Jack Parkman

QUOTE (hi8is @ Mar 23, 2011 -> 06:24 PM) There are many questions that remain with regard to his effectiveness once he returns... It's all just a matter of having to wait it out. I can understand fans being impatient but he's too close to starting games and showing us what he can do. It's going to go one of two ways: he'll be able to come back and return to form - or he won't return and will be an oft-injured waste of salary. There is no use in acting like he's destined to be in that second category when there is nothing to base that judgement on. Just like when this tendinitis came up - people where already saying he wouldn't be back until the second half... There is no merit to those types of statements except idle speculation. All we can do is hope for the best and see what happens. I'm totally prepared to write Peacy off and call it a horrible trade - but I won't do so until that situation is apparent in reality. Right now - it's the wait and see game and we all have a choice as to who's corner we're with. I sure as hell know that I'm in the ring in Peavy's corner - ready to tough it out. Lets just get this bull ready for the ding of that bell and hope that he goes at it like Tyson in his heyday. I'm in Peavy's corner too. Injuries happen with pitchers, it is something that baseball fans have to realize. You can't really hate on a pitcher for getting injured, throwing a baseball is an unnatural activity, and injuries occur from it. It can happen to the best of them. Peavy had been a little injury prone in 2008, but he still threw 173 innings. Maybe you can blame KW for bringing him back in 2009 at the end of the season, when he messed up his delivery. The ankle injury was a freak accident. It was something I failed to realize when someone somewhere said that Peavy's lat injury may have been caused by him dropping down too much. The drop down fastball with wicked movement is also one of his most effective out pitches. If he can't drop down as much, it may hinder his effectiveness. How much, we don't know.

I'm interested to see how effective Peavy will be without that wicked moving drop down 92-94 mph 2 seamer that starts 3 inches off the plate and tails to the outside corner. It has been said that he can't drop down nearly as much anymore because of the lat injury. When we traded for him I watched his highlight videos on mlb.com, as a Padre, he used to get quite a few strikeouts with that pitch.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 22, 2011 -> 01:52 PM) I don't see too much more being in the coffers unless the economy really improves a lot and we win a lot. The biggest thing that I see being the problem is that Danks is going to be really young when he hits the market, and he will be looking at something from 6 to possibly 8 years depending on how his next two year go. We went to four years for Buehrle as a major exception. Seeing what is going on with Peavy is only going to strengthen that resolve against long extensions for pitchers. Unfortunately, the Sox would be doomed pitching wise if they don't start handing out some long term contracts to good pitchers and continue drafting poorly. All good pitchers command at least 3-5 years on the open market if they are 31 or younger. Aces or borderline aces/#2s command 6-7 years. Carlos Silva got 4 years for christsakes. I know what happened to Peavy would probably make JR want to not give longer than 3 years ever again, but if they don't start doing so, then the only pitchers the Sox would have after this group's contracts expire would be older pitchers or cost controlled pitchers. In other words, if they want to continue this policy, they better hire the best pitching scouts they can and be prepared to pay over slot in the draft so they can build a staff through the draft or trades. I don't want to see the day where we act like any good pitcher in the free agent market is like what a Boras client is now.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 20, 2011 -> 06:53 PM) Obviously that's different - and it could be that, I have no idea. I'm just saying that, for a guy who couldn't pitch or throw or even walk much for an extended period, you really have to expect something to get a little tweaked in ST. If he hadn't, I'd have been shocked - I was surprised it happened this late. But you are right that what is expected, COULD be masking something more serious. We'll probably know in a couple weeks. Yeah, and I hope that it is just soreness from the muscle atrophy that ptatc was talking about earlier. Again, anytime I see injury and rotator cuff in the same sentence for a pitcher my eyebrows raise. I hope he can chime in on this one.

