iamshack

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 12:26 AM) He said before the season even started the Anderson was his guy in the 8th and 9th for defensive purposes, still waiting for him to come through on that promise. Everything aside. You have to admit this whole situation is pretty ironic. Oh, believe me, don't think the irony was lost on me as I watched Scottie's throw scraping the lower edges of the Earth's atmosphere as it flew over AJ's head. The ONE problem with subbing Scottie, one which you brought up concerning Dye, Kalapse, is Pods happens to be the only player on this team that is hitting worth a damn right now. Regardless, I agree, Brian should have been in there, and likely will from now on....but you know how Ozzie tries to reward his guys...

And one more thing. Ozzie, Kenny, Coop: Simply because it is a save situation does not mean you MUST "insert Bobby here." Please, go with the guy that is throwing it well at the time. Simply because Bobby is the "closer" does not mean he must be inserted into every possible save situation or 9th inning. I don't care if MacDougal is the fifth inning guy for christ's sakes, if he is the one that's hot, by all means, leave him in there. And that goes for ANY pitcher who is throwing the ball extremely well at the time. It is not necessary to put in a struggling Bobby Jenks because he has been termed the closer.

Wow. A bad, bad sequence of events there. The blame goes on Bobby. He gives up 3 hits (possibly more) in 2/3 of an inning while Garland/Mac give up 3 hits in 8 innings. Scottie made a poor throw. He has a worthless noodle-arm. I think the walk was the thing to do, but we can second guess Ozzie all night long here. I didn't mind doubling-up Walker with the curveball, it just was a very-hittable, high-in-the-zone curveball, that's all. The only thing to do is come back tomorrow and do it all over again. It's a real shame, and it seems like this bs happens to Jon more than anyone else. But let's keep this in perspective, get some sleep tonight, and come back tomorrow and get this series. Let's go Mark!

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 02:27 PM) So we finally get some depth and some talent at the bullpen, and we are looking at getting rid of it. Uh no. We need to keep every single member of our bullpen, and the associated members at Charlotte. You realize that our bullpen guys, while talented are not the picture of health. So we need to keep the depth. I don't think he was implying that as much as cashing in on a extra commodity while it's valuable still. Let's face it. If Boone Logan didn't make the team out of Spring Training this season, they didn't want him making the team, period. I'm sure they would deal him for a need if a deal Kenny liked came along.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 12:25 PM) Supposedly, not having his family in this country was one of the reasons that people thought he might have struggled when he first came to the Yankees. Well yeah, that was when he loved her....clearly now he knows she is a greedy bloodsucker...

QUOTE(shoota @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 12:15 PM) She's deserving of smear because she was the one who broke her marital vows and divorced the Bronze Titan. Couldn't agree more....she's going to miss Jose in more ways than one, too....I'll bet he isn't called the Bronze "Titan" for nothing...

QUOTE(WilliamTell @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 12:12 PM) I don't like hearing about Dye needed to be moved over so we can have a Podsednik/Anderson/Erstad lineup. Sure Dye's not what he was out there anymore, but taking his bat away from this lineup will affect this team. Dye's had a slow 6 games this year, but he had a monster year last year. Anything near his production last year will be great. Then read more closely. We're talking about late defensive replacements, not benching him entirely.

QUOTE(caulfield12 @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 11:57 AM) See Hermanson, Politte, Cotts, Riske, Thornton, Marte...we almost NEVER go out and pay "full value" for a reliever like the Cubs did with Howry and Eyre. The article today in one of the Chicago papers is already questioning Baker's overuse of both those guys, which they speculate is leading to trouble in the first week of the 07 season. Don't forget Sisco, Jenks, Masset, Aardsma....he remade this entire bullpen of young power arms out of nothing basically...

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 11:52 AM) If the game is close enough you can't be taking a bat like Dye's out of the lineup. With a 3 run lead I could see it but any less you can't be removing one of your best hitters. Using Anderson in CF and moving Erstad to either corner in the 8th/9th inning improves the defense 2 fold. We have enough bats in this lineup where we can afford to lose one. Once again, I've seen Dye stumbling around out there enough to where I don't feel comfortable anymore in close and late situations, especially with how slow he looks at the plate right now. I feel fine with an OF of Pods/Anderson/Erstand considering we have Thome/Konerko/Crede still in the heart of the order if Dye is replaced.

