Flash Tizzle

So, apparently our lefthanders can't retire lefthanded hitters. Not a good sign considering how Morneau and Mauer will be making their way to USCF in a couple days

EMBARRASSING AB from Crede. He threw nothing but fastballs, but apparently, it was so incredibly deceiving that Joe couldn't even make contact.

Chat room's open. And jumpin'11!!

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 08:40 AM) I will be there, freezing my ass off. It's ridiculously windy downtown, as well. Could be an interesting day for flyballs.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Apr 3, 2007 -> 09:37 PM) I am not a fan of baseball prospectus. In fact, I think it is one of the most over-rated publications out there. Uh, shouldn't you be completing the Top 25 about now?

QUOTE(Frank the Tank 35 @ Apr 3, 2007 -> 05:32 PM) I'm pretty sure this hasn't been mentioned, and I don't think it warrants a new topic. Here's a little blurb from rotoworld quoting Peralta... http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/...articleid=28014 Either one of two explanations: injury or lack of preparation. Here's an obvious problem -- within the first month the White Sox play 20+ games against divisional opponents. Contreras better disclose any arm troubles or find his velocity rather quickly.

These rankings are based upon PECOTA's predictions. I believe many, including the Baseball Prospectus staff, wouldn't take a bet of 72 wins for this ballclub. I wouldn't be too concerned. Power rankings, by nature, fluctuate throughout the season. Enter next week 3-3 or 4-2 and the White Sox could easily leap 15 positions.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Apr 3, 2007 -> 01:49 AM) Maybe Masset's going through a bit of a dead arm period I don't know. But it's still way too early to judge. Despite what KW said, these trades were made for the good of the long - term IMHO. But is it going to cost us THAT much in the short - term either. Brandon could struggle to put up an ERA below 5 pitching in Texas this season. Danks could very well match him ERA wise. And Freddy, well he's a wait and see with his arm they way it is at the moment. It's obvious they were made for the longterm. Williams probably took a long look at his minor league system and realized it required immediate retooling. The sight alone probably made him vomit. Gonzalez and Danks were necessary additions to an otherwise overloaded collection of future #5 starters. Not exactly something which will compete against the pitchers within our division. Here's the problem though -- I don't believe Danks will match McCarthy. Judging from his last several starts, we may have to endure outings where he's walking four/five batters. This will KILL him in the central division. McCarthy may be surrendering more HRs all season, but I believe he's a safer bet for 2007. With Garcia, I never questioned trading him. However, I believe including Floyd was a move made with the short-term in mind. As to appease critics; something tangible he could show to people as proof it benefited the 2007 team. But, really, why lie? I don't expect him to say "i traded our starters because our minor league system sucks" but don't tell me these moves were made for the short term. When you do that, you deserve to be criticized when it blows up in your face. Especially when his idea of "short term" is Gavin f***ing Floyd. Include Fabio Castro and Williams would have had both short term and long term potential. QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Apr 3, 2007 -> 02:00 AM) I thought Masset looked a bit nervous, but his stuff wasn't bad. The guy I didn't like what I saw from out of the pen was Double A, he worked a magic act to not get blown up. AAwful? I thought he threw the best set of sliders I've seen from him since joining the ballclub.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Apr 3, 2007 -> 12:39 AM) I can't comment on the situation, but lets be honest, both Masset and Aardsma are more capable of throwing multiple innings than Logan. Logan is a reliever, Massett and Aardsma both have some experience throwing longer outings and to go with that with a young 5th starter my guess is the Sox felt it more valuable to carry a couple more guys that can go longer in case we have some starters struggle to go deep in a game. And I have long said our pen is going to have days where no one will throw strikes, I have no doubt about that. Haeger's capable of throwing multiple innings. Why wasn't he chosen? Regardless of his poor spring training statistics, his greatest asset to White Sox is durability. Not to mention a proven track record of success in the minor leagues. Just look at yesterday's game -- Haeger could have relieved Contreras in the second and completed the game. Even if the score remained the same, and he gave up just as many runs as the bullpen, the point is he would have saved the remaining arms. Looking ahead to Wednesday, Masset won't pitch. I wouldn't count on Sisco or Aardsma beyond one inning. If the worst were to occur and Garland leaves early, it's not going to be pretty. Situations such as these is why Haeger would have been a perfect addition to the roster. It doesn't even matter to me whether he'll walk the world as a reliever. He offers what no one else does.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Apr 3, 2007 -> 12:12 AM) Well since we are busy to write these guys off so fast, maybe we should also write off McCarthy who had an absolutely horrendous spring (he looked terrible in the Rangers spring game I watched in person as well). Come on flash, who are we to evaluate players based on there major league debut. I swear, we won't know too much about this squad till the end of May (unless of course we jump off to some amazing or absolutely horrendous start). I'm not completely writing off Masset. It's quite possible his velocity returns, although -- as I said earlier -- I'm not counting on it. Difference between him and others who have yet to regain velocity is those starters you've mentioned have track records suggesting they'll return to form. What does Masset have? He's only been a reliever for a short period, and his velocity as a starter was high 80's/low 90's. And even if his fastball does improve, are we going to see 95-97 for three inning appearances such as yesterdays? Really, Williams is the one putting himself in this position. I didn't make a comment about Masset possessing "stuff" slightly below Jenks. I didn't suggest both trades were made with 2007 and beyond in mind, only to have Garcia's return produce nothing and McCarthy's produce two pitchers who may not be ready.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Apr 2, 2007 -> 09:58 PM) definitely looks like it Since people are always looking for connections to previous seasons when the Sox were successful, Floyd Bannister's line was similar to Contreras'. Which means.............WE'RE GOING TO WIN THE DIVISION!!!! YES!!

