caulfield12

On the other hand, it can be useful as simply an indicator of progress. Last year, he was mired in the 500's and low 600's for OPS much of the season. Of course, he hit amazingly well the first 2-3 months of 2010 and it didn't last for the whole year. That said, any positive signs of progress have to looked on skeptically until he proves he can sustain it. But yeah....that triple to the RCF gap, usually he would roll his wrists over and it would have ended up being pulled to the SS on the ground for an easy 6-3 PO or a made-to-order GIDP. It's going to be very difficult to every move Alex because he's probably going to be either so bad you can't move him without eating his salary or the White Sox will be playing so well it would seem counterproductive to trade him...especially with Viciedo struggling out of the gate and no minor league replacements in sight...and no, Lillibridge can't be considered as an everyday OFer, nor can Fukudome.

0-9 at home to boot, that's very very hard to do, even for the 1962 Mets or Astros of recent yore....or that one really bad Orioles team But they can’t be this bad, can they? If you’re a pessimist — and right now, who can blame you? — maybe you see one of the most disastrous starts in franchise history, a young team with higher expectations channeling something out of those dark, dark days of 100-loss seasons and embarrassing baseball from earlier this decade. But here’s the thing: In the moments after the Royals’ 5-3 loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium, it was pretty easy to see the glass of blue Kool-aid nearly all-the-way empty. Last week, Royals manager Ned Yost warned against panicking. After 10 straight losses, the mood is starting to change. “You keep pushing,” Yost said. “If we need to make some moves, we’ll make some moves. But, again, we’re trying to stay away from that.” Still, Yost added: “We can’t continue this.” On a drab and overcast day, 58 degrees at first pitch, the Royals followed with a performance perfectly in line with the conditions. In the process, they dropped to 3-12 on the young season, the worst record in the majors and the worst 15-game opening to a season since a 2-13 start in 2006. It’s also the third-worst start in franchise history. (That 1-14 mark in 1992 still can’t be touched.) “We’re only 15 games in; a lot of season left,” designated hitter Billy Butler cautioned. “It’s not even digging out of a hole. It’s not even enough games to be considered a hole yet. “We finished 32 games under .500 last year. That’s a hole. That’s when you dig yourself a hole. We’re not there yet.” In truth, the Royals finished just 20 games under .500 last season. (The last time they finished 32 games under was 2009.) But Butler’s point remains. The Royals may have also dropped to 0-9 at home, tying the single-season record for most consecutive home losses, set May 19-June 7 in 2006. But it’s still only April. Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/22/35702...l#storylink=cpy

I just think it's amusing to see what he can manage to write about when the Sox when they're playing well. Doesn't give him much material to cover, or when the Marlins are mired around .500 and largely irrelevant again in the wake of the Nationals and Braves resurgence.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 22, 2012 -> 09:06 PM) And let me add "damn the unbalanced schedule". That's it for the Sox here in 2012 unless both teams make the playoffs. 32-22 on the West Coast from 2008 onwards. Used to be the House of Horrors, especially Oakland. Remember how much Buehrle always struggled there...fog games....all kinds of weird occurrenences.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Apr 22, 2012 -> 07:10 PM) White Sox thru 15 games: RS: 67 (4.47 RPG) RA: 53 (3.53 RPG) Team ERA: 3.16 1st in the AL in BAA (.219) 2nd in the AL is Strikeouts (Pitching) 2nd to last in BB allowed 2nd to last in Runs Allowed 2nd in WHIP 3rd in ERA there's some potential here... I'm guessing the Rangers are leading most or many of those categories. Not bad company to be in. First in perfect games, lol.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 22, 2012 -> 07:11 PM) Except for when he had all the TV's on college football in the locker room in, what was it, 2010? But that was because he also cares for the Florida Gators, lol. As someone who's pretty passionate about sports, it's at least understandable. Sometimes it's nice to take a break from baseball and focus on something else. Next I'm sure we'll have the Giants/card-playing incident raised again.

Do they still have Ichi-Rolls? The sushi concoction named after Suzuki, think they sold them in the OF when I was last there around 2003 or 2004.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 22, 2012 -> 11:55 AM) Smyly looks like he has a chance to be a solid starter for Tigers. #3 prospect in their system and seemingly has blown past Jacob Turner, which was a surprise coming into spring. He doesn't do anything amazing stuffwise (see Fister), but he's been super solid three outings in a row, including the nice recovery today after giving up the solo homer to Josh Hamilton. If you're going to give up a homer, it might as well be to one of the best players in the game (when healthy).

