thomsonmi

Well, good work Mr. Crede. Two runs on you.

Ozzie's going to be kicking some serious ass tonight if this continues.

You can't hardly blame El Caballo for that DP.

That wasn't a very pretty inning.

crap!

Damn that pickoff!

Yes, right field is #9.

Since he clearly decided to go lefty-righty rotation today. Ozzie's options for the 3 hole were Gload, Harris, Valentin, or Perez. Given those options, I think Ozzie made the right (or left) call with Gload.

With the incessant whining that we have to endure from Cub and Red Sox fans without any recognition of our own plight, I think we've earned the right to feel sorry for ourselves.

I was surprised by those numbers too.

ALL-TIME GREATEST CATCHERS By Rob Neyer ESPN.com Without even doing any real checking, I'm ready to argue that the 10 greatest catchers, in chronological order, are Gabby Hartnett, Mickey Cochrane, Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Gary Carter, Ivan Rodriguez, and Mike Piazza. Johnny Bench won 10 Gold Gloves his first 10 seasons. I'm sure some of you might quibble with that list, but I'll tell you that the next few on the list are Bill Freehan, Ted Simmons, and either Thurman Munson or Elston Howard. None of those four are in the Hall of Fame, and all of the Hall-eligible catchers on the larger list have been elected. So while I might not have it exactly right, you have to at least give me points for conventionality. Anyway, 10 candidates is a lot, so let's split them up, pre-'60s and post-'60s. First, the Old Guys (we might be vulgar and call them the Dead Guys, but fortunately Yogi's still running on all cylinders): Games Caught OPS+ Hartnett 1990 1793 126 Cochrane 1482 1451 127 Dickey 1789 1708 128 Berra 2120 1699 126 Campy 1215 1183 123 OPS+ is Adjusted OPS as listed in The Baseball Encyclopedia, and describes the player's career on-base percentage plus slugging percentage, "normalized for the context of the offensive level of the league and player's home park(s) and then converted to a scale in which 100 is average." A couple of notes on these guys: Cochrane's career ended early as a result of a serious beaning in 1937, when he'd just turned 34. He's very highly rated in some quarters, but I'm not quite sure why, as his adjusted OPS doesn't blow the other guys away. Cochrane did play key roles for five pennant-winning teams (and managed two of those), and he did have more big seasons than the other guys. But overall I don't see the argument. I think Campanella's often a bit overrated, too. He was a wonderful player, of course, a three-time MVP who drew raves for his defense. He also gets credit for the seasons he missed because of the color line (Campanella didn't reach the majors until 1948, when he was 26). But in his early 30s, Campanella started suffering various injuries, and even before he was paralyzed in a car accident he'd hit poorly in three of his last four seasons. Don't get me wrong here. Campanella was a great player. I just don't think he's a part of the discussion about the greatest catcher, which is where I've occasionally seen him listed. Berra's numbers don't particularly stand out from the others in the group. Like Campanella, Berra was a three-time MVP. Also germane to the discussion is the fact that Berra played on 14 pennant-winning teams (the record, of course), and played a key role on 12 of