caulfield12

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jun 2, 2015 -> 07:49 PM) Alexi has to go. And who are you going to play at SS? Beckham? Sanchez? Saladino? Leury?

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jun 2, 2015 -> 07:43 PM) Haven't heard Coop ever talk about pitching to contact. Link? That philosophy only works when you have stellar infield defense. In general, the idea of keeping pitch count down...not trying to be too fine, getting ahead in counts with first-pitch strikes and worrying more about getting outs than K's. That worked for the Pirates with the likes of Liriano and Volquez because they had the infield to pull it off. The White Sox, not so much. Another example, the Twins this year. They don't have a lot of high K guys, but they're letting their great outfield defense and spacious stadium work to their advantage. I think they're something like 12 games over .500 at home. And, of course, the year the Tigers finally seem to be coming down to the earth, there are two other teams besides them to run down in the standings. Typical AL Central season in the 2000's (when the Twins weren't winning it).

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jun 2, 2015 -> 07:43 PM) Haven't heard Coop ever talk about pitching to contact. Link? That philosophy only works when you have stellar infield defense. In general, the idea of keeping pitch count down...not trying to be too fine, getting ahead in counts with first-pitch strikes and worrying more about getting outs than K's. That worked for the Pirates with the likes of Liriano and Volquez because they had the infield to pull it off. The White Sox, not so much.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 2, 2015 -> 07:25 PM) Looks like Anderson and May got into a collision. May left game with head injury, Anderson with shoulder injury Perfect...what else can go wrong this season?

QUOTE (reiks12 @ Jun 2, 2015 -> 07:40 PM) Fixed that for you. Sox high profile trade/signing curse Are you related to Theon Greyjoy? Just kidding...if you don't get the reference with your account name.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 2, 2015 -> 06:57 PM) 1. It's certainly plausible to blame Rick Hahn for Melky Cabrera's $42 million. 2. I'm totally ok with your explanation, because it begs the instant question "how could every player on the roster possibly underperform?" That doesn't happen by chance, that happens when people who have an impact on the entire team fail to have the team ready to compete on a regular basis. So fine, you think Rick Hahn did a great job. I'm totally ok with that, because if this team keeps this BS up and you think RH did a fine job, then you are indicting the manager and coaching staff and making the case for me for why they're the ones who need to go. The 45-14 first inning deficit says a lot about how the team has been starting games all season long. Tonight, same exact thing. Obviously, the KW approach didn't work (and I don't think the team has ever responded positively to one of his rants, at least on the playing field, where it really matters).

If the Rangers can get a couple of their injured starters back and contributing...and make a trade or two at the trade deadline, they might end up being one of the most dangerous teams in baseball in the 2nd half of the season.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 2, 2015 -> 07:21 PM) He's gonna regret not taking the Sox offer if he keeps this up I'm sure the next NL team he joins...he'll be back back a 3-3.50 ERA with a much better K/IP ratio. And somehow throwing 95-95 MPH fastballs with a sharper slider/split-finger.

As much as John Henry can be a d--k sometimes, he's always accountable. "John (Farrell) has provided the kind of leadership that we need through a really tough period. I just don't think you can blame the manager for this. I watch these games. They've been painful games to watch. To me, it's not the manager's fault the way that we've been playing. I just don't see that," Henry said. And Cherington? "The general manager is going to be the general manager of this club for a very long time. I have nothing but respect for him and the job that he does. I think we've been on the same wavelength, so you have to blame ownership as much as you can blame the general manager," said Henry. "We have a certain philosophy. We've talked a lot about adjusting that philosophy. I'm not sure it's just the players that need to make adjustments. In fact, I'm sure about that. There are adjustments we need to make as an organization. Ben will make those adjustments, and he'll lead that process. I think he and his people are the right people to do that."

Funny thing about baseball. Victor Martinez was the best hitter in the world a year ago. Now it's Prince Fielder...and the Tigers are currently short one big bat in their line-up.

Thanks for nothing Samardzija. Strikeout rate is down, stuff is a bit lesser than what he's shown in recent years...just hasn't been really sharp, even though he'd pitched much better recently. Gallo will be 22 in November. Just got a curtain call after only two big league at-bats. First Ranger ever to have 4 or more RBI's in his debut, and he's got at least 3 more AB's coming probably. Btw, think the Angels are going to regret that Josh Hamilton deal?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 2, 2015 -> 06:51 PM) Just tuned in: Bigger problem, Samardzija or defense? Beckham tried for a forceout at 2nd when he should have gone to 1st and Gallo hit a ball that took a bad 2nd hop that could have been fielded by LaRoche...but Samardzija didn't pitch his way out of it, either. On paper, no errors. In reality, it should have been 0-0 going into the top of the 2nd.

Outscored 45-14 now. Worst in the majors. Please KW, more inspirational speeches to the media. They always work so well. At least when Ozzie took the focus off the team, it used to work to the team's benefit until the 2011 season.

