caulfield12

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Mar 12, 2009 -> 06:10 PM) I'll settle for Getz, but I'm holding out hope for Slayer - and the grooming of Getz to be the utility guy down the road - OR a move of Lexi to CF, and they all start. I understand Getz has played some SS - does he have the arm to also play 3rd? I think his arm strength (or lack thereof) and lack of range comes more into play at SS than 3B...I guess only Ozzie knows the answer that matters. FWI, Betemit has played over 10X more games at SS than Getz, but Betemit's two best positions right now are arguably 3B and 1B. Getz's experience there is more recent, however, in terms of playing all over the diamond, but over 80% of his career minor league games have been played at 2B. That leaves the big question of keeping Lillibridge (because he's the best suited for backing up SS) or Nix. If it's not Nix, then you're forced to play Getz or Lillibridge as the back-up at SS to Ramirez. And, of course, if Getz is the "regular" starter at 2B, you wouldn't want him playing all over the infield. Maybe a Nix/Getz platoon is what they're looking at right now...with Lillibridge in AAA.

Beckham almost hit one out to end the game....1 for 3, single, walk, run scored and flawless defense at shortstop. Made a couple of very good plays, including a very athletic leaping snag of an errant AJ Pierzynski throw (what new?) on a stolen base attempt. After today's game, he will continue to be a huge part of the conversation, Getz played well again today too. Fields banged an opposite field homer.

http://sportscomplex.blogs.citypaper.net/b...and-porn-stars/ Of course, on the Howard Stern radio show...you gotta love the name droppers!! My new babe of the week is ex Real World San Diego star Jamie Chung, even though she's obviously been "enhanced" since that show. She's in Dragonball, a new movie that came out here in Thailand was also on an ABC show called Samurai Girl. Not sure if she's hooked up with Derek Jeter yet. Not that Megan Fox and Freida Pinto are the available starlets, he'll have his choice.

And thus ends one of the worst seasons in the combined history of Iowa Hawkeye/ISU Cyclone BB ever...at least since I have been alive.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Mar 12, 2009 -> 03:17 PM) Fixed. Your looking at caulfield's post about that same name way too long That's like the 2nd or 3rd time I have done that same thing. I don't know why I keep getting those two names mixed up...strange. Well, I guess my memory's still better than Melton's. He can't even remember Ross Gload.

Lubanski was another high draft choice that probably won't make it with the Royals. Dan Cortes will probably start the season in NW ARK (AA) or Omaha, might be used by the Royals this season, according to Dean Taylor (former Brewers' GM and another Braves' protege of Schuerholz).

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Mar 12, 2009 -> 04:08 PM) There's nothing there to like. He's a good baserunner and pretty fast but that's all he's got going for him. I'd rather not have a below average defender with a .309 career minor league OBP anywhere in my lineup regardless of his baserunning prowess. He's never shown any sort of consistency against RHP in his career, there's no reason for me to believe he's going to start hitting them now. The whole reputation of Wise is based on 2-3 clutch homers in the second half of the seaon and in the playoffs. Overall, he was really "MEHHHHHH" statistically in August and September, it's just that Swisher was SO bad that Ozzie didn't feel he had any other choices against RH pitchers. KW's comments the last couple of days show that his "winging" it plan (which he and we and EVERYONE knew going in) isn't working at all...

Derek Robinson would have fit in well with those mid 80's Cardinals teams...as the 4th or 5th OFer.

Beckham has really had a nice game today. Excellent in the field, a single up the middle, a walk and a run scored. He continues to be the story of spring training...Wise (up until that last inning) and Fields will also get some attention. Wise, Lucy and Anderson not picking the Sox up last inning. Man, can't Anderson just come through with ONE big hit this spring besides a homer against an A-ball equivalent Australian pitcher??? Blue Jays' castoff Jimenez into the game. I thought he or Nunez had an outside shot at the final place in the pen...we haven't seen or heard much at all about DJ Carasco this spring, have we? A lot of attention has been on Marquez and Richard and even our Rutgers hurler, but I haven't listened to or seen a game that DJ got into...wonder if he pitched in one of those 3 B games? Former Pirates' first round draft pick JR House into the game at catcher. I think the bloom is coming off the Josh Kroeger rose a little bit today.

