ILMOU

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 23, 2009 -> 12:36 PM) You will hear responses from 2 camps on here. 1. Will agree with you 2. The other will blame his career on Ozzie. ^^^^^^ Multiply by 10000.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 23, 2009 -> 01:00 PM) Easy 1-2-3 for Mark. Has all his pitches working today. I'd actually like to see Mark start to learn how to make his change move both directions, right now his good claw change moves away from righties, I've seen Rich Harden move his both ways, i think that could be an interesting thing for Mark to try out. Agreed, but it's hard to complain about MB's change. Vastly underrated, IMO. I'd have to check the pitch tracking sites, but does MB get his highest % of swings and misses on his change? It sure seems that way sometimes.

And still, the BA apologists remain resolute. Just trade him already KW, so we can get a semblance of realism back on this board!

QUOTE (Chisox88 @ Jul 23, 2009 -> 12:55 PM) Quentin's injury must not have been anything major.. Well, we've been told that some soreness will remain. No surprise. There will be a lot of finger-crossing between now and October, but every AB that he replaces BA or Wise is a humongous upgrade.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 23, 2009 -> 12:48 PM) doh Actually, I'm off too, it's 19. Whoops!!

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 23, 2009 -> 12:47 PM) 2625 more in a row to go You're an inning off, it's 22.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 23, 2009 -> 12:41 PM) Hell f***ing yeah!!!!! And f*** me for doubting you Not to be a buzz-kill, but his trade value has now peaked.

QUOTE (tommy @ Jul 23, 2009 -> 12:38 PM) Loaded for Josh on a single by Castro. One time, Josh.

Lots of good comments. My take is that regardless of the decisions made, the Sox should try to stay about as left-handed among their regular batters as they are now. If they let Thome go and keep JD in the fold as the primary DH, then Jordan Danks needs to ready for the start of 2010. Even then, we lose our lefty power in the transition. Similarly, if Bacon is ultimately moved to 2B, it would be good to have the 3B be LH. For these reasons and more, both Figgins (as always) and Dunn could be real targets in the offseason. Dunn, especially, solves the LH power issue, and could replace Paulie if he moves on after 2010, were we able to extend Dunn's deal. Either acquisition could allow a great deal more flexibility when Dayan eventually gets here, but Chone's best asset is likely to decline far sooner than Dunn's, and given the year he's having, his next deal is likely to be long enough that the decline in speed is almost assured. Noone really expects that Alfonso Soriano is going to steal 40 bases anymore do we? One thing to remember is that Paulie is a couple years younger than Dye, and several younger than Big Jim. I can see all three being here next year, but after 2010, I believe that only Paulie will remain. Could go a lot of different ways, though.

QUOTE (OldSmoky2 @ Jul 23, 2009 -> 10:48 AM) Ah, but there was a fatal flaw in the plan: If CQ isn't in the outfield, guess who is, against a lefty with a nasty slider at that. It wouldn't have been pretty. On the other hand, doesn't Kazmir throw in the mid- to upper-90s at times, with movement? If so, we'll see how the Josh Fields of late fares against that. I just checked, though, and Kazmir's strikeouts are a little down this season, so maybe his velocity's slipped a hair. And he seems to get wild sometimes this year, too. Josh usually has a good eye, if that's the case. I'll be happy if Fields just gets on base once or twice via a walk. Glad he's batting ninth. I have a feeling he may not be here in 8 days. It's a good feeling.

QUOTE (Pumpkin Escobar @ Jul 22, 2009 -> 10:46 AM) They should be able to get him no questions asked but I bet theyre reserved after dumping guys last year in Sabathia only to come up empty for their WS title. They made the playoffs for the first time in 26 YEARS!!! Few Brewer fans would say the Sabbathia deal wasn't worth the cost.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jul 21, 2009 -> 06:55 PM) This. Seconded. Exhibit #1000 why not to bunt. Just let him pull the ball for a hit.

Wise is a decent runner and base stealer, a little better than BA in both categories, especially base stealing. With Q battling the PF, five of our nine regulars (JD, PK, JT, AJP, Q) need to be pinch run for in a game tying or game winning situation. He sucks, yes, but I think Wise's importance as a PR is being undervalued.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 21, 2009 -> 12:09 PM) wow, he has struck out 113 times in 310 AB? Sounds like he is the equivalent of Lillibridge Considering that he isn't 21 for four weeks, his upside is huge despite the strikeouts. Definitely worth taking a chance on.

QUOTE (SHIPPS @ Jul 21, 2009 -> 09:53 AM) ^^^ But if I actually say that out loud than it wont work......f*** does this count... Oh GREAT! Now you've screwed it up for all of us.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 21, 2009 -> 09:43 AM) I don't smell an upcoming trade. I think Poreda is going to go down and get stretched out and get constant work with Torres piggy-packing Richard and if Richard struggles they'll flip with Torres getting the start against the Tigers next week and Richard in the pen. ^^^^^^ Yep, and I think this is a good way to use him. I'm glad he's here. Would've felt cheated if we never got a look.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jul 20, 2009 -> 08:33 PM) Awesome ,now get a few runs. Indeed, BBB may need a little breathing room the way he's going lately.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 20, 2009 -> 08:25 PM) Awful, STOP PITCHING HIM AS A SET-UP MAN! The only guy in baseball whose ERA is more misleading than Fatolo's is Liney's.

QUOTE (G&T @ Jul 20, 2009 -> 07:07 PM) That is why Pods shouldn't be in center. The proverbial "other side of the coin".

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jul 20, 2009 -> 05:08 PM) agreed. at least as a starter. However, i think Richard has the future to be an effective reliever. Hopefully like a Neil Cotts of 2004 and 2005. I would agree also. If Colon fails (I assume he'll get at least two starts) does Carlos Torres get a look, or will Freddy get the nod, even if he's mediocre in his rehab?

I want to be the meat in a Slayer/Q sandwich.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 20, 2009 -> 02:41 PM) About time. I'd also promote him to AAA at this point. Just get him the hell out of the way, so he doesn't block much-deserved promotions of any number of our better pitching prospects.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 20, 2009 -> 04:18 PM) It means Brian Anderson doesn't want anything to do with the Sox and wants to be playing someplace else. Well, the relationship does seem to have run its course. Parting ways is likely best for all parties involved.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Jul 20, 2009 -> 03:42 PM) Agreed. I have 0 problem with this move especially considering Wise can steal a base late in games. You lose that defensive replacement, but if this means Jayson Nix gets more at bats now, and who can play LF/RF, then I don't see how anyone can argue this. That kid has shown some flashes this year. And Josh is a disaster in LF, so having him play 3B/1B/DH is fine. Getz will probably man 2B more often now. From what I've seen of Nix, he's a really "natural" fielder, who could probably learn the other OF positions without too much difficulty. If the Sox are grooming him as a super-utility vs. lefties/late inning D replacement as I believe they are, then I think you'll see him getting reps in CF and RF next spring training

QUOTE (Allsox @ Jul 20, 2009 -> 04:07 PM) What upsets me the most with BA being optioned is Ozzie and Kenny deliberately chose to weaken not just the lineup but also the defensive positions of the Sox against lefties. If BA is still here, Quentin's the DH, Pods in LF and BA's in CF. Which is better than having Quentin running out in LF, Pods' Mackowiak defense out in CF and having a weak defensive replacement/pinch hitter in Wise to come in later innings. Heaven help Q if the game goes extras tonight. I'm assuming you mean in late game defensive replacement situations. You can't seriously consider making BA an everyday player again, can you? It will never happen again with this team, unless there is a WAVE of injuries, nor should it.