Harold Reynolds predicted 4-5 managers would be fired before the All-Star break.... The ones MLB.com showed on screen were Bryan Price, Dan Jennings, Bud Black, John Farrell and Ryne Sandberg. Bill Ripken predicted the Tigers would have one of the best records in baseball in June..."not happy in third place and would be getting Martinez and Verlander back, Anibal Sanchez should come around"

What team has gone for 7 seasons in a row without a playoff performance and has fans that are 100% content with that? (Before someone says the Cubs, it's the 25% of the Cubs' "casual" fans who come to one or two games per year on a bus or regional tour from outlying states and whose trips are planned a year in advance, not the "local" Cubs' fans who are much more invested in the team). If the fans and posters at places like SoxTalk completely gave up or didn't care about their team at all...well...wouldn't that be an even bigger problem?

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/128047826/an...ins-arent-fluke Five reasons the Twins aren't a fluke

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ May 30, 2015 -> 11:05 PM) I think Houston goes with 2 position players. If I had to predict, I'd go with: 1. Arizona-Dansby Swanson SS 2. Houston- Brendan Rodgers SS 3. Colorado- Tyler Jay LHP 4. Texas- Alex Bregman 2B 5. Houston- Daz Cameron CF 6. Minnesota- Dillon Tate RHP 7. Boston- Andrew Benintendi CF 8. Sox-Carson Fulmer RHP With Tate, Berrios, Buxton, Sano....you might be talking about the #1 farm system in the game if they all stay healthy. Berrios is probably having the #1 season of all the top pitching prospects so far. You've also got Kohl Stewart/Meyer/May/Burdi on the pitching depth side...and Dee's brother Nick (who's struggling right now) but a huge talent from all the scouting reports last season. The problem's quickly becoming not only the Royals and Tigers, but the Twins might be the best positioned to go on a long run, with Mauer's being the only really big contract on the books.

You could also make an argument we went after the wrong Oakland A's player. With Josh Donaldson at 3B, we'd undoubtedly have a better record than what we've accomplished with Samardzija. Not to mention the fact that the White Sox would control his services for another three years. With the cost savings, they would have had the money to add another veteran starting pitcher to the rotation. 1 year/$4.3M (2015) lost in arbitration with Toronto ($5.75M-$4.3M) Can't believe Donaldson lost his arbitration case when he was one of the best players in baseball for 4+ months last season.

I would just guess it's because he's very rarely pulling the ball down the RF line...against RHP. That's where the majority of triples come from. Higher quality pitching in AA, better fastballs, harder to pull into the corner unless you get some off-speed stuff or are a dead-red FB hitter. Also depends on the RCF alley in Birmingham. Unless the outfielders are way out of position, it's almost impossible to get a triple to RCF at US Cellular to that RCF gap (as opposed to bouncing around down in the corner). Last year, he had 10 triples.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jun 1, 2015 -> 09:24 PM) I miss him already Todd Lickliter is available. Former AP NCAA Division 1 Coach of the Year, "The Butler Way," etc.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jun 1, 2015 -> 05:03 PM) Any ideas for Hoiberg's lead assistant (defense)? I was thinking about Lawrence Frank or Kurt Rambis. Any other names? Since Frank was rumored to be a top head coaching candidate for the Bulls at one point, I doubt Hoiberg would approve that one.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 1, 2015 -> 05:19 PM) The starter for the Marlins tonight (Urena) is absolutely horrible. Sucks the Cubs basically get a free win going up against him. Miami's inability to keep their starting pitching healthy has killed them the last 5 years or so. Jose Fernandez hit 97 in his rehab start and threw 45 pitches. Cosart and Latos are coming around as well, but it will be too late in all likelihood.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jun 1, 2015 -> 03:38 PM) I like the ideas. A couple thoughts: -Melky has hit into some really hard luck. If you don't watch most/all of the games, it'd be hard to know that by looking at his numbers. He has been roping the ball right at defenders for weeks. He puts the ball in play and strikes out as few as anyone in MLB (struck out 19 times this year, which is 7th least for qualifiers in MLB). I don't hate the idea of him in the 5 spot in the lineup versus the 2, but I don't think we should be down on Melky. They're gonna start falling. -I agree that Soto needs more starts, but man do I hate watching him catch. It is literally hard to watch. I feel like we said this for half the season in 2008 when Swisher was "hitting into bad luck." The main difference is that he was still taking his walks, at least. And he never should have been hitting leadoff.

Where was this inspirational speech 2-3 weeks ago when it was really needed the most? Just for the fans, timed for the prime attendance months of June/July/early August?

One good week in September of 2012 would have given the Sox the AL Central title and made Ventura AL Manager of the Year, he said. “People make incorrect assumptions about Robin’s will to manage, number one, and his intensity,’’ Williams said. “Those who question it, I can assure them this man wants to be in the dugout, wants to win, wants to improve and has improved. “He hasn’t gotten any dumber. He has a lot more managerial savvy in him.” Ventura has made decisions that have opened him to second-guessing, Williams said, but that isn’t unique to him. “Name your Hall of Famer in the dugout– you’re going to second guess that guy,’’ Williams said. And this is supposed to inspire the fans, how exactly? Maybe we should go back to that alternate reality where there's an attendance trophy and the White Sox won the World Series or at least made it to the playoffs in 1994, 2003, 2006, 2008 (Quentin didn't get hurt, he wins MVP, Javy's not "mentally weak" and we beat TB), 2010 and 2012. There. I feel much better now. (Although I would have felt a lot better had he listed some areas where the coaching staff had actually improved or adapted/evolved from 2012 to 2015).