Flash Tizzle

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 10:58 PM) Quite ironic that some of us have been fighting all Spring Training for Logan and Anderson to make it, as I'm sure others are like me in not exactly thinking these guys are world beaters. For me personally, it's all about the message the organization is sending, as well as the incompetence of our manager to evaluate personnel. Even without tangible proof available (other than statistics), I believe Williams entered spring training with the preconceived notion that atleast four of his offseason acquisitions (via trade) would make the ballclub. You have: Floyd Gonzalez Massett Danks Aardsma Sisco He probably felt Floyd would earn the 5th starters spot (and was anointed the favorite early) and Massett, Aardsma, Sisco would enter the bullpen. Danks earning the position in the 5th role allowed Williams to somewhat save face and send down Floyd. Can anyone seriously suggest anyone aside from Danks earned a roster position? In a perfect world, Aardsma and Sisco would be in AAA and Haeger and Logan would be preparing for Chicago. I'm still wondering how Massett was basically handed a bullpen spot last week... Doubt me if you will, but it sure wouldn't look good for Williams if only a couple names from the offseason were to make the ballclub.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 10:45 PM) I think the plan might be the same with BMac as I feared. Grooming him in the pen, letting him taste some ML hitting then put him in the rotation in 08'. At least that's my personal opinion on this. What's so difficult about stretching him out in Charlotte? As much as I disliked inserting McCarthy into the bullpen prior to 2006, it was understood his role was to provide multiple innings in the event a veteran starter is either ineffective or injured. For this season, there's no need to have Sisco occupy such a role due to the bullpen and starting pitching depth. Logan could easily make it possible to have him in Charlotte. Yet, why was this ignored?

QUOTE(greg775 @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 10:23 PM) Logan should have made the team based on those stats. I know it doesn't matter what players think, but it has to be demoralyzing for team morale to see a guy with an 0.00 not make the team. I'm assuming Logan is not some jerk who the players hate. If he's a decent guy and does not have some personality flaw I think he should have made the team. I mean what more can a guy do?? Even if he does have an attitude problem, who cares? I'd like to believe conflicts between players and management (if they exist) can be resolved for the sake of our ballclub. Of the two remaining bullpen positions, Logan was the obvious choice. Sure, spring training statistics don't matter, but they should when someone has shown themselves worthy of a roster position. Now, since they obviously feel giving Sisco and Aardsma (two guys traded for) chances over Logan, then I should hope that if their struggling for an extended period of time either are sent down immediately.

82 wins.

/sigh This spring training has become an absolute joke. I suppose with Floyd and Danks the statistics mattered in selecting the appropriate candidate, yet, not with Sisco and Logan. Ridiculous. Atleast now we're intent on delaying the development of Sisco into a starter AND denying Logan the roster position he has rightfully earned. Aardsma, by all accounts, doesn't deserve a position but he's a better option than Floyd. I don't mind that. It's just, again, everything has come together this spring to completely test my nerves as a Sox fan.

28 Weeks Later Trailer

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 04:21 PM) You mean he's not getting squeezed by the umpire and the Arizona weather conditions aren't getting the best of him? No, but maybe the dust was in MacDougal's eyes after all the batters were running along the bases. You know what they say about Arizona dust. It makes Chicago White Sox pitchers look bad. QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 04:26 PM) This DBack pitcher has an ERA over 10.00 and has allowed 20 hits in less than 9 innings. I bet KW has his eye on him. LOL, and he induced an inning ending DP from Thome. Some quality offspeed pitches from Thornton last inning. Although he appeared to telegraph the first couple with a slow windup, if he begins to incorporate something besides a 97mph fastball it'll be a good year for him.

MacDougal is sure wetting the bed this inning.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 03:53 PM) Forget the blowout. Anytime during Spring Training. Yeah, on top of that.

I was thinking the same thing as Hawk and DJ. You pull a muscle attempting to stretch a double into a triple in a blowout I'll f***ing kill you.

Let's look at the two reasons listed by Hawk to explain our failures last season: -We beat ourselves more than 2005. Lack of fundamentals -Lack of adrenaline I suppose pitching never factored into the equation.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 03:31 PM) Give us something positive.....please Is missing the strikezone, failing to exceed 91 mph, and giving up inherited runners considered positive?

