Lip Man 1

I thought this would be of interest to PTATC and perhaps he'd care to comment: http://kentuckysportsradio.com/main/new-survey-results-paint-alarming-picture-of-ncaa-safety/

Or perhaps pitchers are being "babied" far to much today. I'm not a doctor or a trainer I have no idea. All I know is you look at a number of pitchers from years ago, without all the advanced training and nutritional benefits today when many of these guys had to actually find a second job in the off season and yet they somehow complete 25 games a season and throw 300 innings and even in some cases (like Juan Marichal) strenghten their arms by throwing batting practice between starts. How did they do it? Former Sox pitching coach Johnny Sain who was one of the best ever (along with Ray Berries) had a basic philosophy, 'you throw EVERY single day, even if it is just on the side for 10 minutes to build up the muscles.' He also didn't believe in pitchers running a lot. He once said, "You can't run the ball across the plate...if you could jesse Owens would have been a pitcher." Like I said I don't have an answer but that could be part of it, that and guys getting abused by "coaches" growing up who don't know what the hell they are doing until they get to college (and even then some of those guys just murder pitchers because they need to win to keep their jobs.)

Like a friend and a wise baseball sage told me after the Rodon fiasco from last year and Dunning this year, where things seemed to go months without any real information / progress, "I assume the worst with White Sox injuries until told otherwise." Me thinks that is a good philosophy to have. The entire medical / training / conditioning staff needs to be reevaluated at all levels in my opinion just in case and I've been saying that for awhile. I also had an out of the box thought and I ran it by my doctor who also was a former minor league pitcher in the Orioles and Rangers organization. It went like this. ANY pitcher drafted by the Sox say in the first five rounds, signs his deal and has TJS. He also gets a bonus to be put in escrow for agreeing to this (just in case something goes seriously wrong.) No exceptions. I base it on the fact that so many of these kids growing up through high school and college are abused by people, many of who do not know what they are doing when it comes to protecting developing arms... that there has to be at least some damage to the elbow, ligaments...something. Especially at the younger levels where in a lot of cases you have parents coaching who wouldn't know their rear end from a hole in the ground about arms, pitching and potential injuries. Have the surgery, have them work with the training staff and come back stronger (according to the statistics in the vast majority of cases) than before. I thought him being a doctor he'd have a number of objections. I was surprised when he said he didn't and could see an organization doing this if they could get around the possible legal issues and issues with the MLBPA.

I said before this stretch started that 5-10 would be OK with me due to the fact that they basically have no pitching staff. Now though I'm hoping for one against the Twins which would make it 6-9 at the end which again under the circumstances isn't bad at all.

And I bet you work cheap too! LOL

Speaking of which: I have absolutely no idea how the White Sox won this game today. Jose absolutely saved their asses, kudos to him! It was the 6th time the Sox trailed in the 7th inning or later and won, 3rd time this year in the 9th inning and 2nd time against Boston. That being said it was more stupid decision making in the field and the bullpen is starting to collapse I assume from all the work since the starting pitching is so bad. Had a lead Saturday in Texas (lost), had a lead Monday in Boston (lost), had a lead Tuesday in Boston (lost) had a lead Wednesday in Boston (SHOULD have lost). Bummer and Marshall are reverting back to their norms, even Alex blew a save (although it wasn't completely his fault). Hahn needs to get these guys some help. Not just to get through this year but to prevent even more injuries moving forward. History lesson: Down the stretch in 2000, the Sox were fighting to hang on to the division lead despite having lost starters like James Baldwin and Cal Eldred. GM Ron Scheuler couldn't or wouldn't get the pitching help they so desperately needed forcing guys to work even harder to bring the division title home. End result...a half dozen guys had off season surgery, some never recovered (Mike Sirotka, Jim Parque), Baldwin was never the same, relief pitchers like Bob Howry and Kelly Wunsch came back but were missing something. You can't just think about this year the way this staff is on life support you have to think ahead. Time to earn that money Hahn.

Always glad to make a contribution and to help make your day eminently more satisfying!

I couldn't care less about how much money is being spent to sign a guy, it's not like JR won't know where his next meal is coming from but the earlier part of your statement is correct. Until the Sox actually get it done instead of just talking, which as we all know is cheap, fans are going to be skeptical. And they damn well should be.

