DBAHO

Cora likes to put the pressure on opposing OF defenders by forcing the issue more often than not. He's not as bad as Waving Wally, but most of his decisions regarding our slower base runners like Kong and A.J tonight have not paid off. QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 22, 2006 -> 03:01 PM) We seem so slow on the field. One of the most underrated downfalls of this team right now is the throwing arms of our outfielders. It's unbelievable that we haven't thrown out a guy at home all season. Cora has got to show more patience with our slow runners, and especially when we're trailing by more than one run. Dye and BA have got 2 of the better OF arms for the position in all of the majors. How that stat can be I don't know, but it's not because those 2 don't have the talent. Podsednik on the other hand, well yeah we know about his arm.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 22, 2006 -> 01:59 PM) Let's get off this Coop crap. Isn't Mazzone Coop Sr.? He couldn't do anything with the guy. Coop needs to concentrate on fixing the greatest rotation in the history of baseball. There are a lot of current White Sox pitchers who Coop needs to work with, and get some results or it won't matter who KW acquires. Mazzone's done jack with the Baltimore SP's this season regardless. But yes, Coop has fixed some guys like Thornton, but unfortunately more importantly, others like Buerhle and Garcia have gone backwards big time this season, and it may end up costing us a playoff spot when it's all said and done.

QUOTE(IowaSoxFan @ Jul 22, 2006 -> 12:36 PM) I think a trade of Garcia and Valido is probably good enough to get Hawkins and Cabrera. I think Baltimore would be at that offer personally.

Well this is a nice welcome to the majors for Littleton.

I called our interest in Cabrera about a week back when he was first optioned to AAA, thought that we would definitely be interested in him because of his stuff and Coop. And yeah he may drive you insane like fathom said, but didn't we say that about Matt Thornton when he first arrived on the Southside?

QUOTE(dasox24 @ Jul 22, 2006 -> 06:34 AM) I think I'm going with Liverpool b/c I do think Crouch is funny. God, he looks so out of place... The best nickname I've heard for him is the Anorexic Matchstick. Hopefully he pulls out the robot a few times this season.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jul 22, 2006 -> 01:06 AM) Well, Minyana might start panicking a little, because supposedly the Cardinals are somewhat close to acquiring Dontrelle Willis. I was going to start a new thread in here about that, but I know what the reputation mlbtraderumors.com has around here, so I figure I will just mention it here. I think Minyana may panic were St Louis to acquire Dontrelle, as Omar might have to actually think about fortifying his rotation for an NLCS matchup. I continue to believe Freddy for Heilman and Humber may be more realistic than anyone here is willing to accept, especially if some other NL contenders (the few that actually exist) add a piece or two. I think at the end of the day Minaya WILL acquire a SP. You just can't go in with Steve Trachsel as your 3rd starter, when he hasn't been pitching well. The million dollar question here is however, if Minaya can get a Miguel Batista or Livan Hernandez cheaper than say Freddy Garcia (most likely Washington and the D-Backs would just ask for prospects and not a bullpen piece like Sanchez and Heilman), wouldn't Minaya be better off just doing that instead? Not like there's much difference b/w the 3 pitchers ATM anyways. Very interesting to hear on Willis though. Who would the Cards be giving up here? Maybe some pieces like Reyes and some stud prospects perhaps?

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jul 22, 2006 -> 12:58 AM) I don't dislike Jimmy Rollins, but as you said, that contract isn't club-friendly. As for his OBP, it has never been very good, as it is .327 for his career. Even with his 36 game hitting streak to end the season last year, he still only finished with an OBP of .338. He does show a bit more power than Pods, but he is on pace right now for a .740 OPS, which isn't any better than Podsednik. Additionally, I am happy with Uribe's healthy, although extremely inconsistent production right now at the plate. I know he has a sub-.700 OPS and that is a huge concern for some, but he is on pace for 20/86 right now despite his poor BA and bb rate. He currently has an OPS above .800 with RISP, and is one of the better players on our team in a man-on-third with less than 2 outs situation (despite what he did yesterday). That and what he does with the glove...well, I have no problems with Juan at his salary unless the Yankees start listening to Steve Phillips and decide to deal ARod. Ideally Rollins would be a very good #9 or even #2 hitter, but just not as a leadoff guy, and that's really what the Sox will be looking for if we're looking for a Pods replacement. But it shows how hard that may be if they can't end up with a guy like Crawford. I think Uribe sometimes just frustrates the hell out of everyone with his inconsistency, and the fact that'll he'll never really improve because his swing can change from one AB to the next. I guess what he did at the start of his White Sox career in the #2 hole, had some people including myself comparing him to a young potential Miggy Tejada, and unfortunately those comparisons aren't ever going to bear true. That RISP stat is a good one though, and it shows how many guys in our lineup have done a great job at that, and how important it is for Pods or Ozuna to hit well. Usually when they do, we win, if not, we may struggle to score, the Detroit series being a pretty good example.