them. In Allen Barra's new book, Brushbacks and Knockdowns, Barra argues that Yogi is the greatest "team player" in the history of professional sports. Whether you buy Barra's argument or not -- and I urge you to find the book -- it's hard to argue that Yogi doesn't deserve at least some "extra credit" for the Yankees' successes from 1947 through 1961. Next, the five best post-Yogi catchers: Games Caught OPS+ Bench 2158 1742 127 Fisk 2499 2226 116 Carter 2296 2056 116 Pudge 1652 1590 113 Piazza 1493 1404 156 I've always favored Bench as the greatest catcher, by just a hair over Berra. Why? They played virtually the same number of games, both overall and behind the plate. Their adjusted OPS's were virtually the same. But Bench is a generation younger than Berra and Bench was more valuable with the mitt. Don't get me wrong. Reputation notwithstanding, Berra was a fine defensive catcher. But Bench was incredible. He won 10 Gold Gloves, but here are my favorite things about Bench's defense. From 1970 through 1976, Bench played in 42 postseason games. In those 42 games, Bench's Reds stole 50 bases and were caught 17 times. Meanwhile, Bench threw out only 12 runners. Big deal, right? Here's the thing, though: in those 42 games the Reds' opponents stole only two bases. In the biggest games of the year, the Reds out-stole their opponent 50 to 2. Bench stole six bases; all by himself, he tripled the opposition's stolen-base output. And remember, this was an era when teams actually ran. I look at Bench and I see a modern player who hit as well as any catcher but Piazza and fielded as well as any catcher with the possible exception of Pudge Rodriguez (who's had his detractors, by the way), and I see the greatest catcher ever. Here, then, is how I would rank them today, pending the futures of Rodriguez and Piazza: 1. Johnny Bench 2. Yogi Berra 3. Carlton Fisk 4. Bill Dickey 5. Gabby Hartnett 6. Roy Campanella 7. Mike Piazza 8. Mickey Cochrane 9. Gary Carter 10. Ivan Rodriguez Perhaps I'm giving Fisk too much credit for his longevity, and if that's not your bag you can move Fisk and Dickey down, and Campanella, Piazza and Cochrane up. Some of you might rank Piazza higher because of his obvious superiority with the bat, and some of you might rank Piazza lower (or even much lower) because of his obvious deficiencies with the glove. I think I've struck a reasonable balance. Oh, and while you might think that with the exception of Bench I've ignored defense in this discussion, I can tell you that with the exception of Piazza, I can find laudatory quotes about the defense of all of these guys. And what statistics we have back up the quotes. So while defense certainly matters, it's not easy to distinguish between the defensive contributions here (again, with the exception of Piazza). Certainly, both Piazza and Rodriguez could still move up as they play more games. I don't think it's appropriate to make that adjustment now, though. Catching is tough on a man, and we shouldn't just assume that the active guys will just keep plugging along for another three or four years. Senior writer Rob Neyer writes four columns per week during the baseball season. This spring, Fireside will publish Rob's next book, "The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers" (co-written with Bill James); for more information, visit Rob's Web site.

