caulfield12

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 6, 2009 -> 08:33 PM) That's a whole lot of ifs in that scenario. Well, their "ifs" (Robertson, Miner, Bonderman, Willis) are probably a lot better than ours...Contreras, Broadway, Richard, Egbert, Poreda, Marquez and Van Benschoten, assuming Colon can hold up all season.

Yep, you're right, Colon could end up being our most valuable commodity, especially if he can consistently get his velocity back into the 90's, even though he's shown he can still be effective because of his movement and command with essentially an average MLB fastball in the early innings. Of course, the problem is outings like Baltimore where he just didn't have enough on it, and he was missing locations. When you think about it, Contreras and Colon both don't have a full repertoire of pitches like a Vazquez, and that's one of the weaknesses of both at this point in their careers, as they are both primarly "one-pitch" pitchers. Konerko and Dye might end up being attractive...and AJ is more valuable to us (despite his throwing problems) than he would be to another organization, unless they're convinced Flowers can handle the position defensively in 2010. In all likelihood, AJ will start 2010 with the Sox and possible be traded to make way for Flowers in the middle of that season. Of course, if we trade Colon, that means we still have a gaping hole at the back of our rotation. Obviously they will stick with Gavin because of his contract, but they don't have a Plan B for Jose right now, and our best minor league pitchers are still 2+ years away (w/ the notable exception of Poreda). The only other trade pieces we have are Shelby OR Jordan Danks (eventually, one or the other), Poreda (but they don't want to deal a lefty with that kind of stuff and end up like the Mets with the Kazmir move, so they almost have to see if he can be effective as a starter at the big league level) and whoever's left out from the Fields/Ramirez/Getz group, but you would be "selling low" on any of those three and not getting much of a return. If they're playing well, no need to trade them, obviously.

Good post KHP. The only thing I'll disagree with you on is Brandon Inge, he's having an excellent season (so far). He's about as popular as Crede/Rowand/Anderson in Detroit right now... I think Dayton Moore knows what he is doing over there in KC, building that pitching staff. Everyone in baseball thought the Meche deal was insane, and he turned out to be the key in helping to turn the "mentality" of that rotation around. Then he added Davies, Bannister, Hochevar, Daniel Cortes, etc., through draft and trade, when the Royals had a simply atrocious record drafting pitchers in the first round. The Juan Cruz move was really smart to solidify their set-up situation, and Jacobs was necessary to give some ooomph to that line-up, despite his low OBP. Even some of the head-scratchers like Guillen and Bloomquist have turned out okay, and they're doing well without any solid contributions from Gordon, Hosmer or Moustakas yet. Before this organization was mostly known for giving away Ibanez, Damon, Dye and Beltran. I do have some hope because Minnesota under new GM Smith has struggled: 1) They're stuck moving into a new facility (in a horrible economy) without a team constructed for outdoor play 2) If Mauer is more of a DH/1B, then they're in the unenviable position of having to sign him long-term not knowing how healthy he will be...his stats won't be so great for any other position...but it would be devastating to let the homegrown kid walk after losing the likes of Hunter and Santana 3) The Garza-Bartlett for D. Young move was horrible...Young hasn't meshed with Gardenhire, and they've already tried to trade him 4) The Twins have become one of the worst defensive teams in the AL, whereas before they were THE best 5) The Twins' bullpen used to be a lockdown pen from the 7th inning on...now it's a complete mess, and they will forever regret passing on J. Cruz 6) They keep spending money on the likes of Lamb, Monroe, Livan Hernandez and Adam Everett (and this year, Crede) without getting anything in return, when they should have invested that money in keeping Santana 7) It's very possible that none of the players acquired for Santana will work out with the Twins

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 6, 2009 -> 06:33 PM) If Rowand hated him so much, why did he take his calls in 2006 when he was with a different team? Did he have a Zen-like trance over Aaron? Should have written it more clearly...Rowand refused to work with Gary Ward in Chicago (I think Walker was in AAA at that that) and had a great relationship with Walker after he was promoted (to Chicago, to take Ward's job) and then called to ask for his help when he was struggling and getting booed early in his Phillies' career.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/statistics/...ds/?pl_id=28064 Dontrelle Willis is showing signs of turning things around in the minors, too. If Perry and Porcello get going to pair with Zumaya and Rodney, and they get Bonderman back and healthy, their offense will overwhelm the Royals. Perry, Rodney and Zumaya can all throw 95-100.

