ILMOU

QUOTE (Real @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 05:32 PM) boston will score at least 7 runs tonight Going out on a limb? 33 pitches in the 1st for Axe. I don't have enough beer for this game.

QUOTE (kapzk @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 05:18 PM) Konerko hit that nicely but right at Middlebrooks, we got the lead fortunately.. Let's go Dylan. Only one swing, but PK looked better there.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 04:37 PM) Shields is going to cost you much more than Greinke, and the farm is awful. 89 hits in his last 64 innings pitched - Shields can be someone else's mistake.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 04:30 PM) Might as well keep Axelrod in the rotation then. True that, because clearly there's nothing in between Greinke and Axelrod.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 04:29 PM) Why do you need his power bat in '15 when there won't be anything around him. I wish I had your psychic abilities. What's your prognosis for 2023?

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 04:23 PM) You'd put developing a good, not great LF'er over winning in August and September? I could not disagree with your approach more. Because clearly, he's keeping us from winning now.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 04:19 PM) Greinke does not guarantee a championship, by the same token Viciedo isn't guaranteed to hit 40 homers next year either. LF'ers are found anyway. If the Sox end up keeping Mitchell and slot him in center with De Aza moving to left over the next 2-3 years how much worse are they really than they would be if they kept Viciedo. Bad one's, yes. Considering that Dunn, Konerko and Rios will either be gone or declining at that juncture, we will clearly need his power bat. Or we could just win with Ozzieball.

QUOTE (Paint it Black @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 04:03 PM) When the Tigers get a full year of Cabrera/Fielder/VMart this division is about sealed up. Ditto when Kansas City finds some pitching. Their lineup is already very good. It's only a matter of time before Hosmer wins an MVP. Face it, it's highly unlikely the White Sox are going to get good years out of Konerko, Dunn, and Rios AND have Peavy and Sale healthy. Everything is going right for this year (health issues aside) and they need to capitalize right now.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 03:58 PM) Say he hits 40 home runs next year what does that get you? He is not a prospect that put in front of a chance to win this year. Four more very inexpensive years of an absolute stud, and a foundation for sustained excellence. BTW, we HAVE a chance to win this year. Of course another stud pitcher would increase that chance, but would guarantee nothing.

QUOTE (JohnCangelosi @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 03:15 PM) I'm also surprised at all of the people willing to deal Dayan. We're talking about a 22-23 yr old kid here who may hit 30 HR's this year. It's not like our system is overflowing with guys like this. Nobody's system is overflowing with guys like this. He may be a 40 HR guy as soon as next season. He has uncommon power, and an approach that allows for adjustment - he's not dumb. Mark Trumbo's 2011 stats (1st full season at age 25) look remarkably similar to DV's this year. How's that working out now? Much like our guy: power, uncommon. This idea that what a guy IS is all he'll ever be seems to go hand-in-hand with the general impatience of an internet community. Improvement is almost never as quick as we want it to be.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 03:06 PM) Would like to hold on to both Santiago and Castro and see what they evolve into. One of my few minor beefs with this mostly pleasant season is how we've handled Hector. His role in the pen seems to be the least defined, and we really haven't learned anything, other than that he's susceptible to the long ball. If he's going to be used so sparingly (and the 14 inning affair seemed to show a lowness on the current pecking order), why not give the starter conversion a shot? Maybe they will if/when Leyson is deemed a keeper? Here's hoping.