But the question is, is this injury the start of an even more serious shoulder injury than the lat injury such as a rotator cuff tear, which would basically be a kiss of death to a pitcher's velocity? Any time I see the words "injury" and "rotator cuff" for a pitcher I immediately think that guy might be done soon as an effective pitcher.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 25, 2011 -> 01:37 PM) I'd be down for Sopel He's already been traded from Atlanta to Montreal.

FYI: there is some reading on the inverted W and injury on this site: http://www.chrisoleary.com/projects/Baseba...eInvertedW.html

QUOTE (ptatc @ Feb 22, 2011 -> 06:07 PM) Are you referring to his ankle (foot) injury he had when the sox acquired him or his current shoulder injury? If it's the current shoulder problem, the actual injury shouldn't be a long term thing. The lat is not a muscle that really effects the stability of the shoulder like the rotator cuff muscles. It's mostly an accelerator muscle during the throwing phase with a little deceleration activity and the very end of the motion. It's the overall throwing motion changes that he must deal with. Can he be effective with the necessary mechanical changes? He drops down to get more movement on his pitches but it isn't mechanically sound so it will be a big change for him. The foot problem he had is an interesting problem. He had a posterior tibialis tendonosis. This muscle and tendon are largely responsible for maintaining the arch in your foot when you put weight on it. Could he be standing straighter and not following through properly due to a fear of putting full weight on his foot? It's possible. All reports say that he is no longer having problems with it. However, there is always the mental part of injuries. The tendon in reference goes through your tarsal tunnel and can cause problem with your tibial nerve and subsequent plantar nerves. This cause an electric shock through the bottom of the foot. It is extremely painful and makes someone think twice before putting weight on it. An interesting dilemma but probably not the reason for the mechanical flaws of his as I've heard from others that he has always had some odd bits to his motion. I was referring to Peavy's current shoulder injury, the ankle injury was just a reference to the pitcher he was before he tore the ankle tendon. I was wondering about the fact that Peavy said he altered his mechanics in Sept. 2009 to compensate and had some bad habits that carried over into 2010 may have contributed to this injury. Peavy has not had the same velocity or bite to his pitches that he had in San Diego since he has been a member of the White Sox. I was wondering if the the lat injury or the combination of the two injuries may have permanently changed Peavy's stuff. Thanks.

ptatc, Do you think that Peavy will be the same pitcher he was before the ankle injury, or do you think that he could permanently lose velocity and bite on his breaking balls from this injury? I know that there is no precedent in major league pitchers as has been said many times, but based on the injury, what muscles are affected, and the repair process, would you consider this injury closer to a "typical" shoulder injury for a pitcher, which is usually accompanied by a great loss of "stuff" or would you consider this to be closer to a non pitching muscle tear? I know you have probably gone over this before, but could you refresh my memory? If anyone remembers what ptatc said in July about this issue, please tell me, because I don't remember.