Well, Kenny has got the technique exactly right in this instance: You don't try to pay the price for a proven relief arm. You either go after someone with a good arm who is still unproven, or someone who cannot put it together for whatever reason. Gillick should take a page out of his book- it's sitting there wide open for the rest of the league to see...

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 11:41 AM) Really? When did his arm get any stronger? Even if you want to debate that his defensive abilities have been better of late, which I don't see at all, I think everyone can agree that he has basically no arm strength to speak of, which late in games can end up hurting a team. Why should a below average defender with no arm be used at all late in games when there's an excellent defender on the bench? As for Dye, he's getting even slower out there, he was running through molasses last season, he's running through quicksand right now. Obviously his arm has not gotten stronger. However, his jumps and routes have, which have led to his improvement. I don't believe I stated that Pods has turned into an all-star defender; I stated he has improved. IMO, even with his strong arm, Dye should be replaced defensively late in games before Podsednik should, barring your "runner on third with less than two out in a tie game" scenario.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Apr 10, 2007 -> 11:40 AM) So I'm surfing ESPN.com and notice that the Phils are 1-6, mainly because of their struggling bullpen. We have some arms IN THE MINORS right now that could definitely help the Phillies, and we're one of the few franchises that can gloat about it. The law of supply and demand says that the Phillies might be willing to overpay for a character like Boone Logan, and no might be the time to act while they can still save their season. Let me state, first and foremost, that I think the Darin Erstad/Brian Anderson combo is better than Aaron Rowand, I am not in ANY WAY advocating for the return of the great "CRASH." However, if we could get someone like SS Adrian Cardenas along with a C Carlos Ruiz, who would be a good solution vs. LHP if we could pry him away (depending on Toby Hall's recovery) then I don't see why a phone call would not be made. I'm sure discussions have been had. It's believed that the Phillies did not want someone like Logan; instead they wanted someone like MacDougal, whom we were unwilling to move. That was the end of it. Perhaps they will get desperate and take Logan. Perhaps they won't.

As much as Podsednik's defensive prowess has been mocked around here, I truly believe he has been better since the later part of last season defensively. I worry more about JD out there in right than I do about Scottie in left. For whatever reason, no one mentions how terrible-looking Dye is out there though...

Funny how much this place revolves around the play of Podsednik. One thing that is quite obvious though: When Podsednik is playing well, this team wins at a very high clip. Keep it up Scottie, and be aggressive! As some others have said, you gotta be stoked about these power arms in the bullpen. It's really clicking right now. One thing that looks blatantly obvious: Dye is really out of sorts. I don't doubt that he'll get his timing back, but his agility in the field really worries me. If I were his agent, I would really be telling him to start practicing first base before games. I want NO part of signing this guy to a lucrative extension.

How ridiculous. I just sent an email in to this jackass, which is probably what the jerk wants, but oh well. I'll post it here for your enjoyment. Mr. Mariotti, How fittingly you describe your loathing for this organization. I distinctly remember you writing a column, two days into the 2005 season, about how Ozzie's small ball would not be enough to win the AL Central. I immediately replied with an email to you, criticizing you for making such a rash judgment some 48 hours into the 05' season. As we all know, you proved to be wrong in nearly every possible manner about the White Sox that season, and your columns were irresponsible, hypocritical, ridiculous, ignorant, hyperbolic, and to put it more bluntly, absolutely downright stupid. When will you EVER learn? Your lack of knowledge about not only the game of baseball, but the business of baseball as well is amazingly apparent in your everyday column-writing about BOTH of the professional baseball teams from this City. It is understood that you write columns to sell newspaper today, which demands hyperbole by it's very nature. However, your reactions are knee-jerk to the extreme, as if you are Bill Murray's character from the movie Groundhog Day, and you cannot recall the ridiculous column you wrote just the day before. You have no conscience, flip-flopping with your arguments more than a fish out of water to suit your ignorant and fallacious column of the morning. Will you ever show any professionalism in your work? It is so clear that you take cheap shots at the entire White Sox organization whenever the previous day's box score will alow it. And yet you praise the Cubs' forty million dollar investment based on 7 innings in April? Your shock appeal may sell some newspapers, Mr. Mariotti, but you are a jackass in a profession surprisingly void of them at the moment, highlighting your pathetic, jealous, vengeance-seeking drivel even more. I look forward to the day when your bosses finally grow weary of the game you are always playing-using your forum as a vehicle to seek personal revenge on an organization that has already embarrassed you enough- and you are fired, exiled to St. Pete to cover the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In the meantime, try something new- perhaps some professionalism- and see the big picture for once instead of one day's box score as an excuse to condemn a full season worth of baseball. It's devastatingly clear that you could use some. Sincerely, Mark Schackmuth