I think you can pretty much forget about German being anywhere close to this White Sox roster. German at 92 MPH is not the Franklyn German that debuted with a 96-100 MPH heater and a top a prospect. Charlotte/AAA filler bound. Doesn't seem like Teahen is going to be able to beat out Callaspo...that leaves him fighting for time with Butler, Jacobs, Guillen, Shealy, Crisp, Gload, DeJesus, etc., for playing time and at-bats. Beckham with a nice catch leaping into the air on a wild throw by AJ. Kroeger's defense described as "BRUTAL" at 1B by the KC Star writer Bob Dutton...Josh is definitely not having a good day today. The reverse blitzkrieg against German...that's what happens when you throw the straight 92-94 MPH Billy Koch fastball...you get tattooed like the Rolling Stones tour.

Big out for Wasserman, but I still think he's targeted for Charlotte. Hope Clayton's doing well. His alma mater destroyed my Hawkeyes in the B10 tourney, ugly game for Iowa. Wonder when they confirm if Barack Obama will be there at USCF on April 6th for Opening Day to throw out the first pitch? You know he won't go to a Nationals game instead.

Ray Durham for Jon Adkins Ritchie for Wells/Fogg/Lowe James Baldwin for Onan Masaoka and the "wrong" Berry giving up Frank Francisco in the Carl Everett deal... the Richar/Aaron Cunningham deal Carlos Torres for Mike MacDougal

At the back of the pen, they have Soria, Farnsworth and Juan Cruz now. Could be pretty strong...perhaps better than our pen, but I'm feeling more and more confident about Linebrink than I was before ST.

Richard at 2.45 now. Basehit for CQ. He had some really good swings yesterday...starting to heat up. LOL at internet questions for Royals' broadcast coming from White Sox fans. BTW, these are NOT the Royals' regular radio broadcasters. These guys are pretty horrible, but still better than Melton. This guy from the KC Star (Dick Kaegel) is putting me to sleep, he makes Gonzalez seem like Joaquin Phoenix in comparison. Didn't know former Sox farmhand Heath Phillips had an outside chance to make the Royals...out of the inning, wasted opportunity there, Dye needs to pick it up.

Great sign for Fields. Opposite field homer for Josh Fields to RCF. He made the comment the other day about trying to do this more often, nice to see it happen in reality. Of course, it is Horacio Ramirez and not David Price. So maybe we have to take it with a grain of salt. Getz with a two out double that was "smoked" and pulled down the RF line. Youngsters tearing it up, Quentin/Dye still struggling a bit. Beckham with 5-3 GO. ROYALS UP in top of 2nd Butler K's after a 4-3 GO by Jacobs. Richard gives up second hit...but still pitching pretty well it seems. A walk puts runners at 1st and 2nd with our old nemesis Ross Gload trying to make the team and perhaps slated for AAA again with Jacobs trade. Kroeger down to .370, Fields .357, Getz .318 and Beckham at .350. Two scoreless innings from Richard, his ERA is down in the mid to low 2's now. Gload with lazy pop to CQ to end the threat. Struggled a bit with his control that inning but got out of it.

Wise is winning the job, but it's more that Anderson and Owens are losing it...KW and Ozzie know that Wise is a competitor and "fearless" but that he's just a stopgap solution, at best. Eventually, he will cool off. It could begin on Opening Day. I'm just hoping the platoon is Anderson and Wise and that Owens is "disappeared."

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 12, 2009 -> 02:07 PM) Kroger can play all OF positions if needed and 1B. I like Becks playing SS today, maybe they are thinking about putting him there and Lexi in CF? Nope....more logical to play him there, because he doesn't have a back-up at that position, besides Betemit....whereas there are three other guys competing for time at 2B. Eider Torres will be insurance in AAA and back-up Lillibridge and play 2B too if they keep Getz and Nix in Chicago. Funny, the MLB.com box score has Jose Guillen and not Teahen at 2B. OUCH....Josh Kroeger with a big mental error that allows Crisp to get back safely when he was picked off. That doesn't help his case, much. Wise now 8 for 14 (.429) in ST, not counting his B game the other morning against the Dodgers where he had a homer and triple. Richard with another scoreless inning....gave up single to Crisp, had him picked off, but got the GIDP with Beckham starting it and then a 4-3 PO by Getz.