Sox win 92 games this season, but fall short to Minnesota, who wins 94 games, in the division again. Sox lose to Twins in division because the Twins have their (nearly) annual 40-15 run after the all star break Ozzie gets fired after the season because the Sox kill everyone but the Twins, who they go 7-11 against, losing 5 of last 6 late in the season, and he goes on a profanity laced tirade and goes bonkers on some reporter after getting swept at home the last week of August to be removed from first place and after they lose the last game of the season against the Twins at Target Field to lose the series to fall 3.5-4.5 games back after having the 2nd best record in the AL(behind Boston) and being 5 or more games in front of Minnesota at the all star break. Sox get Wild Card and lose game 5 of the ALDS in heartbreaking fashion. Peavy doesn't pitch until June, starts 18 games, and pitches closer to a 4th or 5th starter than an ace until August, when he looks like an ace again, giving fans hope for 2012 Peavy's line: 105 IP, 3.95-4.15 ERA, 110 K Edwin Jackson becomes the staff ace in June, and continues it throughout the season, giving the Sox no hope of re-signing him because he is top 5 in AL Cy Young voting. Floyd puts together a great season until he hits the DL in September, forcing them to shut him down until the Playoffs. Buehrle is Buehrle, putting an ERA of around 3.90-4.00 and logging 200 innings Danks has some regression, has an ERA around 4.25, mostly due to gopher balls from hanging changeups. Dunn hits over 45 home runs Konerko regresses, but still hits 29 HR and drives in 85. Quentin has a monster first half, only to be put on the DL twice between the all star break and the trade deadline, then sucks at the plate in September. Rios hits .300 and has over 20 HRs Beckham hits .280 with 18 HRs Alexei has a down year at the plate, batting under .270 and having an OBP under .300, but still plays GG caliber defense, prompting massive complaining about his contract extension. AJ is sabermetrically useless at the plate. Pierre has the same season has he did last year. Morel wins the 3rd base job, and hits .260 with 12 HR, starting hot but fading down the stretch. The bullpen is lights out for the most part with Sale closing, except against Minnesota. Management has a decision to make in the offseason: Do they go for it in 2012 or do they give up due to not being able to beat Minnesota?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 11, 2011 -> 07:17 PM) There was a mass exodus with Minnesota's bullpen. I believe if the White Sox can get over the mental block they have had with the Twins, and no one will ever convince me this has been nothing but a mental block, which may be easier due to the losses the Twins have suffered, and counting on a guy like Pavano to produce again, the Sox could have a cakewalk in the division. Detroit picked up a couple of nice players, but Maggs is a year older and going to be slower.........they just seem to be missing something to me. I don't believe the Twins will miss a beat in their bullpen, they have this "magic twinkie dust" that they sprinkle over their players that causes them to do better than the guys they let go. A bunch of people thought the Twins were f***ed when they had to trade Santana, but they trot out these pitchers that most deem to be average like Blackburn, Slowey, and Baker and they still have and ERA between 3.70-4.20. While not great, good enough. Then you have guys like Duensing who pitch unbelievable for stretches when they really only have average stuff, but yet they pitch like an ace. I refuse to believe that the Twins will be anywhere but first or second place in this division until they finish third or worse for at least three consecutive years. They just have this magic about that team......during the regular season at least.

I can't pick one, they have several good to very good players, but they don't have one who is heads and shoulders above everyone else. All of the Sox players have distinct and obvious weaknesses, which is probably why they consistently win 86-90 games but never more than 90. This team has its best chance since 2006 to win more than 90 games, but I don't see them winning more than 92, which is why I have them winning the AL wild card this season. If I had to pick, I'd pick a completely healthy Peavy, but I don't know if we'll ever see that guy again. In fact a completely healthy Peavy is said guy who is heads and shoulders above everyone else.

Wins in parentheses AL: East: Boston(97) Central: Minnesota(94) (won't pick against them until Sox prove they can beat them. They Lost Morneau and Nathan and still won 94 games last season) West: Los Angeles(89) Wild Card: Chicago(92) NL: East: Philadelphia(100) Central: Milwaukee(92) West: Colorado(90) Wild Card: Cincinnati(90) ALDS: Boston over Chicago, Los Angeles over Minnesota ALCS: Boston over Los Angeles NLDS: Philadelphia over Cincinnati, Colorado over Milwaukee NLCS: Philadelphia over Colorado WS: Philadelphia over Boston

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 11:53 PM) Michael Blanke at least appears to have power at a premium position, so that alone could have a bit of value too if he can show some success at even W-S. QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Feb 7, 2011 -> 12:53 AM) Andy Wilkins will be your White Sox 2014 opening day 1B. Thanks for the info guys, you're obviously spending more time than me reading about the Sox minors. Besides the guys I named, and these two, are there any other low level(rookie, A-, A+) players who can develop into at least trade bait?

