caulfield12

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Jun 23, 2011 -> 11:44 AM) I believe this roster is talented enough to hang with anyone in the AL, if they play to their potential. I happen to believe that what's going on has to do with normal baseball slumps, which happen to all teams and players, and you see it as gross mismanagement. Given Dunn and Rios' performances - what exactly would you do differently with them? With Peavy? With the bullpen that has been so inconsistent? I'll tell you what I saw last night - I saw a winner. The bullpen was amazing, with Santos nearly unhittable. Last night was the first time this whole season I said "we've got this" heading into the 9th. It appears that Santos is really coming into his own. Then how do you explain their well below average record against teams under .500? The fact that except for 2008 and that stretch in 2010, they've actually been an average home field team....and often better on the road? Their inability to put away teams like the Indians and Royals in the last 5 years...when they should be crushing them and playing .500 baseball against the Twins and walking away with the divisions? Most Sox fans would argue that Minnesota never had a clear talent advantage over the Sox until last year. Would you agree with that? So the Twins have overachieved from 2001-2010 or we have underachieved? Or we've simply underachieved against Minnesota? What is your suggestion for changing our "bad luck/performance anxiety" against the Twins?

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Jun 23, 2011 -> 08:30 AM) The 2006 Cardinals went 39-42 in the NL Central and won the World Series. The 2009 Rockies were 33-39 vs. the NL West and won a wild card. At least three other teams that I've found in a cursory glance over the past 5 years have barely been .500 vs. their division and won it. (06 padres, 09 angels among them) The 2010 world champion giants were also just 4 games over vs. their division. Obviously, we can't continue to win 33% of our divisional games, but I hardly think we can draw any conclusions from 17 games. So you have a team with the best player in baseball (no, Konerko's not that...although close in terms of hitting lately)...and a notorious second half team in the Rockies. The Giants had the best pitching in baseball (along with the Phillies), I don't quite think we can quite claim that distinction at this point. The bar just seems to be set pretty low. With a $128 million dollar payroll, hoping and praying for the division winner to get only 84-88 wins wasn't exactly the plan. Essentially, you're asking for a repeat of 2008, except without being the front-runner and having to hold off 3 clubs this year instead of just the Twins. We've beaten the Tigers before pretty consistently...but that's a whole new monster with Verlander and Scherzer the way they've pitched. We might look at Thome/Kotsay last year....and Victor Martinez/Dunn this year as the two moves/non-moves that tipped the division away from us in consecutive years. So...with the White Sox having no record of second half comebacks (except for 3 games at the end of 2008) to speak of...what makes you think our recent trends against both the AL Central and in the 2nd half will change? What is different about this year? That we're playing so god-awful but still in it? Well, that show already debuted in 2009, and it didn't end very well. If we do something to show the entire team that everyone's accountable (releasing Pierre) and that Dunn/Rios/Beckham won't just be given time but will have to work hard to earn it by performing.....there's about a 35-40% chance they can pull it off.

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Jun 23, 2011 -> 08:00 AM) If they had dropped 5 games to NYY and BOS, we would have said "they can't beat contenders" if they had dropped 5 games to the Cubs and Oakland, we would have said "they can't beat the bad teams" if they had dropped 5 day games, we would have said "they can't win day games" I just can't bring myself to cherry pick FIVE f***ing games out of 43 that they won 60+% of and find much fault in losing a couple of them. Unbelievable - now not sweeping a FOUR GAME series is the problem??? The 2003 Detroit Tigers, the team that nearly lost 120 games, played a total of 7 4-game series. They didn't get swept in 6 of them. That should tell you how hard it is to sweep ANY team in a four game series. C'mon Greg, it's not just those two series, it's the fact that they're 1-9 against the Twins and Tigers overall this year. If you look at 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010, all of those SOX teams played very well within the division. And we invididually blew four saves out of 10 games against the A's and I think won another game in which we had a blown save. 6-4 should have been, at worst, 8-2 or possibly 9-1. None of it matters unless/until Dunn/Rios/Pierre/Beckham (at least 2 and probably 3 of the 4, because the odds of Konerko continuing to hit at this clip aren't high) play at anywhere close to their abilities and/or Viciedo comes up. And it's also predicated on Humber keeping this up as well. And actually figuring out how to beat a MUCH MUCH better Twins team than the one that has beaten us four times in a row and 27 of the last 35. The Tigers had beaten us 8 consecutive times dating back to last year before we finally won a game against them.