That and I think they've given up on Broussard making any contribution... Wise with a base hit or an error on Teahen? Supposedly Cashman was inquiring about him coming to NY to play third. Wise now hitting close to .400 this spring. Yeah, finally a successful stolen base. Dewayne Wise wins the job (3/12/09). Get em on, get em over, get em in. RBI groundout to Gordon (Alex) by CQ. Confusing, I keep hearing Gordon and thinking Beckham!

Let's just hope Owens keeps 1) getting thrown out on the basepaths or 2) striking out or grounding out to 2B or popping up weakly to CF...

The Brewers' radio announcers thought that Owens really "blistered" the ball to the opposite field, lol. Why he can't do that more consistently, instead of patented 4-3 Thome PO, is beyond me...

Updated 3-11-09 Catchers Gary Bennett (37) Johnny Estrada (33) (an interesting name) Toby Hall (33) (the pie guy with weird facial hair has seen his shoulder problems basically end his career and any power at the plate) Paul Lo Duca (37) - Type B, not offered arb (KW looked at but backed away) Ivan Rodriguez (37) - Type B, not offered arb First basemen Richie Sexson (34) (one year deal as a bench player to complement Thome against lefties?) Second basemen Ray Durham (37) (former Sox might end up retiring?) Damion Easley (39) Esteban German (31) (put up an OPS of around .900 not too many years ago, very versatile but a BRUTAL outfielder, will get picked up by someone) Mark Grudzielanek (39) - Type B, offered arb (surprised he hasn't caught on, Mark Loretta-Lite at this point in his career) Shortstops None Third basemen None Left fielders Moises Alou (42) - Type B, not offered arb (retirement?) Esteban German (31) Luis Gonzalez (41) - Type B, not offered arb (I remember when his gum was auctioned off on Ebay for thousands of dollars at height of DBack days) Jay Payton (36) Dave Roberts (37) (anyone also glad KW didn't ever sign him a couple of years ago?) Shannon Stewart (35) (ditto Roberts, former adversary with Twins who got old and injury-prone fast) Center fielders Jim Edmonds (39) (will KW go to Edmonds if Owens and Anderson continue to stumble? getting late...) Right fielders None DHs Frank Thomas (41) - Type B, not offered arb (sad ending to Thomas' career) Jose Vidro (34) (was once one of the most feared hitters in the NL, he ended up a little like Carlos Baerga) Starting pitchers Paul Byrd (38) - Type B, offered arb (will come back at midseason for contender on half-season deal) Orlando Hernandez (43) (would White Sox look at him again for final spot in pen?) Chuck James (27) (injuries, youngest pitcher on list) Jon Lieber (39) Pedro Martinez (37) (supposedly threw 92 the other day, Dodgers interested?) Mark Mulder (31) (still trying to get picked up and offering tryouts/exhibitions of his new arm angle, Thornton product) Odalis Perez (32) (bizarre career and decisions for this pitcher the last 2-3 years both by him and other organizations like Royals and Nats) Sidney Ponson (32) (pitched Netherlands over DR in shocker, will get about the 10th chance, more than Steve Howe, to have a comeback) Kenny Rogers (44) (retirement?) Curt Schilling (42) (shoulder surgery recovery, Cubs?) Ben Sheets (30) - Type A, offered arb (lost more money than any player this offseason, rehabbing with Rangers' trainers and specialists) Relievers Joe Beimel (32) - Type B, not offered arb (one of the NL lefty set-up guys not too long ago) Shawn Chacon (31) (attack on former GM has left him blacklisted apparently) Chad Cordero (27) (comeback trail, Twins?) Scott Elarton (33) (injuries plagued career) Keith Foulke (35) (White Sox might be willing to give him one last look?) Jon Lieber (39) Aquilino Lopez (34) Will Ohman (31) (White Sox interest?) Al Reyes (38) Ricardo Rincon (39) (was once part of the most one-sided traded in recent baseball history) Duaner Sanchez (29) (too young not to get another look, very good set-up man not too long ago...hurt?) Rudy Seanez (40) - Type B, not offered arb (former owner of 102 MPH FB has hung on as journeyman forever) Julian Tavarez (36) (see Seanez) Mike Timlin (43) (see Tavarez) THANK GOD SOMEONE signed Denys Reyes and he's gone from the Twins...and they didn't get Juan Cruz. A double-whammy. And Mauer is having some aches and pains already in ST. Has anyone noticed how Crede is doing up there so far in ST?

