caulfield12

http://meadowparty.com/blog/ If you want Keith Law's ruminations on foods and beverages, and fine dining/culinary arts, have at him. * The top 25 MLB players under age 25. The comments are a cesspool of no-one-ever-reads-the-intro ignorance, too. He really fancies himself as a renaissance man about town who dabbles in the art of baseball when he's not reading Harry Potter books in different cockamamie accents to his daughter.

A Ramirez trade becoming less and less likely, even though from a statistical regression point, it makes some sense...clearly, he had a lot of things on his mind last year, and eventually the entire team lost focus and it snowballed or mushroomed. Ramirez's father-in-law, Federico Poquelin, was shot to death outside of his home in the Dominican Republic during the spring of 2013. Ramirez was devastated and, no doubt, was affected by the tragedy. "Every year is different," Ramirez said before the game Friday through a team interpreter. "You know, sometimes we have personal problems that in one way or another affect you. I feel like those things are behind me now." With his attention more focused on baseball this season, Ramirez appears to be playing free and easy. And the results reflect that. He entered Friday night with an OPS of .853. "My expectation is to play hard every day and stay healthy," Ramirez, 32, said. "That's my only expectation. God will provide and get some good results." Manager Robin Ventura notices a rejuvenated Ramirez. "When you're doing well … it's easier to look like you have life," Ventura said. "Even in games that he doesn't get a hit, he's trying to be a leader out there and taking over in certain situations in the infield, which is nice to see. "You have a shortstop, he's very athletic, and in the play he made the other night (making an over-the-shoulder catch in the outfield and doubling up a Cubs base-runner at first) … you could see that. He really has taken to that responsibility in the middle of the infield." Ramirez says he also is inspired by the presence of the 27-year-old Abreu. "I am very happy to have all of my teammates, especially being Latin … the players from Cuba," he said. "That is a source of pride for us and as a team collectively." Ramirez was well aware of Abreu's prowess in Cuba and potential for the major leagues. "I don't know what the people (of Cuba) thought about him, but I know … I played with him for two years," Ramirez said. "… All he needed was an opportunity to do what he has done, and he is a great player." In the meantime, Ventura has encouraged Ramirez to take more of a leadership role, especially on defense. "You can try to do that, but a guy has to want to do it and he just seems like this year he started doing it in spring training," Ventura said. "Part of the result of last year (a 99-loss season) is guys coming in with maybe a different focus on the things that they can get better at. The defensive stuff, he just has been into it more this year." www.chicagotribune.com/sports

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?g...&mode=video Puig/Bumgarner confrontation over bat flipping http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?g...&mode=video

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ May 9, 2014 -> 10:22 PM) Any more info about Eaton? News: Eaton (hamstring) will likely head out on a rehab assignment before rejoining the White Sox, the team's official website reports. (Thu May 8) Spin: It's unclear when a rehab assignment might begin, as Eaton has yet to resume baseball activities, and has thus far been limited to riding a stationary bike. He's eligible to return May 18, but that date perhaps seems a bit optimistic.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ May 9, 2014 -> 09:53 PM) Ramirez and Viciedo seem to be trending upwards after their mini-slumps. Viciedo was only 4/29 coming into tonight, down from .348. Both of his hits tonight weren't solid contact. It's simply the 3 run homer against CLE that's making his current struggles seems not quite so bad.

Nice to see Tyler's keeping up the positive momentum. Rienzo struggled from time to time but ended up with a quality start. Putnam continues to be awesome. What else can you say about this offense? It should be even better with Eaton and Gillaspie (and DeAza trending up), even with Ramirez/Dunn/Flowers/Viciedo falling back.

19,118 on a beautiful Friday night. Of course, the D-Backs suck. Even though Goldschmidt and Parra are fun to watch, that's about it.

Might want to switch to the Rangers game. Cubs managed to tie it in the bottom of the 9th against Kimbrel. Rare BS.

