Flash Tizzle

88mph straight fastballs usually allow hitters an opportunity to make contact above the strike zone.... Garland needs to me more perfect now, with almost Felix Diaz arsenal, then he has been in the past.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 28, 2007 -> 07:04 PM) People who think we hit too many homers will be pleased, as I'm very confident that Sweeney is getting called up. I'll prepare myself for the inevitable White Sox production from their prospects. Which means a sub .200 average for several months....

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Apr 28, 2007 -> 07:04 PM) BTW, Egbert goes for Birmingham tonight. I'll keep you guys posted. He'll probably implode since I'm following him tonite. He'll probably implode since I'm actually close to feeling confident about our minor league pitching.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 28, 2007 -> 07:00 PM) No reason given for Sweeney being scratched tonight. Everyone in the press box thinks he was called up. Fields looked brutal, and Haeger was up in the zone with everything. Sweeney and Fields performing poorly really is killing our organization. If either one of the two were to breakout they'd be an option next season for a starting job. Have either in a spot and more money is alloted to another position for an upgrade. This is around the time where I begin to criticize our system, again.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 28, 2007 -> 06:52 PM) I'd have really liked Pence but we wouldn't have needed him. I'd have preferred Hirsh + Willy T to Garland. Of course, that's a great gamble but the way I see it it'd free up payroll and replace an average starter for a guy with a huge ceiling. We wouldn't need him now, but he could have been a legitimate replacement for Dye in 2008. Hirsh and Tavarez alone for Garland is a bad trade. Again, if Jennings in a contract year can command Bulchoz/Hirsh/Tavarez, Garland, with an additional year under contract, should be worth more.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Apr 28, 2007 -> 06:48 PM) Sweeney didn't play for Charlotte today. He may not provide anything for this ballclub, but I'd rather promote him or Fields rather then trading for help outside the organization.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 28, 2007 -> 06:47 PM) Houston did part with Hirsh. They were willing to give him up for Garland, along with Willy T. My fault, I meant Hunter Pence.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 28, 2007 -> 06:40 PM) Here's a question I'd like to see what people think about: if Thome misses 30 or so games due to injury, does anyone think we have a chance in this division? Yes. It all depends upon the starting pitching and whether other players begin heating up. If nothing changed, and Thome were healthy and still hitting well, he'd be pitched around. Others would still have to drive him in.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 28, 2007 -> 06:37 PM) Hirsh, Pence, and another prospect would have been a great trade. We'll probably be looking to trade Garland again this offseason. Houston wouldn't depart with Hirsh. For what Colorado received for Jennings, Williams should have asked for me since Garland was worth more. I'm just hoping either Garland or Contreras put together a decent season this year. I'm not interesting in Williams trading either pitcher for a subpar package in a buyers market, then hearing people try to make excuses for it. Meanwhile, another starter comparable to either will be traded for a better package. The point here is unloading starting pitchers is a good idea, but it's not going to help us much if the starters we're trading are poor and the package we receive is mediocre. It'd be comparable to taking one step back and one and half steps forward.

QUOTE(Capn12 @ Apr 28, 2007 -> 06:31 PM) Different pitcher, same result. Our guys have no preparation for the 1st and 2nd innings at all. It's more than their preparation, it's their declining stuff. How many times have we heard Cooper mumble off about "throwing strikes." Well, Garland and Contreras can throw all the strikes they want, but unless it's perfectly located and offset by additional pitches, a straight 90mph might as well be batting practice. Even Vazquez has lost velocity from last season. The starts I've seen he's been around 90-91. Although I'm convinced he can pitch with less velocity since his fastball has movement and his secondary pitches are effective.

Remember when Garland's fastball was consistently 91-92? Yeah, that was last year. Several starting pitchers seem to have this problem...