QUOTE (scenario @ May 6, 2009 -> 04:29 PM) Quad Cities?? What are you doing in the Quad Cities? Did you take a wrong turn at Chiang Mai? I had "summer" vacation (summer there is March/April/May) from my teaching job, have to go back on May 27th. Am going to Sox/Twins game on the 21st (Thursday day game). Had the chance to go to Comerica for the first time last Saturday and it's a really nice stadium.

Cowley said something I hadn't heard before about Swisher. That he basically refused to work with Greg Walker all last season...and always deferred to his dad as his swing guru. Another reason it wouldn't have worked for him to come back here. We'll see what happens to him when he cools off in NYC. Said that Crede had also not worked with Walker his first two years of struggling and not sticking with the team (coming off the Southern League MVP) and finally admitted he needed Greg's help. Also, that Gary Ward was pretty much detested by Aaron Rowand ("he set his swing back at least one year") and that he continued to advise Aaron even in 2006 when he was struggling early in his career with the Phillies.

FWIW, it hasn't been raining here in the Quad Cities for at least two hours.

Which was the board that "outed" ncorgbl from chisox.com? I remember arguing with that guy for about four years over there, b4 I knew about any other Sox message boards...sometimes I wonder what happened to him. There was another guy, colsat46, I think he died (he was a military veteran)? The thing I find funny is that the core debate, defending or attacking KW, I've totally changed my viewpoint about Williams in the years since. Memories. I tried posting at wsi for awhile, but one of my best friends had joined and then a group of people jumped all over him for something silly (having to do with music, of all things) and when he got banned there by groupthink/Big Brother/Animal Farm, so I found soxtalk. It's amazing how much more peaceful this sight is...and it's not this "insider's club" like over there where if you don't know anyone who runs the board personally you're in danger of being banned or flamed. Then that whole stupid teal thing...I mean, 25-30% of the posts there were things that most casual fans would never even begin to understand. Leading to the "it's not about Free Speech or First Amendment...it's OUR board" type discussions. Which is fine, they can have it.

Another good comparison (or two) for Broadway would be Slowey/Guerrier/Sonnanstine. And the Garza pick after Broadway (as well as the McCulloch bust) led to drafting Poreda...which was kind of the philosophy in the earlier part of the decade when they had all those arms like Kip Wells, Myette, Barcello, Stumm, Brian West, Danny Wright, Purvis, etc. Also, the realization that while they probably weren't going to take a Porcello, they could now draft lower and use their increased revenues to get a Jordan Danks (of course, part of that signing was due to his brother) and also using it for Viciedo. Floyd wouldn't last long with the Twins. That organization is ALL about first pitch strikes, from the day they're drafted. Of course, they have a higher team ERA than the White Sox, but that's more on Liriano/Baker than the back the rotation.

Kroeger seems more like a bench player....rather than another Eric Ludwick. He certainly bears watching, but he's just not a very good defender. LF would seem like the most logical place, with Quentin in RF, but then there's a 50/50 chance that they would move Viciedo there. The one thing he does have going for him is that, along with Betemit and Brandon Allen, he's one of the few options we have from that side of the plate in terms of organizational depth.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 6, 2009 -> 12:49 PM) You have to give Alexei a day off occasionally, and with his performance of late, this seems to be a good time for it. What would you suggest as an alternative? Lillibridge is the only other real option, and he is hitting so badly that his defense can't really make up the difference. I actually like this move. There's no permanent solution here for 2009. The only options are either moving Getz or Nix to SS (and I think moving Nix makes more sense than moving Getz from a purely "ability to play the position" standpoint) or bringing up Eider Torres as a stopgap. Neither Beckham nor Lillibridge are viable for first-half 2009. You can also forget about Betemit, even though I would almost rather see that than Eider Torres, who would be essentially like Lillibridge/Andy Gonzalez.

