caulfield12

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 31, 2011 -> 02:01 PM) He's not going to make 17 million a year. Well...not next year, but 2013 as part of a long-term extension. Hey Ozzie, maybe someone who's outhomering Dunn and Rios with 30-40% of their at-bats deserves more playing time down the stretch? Nah, that would be too logical. As it is, De Aza gets benched when Quentin comes back. Or even worse, DeAza/Viciedo in a platoon DH situation. Ugh.

Ummm....why would a struggling franchise pay John Danks $17 million a year? That's crazy. No way Reinsdorf will do that after this season...they'll trade Danks, Quentin and possibly Thornton (depending on where Sale ends up). And now we're in the classic "no man's land/in between" situation with our roster whereas it would be better to just play Flowers nearly every day, but we're "stuck" with AJ's $6 million. Maybe we can trade him if we eat $1.5 million...

QUOTE (mcgrad70 @ Aug 31, 2011 -> 01:51 PM) Hudson was suppose to turn into Dunn but Kenny got played. Could have found out in a lost season Dunn was going to be a bust - may have changed everything. But I didn't like the Hudson trade no matter what the intention. I thought it was Jackson they actually wanted....and it blew up when they wanted us to give them Viciedo (in addition) instead of Flowers. Of course, maybe the fact that they also acquired Ramos from the Twins ended the Flowers part of it, as well. You'd have to wonder why Rizzo would want Jackson over Hudson with a rebuilding team. But who knows what actually happened in reality. I can't imagine the screaming if we had traded those two guys for Dunn, it would be a lot uglier than the Sox crowd has been with Jake today.

Back to the good 'ol White Sox with runners on base. Oh well, guess we were due for a clunker. Tigers still trailing 4-2 going to the bottom of the 7th.

Make that a one-out double in DET. At least they're turning Martinez to his traditionally weaker side.

We're getting REALLY lucky this Adcock (spot starter) just showed up out of nowhere to pitch decently for KC or we'd be looking at a 7 game deficit with Verlander looming...that would be all she wrote. Oops, the dreaded leadoff double from Cabrera. Collins in to face Martinez. Gee KW, maybe if we had Victor instead of Dunn, we'd be in first place...

Why did I wake up at 200 am to listen to this crap, lol? Going to have to reset the alarm and see if we've somehow managed a comeback by 400 am. Not likely, but it's at least possible to believe in compared to a month ago. I'm sure the marketing department's going to have lots of fun selling Rios/Peavy/Dunn/Beckham turning things around this offseason.

Boos cascading down on Jake Peavy, pretty darned loud. Ouch! Seemed to be a routine fly ball that just kept carrying due to the weather conditions.

Rios with misplay/bad read/late break number #171 this season. Why, oh why, does Ozzie still keep running him out there?

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 30, 2011 -> 08:36 PM) Not true, sounds like organization was looking for any reason to limit Humber's innings. Cooper's going to have to make Stewart basically a sinker specialist it seems, which is fine cause it worked well for Garland. Yeah, it was already clear to SoxTalk and anyone observing closely that Humber was going to be in trouble 4-6 weeks ago as he collided with that 140 IP mark. If KW was ignorant of the possibility....then he should have transitioned Sale to starter. Unfortunately, with how well Chris has been going (arguably one of the top 3 set-up guy now for 2+ months)...they couldn't afford to move him. But that all comes back on KW, yet again.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Aug 30, 2011 -> 08:35 PM) Are you really making a fair judgement here ? I'm sure you haven't forgotten that Stewart would be in the minors or in long relief for the Sox if not for the injury to Humber. It is kind of funny. Of course, the Cardinals haven't gone anywhere with Jackson, but that's not exactly the point. That Hudson trade will haunt him for a long time, especially if Stewart ends up more Marquez/Tony Pena and less Danks/Floyd/Hudson/Gio.

Guess Cooper hasn't fixed Stewart yet. Oh, well. Just not meant to be this season. On the bright side, we've improved to something like 11-30 against the Twins since May, 2009, with our four consecutive victories mixed in there.

Except by Marty34, Joe Cowley and Greg775, yes...I was trying to be nice!!!

If Ozzie's going to call the fans "idiots," then we might as well call him one right back. If anyone deserves the chance to play more often based on their improvement and effort/hustle this season, it's Lillbridge. Playing DeAza/Flowers/Viciedo doesn't make up for this stupidity....not only playing him over Brent, but in the clean-up spot so Konerko will see absolutely nothing good to hit. Surely Gardenhire's just telling his staff to work around Paulie and daring Rios to beat them.

Royals take the lead on a Billy Butler SAC FLY, 1-0. Thanks Ozzie for sabotaging the little chance we have to win this last month by playing Rios and batting him 4th. Idiot.

Through the 6th, no score yet in DET still. Didn't realize Swarzak had pitched so well for MN. Unintentional intentional walk to pitch around Konerko and get to Rios. Meanwhile, Rios still can't hit anything on the outside half of the plate....still trying to pull everything.

