Flash Tizzle

QUOTE(SoxFan562004 @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 08:09 PM) I could live with a PK out as long as it isn't him attempting to pull the ball .....and he does with terrible results. Could you have any worse combination attempting to break up a double play than Thome and Konerko? Hawk's UH OH's are interesting. His pathetic way of saying, "GOD DAMMIT MOTHERf***ER!"

Wow. I'm actually shocked Iguchi hustled into third base. Considering how shallow the grounder was hit into LF I expected him to hold up at second.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 05:40 PM) I figured you wonder about his take on Broadway some.... Talking with Row44, we're convinced if you ever see Lance, you'll go up to him and snap him in half. If I ever see Broadway I sure as hell wouldn't tell him my true thoughts. He's bigger than I am. I don't hate him. I've just been carrying a grudge ever since he was drafted last season. Broadway embodies our current drafting philosophy of safe picks with "repeatable deliveries" and low ceilings. I can't blame him for being drafted by our organization. Frustrations mount when you watch Twins continually promote contributing pitcher after pitcher. Hell, now this is beginning to translate over into positional players. Little scrappy players who kill our ballclub, are solid defensively, and know their fundementals. If he's at the end of our rotation in 2008 producing numbers around Buehrles for 8 million less I can't complain. Much. ( ) I don't know about Sickels 2007, midseason projection for Broadway. If he's needed, I'd hate to think what occured to our rotation to warrant such a midseason promotion.

Great to observe national writers understanding our dilemma. In the future, White Sox will competing with clubs within our division promoting very talented players. Signing "low key" players such as Dye, scavenging waiver wires for another Bobby Jenks, or building a championship club off of Thornton-esque trades cannot continue with regularity. "Long-term talent flow" is definitely something our minor league system has to work on. And not just promoting average major league players, but those who'll compete with talent within our division. I don't care how difficult it is, it needs to be done. Detroit drafted Andrew Miller several months ago and he'll likely pitch for their club in September. Go ahead and reply, "he was drafted 6th," but that's too bad. We need people to be pressed within our scouting department and player development. Our "window is opportunity" isn't exactly widening. BTW, great job having John Sickels agree to interview Futuresox. Even a short interview is good for the sites exposure. Who knows, perhaps when another trade occurs Sickels will cite Futuresox's expertise of a particular prospect.

Perhaps it's my sense of humor, but I don't recall laughing during ANY episodes of Entourage. I enjoy the show more as a drama-based series than one I'd watch for comedy. For future episodes, I definitely agree Sloan's past with Green will be further examined. If I were Eric, I wouldn't believe one word she said. She's the type of girl who'll provide friends for a three-some, yet sleeping with a celebrity is out of the question?

QUOTE(beck72 @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 01:09 PM) None of them seem ready to help the sox right away in 2007, though Linares and Herrera could get into the sox farm system. Linares and his 97-98 fastball could help if he got his control harnessed. Herrera would seem more advanced and possibly be ready by mid year for either the bullpen or rotation. Seeing how the sox could use another good SP prospect, Herrera might be worth signing. Funny, Herrera sounds exactly like the type of pitching prospect our organization would persue. Sign Linares. Although I'm certain 97-98 is sensationalized (likely sits 93-95), control can be developed. We have enough potential 4th/5th starters as it is.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 02:51 PM) Garza called up. If no further rotation shuffling is done, we're facing him August 18th -- Game 1 of a three-game set. Garza's first start is against Toronto this Saturday.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 05:59 AM) How can those expectations be reached when your SP has pretty much just flat out not pitched to what they are capable of? KW has done his job in terms of enhancing the offense, now it's time for the pitching to pick up the slack. As for your expense of his system, tell Brandon McCarthy, Brian Anderson and Neal Cotts that. Would you still rather Gio, Rowand (who's hitting about .250 now BTW) and Haigwood still in our organization at the expense of Thome? I'm not focusing blame upon Williams. Blame would fall entirely on the rotation for failing to achieve expectations. However, next season he can't leave everything as it currently stands. I trust him to move Garcia and insert McCarthy into the starting rotation. For Thome, trading Haigwood/Gonzalez/Rowand could be considered overpaying, but Thome has a proven trackrecord of success. How often do you recall me mentioning either Haigwood or Gonzalez? Including Young for Vazquez and Lumsden for MacDougal are moves I'd qualify as reinforcing "win-now" attitude. A belief in which the cliche "prospects are prospects" is so readily thrown around.

