballplayer should be making, and if he isn't making, he can practice making them until he consistently does make them. However, for more than 2 full seasons, our players have not been making them. This extends to situational hitting and base running too. These are not talent issues; these are cultural issues. Let's just call it "organizational tone/culture/expectations." Basically, we are the anti-2002-04/06/10 Twins, Cardinals' Nation. We are defined by mediocrity, slow starts, lumbering power hitters, poor drafting/inability to develop position players andor hitters, and less than impressive large market 2nd and 3rd place finishes to inferior markets when we should have a huge built-in advantage. Only redemption was 2005.... Blip on the radar or anomaly.

Unfortunately, he took out Gordo's father-in-law and Sox "nickname" legend as well... http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Fletcher_(baseball) Nice to retire in your mid fifties. Ask Ozzie's wife and kids!

The only argument is that he had faith and confidence Abreu would somehow homer there.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Apr 15, 2015 -> 01:56 PM) It's a two edged sword to be sure. It helps keep guys you want to stay with the org, like Hahn, but keeps guys you wouldn't mind leaving behind in too important positions, and creates an atmosphere where necessary changes are made more difficult. If RV, Buddy Bell or Brooks Boyer were made available to the other 29 teams, would anyone hire them at their current levels? Maybe for Bell, but not that same position/level of authority.

And Tony LaRussa was fired by the Sox with a MUCH better MLB managerial record. Brought into the organization to coach with minimal coaching experience. Also, a Hall of Fame manager....yet Robin deserves more rope than Tony? WHY??

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 15, 2015 -> 01:44 PM) And Abreu struck out. If Cabrera comes through or not (assuming a successful Eaton bunt), you're still odds on taking the bat out of Abreu's hands. One can only assume the idiotic bunting was Robin's way of forcing them to pitch to Jose. What great vision and foresight!

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 15, 2015 -> 01:40 PM) Clearly if Eaton didn't bunt, this was a victory. Weren't you the cello player on the Titanic? Deflecting isnt going to save Ventura's ill-conceived managerial foray.

Avi isnt the most selective hitter (with a wild thrower at that moment) but runs well enough to avoid most DPs. Adam was 2/4 yesterday as well. And Seriously, if 2010-2014 Gordon Beckham's at the plate he STILL should have been playing for the win instead of leaving it all in Abreu's hands.

And Greg is always bored with how he handles the media and throws out a barrel full of fun Bull Durham-esque baseball cliches. Yost also has a very sharp and effective coaching staff, particularly (and ironically) Rusty Kuntz for baserunning and OF defense.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Apr 15, 2015 -> 01:26 PM) Don't make the 3rd out at 3B. On 3-1, look to the pull the ball. Don't get picked off down 3+ runs. Don't sac bunt down 2 on the road in the 9th with a good hitter that sucks at bunting. Don't use Gordon Beckham as the 1st RHP PH off the bench. The amount of stupidity that we have already seen is unreal. It falls on the manager. Its simply incredible over the last 10-15 years how White Sox managers have persistently forced bunts on players lacking the ability and/or confidence to execute aforementioned bunts in key/late/pressure sacrifice situations.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Apr 15, 2015 -> 01:22 PM) Maybe next year instead of Vince Coleman teaching them how to run into outs we can dedicate more time to learning how to catch the ball. Have our catchers work on their throws to 2nd. And I know they do it but obviously not enough. He was a pretty lousy defender, almost as bad as Lonnie Smith. Should have hired Willie McGee instead.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Apr 15, 2015 -> 01:15 PM) Yea I'm with ya. I wanted to see a drag bunt attempt at 0-0 and then swing away. but it was clear that wasn't the plan, it looked like a pure sacrifice call from Robin. You should never play for the tie on the road...what happened to that tried-and-true axiom of baseball?

If Ned Yost is such a terrible manager, how can he get the Royals to play so fundamentally sound that they've won 24 of their last 27 (when not facing Bumgarner) games dating back to last season? And some were picking them fourth? Hmmm...not so fast. Zero confidence Ventura is the right guy to lead this team anywhere but third or fourth place.

Cabrera at least made solid contact....the main problem is Jose Ramirez is simply a beast at SS. Along with Iglesias, Escobar and Santana, four nice-looking young talents in the AL Central.

