spiderman

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Jun 28, 2010 -> 06:15 AM) Who knew that winning 15 of 18 and having an 11 game winning streak would create such hate and discontent. Take it easy guys. Granted the Sox beat up on a bunch of NL teams, some of them bad. But before this winning streak the Sox couldn't beat a bad Indians team and couldn't string together more than two wins. The Sox need to continue winning series, that's it. Another 11 game winning streak would be great, but I'll take 2 of 3 from KC and then 2 of 3 against Texas...both series on the road. And the way the team has played, I think it's a possibility. I for one think that the Sox are a much better team than they showed up until about 2 weeks ago. They may not be as good as they've looked recently, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them take over first place soon. I'm more optimistic than I was (obviously) a few weeks ago, but if they go back to the AL and go 4-10 in the next 2 weeks or so, a lot of the optimism is gone, and it becomes clear that the White Sox benefitted from playing bad NL teams (outside of Atlanta). Now, I don't think they will go 4-10 as long the starting pitching keeps them in games which I believe it will for the most part, outside of the occasional bad start.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Jun 28, 2010 -> 12:43 AM) No we didn't and I'm sick of people saying that. We beat their bullpen, we beat the team despite him pitching well, sure those answers are fine by me... but we did not "beat him." He pitched really well and even though his offense had nothing to back him up, he still got no L in his loss column. BTW I agree with Tru.... up until the Atlanta series where that was the true test for me on this club as they are the "legit" team they beat in this stretch so I'm sold. Now... if they get swept by the Royals, then I might have to rethink things with the "beck to the AL teams" argument. True, we didn't beat him directly, but getting to the bullpen is sometimes the only way to a legitimate ace pitcher.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jun 28, 2010 -> 09:48 AM) Why would be be interested in Zambrano? We don't make moves for the sake of making moves. We aren't. This was just conversation for the sake of having conversation.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 10:53 PM) Then again they might say yes if the Sox took all of Z's contract. They have a lot of bad contracts. Don Cooper has admitted he doesn't want him. His immaturity is making Bradley to out to be a saint. I can't imagine any ML team taking him. The Cubs wouldn't want anything back if they found a team stupid enough to pay Zambrano's entire salary. The Cubs would be overjoyed to find a team willing to do that, but it won't happen.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 10:49 PM) You MIGHT take someone as polarizing as him, if he was the Zambrano of old that was pretty good. No way you screw your team up now with that mess, regardless of the deal. Unless it was for Randy Williams, then you think about it. If he was pitching like the Zambrano of old, I don't think the Cubs would be looking to trade him, and, even if they were, they probably wouldn't be picking up any of his salary and wouldn't take back our garbage (for example, Linebrink).

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 04:11 PM) If you really think the Royals are better than the Braves or even the Cubs, you really need to get a bit of a reality check. Go look at interleague records this year, it's almost even. Atlanta is better than KC, and I won't argue if you have the Cubs as better than the Royals (on paper, they should be), but I think it's pretty close.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 08:29 PM) Plus there is no place for Zambrano. He would not start for us right now, nor would he unseat Jenks, Thornton, Putz, Pena or Santos in the pen. I'd have a problem making such a deal for a long reliever. Plus, don't be so ready to give up on Teahen after a bad couple of months. I'm not giving up on Teahan, he'll probably return to a primary role at 3B after he returns, but I hope next season, he's seen as reserve player.

QUOTE (ChiSox420* @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 08:21 PM) What about a trade for Zambrano where the cubs would take on Linebrink+Teahan and a decent prospect or two and cover around half of his salary. He could be send into the bullpen for the year and figure out the rest next year. Am I crazyy? I don't think the White Sox would want the distraction, despite Guillen's relationship with Zambrano. Secondly, I'm not sure he's better than any of the Sox starters, and I certainly don't think the White Sox would rather have him for $9 million (assuming he makes around $18 million) over Garcia or Floyd, who are making much less. If the Cubs are successful at moving him, I think they may have to pick up even more than the $9 million. About the only thing I agree upon is that they will have to take back another team's garbage.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 01:48 PM) It really feels like they're trying to salvage Randy Williams, like they see tremendous potential in his arm but just need time to work some things out with him. He hasn't pitched in 2 weeks, TWO WEEKS, I imagine he's been working heavily with Cooper all this time trying to get his s*** together for one last go of it. I think it's just having 2 lefties in the bullpen, even though, they don't really trust Williams, and for good reason. He's really just a guy they use in the 6th, maybe 7th inning of a game, but with the way the starters have thrown, he's just going to collect dust, and will probably have to shake off the rust in the team's next blowout game.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Jun 23, 2010 -> 06:32 AM) Okay, so the Sox are over .500 and within five games...on June 22. Now what is the goal for the end of the month? I would say maintain and maybe try to make up another game on the lead. No real goal, just keep winning, and see where you see at the end of the month. You just don't want to see an extended setback where they lose 5 of 6. For this home stand, I'd be happy be with a 4-2 record, but it won't be easy - they are going to see some good pitching this week.

I hoping for a 4-2 home stand, no worse than 3-3.

QUOTE (spiderman @ Jun 13, 2010 -> 11:03 AM) I agree with you that they have an opportunity to play their way to .500, but I just don't believe they will continue on a winning clip. That lineup is still very bad, and most of the rotation has been awful as well to this point. While I do think we'll see improved performances from the rotation, when you're depending on guys like Kotsay, Pierre, Jones, and have struggling younger guys (Quentin and Beckham), it's hard to get optimistic that this offense will be anything more than mediocre. I still feel the same way, although I'm very happy that they've at least given themselves a shot to compete in the division. This has been a very good stretch, and I'm anxious to see how they perform against some tough pitchers that the Braves will throw out. Overall, though, as good as the starting pitching has been of late, I don't see it continuing at this clip and there's still not enough offense to overcome a staff that's not pitching very well.

