Lillian

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 4, 2013 -> 05:17 PM) It was the first time they have ever gone winless on a road trip of 7 games or more. That is an incredible stat. In well over a century, the Sox never went winless on a road trip of 7 games or more. I wonder if any other older franchise has had anywhere close to that record. After all, most road trips are at least 7 games, and most teams usually have losing records on the road.

I just caught the last couple of outs, and heard Hawk say that "it was the first time in White Sox franchise history that the Sox dropped all 7 games of a road trip. That cannot possibly be true. What the Hell was that about? A seven game losing streak on the road has to be fairly common. I'm confused.

If the Sox trade Peavy and Ramirez, I'd like to see a return that included a RHP ready to join the rotation for 2014, and a power, left handed bat. I guess if it's St. Louis, one of Wacha, Martinez or Jenkins would work. Wacha is probably unrealistic and Martinez scares me a little, because of his size. Jenkins is probably obtainable as he is the 3RD ranked RHP in the Card's farm system. However, he probably won't be ready to start in the Big Leagues for another year or two. Matt Adams could satisfy the need for a power, left handed bat. He's ready and has little more to prove at the Minor League level. But then, how good he'll be as a Big Leaguer is the question, as it is with all prospects.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 26, 2013 -> 03:01 PM) The issue with these guys is...none of them have surpassed their usefulness. If the Sox spent $25 million next offseason on free agents, kept that whole list of players around, and found some way to remind their players how to catch the ball and do a rundown, they could possibly field a competitive team next year and do so with a lower salary than this season. So...it's up to other teams to give the Sox a good enough reason to decide right now...not to. Good post and very valid. Let's hope that Hahn is thinking the same way.

If Peavy is traded, who exactly is our RH starting pitcher going to be next season? Are they really going to let Erik Johnson or D. Axelrod be their only RH starter? I'm just asking. My guess is that they don't get good enough offers to justify trading Rios, Peavy or anyone else who could still be on the team next year. And instead, they try to put together a middle of the order, and compete.

I knew that it was a mistake to mention Sizemore. Look, that just happens to be my preference for what might be an affordable solution to finding one of the two decent bats, without a long term contract. He will surely want to sign for no more than all of 2014, and hope to prove himself, so that he can sign a better long term deal. That could suit the Sox, if they are only looking for a way to compete next year. The point is; if you don't think he could help, suggest someone else. It doesn't matter who it is, as long as he can contribute, and it won't require a long term commitment. Suggest someone.

This complete rebuild strategy is interesting, however the organization does not have enough near ready talent in its farm system to completely rebuild a contender, any time soon. What it does have is a lot of pretty good pitching depth. This season is a lost cause, but why couldn't they add a couple of pieces, and put together a pretty solid contender for next year? A starting staff of Sale, Peavey, Santiago, Quintana and Danks does represent an unusually left handed weighted rotation, but it would be pretty solid. Erik Johnson and Axelrod could provide some depth. The reliever core has been very good, and they could piece together another effective bullpen for next season. Therefore, why not use the money coming off the books for Konerko, and Thornton to acquire a solid left handed bat, and try to add another good right handed hitter? The offensive problem with this team is that they have not had a good middle of the order. Two decent hitters, one right and the other left handed, to replace Konerko and Dunn, in the middle of the order, could vastly improve the offense. Dunn probably can't be traded, and with only one year left, after this season, it shouldn't be a big issue, as long as he doesn't have to hit in the middle of the order. He could actually be sufficiently productive, batting lower in the order. Hey, I'd take 40 homers and 100 RBI's from the 6TH or 7TH hitter in the order, wouldn't you, even if he can't hit over .200 and has an OBP under .350 ? Move de Aza to left field, and bat him lower in the order. His OBP is not high enough for a lead off hitter. Another possibility would be to trade him. Trade Ramirez for a legitimate leadoff hitter, who is a good defensive SS, and hopefully cheaper than the $9.5 Million he will cost next year. They may have to include another player in the trade, but even a veteran would be fine, until Anderson is ready, some time around 2015. Dump Keppinger and his contract, and go with Gillaspie and Morel at 3RD, perhaps platooned. Keep Beckham, and hope that Micah Johnson will be ready when Gordon starts making the big money. Rios is fine until some of the young outfielders are ready. Maybe Hawkins, Jacobs or Thompson can replace him, but not for a couple more years. Gillaspie is a good fit at 3RD, at least against RHP. He's young enough to still be around for the rebuild after next season. Let Phegley and Flowers fight it out for the catching slot. Viciedo is big question. If he's not ready to be a big offensive contributor, they have got to replace him with someone who is. Find a productive hitting Centerfielder (did I hear someone whisper Grady Sizemore? Shhh, it wasn't me) Sign another middle of the order hitter, probably to replace Paulie at 1B. Kendry Morales comes to mind and is a switch hitter. His home run production would likely rise at the Cell. One possible Lineup: SS New defensive and decent OBP acquisition 2B Beckham RF Rios CF True middle of the order hitter (Grady Sizemore) 1B Left handed hitting, prototypical middle of the order hitter. Kendry Morales would work, and is a switch hitter. DH Dunn/Viciedo platoon C Phegley 3B Gillaspie/Morel platoon LF De Aza or Viciedo If there are better choices than Sizemore and Morales, fine. The concept is to keep the contender ready pitching, and acquire the middle of the order offense, required to compete. If you sign two middle of the order hitters and trade for the lead off hitter/SS, it looks realistically feasible to me.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 13, 2013 -> 09:47 PM) Flowers actually did his job and got a single, saying he should have been pinch hit for is pretty silly right now. McEwing shouldn't have sent Keppinger Yes, but it would have forced a pitching change and might have set up a big inning. Hindsight says it worked out because Flowers got the single, but I would have rather had Rios batting than Flowers, and with another base runner. If Flowers is the best we can do with the game on the line, we really are pathetic. Oh, I know he had a decent night, and did his job on that at bat, but he has been terrible this year.

