caulfield12

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 10:54 PM) Trouble with the Curve is a bad movie Even when Hector Santiago turns out to be a better prospect than Bryce Harper errrr Joe Borchard, lol?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 07:54 PM) I never said that, and I don't think he is. I would take him over Peavy. That said, give me the Cubs offense over this Sox offense. Their offense is putting up huge numbers right now. http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/team/_/stat/b...ed-2/order/true Cubs with 53 more XB hits than the White Sox, Top 4-5 in MLB in that category. White Sox 28th, ahead of only the Dodgers and Marlins (last in AL).

Tim Brown, yahoosports on the Astros Rebuilding Process ANAHEIM, Calif. – It was sometime in March, before the slog. Carlos Pena sat in a small locker room in Lakeland, Fla., the season coming, expectations lower than a tugged slider. The Houston Astros had been stripped down for market, then stripped further after they were sold, leaving them with little to defend themselves with in the American League. It didn't look good. Pena turned up his expressive brown eyes and said, "I create my own reality." It's June and the Astros have won 18 games, four of those in the past week. Nobody pitches worse, a frailty that can suck the soul from a ballclub. The Texas Rangers are long, long gone in the AL West. Back at home, fans almost certainly would like to believe in the plans of the new owner, new general manager and new field manager, and yet facts are facts. It's been more than three weeks since the Astros drew as many as 20,000 to Minute Maid Park. If the plan – to make the Astros consistently competitive and somewhat self-sustaining – is going to work, it may not include many of the young men currently wearing the uniform. So, I wondered how Carlos Pena's reality was doing. "You gotta be a little bit crazy," he offered. "You have to ignore what most humans pay attention to. So it's not normal." Two months in, the Astros gamely ignore the hopelessness. So do their T-shirts, which state, "I'm all in," or "Process," or "27 outs," or something about "The vision" and "The grind." So does the gambling wheel, which travels with them, and whose flapper might clack to a stop at "Focus," or "Attitude," or "Astros win." There are two triangles displaying World Series trophies. Just Friday afternoon, bullpen coach Dennis Martinez gave the wheel a flick, watched eagerly, and when it stopped circling he read aloud, "Have fun! Hey, everybody, have fun!" Five hours later, Martinez's curiosity got the best of him, and he gave the wheel another turn. "Commitment!" he shouted. The Astros lead the league in inspirational T-shirts and old-school gaming devices. The rest has been a little choppy. They are, however, riding their second three-game winning streak of the season. They've won eight of 15. And they happen to be the only thing standing between the Los Angeles Angels and a winning record, having beaten the Angels four times in seven games. The focus lately has been on next week's draft, which the Astros will lead off again. At the top of the list: Oklahoma pitcher Jonathan Gray, Stanford pitcher Mark Appel, San Diego third baseman Kris Bryant, North Carolina third baseman Colin Moran. Still, the season trundles along. The plan ages. Meantime, somebody – a bunch of somebodies, actually – is required to go out and play the schedule. They're happy to do it. The fringe benefits are good, the pay is better. A few will survive it. But, on a given night, the future of the Astros is so far from the current Astros that one of those minor-league buses might not get you there in two days. Club management has weighed its long-term responsibility to the organization against its short-term responsibility to the league, and the choice was as simple as it was obvious. The Astros may be good one day, but for now they've been outscored by 92 runs – the worst differential in baseball. But, then, anybody could point out the deficiencies. "You sit there and look at our record, it's easy to get discouraged," Pena said. "So you try not to look at the board. Look at the standings, we're not doing well. But then, the actual question is, how does that reality service us? If it doesn't, you have to dismiss it." They're on their own, too. The system makes it more difficult to rebuild, because of spending limitations in the draft and on the international market. Owner Jim Crane has not yet shown an affinity for free agents. Progress could be slow. That leaves the reality of four months of baseball and many nights – if not all of them – in which they'll be in over their heads. It's a brutal reality in a clubhouse that, by all appearances, chooses to focus elsewhere. They pick a good T-shirt. They give the wheel a spin. They show up, they play, they show up tomorrow. It's been better lately, but it's fragile, because talent is thin and depth is thinner. "If it affects you," said rookie manager Bo Porter, "then you need to look in the mirror and figure out what you're made of as a man." He smiled. He's perfect for them, for this time, for this very reality. It's the only reality they have. "I love baseball," he said. "I love these guys. I love the organization. A lot of times we get caught up in the wins and losses, the expectations, we forget this is a game we've played since we were 5 years old." Maybe that's a cop out. But it's not his fault. Nobody in the clubhouse chose this course. They accepted the uniforms and all that came with them. Some will become quality big leaguers. Others already are. The rest will be casualties of the process, the journey from today's reality to tomorrow's. Pena just happens to be in the middle of it, making the best of it, doing his part. "Any great athlete, anyone who's been great in life, they step out of the perceived reality," he said. "That's when you achieve great things. This, it's the harsh reality of the game. We know that. We ignore the opinions. Maybe one day we'll get the last laugh." Then he nodded his head and went back to the slog.