QUOTE(SoxHawk1980 @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 05:29 AM) This is what Ozzie does. He has no idea how to handle a pitching staff and is managing to make the worst out of mediocre or poor pitching performances. Poorly managed games such as last nights effects our club even more than we may immediately comprehend. It's about the worst situation we could be in. Not only are our pitchers blowing games, but they're hurting us in the future as well. When Guillen leaves in Buehrle, or any other starter, in too long and they're slapped across the diamond their trade value ultimately diminishes. Yes, I know trade value is an issue far from Guillen's mind when he's sitting in the dugout picking his nose. Perhaps if Williams just advised his manager to save his pitchers from complete meltdowns box scores such as last nights could be avoided. Or avoided to the best of the bullpens abilities. I can already forsee what will occur next offseason. A week before Garcia (or whomever else) is delt there's going to be a trade of a starter worse than Garcia for a fairly good package. We'll set expectations based upon that deal, only to be shocked when Williams deals Garcia for a soft tossing, inconsistent, AA prospect; a mediocre bullpen arm; and a 4th OF. The reason for such a poor return will be Williams reluctance to pay any portion of the upcoming years salary. Someone, probably Dbaho, will say, "not even team will give up (package for pitcher worse than Garcia)," or "what did you expect him to get?" All because Guillen left out his starters to ensure personal victories at the expense of his team

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Aug 8, 2006 -> 04:20 AM) Some of you just have too high expectations for this team in general after what happened last season. There I said it. We're what 20 games over .500, yet people are criticising Ozzie for his managerial skills. Is it Ozzie's fault our SP's in Garcia have basically decided we won't throw as hard this season so we won't be as good? And a lot of the teams we're going to be facing in the A.L are pretty hot right now. You look at Anaheim, Detroit, Oakland, Minnesota, Boston and the Yankees they've all won the majority of their past 20 or so games. So it's not going to be easy to make the playoffs, and yet people will be calling for Ozzie's head and major changes if we don't do so. We could end up with around 90-95 wins and still not make it. Last nights decision to leave Buehrle out after initially visiting the mound was inexcusable. A pattern is developing with Guillen-- of which many here on Soxtalk have accurately observed. He's living in 2005. He is continually under the impression his VAUNTED pitching staff has the capability of correcting their own mistakes. Escaping innings 5-7 without major damage. This isn't last season, regardless of how often Hawk would like it to be. Our bullpen needs to be better utilitized. If it consistently fails, well, forget about scapegoating Guillen because we'd likely miss the playoffs. If we're unable to reach the post-season, I will not shrug my shoulders and commend us for winning 90-95 games yet failing to capture a playoff birth. No sympathetic gestures of, "oh well!!! gettem next year!! we can build off this club" will be mentioned under my name. It's failure anyway you rationalize it. Enhancing a World Series roster by bostering a stagnant offense and (supposedly) ungodly starting rotation should guarantee a playoff birth. Those were my expectations, as they currently are to this day. And don't reply, "nothing is guaranteed," because when a general manager constructs a ballclub at the expense of his system, and the overlying theme is "winning now," you damn well better win now. No excuses.

Game 1 of crucial homestand is a loss. If anyone has superfan thoughts lingering of the Whtie Sox entering a streak while Detroit simultaneously slumps needs to wake up. This divisional race is complete. Concern yourselves with the wild-card. Even that may soon be over is this rotation can't string together quality starts.

