SCCWS

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 12, 2015 -> 11:19 PM) I can't believe somebody didn't scream "throw it home" to Abreu. He had plenty of time. All he had to do was look home and he had plenty of time to make the right play. Baseball is a weird sport. Danks works his ass off to get the easy 2-1 win. Robertson does the job. All Abreu has to do is not commit the dumbest mental error imaginable ... yet he commits that mental error. Obviously don't like the sox chances with Duke in the game. This loss will be almost as bad as the McEwing gift to the opponent loss. Greg: A closer allowing singles in the 9th putting runners on 1st and 3rd with one out is not doing his job.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Aug 12, 2015 -> 11:15 PM) A 10 year old throws the ball home why did he not know to do it. All year this s*** happens over and over. Exactly. A 10 year old knows what to do. Therefore so does Abreu if his head is in the game.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Aug 12, 2015 -> 11:10 PM) When it happens game after game it shows staff not working enough with players to know what to do in easy baseball 101 situations. The player has zero fault Did you ever play sports????

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Aug 12, 2015 -> 11:06 PM) Fundamental mistakes are 100% fault of the coaching staff game after game Hawk. HuH???? 100%. So the player has zero fault...........

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Aug 11, 2015 -> 08:02 PM) No disrespect but even if somehow the Sox over perform next year, what team would really want Ventura? Mark I don't think he is going to want another year of this. I think he resigns and says it is for family reasons. I guess there is a chance he then might accept some position in the organization such as scouting.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Aug 11, 2015 -> 01:09 PM) As bad as this team is, I have optimism because we have some good talent in the minors and have a core of good players. Now we just need better acquisitions this offseason along with the further development of our minor leaguers. I have less optimism with our Minor League position players. We were all awaiting the arrival of Semien and Johnson, both touted as good prospects. But both arrived w below average defensive skills. Semien's bat has carried him but his defense is really bad. Johnson's bat never got that chance because his glove was so bad. My fear is Anderson will arrive in 2017 and he will be flawed as well. His defense has been pretty average as a SS. There is really no one at AAA, except maybe Johnson, who will push the ML roster for playing time. Sanchez and Saladino look like they could battle for reserve infielder as both have acceptable gloves but limited bats. Our ability to develop a skilled ML player concerns me. I don't mean an allstar but just a player w a solid glove and bat. It would be great if Trayce Thompson made a spash but I don't think the Sox will be giving him a chance to play every day so he can try and make an impact.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Aug 10, 2015 -> 11:54 PM) Sale, Avi, and Nate Jones were the bright spots today. Flowers was also blooming.

Avi, Avi and Flowers............................our future

Avi and Flowers.......................our future

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 10, 2015 -> 04:05 PM) He and Sandy Alomar have been passed over so many times, you can't help but wonder what fatal flaw teams are seeing, that we aren't. It reminds of the Thibs situation to be honest. Only difference I do see is that Alomar was in Cleveland and got passed over for Francona who had 2 recent titles. I can understand that. Martinez was in TB and got passsed over by Kevin Cash who had limited experience. So I would lean to Alomar if they were the choices. But as you say, there may be skeletons in their closets.

QUOTE (aryzner @ Aug 10, 2015 -> 03:40 PM) I wanted Dave Martinez when Ventura was hired so I'm just going to ahead and pick choice #2 in the OP - Dave Martinez. I did too but once TB passed over him as well, I assume he has some shortcomings. Next candidate

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 10, 2015 -> 02:32 PM) When did Hahn say that? I remember the opposite, them stating specifically during the offseason that a season ticket sales boost provided them the revenue they needed to sign Melky. My trick for estimating season ticket sales is usually to look for games in April that no one in their right mind would buy a single game ticket for and compare year to year. The lowest home attendance this year was a game against Cleveland at 13,055. IN 2014 game 2 had an attendance of 10,625. There are probably a few single game tickets sold in both those cases, especially 2015 since that Cleveland game is a little later in in the month, but I think it's a pretty safe bet that they sold ~2000+ additional season tickets this year. I would guess a little lower but 2,000 is reasonable. Here is a quote from Boyer : Boyer, who has been with the team since coming over from the Bulls in 2004, promises that trend will end this season. "As we stand right now, our season-ticket base is higher than it was at the end of last year," Boyer said. When asked for specifics, Boyer smiled and said, "Higher." If you assume free tickets are the same as last year which is capped at 150,000, the Sox will draw 250,000 more fans than last year. That is about 3,000 per game. So I would assume no more than 1/2 would be season tickets so maybe 1,500.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Aug 10, 2015 -> 11:38 AM) I wouldn't be surprised if two / thirds of the crowd this weekend for the Cubs series are made up of Cub fans. And I wouldn't blame Sox fans for staying away given the franchises performance certainly since September 2012. Something else I've noticed which should be troubling to the organization. On the on-line version of the Tribune the past two mornings, not one word, one story is about the Sox on the page that first comes up on the screen. As bad as the Sox are you'd think the "badness" would get some mention. It isn't. The Sox are becoming totally irrelevant in their own city. Not blaming the papers in one sense (although from a journalistic standpoint it shouldn't matter what the team's record is). My guess is that the majority of the season ticket holders who signed up this year after the off season spending spree on veterans in their 30's won't be back. Mark Makes sense although season tickets only increased minimally per Hahn. Last projections i saw said Sox would draw 1.9 mil based on advanced sales compared to 1.65 last year. But they have to worry about longer term season ticket holders dropping out as well.

