caulfield12

I'm not so sure. They have to have another option at DH besides Lillibridge to bat against LHP. If Dunn doesn't get a hit against the Royals, there's just no way I would keep him in the line-up when we play the Twins.

QUOTE (LVSoxFan @ Jul 2, 2011 -> 08:57 PM) I was there! Humber didn't have his best stuff but he battled! Way to go Thorton! Not the first time that's happened this week. Peavy's fastball was 3-4 MPH slow and Jackson was a mess, too.

I wonder if they'll leave him at SS. Probably, that's where he has the most value. Teams leave legit SS prospects there as long as possible (typically) until they possibly make a position change later. If he has quite a bit of pop, you wonder if the Sox might decide to switch him over to 3B if Morel doesn't hit for power or walk much in the 2nd half. How strong is his arm? Range? Does he profile as a better 2B or 3B from a defensive standpoint, based on his skill set?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 2, 2011 -> 07:04 PM) Nishioka has been hurt. You never call a guy a bust when he's been hurt unless that's all he's been. The Twins will find someone they have confidence in as a closer, you know that. Nathan would still be likely to return, IMO, just for a lot less money. It's possible they give him $2 million NOT to pitch for them next year and then offer him an incentive-laden contract. Knowing Nathan, he might accept. I'm not sure how wise it would be for them to put all their eggs in the basket of just one potential closer without a back-up plan. BTW, Mr. Capps just blew a 7-4 lead against the Brewers with the Crew now leading 8-7 after trailing 7-0 in the early stages of the game. They're also going to have to decide what to do with Pavano again. And how many Japanese players in the last 5-7 years that have been signed to MLB clubs have actually exceeded expectations? Not many.

KW and Ozzie clear the air about the "Pierre/Viciedo" debate and alleged sniping back and forth... http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,1950575.story

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 2, 2011 -> 08:37 PM) a pregame graphic stated that Beckham has the best fielding percentage among second baseman. And he proved it multiple times And not just sheer percentage (because that makes Rios look very good this year), but turning the double plays more quickly (saved the game earlier this week), stopping balls from getting to the outfield...his range is arguably the best of any 2B in the AL right now. He's also gotten better at balls hit towards the bag or up the middle. Ramirez has made his typical 2008/2009 "lackadaisical" errors, but it's hard to argue there's a better defensive infield right now with Morel also picking it up after a rough start...and Omar Vizquel in reserve. You'd like to think that having Omar around has rubbed off positively on both Alexei and Gordon. And a 700 OPS 2B isn't anything to sneeze about. We need to readjust that expectation of him putting up 850-875 every season. Not with offense down like this all around baseball.

The problem is that Konerko, Dunn, Rios, Quentin, Ramirez, Buehrle....will never be the type of players to make this kind of comment. We expect it from AJ. Pierre's not afraid to express his feelings, either. Beckham's far from being the leader of this team....so I don't mind it at all. Rios has been going more up the middle and hustling more often. Morel's doing the little things. Beckham's showing some signs of turning things around. It does feel like that game where they scored Quentin on a 225 feet flyout in COL was enough to get everyone to think the breaks might start going their way again. We're now 11-6 in interleague (yet again). Not quite last year's 15-3, but we'll take it. And Santos has started to legitimately appear like one of the best closers in baseball. Not many guys you'd take over him going forward.

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Jul 2, 2011 -> 08:30 PM) Huge props to Coop for Humber, but you can't teach heart. Phil battled all day. He's the story of the first half. Kind of like Garcia last year. But Humber has been much better statistically.

.168 and sinking like the Lusitania. Seriously, the Royals have been playing like absolute crap. This should be the last series Dunn gets carte-blanche to play every day. No way he should still be in there against the Twins (if he goes hitless for 4 more games), who are on another mini hot streak of 4 games in a row. It would suck the life out of this team (and White Sox fans) if we don't at least split with them at home.