Well, it's not like the attendance will really matter....still, you'd like to think they would want to avoid a DH at all costs. Just seems so difficult to sweep one. Meanwhile, Cy Fister has a "perfect game" against the Royals through 5 IP. Jeff Francis has only given up one baserunner (hit) through 4 IP, but he's faced the minimum as well. (Royals had 18 hits against likely #2 playoff starter Max Scherzer yesterday). Exciting August baseball. Well...one more day and the "real" scoreboard watching starts, according to Adam Dunn. Didn't realize the Yankees were 2-10 against Boston and CC was 0-4 individually. And Michael Morse has 23 homers. Yay, Sox farm system.

With Flowers' resurgence, it makes no sense to ease off on Mitchell (because we still don't have anyone resembling a prototypical leadoff hitter, not to mention Walker has struggled mightly as well in A ball)....don't understand the Phegley inclusion. Hopefully he'll (Mitchell) at least play Winter Ball somewhere. He needs all the playing time and experience he can get, no matter where it is.

Ozzie's comments are something you'd expect out of a reality show contestant. I just finished re-reading "The Summer of '49" and can't even begin to fathom someone like Ted Williams or DiMaggio saying "Hey, I'm the face of the franchise...you need me more than I need you!" Of course, back then, you can be sure they thought it....but their dignity would preclude them from ever saying it outloud or to a reporter. Imagine Puckett, Gwynn, Ripken, Brett, Yount, Mattlingly etc., saying something like that even in the 80's or 90's. Sure, times change, but being humble and respectful towards the sport that supports you and your family so luxuriously shouldn't.

With the way Mitchell's going again, maybe the New Jersey Generals of the USFL would be more appropriate.

The Twins haven't gotten as much out of Valencia this season, and his defensive deficiencies have gotten under Gardenhire's skin a lot. Trading Ramos for Capps has turned into an absolute bust, especially when it's clear Mauer should be catching less and that would give them a catcher who could hit over the Mendoza Line. All the minor leaguers they called up to replace basically their entire bullpen have sucked. Their AA and AAA teams have had the lowest winning percentage in the minors the last two seasons (sure, win % alone doesn't mean you're not doing any development, but it's one prominent indicator....remember how well BIRM played the first half of 2009?) Hoey for Hardy is one of the biggest head-scratchers in baseball, and then replacing him with Nishioka exacerbated the situation. Revere has played competently...but he's nothing but another version of Span, with a 670-725 OPS likely and not enough pop or arm. Hicks and Gibson seemingly remain their two high upside guys...but I haven't followed their system much this season. Some of their kids like Plouffe that have shown offensive promise have been just as bad defensively. In retrospect, trading for Delmon Young (although it paid off in 2010) really weakened their starting rotation and cost them Bartlett, who fit perfectly with that system. Same with Punto...those guys always seemed to be a lot more than the sum of their parts. Whereas we always have come up with the opposite....tons of talent which somehow doesn't produce together as a team.

Above and beyond that, it's just the fact that everyone expects to be seeing plenty of Dunn and Rios again next season. It's almost like a curse, in the sense that finishing 1-2-3 games back might give JR enough reason for optimism not to make any changes with Guillen, the coaching staff or KW. Sure, we all want them to make the playoffs (I think except Milkman, haha) because that means this team lives to fight it out in 2012...at least the probability is much higher. And, of course, if they did go on that extended run, they just might do some serious damage in the playoffs coming in as the "hot" team along with the Brewers and D-Backs. Leyland and DET have never held together in the 2nd half. They've collapsed in 2006 and 2009, but to the Twins. This is a much different Sox team. The problem is that it's sad that everything will go back to Baseball Economics 101 and we might end up getting off to a slow start again in 2012 (behind Dunn and Rios)...that's really doing to demoralize everyone. Or, we could be faithful/optimistic in Dunn/Rios/Beckham. But how many want to put themselves in that camp if changes aren't made and the exact same situation with Guillen, Walker and KW continues? Everyone's been burned by believing in this Sox team over and over again...I can't even imagine most season ticket holders would get excited about this run unless it brings them to 2 1/2 or 2 games back. You have the feeling the attendance definitely won't trend upwards even a tick until that happens. Maybe just because of the enjoyment of seeing Viciedo hit, that's definitetly a new reason to attend a game in person. And if he keeps hitting, not even Quentin returning will keep him on the bench because Ozzie will have to use Carlos as the DH.

Will it be four years or five (with Hudson)? Did he pitch enough in 2010 to push his service time forward?

