caulfield12

If you were constructing a team out of ONLY current White Sox minor league prospects and you knew that team would be the one you would be "stuck" with at the major league level from 2013-2015 (let's say it was for an expansion franchise), who would you pick and why? NOTE: I only know a bit about the minors, so I'll defer judgement and just throw out names and see where we get. OF candidates....Jordan Danks, Viciedo, Jared Mitchell, Jose Martinez, Lastings Milledge, Keenyn "Don't Call Me KW, it's Leggo My Eggo" Walker, B. Short, Trayce Thompson 3B Tyler Kuhn/Silverio 2B Tyler Saladino SS Eduardo Escobar 1B Viciedo/Wilkins/Christian Marrero C Flowers/Phegley/Blanke/Kevan Smith SP Petricka SP Rienzo SP ???? SP ???? SP ???? Shirek, Axelrod, Leesman, Upchurch, Griffith BP Infante BP Remenowsky BP Santos Rodriguez BP Addison Reed BP Omogrosso (haven't seen him much since he returned from injury) BP Nathan Jones

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 5, 2011 -> 01:47 AM) Most Tigers fans generally hate Brandon Inge. Maybe he's lost some of his appeal in the last two seasons because of his offensive ineptitude, but when I last went to a Tigers game, he was clearly the fan favorite. I guess that was April or May of 2009. Now it's obviously Verlander with nobody else even close. But I always thought of him as kind of like Joe Crede or Aaron Rowand in terms of his fanclub membership.

I agree, Gregster. What this team really needs is one more bullpen pitcher (RH), but that's going to come at a steep price. Not worth Viciedo when Bruney and Pena might be able to get the job done. We also have the likes of Infante and Reed to draw from the minors. In reality, the only place you see them making a move is with Morel, simply because he's a rookie and Ozzie doesn't trust rookies in a pennant race. They wouldn't trade him, probably just put him back in AAA and bring in a one-and-done veteran in the Scott Rolen mode (no, I don't want Rolen in particular, just throwing out a name). Trading Quentin's more proven bat for Viciedo is just a recipe for it to blow up in KW's face again. No thanks to that move. We should be improving our offense, not subtracting from it (potentially). The only way it makes sense is if KW's thinking 2-3 moves ahead and he's got a move in mind to bring in someone like Montero (future franchise player) and another veteran (3B or bullpen) who can help RIGHT NOW (assuming they had 7 starting pitchers). But trading Danks/Jackson/Floyd in the middle of the season's obviously a dangerous move. I wouldn't put it past KW, but going cheap with B. Beach and having an extra starter to count on for next year to go along with Sale wouldn't be horrible. It still doesn't exactly go with the "All In" theme and it's hard to imagine them not milking Jackson for everything he's worth the next 3 months. In that scenario, Floyd might be the odd man out...depends, most teams would obviously prefer Danks but the costs for both would be pretty steep. The DBacks would probably offer Holmberg for Quentin back, haha.

Viciedo hitting 4th? The White Sox taking on Derek Lowe's contract? HUH? Pierre Beckham Konerko Dunn Ramirez AJ Viciedo Rios Morel

"I promise you it’s a way better feeling that way than the other way," Dunn said. "I appreciate them, especially tonight, sticking with it. The thing about the fans, they boo and stuff because they want to see the team and me personally do so well. That’s how I’ve been looking at it. It makes it more special when they cheer like that.” Dunn admitted that some hitless games were rougher than others. “You sit there, and it seems like I went on a stretch of so many different things, just hopefully something to spark something and feel something, but it didn’t work," Dunn said. "(Sunday) felt good, and today felt good, so hopefully it’s a start." www.chicagotribune.com/sports