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 22, 2012 -> 06:14 PM) Angels 7 games out. Did not see that coming this quick. With that offense, on paper...and that pitching staff, on paper. Incredible. But so the White Sox fall in April and May last year after starting out 6-3 and then going something like 5-19. Nobody's been completed surprised by the Red Sox, due to the injuries to Crawford, Ellsbury and the lack of a bullpen...as well as all those veterans getting a year old (yeah, I know Ortiz was leading the league in hitting come into Sunday). But when you start an outfield of McDonald, Ross and Sweeney...well, that's not so good, even though Ryan's actually been hitting well for them. That they had to go out and eat most of the contract of one of the worst hitters in baseball right now (Marlon Byrd) is evidence enough of their desperation. Aviles isn't an everyday player, he wasn't even for the KC Royals.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Apr 22, 2012 -> 07:06 PM) 1.) True, but April is all about not burying yourself and this series was a nice way to get the W/L record looking good. s*** we could have KC's record and I'd be ready for a firesale. 2.) That's true. Dunn is hitting .245 and got another ribbie today?? Wow. And Rios 3-4 with three ribbies and a .333 batting average? My god. He's off to a stellar start. Maybe all the good feelings and pats on the back will rub off and he'll be motivated to have a strong season. I mean even though he gets paid a ton no matter what, I'd think he's feeling pretty good about himself right now. And if what AJ said is true, that his glove was shaking he was so nervous on the fly ball late in the perfect game, that might prove he cares this year. I'm shocked we won 3. Is this one of those wraparound 4 game series like the one the Royals are getting smoked in, or did we sweep? Go Sox. I've never seen AJ accused of not caring before. Just watch him and Humber after the game in all the video highlights. If anything, sometimes he cares too much or gets too emotional. He's playing free and easy this year, last year there was all the tension around the team, the situation with his contract status being up in the air the prior year (possible trade, etc., in mid 2010) and then feeling like he had to justify the new 2 year deal and he's already put up better numbers this year than in 2 full months of 2011 play.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Apr 22, 2012 -> 04:38 PM) it's entirely possible it's Jarrod Parker - in which case we're f***ed. Probably not. Any pitcher with good stuff, unless it's Verlander the last couple of years (and even then)...it's the journeymen, never seen before, soft-tossing lefties, that usually give us fits. Think of our relative success against Felix Hernadez, for example. Any pitcher who is around the strike zone, we can handle. It's those pitchers who are experts at getting batters to fish for pitches outside of the strike zone and get themselves out that drive our guys nuts.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Apr 22, 2012 -> 06:24 PM) It's funny because Castro and Molina really struggled in the first start or two a piece, but since then they've settled in nicely. Axelrod (or Terry Doyle) are the only near-MLB ready pitchers. Castro and Molina will not be ready in 2012. Agree on Molina, but Castro could come fast and is much more seasoned. Has anyone heard or seen his fastball readings in the games he's been pitching so far?

Thanks, Dr. Jobe/Andrews.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 22, 2012 -> 05:07 PM) Great job by our bullpen and the entire offense! Danks with win #2 Except for Beckham, lol. Rios clearly with the key hit in this game, especially after Dunn was thrown out at the plate, not so many minutes after Fukudome by Ichiro.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Apr 22, 2012 -> 05:02 PM) It's April 22nd guys. There are 162 games in a season, lets pump the brakes one way or another. Just enjoy the team doing well right now and lets take it day by day. We're about to be 19-3 against the M's in our last 22 games. Let's see how we do with the A's. That will be a good test...one thing's for sure, we didn't just go into the tank after Tuesday's blown game.

96 MPH on the black. One more out to go.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Apr 22, 2012 -> 05:00 PM) same problem the rest of major league baseball has Napoli hitting 8th says, not me.

Gas. Notice he went to the change and screwball before the FB. Makes the fastball look 100 MPH.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 22, 2012 -> 04:52 PM) Really, no we didn't. Uribe had a vastly better 2004. Podsednik had a great year in 2003 and was still well down from there, and was almost worthless in the 2nd half. The Bullpen and rotation...yes...but not anyone in the lineup other than the Captain. And Dye, if you look at where he was in his career. Iguchi, nobody knew what to expect, he probably outperformed, technically. Of course, if you remember, Jermaine was supercold the first couple of months that season, then really took off. AJ was pretty good that season, too. Crede was his normal self, Rowand also didn't have one of his better years offensively.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Apr 22, 2012 -> 04:49 PM) I know you have Extra Innings as well...I haven't seen anyone I'm afraid of other than Texas... The Tigers are going to be supertough, though....if Smyly keeps pitching like he has so far. Other than Hamilton's ability to hit anyone's fastball, pretty much untouched. Still, that Tigers line-up has a few more holes than the Rangers or even the Yankees...and Valverde's been much more vulnerable already season...not to mention the fans have completely turned on Brandon Inge. He used to be a cult hero there, now he's a goat/villain.

Great day all around so far for the Sox....this whole weekend overall. Humber no hitter, these two games, Axelrod and Simon Castro both pitched great games today, and Mitchell looks like a top prospect again (16 RBI's).

22 k's for Morel, both of them on called strike 3's. Yikes.

Morel will probably be bunting here. Just don't like Gordon's chances, but who knows with how this game has gone.

Fukudome getting into the act. Don't stop now, boys!

Wow, Rios at a sizzling .333 and a homer away from the cycle. 7 RBI's now on the season. Speechless.