This is looking a bit less laughworthy. Although the only scenario that makes it possible SEEMS to be trading Viciedo, and HOPEFULLY that never happens. The reason they can't trade Viciedo is that there's nobody in the line-up that they could realistically replace. Rios? No. Dunn? No (and that's Viciedo's job anyway.) Beckham? No. Morel? Maybe, but very very doubtful they'd add even more salary this year when Morel seems to be settling in more and more at the major league level. Obviously they're not looking for a starting pitcher, and they could probably use another RH reliever, but Ozzie seems comfortable with Bruney (for now) and they're not in a position to add a Capps-level salary. Nor can they afford to part ways with Dayan without Sox fans storming the gates of KW's condo with pitchforks.

Indians beat the Reds for 5 in a row this season. SF's feeble offense taking it to Scherzer. Scored five runs in the first. Have a feeling that game's far from over. It would be a travesty if the Giants' 6-0 lead over the Tigers was wiped out by rain. Hopefully they can get it restarted.

Nobody. And very few were "sure" what we'd get out of Sergio. Certainly nobody was predicting 16/18 or 17/19 in saves, whatever he has. On the other hand, if you put up the numbers for Dunn/Rios/Beckham/Jackson/Danks (W-L) (and Thornton) at this point, you'd have to guess we were 6-12 games under .500 and on the verge of breaking the team apart. Say what you will, KW always seems to come up with guys like Humber or Sergio on the cheap...enough to almost offset the "big/bad" moves. And 7-1 in Peavy starts? That's a bit unexpected as well. Konerko is most deserving, along with Humber and then Sergio. Alexei would have been on the outside of the conversation about 2-3 weeks ago. Same with Carlos.

Beckham actually winning over skeptics with his defense, who'd a thunk it? In the new world of baseball, you can carry a 660-670 OPS 2B. Heck, you can carry a sub 600 OPS 3B. But you are nearing the point of no return in 2011 on Dunn. They have to bench him and insert Viciedo into the line-up for at least 2 weeks. Pierre is almost undoing all the damage he did the first two months. ALMOST. I don't think anyone would have predicted a week ago he would be be perhaps the most integral offensive piece in winning in 3 games. Long-term, Ozzie isn't right on this one...but he's looking a LOT smarter.

QUOTE (Benchwarmerjim @ Jul 2, 2011 -> 01:34 PM) the Twins would of been raked over the coals if they didnt sign Mauer after getting the new stadium. After all, the whole point of Target Field is so they could sign their own guys. The Twins were kind of in a no win situation there. Nathans big contract comes off the books this year, so does Capps. thats about $16 mil in bullpen money eaten up I think Delmon Young is gone after this year. If they can get a low to mid level minor league guy in return, I think they would pull that trade. Gardy really loves Ben Revere. His ceiling is about Juan Pierre, which is cool by me. There has been a lot of talk about trading Cuddyer, I am not sure if he gets moved. He is a Twins guy through and through. I think the only way he gets traded s if the other team blows them away with an offer. I think Kubel would get traded before Cuddyer does. Kevin Slowey is probably going to be gone by the trade deadline too. Cuddyer's more important to the team, which is why another team would be better off signing Kubel. Nishioka's basically been a bust as well, yes? Who would be closer if you dump Capps and buy out Nathan as well? Twins fans should know after watching Guardado and Nathan for a decade the importance of a strong closer at the back end of the game. They probably would have been better off going with Revere/Span in the OF, the approach they had with Jones/Stewart/Hunter from 2002-2004. Never should have given up both Hardy and Hudson and turned the infield completely over. And Valencia's not the same presence. Without Morneau healthy, even with Mauer hitting like 2009 the Twins are in serious trouble. And Young's putting up nothing like the numbers he put on the board last season. Then you have Slowey's contract you have to dump, somehow. In the end, all the issues started with assuming they could rebuild the bullpen on the cheap AND tearing apart their veteran leadership in the middle infield.