Why does it always have to be about Podsednik? Personally, I don't care if he is out there or not, but I am tired of him being the whipping boy by this board for every weakness in this team's armour. There is PLENTY of blame to go around, namely 1) Dye getting noticeably older and more awkward in the field (and for all the people claiming "Thome is just not clutch," why do you suppose Dye had such incredible offensive numbers last season? ahem, Thome; 2) Iguchi, among a few others, repeatedly failing to execute in the late innings; 3) Repeated failure to hold leads, by both the starters and the bullpen; 4) Poor defense; And on and on and on. But yes, it is much easier to claim Podsednik he should be in AAA and then the White Sox would go 162-0.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 05:58 PM) Give me a break. Its not like Podsenik the leadoff hitter has decided all of a sudden to just draw walks to appease some high OBP. He cant hit, he cant steal, he cant run, and he cant play defense, and he cant throw. HE has had multiple groin surgeries, and is on the wrong side of 30 for a speedster. He was just thrown out by the worst throwing catcher outside of Matt LeCroy. And I bet LeCroy pegs him out too. Perhaps you missed the sentence where I said "he has lost all effectiveness." I think Podsednik still can be plenty effective. But it's obvious to me that he needs to try to put the ball in play, preferably on the ground, instead of "working the pitcher" and trying to draw a walk. It's obvious that he isn't particularly comfortable doing it, whether that's because it is against his nature or what, I don't know. But he was so much more effective when he was putting the ball on the ground to the left side of the infield and drag bunting. I believe if he would focus more on that instead of trying to draw walks he would resemble the effectiveness he showed in 05' moreso than 04' and 06'. That being said, there is plenty of blame to be passed around today, so enough with the broken record that is blaming Podsednik for everything.

Cooper never deserved all the credit he got for the staff being great in 05', and doesn't deserve as much of the blame as some would like to place on him now, but certainly, he is nowhere near having his job in jeopardy at this point, and wouldn't even if the staff were to struggle into June. This is a knee-jerk reaction.

Podsednik needs to go back to his 05' formula of being aggressive. Ever since he started trying to draw more walks (to please all the OBP pundits), he has lost all effectiveness. And if you want to point fingers today, I think you all are leaving one very important man out: Jermaine Dye: 0-4, 3 k's, and terrible defense in right field. He hurt us a hell of a lot more than Pods today.

