Lillian

It may be time to think of replacing Pierre as the lead off hitter. Although he has hit better of late, his On Base Percentage is completely unacceptable for a lead off hitter. It seems pretty unrealistic to expect him to produce any better than he has over his last 5 seasons in the National League, during which time his OBP was only around .330. He doesn't have the ability to drive the ball in the gaps for extra base hits, especially with the small alleys in the Cell. He does see a pretty high number of pitches per plate appearance, and hits a lot of foul balls, which is a positive attribute for the lead off hitter, but he simply does not represent the best "table setting" option for the Sox. While providing a stolen base threat is a valuable attribute, it is not as important as getting on base, which is the number one priority of a lead off hitter. Another point to consider is that the lead off hitter gets more total plate appearances than anyone in the lineup. Can you really afford to give the most at bats to a guy with a way below league average OBP? Fortunately, the Sox don't have to look to acquire a lead off hitter, as the team already has a much better option. Rios processes all of the desirable attributes of a lead off hitter. He has the ability to steal a base, in fact he's close to Pierre's League leading production in that department. He's always been a doubles machine, and is currently leading the Sox in that department, with 17. I will concede that historically, he hasn't been a very high OBP guy, but this year he seems to have improved that part of his game, and is currently second only to Konerko, with a .372 OBP. In fact, he's closer to Konerko than to the third ranking OBP on the Sox. Perhaps he's taking more pitches, and maybe that has in part been responsible for his overall offensive improvement this season. Just ask yourself, would you rather give the highest number of at bats in the season to Juan Pierre, or Alex Rios. Of course, the biggest argument against Rios leading off is that it takes him out of the middle of the order. However, I'm assuming that K.W. will find that missing LH power bat to sandwich in between Konerko and Quentin. If the Sox can add that missing piece, then you have the luxury of batting Rios first, and move Pierre to 9th. If that left handed acquisition is an outfielder, then you could bench Pierre. I personally would still rather have Jones in the line up than Pierre, but that's because I'd prefer to have the run production, than another stolen base threat. I understand that his average has come way down, but that hasn't been helped by his infrequent playing time. Power hitters need consistent at bats. Remember, this is the time year when balls begin to fly out of The Cell, and Jones is a guy who can hit homers in bunches. Here is a suggested lineup with Rios at leadoff, and Carlos Delgado as my pick for a LH power bat. I also left Vizquel at third, even after Teahen comes off the DL. I really like Omar in the "2 hole", and love his stabilizing effect on the left side of the infield, although of course he can't play every day: CF Rios 3B Vizquel LF Quentin DH Delgado 1B Konerko C A.J. RF Jones 2B Beckham SS Ramirez Pierre can pinch run for Konerko and Delgado. Kotsay becomes the LH hitter off the bench, although I don't really know for whom he would pinch hit. I haven't considered what to do with Teahen. If he could start hitting, maybe they could platoon him with Jones, and give Mark some playing time in the outfield, where he wouldn't be such a defensive liability. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Jun 22, 2010 -> 01:59 PM) He was our 4th best hitter on the season when he went down. Nobody has overtaken him since, and Jones has done everything in his power to make Teahen 3rd best. He would have done it already if he played more than twice a week. By your logic, you should not want to see anyone put on a Sox uniform other than Rios or Konerko. Moreover, Teahen has been a very good hitter versus RHP in his career. Although he has improved vs. LHP in the last couple of seasons, prior to that he was always a much better hitter vs. RHP. Here are his career #s vs RHP: AVG .274 OBP .341 SLG .428 OPS .769 That would be acceptable at DH, if the Sox can't acquire a LH slugger for the second half. Teahen could platoon with Jones, who should be in the outfield when he does play. Let Omar play 3RD and bat in the #2 hole. Give Vizquel a couple of days off a week, and play someone in his place at 3RD, who can field. That would rule out Viciedo. Perhaps they can give Lillibridge a shot, although he really is a pretty awful hitter. Kotsay should be a LH pinch hitter, off the bench. That is a role in which he really has been exceptional, in his career. However, his opportunities would certainly be limited the rest of the way, now that inter league play is almost finished. There aren't many RH hitters on this team for whom you would pinch hit Kotsay.

