ILMOU

QUOTE (striker62704 @ Aug 17, 2009 -> 11:02 AM) Just wanted to know what everyone elses thoughts were. This year, particularly, we are underachieving badly as a team, IMO. Compared to other recent seasons, this is one of the most underperforming teams we've had. But that can be erased if we make the postseason. I think 2006 was also a badly underachieving team, especially when we saw how good they could be in the 1st half.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 02:34 PM) Yeah but if you don't spend the money to sign your third rounder (who you draft that high because you think he has legit ML potential) then you are seriously hampering your ability to produce said 2-3 quality major leaguers. This guy had no intention on returning to college after (I believe) leaving this year on a bad note with the team, so you have to wonder why the Sox drafted him and did not sign him. It's not like he is Strasburg asking for the moon, he probably only is asking $500,000 more than the Sox want to give. I'm just saying that we have choices between spending on draft picks and spending elsewhere. The higher draft picks have too much leverage in the current structure and may frequently be not worth the expense compared to their expected return.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 03:45 PM) or you could have had Quentin or Konerko bat for Kotsay and try to blow the game open? This.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 03:40 PM) Eh, you still put 4 pitchers out there in a 5 game series unless you're forced to run people out on short rest. it's 2 games, day off, 2 games, then day off, then 1 game. Game 4 would be 3 days rest for your game 1 starter. In an ALCS or WS, you MAY only have the days off after Game 2 and Game 5 - best to use a four-man rotation in that case, but with Danks and Floyd being within a whisker of one another performance-wise, I use the 4 man rotation anyway. Unless Peavy is SO dominant where you have to pitch him as much as possible.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 03:30 PM) danks with 72 pitches thru 6 scoreless Sailing along. This is our 4th starter come the 28th. He just might be the best fourth starter in baseball. If we can make the playoffs...look out!

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 11:42 AM) Nice lineup. We should have a nice offensive game. I enjoy watching Kotsay play. He has a nice swing. It's kind of a "Sunday" lineup still, with PK and Q resting, but you gotta like these lineups a lot better with Kotsay and Rios in the mix.

QUOTE (gatnom @ Aug 15, 2009 -> 09:56 PM) This draft is starting to look not so good... Sorry, but I'm not going to get all worked up about not signing a pitcher who looked good in the Cape Cod League. A good draft will produce 2-3 quality major leaguers. Only time will tell if that's the case here. Our development of players has improved somewhat, and the last couple of drafts have netted good results. Maybe KW would rather spend the money on Arguelles or another Cuban. I trust the org's judgement with their talent evaluation more than I have in recent years.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 15, 2009 -> 11:50 AM) There's really no way he should be brought back next year. Thornton's ready for the closer spot, and you could save a lot of money by trying to acquire a lefty set-up man and getting some players back for Jenks. In this economy especially, we should be able to do a few things with the money Jenks would free up, with a few million to spare to go toward a free agent or trade-for corner OF. (I'm semi-confident that KW won't get too sentimental about Pods OR JD this offseason) Not so sure I want to change Thornton's role, but that's endlessly debatable, so I won't start.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Aug 15, 2009 -> 11:24 AM) He's been pretty good since his horrible start against the Twins. We really killed him last year. Let's see what happens today. We're really good against lefties in general. Did very well this year against Lee, CC and other good ones. With having to play Nix everyday while Getz is out, I hope we see a lot of them. Getz himself is hitting lefties better, as do Slayer, Missile and others, and we can get JD's awful defense off the field in making him the DH.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 15, 2009 -> 08:40 AM) In case you haven't noticed, Jenks is throwing more 2-seamers than 4-seamers this season. I think he's a little gun shy due to all the homers he allowed earlier in the year, and he's trying to keep the ball lower in the zone. The reason key to his success is having confidence in his curve ball. That pitch is far and away his best pitch when he has confidence in it. ^^^^^ And I've heard an inkling that it might be because throwing the curve bothers his shoulder. I truly love BBB, but if he can't or won't throw the curve long-term, we might need a different closer next year. I'm guessing that his arb # this coming year would be in the $8M range, so if we use that as a budget, we should be OK.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Aug 13, 2009 -> 08:54 PM) Jordan Danks is really struggling. His average continues to plummet after a 0-4 night with a BB and a K. He’s now at .253, and is definitely looking like a candidate to repeat AA next year. You have to wonder if the wrist injury has something to do with it. The numbers before and after the injury are insanely different. I hope he's being honest with the trainers.