Well hey, at least they are expecting an onslaught from White Sox fans here....they do raise some valid points, however. Nonetheless, did this team not win 56 games in the first half with Pods and BA in the lineup and struggling, to go along with some rather mediocre pitching performances from Freddy Garcia, Jon Garland (really struggled in the first months of the season), and Javy Vazquez. The bottom line is we need to score runs, that's for sure, but we do need to see Jose and Mark rebound from their 06' second halves. QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Apr 3, 2007 -> 06:46 PM) These rankings are based upon PECOTA's predictions. I believe many, including the Baseball Prospectus staff, wouldn't take a bet of 72 wins for this ballclub. I wouldn't be too concerned. Power rankings, by nature, fluctuate throughout the season. Enter next week 3-3 or 4-2 and the White Sox could easily leap 15 positions. Indeed, they say they would feel comfortable taking the over on us, but nonetheless, it's moreso of an escape hatch for when the team proves PECOTA to be nonsense yet again.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 12:57 PM) *yawn* True but the pessimistic side of me can counter most of those. Boone and Thornton are still enormous question marks, with Boone you don't know how he's going to be used or if he's even going to make the team, Ozzie has already talked about using him as the long man, what the hell is that? Thornton was quite good last year and has been outstanding this spring but the guy still hasn't proven much outside of a few months of good baseball in his career, I like him a lot but he's not exactly a proven commodity. Pierzynski and Thome still suck against lefties and there's no one on the roster who could spell them from time to time and produce at even a league average rate meaning they'll probably be forced to play the same or possibly more games than they did last year which could lead to a similar downfall in their production like we saw from both of them at the end of last season. PK is entirely problem free, nothing amiss there. The pitching staff is still incredibly scary with velocity being down across the board, despite possibly past trends of failure in the Spring and success during the regular season the drop in velocity of these pitchers has got to be worrisome especially with the piss poor performance of the pitching as a whole last season. Having a 22 year old rookie with hardly any AAA experience at the backend of the rotation isn't exactly an ideal situation especially since he hasn't exactly been dominant this Spring. Oh yeah the closer has been terrible this Spring, throwing 91 MPH, getting hit all over the place and the kicker is his arm is being held together by some s*** you could find at your local hardware store. Brian Anderson is on the team and that's a good thing but he's in the wrong role. The Sox have the worst 1-2 in baseball at the top their lineup especially with the hobbling prancer leading things off with his lack of speed, spring ABs and any sort of pre-opening day production. Jim Thome is going to hit 37 solo homeruns this season. There's more but I'm starting to depress myself so I'm going to go ahead and end it right there. Well aren't you a ray of sunlight on a rainy afternoon. Maybe those in the "know how" will wisen up and put the omniscient Kalapse in charge of everything... *yawn*

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Mar 27, 2007 -> 01:07 PM) What's being debated is Ozzie's questionable thought process. Which is exactly what Scenario addressed. He's simply stating that what Kalapse and some other posters have speculated was Ozzie's thought process was not his actual thought process. He then goes on to speculate what may have been. Personally, I think that as long as Erstad showed he was healthy, he was going to get the job.

I seem to remember a game against Detroit in 05', in the bottom of the 9th inning. Cliff Politte was pitching, coming in to clean up somone's mess (Cotts?). Anyways, 2 out, bases loaded, tie ballgame (this may have been the game IRod led off the inning with a triple, and was doing his stupid celebration over there on third?), I believe Brandon Inge at the dish. Hits a groundball DEEP into the hold at short. Juan, ranges far to his right, backhands the ball in the outfield grass, plants one foot, and rockets one over to Pauly, just in time to get the speedy Inge at first, and preserving the tie. We go on to win in extra innings. We won so many games like that in 05'. What a great year.

As Rock stated, Danks isn't a kid who suffers from confidence problems. He has bene young at every level, and while he has struggled initially, he has made adjustments and improved drastically. Obviously, he has a mindset which allows for him to take his lumps without losing his confidence. He's ready. Floyd looks more and more like a bust. Go with Danks.

Actually, Ken Williams traded three centerfielders to make way for Brian- Jeremy Reed, Chris Young, and Aaron Rowand. And as for comparing Anderson's situation to that of Crede and Garland, and even Ventura, you just cannot. When those players were coming up we had not won a world series. We did not have a so-called "window" in which to repeat. There is some pressure (despite what Kenny will admit, and what trades he has made) to win this year as three key players may be walking in Iguchi, Dye, and Mark. Simply because Brian may have to take a step down on the totem pole for the time being does not mean that Kenny and Ozzie no longer envision him as our starting CF of the future. It may simply mean that they don't believe this team can afford to suffer from his growing pains in such a critical year for the franchise. That being said, if the right player or deal came along, I think most of us would agree that Kenny would not hesitate to move Brian today. I disagree however, with those that claim that Brian being left off the 25-man roster would seal his fate as gone.