QUOTE(SoxHawk1980 @ Aug 7, 2006 -> 08:45 PM) Ozzie will never learn. Last year proved to him that there is only one way to manage. He's going to leave any and all SP's out there until they completely blow up. That's just Ozzie. He'll never change. But...but...Hawk told me leaving in pitchers builds confidence amongst the starters? Garland's stellar 05' season can alone be contributed to Guillen leaving him in to work out of trouble!!!!

Did Guillen have any access to statistics when he issued an IBB of Figgens for an effecient (and more dangerous) hitter in Kendrick? McCarthy fares FAR better against lefthanders than righties. Once again, Guillen (or Alomar) appears obsessed with matching up pitchers with their counterparts on the box.

lol. Has anyone heard a crowd deflate quicker?

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Aug 7, 2006 -> 08:22 PM) Flash when this is happening with one pitcher who struggles and isnt pulled then you can see this is a problem with the pitcher. But when we have had the last 3 losses all due to being down by a run late in a game, and then 2 guys get on, a conference between the manager and the pitcher happens then implosion. If it happens once, sure, but this is 3 times in 5 games When you get into the 7th inning and you are down by a run, you need to play the percentages. My 9 million dollar pitcher has a near 5 ERA. Is he going to give me the best chance to keep this game close or the fresh arm out of the pen. Guillen spoke to Buehrle before he surrendered the three runs? I completely missed this part, as I switched channels for perhaps a minute and returned to Buehrle pitching with bases loaded. This changes the order of my hierarchy completely. If Guillen thought enough of Buehrle's performance to physically visit him on the mound, he should have taken into account Mark's troubles and the depth of his bullpen. Doesn't change my feelings of Buehrle. It's past a "slump." We need our starting rotation, as an entire unit, to collectively string together quality outings. I'd like to believe Garland/Contreras/Vazquez/Garcia can compensate for Buehlre, but unfortunately, I can't. We're going to be in trouble if this is the Mark Buehrle we're left with the remainder of this season.

If we're creating a hierarchy of blame here, Buehrle first and foremost deserves the number one position. Yes, Guillen should utilizie his bullpen more. Yes, Guillen should know when to pull starters and forget about giving them opportunities to "gain confidence" or earn victories. But who's on the mound? Who has shown himself incapable of pitching over mistakes? Who gave up the balk? What I've seen here these last few pages is Buehrle escaping criticism. He's pitched absolutely dreadful the last month+. Someone can reply, "his struggles are more of an indication to pull him early," but Buehrle's stigma is eating innings. If he's unable to achieve this distinction, what good is he next season? Or this year? I'm not entirely scapegoating Buehrle. Guillen should have shown less patience when the first two runners were aboard. But I'll never place a managerial decision over the pitcher on the mound -- our 8 million dollar pitcher -- not doing his job.

Only one image is appropriate to describe Buehrle's performance this evening: Looks like the Royals game was truly a fluke. If we had a half-way decent farm system capable of producing legitimate talent, I wouldn't hesitate ONE second to let Buehlre go. For example, if Garza were in our organization (yeah, impossible to fathom), I'd reconsider him for the price we're paying. Eating innings alone isn't a justification for paying a pitcher 8+ million.

QUOTE(WSoxMatt @ Aug 7, 2006 -> 07:27 PM) Low to mid 90's Lose 3-7 mph on a fastball and even Liriano looks hittable. With the loss in velocity also comes less tilt on slider. Less variance on a changeup.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Aug 7, 2006 -> 07:24 PM) Dont we have our hitters coming back, so what did you strikeout against, low and away slider. What about you. low and away fastball. What about you away fastball.I mean come on. /agrees

QUOTE(WSoxMatt @ Aug 7, 2006 -> 07:17 PM) Liriano out after 4 IP 4 ER 10 hits Wow. Something is obviously wrong with his elbow. I'd be interested, if anyone were watching the game, how was his velocity?