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 03:23 PM) Which should you believe, 10 random innings in Tucson, or a minor league career spanning (without looking it up) 450 innings? No doubt the 450 innings. I'm just suggesting for a pitcher known for control this spring, especially to Guillen, he'll ride himself out of Chicago quickly with starts such as today. Remember, he won the spot this spring based upon the 20 random Tuscon innings, not his career numbers.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 03:18 PM) I would still love to bet anyone that McCarthy's ERA will be better this year than whoever is our 5th starter. Considering the competition Danks will have within our division, and the possible hurting he will receive from 4+ walk outings such as today, there's a good probability you'll be correct.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 03:14 PM) Danks hasn't exactly been noted for his control prior to arriving in camp. Look at his minor league numbers. They certainly don't scream control pitcher. I meant this spring. At a certain point, IIRC, he had a ratio of 14 strikeouts to 1 walk. Guillen was going on and on about him throwing strikes.

These walks are inexcusable. I don't care if he's a rookie. If he's doing this in the season, he'll stay will be short lived. 39 balls, 36 strikes is disgusting from anyone. Especially someone who was noted for his control.

QUOTE(greg775 @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 02:42 PM) To those of you who have watched a lot of spring training up close and personal and studied the stats as well ... I'll make this fairly quick. Mediocre. If you take stock in spring training performances, which many don't, you probably can't help but feel tense about our rotation. He looks rejuvenated health and velocity wise, but baseballs are still find their way all across the ballpark. Hard to tell. He has been the most consistent of the starters this spring. Velocity remains near previous years. He's been pitching better recently. Strikeouts have been mounting, which suggests the 'stuff' is present. No. I don't necessarily believe this. If the bullpen establishes consistency, Guillen should be more willing to remove starters earlier; before their inevitable meltdown. Probably not.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 02:45 PM) CC's x-rays were negative, but there is still question whether he can go opening day. Good enough, I suppose. First several weeks will be tough and we should take full advantage of his absence while we can. What the hell is DJ talking about, adrenaline letdown? Terrible excuse. Danks is eerily resembling Boone Logan these last two batters.

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 02:42 PM) Farmer said Sabathia left the facility in an aircast....... SOURCES?!!!11 I'm not going to say, "I would never wish injury upon a pitcher." No, I do and will. We may actually have a chance opening day, now.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 02:38 PM) nice danks....who does danks remind you of with his delivery..i cant figure it out. Not a good comparison results wise, but he reminds me of Wandy Rodriguez from Houston.

QUOTE(TheOcho @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 02:35 PM) This ump is getting me pissed. Heh ... Hawk called Erstad, Pods... SO IT BEGINS. I don't blame him. I'm listening to the game without sound and they both look exactly alike from afar.

Was that Podsednik in CF?

QUOTE(ScottyDo @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 12:32 AM) I'll tell you what I think's not quite right: the pitching staff. If I saw a fastball hit 93 mph this spring, I wouldn't give a crap about Eduardo Perez. But seeing as our pitching staff shows no signs of turning over a new leaf, these little moves are amplified. Right now I'm inches away from panicking about our rotation, particularly Buehrle who appears to have zero stuff and still gets the ball up. That's strange, because it's Buehrle who appears to have his velocity intact. Last start he was consistently sitting at 88-89 mph. Unfortunately, the results weren't very encouraging. So I guess it really doesn't help you much.

He must have mentioned three of four times that the Red Sox have several potential Cy-Young candidates. Several of these rankings are way off. First, even with all my criticism, I wouldn't even venture to place the White Sox 15th. 8th or 9th would be more appropriate. The disrespect shown towards the Rangers surprises me the most. 24th overall seems a bit harsh. A rotation of Milwood/Loe/Padilla/Tejada/McCarthy can, at the least, keep their team within games. You know the offense won't disappoint.

QUOTE(caulfield12 @ Mar 27, 2007 -> 10:29 PM) It's all kind of a mystery, why the Astros would want Jennings over Garland, perhaps simply because he's left-handed, they were more familiar with him and Jennings' contract was more reasonable from a financial perspective, giving them more room to go after Clemens, etc. There's no mystery here. Houston rejected our proposal because Williams demanded Purpura include Hunter Pence, in addition to Jason Hirsh and an additional player.