What about for Lillibridge then?

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Jun 17, 2010 -> 10:14 PM) I take it he is just hanging around to see if Peavy can go or not. Exactly, that's my take as well.

QUOTE (GREEDY @ Jun 17, 2010 -> 10:09 PM) I see comments like this all the time about other players/situations so I don't mean just ot pick on you. BUT How is Viciedo EVER plaing at 3B acceptable? If he sucks defensively, he sucks defensively. "Well, Player X can't get the job done defensively at 3B so we will just platoon him out there". I never understood this train of thought. I think we have to play him, at least sometimes in the field because Vizquel is so old, and can't play everyday. If Teahan was healthy, he'd be there most days with Vizquel filling in for him, and Viceido would get almost all of his AB's at DH. Now, Lillibridge is still up here so maybe he becomes the guy who'll get some AB's at 3B on occasion, but when you have a 40+ in Vizquel playing more than we were planning, you have to be careful with him as well.

QUOTE (T R U @ Jun 17, 2010 -> 10:08 PM) This is awesome news Now we just need to get Flowers up here and ill be pumped for the rest of this season.. You're WAY more excited about this than myself. I'd rather see Viceido get AB's over Kotsay, but I'm not optimistic that we're going to much from him, esepcially this early in his career. I do like that he's now up here. I'm one of those people who think the season is over, and it's important to get Viceido/Flowers time in the majors to get their feet wet.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Jun 17, 2010 -> 09:54 PM) This is why changes need to be made in this organization. The ability to catch a baseball isn't even a priority in this organization. Hopefully, he plays primarily at DH, and only some at 3B. I would hope that Vizquel would get 4 to 5 games a week right now at 3B, Viceido the rest so that they don't run Vizquel into the ground.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jun 17, 2010 -> 09:58 PM) Hudson speculation started before Viciedo, and he was sighted with the team. Until they announce tomorrows pitcher, I think Hudson is most likely. Wasn't Hudson being mentioned just as insurance in case Peavy couldn't go? I still wouldn't be surprised to see the Sox place Peavy on the DL and let him strengthen that shoulder. His velocity hasn't been very impressive, and Hudson is seemingly ready to pitch in the big leagues so I'd rather look at the big picture here, and not do anything to put Peavy at risk.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 16, 2010 -> 01:59 PM) So he is bad and he is an ass, both of those definitely describe Ozzie. And why can't we sweep the Pirates...? I think we'll have a game coming up very soon where we can't score.

QUOTE (T R U @ Jun 14, 2010 -> 04:03 AM) Would you say trading Danks and some prospects for Fielder and then replacing Danks with Hudson weakens this team? Im not sure where I would side on this, but that's a huge LH bat the put right in the middle of the order.. I think it would cost more than just Danks, but I'd say yes considering the amount of money that it would take to keep him.

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Jun 13, 2010 -> 12:10 PM) They moved him up to Friday. That's a good thng for the White Sox.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jun 13, 2010 -> 11:05 AM) What part of his contract goes against my point that the Sox could use him? Send them Linebrink, Teahen, and a couple low level prospects. That only adds 6 mil to payroll. We could use a lot of guys, but we can't afford most of them. You can't discount the contract, that's my point. I don't think the Cubs want our trash in return for him despite his struggles this season.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 13, 2010 -> 01:49 AM) This might sound dumb because baseball is a long grind, but doesn't it seem like the Sox are playing playoff intensity baseball against the Cub? And guess what? We play well and win. Do the Sox play "hard" every night, especially against the lowlife Indians and Royals? I'm just wondering if the nights we sleepwalk and suck has something to do with mental frame of mind. Or is it just that we are a mediocre team? I hate to use the "playing hard" analogy but to me it seems these Cub games have been intense and we've played well as a result. Is playing hard a misnomer or only appropriate to football and basketball? I wouldn't take that much from this series. I think they are playing hard, but there's just not enough good players in this lineup. That will have it's impact on the club in the long run.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jun 12, 2010 -> 09:34 PM) Eric Byrnes' slow-pitch, beer-league softball team could probably take a series from the Cubs. Don't read too much into this. This is still the team that can't beat the Indians, this is still the team that's 7.5 games back on June 12 of a team that's better then us. While we're playing the Pirates, Nats, Cubs and Royals, the Twins get to face the Rockies, Phillies, Brewers, and Mets. There’s no guarantee that when we play well, they’re going to fade away. Agreed with your analysis.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ Jun 12, 2010 -> 09:25 PM) Don't look now...but we've won 4 in a row and moved to within 7.5 games of the division lead. The rest of the month is filled with very winnable series....Pittsburgh, Washington, the Cubs again, and the Royals. Only tough series should be Atlanta....which is at home. If we go 11-5 in these 16 games, we are over .500 at 39-38 and likely no more than 5 games out of the lead. Lets keep up the strong starting pitching, turn up the bats a little more, and finish the month strong. If we go 11-5 (or better) during the remaining stretch, we'll be looking good and the division title will be ours for the taking! I agree with you that they have an opportunity to play their way to .500, but I just don't believe they will continue on a winning clip. That lineup is still very bad, and most of the rotation has been awful as well to this point. While I do think we'll see improved performances from the rotation, when you're depending on guys like Kotsay, Pierre, Jones, and have struggling younger guys (Quentin and Beckham), it's hard to get optimistic that this offense will be anything more than mediocre.