caulfield12

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 20, 2012 -> 08:37 PM) Right now I'm most concerned with the fact that we seem to have been overworking Peavy and some of our starters lately. This lack of experienced relievers is hurting the club. That and Thornton just isn't reliable like he was in 2006-07-08-09. It's almost like the curse of MARTE. Once they pushed him to the very back of the bullpen and gave him closing opportunities, something's just broken inside of him. What is he now, 0 for 7 in save opportunities now? And Crain has been hurt and not nearly as effective as he was in 2011. And no Frasor, although he was pretty MEHHHHHH for us.

Nobody ever really said Peavy was an ace anymore. He's been great, he's Top 5 in the AL in quality starts and he's had horrible run support. That said, he's been more and more hittable as the season has progressed. He'll have those innings where he struggles to put away hitters and his offspeed pitches aren't sharp and they hang out over the plate and get tatooed. It happened again tonight. He'll never be the same pitcher who threw 93-96 consistently, and he'll never be the ace of a staff, but he's a super solid 2 guy now and a great 3 guy in a rotation. He's a bulldog, he eats innings and you have to drag him out of the game at your own peril, but he's not a Cy Young caliber pitcher after that surgery...but he's doing the best he possibly can under the circumstances, he has pushed himself as far as he can humanly go without another injury.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jul 20, 2012 -> 08:32 PM) I disagree with Nate Jones being on the list because he is not very good. But he has a big league arm, and scouts are more in love with him than Quintana. That's what Buehrle was up against from the time he was drafted...it's the same thing Jose is facing now. Even the doubts from Ventura about him being able to finish out games.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jul 20, 2012 -> 08:28 PM) Youkilis. If the White Sox make the playoffs and have decent attendance the rest of the season...it would make a lot of sense to bring back Youk and AJ. But it could just as quickly become apparent that the Sox need to move on and they can't afford to invest $20-22 million per year on two players declining in their mid 30's. AJ's had a great season so far, he has been by far our most consistent hitter from Day 1, but you can't expect that when he's 36 and 37. He's been an everyday catcher now for 12 seasons, and he's probably playing more in 2012 than in any other season with the Sox.

We also don't have ANY clarity at all about the catching situation next year. Right now, you'd say bring back AJ for $15-18 million on a two year contract, but that might look completely different 2 months from now. Flowers just really hasn't had a fair chance at all to get any kind of offensive rhythm, but to think he'd be able to hit for a higher average than Dunn or strike out much less than Dunn...it would be a big risk to go with Tyler as the starting catcher in 2013. Phegley started off like gangbusters and then faded, just like Mitchell. With Doumit signing an extension with the Twins, the best available FA option is Chris Ianetta, and that's not saying too much.

Yeah, just realized it's pointless, everyone will pick Sale. So maybe people should take their SECOND choice, that would be a lot more interesting.

Was just thinking about this topic because Fathom brought it up in the game thread. Other than Sale, Viciedo and Quintana, there's not really anyone I would be upset to trade between now and the beginning of next season. For a while, Mitchell would have been on this list, but that's even starting to be a bit depressing. The only other minor leaguer we might want to watch start a game for the rest of the year is Simon Castro. Just can't get over the lack of power from Konerko...something has to be seriously wrong with that hand/wrist, at some point, it might be better to shut it down for 10-15 days and let Dan Johnson try, but I realize he's the captain, he has a ton of pride, definitely he won't ask to take himself out of the line-up no matter how much he's hurting. Ooops, didn't make it a multiple answer possibility. Let's assume everyone will pick Sale first then, to make it interesting. Who would you pick SECOND after Chris?

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jul 20, 2012 -> 09:00 PM) Same here. I don't like reading about it. Has Ventura ever said he should have left Q in for the 9th inning? Nope. Not at all. Hope it happens the next time out...eventually he's going to have to change his mind and start giving Quintana some more respect.

Apparently the kid was a very highly decorated honors student at UC Riverside. Bizarre.