QUOTE (Disco72 @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 03:39 PM) You've said this twice now. While I can see the logic (players leaving via FA, not much help seemingly available in the minors), I don't think you can make this claim quite so confidently. The Sox have never sucked for a while during KW's reign, and a lot can happen in a couple of years, especially if the Sox can sustain a higher payroll to fill the gaps. Two years also provides enough time for prospects in the lower levels of the minors to develop to where they could help the Sox either at the major league level or as trade fodder. I see very few players even at the lower levels of the minors that could become even trade bait at this point. I don't know if Mitchell is ever going to develop because of rust and the fact that he was raw when the Sox drafted him. Petricka may become a good prospect one day, but he may flame out just as fast. Reed could become a good prospect as well. He probably has the best chance. I haven't gone through the whole minor league system, but these three guys are about the only major players that I read about as top prospects from the Sox system, and see possibly becoming as much as trade bait. The fact that everyone else is filler means that the Sox need to either spend more on the draft or scouts pronto, or I see a dark, dark future for the franchise after 2012. They are not going to get anybody via trade that doesn't come from players on the major league roster, or they are going to have to start talking Red Sox money to get a team together. Just my $0.02

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 02:30 PM) You know the remarkable thing? The last time the Sox had a complete rebuilding project to do, they pulled it off in the course of 1 season, with basically no minor leagues to boot. 2 of the 3 keys to the 2008 season were already acquired in at the start of the 2007 season, John Danks and Gavin Floyd, finally living up to their top prospect status. Quentin was acquired that offseason, and had an MVP caliber season for 5 months in 2008. The veterans, Konerko, Thome, and Dye all had bounce back years in 2008 instead of continuing their downward trend. Seems like a year where a lot of things, except Quentin's injury, went right for the Sox, and they still barely won the division. They were also dismissed fairly quickly in the ALDS. I still hope that Floyd can put it all together for a full season, though that may be wishful thinking at this stage of his career. In 2009 they failed to win 80 games because Colon and Contreras were old and washed up. Last season for 3 out of 6 months they had a losing record, they had 2 incredible months in June and July, In September they got their brains beat in until garbage time, So most of the wins there don't really matter in the grand scheme of things. Really, they had an mediocre season last year. I like the Sox chances this season, but remain skeptical until they prove that they can beat the Twins head to head. If the Sox go 8-10 last season against the Twins instead of 5-13, they are tied for the ALC division and go to a game 163. The Twins don't go away ever, so it will be a fight. I think the difference comes down to 2 guys on our team: Is Edwin Jackson really the guy that the Sox had last season? and Is Jake Peavy going to be an effective pitcher this season? If the answer to both of those questions is no, then I think the Sox finish 2nd or 3rd this season. If the answer to one of those questions is yes, then I think they'll have somewhat of a chance to win the division, and if the answer to both of those questions is yes, then They'll have a good chance to win the division if they stay healthy otherwise.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 01:57 PM) You remember how it was reported that KW came to JR at the end of last season and gave him 2 options...pull back, save a bit on salary, and legitimately rebuild, or go "all-in"? That was the decision. Go out and sign Dunn, Konerko, AJ and bullpen help, or let Konerko walk for draft picks, bring up Viciedo to DH/1b, put the rookies out in the bullpen, and trade away Danks and Jackson. Danks is still here because the White Sox expect to compete this season. I understand that. So I guess "All-In" means we're completely going for it for 2 seasons, but after that we're going to suck for a while. I hope they spend more on the draft from 2013 onward so they can rebuild more quickly. I guess the rebuild is coming, they're just putting it off for a couple of years. I hope that they get a first round pick when Danks leaves, though, or that he's not in their plans for next season, and they have a viable replacement. Just another reason why Sale should be starting in AAA.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 01:34 PM) The key flaw is in the "if he stays healthy and continues his upwards performance trend". First of all, not many pitchers stay healthy for their first what, 8-9 seasons? Secondly, almost no pitchers keep doing at age 29-30 what they're doing at 26-27. We can pretend all we want that D1 has other options, but come on...really...he's 2 years away from a $100 million deal. The Sox offered him some guaranteed money a few years ago, and have probably upped their offer every single year. Once he passed on the first offer of security in exchange for a buyout of a FA year or two, it made sense to go for the big money, and that's exactly what he's doing. If that is the case, then he should not be in KW's plans for next season. As a matter of fact, they should have traded him this offseason and started Sale in his place, along with picking up someone like Brad Penny for insurance in case Sale couldn't cut it/got hurt because of his funky mechanics or Peavy continues to get injured during this season. By all means, I like the chances of our favorite team this year, but it could all go south if a starter other than Peavy gets injured,(I'm looking at Floyd and Buehrle in particular) and Peavy isn't a decent pitcher anymore. If that is the case, see firesale at the trade deadline and this offseason, with Danks probably the first to go. If the season works out well, I could see KW in a trade target someone like Volquez from the Reds as a replacement for Danks next offseason, using some of the parts that he got in the Danks trade.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 01:13 PM) Anyway...that would have been a fair extension, but if you're a player trying to maximize what you guarantee yourself, if you play through the next 2 seasons, you make about $18 million or so, and then you hit the market as a 28 year old and you land $100 million+. If you're trying to maximize your dollars, you don't sign 4/52. From a fan's perspective(my previous post was from this perspective as well) I'm arguing that if he stays healthy and continues his upward performance trend, he'd still get a $100 million dollar deal at age 30. Of course the health is a gigantic if. It matters if Danks wants to stay in Chicago or not. I can see where he would not want to sign though, because by all indications the Sox have 2011 and 2012 to win a WS and then the window slams shut. Because of this the Sox are in a bad predicament, with Danks hitting FA right when they are going to start getting old and having problems winning because of the poor farm system. They have to make a choice, do they want to go for it next season, or do they want to trade Danks after this season. If I was him, I wouldn't sign that either, I'd look at this team and want to leave after 2012, because they are probably going to suck for a while from 2013 onward.

