southsidehawkeye

Gavin seemed to have Detroit's number last year. Im optimistic that he will continue that tomorrow.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Apr 4, 2008 -> 09:53 PM) League average? Have you ever seen him out there? He can't read flyballs, and has possibly the weakest arm in all of baseball. To say he's a league average CF is beyond asinine. Although i dont think he is a horrible CFer, gotta agree with you on the arm thing... he is at the bottom of the list. http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/...d-arms-of-2007/ i thought that was a pretty nice breakdown of OF arms. Owens was 3rd to last in CF. Who was bringing up the tail end of the list? Juan Pierre.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Apr 4, 2008 -> 09:23 PM) He has more than 4 pitches. And he throws them ALL for strikes. He has mid-90's ability right now if he unleashed it, he was hitting 94 on gameday IIRC, but its his other stuff thats nasty. When I watched him this afternoon, it appears he either learned a splitty or its just a different change. Not that he does or would ever throw it in a game, but i think Bobby throw a knuckleball. I thought I remember hearing that he threw BP to gear up for a game against a knuckleball pitcher once (maybe Wakefield?).

Love how our Bullpen is looking early in the year! Dotel/Logan-Linebrink-Jenks looks like it could be an excellent way to finish off ballgames. Quentin making the most of his early opportunities also! Lets get game two tomorrow!!! :gosox3:

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 3, 2008 -> 08:38 PM) I'm actually going to have to take you to task on this...yes, last year Fields had a decent year for a rookie. But Fields only played 2/3 of a season at 3rd, Joe Crede with a back injury played a good chunk of the season there. So while Fields may be a better hitter, simply saying that Fields is better than Crede and therefore we've downgraded at 3rd base offensively simply isn't correct. If Crede put up Crede Average numbers for a season, .260 BA, .750 or so OPS, over a full season, that's going to be an upgrade over Fields with a .785 OPS for 2/3 of a season and Crede with a .500 OPS for 1/3 of a season. While Joe Crede's average production is better than Field's last season, his 2006 numbers are pushing those numbers up. If we get 2006 Crede, he certainly is an upgrade over Fields' 2007 numbers but if we get the 2003-2005 Crede his number are at best a push to Fields last year (similar average/OBP, Josh put up similar power numbers in less ABs). So IMO its hard to call if 3B will be an upgrade offensively this year or not with Crede playing, only time will tell which Joe shows up i guess.

QUOTE(lostfan @ Apr 3, 2008 -> 06:36 PM) Mack was not a problem offensively in 2007, or ever. In fact, if we weren't completely loaded with outfielders, I'd be missing him a lot right now. yeah, not sure why I included his name there. He was a good bat on the bench. I think my mind must have just starting listing the guys we got rid of... however, I stand by the overall message of my post. I think that with the additions made and our players hopefully not collectively having some of their worst offensive years will lead to more runs scored in 2008.

I think Hawk was right on this one. The offense will be better, and that is all that really needs to be said on that topic. Last year our hitters were bad... really, really bad. Even the ones that are usually pretty good. By my count we had 7 hitters with 350+ ABs, them being: Name - AVG/OBP - HR - RBI Thome - .275/.410 - 35 - 96 Konerko - .259/.351 - 31 - 90 Dye - .254/.317 - 31 - 90 Fields - .244/.308 - 23 - 67 Owens - .267/.324 - 1 - 17 Uribe - .234/.284 - 20 - 68 AJ - .263/.309 - 14 -50 Now, I didnt look up each players career averages, but it wouldn't surprise me if not a single one reached them. Also, once Iguchi left we didnt really have a good #2 hitter, and we lacked a lead off hitter (owens did a better job in the second half, but still not stellar). We also dropped Erstad, Pods, Mack, Terrerro, etc... none of whom did much of anything to deserve even being on a major league roster last year. Now look at what we have this year. Swisher, Cabrera, Thome, Konerko, Dye, Crede, AJ. Swisher/Cabrera are a huge upgrade over who the replaced on the offense. And assuming our other vets wont collectively fall in the crapper again, I'd say we will certainly score more runs than last year. No matter how long Uribe/Crede are in the lineup, or even if Ramirez/Anderson/Quentin/Owens/Richar have serious problems at the plate. Last year was bad, and it'll be hard not to improve. But, if the question is has this offense improved enough to make play for the top of our division... that is a whole different debate.

QUOTE(almagest @ Apr 2, 2008 -> 09:38 PM) Maybe it wouldn't have made any difference, but I sure would've liked to see Quentin or Anderson in the lineup today. I bet we'll see at least one of the tomorrow. Its a day game right?

QUOTE(TitoMB345 @ Apr 2, 2008 -> 07:32 PM) AJ has the worst job in the MLB. Get on base, stay on base. He knows damn well he ain't gonna score. haha, he showed you!

Its currently 70 degrees in Havana, Cuba. Alexei looks cooooooold. haha, welcome to the midwest.

QUOTE(JFields27 @ Apr 2, 2008 -> 06:56 PM) Transformation has been made to haha, that makes me want to cry...

QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Apr 2, 2008 -> 06:35 PM) You have a history of criticizing every player on the White Sox. Give me a break. We're 11 innings into the season. I agree that it is way too soon to be calling for him to grab the bench... you have to at least give him a little bit of time to settle in, he probably has some serious nerves out there. Lets remember that he is a rookie that just defected from Cuba in his first MLB game(s). He had a great spring and earned his spot on the team. Now... should it be in CF? I would argue no. But Im ready to give him a little slack if he gets off to a slower start than we would hope. There are others on the team, who have been in the majors for much longer who deserve to be on a short leash but I think Alexei needs a little bit of room to grow. But, that just my opinion.

