caulfield12

QUOTE (JDsDirtySox @ Jul 4, 2009 -> 04:05 PM) Snell is making his 2nd start in the minors tonight since being demoted. He struck out 17 in his first outing. Lets go take him from the Bucs since they don't want him. I know we don't need him, but having a glove like Jack Wilson would be nice too. How about Snell for David Cook. But we already have a player similar (defense first) to Wilson/Everett on our roster in Nix. If we played Wilson everyday at SS, then you'd have to bench Getz and stick Alexei back at 2B or in CF in the middle of a pennant race. Just don't see how a limited (offensively) NL player is going to come over and have much of an impact in the ALCD, but stranger things have happened, like Adam Everett compiling almost a 700 OPS after his career looked more or less dead and buried. It's going to take more than Cook to get Snell. Let's say it will be John Shelby and someone like Omogrosso or Santeliz for starters. I bet KW is still kicking himself for not coming up with something better than Matt Joyce for Edwin Jackson...that one move/non-move could mean the difference in the division this season. Jackson's still at a 2.49 ERA at mid-season and will get a boatload of money after 2009.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Jul 4, 2009 -> 01:17 PM) That last sentence is pure conjecture on your part. Your arguments seem to rely pretty heavily on that. Moving from one side of the infield to the other is not an easy transition. It completely throws off your instincts, as all of your angles and moves are the opposite of what you're used to. One doesn't have to deal with that when moving from SS to 3B. Assuming that reaction time and arm strength aren't issues, 3B is actually much easier to play than SS or 2B. But for some reason, you're foolishly applying it to Beckham's experience in the Majors. I guess you never considered that. Beckham stands to lose tens of millions of dollars (money that could secure his entire family for generations) if he doesn't pan out in the next three seasons. He also stands to lose a career that he loves. I'd say that's plenty of pressure. Nix is also four years older than Beckham, and has played 3B, 2B, and SS extensively in the minors. I'm glad that you're not managing the Sox. Because you don't have much of a handle on how competitive MLB is, how much pressure highly-touted rookies are under (from the team, from the media, from themselves), and how the money involved translates into little patience on the behalf of managers and GMs for poor play. And this is exactly why Beckham didn't join the Sox in April, even after putting up a very impressive spring in Arizona. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/N/jayson-nix.shtml The only other position Nix played in the minors was SS, and that was a LONG time ago. I'll agree that 2B should be an easier transition for a middle infielder than moving from SS to 3B. The game is so much faster at third than up the middle...even "slow" (running-wise) players like Crede can excel there with excellent anticipation and first step "quickness" whereas some more athletic players (like Fields) consistently struggle and show almost no range over there. Beckham obviously played SS for most of his career...and probably a bit more 2B (especially in Spring Training) than 3B before he was recalled. Uribe and Nix are two of the few players who look/ed like they could play all three positions in a comparable fashion...a lot of it has to do with arm strength, and both those guys had/have really soft hands. You can make up for a lot of mistakes at 2B and 3B with a superior 65/70-80 arm, but it will be interesting to see how all of this shakes out with SS and Ramirez coming close to a "Soriano-esque" tipping point where they might have to put him in the OF. Then again, Ramirez was very good the first half last year at 2B before seriously fading mentally and physically during the stretch run.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 4, 2009 -> 03:47 PM) Garland? For the money, I would rather keep Richard in the rotation and find another bat to come off of the bench. I don't see how KW would be willing to pay Gil Meche $11 million per season when he had a similar pitcher (great "stuff" but average results) in Javy Vazquez. Just don't see how he's in the same category with the likes of Haren/Peavy/Halladay/J. Johnson or even Rich Harden that would tip the balance of power in the division completely in the direction of the White Sox for the next 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 seasons. Maybe there's something "correctable" about Meche psychologically that was a roadblock with Javy, though. Snell's got a nice arm, good "buy low, then resurrect" candidate for Cooper to work with...vis a vis someone like Van Benschoten or Marquez.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 4, 2009 -> 01:11 PM) Between Tejada, Colon, Cruz and Soria, the Royals might lead the league in BP guys that routinely hit 95 MPH with their fastball. With Zumaya, Dolsi, Perry, Rodney, etc., the Tigers have some very nice bullpen arms as well.

QUOTE (SHIPPS @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 02:23 PM) That kid has a s*** load of talent...I hope he comes back strong. Wasn't Michael Aviles an undrafted FA? Or you're referring to another player? I know he was really defensively-challenged at SS (arm/range) but he had a heckuva season out of seemingly nowhere and destroyed the White Sox single-handedly.

Ray Durham, who I would hardly say had excellent defensive fundamentals, but he was fairly polished as an offensive force...and that's going back well more than a decade.

Game on. Soon to be 7-6 Tigers...Span comes through with a huge, clutch triple. Runner on 3rd (Harris) with only one out, two chances to tie. Huge for the Tigers to blow a 7-1 lead in a pivotal division match-up.