Won't Carlos Delgado be ready pretty soon?

The Hell with August. Bring him up!!!!!! Seriously, If everyone is worried about his motion, just let him be the LOOGY for the rest of this year. That would not give him enough innings to damage his arm, no matter how bad his mechanics might be. The funky motion might make him really hard to hit, if he isn't over exposed. He's supposed to have really good control, and two plus Big League pitches. That just might work as a LOOGY. He wanted a chance to get to the Majors this year, so I say give it to him. Apparently, he has plenty of self confidence. If he flops, then there is always "plan B". Let him go down to the Minors and prepare to be a starter next year. The Sox will have fulfilled their obligation to give him a shot at the Majors this year. It looks like a win - win situation to me.

One of the reasons that the Sox were able to go on this streak, while playing National League teams on the road, is that there was no DH. Normally, not being able to use its DH places an American League team at a slight disadvantage. However, that's not the case with the Sox, for one good reason; They don't have one!!!! It's not like they had to sit anyone whom they'd miss. They better get a legitimate DH quick, because they're almost finished with inter league play, and they'll be home anyway, so they'll be using a DH the rest of the way. If they're going to add someone, it better be a middle of the order left handed hitter. That's the only piece missing, providing of course that everyone plays close to their potential. Not like the major under achieving effort we painfully watched for the first two months of the season.

QUOTE (LVSoxFan @ Jun 16, 2010 -> 12:49 PM) Do we really believe that Jerry or KW or Ozzie would purposely cook up a fake drama in the middle of a baseball season to boost a... TV show that nobody's watching? I find that a stretch. As absurd as it seems, to conclude otherwise is to suggest that this organization is being run by egomaniacs and idiots. Either way, I'm completely disgusted with all them. How about you?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 16, 2010 -> 11:47 AM) No one watches MLB Network....it's been a huge bust in the ratings. No one will care about this show, so a "scripted" fight between KW and Ozzie makes no sense. Did anyone even watch the show last year about the Phillies bullpen? They didn't suggest that Chan Ho Park sleep with Scott Eyre's wife or anything like that. I didn't know that the ratings were so bad. Well, perhaps that's all the more reason for them to pull a publicity stunt.

I've been thinking more about the question I raised earlier in this thread regarding the legitimacy of all of the "soap opera" like nonsense being reported. If very little of this stuff appears in the soon to be aired MLB.Com, I might give it some credence. However, if this is all depicted and played up in the program , then I will be even more suspicious that a lot of it is being done as a publicity stunt. That would especially be my reaction if the cameras captured a lot of it. As I said, you would think that everyone would have tried to be on their best behavior, knowing that their words and actions might appear in the program. If the cameras were present and rolling, that should have provided a very strong motivation for Kenny, and Ozzie, as well as his wife and sons, to put their best foot forward. It will be interesting to see exactly how this is all depicted, but not because of the soap opera drams, but because if just might provide insight into how real it is.

QUOTE (pktmotion @ Jun 15, 2010 -> 04:48 AM) I would've agreed with you completely, before the draft. My general assumption was much like yours, The White Sox/MLB are trying to generate some interest in there upcoming show, so they're showcasing the dysfunctional dynamic between KW/Ozzie. But the Sox taking Ozney at round 22, where he was projected at 8-12. Is a pretty hard hit to question if it was fake. It's one thing to stage a riff between two characters in Chicago and its another thing to jeopardize a young talent's financial/professional career and use him as a pawn in a publicity stunt. What if another team had taking Ozney? MLB would've had to manipulate the draft so as Ozney would've been available that late. If that's the case, it then becomes a disconcerting case of MLB's authority. I think the relationship between Ozzie/KW is entirely real and has been for some time, only now before their reality show is it starting to garner more media attention. Well, you have a point. However, didn't Ozzie and Ozney have an agreement that he would go to college if he wasn't picked by the 6th round? If that's true, then I guess it really didn't matter whether he was picked in the 8th, or the 22nd round. I just find it hard to believe that all of these people have suddenly displayed their worst behavior, at precisely the moment that they are being so carefully scrutinized by the MLB.COM coverage. Wouldn't you think that the opposite would be true? They should all be trying to put forth their best public image, unless it's just a well orchestrated stunt. For my part, I'm put off by the whole thing, either way. If they are all such idiots, I find it embarrassing as a Sox fan. If it's all a stunt, I'm equally offended by their attempt to dupe baseball fans everywhere. If I enjoyed these kinds of silly theatrics, I'd be a fan of Wrestlemania, not baseball.