It's almost like the MORE Fathom brings up the Betemit situation, the LESS likely Ozzie is to play him. It "feels" like they have to determine this season if Fields can be an "everyday/non-platoon" player, and that next year the position would be Betemit's to play as the stopgap for one season, but ONLY 1) if Fields fails this year, 2) Viciedo is moved off the position and/or doesn't hit over .225 this season in BIRM or 3) Beckham is left in the middle infield. So maybe a worst-case scenario of a Nix/Betemit platoon there next year...with three players that would be more likely to be permanent, long-term solutions at that position.

I hope we get better results out of Poreda as a starter than Cotts. I think about the only thing they would have in common would be 100 pitch counts within 4-5 IP. It doesn't seem that Poreda will be able to miss many bats if he's behind in the count (while his FB moves more than Thornton's, it certainly doesn't move like Bartolo's)...Cotts got by more with deception and being "sneaky" fast but neither had/have reliable secondary stuff. The jury is still out on Poreda developing into a legit starter, but, to hear Ozzie recently, he's not in the current thinking of the club. I suppose that could change, but, based on "hints," it would seem 2nd half 2009/2010 is more realistic for when they feel he'll be CLOSER to being ready.

Great idea to put Nix at SS. It's always well-informed to put career 2B who have played 40 games their entire career at the position (and of course, when they were 18, eight years ago) at the most difficult position on the diamond. Wait, he played a few games then on his rehab assignment. That makes it a sure bit to work out, since he didn't make an error in RF, and he ONLY made two questionable plays at 3B the other night (one was saved by a miraculous Konerko snag of a throw that wasn't even close to the bag, the the other a muffed ball that led to the missing on an easy DP).

Tyler Flowers passed ball...still a lot of work to do defensively. Santeliz is getting roughed up a bit this inning.

Shelby piling up the doubles....#8 and an RBI. 11 batters this inning, Beckham with a sacrifice fly. 2 RBI's today, 13 for the season. 8-2 Barons. Tyler Flowers continues to get on base at a prolific rate with a HBP.

Former pitcher Neil Allen sighting...in Montgomery. Interesting tidbit, Tyler Flowers smashed the all-time Mrytle Beach (not that the franchise has a LONG history) of 71 walks with 98 last year. Quite a different approach from AJ, who almost never walks and almost never strikes out. Yay...Viciedo hammered a 3 run homer to LF. Come back from hiding, Cubano! Still only hitting .223. But he does have 17 RBI's so far, which is mostly because almost every time he's batted, Beckham/Flowers/Allen (at least one of them) have been on base. 5-2 Barons, no outs in the top of the sixth. Flowers and Allen had walked b4 Viciedo's bomb to LF.

Viciedo seems to be exactly mirroring Alexei's struggles with the major league team. Just when you think he might have turned the corner (he was back up to almost .240), he starts striking out and leaving runners on base in bunches and taking some wild swings. Brandon Allen has been really quiet the last 7-10 days, too.

