WCSox

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Aug 25, 2009 -> 05:40 AM) It should be done as a statement. No, it shouldn't. You don't dump a veteran who dominated the playoffs and World Series for you (and not to mention recently came back several months ahead of schedule from a potentially career-ending Achilles rupture) out of spite. Under Kenny, the Sox have done much to repair this organization's bad reputation in the way that they handle veteran players. DFAing a player like Jose would be completely counter-productive, especially considering that the rosters expand soon and that he might be useful in long relief.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Aug 24, 2009 -> 07:14 PM) Boston is doing it with their captain Varitek is 37 and his OPS has reached .760 once in the past four years. He's lucky that he wasn't released last year, when he put up an OPS of .672.

Moving JD and Paulie down in the lineup would be fine. Benching them wouldn't. Not only are our other options inferior, but treating veterans who have carried this team on their backs for years that way would reflect poorly on the franchise.

"And there's the dreaded leadoff walk."

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 24, 2009 -> 12:46 PM) Forget size, that isn't a huge deal for a middle infielder. What's apparently unteachable for Alexei is being teachable. I wonder if there are family or other personal issues going on. He seems to be more mentally distracted than physically unable to play the position well.

QUOTE (rangercal @ Aug 24, 2009 -> 09:46 AM) Alexei might be the most hated player on this board. Not really.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Aug 24, 2009 -> 09:17 AM) Both are butchers in the field but Jose could actually turn a DP because he didn't shy away from possible contact. ^^^ Alexei also makes a ton of random mental mistakes.

Nice, I'll get to see 2/3! Thanks for posting.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Aug 23, 2009 -> 06:47 PM) I am scared that Ozzie won't move Dye from the 3 hole and Quentin into it, until its way too late. +1 JD should be hitting 7th right now. He's earned the right to play his way out of a slump, but not to hold onto the 3rd spot in the order indefinitely.

I hate to say it, but 4-6 looks probable to me... 2-2 in Boston 1-2 in NY 1-2 in Minny (with the way they play there, 0-3 wouldn't be surprising) I hope I'm wrong.

Wow, they really blew it today. Yeesh... They'd better start playing on this road trip.

QUOTE (Disco72 @ Aug 23, 2009 -> 12:18 PM) I'm not counting on it, but I wouldn't be spending money on Blalock (or a similar player) that is likely to want a multi-year deal. If I'm the Sox, I take another year of Thome who likes playing for the Sox and will likely come at a one-year deal and a very reasonable price. I wouldn't be opposed to another year of Thome. But I also be on the lookout for a Blalock-like veteran who will help fill impending the massive hole in the middle of the lineup in 2011. Looking at just 2010 is short-sighted, IMO. Given what the Sox farm system has produced over the past five years, a "mediocre player" who can actually hit at the major league level might be a better option. Understand that Thome, Dye, Konerko, and A.J. will all likely be gone in 2011. Do you think that the Sox farm system will go 4/4 in replacing those guys? I like what I've seen from Flowers so far, but even going 3/4 with prospects is a long shot. I'd rather spend a little on a "mediocre" veteran left-handed bat who I at least know can hit competently at the major league level. With all due respect, where's your guarantee that Thome's OPS is going to stay at .900 next year, when he turns 40? His batting average already way down this season, most likely due to his slower bat (he was whiffing at 89-91 mph fastballs in the Seattle series). When pitchers realize this and stop pitching around him, he'll draw fewer walks and his OBP will drop significantly. Don't get me wrong, I'm not completely against bringing Thome back for one more year. But you have to consider what will benefit the team in the long run as well. Peavy and Buehrle will still be around in 2011, and it'd be a shame to run half of a lineup of Josh Fields and Brian Anderson-type players out there with them.