Though its early and we aren't exactly tearing it up right now, Kenny's offseason moves don't look to bad so far.

Small gains on South Side By Bob Foltman Tribune staff reporter May 10, 2004, 11:48 PM CDT Sometimes you can make all the right moves and still have it go wrong at the end. Just ask White Sox general manager Ken Williams. Williams thought he had all the pieces in their proper places last season for a Central Division title. He added an ace starting pitcher in Bartolo Colon. He thought he had strengthened his bullpen with Tom Gordon and Billy Koch and fine-tuned at the midway mark by bringing in Roberto Alomar and Carl Everett. And yet the Sox still finished second after a September fade. Williams went down a different path this season. He let Colon, Alomar, Everett, Gordon and supersub Tony Graffanino leave via free agency, made a few minor moves he hopes will pay off big and put his trust in young players who have been waiting for an opportunity. After 30 games, the Sox are two games ahead of where they were last year. But May was troublesome last year (11-16), and the Sox are 4-5 after dropping three straight in Toronto. The changes from 2003 to 2004 have featured a few pleasant surprises: Juan Uribe for Tony Graffanino So far, this has been a steal for the Sox. Uribe has hit everything and is fourth in the American League with a .368 average. The Sox gave up a minor leaguer (Aaron Miles) and in return got a hitter with power who can play three infield positions and has a gun for an arm. Williams acquired Uribe as protection in case Jose Valentin leaves next season as a free agent, and his play so far gives the Sox a little more leverage in deciding what to do with Valentin this winter. Manager Ozzie Guillen's task is to try and get at-bats for Willie Harris while also keeping Uribe in the lineup as long as he's hot. Graffanino has also done the job in Kansas City, hitting .333 in 78 at-bats. Willie Harris for Roberto Alomar After struggling the first month, Harris has lifted his average to .301. His defense may not reach the level of Alomar's in his prime, but Harris has shown good range. Guillen would like to see him steal more bases. Harris leads the Sox with five, but could be more aggressive. He had a tough Saturday in Toronto, negating two singles by getting thrown out stealing and getting picked off his first two times up. With Uribe hot and Harris struggling, it looked as if the Sox would have to make a decision and perhaps play Uribe every day at Harris' expense. But with Harris hitting better, Guillen has the more pleasant problem of keeping each of them sharp. The fact that Alomar played just 13 games before breaking his wrist and is pondering retirement validates Williams' decision to let him walk. Scott Schoeneweis for Bartolo Colon Schoeneweis hadn't been in a starting rotation since 2001 and he didn't exactly excel while he was there. Colon, meanwhile, is a horse, one of those rare pitchers who takes the mound every fifth day, throws fastball after fastball and often finishes what he starts. Past performances made this perhaps Williams' biggest gamble, but Schoeneweis has made it pay off thus far. He has been the Sox's most consistent starting pitcher with an earned-run average at least a full run lower than any other starter. Plus he's left-handed. The Sox balked at giving Colon a four-year deal. So far it's a decision they can live with. Colon is sporting a 4.09 ERA in 44 innings, compared with Schoeneweis' 3.49 over 382/3 innings in one fewer start. Colon has also allowed seven home runs to just two for Schoeneweis. Cliff Politte for Tom Gordon The Sox would not have been in contention last summer without Gordon, who took over from Billy Koch as the closer and stabilized the end of games. Politte, meanwhile, struggled with the mental aspect of the closer's role in Toronto. Politte has continued to have trouble pitching the ninth inning of games with the Sox, but has been fine as a seventh- and eighth-inning set-up guy. He's younger than Gordon and may throw harder. Gordon gave the Sox another option as a closer, and while the Sox believe Politte can be used in that role, the results have shown otherwise. Still, the trade-off so far seems to be a wash. Aaron Rowand for Carl Everett The Sox have been looking to fill the center-field spot since Lance Johnson left. Rowand is above average defensively and has some pop in his bat, but his average is down to .230. In some ways, the hitting of catchers Miguel Olivo (.300) and Sandy Alomar Jr. (.263) has offset Rowand's low average. Everett hit .301 with 41 RBIs and 10 home runs in 73 games with the Sox last summer but has been hurt this season after signing with Montreal. The Sox are standing behind Rowand, but they know they have Jeremy Reed waiting in Charlotte if they need him. Copyright © 2004, The Chicago Tribune

Well, now I see it was already posted here too. I am the moron.

I don't visit the Sportsbar. Sorry for the faux paux.

Can you imagine the hue and cry that would be happening if this had happened on the South Side to a Cub fan? http://www.dailyherald.com/news_story.asp?intid=381147

The game came in real well out here in Colorado on ESPN2. Another nice evening at home with Billy Koch.

Double dip tomorrow... 3:05 pm & 6:05pm.

Town hall meetings with Brooks Boyer being pushed by Wills. Maybe he'll do a virtual townhall meeting on Soxtalk.com?

When I turned the feed on it sounded like Boyer was answering a question regarding Ledewski's suggestions in the Daily Southtown the other day. Game cancelled apparently...

From whitesox.com a couple days ago... Boyer, who worked for the Chicago Bulls for 10 seasons, the last six as senior director of corporate partnerships, will be responsible for the team's marketing, promotions and broadcasting efforts, as well as overseeing ticket, sponsorship and suite sales. "We are excited by the energy and enthusiasm Brooks brings to the White Sox after his 10 seasons with the Bulls," said Jerry Reinsdorf, chairman of the White Sox. "His experience in building business relationships, in sales, and in generating an entertaining atmosphere will have a major impact on the U.S. Cellular Field experience for all White Sox fans.

Brooks Boyer is apparently his name.

Good interview with this marketing guy -- I've forgotten his damn name.

The fans just voted for dancing girls in an interview with our new marketing director.