QUOTE(Frankensteiner @ Jul 22, 2006 -> 12:52 AM) Those Garcia for Milledge/Sanchez rumors sure seem realistic now. We'll be lucky to get Heilman, imo. And as I mentioned yesterday, there's no way we're getting Tom Gordon for Freddy. Minaya came out yesterday and said the only person he would consider trading Milledge for is Dontrelle Willis and he ain't available. And really considering how Cliff Floyd won't be a Met next season (think his contract is up), it never made sense from the start for them to give up a potential 10 year stud in Milledge for a guy in Garcia that they may only have for a season and a half and not even produce very well.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 11:33 PM) The recap mentions Boone Logan with another good outing, and it was, scoreless inning with his ERA down to 3.65 now. As jittery as he was in Chicago, he has settled in nicely for the Knights. He's now either something to be excited about for the future ... or definite trade bait Considering the lack of lefty relievers in our system (since Fabio Castro ain't coming back), I think they'll hang onto Logan, and he'll try to win a job on the team out of ST next season. It's good to see him doing a lot better now though. Going from rookie ball to pro ball was a hell of a jump, let alone AAA ball which is a big step up in class as well.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 05:11 PM) The Dodgers could really use a starting pitcher. The only question thus far has been whether Coletti would give up any of the kids to get one. Maddux has been mentionned repeatedly out here. That said, Baez is not worth either Garcia or Vazquez. I don't think they're in that bad shape SP wise now, if Tomko can show he's over his injury problems (coming back out of the pen now anyways). At least for the Dodgers, Billingsley looks like he's settling down and really starting to produce.

Looks like KW wants that young pitching prospect to be included as well. I ask for Humber. Pelfrey is way too unrealistic. Humber's a bit of a boom or bust with his injury problems. But if Minaya has problems making a deal elsewhere, maybe he'll come back to us. There should be other possibilites as the deadline approaches though.

I actually think Ryan Sweeney would be a must inclusion if I'm the Tampa Bay Brass. The problems of Young and Dukes have been well documented. Like iamshack said they are starting to view Gomes as a DH, which long - term makes the most sense. Baldelli is also not a good bet to stay healthy throughout the length of his contract. So I could see them being interested in a guy like Sweeney. It looks like Upton may be up soon with the big club; So maybe you wouldn't have to involve Fields in the deal. Tampa Bay want good young pitching though. They're on the right track with the young players they've brought in like Navarro, and that should continue. But if they ask for B-Mac, I look elsewhere. We control B-Mac's rights for about another 4 and a bit seasons, most of that will be pretty cheap. And that's crucial with our payroll, offering you the flexibility to make moves to upgrade the teams elsewhere. If you can get away with a Broadway, Sweeney + more prospects deal for Crawford, by all means do it. Whether the D-Rays would do that, when they rejected Ervin Santana, unfortunately I don't think so.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jul 22, 2006 -> 12:36 AM) The Abreu developments are pretty stunning to me, if no reason other than the fact that Jim Duquette admitted last night that the Baltimore Sun had correctly reported that the Phillies and Orioles were actually discussing a deal which would send Rodrigo Lopez to the Phils for Bobby Abreu. He claimed the deal was "unlikely" however, because Abreu likely wouldn't waive his no trade clause to go to Baltimore without having his $16 million option picked up for 08'. Then, you suddenly get wind that the Mets may be willing to part with Milledge for Abreu after all, which seems somewhat like offerring $1 million at an auction when the previous bidder bid $500. Strange. As for Rollins, he is intriguing, if none other than his speed, but alas, I think he would eventually be taken behind the shed by Sox fans just as Pods has conintually been. It shows how desperate Pat Gillick is to unload the salaries of Abreu and Burrell and re-invest that into pitching. That's always been the mould of his teams. I mentioned Rollins because yeah he offers you the speed, but he would also be a big upgrade at SS over Juan Uribe. Certainly is offensively, and he's fairly good defensively as well, not Uribe good, but better than an Alex Cintron. Just a question on his OBP which is subpar ATM, but would he get back to the way he was hitting a few seasons back if he moved here, just like Pods did? Plus it would allow you to move Josh Fields to LF right now, and get him to take over for Pods in 07.