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 7, 2006 -> 07:16 PM) Sandy is really affecting Buerhle's performance. I'm glad they found the reason for his struggles, and its even better news it wasn't Buerhle at all, just the guy putting down the numbers. There's always the "tipping my pitches" excuse. That's a favorite of mine.

Yep -- that was definitely a batting practice changeup. This is the Mark Buehlre we'll have to live with. Either have exact location every start or the baseballs will be scorched across the diamond.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Aug 6, 2006 -> 05:04 AM) Don't forget Glen Perkins as well. The Twins just scare the hell out of me for the next 5 to 10 years, more than Detroit, and that's saying something in itself when the Tiggies could have a future rotation with Bonderman, Verlander and Andrew Miller as permanent fixtures. IIRC Baker has been mishandled quite a bit by Gardy this season. Like to get benchwarmerjim's thoughts on this. And how do you picture our future rotation competing with Liriano/Santana/Garza and Bonderman/Verlander/Miller? McCarthy is one. Lumsden would have been another. Aside from that, I don't forsee Garcia, Contreras, Vazquez remaining for this club beyond their contracts. Buehrle all depends on how he finishes this season and the price he's commanding. You can't continue to say, "every team would love any one of those pitchers," becuase we're entering a period of time where immediate production is required or we're going to be looking up for a LOONNG period of time. This isn't your American League central division from 2000-2005. If not from our minors, two venues I imagine our club competing with those pitchers is from free-agent signings and trading prospects/players for established veterans. You can cite Garcia's success -- and the failures of past prospects traded -- but when a Javier Vazquez move occurs you begin to think about making drastic moves to bolster a rotation.

QUOTE(dasox24 @ Aug 5, 2006 -> 07:29 PM) I heard during the MLS-Chelsea game that there are rumors that Chelsea is looking to sell Hernan Crespo Btw, how 'bout the MLS All-Stars' perfermance today? I know this is preseason for Chelsea, but I still think it's pretty impressive. The MLS really played quite well. Plus, you've got to consider the MLS didn't have the likes of Landon Donovan, Eddie Pope, and a couple other all-stars. I work security at Bridgeview Stadium, was present at the game this afternoon, and have been to all but one Chicago Fire match this season. It was undoubtedly the most exciting game I've witnessed. 20,000+ fans into the entire game. Must have sounded great on ESPN. Because my back is turned away from the action I couldn't observe the entire game; but watching fans expressions and quickly glancing to the screen stationed on the southside of the stadium, it was a quality matchup. There was the intial Chelsea goal which wasn't (have no idea why it didn't count) and the hustle from MLS goalkeeper to BARELY save a loose soccer ball. Two great moments. Admittingly, I don't know much about soccer. Although working at Fire games -- coupled with the World Cup -- has heightened my appreciation for the sport.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Aug 5, 2006 -> 01:48 PM) How come Scott Baker is no longer mention? He was always lumped in with Liriano the past couple of years. What are the odds that one of Garza, Slowey, and/or Swarzak become the next Scott Baker where they get slurpped before the big leagues, and can't cut it? You're right about Baker being endlessly slurped before promotion, but I don't recall anyone comparing him to Liriano. Brad Radke was the comparison I heard. That was a prime example of Minnesota's reputation preceeding its product on the field. People assume -- as I often do -- their minor league totals will automatically transfer to the majors. However, that's quite a situation to find yourself in -- having several quality pitching prospects lined up and only needing one to succeed. Personally, I'd be surprised if Garza didn't atleast duplicate Radke's current numbers upon promotion. His stuff is simply too good not to succeed. In the upcoming seasons, if Minnesota's pitching prospects continue producing we're going to need to step up our minor league output. It's not even a passing joke anymore. You can't just shrug your shoulders at the combination of Garza/Liriano/Santana. Something must be done to offset this. Call it impossible, or unlikely, but something must be done. Detroit's pitching staff isn't exactly over the hill either. We're competing within a tough divisiona need legitimate talent to arise.