Cochise

QUOTE (The Beast @ May 20, 2008 -> 11:45 PM) Did the Sox even mention Richar being brought back up after he recovered from his injury, because right now, Alexei has looked good as of late, and Pablo is regaining form after last year's injury, too. Not really. But it would be nice to have a lefty bat off the bench. However, as someone noted, if we drop Ozuna, we'd have no true backup at 3rd. Which I never thought of. Fortunately Ozuna has started to look his pre-injury form recently. Tonight was a perfect example of pointing out my foolishness in overlooking the gaping hole on the bench as a backup 3B if we lose Crede. He got tossed and Pablo stepped up and had an RBI single. I'll gladly eat crow. SoxFanDude brought up a good point: could the Sox stand to lose a guy out of the pen and go with an 11 man pitching staff and a 5 man bench? No one has been too impressed with Wasserman and none of our pitchers in the minors seem major league ready just yet, except maybe Broadway, but lets let him develop a bit more maybe. That would open up a 5 man bench: a healthy Richar, Alexei/Juan (whoever sits and whoever steps up and starts), Ozuna, Anderson and Hall. I like that bench, especially if Richar comes out of the gate well. Seems pretty versatile with Alexei and Anderson able to play the outfield, Alexei (or Juan) and Pablo to fill in at 2B, Alexei (or Juan) able to play a real solid SS, and Pablo able to fill in at 3B.

I don't mean to rain on the parade, I'm as glad as anyone that we've won 6 in a row and we're on top of the division. I hope that most of these guys have turned a corner. We even got a win against Fat CC Sabathia. And I have been really satisfied with most facets of this team. The offense had a rough stretch there to begin the month of May. The pen has been good, thank God Mac the Knife (in the heart) was sent down. Dotel and Thornton have been on and off, but mostly on. And of course there has been the starting pitching, which has been a godsend, except for Buehrle, but we've been here before with him. I also partially blame his record and inflated ERA on shoddy defense behind him at times. There are a few issues with this team that I fear Ozzie has been a bit too complacent about. Cabrera, Thome and Konerko, and Dye's defense. The folks at Sox Machine also have also raised these issues as well. I don't know whats wrong with Thome and Paulie. I hate to see them struggling like this. It is also very frustrating. People have been calling for them to be benched or traded. I wouldn't trade either unless we are out of it come mid-July. Others have said that they are over the hill. I doubt that, as Thome put up team-leading numbers for the team last year in most offensive categories, and Paulie only turned 32 less than 3 months ago. I do think that Paulie needs to benched for a game. Or someone needs to realistically evaluate whats wrong with his hand. It seems like something has to be wrong. In the past 10 games, PK is 7 for 38 with 7 walks, 10 Ks, 1 RBI, and no extra-base hits. Keep in mind that it has been in the past 10 games that the offense has finally showed signs of life. If they're going to start in the same game, I'd like to see them separated in the lineup and not bat back-to-back. It has looked like since Thome's game winning single in the 9th last week against the Halos, that his lumber has risen from its slumber. The next issue has been Cabrera at the top of the order. The guy has been atrocious. I thought that maybe he would start to hit after Sunday's 2 HR game. However he looked terrible tonight. 0-5 with 7 LOB. I feel like he is taking the Sox out of big innings way too often. Has anyone followed his career in more depth? Has he had slow starts like this before? If so, has he recovered? I know the Sox love his presence in the Clubhouse, and Ozzie refers to him as the field general. But we can't have this kind of play out of the guy all year. Especially when we're having troubles with Konerko and Thome's hitting. Lastly, I have really been disgusted at times with Dye's play in RF at times. He had a nice diving catch the other night, but it seems like thats more of an exception than it is the rule as it had been when we first acquired the guy. I'd like to see how many runs he's cost us out there against how many he's saved. I'd be interested in seeing a corner outfield switch with the aging Dye-nosaur in LF and CQ in RF. Also, if we don't bring back Thome for next season, I could see JD at DH, though I don't know if he'd like that too much. These are just some thoughts I've had about the first quarter of the season. Right now, after a 6 game winning streak, everything looks rosy, and if it ain't broke don't fix it. But being a Sox fan, its not hard to find the negative and hope for better. We are only 1.5 games ahead and we have yet to go more than 4 games over .500 since the end of the 2006 season. Just looking at things that could be improved. Right now I'll take every W we can get.