I think this offseason a 4/52 extension would have been fair, $ 7 MM in '11, $12 MM in '12, $16 MM in '13, and $17 MM in '14. Given he stays healthy, He'll still hit FA at 30, while not incredibly young, still average for a ML player, and he'd have more time to prove he's an elite lefty, and probably he could get just as big of a deal then as he would in the 12-13 offseason, granted there is more opportunity to get hurt though. I think if they don't sign him sometime this season, he's gone this offseason. Who's going to be a FA next offseason anyway?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 12:37 PM) Really, there needs to be 1-2 more available slots. Did more research, at the time of their retirement, Carter and Brown were second or third in receptions and yards, I believe Carter was second in Touchdowns, and Brown was top 5.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 12:15 PM) The fact that Andre Reed is not yet in the HOF continues to be BS. The fact that Tim Brown and Cris Carter didn't get in on their first try is also BS. They were both top 5 in major receiving categories when they retired. Both were better numbers wise than Michael Irvin, but they didn't win a Super Bowl so they get shafted. They have since been passed by the likes of Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, Isaac Bruce, and Marvin Harrison.

I finally picked up a PS3, because my Xbox 360 ate my games, but it is an old 40 GB one. I was playing today and the fan started to go on and a yellow light started flickering. I know the yellow light thing=red ring of death for 360. Is my PS3 f***ed, or is it possible to save it? The system works at the moment.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Jan 28, 2011 -> 05:54 AM) I assume Viciedo is not eligible? Otherwise... Law thinks Viciedo is not a prospect. He also thinks that Sale is going to be a closer at best, FWIW.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 15, 2011 -> 01:42 PM) The obvious problem with any deal that requires the Yankees to send us a starter back is that it's a bad deal for the Yankees. They need people who can be starting pitchers, even if they're not good. If they're trading for starting pitchers, they can't afford to give one up. Didn't we have this argument in another thread? However is there no value in an upgrade in talent, as well as a guy who has(to a certain degree) a major league track record? If you're arguing that Jackson is basically an $8.5MM, 27 year old "prospect" then I can somewhat agree with that point of view.