Flash Tizzle

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 1, 2007 -> 11:34 PM) Former Angels prospect Abel Moreno is starting for the Pioneers. You understand the former part. He can't find the zone. Even though there's no radar gun, Moreno can't possibly be throwing above 85. Stellar defense already. lol.

On channel 11 at 11:30ct begins this monumental matchup between two heated division rivals. Well, actually I have no idea whether these teams are in the same division, much less rivals. I just noticed flipping through the channels this game was coming up and thought I'd give a heads up to anyone interested in watching quality baseball. I'm tuning in for the possibility our Israeli equivalent of Francisco Liriano is playing. Probably some name along the lines of Fishel Lirianoberg. Enjoy the game!

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Jul 1, 2007 -> 05:44 PM) why? you've got until July 31st. You think the value of our players is going to go down the closer we get to that date, or up? what the hell's the big f'n rush. There's no rush, unless you can assure me Buehrle doesn't regress these next several weeks (as he did last season) or more teams will enter the bidding. All I know of Buehrle is how he's pitched thus far, and that a contract extension appears dead. Nothing else from this point forward is guaranteed. I believe we're taking a risk assuming his value will remain where it is now in several weeks.

I knew last week, before anything was released concerning which teams were linked with high profile players, that the Sox weren't going to be anywhere in the discussion. Doesn't surprise me. The White Sox don't outbid anyone for top talent, whether it be the international or national market. However, that's not to say our or involvement in the region hasn't changed within the last several years. Similar to the amateur draft, there's plenty of talent outside of marquee names commanding top salaries. DLS, for instance. I don't know the exact date he signed or for what amount, but reading accounts of his velocity (coupled with quality statistics as of now), you'd wonder how he wasn't noticed. All I ask for is an increased presence in the region. Whether it be the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela; wherever. We need to take advantage of a system in which everyone is afforded an equal opportunity. One in which draft position doesn't matter. Yes, New York and Boston are still prominent figures; but I take comfort in knowing any team can sign any player. Winning bids for players rarely exceed one million, which is hardly in comparison to MLB bidding wars.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jul 1, 2007 -> 01:16 PM) You do not promote DLS to Birmingham. You promote him to Winston Salem. Absolutely no reason to just throw the guy over high A ball. I agree, no need to rush him. Especially with Gonzalez, Egbert, Floyd, Broadway ahead of him. At the earliest, he should be pitching in Chicago by 2009. And that's if everything goes well concerning his health and adjustments to the various levels.

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Jun 30, 2007 -> 09:03 PM) Anything is possible, but the bats really need to heat up. With Detroit's loss, we are 11GB from the WC. Not impossible, especially with all the games we have vs Detroit left. I was just glad to see Danks have a very solid outing after he struggled to even pitch 6 innings over his last few starts. Today's game did nothing to convince me of an offensive resurgence. Today's win did nothing to convince me a trade isn't necessary. We're bad. We're not winning anything this year. The sooner we realize this, the better. The 2007 White Sox are not jumping seven teams to win the wild card. I hope everyone realizes we're three games from being the worst in the league. If Buehrle isn't signing a contract extension he needs to leave immediately. Receive something for him now. Grant whichever team trades for him a window to work out an extended contract. Forget about 2007 and finally people the superfans to rest. QUOTE(iamshack @ Jun 30, 2007 -> 09:12 PM) Tomorrow is a big game, but one we should win with Jon on the mound. Coming home off a 6-1 road trip should bring some level of excitement to the homestand, especially considering Mark will be scheduled to open the homestand. If we can get a win tomorrow, Monday becomes a huge game against Erik Bedard. If you get that one, I like the pitching matchups for the remainder of the Baltimore series. Come on guys, lets get the next two games. If you get those, you move to 7 back of .500 with some very winnable games ahead of you and finally, some momentum behind us. Yesterday would have been a nice one to get to keep the streak going, but we've got to take what we can get. Let's make a push going into the ASB... It's over. Admit it. So, we win the next two games and fall within 7 games of .500 -- what does it ultimately do but give people such as yourself false optimism? Haven't we had the last several months to know what this team can do? One more week won't do anything. According to some, the stretch against the National League was an opportunity to climb back into the race. What happened? We slipped back further into Royals territory. They had the chance to rebound and BLEW IT. It's time to look towards the future. Enough waiting. If we wait one week, then it'll become two...then three...then four. Then afterwards we'll hear about all the division games remaining, as well as the second half resurgence of past teams. If losses make Williams speed everything up, I'll cheer for it. I don't care if anyone calls me a bad fan. People can't let go of this season, and it's becoming quite sad.

