caulfield12

C Bryan Anderson not exactly screaming out for a promotion from Charlotte. We have three guys in Phegley, Miguel Gonzalez and Kevan Smith....hopefully one of them emerges. Phegley's the closest of the group, Gonzalez has the raw tools but has been a prospect/now suspect seemingly forever and Smith is the most intriguing.

http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/atlanta-braves/...-hitter-he-was/ Article on Walker attempting to work with BJ Upton...interesting read.

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?s...mp;ymd=20130505 Birmingham won a football game, 16-14. Thompson 3/5 with no K's, back over .200. Semien continues to hit well for the Barons. Thompson actually gave up 2 runs in 1 1/3rd and still got the win. Pederson having a very strong start to the season for the Dodgers. Puig not far behind.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 5, 2013 -> 04:16 PM) Youk was not great for the White Sox, he was tolerable, and overall, the white sox 3b spot last year was still awful, including Youk. Youk was awesome for 2-3 weeks and then just faded (like the majority of other players). Definitely was not "The Greek God of Walks." Plus, his back was ouchy as well.

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 5, 2013 -> 04:00 PM) I don't know how you could see the young guys on this team and say the Org is crumbling. I actually feel better long term about the health of the franchise than in a few years...this is just a down cycle...but we can get back soon if we make a few solid moves and have a few solid drafts. Beckham, Viciedo and Flowers have yet to prove themselves... Then there's Conor. Get back to me in 2-3 months on Gillaspie. The Giants don't make too many mistakes with player evaluations and win 2/3 World Series titles. Every single minor league position prospect has disappointed so far.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ May 5, 2013 -> 03:49 PM) We sure love to lose games that are pretty much impossible to lose. Not against the Royals. But all the credit in the world to Axelrod and Quintana for bowing their necks and manning up when the defense around them was sucking us down into blowout losses. At least they're fighting.

It was probably a pipe dream in the first place to get a lot back for Rios, but with the start of the 2013 season....only 1 1/2 years left on his contract (and small buyout for 2015), with the spending by teams like the Blue Jays, Angels, Dodgers, etc., there was SOME hope. Now it's more than likely going to turn out to be a salary dump...although he still has time to turn things around again and get on another hot streak.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 5, 2013 -> 03:51 PM) I can't imagine how frustrating a loss like this would have been in previous years. Right now, it's just par for the course unfortunately. Hopefully we can go 72 hours without anyone else getting hurt. Agreed. Not even really upset, what's the point? All last season, these games would have been killers, especially the ones against KC. Now, they're just more evidence of a crumbling organization that's being passed while essentially standing still. When you're something like 4-8 in your own division without even facing the Tigers, what do you expect?

QUOTE (High Mileage @ May 4, 2013 -> 06:12 AM) Are we talking about the same guy? Ervin Santana didn't pitch in the '05 World Series. He did pitch in the '05 ALCS against the Sox. He had a terrible outing though: 4.1 innings, 3 hits, 6 runs, 5 earned, 2 homers, 3 walks, 2 K's, and a hit batter. He's definitely been inconsistent over the last few years, the Royals got him for next to nothing, but taking on his $12M salary is and was a huge risk. Guthrie has been great. The Royals dealt Melky Cabrera to San Francisco for Jonathan Sanchez. Cabrera went on to have career year (before being suspended for PEDs) and came back to KC and won All-Star Game MVP on our field. Meanwhile Sanchez was even worse and more disliked in KC than Luke Hochevar. In true Royals fashion, they kept running him out there. He was getting booed mercilessly just walking out to the mound. Somehow the Royals got somebody to take him, and got Guthrie, who was having a terrible season for the Rockies. Considering Melky's suspension and terrible start for the Jays this year, and Sanchez was even worse for the Rockies last year and Pirates this year (he was just released), that Melky-for-Sanchez trade doesn't look too bad. I am a little concerned that they gave then 33-year-old (now 34) Guthrie a 3-year deal for $25M. Yeah, I meant AL Championship. Guthrie was one of the names bandied back and forth when we were looking at pitching last year and ended up with Liriano instead. The board was 90-95% getting Guthrie. Beware the Coors Field Effect on pitchers.

6.5 games behind DET, 5.5 behind the Royals. Sale has to show up tomorrow. This season is on the verge of getting out of hand way too early. It figured that probably the two best players on the team so far this season (Reed/Rios) both prominently figured in the defeat. And defense/walks (by our pitchers, not enough for our hitters) continuing to kill.

Sigh. When the wheels come off, they really fall off. 2nd walkoff hit for Gordon this season at Kauffman. Just a matter of inches over Rios' head.

Good throw by Gimenez but he was pulled out of position a bit by having to reach for the pitch. Did anyone not see this coming with the first two walks reaching in the 9th? It was a shock it went down to the final out, actually.

By the way, that breaks a string of 16 consecutive saves for Reed. Tigers behind Verlander now up 8-0 over Humber/Astros in the 4th. White Sox threatening to fall 6.5 GB.

If you walk more hitters than you receive walks, you lose 80% of the time.

Would have picked Crain over Lindstrom. This is not the time to be waiting for what might happen the next inning. Need to get out of this inning with the lead. It worked. But that ball was scalded. At least Keppinger made a big play.

Lefties just 3/21 against Thornton this year. Will give him some credit for that. C'mon Ventura, your move.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 5, 2013 -> 02:36 PM) Viciedo is someone that POSSIBLY has more value on the market than what he actually provides. Everyone else, I totally agree with you about. That organization has to see him as an everyday player (RF/LF/1B/DH) and also have patience with him. And be seriously lacking in power. Which is the exact definition of the White Sox with Konerko leaving, AJ gone, Dunn and Rios soon after.

QUOTE (Jake @ May 5, 2013 -> 02:34 PM) The story on Santiago might change if he goes on a run of good starts. I could see him becoming highly sought after very quickly. That said, I would be asking for a lot. Why would we be trading Santiago? That makes about zero sense with Danks' comeback far from certain. We all knew Clayton Richard has hit limitations, but it's going to be a huge disappointment unless they get a surefire offensive threat along the lines of 2012 Josh Reddick back.

QUOTE (Jake @ May 5, 2013 -> 02:29 PM) Conor has made some hard outs today. Thanks, Hawkeroo. LOL.

REALLY? Jesus, our defense needs to be taken to task by someone. Maybe Reinsdorf.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 5, 2013 -> 02:23 PM) LOL. If he had him hit away or had him bunt, if it didn't work, you would have criticized him. He did something that's "not by the book" and I'll give him credit for that. And yes, with how the team's been playing, every single move is going to be under the microscope. Yay, Rios! Hopefully he's getting back on track. So much for the vaunted Royals' bullpen, Collins and Crow showing some cracks in the foundation. Even Dunn has an infield hit, haha.

QUOTE (Jake @ May 5, 2013 -> 02:22 PM) It was risky not to bunt him there. Player somewhat slumping, facing the lefty, Alejandro must have told Robin that he sees him well. Well, if he K'ed or failed on the bunt, we surely would have been ripping on Ventura. Another productive out by Keppinger, getting the runner over to 3rd. Of course, Rios might be our coldest hitter. Scoring on a wild pitch....winning ugly 30 years later, haha.

Not feeling too confident about that Verlander vs. Humber match-up, lol. Sucker's bet?

Ventura might actually be adjusting. He didn't force DeAza to sacrifice there. Just let him hit away, despite his nearly 40 K's on the season.

Now what Ventura? Can we have a "productive" out for ONCE? If DeAza K's here...