29andPoplar

No, no way in my book. Not Jason Grilli. Grilli is a guy who had a hard biting slider and a fastball he couldn't control with bad mechanics. Floyd is a guy with a much better curveball, not as good a fastball by quite a bit, and a lack of confidence. As for Thames hitting a few to left field, in most parks they are foul and lots of times pitchers throw stuff in accordance to the park they're in. Not that Floyd has that level of experience but the key tonight is whether he battles and comes back and gets guys. I for one was impressed how he handled Hessman after he went opposite field for the HR. Bust him in and break his bat, which he did. This is not about position statements and sticking to one's guns here. This is about rooting for this guy to succeed and get over the hump, whether it's to be part of the future or to get some other team to give something up for him. In the second post of the game thread I said Floyd needed to battle for 5 innings minimum and he's done that, so it's mission accomplished as far as I'm concerned, and let's give him another test and see how he does.

They are going to cut ties with him for sure. Not sure if they even can offer him arbitration but I agree, if they can they won't. Too much financial risk for the Phillies. Yes I completely agree the White Sox could do a small guarantee with big incentives but I think they'd wait until late in the offseason to do it. They should have a clearer picture on his rehab by January as Freddy will be 5 months in by then. Yankees do this a lot, they did it with Dotel and in a way they're doing it with their draft pick Brackman albeit under different circumstances.

The Tigers are getting deperate. They need a shot in the arm big time and are hoping Kenny Rogers is the spark. Tigers are now 3.5 out in the wild card and almost out of it totally in the division. Very interested to see how Floyd responds. He did very well against Detroit the last time but now they've seen him and they are good hitters. He will need to adjust. Another character test for Floyd and it appears they are starting Donny Lucy behind the plate. Floyd needs to go pedal to the metal for 5 strong innings, if you get 6 or 7 that's a huge bonus. If he flops tonite you will see either Broadway or Phillips in to mop up. Huge game for Detroit and I think they will be patient with Floyd and make him throw strikes. He will need to do what Garland did last nite, work in a lot. Let's hope he's got bite on the curveball tonight. I want to see him succeed because I think his biggest problem is confidence, the arm is there.

So Freddy Garcia had labrum surgery and some rotator cuff clean up done August '07. I am not Dr. Andrews but in between healing and rehab work I am guessing that most or all of 2008 is lost to Garcia. Anyone have a hunch he will end up back with the White Sox for 2009? White Sox certainly wouldn't sign him this offseason and lose any draft picks but I bet they'd take a flier on him if he was a freebie in terms of compensation.

I see his post got deleted, "y'all are" doing a fine job, or for us Chicagoans, "you're" doing a great job. "Your" role is appreciated!

White Sox fans don't answer stupid questions, they laugh at them!

I have been in Texas a lot, used to have an office there in fact. Dallas is a great city, so is Houston, love Gaido's in Galveston and have toured the Shiner Brewery a few times. The Menger Hotel and Roughrider Bar inside the hotel are great places to spend a few hours. The Texas wines are great too. The one thing I like about Texans is they are straight shooters, sort of like White Sox fans. You know, they say what they mean and mean what they say without playing games. With that in mind are you sure you're a Texan, let alone a White Sox fan?

Lots of agrees and disagrees here, that's what a forum, flawed though you may deem it to be, is all about I would say. Actually truth isn't dependent on post count, nor did I say that or infer it. I simply stated you have been posting here a short time yet seem quite willing to tell the board how it should function. It is kind of like not going to a place in 14 years yet verbally condemning it while not experiencing its numerous changes, changes I may add that have been well received by both the common fan and those you seem to deem elite. You needn't worry about lowering yourself to anyone's level. So far, your level seems pretty well defined. The Moose with the Caboose remark is really clever though, I would have never thought of that in a million years. I would turn that suggestion for reading the book to a strong recommendation. I believe it will really help you but we all make our own choices, or should I say justify our own means.

Actually I think your feelings are pretty clear. Over the course of a half dozen posts or so, you've: - commented about the ballpark, saying nothing was done for the common fan - commented about Reinsdorf and indicated he is a major participant in turning a sport for the common man into an elitist sport - commented that someone had double standards and then suggested they were a "dick-tator" - communicated more negative things about the ballpark, stating it was the "Mauve Monster" while stating you hadn't set foot in said ballpark for 14 years - Called someone delusional - called Albert Belle a fat ass - told anyone reading this thread what is ok on a forum and what isn't, with 20+ posts to your credit - insinuated that anyone who doesn't agree with your views is a kool aid drinker Maybe Jehu should drive to a local San Antonio bookstore to pick up a copy of "How To Win Friends And Influence People". People disagree here every day. As long as I've been here though, none have taken the route you've taken in this thread, as noted above. ***************************** To address your points, I loved old Comiskey Park, I started going there in 1964 and attended hundreds of games there, possibly close to 2000 games. I loved it. However I will admit I like wider aisles, a clean and well maintained facility, modern amenities, and more. As for Reinsdorf, we all have our opinions but I can appreciate an ownership group who devotes considerable resources into making the White Sox competitive, witnessed by teams being consistently over .500 since 2000 and a marketing director who does indeed listen to fans and is very responsive. I also like that as I have worked hard and attained some success and having traveled far from a high school kid who had to buy general admission for $2 in 1976, I can now enjoy nice experiences like the Stadium Club, Club seats on occasion, Scout seats on occasion, and more. I suppose it's all in how one looks at things, and what part of the past one chooses to hold onto. Lastly, to address the common fan comments, I can state that a World Series championship meant more to the common fan and pride amongst White Sox fans who support the team than anything cosmetic about the ballpark.