"It seems like they're swinging a lot," Sale said of the A's, against whom he's 2-0 lifetime, including 1-0 with 16 strikeouts in 142/3 innings last season. "And right when you think they're swinging a lot, they're very patient. That's why they have the success they do." Santiago witnessed that in the ninth and 10th innings. He worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the ninth when he got Derek Norris to ground into a double play and struck out Eric Sogard. But in the 10th, he issued an intentional walk to Yoenis Cespedes before walking Josh Donaldson to load the bases. Josh Reddick then walked with no intention of swinging at a 3-1 count to end the game. "There were a few pitches that I thought definitely in that situation other teams are swinging, and they just stood there like 'Here, throw me a strike if you can,'" Santiago said. "It's definitely tough because I felt like those pitches definitely get someone out in a different game." But Reddick had a good read on Santiago. "He threw a lot of fastballs, so that's what I was sitting on, something over the plate, and he tried to nibble," said Reddick, who pushed a bunt past Santiago for a single to load the bases in the ninth. "On 3-1, I was taking the whole time. I figured I was so comfortable in the box. I felt great and saw him well before. I felt like if I got to 3-2, I'd be comfortable anyway." www.chicagotribune.com/sports

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 07:21 PM) I really like the Colvin idea but if we acquire him to play CF then who leads off this year? I doubt they're going to bench Dunn so moving De Aza to LF and Tank to DH probably wouldn't work. Lexi has been showing off his wheels a tad bit more this season but I'm not so sure he'd be a good option to lead off. For next year though, if they're ok with moving Dayan to 1B/DH that would be pretty intriguing. I saw a poster ask if he's just a platoon player, his numbers last year would suggest not. He hit RHP much better to the tune of a .297 ba with a .891 ops but his numbers against LHP is at least respectable at .270/.752. Trade for Colvin then go grab McCann in FA and got to battle with a De Aza-Beckham-Rios-Dunn-Viciedo-Mccann-Colvin-Ramirez-Gillaspie lineup....Or potentially even swap Mccann and Dunn. Even that's not going to work with Beckham and Dunn...although it would be 5X better than what we have now. Ramirez and/or Gillaspie would fit decently in the 2 spot.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:42 PM) I think Rios could play CF well with his head in the game. When his head isn't in the game he can't do anything. That said, he's talked of being more comfortable in RF than CF so since he's so mentally fragile we'll just keep him in RF, and if we trade him to Texas for a bunch of prospects (how close is this deal from happening?) then they can experiment for themselves, and if he gets thrown off and becomes a .208 hitting lazy butcher then so what, we already made the deal, enjoy the contract you guys. Except if WE on a message board have already known this for quite some time, every scout/GM/front office in baseball does too.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:42 PM) I think Rios could play CF well with his head in the game. When his head isn't in the game he can't do anything. That said, he's talked of being more comfortable in RF than CF so since he's so mentally fragile we'll just keep him in RF, and if we trade him to Texas for a bunch of prospects (how close is this deal from happening?) then they can experiment for themselves, and if he gets thrown off and becomes a .208 hitting lazy butcher then so what, we already made the deal, enjoy the contract you guys. Except if WE on a message board have already known this for quite some time, every scout/GM/front office in baseball does too.

