fathom

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 07:23 PM) It seems to be working nicely right now. If you can consistently score 4 runs a game and hold the opponent under that, you will win, simple as that. If this was a dire situation I could understand how furious you are at the offense, but fact is, we are still in first, have the best record in the MLB, and just got our best hitter back. Why wait for this to become a dire situation? First, we can't count too much on Thomas this year. I don't see how he's going to be able to play more than every other day over the course of the season. Also, why don't we ask the Dodgers from a few years ago how it is to have a great pitching, weak hitting team? Once it gets hotter out, the ball will be flying out of the Cell again. We're going to have to outslug teams.

QUOTE(JimH @ May 31, 2005 -> 07:02 PM) Holy smokes. Let me preface all of this by saying I have a great respect for Randa. Now ... if something happens to Crede I'm in your camp. Get on the phone and get Randa. Even though I disagree with you, that was a very good post. I agree that no moves will be made for a while, no matter how bad Crede looks right now.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:55 PM) not as much as I hate A-rows commercial with that stupid devil. Yep, it all leads to my hatred for the marketing campaign.

I hate the win or die trying slogan with a passion.

Do some of you people really want to see Crede here for another year and a half?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:46 PM) And you clear payroll from where??? Randa will be cheaper next season than Crede...guaranteed. Also, I have a strong feeling we will not resign Konerko next year, freeing up some money.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:43 PM) Lets say this goes through. What in the hell do we do next year in the hot corner?? Fields is NOT ready. You really think we're going to resign Crede or go to arbitration with him? Not a chance in hell right now, especially with Boras as his agent.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:37 PM) But i dont think that KW would make this trade, I think if he is going to trade a starter and a staple in the clubhouse for years. Since when has Crede been considered a leader on our team? I would imagine that everyone on the Sox would understand if we traded for a different 3rd baseman. They see the same ABs that we do every night.

QUOTE(Jabroni @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:36 PM) I think trading Crede for Randa would DRASTICALLY help our team. Crede was a hole in the lineup last season and he appears to be the same this season. I think people have their hopes up way too high for a deal to get someone like Chavez. Based on salary, who we'd have to trade, and performance to date, a guy like Randa or Mackowiak would be a MUCH better option for us to trade for. For everyone wanting the Sox to trade for a high-priced guy like Chavez........if we got him, we'd have a nice 1b making like 750k next year. Can you say Ross Gload or Travis Lee?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:32 PM) All speculation though. When it comes down to it, if you are the Reds GM, and your team is floundering, and your fan base is turning against your moves the past two years, do you make a trade straight up, and how does that help your club. You are taking Crede, who has Bora$$ as his agent, and has not performed well in the majors. Or you could hold on to Randa until the end of the year when a contender will give up alot for a good 3B and a bat going in the stretch run. It doesnt make sense to me. We are going to have to agree to disagree. Because I think, if KW makes a move, its going to be a big one that DRASTICALLY helps the club. The Reds have had all sorts of problems at 3rd base over last few years. Brandon Larson was supposed to be their 3rd baseman for the decade, but he was a massive bust. I'm willing to bet they would jump at the chance of hopefully making adjustments to Crede, and letting him be their 3rd baseman for the next 8 years. I'm guarantee that the main reason Crede hasn't been traded, and likely will not be, is that KW doesn't want to get rid of him.

QUOTE(shakes @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:21 PM) What drives me nuts about Crede is his wasted at bats. He doesn't move or drive in runners. He never adjusts his swing to the situation. It all relates back to Crede being an easy out. I'm shocked, and happy, with how he laid off some close pitches in the 9th inning last night. But he rarely shows that type of presence at the plate. Compared to Randa, who seems like such a tough out in big situations. How many times did our pitchers have 10 pitch at-bats against him in a big situation, only for him to eventually walk or line a single to right field?