Detroit picked up another two games on the Indians this week and opened up a full six-game lead on Chicago, as well. The Tigers used the week to jump 10.8 percentage points in the AccuScore projected standings to move to 92.6 percent likelihood of winning the AL Central. The White Sox finally called up prospect Dayan Viciedo(notes) to take some of Adam Dunn’s(notes) at-bats, but the move is probably a bit too late to have a meaningful positive impact. Carlos Quentin’s(notes) injury status also derails Chicago’s playoff hopes. The Sox now make the playoffs in just 4.8 percent of simulations. The Indians are now in third place in the real standings. Even with the acquisition of Jim Thome(notes), their lineup is currently more decimated by injuries than Chicago’s is. Cleveland is just 2.6 percent likely to win the division. www.yahoo.com/sports (accuscore)

What have you done? Breaking up with Minka Kelly? Now fathom will have a dilemma with his marriage...at the very least, she will have to be installed on his newly-revised list of the Top 3 or Top 5 celebs you can have sex with (no consequences or questions asked) if you actually met them in real life. Jeff Passan (yahoo sports) This is is my 4-3a culpa. Sorry, Derek Jeter(notes). E-me. I was the nincompoop who started calling you 4-3ter when you couldn’t stop grounding out to second base. I was the schlemiel who said your walkup music should be the beep from the Emergency Broadcasting System. More From Jeff Passan25 things you didn't know about baseball Aug 25, 2011 Critics fuel Big Papi's historic production Aug 24, 2011 Derek Jeter picked up three hits against the Oakland A's on Aug. 23. (Getty Images) I was the dolt who in mid-April figured your decline steep, in May and June felt like he was ahead of the curve and today – well, today I’m here to say I was wrong. Because even if luck is playing a decent hand in your seven-week-long tear and you’re due for a regression soon, it’s obvious you’re not done. Now, you’re not the Derek Jeter of your prime. Nor should you be at age 37. Just because the Yankees pay you like an elite shortstop doesn’t mean that’s the standard to which you ought be held. Considering the dearth at the position, you are plenty adequate, which I promise is no backhanded compliment. If I were trying for that, I might compare you to Yuniesky Betancourt(notes). Since the All-Star break, you’ve swung the bat better than Yuni – not to mention Asdrubal Cabrera(notes), Yunel Escobar(notes), Starlin Castro(notes), J.J. Hardy(notes), Jhonny Peralta(notes), Jimmy Rollins(notes). Every shortstop except Troy Tulowitzki(notes) and Cliff Pennington(notes). Your line-drive rate of late hovers near 30 percent, and while you’re still as grounded as an electrical circuit, at least you’re hitting the ball with more authority. You need to, of course, because your defense remains subpar. Ultimate Zone Rating says you’re about average. Defensive Runs Saved says you’re abysmal. The truth is somewhere in between, enough to justify keeping you in place to begin next season, when Paul Olden will take to the public-address system and introduce … 1. Derek Jeter as the New York Yankees’ shortstop for the 17th consecutive season. It’s a remarkable number for any everyday player to stick at one position, let alone one in the middle of the diamond, and in one uniform no less. It’s why Jeter’s miserable first three months were such a big deal: Every athlete falters, and it never gets any easier to witness it unfold in plain sight. Fact: Jeter’s contract would’ve kept him in next year’s lineup. His bat is now giving the Yankees ample reason to believe he can stay atop the order, too. Jeter’s .344/.401/.444 line since the All-Star break recalls his prime, though a .397 average on balls in play during the time does indicate not all of this is skill, that he didn’t one day wake up and remember how to hit. Still, it’s been fun watching Jeter rediscover himself. Ten of his last 14 games have been of the multi-hit variety. Only three regular shortstops – Tulowitzki, Jose Reyes(notes) and Escobar – have higher on-base percentages this year than his .358. His season is beginning, in many ways, to resemble 2008, which he finished hitting .300/.363/.408. Today, he’s at .299/.358/.389. And in 2009, remember, Jeter had arguably the second-best season of his career. Which isn’t to say that in 2012 he’ll put up numbers anything like …Troy Tulowitzki 10. Derek Jeter and sapped the dignity that drove him through those miserable days. Jeter faced constant questions from outside and in his own head, constant criticism from the same two places. It’s one thing being a perfectionist; it’s another being one with an audience. Around the All-Star break, when a calf strain sent him to the disabled list, Jeter reached a crossroads. His slugging percentage was still barely above .300. He could’ve done the Adam Dunn(notes): start awful, get worse. He could’ve done the Dan Uggla(notes): start awful, catch fire. He went the Uggla route. Jeter started pulling the ball more. He continued to obliterate left-handed pitching. He ignored the issues in his personal life – he reportedly broke up with longtime girlfriend Minka Kelly – and recaptured the verve that for so long defined him. He’ll have games like Sunday’s, sure, in which he went 0 for 4 with three groundouts. Until those become commonplace again, he’s no longer a question mark. If anything, Jeter is an exclamation point. And so for all the jokes, all the cracks, all the snide remarks from the comfort of a press box, I’m sorry, Derek. Good to have you back.