Allow me to speculate about all of this with a completely different hypothesis. Consider the following: 1) Baseball is after all entertainment 2) Jerry Reinsdorf is a pretty smart owner 3) There is intense competition between the Sox and Cubs for the Chicago baseball entertainment dollar. 4) There is this MLB.COM reality show being produced featuring the White Sox. 5) Ozzie has always been regarded as a very entertaining personality, and not above theatrics I recall the video of A.J. and the mock fight with a professional wrestler during Spring Training, a couple of years ago, in which Ozzie participated by hitting the guy with a folding chair. What if the producers of MLB.COM suggested to the Sox that they could generate a lot of interest and publicity if they staged a big riff between Ozzie and Kenny? Jerry Reinsdorf, though reluctant to go along, decided it would be worth the publicity. Such a scenario would explain how a smart business man like Reinsdorf would tolerate such behavior without stepping in and firing someone. If this is not an act, then there are a lot of people here who are bigger idiots than we think. Ozzie would have to be an idiot for allowing his sons to cause so much controversy. Kenny Williams would have to be an idiot for not exercising some self restraint, and for allowing Ozzie to usurp his responsibilities and control. Ozzie’s family would all have to be idiots for creating such a scene and jeopardizing Ozzie’s professional career. After all none of this would look good on his resume, if it were real, and if he ever intends to get another managing job in the Big Leagues. If this isn't a publicity stunt, wouldn't you think that everyone involved would be on their best behavior, knowing that it will all come out in the MLB.COM show? Maybe we're the idiots here for falling for this stunt. “I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin’‘.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jun 13, 2010 -> 09:13 AM) I never try my hand at this because I'm no expert on every player on every team but Quentin , Beckham and Teahan for Tejada and Markakis. Tejada only has a one yr. contract for $6 mil. so he can depart after this year. Markasis is signed for a while and doesn't get really expensive till next yr. Trade Buerhle to anyone who would take his salary and plug Hudson into his spot. Not that Baltimore would ever trade Markakis especially for 2 struggling players but its possible for Beckham and Q to become very good players again. Of course next year we'd be looking for a 3rd baseman and a 2nd baseman but Nix ,Vizquel and Lillibridge can play it this yr. Trade AJ for w/e you can get and we get even more salary relief. I know Flowers probably isn't ready but have to get salary relief somewhere. We improve RF and 3rd base D get OBP and consistency from Markakis. A platoon of Vizquel and Nix at 2nd puts up better numbers atm than Beckham does and equal or better D. Baltimore is most likely building around Markakis so I know its silly to think they would trade him but one can dream. Beckham and Quentin is just too much affordable future potential to give up for Tejada and Markakis. Have you looked at the Markakis contract? He's going to be making $15 Million per year in 2013 and 2014. If you're going to spend that kind of money, why not just acquire a free agent and keep your young affordable players?

While anything is possible, winning the division doesn't appear to be likely enough to give up any players who figure in the Sox' future in exchange for some aging veteran or half season rental. That said, there is nothing wrong with adding, as long as it works for the future as well as this season. Even if everyone gets back on track, and starts playing up to reasonable expectations, the one missing piece is that left handed power hitter. The only pieces that this team could trade and still have enough remaining depth are one starter and, or one reliever. They have Hudson to replace one starter and they have enough pitchers who can effectively close to afford them the flexibility of moving one of them. I'd personally favor holding on to Danks and Floyd because of their youth and contracts. But if someone got desperate for starting pitching, and had the money to spend, I wouldn't mind seeing either Peavy or Buerhle being moved. If they could find a taker for Jenks, then Putz or Santos could close, or perhaps they could share the responsibility. Thornton is too valuable as the Southpaw set up man to consider him for the closer role. Either Peavy, Buerhle or Jenks might be enough to get that left handed bat, especially if the trading partner has the money, or if the left handed hitter has a comparably expensive contract.

