Flash Tizzle

I know exactly how you--among other acquaitances--of this girl feel. When I was in fifth grade a fellow student died of a brain aneurysism. Eighth grade a close friend was pulled off life support after breaking spinal column in ATV accident Junior year of high school another close friend died from injuries suffered from a head on vehicle collision. These experiences effectively reshape you as an individual. No longer do you believe you're invincible--unable to sustain injury or death. When these terrible experiences are close to you it's no longer just 'another person.' I never cried in public--even at relatives funerals--until I attended that of my close friend killed in the ATV accident. If any of you attend the girls wake/funeral, the most difficult part will be consoling her parents. I couldn't have imagined before I experienced it personally how hard it is to say "I'm sorry for you're loss," whereas you can't possibly fathom their greif. This girl was bound for success; her life so fulfilling. Parents aren't supposed to bury their children. Neither are friends supposed to reflect on the lives of departed friends at such an age.

If Thornton continues struggling with control, someone--if not the White Sox, another club--needs to experiment with a new delivery. Not necessarily a change similar to Boone Logans, but one where perhaps some velocity is forsaken for control. For example--Francisco Liriano threw three quarters before his trade to Minnesota. He had the velocity (95-97) yet experienced arm injuries resulting from the violent delivery. When Minnesota shifted his release point/delivery it effectively increased his control. And yes--because someone will complain about it--I realize Liriano took practically a year to hone his skills. It wouldn't be reasonable to expect anything similar to Thornton this season. However, unless he wants to continually become a headaches for ballclubs change may be necessary. If Cooper can work magic and fix noticeable flaws without such drastic measures, more power to him. Is it realistic to expect this? Perhaps not. But then again, I'm not expecting much from Thornton.

The only clip of Thornton's performance that I've seen is a three-run HR exiting LF. The radar gun read 96mph, but obviously, doesn't do much good when it's not properly located--or complimented with another pitch. SSI pretty much noted the distinction between tipping pitches, and supposedly revealing a particular pitch mid-windup. Remember, you're watching Thornton from a side vantage point several hundred feet behind the mound. Hitters couldn't possibly notice his fingers' placement on a baseball AND adjust to a 96mph fastball in less than one second. It's said a curveball literally 'pops' out from a pitchers hand during delivery. If it was that easy to locate, not many hitters would be fooled. I believe we've all witnessed this afternoon why Seattle fans are so pleased to be rid of Thornton. Million dollar arm with no clue of where the baseball is going.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 10:40 PM) Should someone tell Tizz or should I? I'm guessing they're fake.... Well, atleast it fooled Jackie Hayes as well. Stats posted are from two years ago--not necessarily unreasonable to question their legitimacy.

QUOTE(q\/\/3r+y @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 07:39 PM) All the thorton haters...are just that. http://free.hostultra.com/~WSBLeague/p1480.html That's one hell of a September. When Williams suggest he's been following Thornton for awhile, it must have dated back to this specific time frame. Three straight games of 10+ strikeouts against quality opponents is quite an accomplishment. It must have been maddening for Seattle fans/management to watch a pitcher with so much potential continually struggle with control. When the White Sox suggest (per whitesox.com) Cooper notices a mechanical flaw, you wonder what could it possibly be? And if it's so obvious to him from viewing video tape, how didn't Seattle's pitching instructors--with several seasons of interaction--notice it? If Cooper corrects any perceived flaws in Thornton's delivery and he actually improves, I'll jump aboard the "Cooper is a golden god" bandwagon.

