caulfield12

Arnie Munoz also was "famous" in the Sox organization for having the "wipeout" curve. Sometimes I laugh, or Dewon Day's amazing slider...or Willie Harris is a miniature Ray Durham. In this case, Gio is Barry Zito with a better fastball. Well, we shall see. He pitched very well his last time out. Also, there's a big difference pitching for the White Sox in the second half of 2007 versus 2008. I guess we will never know how Gio would have done in the heat of a pennant race, because it seems Oakland will be forever rebuilding and deconstructing.

QUOTE (MAX @ Aug 17, 2008 -> 01:38 PM) I tried to go to WSI when I got suspended here and felt it was unfair. I hated it. Disagree with a mod there and they'll have a heart attack-ack-ack-ack-ack and delete your posts. It's not only that, it's the "private messages" and threatening to ban you or "warnings" that are so ridiculous. I am the same poster I was there, yet I've never really had a problem with another post or mod here, I have had no interaction with them at all. Maybe because the mods there are so overly active or hyper, that's why the site seems so active, I'm not sure. All I know is that my friend and I are both lifelong Sox fans and we couldn't survive there for very long. When I tried to defend my friend from attack, then I was also deemed a "Public Enemy," lol. I also bet the post-game threads are longer over there for a White Sox loss than for a win...it's the nature of the messageboard/blog world.

The most likely scenario was Washburn for Poreda and a boatload of cash. I think after the Vazquez deal, and the fact that we would be giving up our only pitching prospect with a chance to be a 1-3 starter, and a lefthander who throws in the mid 90's and sometimes better...that really wasn't a good option for KW. He took a lot of flak for Young's 2007 season...while Rome was burning in Chicago simultaneously. I can see another Phil Rogers column (after Young's offensive resurgence) if Vazquez fades down the stretch, because we still don't have a good CFer, and because Swisher has been a disappointment.

The Twins' starters are wearing down, almost none of them are used to pitching 175-200 innings in a season consistently. I really was looking forward to seeing Swisher try to get "revenge" on Gonzalez, lol. Scared with Griffey in that huge CF. Seems like an injury waiting to happen...he should at least know the outfield there, after playing so many games against OAK in the AL West. Are the Red Sox coming back to the White Sox? I hate to think too much about the WC, but we have to consider the possibility...we're only 1 game back, 1/2 if we get the win today.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 17, 2008 -> 11:46 AM) uh, the Twins would have made that deal for Bonser if the M's were paying for his salary. Outside of 2006, when he was OK, he's been an absolutely terrible pitcher and it's gotten worse over the past year. I would say the M's wanted Blackburn if they paid most if not all of Washburn's entire salary or Bonser if they did not, and the Twins didn't need/want Washburn that badly. Well...yes, of course...I guess I wasn't clear enough. Bonser has become something of a cross between Homer Bailey/Phil Hughes/Gavin Floyd and Kyle Lohse/Matt Garza. For many reasons, the Twins are frustrated with him, but they also realize he provides added depth...and they can see the results in TB with Garza (who had the reputation of something of a headcase and clubhouse problem) and Bartlett. I don't know if I would clearly/obviously pick Blackburn over Slowey or Perkins, they seem pretty interchangeable, with Baker appearing to have the best long-term potential of the young pitchers over there. I guess Blackburn has better stuff than Slowey, but perhaps not as good as Perkins. Teams are always more hesitant to deal young LH pitching. I still think D. Young might end up being the better player over the long haul, but, once again, pitching/defense trumps offense. It's one of the reasons the Rays are so mysteriously and quietly dominant this year with essentially the same offense as 07.