QUOTE (MO2005 @ May 6, 2009 -> 07:00 AM) Here are the Sox problems.. Alexei Ramirez - timing is wayyyyy off. Late on fastballs and early on breaking/curve balls. Hawk said it great last night that when this happens, usually it can last almost a whole season. If that's the case, we have problems. Brett Lillibridge - Just can't hit period or play defense. First of all this guy has no place in center field and his defense is horrific. It is almost like Ozzie and kenny are refusing to send him down because they don't want to feel like the Vasquez trade went for nothing. AJ - Cannot throw runners out, so everyone runs on us. Gavin Floyd - I said it before the season started. Had a career year last year and was going to be hard to duplicate. He is not in command up there on the mound right now. Mentally he is breaking down, losing confidence, and allowing the big hits. Jacobs 3 run homer last night. Josh Fields - Strike Out King Pods - Last Resort for now and using it. Jose Contreras - Shouldn't be starting or even playing. But how can you sit 10-15 million a year in salary? Bullpen - Relying on them too much right now to save games for us with our starting pitching/ inconsistent offense. We all remember what happened in the 2nd half last season when our bullpen was lights out in the beginning of the year, right? The problem is our bullpen is not even lights out right now. Is there anyone in this bullpen you feel 100% comfortable with to hold a lead? Situational Hitting - Still does not exist. I don't care what anyone says, but if you do not have a situational hitting ballclub, you will not win a championship. Yes we could still wina division title because our division is weak, but not a championship. I blame this entirely on Kenny Williams for STILL not getting the players that can do this well. Since the 2nd half of 2006 we have not been great at getting runners over and in. Hitting sac flies when we need them or like last night runners on third with less than 2 outs and failing to get them in. Fields K rate... 2007=33.5% 2009=32.6% Crede, at age 26, was striking out roughly half that rate (16.5%). Of course, Josh has a 700+ OPS because of his higher number of walks, so, even agreeing they were roughly equal offensively, there's still an advantage to Crede because of his defense (when healthy)...but we have to give Fields the whole season to see if he can put up a 775+ (minimum) OPS.

I think Shelby is 22, turning 23 this year?

Shelby and Danks are plenty athletic...there's some question, though, whether Shelby can legitimately play major league CF. Scenario would be able to discuss this, because I think Shelby mostly played LF last year, at least that was my impression, after they moved him off the infield. Shelby III seems to be one of his favorite players. Cutting down strikeouts is one of the biggest issues for both, although Danks has improved in that area recently. Ultimately, I don't think BA will make it here in Chicago (there are questions about Fields and Ramirez, too), but KW has to let him play from mid-May through mid-July and see if he can legitimately win the position and keep it. No platoon with Pods or Wise, just play him everyday. Same thing with Fields (with some Betemit against tough RHP) and Ramirez. The trade chips would have to be Shelby OR Danks, Poreda (if they don't see him as a starter) and possibly Getz, but only if Fields and Ramirez play like expected for the remainder of 2009 (because Beckham has to go somewhere, and MOST logically to SS or 2B). So Shelby OR Danks, Poreda (but we will need to replace at least two starters next year, probably) and Getz/Ramirez/Fields (one of the three). It's not like Milledge has established beyond a reasonable doubt (especially low OBP), that he would be the answer in the tougher AL. And Dukes is the wildcard with that organization...not sure if they would be willing to give up on Lastings quite yet. Hopefully KW is smart enough to stay away from Eric Byrnes...but it would be REALLY nice if the D-Backs would give up on Justin Upton.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 6, 2009 -> 06:13 AM) We just have to pray BA has no setbacks... if he comes back after Wise (I don't know when he's due for return), then we'll have to suffer through that some more. Anywhere from late May to mid-June, depending on how he does with his rehab one would imagine.

Cupboard? I think you have have the Chicago Cubs on the brain, or Mike Cubbage, lol. Maybe the Cubs having a winning streak (until Lincecum) while we've been sucking hasn't helped so much!

There was an article in spring training about this, too...when the leadoff hitter issue was at the forefront...he went to a CAL game that weekend, supposedly scouting college OFers who were possible leadoff hitters. There's no doubt that Shelby and Jordan Danks are at least 1 1/2 years away from contributing... Other than that, we have Gartrell who might become a prospect if he has a really good season at Birmingham. Viciedo, if they decide to stay with Fields at 3B, would seem ticketed for LF or DH...but he also, right now, looks about 1 1/2 years away.