ESPN is located smack in the middle of the PED Sox/Yankmee divide. Inevitably, most of their employees will be fans of said teams, along with the Mets to a lesser degree. This comes through in the broadscast. They do a great job of serving the Greater Hartford Area, but WWL? No, not for baseball. Counting the days until I can justify upping my cable package to include MLBN.

I jinxed him. Stupid!

Through 4 innings Freddy has allowed 0 runs on 3 hits with 5K, 0BB. He's a couple more strong innings away from becoming part of the rotation again.

Kenny is one of the best GM's going. I'm glad he's our guy.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 12:46 PM) Getz doesn't get on base enough to be at the top of the order. He's likely going to be our worst offensive player, so why get him more at bats than everyone else? I'm expecting some improvement from him, obviously, and I think he's best suited to advancing the runner behind Slayer's league-leading number of doubles next year. That's the way Ozzie likes to play - get that 1-0 lead in the first inning.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 12:44 PM) Beckham moves to third in the order when Mitchell arrives, about the time his power should really arrive. Assuming 2011 for this, not next year.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 12:19 PM) OK, so now where does this leave us for next year? 2010 payroll will be at what point? Can we guess 90? From my basic, rushed counting..... 39.6 payroll adding Thornton option, Peavy and Rios brings us to $66.6M After you factor in Jenks, we might be left with 15M to spend on some combo of Pods/Dye/Thome. We're also probably going to need a trustworthy bullpen arm, I would think. If they get a bargain reliever in here instead of Jenks, they actually could give one-years to Pods/Dye/Thome and bring all back. I doubt it happens but it's possible. Beckham Getz Q Thome $5-6M Paulie Rios AJ Missile Pods another OF New closer. May or may not be a bargain. Beckham moves to third in the order when Mitchell arrives, about the time his power should really arrive.

QUOTE (DGSOXFan14 @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 12:03 PM) My vote is for B. I will vote as many times for B as I can... I'm still withholding judgement on Getz. I'd like to see him in the two hole, eventually, if he can get to his ceiling. Given that in 2010 Slayer will lead the universe in doubles, and that Ozzie loves to bunt, and Ozzie LOVES to get a 1-0 lead in the first inning, we could realistically see something like this: Beckham Getz Q Thome Paulie Rios AJ Missile Pods or other OF

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 10:38 AM) But yea, KW is apparently not worried about telling his players to man-up. In the NBA this sort of talk is impossible from the heads, entire freaking teams just tune you out. Here, not so. One thing there to like about MLB. Yet another reason the love our GM, IMO. Even the haters gotta admit that he's a unique guy, and not risk-averse.

QUOTE (TitoMB345 @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 10:57 AM) he better be in tonight. 'Cause I'm an out-of-towner getting the chance to watch on GN.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Aug 10, 2009 -> 06:30 PM) In a perfect world, Mitchell will make it to Birmingham next year. Viciedo and Danks would be best served playing a whole year in Charlotte next year. This is assuming, of course, that Danks picks it up again, and doesn’t need to repeat AA. Flowers, however, should be ready to compete for a job come spring training. This is a reasonable projection for those mentioned, though I think we'll see Flowers as AJ's backup and occasional DH

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Aug 10, 2009 -> 01:16 PM) The new edition of JPNese is in, I'll continue to take requests here for next week's blog. JP, I was concerned we were losing "your guy" C.J., in the Rios deal, right after your excellent article on FutureSox. Glad it didn't turn out that way. Hopefully, Retherford can create some competition with Getz starting next ST, or otherwise be groomed as a utility guy.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Aug 10, 2009 -> 05:48 PM) What lifting did he get done? Usually we would be bidding for FAs that are coming off of a good year. We're giving 12 million dollars a year to a guy we HOPE and PRAY can get his OPS back to 860 or so. He hasn't been over 800 in a year and a half. I mean, f***, Aubrey Huff has a f***ing .917 OPS this year. Defense is nice and all, but we're talking 12 mil a year for a 830-860 OPS (hopefully) and solid CF defense. I'm sorry but that makes absolutely zero sense to me. We've tried and failed to get an adequate replacement for Rowand for FOUR seasons now. What part of heavy or lifting don't you understand? Who were we going to get in the offseason that would be better? Center Field is an important defense position. This is a great day for the Sox. You'll come around - trust me.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Aug 10, 2009 -> 05:38 PM) I have loved just about every deal that KW has ever done. I hate this move. I have also loved nearly all of KW's moves, except the two Swisher moves. I love this move. He gets the offseason heavy lifting done before the offseason. We now have a real CF! I'm lovin' it.