Greg, I suppose the Royals would have batted Verlander around when he was throwing 97-100 in the 7th and 8th? Tip your caps. 4 two out runs scored. Not that they were great pitches (any of them) by Peavy. Great job Donnie Veal, someone finally bowed their neck down there and fought back.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 20, 2012 -> 07:07 PM) Castro with an excellent start tonight. Also, how does Mitchell have 12 errors in the outfield? Except for the 4 walks. That will get you killt at USCF or Fenway or Wrigley, as Harrelson likes to say. One of the Wiliams kids is doing his best to uphold the family tradition, hitting .162.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 20, 2012 -> 04:45 PM) Chris Sale IS a superstar. His body of this work this season speaks for itself, not the name on the front of the jersey. We'll find out tomorrow. Superstars show up and dominate in those must-win games. There's never been more of a game with that definition attached than Saturday's afternoon tilt. "We've had this before," manager Robin Ventura said. "We go through it, and most teams do. Eventually, we'll get on another run putting everything together where you score runs and pitchers pitch well." The Sox's third consecutive loss has coincided with the opportunistic Tigers winning three straight, and Detroit has won 11 of 13. "We know this is going to be a battle and grind," Peavy said. "We talked about it from the get-go. We never ruled anyone out. Detroit is playing well and has made a nice run. We believe that we're going to do that as well." Against Verlander (11-5), who has allowed three runs over his last 25 innings, the Sox didn't advance a runner to scoring position after De Aza's home run in the third staked Peavy to a 2-0 lead. That left Peavy (7-7), who has been the victim of low run support, with another frustrating defeat. "I just nicked (Berry) ... and Cabrera is just Cabrera," Peavy said. "I made some pitches to him and then had to throw a strike. The cutter wasn't good. I felt like I made a good pitch to Prince. When it's not going your way, it's not going your way." "We're not worried about anything," Alex Rios said. "Let's see what happens.'' Mark Gonzales, Tribune They seem really calm right now. Saturday and Sunday, that will be tested. The Ventura "even keel" approach was due to encounter a storm at some point.

Tigers playing great outfield defense tonight even, Boesch on AJ and then that play by Berry. Detroit is a steamroller for now.

Must be nice to have a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Nick Markakis Billy Butler not exactly scrubs, though

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 20, 2012 -> 08:46 PM) Thornton actually has been very effective with his slider the last few weeks, IMO. He dominated the Blue Jays with it. Who was that he threw 5-6 sliders in a row against? Lind? It was a lefty, if I remember correctly.

Biggest game of Chris Sale's young career tmrw. Trying to hold off the Tigers, winners of 11/13, for first place. In front of an SRO sold out crowd on national tv/FOX.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Jul 20, 2012 -> 08:44 PM) Nick Punto Mark Ellis Cliff Pennington that Herrera dude on the Dodgers Ciriaco Michael Aviles (on KC)

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 20, 2012 -> 08:44 PM) Outside of trading Quintana, Sale or Viciedo, there's really no one I'd be too upset about the Sox trading for a rental. I guess that's the fortunate thing about having a bad farm system. I do agree though that making a blockbuster deal for a rental would probably be a bad idea. And there are so many issues with our bullpen right now... We can't just go out and get a closer and two more veteran relievers (at least one, and not sure we can trust Crain this year).

Might as well make Veal our #1 lefty now. At least he has a curveball. For some reason, Thornton refuses to throw offspeed pitches...and yet there was an at-bat in the last 7-10 days where he threw 5-6 of those slurves/sliders, whatever that pitch he flips up there for his breaking ball. Yet we don't ever see it in huge situations, just fastballs center cut.

Bill Melton is right. The White Sox just don't any relievers who can consistently throw offspeed pitches. Doesn't matter how hard you throw, you will get torched in the big leagues, especially when you get behind in the count. That and the fact that Konerko's hitting about .230 with no power for the last 40-45 games and Adam Dunn is quickly closing in on .200. It would be a mistake to make any big trades to try to save this season IMO.

•One rival executive said he’s “very” concerned about Greinke given his recent poor performances and potential fatigue issues. Another executive told Rosenthal that Greinke is a scary potential trade target.