QUOTE (Frankensteiner @ May 20, 2008 -> 06:57 PM) Cheap ass run for Cleveland there. Though I'd like to see the Sox put some runs like that every so often. Since reordering the lineup they sort-of have been. Hope they keep it up.

Following along on Gameday, it said "Injury Delay" a few minutes ago, can someone shed some light?

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 20, 2008 -> 04:26 PM) If I had to pick someone who is an FA etc, it would be Kenny Lofton Don't get me wrong, Lofton is a great player; a lefty with a .299 career avg who hit .296 last year. But is he really what this team needs? We have plenty of outfielders as it is. Some on this site have given up on Anderson, and some are all too ready to christen Jerry Owens as the speedy lefty outfielder to hit at the top of the order. Personally I'd like to see more of Owens at the big league level. There are pros and cons to both Owens and Lofton. As I said earlier, both are speedy lefty outfielders who can hit at the top of the order. Owens has yet to truly prove himself, but I'd like to think that he has the potential to be a solid contributor and everyday player. Lofton does have the resume working for him, but he will be 41 next week and maybe there is a reason why he is currently unemployed. In my opinion, everything I said about Owens above, I would apply to Danny Richar as well. I am hopeful that he will adjust and I have faith that he will and become a productive everyday player. So far everything that everyone has said on this thread I have mostly agreed with. We're in wait and see mode, as we really don't know where we're at right now. The next 13 games will hopefully shed some more light on what this team is really made of. Before we spend more money on brining in someone from the outside, lets see what we've got in-house. I'd like to see Danny Richar called up. He played a solid 2B last season. His stats last season in 187 AB most closely resemble OC's this season in 14 fewer AB. The top line is Richar's 2007 stats and the bottom is Cabrera's for 2008 thus far: G-----AB-----R------H----2B---3B--HR---RBI----BB----SO----SB----CS---AVG---OBP----SLG---OPS 56----187----30----43----9-----3----6-----15----16-----33-----1------3---.230----.289---.406---.696 43----173----27----39----4-----0----3-----11----14-----21-----5------1---.225----.284---.301---.585 Calling up Richar would mean we'd have to drop someone. With Alexei possibly heating up and adapting to big league pitching, maybe its time we cut our losses with Pablo. Though if Alexei continues to struggle, then I'd drop him to AAA in order to play regularly. Thoughts?

After going nearly 48 hours without Sox baseball, I go a little stir crazy. The Cubs picked up Edmonds recently as some insurance. I know its still May and we're (hopefully) starting to turn the corner offensively, but what would you like to see done to shore up this team and make a summertime push at running away with this division? Just kind of curious to hear what Soxtalk thinks this team needs. For instance, I'd really like to see a lefty bat on the bench, a Ross Gload type. Not that I don't appreciate all the Pablo Ozuna has done for the Sox, but he just hasn't been the same since breaking his leg, maybe its time we cut our losses. In an ideal world Alexei will begin to adapt to big league pitching and improve his D a bit (seems like he kind of has since Uribe went down). Juan could be a decent bench player, and maybe even the competition for a starting role would improve his game a little. But I'd still like to see a solid left handed bat off the bench. At the other end of this, who would you like to see the Sox pick up, if anyone at all? Who is even out there or possibly available? Unlike the Cubs getting Edmonds, there isn't anyone with potential out there that were cut from there teams. Its still is early in the season and lots of teams aren't willing to admit they don't have a shot. Either way, lets hear some ideas, lets play GM.

QUOTE (Brian @ May 18, 2008 -> 01:15 PM) Damn. I figure if I keep trying to make one liners, I'll get a good one at some point. I found it hilarious.