How does Robin not pinch hit Dunn for Flowers, which would have brought in the lefty, and then he could have sent Rios to the plate for Dunn. I don't get it.

Adam Dunn is certainly not one of my favorite players, but it's pretty scary to contemplate about what that Tiger's starting rotation will do to the Sox, without Dunn's left handed presence. All of those dominate RH pitchers will mow down our pathetic lineup with ease. And, we have the entire season's head to head competition vs Detroit still ahead of us. Ouch!

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 8, 2013 -> 02:53 PM) Yanks will probably be after Cano and Choo, Cubs after Ellsbury. I know I've said this far too often, but the Sox have to find a way to get more lefties in the lineup that have a better shot against the likes of Verlander, Scherzer, Masterson, etc. It's also one of the reasons I think Viciedo is expendable (for a big haul). Thank You

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jun 6, 2013 -> 08:44 AM) You don't draft a player who is 3-5 years away and very likely will amount to nothig to fill a current void in the organization. Who knows, maybe we trade Peavy or Rios for a young left-handed bat at the deadline or even sign a left-handed bat in free agency. I think organizational need gets overplayed way too much when it comes to the draft. This isn't the NFL, take the BPA early on and fill out your needs in the 20s and later if need be. These guys are all essentially lottery tickets, some with better odds than others, and when you don't take the BPA you're not going to be maximizing your chance of hitting on one of them. It's extremely unlikely any of the guys we'll be able to select at 17 will help us next year and by then our needs could be totally different. Yes, of course, you're right. However, it just seems like you have to start filling the pipeline with a few left handed bats, at some point. The only potential left handed impact bat in the whole system is Barnum.

I'm hoping that a good left handed hitter is available in our #17 slot. That is a huge void in the organization. Dominic Smith looks intriguing to me.

Why hasn't Micah Johnson moved up on the prospect list? Why hasn't he been promoted to the next level? He looks like the future lead off hitter and second baseman for the Sox. What will they do with Sanchez, if he gets back on track? Some have suggested that he could handle SS.

At what point in Flowers' Minor League career did he ever have a productive stretch like the one Phegley has had for the first 25% of the season? Flowers had one great Arizona Fall League Season, and that was what convinced K.W. to go after him. Beyond that, he never has demonstrated the kind of offense Josh is showing. Defensively, Phegley has a good arm and can block balls in the dirt. You don't hear much about his pitch calling, but that could be done from the bench. We all know that Phegley had health issues that account for his previous struggles. He was a very highly rated offensive player when drafted.

Given the need for a lefty set up man in the pen, if Axelrod does falter, it wouldn't be surprising if the Sox turned to Erik Johnson to replace him.

This is a very interesting discussion, and some of you have made very good points. If the Sox think that they can compete this year, isn't it really a question of who can best fill the various key roles? Santiago may ultimately become a very solid starter, however left handed starting pitching is not a critical role that needs filling, right now. That is especially true if Danks can build on last night's impressive return. I have my doubts, unless he can get a little more velocity back on his fast ball. But then, he just may become Mark Buerhle, whom he reminded of last night. Isn't one of the biggest voids on this team a good left handed set up man for the pen? Thornton is not the same pitcher he was when he filled that role so well. As I said in an earlier post, Matt would be better suited as a LOOGY. The Sox do not have any other reliable left handers for the pen. Therefore, if Santiago could pitch the 7TH or 8TH, depending on match ups, he could be very valuable to this team. Axelrod seems like he can aptly fill the role of 5TH starter, and is probably not well suited for any other role on this squad. The Sox are not going to be trading any pitching, unless they are giving up on this year.

There is the obvious problem with having 4 lefties in the starting rotation. That might work if they were all really great. So far, it would appear that only Sale and Quintana are of that caliber, and we're not really sure about the latter. Axelrod provides better balance in the rotation, and seems capable of filling the role of fifth starter. Seven of his nine starts this season have been quality starts. I think you take that from your 5TH starter, any time. The bullpen could really use a better left handed set up man. Thornton just isn't the same since he lost a couple of miles an hour off his heater. I'm very nervous when Thornton is facing right handed hitters, aren't you? Why wouldn't it be feasible to see if Santiago could take his place and relegate Thornton to a LOOGY?

The adjustments Dunn has made, and the results that he's getting, are just huge. If he can continue to be productive, this team should be fine. This is very reassuring.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ May 16, 2013 -> 01:48 PM) Right handed athletic OF, projects to RF. Lots of power/lots of empty swings. http://www.baseballamerica.com/internation...tch-for-july-2/ Thank you.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 16, 2013 -> 11:06 AM) Welcome to the world of evaluating 16 year olds. How much can you really tell from a kid that age? A simple scouting report, giving his current position, right or left handed, big and fat, or muscular and athletic, etc.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ May 16, 2013 -> 08:20 AM) It's in the first post! I read the short article before I posted, but it didn't reveal much.

Would you please provide a link??

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 16, 2013 -> 07:43 AM) Why does this matter? You can predict with certainty that when this kid, who is currently 16 years old, is ready in probably 6-7 years, the White Sox lineup will be RH dominant? I didn't know that he was just 16. What position does he play? What is the "scouting report" on him?

Does he bat left handed?