I posted a similar comment a few days ago, in another thread, but I'll repeat it here. Why not package A.J. and a reliever, perhaps Jenks and trade for Chris Davis? He has the potential to be the left handed power hitter this team is missing. He's blocked by Smoak, and has struggled lately, after a pretty impressive season in 2008.

Viciedo has 6 walks and 44 strike outs in his frist 200 at bats. Please, he's just not ready. There's no rush. The parent team being desperate for help shouldn't dictate his time table. He just turned 21. He's doing fine for this stage in his development, but it's too soon to think of him as a starter at the Big League level.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jun 7, 2010 -> 01:28 PM) So you want Viciedo to rot in AAA for three seasons? I think that he should be promoted to the Big Leagues when he has demonstrated that he is not a defensive liability, and that he can hit consistently, and draw an occasional walk.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 7, 2010 -> 01:02 PM) Viciedo has been red hot lately in AAA. Yes, he has been hitting, but he also made 3 errors at first base, in one game over the weekend. He is still just too raw, and probably needs a couple more years in the Minors. If he made it to the Big Leagues in 2012, at age 23, that would be pretty impressive.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jun 7, 2010 -> 12:31 PM) It's not that Teahen and Pierre restrict the team's payroll where we can't afford new players, it's that they are paid well enough where I think KW will give them starting spots (assuming we can't dump their contracts). This directly affects where we could spend any savings to improve our lineup. Assuming we also keep Beckham, Rios, Quentin, and Ramirez, then we are only looking at C, 1B and RF/DH to fill. If you want to infuse some youth into the lineup, we are looking at Viciedo at 1B and Flowers at C. That leaves RF/DH to fill via trade or free agency. Obviously, there's a possibility we move Quentin or Ramirez in offseason and need money to fill one of their positions, but right now I'm not expecting it. I don't think that Viciedo will be ready next year. He just turned 21, and has not yet demonstrated that he has the baseball skill and acumen to be one of those rare players who can contribute at the Major League Level at such a young age. Moreover, he is not nearly ready to play consistently good defense at any position. I'd much prefer a power hitting left handed first baseman.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ May 31, 2010 -> 11:25 AM) We need left-handed power. What we need is left handed-power. Prospects most likely to join the team shortly are Flowers and Viciedo (yikes, though, just 5 walks in 48 games). Kenny's #1 priority during this season and/or the offseason should be trying to acquire someone like Gonzalez or Berkman or someone else. We don't have a whole lot of salary coming off the books and if there's room for just one (relatively) big signing, it needs to be a serious lefty bat. My sentiments exactly. I've been stressing the need for a left handed bat in most of my posts. I'm sure that K.W. is thinking the same thing. The most likely place for that LH bat to play is 1st base. That's why Konerko will not be brought back. Moreover, that's why K.W. should exploit this opportunity to trade him to the Angels. If the Angels don't have a good left handed prospect, then fill another hole, and spend the money on a free agent acquisition in the off season.

This speculation seems to be going around: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/05/how-...ce-morales.html

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ May 30, 2010 -> 03:15 PM) Lets not wave the white flag just as this team is starting to play well. We will win the division. We will win the ALCS. And we will win the WS. Boy I'm glad you're not the GM. You know, that's what I thought before the season started. Unfortunately, watching this team play the first two months of the season has changed my mind.

I noticed today that he has gone back to extending the thumb on his top hand. He presses his extended thumb right up against the bat. He also looked like he was in his deeper crouch. Now if he would just get a little closer to the plate, he would be back to his old stance.

Another thought: If the Angels would like one of our closers, we could give them one plus Paulie, and maybe get one of the better prospects.

Just for the record: I realize that K.W. will not trade Konerko for a prospect, because they don't want to "wave a white flag". However, I still think it's a good idea.

Oh yes, and you can all forget about Trout. That is not going to happen.

How about this guy? http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/st...&pid=502222 22 years old. Left handed and plays 1st. He's probably 2 years from the Big Leagues. I don't much about him, but I found this: http://www.halosheaven.com/2010/1/13/12489...els-prospect-28