It's all about personal preference. I tried posting there a couple of times but it sometimes seemed the moderators there will attack you and enlist surrogates to attack in packs if you disagree with anything they say. I never liked the feeling that I had to agree with posters or I would be threatened/banned/exiled. I remember saying it was kind of like the Gestapo (of course, that went over well!)...so I asked to be banned because there are other places (like here or even the mess that is the official website) for Sox fans to post. I also think there were a ton of bandwagon fans that were around in 05 and 06 and disappeared after last year...they're still skeptical and waiting for the other shoe to drop wit this year's team. Realistically, you also have to look at the Cubs' resurgence and the fact many of those "marginal" fans probably have jumped over to that bandwagon. But hey, it's okay with me, there are still enough interesting/intelligent posters that it's worthwhile. I also noticed on their gamethreads over there that anyone who was critical (I remember the second half of 06 specifically) and wasn't believing that the White Sox were still the greatest team in the world and were going to somehow rally when they looked dead were always attacked as being "Dark Clouds" or whatever. Well, I'm a realist/pragmatist and sometimes, Sox fans have a way of whining/griping, maybe it's just our nature and also because we tend to have a chip on our shoulder/s, whether it's about the South Side's "reputation," the "dominance" of the Cubs' brand name, the more whole "blue collar" versus "white collar" thing, not sure what it is. Just my thoughts.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Aug 14, 2008 -> 11:54 AM) Yeah, I call BS on that story. I don't know of many contenders who need pitching that wouldn't pay $2 million for Byrd's services down the stretch. Especially since the Yankees were already in the running for Washburn. Other players who've been caught purchasing PEDs aren't exactly getting black-balled around the league. Juan Rincon of the Twins got another job right away with an AL Central rival...I don't think it's the PED, it's probably more about not wanting to help another AL Central team, and the possibility he might end up staying in Minnesota/Chicago and coming back to the haunt the Indians. I guess there's any number of theories out there. I know with Washburn, the M's wanted back talent...and they were willing to subsidize his contract, like the Phils did with Thome. By the way, has anyone heard anything at all about a possible Crede return to the Charlotte line-up? I was glancing at wsi and there seems to be a lot of speculation that Crede is rehabbing expressly with the idea of coming back for next year (and getting a big FA deal) and not for the White Sox the final six weeks. I guess this makes a bit of sense, but I'm not sure how NOT playing or proving he can play after having yet another setback would possibly increase his value around the league? Maybe Boras thinks it's better not to risk something more catastrophic and that he convince another team (like the Tigers did with Ordonez) with a Top 10 budget to go out on a limb and sign him to a 3 year deal. Strange to think Joe's more concerned with his FA status than the White Sox, although how much of this is the truth and how much is speculation, I have no idea. Obviously the White Sox have been doing "okay" without him so far and are missing Linebrink and Contreras (healthy) a bit more than Joe.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Aug 17, 2008 -> 09:56 AM) Possibly his PED use? Kenny tends to avoid those players (although we did have Canseco on our squad for a little while several seasons ago). I'm wondering if Shapiro told Kenny and Bill Smith off the record that he wouldn't agree to a deal with a divisional opponent off the record beforehand. The worst "character" guys I can remember us taking on were probably Wil Cordero and Belle. Although there were a ton of rumors about problems in the clubhouse with Royce Clayton and Lofton, and that they were a bad influence on Carlos Lee.

http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/christ...n-negotiations/ Story about the Twins' attempted acquisition of Washburn...M's wanted to subsidize the contract and get back Blackburn and/or Bonser

Thanks for not using Putz. Putting in Miguel Batista is about as good as giving them the game.

Thornton has been used a lot and supposedly his back is hurting. Statistically, we have one of the best closers in the game. If we don't see Jenks to start the 9th, it will be a the biggest shocker this season, and there have been a few.

The M's better score in the top of the 9th...because Mauer, Morneau and D. Young are batting in the bottom of the 9th. I wonder if Gardenhire will go with Nathan here? He still has Guerrier and Reyes to use...but Guerrier has been REALLY shaky recently.

QUOTE (Cerbaho-WG @ Aug 16, 2008 -> 04:33 PM) Seattle blows it, nothing new. Not only that, but they had to throw through to the plate, allowing the winning run to get to 2nd. Dumb play.

