103 mph screwball

Brian Anderson needs to play regularly because when he sits it affects his hitting. It has been my observation that even in the second half of 2006, whenever Brian seems to get some momentum, he sits. I contend that the Sox would be better off letting him play all of the time. If he sucks like he did the first half of 2006, then he either stays as a defensive replacement or he goes. But this benching him for tough right handers crap does not help. As others have mentioned, he's been hitting right handers better than left, and it keeps him from getting on a roll. Ozzie is not helping the CF situation at all. If Pods keeps hitting .290 and the Sox keep winning, Pods may be the CF whenever Q comes back.

I'd rather just come to one page for my Sox info. When trade winds is open, that is one more place I need to go to tap into Soxtalk knowledge. Are there that many Sox trade rumors in pale hose talk that you can't keep up with Sox news and game threads?

If we are going to give up a ton of talent and pay a huge salary, then I want the Sox to get a proven AL pitcher. I'd love to Haren. What is up with Pedro? At least Pedro would not cost us Richard.

After the Castro deal, I wonder if they were scouting for a backup catcher. Was IRod playing that day?

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ May 29, 2009 -> 10:42 PM) career .990 FPCT behind the plate Not bad, but he will have to improve on that to meet my standards. I think catcher is a position that is difficult to judge based on defensive stats. You almost have to see him play to see if he makes greats stops in the dirt or if the stolen bases are on the pitcher. If I'm reading these stats, it looks like he throws out 28% of runners attempting to steal. Castro Career Defensive Stats

Castro's vs. Lefties over the past 3 years - .275 .341 .808 Better than who we had vs. right handers too OPS=.778 Seems like a nice upgrade offensively and I feel much better if AJ should happen to need an extended time off for any reason. I don't know much at all about his defense and handling of pitchers. How is this guy behind the plate?

Now the Sox have a Castro, a Cuban Missile, and a Cuban Tank?

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 28, 2009 -> 12:32 AM) Jay Bruce spent 4 seasons in the minors (353 games) before getting the call. Evan Longoria spent 3 seasons in the minors (205 games) before getting the call. Even Matt Wieters, a guy that most scouts believe will be better than this guy named Joe Mauer, spent a full season and 40 games in the minors before his highly anticipated callup Friday. Gordon Beckham? A whopping 50 games and we've already decided to bump him to AAA with the obvious intention of calling him up probably sometime in the next few weeks. Oh, yeah, he gets to learn a brand new position, too! f***ing pathetic! Should Beckham's college count for something? It's not like he's a 17 year old Robin Yount or something. In a post steroid / hgh era, where players hit their prime at 27 and decline at 35 maybe they should start bringing these kids up sooner if they are good enough.

We got beat, but at least it didn't seem like they stopped trying after winning the first two. A series win! Maybe they are saving the sweeps for the playoffs.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 27, 2009 -> 10:12 PM) Really, this is your complaint? PK is slow...so why not toss it to the pitcher covering who has momentum? I can't recall one time PK messed up a flip to the pitcher. The main issue PK struggles with at 1B is his range to his left. He's very good to his right. Because of risk of injury to the pitcher from stepping on the bag awkwardly or collision and because of the possibility of a bobbled exchange costing an out. If all he has to do is hustle over to first, then I would want him to do what he did tonight and just get over a step on it. That play has it's role, but it drives me nuts to see Paul get a ground ball and hold it and pet it and wait for the pitcher to bust it over and pet it again and then underhand lob it 10 feet.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ May 27, 2009 -> 10:04 PM) I miss the awesome CQ. Me too but I wonder what the Sox record this year is when he starts and when he doesn't.

My big complaint about PK's D has always been tossing the ball to a covering pitcher when he could take it himself. Not only was tonight's play a display of good reflexes, and saved two runs, I also loved Konerko waiving Gavin off and making the play himself. I know sometimes it is the correct play, but the fewer times we have guys like Bartolo and Jose busting ass (or Achilles) to cover first the better. He really shines with his picks in the dirt.

I'm loving the leather. Nice plays by PK two nights in a row. We may have ourselves a pitchers duel. F*** Weaver.

Go Sox. I took a triple dose of prozac so I can put up with the negativity here. Do I have to start singing Journey?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 27, 2009 -> 06:14 PM) Are they actually moving him to 3B? Is that official, or just speculation? I don't know if it is official, but after watching Nix and Ramirez play defense last night and with their hitting coming around, Fields might be the weakest link. Third base may be the best place to get Beckham's bat in the lineup.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 27, 2009 -> 04:27 PM) He dominates us. Sox suck on the West Coast! Sox can't beat Weaver! Sox never close a sweep! Sox always play crap lineup in 3rd game! REVERSE UGGA BUUGA!! NOT TODAY!! SWEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! COME ON SOXTALK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WILL THEM TO VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seal the deal. Quit settling for 2 out of 3 a deliver the coup de grace. SWEEP TIME! Make them pay for keeping Hawk up late on a travel day!!! HAWK and STONE PONY need SLEEP! It's time for a SWEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think Beckham will get more games at 3B if Nix and Alexei and maybe Getz have the middle taken care of for a while. Heck of a diving stop by Nix tonight.

Pods and BA can both be hitting .330 and Ozzie will work Wise in to take some AB's away. Anderson was 3 for 5 so it's time to bench him to slow his momentum. That will teach him to respect authority. Anderson is 2nd on the team with an OBP of .381. Thome leads the team with .387. Maybe it's time to bat Brian second for a few weeks and see what happens.

Pods gets the infield single, draws the balk, which takes the pitcher's mind of Getz, who gets the job done. Pods has a crappy career slugging percentage though and speed is overrated.

With all due respect to Thome and Big Frank, the next Sox DH should be capable of playing a position as well. It would give Ozzie the flexibility to rest people via the DH slot and would be injury insurance. Having that guy on the roster who can do nothing else but DH is too restricting on a 25 man roster with inter league play.

Then KW should cut Wise or fire Ozzie.

Jones K's. 2 outs.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Apr 22, 2009 -> 06:08 PM) im at the game, holy s*** my seats are awesome. Have fun man! Bring us a win!

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 21, 2009 -> 06:30 PM) Jeremy Affeldt has actually been a pretty damn good reliever the past two seasons. I love that duck