Yeah, that's great. About Buehrle, his fate should still be decided by Tuesday (at the latest) regardless of our success these next few days.

QUOTE(hitlesswonder @ Jun 30, 2007 -> 08:41 PM) The only real disturbing thing about this episode is that it underscores how the Sox severely limit the ways they can acquire talent. They don't deal with Boras clients -- free agents or draft. They don't like offering arbitration so they avoid extra picks and signing bonuses. They won't draft hard signs or pay above slot money. They won't pay market rate for free agents. They won't sign guys to below market deals if they are close to being 5&10 players. It essentially relies on the farm system and cheap FAs to perform extremely well. It's tough to make that work with terrible drafting and development. Absolutely. Which is why I continue to hold high expectations for any forthcoming trade involving a starting pitcher or positional player. This route of acquiring talent may be one of the few we could anticipate high upside talent. I'm not holding any excuses for Williams. If there's trouble convincing a team to unload blue chip prospects, then it's the responsibility of his scouts to identify players in lower levels. Oh, and there's also the bustling international talent pool to consider. Something we've obviously ignored for quite awhile. I'm thinking when July 2nd comes around -- the date for signing international players -- we're going to find out the future superstarts which the White Sox aren't going to get. If we're competing anytime before 2010 it'll be a minor miracle.

I'm going to be upset if I wake up Tuesday morning and Buehrle is still a member of this ballclub. Without proof to back myself up, I'm guessing Monday's start at home will be -- and should be -- his last. It's probably more of a sentimental move than anything else. The crowd will cheer him regardless of results, and maybe we'll get to see a tear roll down his cheek. If all publicaitons indicate a break-down between the two parties because of a no-trade clause (which I personally doubt), then there should be no quesitons left as to his future with the ballclub. Grant whichever team provides the best package the negotiating window, and say goodbye once and for all.

QUOTE(chisox2334 @ Jun 29, 2007 -> 09:10 PM) someone on the whitesoxinteractive reported that buerhle camp rejected sox offer and sox will continue to look trade him ORLY? I'm at the point where whatever conclusion is reached between Buehrle and Sox management, I just want it to occur quickly. Having this issue linger over the team for several weeks is another unwarranted distraction in an already abysmal season. If it were up to me, Buehrle would either be signed long term or traded by the end of this weekend. This issue shouldn't be mentioned before, during, and after everyone of his remaining starts, as we've seen several days ago.

I'll about guarantee the home run he surrendered was off a hanging breaking ball. Anyone have information about his pitch count? This performance should earn him some attention across baseball.

Yeah, that De Los Santos character is kind of good. Six innings pitched for him tonight, only has given one hit and has struck out 10.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 29, 2007 -> 07:23 PM) Two of the better fastballs this year for Contreras....pull him!!!! Radar gun on WCIU doesn't appear to be false, either. Contreras threw conventionally and, low and behold, velocity returned to a level it hasn't reached in over a year.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jun 27, 2007 -> 11:06 PM) In a year or two, if you put together a rotation of Buehrle, Garland, Danks, Gio, and Gavin...that could be really, really, really good, and pretty darn cheap too. Not bad, but I'm hardly thrilled about the aforementioned names competing with a potential rotation of Verlander, Miller, Bonderman, Porcello. I believe we'll need an unforseen pitcher to emerge from the depths of our system (or from outside via trade) to legitimately match those within the division. An unquestionable ace. DLS may be that person, but he's not far enough in his development to answer one way or another. Still, wouldn't mind two or three more pitchers of similar stature to suppliment the system in the event injures/ineffectiveness occur.