Shields' recent performances against us and other teams give me the willies. But for the right price, I guess I could be talked into it.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 02:52 PM) Yes but players always say "the attitude is so much better this year." "things are so much better this year." I guarantee if you ask, "Oh, so what needed changing last year?" Then they won't come up with anything. It's on the players. It's not like Ozzie is some buffoon like Bevington. He's a WS winning manager. His time ran out in Chicagoo, but he's still a good manager. C'mon Greg, the players have regularly implied, if not said directly, that the clubhouse was dysfunctional last year. I don't put that all on Ozz, but he, along with KW, Coop, Walk and possibly others, were certainly part of it, regardless of who you side with.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 01:11 PM) I did to and was about to drive to Chicago and punch Kenny. But I'm OK with this signing.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 02:14 PM) I'd put the Marlins and Brewers in the seller category already. Half of the NL is out of it. I don't disagree, but still maybe time for a hot streak from either, however unlikely. And I imagine that Loria may be very concerned about "perception" (and plummeting attendance), given an inaugural season in a new yard. And if they do dump players, there will be voices that say "why not Ozz, too?" Should be fun.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 15, 2012 -> 06:25 PM) 80 days left in the season, and the Sox have the 3rd best record in the AL. That second wild card is going to be something, and it's going to be interesting to see who tanks in the next couple weeks and become sellers. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/wildcard.jsp?ymd=20120715 I'll nominate Jay's ,O's, Rays, Mets, Marlins Brewers, A's, besides the obvious.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 11:56 AM) 1) Castro would only be on 3 day's rest 2) They might not want him to make his debut in such a hostile environment 3) Want to keep him down in the majors to keep his value higher for a possible trade 4) They don't think Simon's 100% ready and might be more willing to "sacrifice" Leesman or Hernandez, who are already slated to end up as pen arms All good reasons, though #3 could go either way, depending on success in a first start. Regardless, I don't think he'll be traded, as he's likely our best bet for cheap SP production next year and beyond. I think we'll part with a Rienzo type, more likely. Never a dull moment with KW, good and bad, so we're going to do something. Often, but not always, he does more dealing than most of us are expecting.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 01:26 PM) I am really starting to think farm systems are predicated on one or two players and are a good amount of PR by teams. I don't think there's any doubt about this. Overrated prospects mean better return in trades, so why not do it? Putz would be terrific.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 01:06 PM) It's a game of outs, and Viciedo makes too many of them against RH'ers. Yep, and this is his third year anyway, he's not a rookie anymore. I mean, if you don't have the start of a Trout or Harper, you can't compete in this game. Those guys are typical, right? Wow. Let's please get the thread back on topic, and Marty, please start a Viciedo Sucks thread so we can avoid your unique blend of fantasy and impatience, if we choose.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Jul 15, 2012 -> 07:39 PM) Jackson only have 10 or so more strikeouts than Mitchell. Mitchell's home and away strikeout ratio is almost identical. And you can't ignore past seasons where Mitchell struck out 183 times while Jackson strikes out in the 130 range. Mitchell hasn't hit over .250 in a full season, while Jackson has hit .290 and .270. There is really no debate who is the better contact hitter of the two as of now. Actually I think you CAN ignore past seasons when a player is in the development phase, especially when one suffered an injury that cost ~ 1 1/2 years of development time - the present is where they are as a player. Jackson's K'ing more in a league that many teams keep their best pitching prospects OUT of and his OPS is down 100 pts in a repeat season, so yes there IS a debate. He had a decent run in the PCL in '11, but relative to their respective leagues, Mitchell has been about as good this season in B'Ham. But I get your point that the players may be somewhat redundant, and Mitchell may not be attractive until they know what they have or don't have in BJax.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 15, 2012 -> 08:19 PM) Not a bad post except for your last point. Did you see the one guy is now posting at the end of every game thread how the "Sox would have lost today under Ozzie, 7-3." People are out of control with their criticism of Ozzie. It's getting absurd and I just stand up for him. Greg, please don't lump the typical Soxtalk poster with the Maniac. Pretty much all of us essentially ignore the guy.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 15, 2012 -> 06:04 PM) Those lousy Cubs are 4-0-1 in their last 5 series & 11-5 in their last 16 games. Keep it going, Scrubbies! looking at today's incident with Harper, is it possible, that with the way BH was holding and pointing the the bat, that he was saying "s**k my d**k" to Ozz?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 15, 2012 -> 04:59 PM) Hawkins has a double, now at .262. Good to see. Barnum's been out awhile now - hope they're just being extra cautious. And another big day for Walker. K rate only thing keeping him from getting a lot more buzz.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 15, 2012 -> 04:57 PM) Countdown....24 hours until Ozzie arrives back in ChiTown. No question about what questions he'll get asked, the only puzzle is how well he'll do NOT addressing them or putting his foot in his mouth again. I'm sure Loria is going to enjoy this week. Not. This could be fun.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 15, 2012 -> 04:49 PM) Meanwhile, if the Rangers get Hamels, we are the AL is really in trouble. FIFY