"Pitchability" is the new buzzword this season from Cooper I think... MacDougal, Sisco, Aardsma, etc.=no pitchability, but live arms

Speak of the devil, Cowley on the same subject....coincidence or not? ''I've talked to enough people now to where I think I know why we're perceived a certain way. We are not predictable in what we do. We don't follow the mainstream thought process in regard to numbers. We don't make decisions based on the prediction of numbers, whether a guy has been in the big leagues last year or in the minor leagues. ''We're more looking at what he has to offer us and how we can fine-tune whatever he does, whether he is a pitcher or a hitter.' ''It's a combination of all of it,'' Williams said. ''If you're looking from the outside at the past success of a Gavin Floyd or a John Danks or even a Jeff Marquez, they say, 'Well, now they have this guy, so that means they have a hole at that position.' ''Well, I'm thinking, 'Really? OK.' Because you know what: There is a little history here where we've made decisions that are a little unorthodox, knock on wood, that have seemed to kind of work out.'' Not that Williams is satisfied. As he sat in his golf cart Wednesday, rather than dwell on the positives he has seen in camp, the talk quickly went to looking for a leadoff candidate to step up in the final three weeks. ''I've been shopping outside the organization for years,'' Williams said with a laugh when asked if he might have to go the trade route. ''I still remain positive and hopeful for guys like Jerry Owens. I know that Dewayne Wise isn't scared of anything ... we'll see. ''I wouldn't have a problem if Ozzie wanted to go that way [with Wise]. I also wouldn't have a problem if he wanted to go with a guy that would set the tone of the game off right by battling, fighting.'' No matter what the Sox decide at key positions, will it change the outside perception of the 2009 team? Williams might not be the best person to ask these days. The guy in the black hat stopped caring about that a few years ago. From looking at all his quotes the last 24-48 hours, he did say something else very interesting...that Nix was the hitter among the four (Lillibridge, Getz, Beckham, Nix) who was best-suited for coming off the bench. Perhaps that's some clue about the idea of Nix platooning with Getz and Lillibridge going down to Charlotte to get regular at-bats as the starting SS...?

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 11, 2009 -> 07:14 AM) Fortunately, we still have some time. If Kroeger can continue to show well with the bat, and be at least competent on the corners and maybe not horrible to spot start at CF, then I'd love to see him get the 4th OF job, with Anderson starting. Anderson falters, Kroeger steps in. Both falter, and we have Lillibridge as an option, and whomever is in Charlotte (Owens, Cook, etc.). For the poll, if it had to be now, I went with BA in CF, Getz and 2B and leading off. You're more likely to see Jordan Danks, John Shelby III or John Van Benschoten in CF than David Cook.