QUOTE(JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Jun 27, 2007 -> 08:43 PM) i know that was 100% sarcastic but seriously don't you think that having pods in the lineup does help this team score more runs? or would you say its merely a coincidence, honestly Podsednik in the lineup does help the lineup score more runs. He's certaintly a better option than Erstad, A. Gonzalez, or the current reincarnation of Iguchi. That doesn't change a whole lot when the only two threats in the lineup are Konerko and Thome. Key is having someone, anyone, capable of reaching base. What Podsednik brings is our best option, but we can and should do much better in the future.

QUOTE(winninguglyin83 @ Jun 27, 2007 -> 08:37 PM) let's remember this club couldn't beat the Cubs or Phillies and nearly got swept by Pittsburgh and Florida. That was before Podsednik returned and provided our team with a spark. He was charging his grinder battery in the Cubs series, so that technically doesn't count. Everything begins now. There are soooo many games left within the division, anyways. We can make up 13 games easily.

Nothing like a potential sweep against the Devil Rays to provide our fans with emtpy optimism . I have a feeling Jphat may coincidentally find his way back onto Soxtalk.

Speaking to no one in particular, I'll throw this out -- if Williams has no intention of signing Buehrle, he should have already been traded. I just hate to think what could happen to his value if, god forbid, he's injured; or begins a streak of giving up 4+ runs in several consecutive starts. Then whatever value he had in his walk-year would be diminished even further. And yes, I realize he could injured any millions of ways living his life. However, if it were up to me and I knew Buehrle wouldn't sign with the White Sox, he'd already be in another uniform. There's no guarantee what will happen from this point forward. Only what Buehrle has already done; which is feast on National League opponents within the last month and heighten his value.

Whether Buehrle is signed or not (ignoring everything within the last 13 pages), I would then expect Garland to be traded. Regardless of Williams labeling him unavailable, we NEED an influx of young talent on this team somehow. Someone with value has to be dealt. Contreras won't be enough.

QUOTE(dasox24 @ Jun 26, 2007 -> 09:31 PM) Btw, I just noticed the "Best thread ever" link in your sig, and I love it. Just read all 11 pages of that thread, and it brings back some great memories. Ah yes, the last time I was happy. RICHAR!

QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Jun 26, 2007 -> 04:04 PM) Thats not a bad deal for the Cubs. Abercrombie hasn't been a prospect since 2002. This is about what'd you expect for Jacque Jones considering his price tag and production.

I love how planting rumors occurs seemingly every year, yet, only when we're involved with the precious Red Sox does someone announce it may have been happened. As if people are conspiring to make sure we don't receive the best possible package for Buehrle and others.

Based upon Williams' past history, I'm guessing there will be several names thrown into trade packages who were previously undiscussed. Garland, Contreras, Anderson, Carter, Haeger

I'm sorry, regardless of what any publication or Mets fan believes I still expect Williams to receive a stellar package for any starter traded. Whether it's Buehrle, Garland, or Contreras. So, a team isn't willing to give up higher level talent? Then Williams should have his scouts identify talent in A, Advanced A, whatever the equivalent is. My expectations are high and I'm not coming down. I get the impression, as have several of you, that certain posters are trying to prepare us for a weak return. Too bad I'm not having part of it. Unless this most recent draft injects a slew of high ceiling prospects, or some of the names in lower A continue doing well, then we'll need to somehow suppliment the minor league system. Trades are the only means. Get to work, Williams.

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Jun 23, 2007 -> 03:53 PM) Ever see Weekend at Bernie's? I can only assume that works in real life. With equally hilarious results.