Randa or Mackowiak would be just fine with me. Crede has proven that he's far too inconsistent to be counted on by a contending team.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:15 PM) Aramis is a horrible defensive 3B, his fielding is bad on a slow infield and his throws are only saved by a gold glove first baseman. As for Mora and Blalock, I would take either one over Crede any day of the week of course. Trust me, there's not another person on this board who hates the Cubs more than I do. However, Aramis is not nearly as bad of a fielder as he used to be. His fielding pct right now is .001 higher than Crede actually. I'd say Crede's defense is a little bit better....but not nearly as much as it was a few years ago.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 31, 2005 -> 06:02 PM) Another insightful post from an exciting new member.... :headshake Crede's fielding is underappreciated, he makes tough plays look easy and makes alot of plays that other 3B dont even look at. Look no further than the other side of town to see how terrible a fielder a 3B can be. As far as where Joe fits into our lineup, being that he is an EXTREMELY reliable fielder, and a good #8 hitter with power, I dont think its neccessary to replace him. Unless you are talking about Chavez, Crede will be our 3B the rest of the year. Do you watch the same games that I do? Crede's a good number 8 hitter with power? Crede is one of the easiest outs in the majors. He refuses to walk, and does not make consistent contact at all. Also, it seems like 3rd basemen are improving their defense a lot this year. Great hitters like Mora, Blalock, and even Aramis this year have played stellar defense. Crede is without a doubt our weak link.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ May 31, 2005 -> 05:48 PM) AJ should have been the last man used. Its proper bench management. You don't leave yourself bare at the toughest position to play. If Ozzie would have let Iguchi bat for himself, he could have then used AJP instead of Timo. If something happened to Widger, then we just could have put AJ into the game, losing the DH. That's not something you want to have happen, but it's not the end of the world. Again, lets just be happy that Timo won the game........it would have been a lot worse on here if we lost after all that yesterday.

QUOTE(Winnin Ugly @ May 31, 2005 -> 05:46 PM) Now I agree with you there I wouldnt have taken out Iguchi. As for Buehrle staring the 9th have no problem with he is our stud pitcher was pitching an awesome game give him a chance to finish it.... Buehrle was far from pitching an awesome game. He got great results for 8 innings, but he was playing with fire all game. He left everything up in the zone, and the Angels hit a deep flyball nearly every inning. Considering that the Angels had 3 straight righties leading off the inning, I'm not sure why we didn't just let our closer with a 0 ERA come into the game. I am amazed that more people aren't on here today talking about what Jeff Brantley was saying about the game during the ESPN broadcast yesterday. I've never heard an announcer criticize a manager more during a game than he was yesterday. Way to go Brantley!

QUOTE(Seesox @ May 31, 2005 -> 05:00 PM) I would have to agree with you here.. Ide rather have faced Quinlan in that situation too I'm not saying that Quinlan is a great hitter. I was trying to show that Erstad isn't this phenom that Ozzie and Hawk try to make him out to be. There comes a time where Ozzie just has to say f*** the match-ups, and let our best players decide the game. In my opinion, there was no reason for Hermanson to not start the 9th inning, and no reason in the world for Everett to bat for Iguchi. Iguchi deserves the chance to redeem himself for his errors.....he's been our most consistent hitter. Also, Everett couldn't hit a 30 mph softball consistently right now.

QUOTE(Winnin Ugly @ May 31, 2005 -> 04:33 PM) Erstad is a 290 lifetime hitter with one season over 240 hits hell yeah he scares me alot more than Quilan does... And Quinlan batted .344 last season, with a .390 average against lefties and an OPS of 1.100. All I'm saying is that if we're scared of Darin Erstad, we need to find a manager with some testicular fortitude. It's like how Ozzie always seems like he'd rather have to face Babe Ruth is a big situation than he would Matt Stairs.

I'm pretty sure Hermanson is fine. It seems like Ozzie was scared to bring him in because he was worried about the Angels ph with Erstad, Kennedy, etc.

QUOTE(Winnin Ugly @ May 31, 2005 -> 04:09 PM) If I was Ozzie I would have let Marte in as well. If he would have sent in Hermy the Angels would have Erstad pinch hit.. Which is one of the top hitters in the game Erstad's one of the top hitters in the game? His .268 average and .700 OPS scares you that much?

QUOTE(JDsDirtySox @ May 30, 2005 -> 11:56 PM) I would like to know what you are thinking then... How would you have done it differently? There's not a doubt in my mind that Everett should not have hit for Iguchi. If Ozzie was going to ph for Iguchi based on Shields ability against righties....then he should have let AJP bat. AJP makes pretty consistent contact, while Everett's in an absolutely horrific slump at swinging through hittable fastballs. Did anyone actually think Everett was going to make contact that AB?

QUOTE(Princess Dye @ May 30, 2005 -> 11:16 PM) well that would be quite the loaded accusation... I thought of that when I said that. Oh well, I've been called worse on this site.

If the season ended today, we would be set then. I guess there's no reason to worry about the last 111 games of the season.

That's bad news about Hermanson. He's had some minor health problems so far this year. I would be shocked if he doesn't spend some time on the DL sometime this year. Hopefully he's ok though.....we need him.

QUOTE(qwerty @ May 30, 2005 -> 11:15 PM) I thought that was a bogus rumor? It was formally announced today during the game.