A 1-2-3 9th for Thornton? What's going on here? Wow, great job. Humber has single-handedly saved this season... Reds, you SUCK.

Great play by Beckham. There's no way in hell they could afford to send him to AAA if his OPS was 575.

Looks like Crain is set up to close the game against Byrd. One more out for Matt. It almost scares me more to stick in Crain in the middle of the inning!!

How can we continue to go with Dunn? Looks like Thornton will be going for the save in the 9th, as Sergio has pitched in 3 straight. Against Ramirez, Pena and Byrd. Strap on your seat belts. As someone mentioned, you have to insert Lillibridge defensively for Dunn or Ozzie should be suspended for 10 games for dereliction of duty. Would feel more comfortable with Crain out there against Ramirez, but it is what it is. If Matt can get Ramirez, he SHOULD be okay. Please pitch away, though. So many dunks/dinks/broken bats/infield singles against Thornton that end up to haunt him as a 9th inning pitcher.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 2, 2011 -> 06:55 AM) No he wasnt. Ironhide has been a suped up GMC Pickup in all three movies http://www.wallpaperez.info/movie/Transfor...onhide-302.html He identified himself as Que in the movie, but on the IMDB it says Que/Wheeljack. He was rather forgettable IMO. Not in a bad way, just kind of there. Do you mean the one who used to be a Decepticon and changed sides? I think they found him in a museum as an SR-71/Blackbird and then he "teleported" them all to Jordan? And he was involved in the final battle as well in Egypt and helps out Optimus with an "assist" of weaponry.

Pierre can bunt but not for a sacrifice. Ramirez and Beckham should never try to bunt again, unless it's on their own for a hit. Morel can do it PRETTY well. Vizquel, obviously. Not sure about Lillibridge...but it could have helped the last 2-3 times he's been up with RISP. Ozzie has been adjusting to this problem by putting runners in motion a lot more often recently to avoid the double play....but we don't exactly have a roster full of contact hitters after Pierre, Vizquel and AJ. I'd feel fairly confident about Morel making contact, too.

$150+ million and Alex Rodriguez's quote that he's the best player in baseball today say NO. Dunn's, Peavy's and Rio's already-existing $150 million in commitments say no as well. Reyes' injury history prior to this year isn't confidence-building. Reyes is having a great season, undoubtedly, but there's just no way with our current financial situation...even if we managed to make it to the playoffs, attendance and revenues in all likelihood will be down....unless thousands more fans start showing up between now and August 15th. Finally, Ramirez is actually one of our strengths. Probably our best and most important player when you take both offense and defense into consideration. While I would love to see a middle infield of Reyes and Ramirez (pushing Beckham to another team or back to 3B, which doesn't make sense because of how good he's become at 2B)...it just seems completely unfeasible. I would imagine if anything we'd be cutting salary this offseason...with the possible loss of Buehrle and the probable loss of Jackson. Down to the $95-110 million mark, unless something changes drastically in our fortunes the next 80+ games.

Does having Dunn, Pierre and Rios drawn-and-quartered multiple times count?

I'll save Lil Bulldog Hibbie the time to start a new thread. NOW only 3 games behind the Tigers, 3 1/2 behind those pesky "they just won't die" Indians who the Reds still can't figure out for yet the 4th time this season. Broke through the 2 games under mark for the first time in four opportunities.

Some big-time cooler destruction. Giants' announcers declared that's the worst they've ever seen Wilson pitch. Just didn't have anything out there. Ironic, because he gets the victory after blowing 3 consecutive saves in 2 days.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 1, 2011 -> 08:50 PM) Saladino homered. Replaced late in the game....porque? I must be half-asleep. Saw Jim Parque in the minor league thread at first. Wilkins with his 13th homer. Looks like Mitchell is having a tough time turning the corner on his rebound season. Thompson now with 15 doubles but also 3 K's and only a .227 avg.