caulfield12

What's the commonly-accepted "must be at least this rate of success" rate for stealing where the statistics say it's not worth giving up the outs? About 75-80%? For the minors, you'd like to see it at 85% or higher, because that's certainly not going to hold up at the major league level.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ May 26, 2013 -> 06:46 PM) H) Wait until it's actually close to the trade deadline and then see where the Sox stand. This whole scenario is predicated on the VERY HIGH likelihood we are contenders heading into the trade market. With our pitching, the weather heating up, the crowds growing in the summer months...it's just hard for me to believe, without a major injury, that we're not 5-13 games over .500 at the end of June and still very much in the thick of the race.

And there's just no way we can get McCann (this year) or Gattis....we're going to have to wait until the off-season, or give away most of the best pieces remaining on our farm to rent McCann for 2-3 months. And Atlanta's scouts would pick our system apart. Don't like that option for the catching problem.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ May 26, 2013 -> 06:21 PM) McCann & Morales aren't even 30 yet. No doubt Utley is old, but he can help on a short-term deal. Same goes for Granderson. You've been b****ing for over a year how the team won't spend money in free agency. I'm not sure who you expect the team to sign. The guys I've listed are solid free agents. If you expect us to sign the Robinson Cano's of the world you'll be real disappointed. For the White Sox, it's always better to spread that money over 2-3 guys than one huge contract. Always. You would think we would have learned our lesson with Dunn. And we were fortunate to get out of the Belle deal before he became a salary albatross for the Orioles.

These 30 games (27 upcoming) 3 over Miami (Last place, 20 games under .500) 2 CUBS (Last place, 11 games under) 2 at Cubs 3 at A's (2nd place, 5 games over) 3 at Mariners (4th place, 10 games under, 8 game losing streak) 3 A's 3 BLUE JAYS (Last place, 8 games under) 3 at Astros (Last place, 22 games under) 3 at Twins (Last place, 9 games under, just lost 10 in a row) 3 at Royals (4th place, 9 home losses in a row, 4-16 streak) 2 METS (4th place, 12 games under) The schedule-making Gods couldn't have handed us a better late May/June schedule. The teams we are playing are a combined 86 games under .500. We'll play 5 of the 6 last place teams in baseball (the only team we don't see is the NL West doormat). This doesn't even account for the fact that we faced the Angels twice when they were in last place (3-4 against them, but now winners of 8 in a row, including the first two against the Sox). The only team above .500 we'll face is the A's, and they're a mirror image of the Sox, with limited offensive ability but very strong pitching, so those are games we should be in, as well. So I'll take a cue from Flavum's "quantitative analysis" that we go 19-8 in our next 27 games to pull to 11 games over .500. Then what do you do, remembering the Daniel Hudson trade from 2010 (including a 26-5 stretch against much better competition, including the Braves) and the team's fade-out in 2012 despite adding Myers, Liriano and Youkilis. And also assuming we're in 1st or 2nd place, heading into the June 28th-30th home series against the Indians (4 games, including DH). The only opportunity we really would be missing is NOT trading Jesse Crain...all the other players like Peavy, Rios and Ramirez could be traded at other times, albeit for not as high of a return. Crain might be the most valuable set-up guy in baseball, and he's not likely to stay THIS HOT for the rest of the season, and he's only due $3 million for the next 4 months...but he's also the only glue holding the bullpen together. If Santiago can actually slide into a 2nd lefty role (but not just LOOGY), pitching in games where we are ahead in the 5th/6th/7th, like Zumaya used to do with the Tigers...then we might just have enough, as long as Lindstrom OR Nate Jones are serviceable, and there's always the possibility of recalling Daniel Webb two months from now to replace Jones. Conclusion: Find a veteran salary to take on, someone like Charles Johnson in 2000 (well, he was an All-Star)...maybe more along the lines of Carlos Ruiz of the Phillies that the entire pitching staff would respect and with playoff experience. If you find the right reliever, buy his salary, but don't overpay with Erik Johnson or a minor leaguer we're really going to need in the future. Beckham can play occasionally for Ramirez...just so he doesn't wear down. If you push Flowers back to the bench, that gives you a RH power threat against LHP to go with Wise and Keppinger/Gillaspie, whoever's not playing.

QUOTE (Lillian @ May 26, 2013 -> 06:03 PM) Given the need for a lefty set up man in the pen, if Axelrod does falter, it wouldn't be surprising if the Sox turned to Erik Johnson to replace him. Daniel Hudson II, without quite as much hype. Then we can trade him for some random veteran, blowing up our payroll even more (because we need experience down the stretch in a pennant drive!), and limiting our flexibility to improve the offense in the off-season, leading to the eventual trade of aforementioned veteran along with Jeff Keppinger for the likes of Zach Stewart or Nestor Molina coming back in return.