However, if KW did get a RH hitting outfielder with pop, that player would be guaranteed 30-40% playing time as the RH DH/PH for Thome regardless of what happens with Quentin and/or Pods health-wise.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 07:44 PM) No way a GM makes a trade right now then has the guy he trades for get benched behind Quentin, even if there's only a 33% chance that Q comes back healthy. But that works both ways, KW has the leverage to say he doesn't HAVE to do the deal as he's not really desperate...with the 2008 AL MVP coming back soon. They don't have him over a barrel, just like when we had six starters in terms of depth in 2005. Then there's the other question of how long Pods can stay healthy, too. Does KW really believe that Quentin can return to form and that Pods can avoid the injury bug looking at the back of his baseball card for the past five seasons?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 07:44 PM) Really, if KW makes any deal right now with how this team is playing its because he's decided to clear some space, maybe even for Allen. There really is no where for anyone to play that gives us a big upgrade. With Allen gone, then we pretty much have to keep Thome somehow next season...don't we?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 07:41 PM) Where would any of those guys play? I'm going under the conservative evaluation that Quentin won't make it back and last for long this year...Plan B/C/D.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 07:39 PM) My prediction would be a Josh Fields for Cla Meredith deal. Padres were interested in Fields in the past, and rumor is Padres will be trading Kouzmanoff soon. Kouzmanoff/Ramirez/Beckham >>> Beckham, Ramirez, Getz/Nix

Would like to see the White Sox make a run at Fukudome again and see how much the Cubs would be willing to eat on that deal...we wouldn't have to give up much. Prefer Fukudome to Rowand in terms of those contracts and future ROI, but both would be high-risk moves...even if we have the financial flexibility. Don't dismiss the idea of KW going after Pierre with Manny back in LA. Ozzie has the love for Pierre from his Marlins days.

Would they be willing to give up Lewis? Winn has been rumored to be coming here for 3-5 years, seemingly. How much money would we have to eat on Rowand's contract? Will the Giants subsidize ala the Thome trade? Who would we be willing to give up to save the money from the minors?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 07:30 PM) BTW, KW is supposedly trying to make a deal very soon (according to Will Carroll) What are the rumors? Pitcher or CFer? 3 baserunner gunned down by OLIVO. Just please STOP...

Greinke at 2+ ERA for the first time all season...

Can't believe I'm saying it, but this is starting to look a lot like the 2003 season...thankfully, the Twins don't have the same pitching, bullpen or defense as that team.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 07:22 PM) As long as we keep Poreda or Carrasco fresh for Clayton's starts, I wouldn't mind another option off of the bench. Ward/Kroeger? Or just arguing for keeping both Anderson AND Wise on the team?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 07:21 PM) Yer what hurts? I've heard of amputees with "phantom pains," but the Quentin empathy pain is pushing the boundaries of medical science, lol. Having suffered the same injury playing softball, definitely it's the worst thing ever except for pulling an oblique and constantly tweaking it. Back pain, a close third...and kidney stones. All...not fun.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 07:15 PM) With a really good arm, playing 3b instead of SS makes your throw longer, wouldn't that make it much more likely that a throw is going to sail on you? Does Beckham really have such a strong arm? All the scouting reports said "average or slightly above average" for SS when he was drafted. I haven't seen him play at all since ST (here in Thailand now), so how could you compare his throwing ability to Valentin/Uribe/Crede/Ramirez? Maybe he's try to get a little extra on his throws from over there and he's changing his natural throwing motion a bit??? Danksie getting back below 4.00 ERA for first time in months...who'd a thought Jose, Gavin and Danks would be in the positions they're at statistically NOW after six weeks into the season?

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 07:13 PM) To be rabidly pro-Pods on here would be to take a 'non-internet-smarts' position, i'm sure 90% of the pro-Pods people out there were 05 sentimentalists or even people with a passing fancy of the team. so to be all for him at that point, in this setting at least, takes a lot of guts Or teenage girls who were saddened by the loss of Garland and/or fans of Lisa Dergan being back out at USCF.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 07:11 PM) Please lets stop running on Olivo. We're doing just fine with the bat. Do this against someone who's cannonless Not to mention you take the bat out of the hands of Dye/Thome/Konerko. It's not like Wise isn't going to score on a single (usually), just a case of forcing something that wasn't there. Maybe Ozzie asked him to be more aggressive on the basepaths and try to make some things happen? Running on his own? Missed hit and run?

Who would you rather have playing 2B everyday for the remainder of the season, Chris Getz, Juan Uribe (assuming we could get him back) or Jayson Nix? Nice job Wise...it's not like Olivo is famous for having a BAD arm, geez.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 06:53 PM) Nix's OPS against RHP is only .651, and in 38 at bats he's hitting .181 against them. Getz is hitting .244 against RHP and currently has an identical .651 OPS until his next AB against Greinke. But doesn't a middle infielder that plays Gold Glove defense and hits 18-24 homers per season (let's say Nix is similar to Juan Uribe, maybe a higher walk %) more valuable in our park than Chris Getz? After all, we did make the playoffs twice with Juanie, despite his deficiencies. If they're equal in OPS (small sample size arguments cut both ways), the only arguments are that Chris balances the line-up, has more speed/stolen base ability and is a better contact hitter/execution/bunting/fundamentals. Or wouldn't it be better just to give up on Wise/Anderson (defensive sub) and see what Nix could do playing everyday in CF for 2-3 weeks....before KW possibly trades for another veteran CFer.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 06:50 PM) Hell of a swing by PK. He's been going to right with great effectiveness this week. Ever since the first week of ST, he's been doing this...maybe sacrificing a tad bit of power, but me likey the 290+ batting average Konerko. Much more dangerous and consistent. Tony Pena might be one of the five worst hitters (far worse than Andy Gonzalez!) in the last decade of MLB play. (Please don't jinx him into a base hit with that comment).