The ghost of Billy Pierce (who probably would do better than the guys they are trotting out now...)

In an era where even the bat boys are hitting balls 400 feet (LOL). Home runs can not be the sole indicator of why you bring someone up. I appreciated what he did last year but this guy does nothing besides hit an occasional home run. he can't run, he can't field and if he isn't hitting the home run he doesn't get on base. He's another four A player...period. Nothing more. On a good team he'd be nice to have as a late inning pinch hitter if you need a home run, on a rebuilding / developing team, he isn't needed at all in my opinion.

Two guys will not get you through a season sir. You need quality AND depth. The Sox right now have a little of the first and none of the second.

Sully said the Sox are placing Anderson on the IL, left clubhouse after MRI today without speaking to reporters.

Well I've been called things all my life from my Dad, to opponents to my wife sometimes (LOL). I think I can take it.

No you don't and if that is the main criteria for hiring a manager you've got real issues. Speaking Spanish is no way a "requirement". If you have a lot of Latin players on the team you have an assistant coach hired who can. Period.

Had more than I can remember (Jeff Torborg called me this morning for example) but one I vividly remember even though it didn't involve me was when Dick Allen cracked his bat in a game. He's walking back to the dugout with it and saw a little kid by the dugout, without saying a word he handed it to him and kept right on walking.

He has his issues defensively (and one could also say from a "baseball-smarts" standpoint). 16 errors now. In some ways he's like Alexei Ramirez a guy who felt his athletic ability would make up for everything. Hint: It doesn't at the big league level and like Ramirez his concentration seems to disappear at times which is not good. His hitting of course is making up for some of this but you'd think after three plus seasons now, he'd have a better handle on things.

Ankle sprains especially high ones can be a real b****, usually anywhere from four to six weeks and you spend a lot of time in a boot. At Idaho State they had a few players get those and they are nasty. Tua at Alabama had one and had that special surgery to enable him to play in the championship game, you could tell he wasn't right but without the surgery he wouldn't have had the time to even try to play.

Playing devil's advocate the organization could say, "Well guys can't keep dropping like flies...sooner or later we'll be healthy. Then you've got Giolito, Lopez, Dunning, Kopech, Rodon and Cease...that should be MORE than enough." Of course it isn't but I'm just saying you can think the organization is going to use injuries as a convenient excuse to do nothing / very little this off season. I hope they don't, I don't think they will but nothing is guaranteed with this bunch. They have a very strange sense of logic.

Haven't had good fundamentals since 2005 and 2012 and guess what Ozzie and Robin were mandating extra fielding practice / situational practice before games. Hmmmmmmmmmmm... Regarding the game itself, bullpen is now cracking apart and looking like crap, Anderson now with 16 errors. Red Sox will sweep them tomorrow, Twins will probably bludgeon them and then the Sox can start taking offers to see what they can get for some guys. You knew that with the pitching staff as decimated as it is this was going to happen sooner or later. I guess it was fun while it lasted.

I wouldn't necessarily use home runs as a basis for deciding if a trade was good or bad. EVERYBODY is hitting home runs and Manfred last week admitted a change in the ball is part of the reason. I assume they will adjust the baseball moving forward and you may not see as many guys hitting them in such high numbers. And speaking of numbers Colome is 16 for 16 in saves, setting a Sox team record for best start ever for a relief pitcher breaking Dustin Hermanson's 15-15 set in 2005...so it is not like he's chopped liver or if you will crap like Santana, Nova, Alonso or Jay.

You are probably right but if for once those guys actually produce, I won't care it will help the team. The rub of course is if they actually produce.

Good the Sox can't lose it!

I suspect because subconsciously umpires are saying to themselves, "it's the White Sox, who gives a shit..." on borderline calls. Again I don't think it is deliberate it's just the Sox have zero reputation and don't merit the same "breaks" as the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Cubs, Cardinals et al. If the Sox start winning that may change.

Look at the eight teams that are out of the race / rebuilding and see what you may be able to do. In 2004 when the Sox needed pitching they got Garcia and Contreras. How did that work out? It can be done.

Why not? He's signing every other has been.