Wow....Indians collapsed. Double by Ellsbury wins in as they score 4 in the bottom of the 9th. 2 1/2 behind Indians, 4 behind the Tigers. 9 series in a row against teams that are a combined 72 games below .500, including 5 of the 6 current last place teams in MLB (Houston, Miami, Cubs, Twins and Blue Jays) 2 series against the A's the only above .500 opponents...and the A's are pretty much a mirror image of the Sox, with great pitching and so-so hitting. Looks like the Royals are going to lose yet again...that would be 9 losses in a row in KC and 4-16 overall in their last 20.

QUOTE (flavum @ May 26, 2013 -> 02:47 PM) Chris Perez trying to blow a 3-run save in Boston. How in God's name do you let David Ortiz steal 3rd?

LOL. Poor Royals. Butler was ejected in the 6th, so they walked Gordon to face Francouer (PH for Billy). Pop out. Had a chance to tie with Getz on 2nd with one out against Jepsen.

Viciedo hitting .359 in his last 19 games, not counting the 2/3 today.

Pretty amazing Dunn's on a pace for nearly 100 RBI's with a batting average under .160.

19 one run games for the Sox. 38th or 39th time so far this season a game has been settled by 3 runs or less...that's actually a good thing, even though it's putting a lot of stress on the pitching, we have depth there at least. Didn't know that Rios wore #51 for Bernie Williams (Puerto Rican hero/flamenco guitarist). Another hitting streak for Alex. Leading the team in RBI's, with Dunn second at 27.

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 26, 2013 -> 01:15 PM) Wasn't that done so Boston and the Yankees could play 18 times? Sox-Cubs should still be the biggest crowds of the year in the Cell, right? So it's good for something. After Opening Day, yes. This year might be an exception, if the White Sox can get really hot in June, they might top the Cubs' series at some point over the rest of the summer... I would guess...it might be the Tigers.

Wonder who the best young prospect out there that Jesse Crain would fetch right now? It will never happen in a million years, but it would be interesting to hear some of the names. White Sox haven't had a baserunner since the 3rd. 12 in a row retired. Cishek, part-time closer for the Marlins this year. Pretty rocky season.

QUOTE (flavum @ May 26, 2013 -> 02:26 PM) Sox have a great shot to get well over .500 in June. It's June 28-August 4 that has me concerned. Once again, between a rock and a hard place at the trade deadline...what new?

QUOTE (bbilek1 @ May 26, 2013 -> 02:27 PM) I love the way Hectpr Gimenez plays. He lacks talent but there is NO shortage of heart.

White Sox have 9 series (including the Marlins) against teams that are a combined 72 games under .500. Only 2 of 9 next opponents currently over .500. Cubs, A's, Seattle, A's, Blue Jays, Houston, Minnesota and KC. 5 of the 6 last place teams in MLB. Now or never for the White Sox. Can't believe Hochevar got both Trout and Pujols with runners on base. 3-2, Angels. Crain has the most wins in the AL for relievers, career-wise. Thornton, 2nd.

You know it's not good when you have a 2-0 lead against the Angels and are using Bruce Chen and Luke Hochevar to hold the lead. 3-2 Angels now up and threatening for more. This might be the end of Yost if he loses today.

QUOTE (DukeofChicagoA1 @ May 26, 2013 -> 02:19 PM) C'mon where's the offense? It would have been nice to tac on at least one or two more runs by now. Tic-tacs are awesome, Stone Pony. Well, at least Thornton had an uneventful inning...

Cole Hamels. From 18-6 to 1-8. He's not even talking to the media anymore....rumor is that he has been frustrated with the Phils' offense/lack of run support, among other things. Interesting to see whether the Phillies will trade him or not.

No Micah Johnson SB's yet, lol.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 26, 2013 -> 02:12 PM) He made Carlos Lee look like a gold glover He had those pimp glasses...and crushed a ball to RF about as far as I've ever seen in my lifetime. He actually split PT with Darrin Jackson.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 26, 2013 -> 02:07 PM) [caulfieldpassesout] Only for Matt Merullo or Shawn 'Lil Abner. Active HR leaders 1. A-Rod 2. Pujols 3. Giambi 4. Konerko 5. Dunn 6. Big Papi 7. Soriano 8. Berkman 9. Helton 10. A. Beltre 11. A. Ramirez 12. Beltran 13. Tex Interesting debates about Helton, Adrian Beltre and Carlos Beltran for the HOF. Berkman would have support, as well.

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QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ May 26, 2013 -> 01:44 PM) The team we've seen the past two weeks is very capable of winning a championship. The last week or so, Dunn was 1/20. The only way is for Dunn to be a REAL threat on a consistent basis. Not just sporadically. But yeah, Konerko's looked a LOT better recently. And Rios/Viciedo have both been strong as well. Let's see with Danks does against a REAL MLB team first... Right now, the single biggest single problem is the bullpen...along with Flowers/Gimenez.