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 28, 2007 -> 03:53 PM) Gio's numbers are better than he really is, in my opinion. Like Tony said earlier, I'd have no problem if we used him to acquire a good young hitter. I know KW did a good job of upgrading the pitching in our system last offseason, but he neglected to add anything on the offensive end that will help our aging squad. I don't believe anyone questions that Gonzalez isn't a 1.90ERA, 10.5K/IP type of pitcher in the major leagues. Regardless, I believe it's ridiculous to trade him or any other starting pitcher with upside. How exactly are we going to field a good starting rotation if the organization is unwilling to spend money in the FA market, consistently selects low in the draft, and has an abysmal track record at finding international talent? I have more confidence we'll pay for hitters in the market.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Apr 28, 2007 -> 12:19 PM) We have no pitching depth...... As soon as December of last year we didn't. Danks and Gonzalez weren't on our ballclub and Russell wasn't even on the radar. Egbert was, but he only had limited time in Birmingham. You can never expect everything to go exactly as planned, but if even two of Gonzalez/Russell/Egbert make our starting rotation one day we'll be in good shape. What we should do to ensure expectations are riding high on those three is giving them a delightful nickname. Such as that of Danks, Volzquez, Diamond. Worked out well for them. How about GRE? When defined, it means a set of three pitchers who will test opposing offenses to ensure their placement into the major leagues.

Garcia's line from tonight -- 4.2IP, 7H, 4ER, 2BB, 8SO, 2HR, 5.65ERA. His numbers this season have hardly been stellar, but I'm still wondering how the package we aquired has helped this team in the short run. Williams did mention the trade was made to benefit the present and future, yet, I'm not seeing anything on the roster to indicate as much.

Whether Gonzalez is a future a #1 (which I doubt) or a #2 (which I find more likely), he'll find his way up to the major leagues by 2008/2009 if everything remains on track. Perhaps sooner, I don't know. I'd like to believe over the next several seasons we'll be replacing veteran starters with pitchers from within the organization. One of Buehrle, Garland, or Contreras should be gone before April 2008. Hopefully, either Haeger, Broadway, Gonzalez, Russell, or perhaps an acquired prospect via trade are ready.

The decision is obvious now that Erstad is not only the better offensive option, but he'll probably remain the starting CF until injury or an 0 for two week stretch sidelines him. It's how everything will be, whether we like it or not.

Konerko sure isn't helping himself or the team.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Apr 27, 2007 -> 08:05 PM) What may happen.... Thome to the DL, Anderson to AAA; Fields and Sweeney called up. That's just me throwin darts at the situation. We could DH Dye in that instance as well, with Sweeney in RF. I just don't believe Guillen will move Dye to DH considering his veteran status, or the fact this is his contract year and it'll undoubtedly hurt his value.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Apr 27, 2007 -> 08:01 PM) I dont buy the age. He started this dropping down crap, right after he tweaked his back last year. Either he is healthy and just worried about going up 3/4s again. Or he is still nursing a bad back, and is dropping down to relieve pressure on it. His velocity is more of an issue of him not dropping and driving behind the ball. When you throw side arm, its hard to get really behind it. Old people typically develop back problems.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Apr 27, 2007 -> 07:57 PM) When did Contreras become El Duque. He just decided to go from guy who throws 95 and up with a nasty splitter to Mr. Sidearmer with 90mph. What is it too costly to get a medical diagnosis or an MRI. Age caught up with Contreras. Next season may not be too pretty for him. This season certainly isn't looking too good.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 27, 2007 -> 07:51 PM) Yes If several sub .220 players reemerge from the depths of hell, Hall returns at atleast 70% of his former offensive capabilities, and Eduardo Perez is signed, Thome's absence shouldn't destroy this team's offensive output.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 27, 2007 -> 07:48 PM) Looks like Contreras has the Garcia disease this year. His average fastball is around 90 mph and he has no command of his forkball. Vazquez and Garland have contracted that disease as well.

Martha Black looks as cold as ice.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 27, 2007 -> 07:32 PM) We're screwed Here's hoping Williams doesn't do anything too drastic.

Now it'd only be appropriate if Dye reinjures himself as well his first AB. Going back to the last start against Chad Durbin, we've missed atleast 15 hanging breaking balls. I don't believe that's an exaggeration, either.