caulfield12

I should add the shocking move of the century.... KW trades for Fukudome and Soriano and makes the biggest gamble in the history of GM-ing, getting the Cubs to take on the contracts of Linebrink and Teahen. Soriano is installed as the new leadoff hitter/2B, with Quentin moving to DH, Fukudome in RF and Pierre moved down to the 9th spot.

Too many options? I'd love to have both Alex Gordon and Gordon Beckham down in Charlotte as insurance. I just don't think Moore would dare to trade him to another team in the same division. The only problem is that Minnesota has almost unlimited resources, they can afford to fix their 3B situation, add middle relief or even an experienced closer/set-up guy to go with Guerrier/Crain and ALSO add Cliff Lee. They have Hicks and Revere, not to mention Ramos, as trade bait.

Discuss/debate/argue. I vote for Viciedo at 3B, Vizquel at 2B and Gordon Beckham to Charlotte. It's time for us to get Gordon straightened out in a stress-free environment. He's just pressing way too hard and has never encountered failure.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 23, 2010 -> 11:07 PM) Alex Gordon's middle name is Rios? Strange No, no. New personal hitting instructor for Beckham=Alex Rios

QUOTE (soxfan3530 @ Jun 23, 2010 -> 11:05 PM) This team is a Dunn or Fielder (pipe dream) from being legit. Which is exactly what we said coming into the season...except then it was Thome, Matsui, Vladdy, Damon, Abreu, etc. Nothing has changed. Just that Jones bailed out KW with six weeks of hot hitting.

Maybe we should name Alex Rios Gordon's new hitting coach?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 23, 2010 -> 11:01 PM) The only problem with playing Viciedo at 3rd is you're going to hurt our defense, and that's something that's really carrying us right now. If Quentin's hitting, maybe we can carry Lillibridge/Ramirez/Vizquel across the infield, but I would still take a shot with Viciedo getting hot before I would go to Lillibridge again.

Thornton was just at 98 and 99 against Escobar? Is that possible? Seems he was really reaching back for a bit extra but losing some control that inning.

Rob Deer hit below .200 with huge power and K's one year. Beckham has Alex Rios-itis (2009 version) and Alex has switched hitting ability with Gordon, sort of like Freaky Friday. I don't know if he's going to get things figured out in the heat of a pennant rate....this is becoming like Brian Anderson in 2006, except we have Vizquel that can play 2B with Viciedo plugging in at 3B. Right now, there's no other choice for Guillen until KW can make a move.

Gordon back below .200 and hovering around a 520 OPS, which might be the lowest of all qualified MLB hitters. They have to pull the plug on him for now and see what a new environment in AAA can do for him.

FWIW, KW not tearing down the team in 2007 and then giving up on 2010...turned out to be the right decisions, although this year I don't know if he had an opportunity to do anything but dump AJ, and even that was a bit premature. Just lucky timing for KW to have the interleague schedule solve the question for him and JR.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 23, 2010 -> 10:45 PM) I miss that guy! It's not too late to name my son Quentin! I think he's really pissed off SOXTALK removed him from the banner, from what I've heard. Fortunately, he's taking it out on the baseball for now.

Well, JJ certainly qualifies as KW's best offseason move, along with Vizquel (now) and Andruw Jones for 6 weeks (he really kept us in there offensively so we didn't get totally buried, and he can always play D). Pierre and Teahen, not so good. IS CARLOS QUENTIN BACK? Is it possible? He's really locked in now...

Wonder how much Putz will get on the open market? He's back up to 95-96 with the fastball, along with the nasty splitter. Does KW dare make a play for him? Does he dare bring back Jenks? Personally, I think we're better off with Thornton in his current role.

Poor Cleveland blew another 9th inning lead, this time to the Phillies. I think the only team who hasn't touched up their bullpen this year is the White Sox.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jun 23, 2010 -> 10:32 PM) Have I mentioned how much I love Omar Vizquel and just how happy I am that he's succeeding? I think if he ran against Chavez today he could become presidente. Who doesn't love Omar?

Interesting bullpen decisions coming up from Guillen....

Morneau K's. 4 games back. Sign Vizquel to a 3 year contract extension.

Typical Buehrle. 2 outs in the 9th, 5-3 Brewers lead, tying run coming to the plate after Mauer RBI double off Axford. I know it's crazy, but I walk Morneau here and put him at 1st. We'll see.

Huge out. Now what?

I would rather have Vizquel than Grudzielanek, not even close. We have to move Omar to 2B and try Viciedo at 3B and live with the errors if he can hit. Buehrle is really on the edge in this ballgame...sucks that those two plays at the plate both went against us or we'd have some more breathing room. Well, that's baseball. And Mark came through with a huge pickoff, as he always does the little things to battle through games. 5-2 Brewers, UH-OH. That's not good. Does Ozzie leave in Buehrle?

Starting off as a pitcher's duel.

Liriano down 1-0 in the 4th, but could easily be trailing 3-0 but has dealt very effectively with Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. Mets continue to be the hottest team in baseball, up 3-0 over Bonderman and threatening for 2 more. Could be 2 behind the Tigers and just 3 1/2 behind the Twins if everything breaks perfectly tonight. Pretty amazing turnaround.

QUOTE (bschmaranz @ Jun 23, 2010 -> 07:17 PM) Yes, the story of the 2000 White Sox! What, rain delays or fights with Fick/Weaver/Samuel?

Which still was still good enough to get us Contreras and a cash subsidy from the Yankees, perhaps the biggest single key to the 2005 season....and post-season. You know it had to eat a bit at Cashman to see El Duque and El Gran Titan de Bronze both dice up the Red Sox in the post-season. Speaking of blasts from the past, how long will Alan Embree's career last?