Will people be devastated anyway if we end up making the playoffs even if we can't pass Detroit?

QUOTE(dasox24 @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 05:22 PM) I just don't know. What I do know is that I saw the clip of those two Newcastle teammates fighting in a game in '05, which was pretty funny. I can't believe the ref red-carded both of them. They were on the same team! Yeah Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer. Actually Bowyer signed for West Ham this off-season. Will be interesting to see how he fits in. Was a damn good offensive attacking midfielder back in the Leeds United days.

QUOTE(dasox24 @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 04:43 PM) Correct, but you also have to add in that the payrole is high now after winning the championship. Doesn't exist, huh? Well, that sucks. I guess I'm gonna have to call my sister's boyfriend, who lived in England in grade school, and ask him who he likes because I know he's a huge soccer fan. I've just never talked to him about it b/c I've never really liked soccer 'till now. Maybe Newcastle would be the team for you. They wear the same type of colours as the White Sox (Black and White), and they almost beat Manchester United for the Title a few seasons back.

QUOTE(danman31 @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 04:37 PM) Yeah Spector grew up in Arlington Heights (same as McBride), which is Chicago area and 20ish minutes from me. I've been tracking him since a pretty big deal was made about him signing for Man U and then playing that US tour game in Chicago. Apparently he can play all 4 defensive positions, so that added versatility will help him immensely. But he'll have to get past Konchesky - Gabbidon - Ferdinand (Rio's younger brother) and Mears if he wants a spot. Mears is another young player we just signed, so that would probably be his best chance at right back.

QUOTE(danman31 @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 06:33 AM) And DBAH0, you should mention that Jonathan Spector, American stud defender, is playing at West Ham now. Yep, and he's an Illinois native to boot. QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 07:12 AM) 11. West Ham players snort cocaine. Not like Shaun Newton was any good anyway. QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 06:44 AM) Where the hell do you guys find out about these transfers? Usually Planetfootball and Soccernet are the best places to look. But if you are looking for gossip, check out this link at about 11-midnight your time every day; http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/default.stm Click on Relevant Day's Gossip.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 01:02 PM) There's some talk that the Padres and Red Sox are discussing a deal involving Mike Lowell. I heard they were interested in Adrian Beltre instead. Bill Bavasi (still one of the worst GM's in the game ATM mind you), would probably love to get out of that deal. Either way it looks like Kevin Towers is hellbent on upgrading at 3rd base. Hillenbrand makes sense for them if they can get him.

QUOTE(dasox24 @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 04:26 PM) Well, thank you. You gave me the opportunity, so you get the credit. But, I hope others feel the same way on Monday. Btw, he refered to himself as "Luke" when I answered the phone, so I wonder if he would spell that "Luke" or "Luc"? I mean, his first name is "Lucas." Just call him Skywalker if you can't decide.

QUOTE(BHAMBARONS @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 04:26 PM) I have seen Baez a lot this year and he is struggling badly. Missing not only out of the zone but in the strike zone also. He also has been bailed out by pitching at Dodger Stadium. Saito I can bet at the begining of the season never thought he would be closing games for the Dodgers starting in June considering Gagne, Yhency Brazoban and then Danys Baez ahead of him. It's funny how things work out sometimes isn't it. But it also shows why it's SO important to have good depth in your bullpen in case these type of things come up.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 04:15 PM) When did Bull join Mobile? I know he had been pitching somewhere else. He get traded or released? I think Alex mentioned it a few weeks back. Got an oppurtunity with San Diego too if he can pitch well, they go through a few bullpen guys there.

QUOTE(dasox24 @ Jul 21, 2006 -> 01:41 PM) Cassel really excites me. I think he's a big time sleeper in the organization. He's got some filthy stuff and great credentials dating back to high school. He's going to surprise a lot of people for being a 7th rounder. I also believe he'll be in a starters role next season. Yeah there's a couple of guys doing well in rookie ball pitching wise like Cassell to definitely keep an eye on. Ramon Sanchez who's won 5 of his starts was another that caught me eye, but then I saw he's 23.

Very lucky for the Dodgers they had Saito to fill in.