Wonder how long this will last? Probably just Friday and maybe Saturday nights, one would guess...too expensive to sustain long-term. Exhibs scramble security for 'Dark Knight' Chains worldwide disclose plans to prevent copycat attacks By Andrew Stewart, Josh L. Dickey (www.variety.com) Theaters across the nation and throughout the world are hastily adding security measures in the wake of the early Friday shooting in Aurora, Colo., from plainclothes officers stationed at locations around Los Angeles and New York to banning costumes and masks at AMC venues. Some chains said they would honor refunds for patrons who chose not to redeem their pre-purchased tickets. A combination of local authorities, venues' in-house security teams and federal homeland security officials were brought to bear as theater chains scrambled to address the massacre that left at least 12 dead and 59 wounded. "As a precaution against copycats and to raise the comfort levels among movie patrons … the New York City Police Department is providing coverage at theaters where the 'The Dark Knight Rises' is playing in the five boroughs," NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said in a statement. The Los Angeles Police Dept. is making similar efforts: The force plans to send uniformed and undercover officers to some of the larger L.A. theaters, including the Arclight Hollywood. "We'll be in touch with the theaters, of course, but what we're really asking is the public to come forth if you see something that's unusual or looks dangerous," said LAPD public information office Andrew Smith, speaking to KPCC's "The Larry Mantle" show Friday morning. "We ask people to pick up the phone and call." Outside of New York and L.A., major theater chains like Regal and AMC have vowed to work with local police departments in heightening security. Cinemark, the nation's third-largest theater chain and parent company for the incident's Century 16 Theater, issued a statement saying it will "work closely with the Aurora Police Department and local law enforcement." Odeon and Vue Cinemas, both based in the U.K., said in separate statements that they, too, would introduce additional security at "Dark Knight" screenings. AMC released a similar statement: "We're reinforcing our security procedures with our theatre teams, which we cannot discuss in detail for obvious, safety reasons. Local law enforcement agencies, our landlords and their and our local security teams are stepping up nationwide to ensure we provide the safest environment possible for our guests." As theater owners continue to react to the Denver-area tragedy, exhibbers plan to continue with business as usual for "The Dark Knight Rises." Two of the nation's largest Imax locations -- L.A.'s AMC Universal City Walk and Lincoln Square in New York -- are continuing with the same number of showtimes this weekend. Lincoln Square, for instance, has 19 sold-out showtimes through Sunday, including 2 a.m. showtimes. City Walk is going forward with its Saturday, 3:15 a.m. screening.

CUE OVERANALYSIS ..Was James Holmes, Suspected Aurora Shooter, Inspired by Batman? By SHEILA MARIKAR | Good Morning America – 2 hours 40 minutes ago Violence like the massacre that happened in Aurora, Colo., today is a staple of action films, including Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. A similar, now haunting, scene unfurls in "The Dark Knight Rises" when a masked villain leads a violent gang into a packed football stadium and deploys guns and explosives on the unsuspecting crowd. While there has been no indication as to the motives of James Holmes, the suspected 24-year-old shooter who is now in custody, new evidence suggests that he was inspired by the Batman series of comic books and/or movies. Law enforcement sources confirmed to ABC News that Holmes said "I am the Joker" when apprehended by authorities. His hair was painted red, the same hair color of Heath Ledger's Joker at one point in 2008's "The Dark Knight." PHOTOS: Celebrities React to 'Dark Knight Rises' Shooting There are more parallels. In Frank Miller's iconic 1986 comic book series, "The Dark Knight Returns," the Joker murders a television studio audience by deploying "smile gas." Holmes began his massacre by setting off smoke bombs throughout the theater. In the same book, Arnold Crimp, a disturbed man who just lost his job, pulls out a handgun in an adult film theater and kills three people. A scene from the strip shows a news anchor saying, "Three slain in Batman-inspired porn theater shoot-out." Seventy-one people were shot during today's early morning massacre; 12 have died. Christopher Irving, author of "Leaping Tall Buildings: The Origins of American Comics," dismissed Internet theories that Holmes was taking on the persona of Bane, the villain in "The Dark Knight Rises." "Bane does not use brute force," he told ABCNews.com. "He wouldn't waste his time, that's not his character's style." Irving cautioned against blaming an iconic, fictional character for today's tragedy. "If there is a story with a shooting like this, I can only assume it was a sad, tragic coincidence," he said.

..WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. official says the suspect in Friday's shootings inside a Colorado movie theater bought a ticket to the midnight showing of the latest Batman movie and went into the theater as part of the crowd. A federal law enforcement official said suspect James Holmes is believed to have propped open an exit door in the theater as the movie was playing, donned protective ballistic gear and opened fire. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Police in Aurora, Colo., said Holmes fired at least 71 shots and killed at least 12 people. Police said he had an AR-15 assault rifle, a shotgun, and two .40-caliber Glock handguns. Holmes is also believed to have hurled a gas canister into the theater before opening fire. ..