Next season or the year after--whenever Matsuzaka reaches the majors--I assume he'll pitch for the Yankees or Mariners. I figure either New York will outbid potential suitors, or Daisuke will pitch in a heavily Japanese based market such as Seattle. Although it's unlikely, it would be great having him on our club. Legitimate ace with a supposed rubber arm would fit in well with several pitchers (Garcia, Contrereas perhaps) departing.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 04:37 PM) He faced 3 of 5 Royals major leaguers. He's faced 7 of 8 Oakland regulars once this year. He has faced other major leaguers scattered in there. If you aren't sold on him that's fine. I'm sure a lot of people don't and won't be. ANd it's very possible that he gets lit up in the bigs. But to say that someone should be concerned because this outing his control wasn't pinpoint, even though he didn't walk anybody (1 walk in 7.1 IP), and because they hit balls harder (2 of 5 balls hit hard) is beyond ridiculous. Be concerned because he has never pitched above A ball and is young. Be concerned for a real reason. Not something ridiculous like this. This is the third time I have to mention it--it's not that his control wasn't pinpoint alone, but that it occured with runners on base in a tie game situation. I specifically watched where AJ set his mit, and whether Boone hit his spots. He had trouble. Add this observation to several flyouts, I felt he showed noticeable difference in poise. Now It's quite possible to overcome this--he could be nervous--but as I've attested to, Guillen will need to find him more work mirroring these situations. LOGGY's find work in circumstances such as today where one left-hander will need to be retired. He pulled through it, and if you believe it's alright because no runs scored that's fine with me. I won't begin crying and suggest 'it's the most ridiculous thing I've ever head.' In addition, the AB's lefthanders today had off Logan--including the last out--lend me to AGAIN show concern. Not enough to completely dismiss him, but wonder how the hell he'll fare in the regular season--with 40,000 people in the stands--against David Ortiz or Travis Hafner. Those other points you mentioned are more significant than mine. I never said today alone will sway my opinion.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 04:27 PM) I was joking dude. You are a pessimist, and have a right to be. Its hard to argue with the kid's results however. He looks better than every other option we have tried at this point IMO. He has looked better than our other options. I agree with that. Jphat's menstrual cycle began when I had the AUDACITY to say I'm more concerned with Logan now than previous outings. Which I accompanied with reasons suggesting the situation threw off his concentration. How dare I!!!!

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 04:15 PM) So your more concerned because he had one ball (the last) hit hard and another hit to the track in the thin air of arizona. He had trouble locating on TWO freaking batters and got outs anyway? Not being sold on Logan is one thing. Not being sold from one outing to the next because they hit TWO more balls hard this outing might be the most ridiculous thing I've ever read on this board. And that is saying something. I can't believe you are serious. Mercy. First, I was never sold on Logan--and never will be this spring training unless Guillen finds him appropriate work. That should be consisted of relieving starters immediately after they depart-- when opposing teams' regulars remain in the lineup. Find Logan situations such as today where there are runners on base. Basically, situations where you'd expect failure, and anything more is to be regarded as a plus. What makes those hard hit outs different from past appearances is the game situation. It was a tied game with runners on 1st/2nd base. His location was off, and thus, balls were hit harder/deeper. His second inning of work, the Royals last batter--a lefthander--hit a scorching line drive to Anderson. Sort of important in the scheme of things since Logan would essentially be our clubs LOOGY. And remember, none of this has been against legitimate major league talent. Most ridiculous thing you've ever heard? Sounds like a statement someone makes when they know they may be wrong, yet don't want to admit it.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 04:10 PM) I can just picture flash when Rooney announced we won the world Series. "Yeah they won, barely." Somehow the connection is made between me expressing concern with Boone "6 innings in ST" Logan and not being satisfied with the World Series? Cmon Rock, I expect better from you. Am I crazy to do this? Someone out there has to back me up, because if not, then I must be living on a seperate planet.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 03:59 PM) LOL. You're kidding right. They hit one ball really hard and one ball kinda hard. In the thin air of AZ. I'll just go out on a limb and assume your joking. It's even more of a joke you're acting as if I'm questioning Felix Hernandez out there. What is the appropriate way of reacting to him, exactly? Is there a rule posted within Baseball Prospectus I've missed concerning 6 innings of work equaling major league success? Anyone can have a good 6 innings. Am I supposed to observe and continue believing, against primarily minor league talent, he's TEH AWESOME? I'm still not exactly sold on Logan, yet. If he continues pitching well through the end of spring training I may come around. His first inning of work, with runners on base in a tie game, I notced Logan had trouble locating AJ's mit. This didn't appear to be a concern in previous outings. Why, you may ask? He's been called on to pitch leading off innings, not to relieve pitchers mid-inning. Guillen needs to do two things: one, find him work early in games against legitimate major league talent; and two, place him in more tigh situations such as today. I'll be happy as hell if Logan succeeds. Logan gave up two hard hit outs in his first inning, and definitely one "hang-whif em" as the final out. Lefthanders haven't appeared very deceived against him. I don't know where you constitute these concerns as "a joke."

After watching that inning, I'm more concerned with Boone than previous outings. His outs are becoming harder hit. From not giving up a flyball (from what I've seen on TV) to several deep in a row, you wonder. And these aren't exactly against major league talent. Lefties haven't appeared to look very overmatched against Logan, either.

Boone gave up two fairly deep outs. Still did fairly well, but he appeared to lose his pinpoint control. Probably the situation--runners on base, tie game--which tightened him up on the mound.