Don't they have to win 2/3 in Wrigley in order to worry about parade routes? I hope you didn't just jinx that series.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 23, 2011 -> 07:06 AM) You can't trade Gullen this offseason if you didn't have him under contract. Just depends, if they can get Bobby Valentine without giving up a significant player, they might just do that. Obviously, the big concern for the Marlins is selling season tickets in the offseason for the new stadium. Some of it also depends on how Guillen finishes this season, too...in terms of increasing his desirability (to both sides), an AL Central championship would burnish his resume and put him back into spotlight again.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jun 23, 2011 -> 05:34 AM) Yeah, some of them trade for Freddy Garcia and then get nothing back. I don't see you talking s*** about Pat Gillick. Pat Gillick has been quite a bit more successful in his ventures than Ken Williams has. My point does nothing but accentuate the fact that general managers, no matter the caliber, make dumb trades. Gillick gave up Gio Gonzalez and Gavin Floyd for Freddy Garcia. I'm sure that deal still pisses him off. He was able to recover. I honestly can't think of a move right now in the past 10 1/2 months that Williams has made that has really pissed me off and made me say "Why?" Can you? There is only one move that he has not made that still leaves me scratching my head, but otherwise, it's on the players, coaches, and manager at this point. Pena over Jeff Gray? Haha. I'm guessing you're referring to the ongoing "replace Pierre with Viciedo" movement? Giving Guillen a contract extension through 2012?

So what are Kuhn's other "plus" tools besides hitting? It seems he's got decent speed, but maybe a step down from Lillibridge/Getz and certainly Chone Figgins in his prime. Figgins was really an igniter and game-changer at the top of the line-up.... What is the reason that he's never even profiled in the Top 30 before this season? If he was to have ONE best position, what would it be? Does he have to be moved all over the diamond...ala Jose Oquendo...or is he the type of player who could be a regular at one position? Looking at the White Sox down the line...we're still not certain about 3B, 2B and LF (although odds are it will be Viciedo barring a trade). I'm guessing he can't catch, which is what we really need! What is his arm strength and range at SS and 2B? Does he go better to his left or right? Can he throw from deep short flat-footed or jumping? How would you compare him to Lillibridge, Pablo Ozuna or Willie Harris?

Saw The Tree of Life. Excellent movie, I just love Malick movies. Unfortunately, he hasn't done very many. But he can surely paint a story with his camera in a way that dialogue isn't necessary.

Game, set, match. We held serve and didn't lose ground to the Tigers or Indians.

Low and away, whatever you do.....don't let him pull hook something up.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 10:07 PM) True, but his OPS is right at his norm for the past two years, .800. That is still oodles better than Pierre. But that's not playing everyday. He hasn't proven he can play 150+ games in the weak NL, how would he magically be better with us?

Good start. Let's mow 'em down Sergio.

QUOTE (skidoochic @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 10:03 PM) Where is the sarcasm button because I don't seriously believe we could do that, but geez, are you really saying you think these guys are worth their salaries right now? You must be watching different games than I. That's kind of the whole point. What other team in MLB would think that player would be WORTH paying aforementioned salary they're clearly not earning?

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 10:02 PM) Who gets more All-Stars: Cubs (Castro, Marshall) or Sox (Santos, Konerko)? 1:1 No way Santos or Marshall go.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 10:02 PM) I'm not watching, and I am not Peavy's biggest fan, but AJP did the same thing to Sergio a few weeks ago. Dodgers' game or against the A's when he blew the 2 out, 2 strike situation?

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 10:00 PM) So back to my original question, if the Sox are still going for it, would you like him as the lead-off hitter for the Sox? I'd guess that's a yes..? So you're trading Quentin or Viciedo? Benching Rios and paying another $6 million, so we'd be committing $18+ million to CF and leadoff?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 09:58 PM) Why would the Cubs pay for 1/2 if a free agent's next contract? Oh, I thought he had one more year to go. Well...it doesn't even matter, not going to happen.

QUOTE (skidoochic @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 09:56 PM) I know you guys are all done complaining about A.J. but I think you are nuts. I was screaming at my TV to pull that idiot Peavy long before A.J. made the sign. Peavy is a huge waste of money. I say trade his butt and send Dunn and Rios with him. Maybe we could get some players worth something and with a little more emotion for the game - like A.J.!!!! Ummm....in what alternative universe can you trade Jake Peavy, Dunn or Rios?

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 09:55 PM) Depending on if the Sox are still going for it next year, does anyone else feel like adding Fukudome would be a nice pick-up in the offseason? I'd love his .400 OBP as the lead-off hitter. Ummm...that would be a big no, unless the Cubs are sending $6-7 million back to us. We already have Viciedo, Rios, Lillibridge, Quentin and Dunn to share at-bats among OF and DH.

Has to be Thornton, right? Well...it's nice to be really excited about a game this season. Fukudome's numbers are similar, a little worse against LHP but not remarkably different.

Have to strike this guy out. No sacrifice flies....keep the ball down. Bunting/squeeze?

You can pretty much guarantee they'll have 3 chances to get the tying run in from 2nd. AJ has little chance to throw this guy out.

2 infield singles in one outing? You've got to be kidding me.

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 09:37 PM) How would you describe Peavy's Sox career? Disappointing? Useless? I'll go with GARBAGE. How does that Dunn comparison apply here? Peavy WAS done. He was getting hit around by a AAA team with 100 pitches in the 5th inning. He kept his team in the game and left with the lead...and is line for the win. Buehrle just as easily could have taken a loss yesterday if Crain imploded after the rain delay. Bottom 3 of the order coming up in the 8th for Cubs.

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 09:34 PM) He's 17 for his last 42 at the plate. Before that hot streak, he was one of the worst combo offensive/defensive catchers in baseball.