QUOTE(WSoxMatt @ Apr 2, 2007 -> 09:51 PM) Chalk it up to nerves...cheesh you people are so down on everyone...Did Razor Shines not impress you today either...How about the new bullpen catcher, we know hes no Man Soo Lee, but does he suck too, did the Sox drop the ball on him, bad scouting Nerves could explain his control -- but I don't buy nerves for the lack of velocity. Even Boone Logan was throwing his fastball at normal speed last season. The problem here is if Masset is sitting 91-93, he's no different than Sean Tracey. Hardly the outstanding bullpen arm once promised. QUOTE(barnes @ Apr 2, 2007 -> 10:10 PM) Yeah, I noticed he even threw to the ground a few feet in front of the catcher's glove several times during his pre-game warm ups-- not even throwing hard... hopefully it was just an off day and he'll bounce back. Lollerz at your avatar. Let's hope the observations you and Northside sox made have nothing to due with injury. If it is, we're in trouble.

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Apr 2, 2007 -> 07:13 PM) Soon, but he's still not 21. Still just 20 years old. F'n wow. I was watching highlights earlier on ESPN. He's unbelievable. It's no coincidence Hernandez happened to record a career high in strikeouts this afternoon. The Mariners are finally allowing him to throw his slider. IIRC, it was rated a 80/80 by scouts. I'm hoping our World Series victory, coupled with Guillen's popularity and recently created baseball camp, gives our organization a literal stranglehold on talent from Venezuela. If an organization such as the Mariners can sign Hernandez, and the Colorado Rockies Franklin Morales, it shouldn't be impossible to use the popularity of the White Sox to its fullest. That's why I'm interested in the Great Fall's roster this upcoming season. It's quite possible whomever we have signed since the World Series is pitching there. Only problem is I'll have to wait ~ 77 days to find out.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 2, 2007 -> 08:36 PM) The person that told me that Masset was never going to be a good major league pitcher said he tops out at 96 mph, but he regularly is at 92-93 mph. According to scouts (just told this 5 minutes ago) who were following Gameday, the guns were a few mph high in nearly every game. What has worried me about Masset (even though I had never seen him pitch up until Spring Training) is the Rangers probably sold him high off a dominating Mexican League performance. Various sites I browsed after the trade didn't mention anything about a 95-96 mph fastball, as Williams seemed to indicate. Even Stone was gushing over Masset during a segment on the Score, saying a friend of his -- a scout -- told him Sox fans would be very pleased with his tremendous arm. I was just expecting more much out of him. Perhaps he will gain velocity in the upcoming weeks, although I'm not counting on it.