Light 'em up. There was never a doubt about that ball being out.

QUOTE (Jake @ May 9, 2014 -> 08:12 PM) How is Eaton injury prone? He never missed a game until he tore his UCL (Tommy John ligament). Near-zero risk of reinjury there for non-pitcher. This is the first concern with legs and it looks like a rather minor injury at that It's two different legs though, right? That's never a good thing for a player whose game is based almost completely on speed and hustle.

Gillaspie really provides some nice balance to our line-up, even if we wish he could put up Davidson's power numbers. White Sox with 18 double digit hit games (1st), and 1st or 2nd with seven times when they've scored eight runs or more. Need one run to make it eight in that category. Rienzo has to be getting the best run support of anyone in the big leagues this season. James Baldwin/Danny Wright/Eldred-esque.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ May 9, 2014 -> 08:09 PM) You're right about Jenks and Marte. Dotel was only hear for 2 years. Yeah, it was Linebrink who signed the long-term deal and fell apart after being so effective the first half of 2008.

Micah Johnson with two doubles, R, BB, RBI. OPS at .907 right now.

2014 Putnam=2012 Veal He can't be any hotter. It's one of the reasons that Webb doesn't have a defined role right now...drifting around like Joel Zumaya from the 6th-9th.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ May 9, 2014 -> 08:01 PM) When you think about it, we haven't really had "staple" relievers who stay in our bullpen for 5+ years. Outside of Matt Thornton. Jenks and Dotel come to mind. Marte, before Thornton. But lasting five years is very, very unusual these days. Saw where Nick Masset was still in the big leagues as well, I think with the Rockies. Eric Stults has had a LONG career now in the NL West, we just gave him a very limited shot in Chicago and dumped him.

Dammit, Rienzo. Putnam will enter. Phil Hughes with 2-0 shutout going over Verlander in DET in the late innings.

Chavez is dangerous here, and he's been white hot, too.

QUOTE (flavum @ May 9, 2014 -> 07:56 PM) Tanaka is on schedule to pitch at Wrigley on May 20th and the Cell on the 25th. Maybe that will result in an attendance spike/bump, haha. Just maybe. What is it with all the former White Sox relievers everywhere? The Rangers have Frasor, Poreda and Cotts alone.

Danks, Floyd and Ramirez didn't have anything to do with that? The Quentin trade was a good one, but not an all-time steal like it seemed the first season for Quentin in a Sox uniform. And let's not forget that his own temper also managed the sabotage that season, just as much as the first 5 months were MVP caliber.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 9, 2014 -> 06:06 PM) What does Davidson have to do with Santiago? I do agree the rate he is fanning in AAA seems to imdicate they dumped him in the nick of time. But Hahn should be looking at doing time for the Eaton trade. Eaton's not worth anything either if he can't stay on the field. What did we end up getting back for Carlos Quentin?

Two Denny's Specials in two innings for Alexei? Shades of Fernando Tatis, who hit two slams in one inning. That's not good. Needed to elevate the ball there.

10 hits and a walk in their last 13 PA. Boo Dunn. Boo Beckham.

QUOTE (flavum @ May 9, 2014 -> 07:38 PM) If Rienzo gets through 6, the game is over. It's a good feeling having a great pen. Haha. DBacks announcers just going on and on about how the White Sox pen is vulnerable if they can add a run here and there to get back in it. Are you sure you're not thinking it's Hermanson, Politte, Cotts and Jenks out there???

QUOTE (flavum @ May 9, 2014 -> 07:36 PM) Morneau double to tie it. Morneau's really having a nice bounce-back season after looking pretty bad for the Pirates last year. Ball carried all the way to the warning track, but damage limited. Typical Rienzo start, but, most importantly...keeping the team in the game. With his limited stuff, he's going to have to cut down those walks to be effective.

Dammit Dunn. Sigh. Can't let them back into this game. One big swing and it's 7-6 again.