QUOTE (scenario @ Mar 11, 2009 -> 09:27 AM) Living proof that you don't need to know what you're talking about to be a sportswriter. I really think what has happened is that Cubano, being overwhelmed by the pro-Beckham forces within the message board world, has started a campaign of sending checks to Chicago writers to get positive mentions of Cuban players in the articles. Just kidding!!!! You know I've got your back... Ramirez had a breakout season for Pinar del Rio in 2007, hitting .335 while leading the league with 20 home runs and 195 extra-base hits. At the same time, however, his place on the national team had become less secure due to pressure from several young prospects, most notably Héctor Olivera. Some analysts viewed his power numbers as a fluke, while defensively he had been stationed at second base, his least comfortable position, after a series of injuries to teammates. Questions have also been raised about his true size: Ramirez is variously listed between 6’1” and 6’3”, and 170-185 lbs. To the naked eye, he seems to belong toward the lower end of that range. It was at this moment that he decided to leave his country and pursue his career in the United States. As Peter Bjarkman wrote at www.baseballdecuba.com, for the reasons stated above, “he may have left Cuba at the precise moment that his resume was at its fullest.” For his part, Ramirez expressed confidence in his power stroke, telling reporters that he “want[ed] to be a slugger” and had talked about it with Dominicans Alfonso Soriano and Juan Encarnación during the WBC. Alexei Ramirez left Cuba one week ago and now is a potential major leaguer. Regarding the first issue, I was quick to point out on the heels of the 2006 World Baseball Classic that Alexei Ramírez was one of my half dozen choices (along with Ariel Pestano, Frederich Cepeda, Pedro Lazo, Eduardo Paret and Osmani Urrutia) as likely immediate impact major leaguers. An outfielder for Pinar del Río during most of his first seven Cuban League seasons, Ramírez was only recently relocated to second base in the national team starting lineup for this past summer's Pan American Games in Río de Janiero. The switch came in part as a result of the suspension last March of national team third baseman Michel Enríquez (Isla de la Juventud) and the consequent shifting of Yulieski Gourriel from second to third. But it also came as a result of the log jam of talented young outfielders now flooding the Cuban League, most especially Granma's Alfredo Despáigne (20) and Yoennis Céspedes (22) and Santiago's Alexei Bell (22), the trio that awaits to inherit national team starting roles when Cepeda, Urrutia, Yoandry Urgelles and Giorvis Duvergel display the slightest signs of decline. Ramírez enjoyed a breakout season this year for Pinar del Río, not only batting .335 and smacking a surprising league-leading 20 homers, plus topping the circuit in total bases with 195, but also finishing in the top ten in runs (ninth), hits (fifth), RBI (second), game-winning hits (eighth), and slugging percentage (second at .574). Ramirez runs like a long-legged deer, has a solid outfield arm, displays good if not exceptional range at second and shortstop, and boasts surprising power in his frail-appearing 6-3, 172-pound frame. Built along the physical lines of a young Ernie Banks or Hank Aaron, Ramírez has great wrists and an exceptionally quick bat, as well as excellent plate discipline; nonetheless he is a line drive hitter and not primarily a home run slugger and his 20 round trippers this past winter were perhaps something of an aberration. With the likes of Alex Mayeta and José Julio now in the league, Ramírez was not a likely prospect to defend his home run crown in the coming National Series. He may therefore have left Cuba at the precise moment when his resume was at its fullest. Agent Jaime Torres (José Contreras's agent) has already been signed on by Ramirez who has announced his intentions to shoot for the big league contract which will undoubtedly be forthcoming. Torres claims that his new client "will make a big league roster right out of spring training" and this may well be the case, given the Pinar del Río star's speed and versatility, as well as his rather potent bat. For those numerous nay-sayers gleeful about any Cuban losses or failures, it will be most disappointing to learn that the departure of Alexei Ramirez will have negligible impact on Cuban League baseball as a whole and on the vaunted Cuban national team in particular. Santiago second base prospect Héctor Olivera played brilliantly on the Cuba B team during the recent Rotterdam World Port Tournament and impressed this writer and the MLB scouts on hand with his exceptional defensive range and offensive bat speed. Olivera could move right in at second for the November Taipei tournament without a beat being missed. A second scenario might have Michel Enriquez returning the national team lineup in the not-too-distant future (now that his suspension has been lifted) and Yulieski Gourriel thus moving back to second. If Alexei Ramirez is notably missed it will be by his home team in Pinar del Río during the upcoming National Series campaign, but not likely by the constantly renewing national team juggernaut. It is not an unreasonable speculation that one reason for Ramirez departing the Cuban national squad at this point in time may well have been the pressures of Héctor Olivera breathing down his neck; Alexei may well have sensed that his days were numbered in the Cuba A starting lineup and his big league prospects would never again be higher. The Cuba B team sent to Rotterdam in August possessed enough talent to rival Cuba A (Pan Am Games gold medalists) as almost assuredly the second best squad on the international scene. As this author and others have noted in recent years, the seemingly endless supply of Cuban talent has been cycling through an exceptional peak in recent seasons, and the departures of disaffected players like Contreras, Kendry Morales, Maels Rodríguez and now Alexei Ramírez seem only to provide the necessary openings for young studs like Alfredo Despáigne, Yadel Martí, Yoennis Céspedes and Héctor Olivera who wait rather impatiently in the wings. Bjarkman reallly makes me laugh. He argues with calling every baseball player who leaves Cuba a "defector," and basically says don't let the door hit you on the way out. He's basically just an apologist for the current regime, Cubano is right to take his words with a grain of salt. Where he got the idea the Ramirez had "excellent plate discipline" is beyond me. Maybe that's in comparison to the rest of the other players on the island!!! His speculation about why Ramirez left is even more ludicrous/ridiculous. It's not a secret...his wife is Dominican, they have two kids together, and he wanted to be with her, first and foremost. It wasn't a siuation like El Duque or Contreras. Having had a foreign wife, I understand that the easiest thing to do is to go where she is, rather than bringing her to your own country. Peter Bjarkman, baseballdecuba.com (should be beisboldecuba!!!!)