I doubt Gallagher will jump to AA but anything is possible. He is proving himself to be a heady baseball player with some good skills and a feel for hitting. One thing to remember is the White Sox have a lot of dead wood (non prospects) at W-S and also Birmingham. Charlotte will always be a mix of prospects and retread veterans and non roster invitees, and that is ok. Regier absolutely wants to be patient with guys but there is a balancing act. Some guys out of college adapt quite well to pro ball and are up for the challenge. As we know the White Sox aren't deep in OF prospects so there is a chance someone like Gallagher could move quicker. By the same token we should be realistic, he has made a very nice debut but it is short season rookie league we're talking about. Another thing to consider is this Great Falls team has wonderful chemistry so it's possible they might want to move a few of these guys up the ladder together. As we know the Twins do that rather succesfully.

They've had him playing all three OF positions, possibly grooming him to be a 4th OF.

I love beating the Tigers and yes they are looking like the 2006 White Sox, their pitching has failed them and what looks like a great offense has gone silent at the wrong times. They're still in the wild card though. This was a big loss for them tonite.

Closed out, Granderson K's.

One strike away twice and they are still alive. Three times now, come on close it out.

Dye has a strained left quad and is day to day.

I would agree of course, the reason I brought it up was if choosing Poreda was a by product of sr. mgmt. telling the scouting staff to pick players who might have a higher ceiling, I like it. Plus I think taking left handed pitching, within reason, is a good idea. Within reason means, no Wes Whislers.

Yes Oakland and the Giants liked him per Callis and Sickels and supposedly would have tabbed him at 29, although they passed on him at 22 I believe. Actually no one is that tuned in on Poreda's ceiling since he didn't have much baseball experience at least at advanced levels. He had a nice debut in Great Falls and hopefully he can move quickly. I tend not to believe or I should say place much stock in a lot of these scouting reports on BA because all you get is a couple of paragraphs. And many times BA hears these things from scouts who may not be enamored with a particular prospect. Plus lots of these scouts play games, they talk down a prospect because they're hoping to snag him at a lower spot. Not always of course but there's a lot of information that doesn't come out. One thing I would say based on early returns, Poreda to me has a higher ceiling than Broadway or McCullough. Also it is fair to say the White Sox were highly interested in Main and speculation was had Texas not taken him he would've been taken by CWS. I did not want them to take Main because he had a bout of shoulder tendonitis and that's a red flag to me.

You'd sure hate some of the other managers around the league then. I posted earlier in this thread as to how many White Sox players have exceeded expectations this year. For pitchers I came up with Jenks and possibly Wasserman (because Wasserman made the majors despite being a major underdog). Another poster said Vazquez which I mildly quibbled with as I felt Vazquez is merely meeting some long term expectations. It's tough to look good when 80% of your pitching staff is basically underachieving and not doing the job. Lest someone suggest I think Guillen is the be all end all, I don't. I question some of his outbursts and wearing his heart on his sleeve all the time. Granted that's his personality but I believe some of that stuff can backfire. Also I am concerned with all the hit and runs he does when he has players who strike out a lot. Just tonite it backfired twice. I understand trying to make things happen but he has the wrong players for what he's trying to do sometimes.

The Buehrle drama went on for several days at least before it was signed sealed and delivered. Things take time.

There were some raises for existing players factored in as well.

Yeah I would agree with Fields (certainly his power stroke, not his defense at 3B). Vazquez no, I would say he is finally meeting some long overdue expectations but it's hair splitting I suppose. The point being ... not many. Very few.

It is too bad, because knowledgeable catchers are generally very good as bench coaches and managers, assuming they can communicate. Catchers seem to know the most about the game, running the risk of generalizing here but it seems to ring true. Hah, edit - Sandy Alomar Jr.

I always thought Jeff Torborg but I don't think Cora is going anywhere. He has interviewed for manager jobs but not sure who would hire him. Guillen has control over who the coaches will be, Williams gave him that authority I believe two years ago.

I am trying to figure out which White Sox players have clearly overachieved this season. I would say Jenks, and ... maybe Wasserman for being a non drafted free agent who made the big leagues? Any other names escape me. Clearly Guillen did not overachieve either this year but I have no problem with this timing. It eliminates any discussion of his tenure over the winter, when the onus should be solely on getting better players and fixing whatever is wrong with minor league player development. Most importantly, and many here will probably disagree but it is sr. mgmt's way of placing the blame on the players and the general manager.

Seems to me just about every major league team comes out with a similar article after the draft.