caulfield12

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 18, 2011 -> 08:58 PM) No. It probably shouldn't cost someone $200-300 to take their family to a game, but people have been willing to pay it, although I believe the tide is turning. And those corporations that used to buy box ticket packages or suites are hoarding their cash...it's definitely a different economic landscape for most American families, and sooner or later the NBA and MLB will have to acknowledge that and readjust accordingly.

QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ Jun 18, 2011 -> 08:59 PM) Rios would make a pretty good fourth outfielder. That's a pretty expensive fourth outfielder, but the cost is sunk anyway so might as well pay him for the role he is suited for. How much better would the Sox be this season if Viciedo and De Aza were on the 25 man roster in place of Pierre and Rios? I'm not convinced De Aza would make much of a difference, but Viciedo in LF/RF and having Hudson back and we'd be a lot more competitive. Of course, we can't just take Hudson's stats and project them to the White Sox. It seems part of the problem in Chicago is that he wasn't listening to the coaching staff and was trying to do things his way because he'd been so successful at the minor league level doing just that.

Poor Ubaldo Jimenez, going all Dontrelle Willis. He went from a 15 game winner at the ASB to 5 wins in the past 5 1/2 months and is now out of the Tigers game with an injury. I'm sure a lot of unhappy rotisserie league drafters aren't so amused. So much for Lillibridge. They're going to have to let him play everyday to get back into an offensive rhythm. Unfortunately, that will never happen.

I'm starting to think they need to bring in a sports psychologist to work with Beckham and Rios. It's pretty obvious Walker doesn't have the tools in his toolbag to get through to either of these guys.

Upton's not getting cheated. In his last 19 games, he's hitting a crisp .452. What a talented family.

I think we're another 2 weeks from Beckham going back to the minors. He made solid contact in his first at-bat...but at some point his long-term viability (2012-2014) as a player has to take precedence over one season. They're going to have to re-engineer a Tiger Woods swing change and get rid of that hitch in his swing somehow.

3 weeks ago, you would have said Santos. Now it has to be Konerko, with Humber (if they need a pitcher), Quentin and Ramirez on the periphery of the discussion. Minnesota on a 13-2 run (another 1-0 win) and still only 8 GB now. At least the Tigers are cooling off against the Rockies. C'mon Gordon, we need a bases clearing double to break this game open and give Danks some breathing room for once.

That's 51 interleague homers now for Konerko, tied for 3rd All-Time behind Thome, Griffey JR and tied with Farmer in the Delgado.

QUOTE (buhbuhburrrrlz @ Jun 18, 2011 -> 08:13 PM) did the ball hit off his head? or his shoulder? they keep saying his head, but never really showed a good replay. I think it was his shoulder/upper back/lower neck area. At first, it seemed like it went off his head. Scary moment. Correction: they're saying it was his head.

Since the start of the 2003 season, the White Sox lead the majors with 746 quality starts. Pretty good argument for Cooper, especially playing 81 of those games at USCF each year.

Duke had only TWO walks the entire season coming into this game. Amazing. Not that he's that good, but that's some control.

Rios now on an 0/15 streak and 4/7 against Duke. Unfortunately, he left Ramirez at 2B. Setting up the DP against Beckham? Castro was also 3/7 against Duke lifetime. 7/46 against lefties, 2 for his last 17. Beckham... Dadgummit Upton....covers too much ground. Well hit ball by Gordon, at least. Unfortunately, we should be up 2-0.

DBacks announcers raving about Michael Morse...lol. Even KW's old trades are coming back to haunt us. Joke. OFC, without Garcia, there's no 05-06 and no Floyd, but it's crazy how he's a more potent offensive force for that Nationals team than Dunn for the White Sox.

Bring back Pierre. Seriously Ozzie, why you didn't stick with Lillibridge when he was hot offensively is beyond me. Now he's probably going to go 0 for 4 and Ozzie can make the argument that he's not hitting.

Well, there's no "easy" solution but it most assuredly doesn't involve Teahen at 3B. Doesn't anyone remember last year when Vizquel over there changed the entire composition of the infield almost single-handedly. Heck, Ramirez played the best defense of his career with Omar to his right. You can't blame Morel for Alexei's errors this year, but it's hard to overstate the importance of good defense in the infield for the majority of our "contact" pitchers.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 18, 2011 -> 06:48 PM) Those are the tickets sold. They're absolutely off of capacity. They're only at 86.4% full. How horrid. The sox are at 56% of capacity and are down what, 50% from where they were a couple years ago? And don't give me "people didn't show up" to cubs games either, there's been a ton of that at the Cell this year. They were 7th in 2008, 6th in 2009 and 7th in 2010 in attendance. So down to 10th overall is a pretty significant dropoff. Psychologically, it has never been easier to get a Cubs ticket for face value or less than face value, correct? I don't live in Chicago or use stubhub...and I'm not saying the Cubs are suffering to the same extent the Sox are, but their magical appeal is eroding a bit, there's no arguing that. The sad thing is we're not doing anything to take advantage of the void and reassert ourselves.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 18, 2011 -> 05:44 PM) Why, because only 35,545 are showing up per game there? Are those actual numbers or tickets sold? Because they're still 15-20% off what they've been historically drawing over the last decade or so.