“I don’t know,” Crow said. “I thought I just stepped straight off the back of the mound, but that’s what the guy called. So you have to let it stand.” Manager Ned Yost protested briefly while the Sox celebrated and the crowd of 31,077 roared, but Rapuano stuck to his ruling that Crow twitched his shoulder before stepping off the rubber. “He was adamant that it was a balk,” Yost said. “I’ve looked at the replay four or five times, and I’m having a hard time seeing it. Eddie said that he turned his shoulder before he stepped off. “I don’t know how you can end the game with that, but they seemed all to be in agreement in the umpires’ room that it was a balk. I’ve watched the video. There was no intent to deceive any runners. He was stepping off.” “I love Ed Rapuano,” right fielder Jeff Francoeur said. “He’s one of my favorites, but you’d better be (darn) well sure that someone balks when you call a game on that. It’s a shame. “You’ve got an All-Star reliever out there. You’ve got Adam Dunn in the box, and the crowd is going crazy. It’s a great atmosphere. And you’re going to call a balk to end the game? I don’t see it.” Dunn followed by lofting a high fly to right on a 1-1 pitch that just cleared the wall for a two-run homer. Dunn entered the game with a .167 average and mired in a two-for-37 slump. “It was the third fastball away in a row,” Crow said. “That’s just bad pitch selection. It’s easier to get him out on fastballs in. If you let him reach out over the plate, he’s got a lot of pop." Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/04/29931...l#ixzz1RCmt1rTH

QUOTE (MAX @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 10:27 PM) Its far from it, in my opinion. All of the time based sports have worse endings that drag on forever. Like, downing the ball in football or fouling for the last three minutes in basketball. Its not even the most boring in baseball, either in my opinion. Much more exciting than watching a team go 1-2-3 down by 16 runs. I think they meant for an ending to a "tie" contest in any major sport to award victory to one team or the other. Yes, I realize some sports like soccer or hockey can end in ties (before the playoffs).

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 10:16 PM) It's the nature of the business. Not every FA is going to perform to their history. It's always a gamble. I don't fault KW, Epstein or any GM that takes a risk by signing a guy. We got Dunn at market or below market rate. I will never complain about a GM for pulling the trigger. Now, if they pull a Werth and sign a marginal good player for way over market value and he fails, you're a moron. The GM gets the best players available to win. If the players don't perform, it's not the GM's fault. Imagine how people would react if Cashman was our GM... As long as he came along with the Yankees' budget.

Minus the speed or 30+ SB potential.

http://www.freep.com/article/20110704/COL0...dyssey=nav|head Look at what Knapp has done. Their bullpen's an absolute mess, but you have to blame Dombrowski more. Verlander's become the best pitcher in the AL (which he credits largely to Knapp), they're getting tons of mileage out of Brad Penny and nobody projected Phil Coke to be a starter, let alone pitch that well as a starter. Scherzer and Porcello were never going to be without their growing pains. This is like the White Sox firing Cooper because of Edwin Jackson's disappointing results in 2011. It all goes back to the GM.

Pasqua struck out way too much for the comparison to hold merit. Viciedo figures to hit in the .270-.315 range. Pasqua was pretty much all or nothing.

http://www.heavethehawk.com/Hawkisms.html That's a pretty darned good list. Forgot about Matt Abattacola. "Stretch, stretch, stretch" has to be right up there. Dadgummit. He's up there cutting and slashing. (Or was that Paciorek?) I can't remember if it was Warren The Deacon Newson or Paco Martin. What was the one he always used when Ozuna was up or running through the bag throwing his arms out and calling himself safe? I love to watch Ray run.

Hopefully we have Mark back next year at a more reasonable price. By the way, can we honestly actually say that Adam Dunn is worse than John Lackey? Epstein's had his share of clunkers like Lackey, Dice-K, Jenks, etc. Drew has never lived up to that contract either, solid but never close to the greatness he had the ability to be.

The Angels' announcers were just debating if the balk-off has to be the most boring ending to a game in all the four professional sports. Hard to argue anything else. Wild pitch has to be more exciting. Even a ground rule double scoring a run or the umpires waving in a runner on fan interference would seem better. Walking in a runner with bases loaded would probably be 2nd worst. AJ's play against the Angels in 2005 in the ALCS wasn't boring. It wasn't "walk-off" there, but it felt like it.