QUOTE (L. Ron Paultard @ Aug 9, 2015 -> 05:09 PM) Greg, 1. I don't care about most hitters. Adam Eaton was paid to be an elite lead-off hitter on a team with Championship aspirations. I hold him to that standard. 2. In a steroid Era, the teams that win are the ones who put up a lot of what's known as "crooked numbers". Lead-off hitter is arguably the most important hitter -- not just to start games off, but in every INNING -- that is, if you want to amass this quaint little thing called "a rally". Most pitchers hate lead-off hitter reaching base, doesn't matter if its via a rocket to LF, or a bleeder through the right side or via the HBP. If nothing else, defense has to come on, which opens up a big hole esp. on the Right side of the infield. Suddenly the next batter hitting a weak grounder, and instead of 2 out, noone on, you've got 1st/3rd, no outs and the pitching coach sweating..... On top of that, when someone who is as fast and as aggressive as Eaton is on base to distract the pitcher, the latter's mechanics and focus can sometimes go to crap -- which leads to, say, an overthrown breaking ball hang over the heart of the plate. Before you know it, you got a 3-run HR. 3. a 3-2 count is in some ways more difficult to hit in than 2-2 count. At 2-2, someone like Eaton knows he needs to protect the plate, it removes any kind of "thinking". Whereas on 3-2, Eaton is conflicted. On the one hand, he loves to hit HR. On the other, he is so close to taking a Walk and being in a position where he can show off his speed on the pads. "What's a Spanky to do!". haha. So on 3-2, sometimes you will see a hitter hesitate if only momentarily -- and in a sport where 50 milliseconds are everything, that barely perceptible motor delay, is enough for a hitter to jam himself on a borderline fastball. Incidentally, this is why the elite pitchers seem to have an ability to handle 3-ball counts better than their peers. They just throw a sinker or a cutter on the corner, and since the hitter is a hair too hesitant and yet doesn't want to take Strike-3 looking.... the batter will basically jam himself. Bottomline, Spanky needs to be on base 40% of the time and shrink his stike zone as much as possible with 2 strikes. His OBP is disproportionately important to Sox success during any kind of winning streak, it's not a coincidence. Yes, Adam Eaten had a reputation in Arizona system as being able to put on a HR show in batting-practice for such a seemingly small guy, but in real games, in a pennant race, I don't give a crap about his predilections. Just get on da base, Adam. duuuh derpity mcDerp There are 14 White Sox players who will make more than Adam Eaton this season. He does make a little more than Shuck does. Eaton will eventually make money as his contract goes on. But he signed for $23 M/5 which is far from Elite. Now Ellsbury's $153M/7 for example is Elite

QUOTE (Saufley @ Aug 9, 2015 -> 06:28 PM) Let's be real and let's be honest now. Really, how does Ventura not deserve to be let go? This is big business and this team is losing the fan base. How can the management and the ownership not be aware of this? I'm totally dumbfounded!!! Ironically attendance is up so far as they are averaging over 2,000 more fans per game. Now I would assume attendance will drop over the next 6 weeks but they will probably still outdraw last year's team.

QUOTE (spiderman @ Aug 8, 2015 -> 11:06 PM) Unfortunately, the list probably requires ex-White Sox players to be on it; I'd hope whoever the next manager is, should they move on, is somebody who advocates statistical metrics (defensive shifts, creativity within the lineup, reduced bunting, etc.), but it probably doesn't matter who the manager is until the minor league system is able to produce major league players (they have done well with pitchers, but now need hitters to start come through) that can make an impact at the major league level. Remember Sale Rodon and Q are not really products of the minor league system. All three spent very little time being developed in the White Sox minor league. Webb did and hopefully a few more are in the pipeline.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 9, 2015 -> 02:53 AM) What is with that awful swing Saladino takes on high pitches? Great post! I've noticed that as well. It's sickening. It looks like Sanchez( .233 ) make catch Saladino ( .240) in a few days.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 8, 2015 -> 08:49 PM) Anywho, F*** tonight. 10-11 now for this team since the AS break and 2-6 since Rick Hahn said "if we keep playing like this we'll be right there at the end." 7-1 against teams that have quit and 3-10 against teams that haven't. Congrats on your success and I hope you are judged on it Ricky. It's 100% what you asked for. I disagree with your quit analysis. You are counting Tampa as a team that has not quit and Boston that has. But Boston just went into Tampa and took 2 of 3. KC lost 2 of 3 to the Tigers coming into this series. Teams are basically up and down with the good teams having more ups and the bad teams having more downs. I am not sure the White Sox would beat the KC AAA team. They just own us.