If you really think about it, it's White Sox fans that are being mocked by this "All In" campaign. The reality is there was really very little choice for ownership, was there? KW put himself in this position of desperation. Fans on both sides of Chicago really aren't buying the product anymore. Give Cubs' fans and random grandmothers from Cedar Rapids and Des Moines credit for being more discerning about their discretionary spending. I'll give credit for KW TRYING last year with Jackson and Manny. Obviously, it just didn't work. What I won't tolerate is trading Viciedo for anyone over 30 years old. Unless they're planning to sell the White Sox, Viciedo now is the brighest hope for this team having a future offensively. If it's not going to be Beckham and Sale flops as a starter, Viciedo has to be another Bobby Bonilla or we're doomed. To have a team that's 100% healthy (except for Peavy) and not make any real changes for almost half a season...that's a bit disconcerting and a pretty good reason why even Friday or Sunday home games in the heart of the summertime are only drawing 20-25,000. And good luck enticing any but the most morbid fans to come out and watch the Sox lose to the Twins.

I have to go with Dick Allen on this one. Something has happened...a shift in the winds...hard to put your finger on exactly when it happened, but the "negative" balance of everything Ozzie brings to the table has started to outweigh the positives. While seemingly every decision they've made has blown up in their faces (especially the Thornton to closer move), this year just feels more like 2009 or 2007. Still listen to or watch almost every game, but the excitement has largely gone out of this season. I know, I know...only 5 1/2 games out, the 2006 Cardinals foundered for most of the season, etc. Obviously, it's possible they could still win the division, especially if Peavy has the impact he's capable of having. Personally, I feel...and I know this will come as a big surprise....most disappointed and disillusioned by their performance (and seeming lack of ability) against the Twins. If there was any year besides 2007 (when we also sucked) to step on the Twins, this was it. It's almost like you're more incredulous the Twins are about to pass the White Sox after being 20 games under .500 than you are that the Sox are still even in the division race. I have USUALLY supported Ozzie and/or KW until this season...but we've just seen these guys struggling so much to work together that one of them has to go. You go back and forth, back and forth...on who really is MOST accountable for this mess. It's hard for me not to side with removing KW after the Thome/Kotsay fiasco last year, the desperation grab of Alex Rios...no point into going over every move he's made, sometimes the ones like Santos, Ramirez and HOPEFULLY Viciedo will turn out wonderfully, but this whole situation with Juan Pierre has really been the last straw. If KW or Ozzie is too afraid to make the tough call and is willing to jeopardize the season in the process, I just don't know what to think. Obviously something is "broken" with our offense, what's wrong with rewarding our best minor league hitter for the past 2 seasons (some would say one of our better major league hitters too) AND Lillibridge for actually working hard to improve and taking advantage of all the opportunities presented to them? I just don't get it. Ozzie ran off Swisher so that he could play a career journeyman in Wise. Swisher had a long-term contract, too....it wasn't quite as hideous as Rios' over the long-term, but what's the worst thing that could happen? We learn that Lillibridge isn't suited for everyday play? Fine, but at least we'll know. One thing we do know is that Rios, based on 2009, isn't very likely to "get it" back together...and Juan Pierre certainly isn't going to suddenly gain a burst of speed or shot of confidence on the basepaths. Heck, I think Chris Getz would be more "dangerous" and intimidating as our leadoff history than Juan at this point. It's these "cutting off the nose to spite the face" moves that are so disheartening. And then there's the whole Beckham situation and its inevitable fallout and ramifications for the long-term future if he's only a 650-700 OPS 2B.

http://www.boxofficemagazine.com/reviews/2011-06-bad-teacher Thankfully, another summer movie coming out soon (before Transformers, Harry Potter and Twilight show up in the marketplace) that looks like it will be a surprise sleeper hit. Unfortunately, I've never taught in a school where any of the teachers are able to afford getting boob implants before...or with a co-teacher who looked like Cameron Diaz. Although there's always hoping. Is this Kasdan that's directing the son of Lawrence Kasdan? Has to be. That is one of my all-time favorite directors.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 18, 2011 -> 12:40 PM) Wish I could have seen/heard this... I think it's well past the time to pick on Will Ohman for awhile. Where's the hate for him?

Kirk Gibson on Quentin: "He's got outstanding abilities really in everything he does," Gibson said. "Probably his running is his weakest. He's an average runner, but you throw it in there, and he's going to whack it. He's a really good offensive player, a good outfielder. He's always had a good arm." "I loved Edwin," Gibson said. "He's very competitive. He's got great stuff, good human being, good teammate, very enthusiastic person, fun to be around." But Gibson respects what the organization did in acquiring pieces for the future and is pleased that Jackson has panned out in Chicago and that his trade counterpart, Daniel Hudson, is fitting in nicely with the Diamondbacks. "The reality is you want it to be good for both sides because you might want to do business again," Gibson said. "That's the way I look at it. It turned out good for both clubs, it's good for baseball, and it's good for the future." Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbac...l#ixzz1PdMcoosS

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Jun 18, 2011 -> 02:22 AM) Or Colby Ramus, or like a few dozen other players. Where would he play? Do you honestly think Ozzie would bench Rios for Rasmus?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 17, 2011 -> 10:30 PM) Obviously, the record trailing after 6 innings isn't ever going to look very pretty, but almost halfway through the season only 3 wins when trailing with 3 innings to go..........................brutal. Especially since the A's have done it four or five times against us in a single season series of 10 games.

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Jun 17, 2011 -> 10:28 PM) If only we can reverse that. Actually doesn't shock me. I never have the feeling the Sox can come back when they're trailing. Not since 2008 and that mid-season streak last year. Just not in their DNA. You have to set the tone with that earlier in the season. Unfortunately, our tone setting was offensive malaise and a collapsing bullpen punctuated with inconsistent defense and a dizzyingly consistent lack of fundamentals execution.