caulfield12

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Sep 1, 2012 -> 04:39 PM) Because he's in decline and they have to pay him 3 more years. Then come up with a trade that will net an upgrade over your oft-mentioned "declining asset" who is not named Beckham, Saladino or Sanchez... Beckham would be, at best, an average MLB SS. Sanchez is at least 4-5 months of seasoning away, and hasn't even played SS on an everyday basis. Many prognosticators would rather have him play 2B, then 3B, then SS, in that order. Saladino, some of the same concerns as Sanchez. He's just not ready to play major league SS, offensively or defensively.

The "Twins' factor" against the Tigers is clearly ONE thing that should actually give us some confidence, because the traditional White Sox ways of beating the Tigers the last 2-3 seasons simply haven't worked. We've lost 5 in a row this season and 16 out of our last 19 in DET. The curse has simply shifted east. Gavin Floyd and Contreras were our pitchers who typically did the best against the Tigers, and Gavin hasn't exactly inspired much confidence this year. I'd love to see the AL standings in 2 out runs surrendered by the Sox in the 2nd half. That would be pretty indicative of our lack of "clutch" pitching since the All-Star Break, as well as a lot more breakdowns from our defense than the first 85+ games of the year.

The Tigers will have Victor Martinez back next year, so they'll be set. Right now, their only glaring weaknesses are: Avila's regression (is he the player of 2011 or 12?), Peralta at SS (need a much better SS there with range/arm), Young and Boesch on the corners. They have Dirks and Avisail Garcia waiting in the wings. Dirks has been one of their best players in the 2nd half. Garcia's projected to be a MUCH better defensive outfielder than Boesch, FWIW. Their rotation now is Verlander, Scherzer, Fister, Sanchez, Porcello and Smyly. They're fine there. They get Albuquerque back, to go with Villarreal, Coke, Dotel and Benoit. They've been shaky from time to time, but still better than the White Sox pen overall.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Sep 1, 2012 -> 04:52 PM) Barring something unforeseen (deep postseason run), I think they'd pick up Youk's option only if they could shed some salary elsewhere. Say a Thornton or Ramirez. They're going to have to use whatever available funds they have first to figure out the rotation. Why would they be trading Ramirez, exactly? He's been more productive than Konerko the last 3 months of the season. Don't tell me the new solution is Beckham or Carlos Sanchez at SS. You don't take one of the strengths of your team and make it a weakness unless you can get a definite upgrade.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,2410544.story

I like the Hawk analogy between Scherzer and Max Patkin, the Clown Prince of Baseball....

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 31, 2012 -> 10:23 PM) Everyone but Alexei seems to be slumping. Youk's 0 for his last 12, Wise has cooled off big time and PK/Dunn struggling like crazy to get an extra base hit. Like you said, bad time to slump especially facing Max and Verlander the next two games. I never thought I'd say this, but I hope Olmedo gets the start tomorrow vs Scherzer (Max dominates righties). And we could really use DeAza back. Against LHP, and because he's seemed to be one of the few guys who's played well against the Tigers. After we didn't break the game open against Fister there, you just knew it was going to be a long night. At least the Thornton implosion came early so we could save 45 minutes of our lives and not have it be the agony of a blown lead in the 8th.

Matt Thornton SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS. Have to win tmrw, because Verlander's not going to lose at home on ESPN, Sunday Night game against Chris Sale. 16 losses in last 19 is a pretty big trend to get past psychologically. Young was 0/8 with bases loaded b4 that at-bat, lol.

Typical Thornton when he's called on to get a LH batter. SIGH. We don't deserve this game anyway...

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Aug 31, 2012 -> 07:34 PM) Please not Thornton, where's Septimo when you need him? DL or rehab I think.

That ball call really hurt Peavy. Would be lucky to survive this inning...somehow. Cabrera simply a hitting machine. Ventura always goes just a bit too long with Peavy and 85% of the time it comes back to bite him.

PERFECT, Jake.

0/12 with RISP now. 6 walks, 2 HBP. Just can't BUY a hit, not unlike the Tigers' series against KC. White Sox have lost 15 of their last 18 games in DET.

White Sox 0/11 with RISP after entering the game leading the AL at .294, Tigers second at .287.

Go ahead 2 run homer at USCF. C'mon, Alexei. Need the clutch hit or at least a fly ball.

Peavy finally finding his rhythm. RH batters are STILL only hitting .199 against him on the season. Pretty impressive.

Ventura's seriously going to use Veal or Nathan Jones here? I hope not.

Just haven't been able to come up with that big clutch hit tonight to take the lead.

Great AB there by Dunn...battling back. ELEVATE PAULIE.

5 walks in 5 innings for the Tigers' pitching staff.

Somehow, this will backfire too on Ventura. At least that move worked out. White Sox in danger of losing 7 of their last 8 on the road, 5 in a row to the Tigers after starting out 4-3.

Way to let Cabrera beat us, lol. Interesting fact, Fielder has never hit .300 in a MLB season. Wise caught flat-footed and Cabrera snuck into 3B. White Sox just giving this game away in multiple ways: Peavy, hitting with RISP, Dunn and Wise sleeping, etc. Setting up the DP by walking Young twice? Gave Young a 3-1 cookie right down the middle and he fouled it off.

9 runners stranded in 5 innings. Probably see a reliever for the Tigers next inning. Might be Smyly to get Wise/Dunn. Albuquerque will be back Sunday.

And the Tigers get the Indians at home next week. They're not going to give the division lead back again so easily if they manage to get it back this time.

QUOTE (bulokis @ Aug 31, 2012 -> 06:23 PM) If we make the playoffs, when do you start Peavy. He talks a big game but cant pitch in one. He has to start 2nd or 3rd. Sale, then Liriano/Peavy depending on how they pitch down the stretch. Peavy probably deserves it based on his overall season's body of work. White Sox have already stranded 7 runners in this game.