QUOTE (flavum @ Aug 8, 2015 -> 10:40 AM) I think we're really grasping at straws to find reasons to keep Ventura as manager. His time as manager has been a disaster. The team was ill-prepared coming out of spring training. We saw it. He's managed a team that folded in a weak division in 2012. He's had teams that did quit--2013. 99 losses? C'mon. I'm hoping that with his career earnings and relationship with Reinsdorf and the organization, he'll step aside as manager and be "reassigned within the organization". It's time for a change, and really, there's no good reason to argue this point anymore. I think Robin and staff should be replaced. I agree the team started poorly in April. But you say they were ill-prepared. Sale was hurt and Melky, Eaton and LaRoche had lousy months. How should Robin have gotten those 3 better prepared??? They are veteran players. The defense , especially, Johnson was bad. But that is on Hahn not Robin. The defense has been much better since they added Sanchez and Saladino but again that to me is on Hahn for going into this season w Micah and Conor as the incumbent infielders. I think Hahn gave Robin a flawed team in several areas, several veterans did not produce and Robin and staff are not able to react to correct players who are struggling. Take Melky. He stunk for several months and he has been on fire lately. Is Robin responsible for his slow start??? Is Robin the reason he is now on fire??? I would say Melky was in a slump and worked his way out of it.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 8, 2015 -> 12:03 AM) Is he highly thought of in baseball? I'd prefer somebody who has managed another team. I agree. That combo would be fine with me. Ten years of Dombrowski would be a good way for him to end his career. I'd take it. Excellent take. But there's always the do nothing front office job. Make him a community spokesperson or something. Robin is no dummy. He has to know his performance has been really poor. This team has had some "name" baseball players who have sucked sucked sucked in his tenure and the last couple years of Ozzeroo. His teams have done nothing. We're not even sniffing the playoffs. I officially want Robin out BTW. Nothing will make me change my mind. I'm totally sick of the White Sox 2015 season. This win four in a row lose seven of eight crap is ridiculous and a lot of it is on the manager. I've heard of roller coaster but this is ridiculous. Every little win streak ends and is followed by horrific losing streaks. Everybody knows it's going to culminate with some massive losing skein at some point in September that sends this team finally about 20 under. Please get us a real manager for next season. To those Robin supporters answer this honestly: Do you want this guy taking us onto the field next April?? The chance of this bulls*** happening all over again is REAL! Greg: I agree Robin should go. In fact, i thought his hire was a mistake. But look at how well the team played just before the All Star break. Why??? Melky, Eaton, Abreu all got hot. Plus the arrival of Sanchez and Saladino settled the defense. then after the break they nose-dived. Why?? Rodon and Sale had back to back poor performances and Shark and Danks were good and bad. Robin needs to go if only for a change in the clubhouse. But manager's success is usually determined by player success. Boston fans are wrestling w John Farrell's fate. First year in Boston he wins a World Series and the next 2 years are a disaster. Did he forget how to manage???

QUOTE (L. Ron Paultard @ Aug 7, 2015 -> 11:25 PM) Saladino is a rookie who is literally overwhelmed right now at the plate. People forget just how much there is to learn first time around, against every new pitcher, in each different game situation, every new ballpark for young hitters. Enormous amounts, the big city lights, tv broadcast, is nothing like ever faced before. So screw-ups are expected. so yeah, T-Salad (see what I did there!) will be fine longer=term as his swing profile, temperament, and versatility are compatible with ML success. Temper expectations for now. OTOH, what's the excuse of Sox veterans like Anorexei, LaRoche, Garcia, Eaton, Cabrera, Flowers who been stealing money for most of the year. I agree he is struggling but I am not sure your reasoning is correct. He was not overwhelmed when he arrived because he immediately hit close to .300 for his first 8-10 games. Then he started struggling and now he is really overwhelmed. That may be a sign he has a major weakness and word gets out quickly. He was a .280 hitter for 3 years in AAA w very little power. it looks like Sanchez has the same game w a better glove. I think one will be the reserve inielder next year and the other will disappear.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Aug 7, 2015 -> 04:52 PM) Random, but this is Bleacher Report's top ten lefty starters Hector Santiago over Sale any day! You should have clarified. This is their top ten lefties this season based on performance through 8/1/15

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Aug 7, 2015 -> 04:05 PM) CF Eaton 3b Saladino 1B Abreu LF Cabrera RF Garcia DH Laroche SS Ramirez 2B Sanchez C Flowers P Danks Does Thompson have a minor injury???

QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Aug 6, 2015 -> 07:36 PM) It's really easy to criticize Ozzie for what he did as a manager when he made a mistake. The truth is, what made him great is he took credit for his decisions. I miss that. I miss having a manager, too. What made him great was he won the only World Series in almost every living White Sox fan's lifetime. Not many of us can wait another 88 years.