QUOTE (Disco72 @ Aug 23, 2009 -> 11:40 AM) I disagree. Blalock gives you more versatility in that he can play the field, but he's not a 3B anymore, so you're only getting 1B and DH from him. He'll give you the power Thome has, as well as the low average Thome has, but his OBP and OPS sucks (.277 / .754) this year. Blalock also will probably want a longer contract for more dollars per year than Thome at a time when the Sox have some potential hitters coming up from the minors in the next two years. I still take Thome at a reduced price for next season. Who was the last good hitter that the Sox developed through their farm system? (Besides Beckham, who went almost straight through from college.) Josh Fields? Chris Getz? Brian Anderson? Please don't tell me that you're relying on people like Jordan Danks to replace Thome, Dye, and Konerko over the next few years. QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Aug 23, 2009 -> 11:43 AM) Convince me. You want to replace a .900 OPS with a .760 OPS, all from the DH spot. Meh, maybe not Blalock specifically, but the Sox need a younger veteran bat. Thome won't be sporting a .900 OPS for much longer. Rios was a nice start, but they need one more. At this point, you can't even rely on Quentin to stay healthy enough to build around.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 23, 2009 -> 10:55 AM) I'm puzzled by your criticizm of Thome. Not making a case for playing here seems harsh. His OPS this season is over .900. He also turns 39 tomorrow and is so fragile at this point in his career that he can't do anything other than DH. I'm all for bringing back Thome for one last year at the right price. But the Sox would be much better off over the long term with somebody like Blalock.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 23, 2009 -> 09:24 AM) I know if the choice for 2010 was Dye or Thome 2 months ago, the majority would take Dye. In fact, it probably would have been a landslide. I wonder if that's still the case. If he continues to slump through next month, I don't think that he'll be brought back next year. Thome's not making much of a case for playing here next year either, with his slower bat (from what I've seen) and age-related nagging injuries. That said, JT would be more likely willing to sign a one-year deal this winter, so my money is on him right now. That said, both of these guys are on the down-slopes of their careers and the Sox desperately need a younger offense. I'd much rather see Kenny bring in somebody like Blalock to play 1B or DH, and kick both of these dinosaurs to the curb.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 22, 2009 -> 01:00 PM) I hear what you're saying, but there's another way to consider it too; part of developing young talent is finding ways to deal with the personality of the people you get. Not everyone comes up and is able to learn immediately or is the perfect student; it's sort of like the real world. As another way of looking at it, take a guy who had some serious psychological issues...Zach Greinke. He almost quit too and had to work through a ton of struggles, the Royals were patient with him, and look what he's blossomed into for them. Josh Fields has issues, but not nearly that severe. The only reason why he shouldn't see the big league Sox again is because the guy we have at 3rd right now looks bloody spectacular, not because he's got a difficult personality. If he has a difficult personality but has a lot of talent, then it's the coaching staff's job to get through to him. Good point, but it's two-way street. Geinke got professional help to deal with his anxiety problems. Similarly, Josh needs to show some initiative.

Very nice. Now win the series tomorrow and head off to New York/Boston with some momentum and confidence.

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Aug 22, 2009 -> 04:17 PM) This upcoming roadtrip certainly plays an important role in their fate, though. It'll one of the longest, certaintly the toughest, roadtrips of the season This is true. It'll be a good indicator.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Aug 22, 2009 -> 12:59 PM) Having a diverse lineup is all good and well, but fact of the matter is that OBP, SLG and therefore OPS all have a much higher correlation to runs scored than batting average does, OBP between the two is a wash but Nix' SLG is much better so therefore having him in the lineup will on average lead to the team scoring more runs than with Getz playing every day. Waiting around for the three-run homer also means highly-inconsistent scoring. Scoring more total runs in a season doesn't necessarily translate into more wins, which is what really matters. I also wouldn't completely dismiss the benefit of a higher batting average. A single is more valuable than a walk. The Sox need a true leadoff hitter with solid base-stealing ability. If that void can be filled by Getz, so be it. If not, they need to look elsewhere this winter.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 22, 2009 -> 05:12 AM) Some of their "facts" are wrong, but their final grade seems pretty accurate. Their Front Office grade (B-) is ridiculously low.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 22, 2009 -> 05:20 AM) not an OPS guy, I take it? .777 is pretty lucky, and is also higher than Getz. No, I'm all for OPS. But we already have a lot of players who hit homers and walk. A contact hitter with good (and efficient) base-stealing skills would bring some much-needed diversity to this lineup. I don't know if Getz will post a high-enough OBP to fill the leadoff spot, but I'm getting sick of all this station-to-station crap.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Aug 21, 2009 -> 11:35 PM) This is a man who has kept DeWayne Wise on a Major League roster for over a year, his opinion may be the one that matters, but that certainly doesn't mean it's right. Penciling a guy who has hit .228 in 171 at-bats into the starting lineup isn't exactly an intelligent decision either. We need to see more from both Nix and Getz before an informed decision can be made.

QUOTE (stretchstretch @ Aug 21, 2009 -> 07:20 PM) no 500 team should be representing a division in the playoff 2006 Cardinals

Since when was Reinsdorf "more aggressive" in the '90s? What a poorly-written and factually-incorrect piece of crap.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 21, 2009 -> 02:55 PM) I'm shocked. I'll be even more shocked if the Mets keep him. I just hope if Wagner has anything to offer that it wasn't Detroit who claimed him. Illich seems like he doesn't care about losing money at this point. If it is Boston, I suppose it makes sense. They are getting desperate and I believe Gammons said they were holding back payroll to acquire guys during the season when teams would be giving them away. I'm more shocked that he (reportedly) wasn't claimed by an NL team. Lots of contenders are willing to over-pay a little for an edge at this point.