What the hell is going on? Three walks in one inning for McCarthy?

Not a good outing from McCarthy. Two walks, a balk, and a three-run HR off Alphabet Boy.

OMFG, BOONE LOGAN IS WARMING!!!!

QUOTE(Randar68 @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 03:01 PM) This article was totally preposterous. An entire farm system rated just by top 100 players rated by a couple of services. The same services that generally don't rate or under-rate prospects at the lower levels (which constitute 1/2 to 2/3rds of the entire system). Brian Anderson and Brandon McCarthy aren't included, which is fine, but they've yet to make their mark in the majors. Lumsden wasn't healthy and he's a better prospect when healthy than Gio. Sweeney has been generally underrated in the past 12 months and Fields has been discsounted because of a rough first full-season (albeit in AA)... I'm not as concerned about our farm system as some of you are. We are in the 15-20 range in the overall scheme of things IMO. 27? Puhlease. I can't disagree with the simplistic system used to evaluate players. With his connections to Baseball Prospectus I assumed Perry wasn't merely deciding which players have received hype, and blindly placing their name on an arbitrary talent list. Honestly, after about #20, you have to be guessing who goes where. How can people decide the difference between #60 and #85? It just happens the Foxsports article was the only one I've come across (without subsciption) which rates the minor league system of teams overall. I invited whoemver had conflicting assessments to post them. What gave it creedence, IMO, is the top and bottom teams appeared to fit my understanding of most talented/least talented systems.

Gload golfs a baseball 400ft. If there's one obvious compliment I could say about him, it's every ball he hits appears to be made with solid contact.

QUOTE(elrockinMT @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 01:55 PM) I don't like the trade at all and I think Joe Borchard was going to be a good 4th outfielder for the Sox. This almost looks like a desperation trade to get another lefty reliever into the mix. I think Joe B had more upside and versatility than Gload or Pablo Ozuna. Hopes that Don Cooper can turn Thornton around can only lead one to assume that you don't have to have talent to pitch at the big league level only a miracle worker for a pitching coach. But, the trade is apparently done so we can only hope for the best. What Borchard would have provided our OF with is a versatile, switch hitting power threat. The problem, of course, being his inability to recognize a curveball (hanging or not) and miss fastballs even when he's looking for them. If he could have been counted upon to provided our club with a respectable OBP%, I'd be more disappointed. Unfortunately, the truth is he's Adam Dunn without the walks or contact ability. I'm not expecting much from Thornton either, but I wouldn't label this trade a desperate move. Desperate would have been trading Owens or Sweeney for Thornton. There's always Pablo/Mac/Gload available to provide late inning substitutions. They don't provide power, but will give the White Sox more hits over time.

QUOTE(The Critic @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 02:20 PM) Sweeney's throws look craptastic. I agree. Throws to second and home could have been closer plays if they were behind some power. The one from mid LF, where Sweeney attempted to prevent Alphabet Boy from scoring, looked pathetic considering it bounced before even reaching the infield.

Thornton, Please be the next Francisco Liriano Please be the next Francisco Liriano Please be the next Francisco Liriano Talk about a fair trade. This move is essentially Borchard for his pitching equivalent. Both are regarded as players with some astounding attribute (Borch-power, Thornton-fastball) which haven't been harnessed yet. Honestly, even if Borchard reaches his potential--which probably won't be above .260/20/60 as a 4th OF--our minor leagues is adapt at producing replacements for those numbers.

Hell of a battle from Sweeney ends with a flyout to CF. Inning over.

QUOTE(bmags @ Mar 19, 2006 -> 03:48 PM) is there something else you want to tell us f. tizzle? It's on tonight at 9 pm. Besides that, that's about it. Should be a nice way to conclude my weekend after returning from a fabulous day of shopping and facial treatments at the local salon.

See, I dont' know why Guillen doesn't find Logan work right here. It's an unfamilar situation with runners on base--one in scoring position. And above everything else, Brewers still have several regulars in the lineup.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Mar 19, 2006 -> 03:16 PM) He was released from the Rockies in 2004. Traded from the Rangers to the Cardinals last year. Who promptly released him in a month. Then the diamonbacks picked him up, but their bullpen was terrible. Nunez velocity has dropped noticeably after only his second inning of work. That's not encouraging. He was throwing 92 with movement when he first appeared, and his breaking ball was biting. However, doesn't matter much if you're all over the damn plate. Nunez does have a bit of Vizcaino in him with the breaking ball love-affair.