Why aren't Thome or AJ pinch-hitting here for Hall? I think Toby has a couple of hits, BUT...we could use another run for insurance with Dotel and the fact that we're in Oakland. I guess we'll see Thornton with Cust/Barton...2/3 lefties. Please don't overmanage, put in Thornton/Dotel/Ramirez and make it a 20 minute inning.

Please put Anderson in CF and Swisher at 1B. Thank you.

QUOTE (tommy @ Aug 16, 2008 -> 04:17 PM) Paulie is 4 for 8 with 2 HR vs the pitcher. Casilla was throwing 97 MPH with a low 90's slider. There's no reason to take him out against Griffey...there's no way he gets around on that type of heat. Then he could have left Casilla in to get out Konerko. Kind of a weird set of decisions there, but I guess it worked.

Ummmm....talking about no advance scouting. That's just crazy. Maybe with the A's out of playoff contention, they've given up looking at other teams...at least they should video/satellite or something. Good God, that's a horrible decision. Still think it was a bad decision...but it worked out for them. Can either team get a big hit with RISP?

It's interesting how some here and other websites want Danks shut down because of his innings pitched and others are advocating he throw 115-130 pitches because our bullpen is so horrid right now...that's why it's not so fun to be a manager. You have to balance short-term versus long-term benefits. Look at what Dusty Baker did to his pitching staff/s.

QUOTE (tommy @ Aug 16, 2008 -> 03:52 PM) Alexei with a bouncer right down the middle. I think the problem is that the White Sox game is moving along so slowly...and the M's comebacks against the Twins the past two weeks have been so improbable and exciting. C'mon Juan, for once, Alexei had a base stolen!

Third blown lead by the Twins against the M's in two weeks, including a rare (3rd) blown Joe Nathan save, when he had to come in to try to get out of the 8th inning. I think one of those leads (the first loss) was 6-0. Twins' fans must be going crazy, just like we are. Seemingly had the game in hand with Baker cruising. Competition now will come down to who has the worst bullpen in front of two of the best closers in the game.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 16, 2008 -> 03:38 PM) I wonder if Paulie could turn into a doubles hitter this late in his career. He seems to be skinny now with a slower bat. Maybe it's just my eyes failing me. I'm just going to hope it's a lingering effect from the wrist and rib problems. Either one of them can really mess up your swing. Now I think it has become a mental thing where he's thinking too much....ahead on the off-speed stuff and way behind on fastballs, and "average" fastballs. Konerko and Carlos Lee used to be the best fastball hitters on our team. Now it's probably Ramirez and Quentin I guess...and Thome? I don't know, I haven't seen any games this year from here in Thailand, just have to go off Farmer/Stone/McDowell/Ventura, etc. 5-4 Twins. Icihiro up with 2 outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd. Nice comeback M's. The Twins' bullpen has the same exact issues as ours. Crain out. I assume they'll bring in Reyes or Breslow against Ichiro.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Aug 16, 2008 -> 03:31 PM) I gotta go back to an overriding theme that I ahve brought for a couple of years now. the advanced scouting on this team is either nonexistent or the execution is not htere. To continue to belabor a point, if a guy can not hit an offspeed pitch even if he knows it is coming, throw it. The Sox seem to think, "well he thinks a pitch he can not hit is coming, so let's throw a pitch he can hit as he won't expect it." and said player ets a hit. this is just plain sad. Well, whatever we're doing with Emil Brown, we need to stop it.

I guess we should thank Frank Thomas for four outs already this game. Wow...part of me was expecting a Grand Slam the way things were going that inning. Danks seems to be trying to be too fine...and it's hard to blame him, because with our bullpen and his general lack of run support all season long, he is fighting for every single run out there.

QUOTE (tommy @ Aug 16, 2008 -> 03:16 PM) A base hit here, scores two. Are we sure Hall could have scored on a base hit?

Thanks, Swisher. Seems like he doesn't much since the walk-off against Zumaya. He just can't seem to keep it going for an extended period of time this year....hot for a week or two, then cools off again.