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ May 18, 2008 -> 02:11 AM) 05/22/2007, 42 games into the season CHW 23-19, 4 games over .500 (WPCT: .548) 3.5 out of 1st Place (3rd in Div) 6-4 in last 10 games Home: 11-9 Away: 12-10 RS:178 RA:186 05/18/2008, 42 games into the season CHW 22-20, 2 games over .500 (WPCT: .524) 1st Place 7-3 in last 10 games Home: 9-7 Road: 13-13 RS:187 RA:162 overall, in the grand scheme of things we aren't really better than we were last year and in terms of record, we managed to be playing better in terms of wins/losses in 2007 after 42 games, and we were still only in 3rd place comparing last year to this year, though, we gave up 24 more runs last year after 42 games, and scored 9 fewer runs than this year. so we're scoring more (slightly...) and allowing much fewer runs, but we have a worse record to show for it this offense is hard to watch a really good team absolutely destroys the giants yesterday against Zito but, what can you do.. Dude, you really put it in perspective. Offensively, we aren't that much better. However, our pitching has been phenomenal. Thats what separates us from last year. Also, I totally agree with WSF, the 2005 offense was so boring. We all look back upon that entire season with rose colored glasses, but I remember talking to a friend then about how we were boring to watch, and it was a good thing we had good pitching... This team could be really fun to watch. I like the new batting order and hope we stay with it. A lot of wasted opportunities last night, hopefully that was due to lots of starters taking the night off. I really feel like we need an extended winning streak right now. Lets build on these 4 games and put the 0-6 road trip to start the month off behind us. How bout a 17-12 May? It would take a real strong finish, come on White Sox!

QUOTE (fathom @ May 16, 2008 -> 09:33 PM) I hate to say this, as watching White Sox games is something I look forward to every day. However, this team is boring. At least during the corpseball era, they would light up the scoreboard a few times each week. I hear you man, they are boring. Lots of men left on base or a string of innings where they'll go 1-2-3 and see about 10 pitches. They started off playing exciting baseball. The last time they were exciting was the Home Opener when Crede hit his grand slam. I mean they have been exciting since, but nothing consistent over a period of a few games. Hopefully this changes as the season progresses. I still get some excitement every time CQ steps up to the plate.

I don't hate Thome. I don't want to Blue Jay the guy or anything. Just lately he has been God awful at the plate. Give him some time off to figure out whats wrong, adjust and fix it. Its like when I was a kid he'd come to the plate with the Indians and I'd get sick to my stomach. Unfortunately this season, as a member of the Sox, I still get sick to my stomach when he's comes up to the plate.

I like CQ in the 3 spot. It obviously paid dividends thus far. I'm still sick of Thome. 0-4 with 2 Ks and 3 LOB. Preferably I'd bench Thome for a few days, put Dye-nosaur at DH, move Swish to RF and start Anderson at CF. Cabrera- SS Pierzynski- C Quentin- LF Dye-nosaur- DH Crede- 3B Konerko- 1B Anderson-CF Swisher- RF Uribe-2B I think this lineup does some damage. Thome gets some needed rest and maybe figures out how to hit again. We take Dye-nosaur out of the field and the defense improves with Anderson and he gets some regular at bats.

How do y'all think we'll do against Garland? A lot of these guys played with him for years, but technically they have never seen his stuff before. Predictions?

More of the same with quickly getting 2 outs and then not getting the third out right away.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 14, 2008 -> 10:51 PM) The weirdest post in soxtalk history goes to.....NorthSideSox15 Quite an honor. Obviously I couldn't have done this without Paulie. On a serious note, I am sick and tired of this team not moving runners along and the fact that we're so slow, we're not going to score a much needed run off that double. F'ing Swisher.

Theres a bunch of angry dudes out there with chains and brass knuckles who are ready to give Paulie two bad thumbs now. He was only allowed 2 pitches and he had to hit into a double play.

Paulie has two pitches or someone's going to break his legs.

I like how each Angel batter in that inning saw as many pitches as the Sox have in an entire inning for the past 4 innings.

Nice. Caught stealing.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 14, 2008 -> 10:32 PM) 81 pitches for Lackey after being at 45 after 2 innings. Seriously. 9, 8, 9, and 11 pitches in innings 3-6, respectively. I said it earlier, and maybe I am beating a dead Thome, I mean horse, but is someone paying these guys to be impatient and see less than 10 pitches in an inning? We were working him in the first two innings. This offense is impotent. Someone get them some Viagra.

Wow 11 pitches!

QUOTE (fathom @ May 14, 2008 -> 10:22 PM) Jose's wildness getting him in a lot of trouble. I can't remember who said this on the radio today, but the White Sox are just really boring to watch right now. So true. Aggravating too. Unless people out there find watching an aging offense struggling to produce interesting. If so I would recommend watching paint dry as well.

Is someone paying these guys to get through an inning in 10 pitches or less?

We made Lackey throw 44 pitches in the first 2 innings (23 in the 1st and 21 in the second.) The least two innings we only saw 17 (9 and 8).

Another inning where the offense sees less than 10 pitches. I may start recording these.

This offense has to lead the league in innings in which they see less than 10 pitches.