What the $&@# was that, Adam? Dumb baseball IQ again.

QUOTE (OnlyGillis @ Apr 14, 2015 -> 11:16 PM) Tonight Boston scored 3 in the 7th inning on no hits, 3 errors, 2 HBPs, and a brain fart by Desmond when he was on the infield grass and threw to first with a runner halfway between third and home ... which happened to be the winning run. Going from All-Star to garbage in a hurry....that is six errors already. Anemic at the plate, too.

Johnny Bench Baseball Bunch and Mel Allen mad...Krylon paint people, too.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Apr 14, 2015 -> 09:02 PM) God I can't wait for Rodon to get into this rotation and Sox pitching to become damn near untouchable. Robertson...worth every penny. But don't spend on a bullpen right? Results are very encouraging so far, but let's wait for him to mow down Michael Brantley, the heart of the Tigers' order and Royals before we draw any conclusions...

QUOTE (ChrisLikesBaseball @ Apr 14, 2015 -> 08:56 PM) Phew! The sky isn't falling! I think this team is closer to the team we've seen over the last 3 games than the previous 4... At least I hope that's the truth. You mean bad baserunning and mental lapses on the defensive side (Conor/Alexei)? The margin of error is so thin in the AL Central this year that they can't afford to play like the 2001-2004 White Sox and just make enough errors for the more fundamentally-sound (Twins, now Royals) teams to beat them. Encouraged by the bullpen performance and Quintana finally righting the ship his last couple of innings.

I don't know, maybe just too used to Paul Rudd in romantic comedies and playing Mr. Sarcasm that it doesn't seem like quite the right fit. Sometimes things just don't click, like Andrew Garfield and Spider-Man, even though I think he did a good job personally. Of course, when you go back to the Tobey Maguire selection, there was naturally a lot of skepticism whether moviegoers would buy him as a superhero. Trying to think of some other big comic flops....Catwoman (H.Berry), Elektra, Dare Devil, The Punisher (although I really enjoyed it, not unlike Dredd). Barb Wire, Tank Girl, Supergirl, The Spirit (Frank Miller), Judge Dredd, The Shadow. Sucker Punch was roundly criticized, but I thought it was enjoyable/interesting to watch at least.

Stat of the Day: Royals have won 24 of their last 27 games (counting end of 2014, post-season and this April) when Madison Bumgarner doesn't appear. Even if you include two Bumgarner starts and the Game 7 relief appearance, they're still on a 24-6 run.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Apr 14, 2015 -> 08:38 PM) I don't mind caught stealings unless its against a catcher with a gun . Micah needs to learn pitchers pick off moves. He's got a long way to go to really utilize his speed. Eaton makes a lot more baserunning mistakes than most would think he does. That trying to stretch a double into a triple with 2 outs is just wrong on so many levels. Never make the 3rd out at 3rd base is a base running rule because you're already in scoring position and probably will score on any hit because you get the huge jump with 2 outs. You have to trust your team mates behind you to get the job done. It's just Eaton trying to pad his triples stats and it's extremely stupid and selfish. You keep the inning alive and who knows maybe Cabrera hits a HR or gets a walk or hit and Abreu hits one out. It isn't unheard of for teams to have 2 out rallies. Yeah, being aggressive and doing something that turns off your veteran teammates (see DBacks accusations)...that's a very fine line there that he's walking. And the style of play (ala Rowand) places him at-risk enough that it's bordering on a negative as well if he can only manage 120-130 GP per season.

Now all we need to do is actually find the favorable match-ups to play Bonifacio against. Oh, well, you can't win 'em all.

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Apr 14, 2015 -> 08:23 PM) Good win for sure. Not playing well but gutting out wins. Lock down closer is on point. Along with Duke as the set up guy. This pen could only get better if guys like Putnam and Jennings pitch well and we get Nate back and he's solid. I would bet on Crain before Nate Jones this season. Both are, at best, iffy.

Defensive and baserunning woes continue. It's a miracle we're probably going to be 3-4 with the way we're not clicking on ANY cylinders. Luckily for Carrasco, only a contusion/bruise....not a broken cheekbone.