QUOTE(JorgeFabregas @ Apr 2, 2008 -> 03:10 PM) Scott Reifert's blog has been updated and says Lineup: Swisher, CF; Cabrera, SS; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Ramirez, CF; Crede, 3B; Uribe, 2B. Vazquez pitching. Yes, it has both Swisher and Ramirez playing CF. Two Centerfielders is a bold strategy. Maybe Ozzie figured that Ramirez needs some help over there.

QUOTE(ChiSox35 @ Apr 2, 2008 -> 03:00 PM) southsidehawkeye sez: "at least we wont have to watch Uribe strike out 3 more times tonight" ...or hit a double... haha, very true. I think I just have lost a lot of faith in Uribe's offense over the last year or two. Its gonna take more than one double for him to get it back. I want more hitters that put the bat on the ball more than once a game.

QUOTE(soxfn4life @ Apr 2, 2008 -> 02:48 PM) Todays Lineup Ozuna, 2B; Cabrera, SS; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Swisher, LF; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Crede, 3B; Ramirez, CF. Javy pitching. Got it from an MLB blog, dont know how accurate. I certainly like that lineup better than our opening day one, although I wish Anderson was in CF and Alexi at 2nd. At least we wont have to watch Uribe strike out 3 more times tonight. Lets get that first "W" tonight!

QUOTE(Want2Repeat @ Apr 1, 2008 -> 06:04 PM) On his show, Jim Rome said today, people who try to pass off April Fools jokes are essentially lame. He specifically gave the scenario of somebody saying, hey, did you hear the Red Sox traded Josh Beckett to the Yankees? This thread fits right into his rant. If you ask me, it sounds to me like Jim Rome has fallen for his share of April Fools trade rumors.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Apr 1, 2008 -> 01:03 PM) Lol, I might have been fooled if the same thing didnt happen the past 2 years. Didn't The Score do this once, saying that Griffey was coming to the Whitesox? I may have my memories mixed up though. Anyways, good April Fools! I would be lying if I said you didn't get me for a sec (at least until I got myself 'Rick Rolled').

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 31, 2008 -> 07:00 PM) I want 1. Swish LF 2. O cab SS 3. Thome 4. Kong 5. Dye 6. AJP 7. BA CF 8. Crede 3B 9 A-ram 2B vs Carmona. I second that. Get BA in CF, and if Spring-Alexi shows up he'd be a great guy to have hitting #9.

Overall Im pretty happy with the first game of the year. Although Buehrle imploded in the second, I dont think there is a sole in Chicago who thinks that will become the norm, it may be the only time it happens this year. After he was taken out his team really did a lot to get back in the game. Masset looked great, and although Im not ready to call him a major league reliever... this certainly was a step in the right direction. The offense looked good overall, they crawled back in the game and Thome was a monster. I loved that Swisher/Cabrera combo at the top of the lineup, they were great. Ramirez had some rought ABs, I wasnt too happy when he struck out with men in scoring position near the end... but he is a rookie and he looked like someone in his first game. I liked the adjustments he made against CC and ended up drawing a walk in the 6th, so overall it wasnt a total let down, I think he'll be fine. Watching Uribe strike out 3 times and Crede pop out to make the last out brought back some nasty memories, lets hope those two dont keep on that track. Every season there are rough losses... its just a shame that we had to watch one on opening day. I do think this team will be okay. one last note: that diving stop Cabrera had was sick, should have been a great out if Paulie makes the pick.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Mar 31, 2008 -> 05:19 PM) yikes - Ramirez. I'm unimpressed. He needs to work on the curveball thing... doesnt seem to be picking them up very well. He did draw a nice walk in the 6th though, and had a pretty nice catch in center. although it was far from an impressive first outing, he wasnt horrible either IMO. Give him a little time and I think he'll be quite a good hitter.

Well JD doesn't seem to think the game is over quite yet... come on Alexi, keep it going!

QUOTE(WSoxMatt @ Mar 31, 2008 -> 05:04 PM) What bothers me most is 3 bad calls by 3 different umpires Is Ozzie still in the game? I couldnt believe he didnt get thrown out after Crede's slide home. I was out of the room for the O-Cab play, but I feel this is one of those games the manager needs to get himself thrown out of, its a good way to keep your players heart in the game. I would be a little bothered at Ozzie if he is still sitting in the dugout

QUOTE(WilliamTell @ Mar 30, 2008 -> 05:01 PM) Welcome aboard, do you go to Iowa? i did, graduated last May.

QUOTE(WilliamTell @ Mar 30, 2008 -> 04:08 PM) ALMOST HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what is this, the 4th year we've opened with the Indians? I know it's at least the 4th year. yeah, seems like we've been drawing them an awful lot lately... i kinda like it though, good to start the season off with an inner-division rival game. Plus CC vs Buehrle is always a fun match up. Lets start the season off with a solid win!

I believe that he was telling the truth on everything that he said in his first book, I think history has proven him to be giving his honest word. However, when he says things like "It isn't the right time" when asked to provide proof on his A-Rod statements, he begins to look like someone who is simply trying to stay in the spotlight and make more $$ to me. Maggs was very shady with how he handled his injury, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he took PEDs, but I havent really decided if Conseco's new book is trustworthy or not. On a side note, if you had info on A-Rod and were writing a tell-all book on PEDs in the MLB, wouldnt you include the info in your first book? It just sounds really fishy to me.