Just for you, Hawkeroo. Brandon Inge can: High jump 6'6" Dunk a basketball Kick a sixty-yard field goal Throw a baseball over 100 yards on a football field Hit a scrappy/grindy .199 with 1 homer and still be the fan favorite in Tiger Town

QUOTE (FlySox87 @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 08:04 PM) I've been a baseball fan all my life, and I still don't understand the balk rule. I'll understand women before I understand that. But apparently Crow leaned forward before stepping off the rubber... With a runner on base and the pitcher on or astride (with one leg on each side of) the rubber, it is a balk[2] when the pitcher: switches his pitching position from the windup to the set (or vice versa) without properly disengaging the rubber; while on the rubber, makes a motion associated with his pitch and does not complete the delivery; when pitching from the set position, fails to make a complete stop with his hands together before beginning to pitch; throws from the mound to a base without stepping toward (gaining distance in the direction of) that base; throws or feints a throw from the rubber to an unoccupied base, unless a play is imminent; steps or feints from the rubber to first base without completing the throw; delivers a quick return, a pitch thrown right after receiving the ball back, with intent to catch the batter off-guard; drops the ball while on the rubber, even if by accident, if the ball does not subsequently cross a foul line; while intentionally walking a batter, releases a pitch while the catcher is out of his box with one or both feet (rarely enforced); unnecessarily delays the game (rarely enforced); pitches while facing away from the batter; after bringing his hands together on the rubber, separates them except in making a pitch or a throw; stands on or astride the rubber without the ball, or mimics a pitch without the ball; or throws to first when the first baseman, because of his distance from the base, is unable to make a play on the runner there.

QUOTE (Springfield SoxFan @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 08:00 PM) Does Dunn get an RBI there? Nope. Callers to the post-game are actually trying to credit AJ with causing it by his actions on the basepaths, but just a mental breakdown there by Crow. Maybe he was a little shaken up having to face Dunn again after the 8th and was thinking too much after walking Pierre.

Thankfully a Sergio implosion wasn't the story of this game to take away from the "feel good" vibes with Adam. Who knows, maybe he's right when he said "something clicked" the other night in his muscle memory. If he believes it, why not? If he hit a Crow 96 MPH fastball out of the park, there's nothing wrong with his bat or fat. It's all mental, obviously. Like a baseball player's version of "writer's block." The standing ovation should have made him and his family feel relieved. Now we can move on to criticizing Alex Rios. In all seriousness, Buehrle had his typical "battling" quality start, and Santos did get the key outs to limit the damage when it looked like the game was following a familiar script for the Sox this season. Konerko continues to hit well, great approach by AJ there and good patience with Pierre there as well not to get himself out. Need to get Carlos going again, too. He and Alexei have been slumping the last 2-3 weeks.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 07:53 PM) Have a feeling Ozzie wanted Pierre to bat, but figured they IBB Teahen Maybe. And you can't like the odds of scoring AJ on a ball hit on the infield. Nor can Pierre usually execute a bunt in a squeeze/sacrifice situation. It worked out, who cares now? As greg says, just win baby. Just go with the if the White Sox won, "it must have been the right managerial decision" theory. Feel a bit sorry for Royals fans there, even J4L. Joking!

Still don't quite understand why Pierre wasn't the first choice to pinch-hit there. Teahen hasn't been playing, while Juan's been Mr. Clutch for a week and nearly always makes contact. Knocked out their All-Star reliever two innings in a row.

7-11 now in the AL Central. 2-1 KC 0-4 MINN 1-5 DET 4-1 CLE Comeback kids. Well, at least we're recently showing an ability to come back late in games. Sergio will need to change his approach in these situations against FB hitting teams. 31,077 in attendance.

How often has that happened? I don't remember winning a game on a balk in my lifetime.

WINNING UGLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG.

Walking him to face Dunn?

Why does Teahen have a home run swing there? C'mon. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. No way he was getting a 3-2 fastball. Disappearing slider.