QUOTE(Felix @ Apr 2, 2007 -> 08:33 PM) To be a staff ace, you have to be a great pitcher for a prolonged period of time. Two halves of two seasons != ace in my opinion. So, considering the statistics I've provided, would you be willing to recognize Contreras as one of the top five pitchers in baseball from Post ASB 2005 to about July 2006 -- including the playoffs? I don't know how you couldn't. I'm more willing to combine the two halves with Contreras considering he seemingly began right in 2006 where he ended in October of the previous season. Argue about the meaning of "ace" or "staff ace" if you wish, but I believe Contreras was our best pitcher during this period. The one you'd expect to halt a losing streak and give your ballclub an opportunity to win every start.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Apr 2, 2007 -> 08:29 PM) Contreras got shelled. They hit him hard. Masset was throwing 92 on the USCF gun, didn't have much control, and was not impressive. Maybe the nerves got to both of them. Maybe they just had bad days. I hope thats it. I don't know what to believe concerning velocity from this afternoon. Comcast had 91-93 on Massett; yet several people viewing Gameday said he was continually 95-96. It was similar for nearly every pitcher on both ballclubs. If Masset is indeed only hitting 92mph, someone definitely screwed up within our scouting department because -- according to Williams -- this guy is a "tick" below Jenks. And I'm sure he meant 97-98 mph Jenks, not 93-94mph Jenks.

QUOTE(Felix @ Apr 2, 2007 -> 08:13 PM) Yes, but Jose was never an ace in the first place. Second half of 2005? First half of 2006? Offhand, I believe if you add up those two halves his record would be something ridiculous like 26-3. He was our staff ace, and definitely one of the top five pitchers in baseball over the period until his health problems emerged. EDIT: Actually numbers during the time period were: 212.2IP, 3.18ERA, 20-2. Ace.

QUOTE(Melissa1334 @ Apr 2, 2007 -> 08:04 PM) i dont think u can say he cant be an ace because he sucked today. i know carpenters line wasnt as bad, but he gave up 5 er-and he is an ace. I should add onto that -- healthy "aces" don't give up 7earned runs in one inning. I'm not entirely sure he's healthy.

QUOTE(rangercal @ Apr 2, 2007 -> 07:47 PM) I always figured that Jack Mcdowells HOME OPENER start in 1991 was the worst when the sox lost 16-0 to the Tigers. Jacks Line: 2.2 IP 5 H 6 R 6 ER 3 BB Unbelievably, Jose has that horrible outing beat. Yeah, Contreras did pretty much embarrass himself and instantly remove any mention of "ace" from his title. Aces don't do this. Aces don't give up 7 earned runs in 1 inning. And I don't care if Masset technically surrendered two inherited runs, either. Far as I'm concerned, the way the Indians were hitting Count it was inevitable the runs would have scored.

QUOTE(Capn12 @ Apr 2, 2007 -> 06:20 PM) Was sleeping off and on during the game today(15 hour workday right up until gametime). I see that Masset and Aardsma started the sucking early... 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 K Those walks are simply untolerable....give me a break. If you get beat, do it by making the opposing team HIT the ball. Masset was responsible for most of the damage. He, quite frankly, looked almost Boone-esque -- wide eyed and incapable of throwing strikes. Even if the radar gun was slightly off (as several within the thread indicated), Masset hardly looked impressive. Williams better hope either him or Danks fare well this season. If McCarthy pitches better than Danks, it won't be too pretty around here for Williams or his scouting department. They're already on notice in my mind after the seemingly unhealthy fascination with Floyd.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Apr 2, 2007 -> 04:23 PM) Can we just pretend this game never happend? Contreras lolz It's only spring trai...... Oh. Contreras sure didn't pitch like our ace. Considering how well he has pitched these last two years beginning the season, we may be in a LOT of trouble if the other starters (such as Garland) don't immediately take off.

I'm sure glad our pitching was able to "turn it on" once the season began. Contreras was AWFUL. You almost get the impression someone wasn't ready for opening day... Only Jenks, Konerko, Uribe and Sisco looked good.

This is where Haeger would have been vital. Even if the score were exactly the same, he could go the remainder of the game. Now we'll have to waste another arm or three

Massett's velocity is nowhere near advertised. I don't see someone as a "tick" below Jenks.,

Does Massett's delivery look different to anyone else? He doesn't have the over-the-top action as what I witnessed in spring training.