OMG. Keppinger actually made a good play defensively. Can't believe it. Slow curveball there, not a good pitch selection.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 10:12 AM) I'm not a fan of any of those outfielders personally. Especially Wilson. Stanek would be a great get if he falls. I also really like Gonzalez but it sounds like he isn't getting past Arizona. I wouldn't be surprised if the White Sox nab Dominic Smith if he falls, but once again he probably won't get past Philly. That will scare the fans who remember Dominic Brown's name already.

Just missed a homer there. Oh, brother. Here we go again. Cespedes to be walked. 1st and 2nd, one out. Facing the White Sox always seems to bring our former players/prospects back to life. It never fails.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:44 PM) I wanna stick my wang through the radio & feed it to the WEndys commerical girl IMO You're in rare form today. First challenging people to wake up from the malaise and debate far-fetched trade ideas. Now this gem.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:42 PM) "Too high" Major League? Maybe they need to remove the puzzle pieces covering Kate Upton's life-size cutout to get inspired. Or at least a blow-up doll (minus Nick Swisher's involvement, he's a family man now, lol) Can we for once stop Lawrie from getting on base?

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:39 PM) ^Also Josh Fields had to sit due to Crede's attempted comeback, although nobody cares now because it was Josh Fields... used to be BTW that when you said Josh Fields there was some immediate uncertainty as to whether you meant the 3B, former Sox prospect, or high-ranked pitching prospect, but bnow when you say it you just say :"he suckled" all at once Plus there was another Josh Fields, a pitcher...who came from the Giants, if I remember correctly. EDIT: Oops, missed part of your sentence, but Josh Fields wasn't ever a top-ranked pitching prospect, he might have been 10th on the Top 10 list but he was fringy.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:37 PM) Brandon McCarthy as well, spot starter to MR to long man to proven workhorse in the Texas rotation You mean proven DL candidate, lol.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:35 PM) Dayan had done quite a bit of movement too, levels and positions 3B to 1B to RF to LF. Beckham SS to 3B to 2B.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:34 PM) Chris Sale Santiago went from starter in winter ball to closer to long reliever to starter to long reliever to starter to set-up guy. Sale went from set-up to closer to starter and then closer for less than a week and back to starter. And that was over 2+ seasons.

Well, that was unexpected in Oakland to survive that situation. One thing's for sure, Nathan Jones wasn't going to get out of that inning. Santiago continuing to average a K/IP. 44 k's, 44 1/3 IP.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:29 PM) The excuses for Santiago are imcredible. Nothing is ever his fault. Walks a guy...he was in the stretch. Well, he better learn to throw strikes from the stretch. If he can't pitch effectively with runners on base, he isn't the HOFer some people seem to think he is. What player has had his role changed so many times in 1 1/3rd seasons in Sox history? Name him. With Santiago's control issues, walking Crisp was more questionable than it seemed.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:29 PM) The excuses for Santiago are imcredible. Nothing is ever his fault. Walks a guy...he was in the stretch. Well, he better learn to throw strikes from the stretch. If he can't pitch effectively with runners on base, he isn't the HOFer some people seem to think he is. What player has had his role changed so many times in 1 1/3rd seasons in Sox history? Name him.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:28 PM) (I never thought his screwball was his best pitch. At least it certainly wasn't last year, that was the pitch that always hung up and was killed). If he could control it, it would give him a devastating arsenal. Great play by Gimenez to clear the way to get a throwing lane to 1B. Walk to Crisp to load the bases again. Hope we don't see another walk. Sogard up.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:25 PM) Nice job by Santiago and Nate Jones If they changed your job description at work every 2-3 weeks, how do you think anyone would do in that scenario?

QUOTE (bbilek1 @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:26 PM) CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHY THE f*** REED DIDN'T PITCH THIS INNING. Tie game on the road, it goes against all baseball tradition.

A's about to have won 13 of their last 15 games. Our 9-3 streak is quickly turning into 9-8 and dead in the water.

This was predictable. Those two sliders weren't well delivered. Stupid to start Jones this inning, just terrible managing.

And put Santiago out of the stretch....and he hasn't been great at holding runners, either.