caulfield12

Morel, Rios and Dunn all between 575-601 OPS. JESUS of Nazareth, that's not good. Do any other contending teams have 3 guys below 600, in the AL? Can we just stick in DeAza in CF? I'm guessing the answer to that is no, he sucks in CF.

What will Dunn's average have to fall to before they consider Viciedo for at least two weeks? .150? .145? Why can't they just bench him until Viciedo struggles or September when/if the team's no longer contending? At the very least, he should never be playing against lefties. How can you?

There must be some kind of universal law that Buehrle will always struggle with the Royals. Through August/September of 2005, he really dominated them. Ever since, not so much.

The fans aren't even booing Dunn as much as previously. Small crowd on 4th of July or they've just given up trying? The Twins and Tigers had close to record crowds in the last week....will we even get to 30,000 today?

QUOTE (Lemon_44 @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 04:52 AM) Depending on where things stand at the trade deadline,and the Sox are right in it, I'd like to see him, or someone dealt for Scott Rolen. Their salaries match up and even though Morel has been ok, I'd much rather have Rolen and his glove, bat, and attitude in a pennant race. It's not a knock on Morel but Rolen brings alot more to the table. I think he'd be a perfect fit for the Sox. Why would the Reds deal him? Who would they play at that position? Doesn't he only have 4 homers this year?

QUOTE (since56 @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 06:15 AM) It has become a disposable society. I want it and I want it now. What is a reasonable level of expectation for a player who signs a $14/year contract? Sure, if you go back one year ago and track his numbers for the past six months, it's scary bad. He's hitting .165 at this point. Not even Esteban Beltre, Joe Borchard or Mike Caruso could manage that feat. It's one thing to expect the White Sox to make it to the World Series every year or for Dunn to hit 55 homers, it's quite another to expect something resembling his "average" career numbers.

Not only Peavy, but you have to wonder about Danks' oblique and Humber's fortune not continuing forever. Right now, it's pretty far from unclear whether they'd even risk offering arbitration for the possibility of a Type B pick. I don't think many Sox fans would be too comfortable with the idea that "accidentally" retaining Jackson for 2012 meant they had to give up Buehrle or Danks. With Boras as his agent, you'd think he should be able to get more than $8.5 million from another team, but I'm not sure which team that would be...certainly not with how he's pitched the last couple of months. Of course, it all depends on what the current organizational thinking on Sale is, too.

1. The worst GM in the game wouldn't have found Santos and Humber for free (basically). 2. The worst GM in the game might have let Carlos Quentin go during one of the two past off-seasons. Probably, he would have traded Danks as well for 3-4 prospects that would never pan out. 3. The worst GM in the game would never dare to trade for an "ace/former Cy Young winner" because he would be afraid of the contract and would play it safe instead of taking any risks. 4. The worst GM in the game wouldn't have dared to sign Viciedo. 5. The worst GM in the game would have turned the catching position over to Flowers instead of extending AJ. KW will get another opportunity at some point, if he wants it. You don't put together a World Series dominating roster for $65 million with just complete luck.

Hybrid of Carlos Lee/Bobby Bonilla with Vladdy's aggressiveness and lack of selectivity. Although his patience has increased appreciably this season in AAA.

Ordonez is actually showing some signs of life too. Pretty tough lineup when you've got Avila hitting 8th or 9th. That said, Boesch really fell off in the 2nd half last year (well, not quite like Chris Shelton) and Austin Jackson's been way off his rookie form. Wonder if Carlos Guillen has anything left in him? Peralta's been a pretty solid "low-risk" acquisition for them...but they're not getting offense any more out of Inge. It's kind of been a revolving door across that infield. Raburn's not really a true 2B. Our infield can run circles around theirs defensively. Then again, Cabrera's basically the best hitter in baseball, so that can make up for a lot of weaknesses. And not just because of tonight, but their bullpen seems a pitcher or two short. Ryan Perry at one point looked like a future closer and Zumaya's basically finished. Al Albuquerque's on the DL.

Don't forget Rowand. It's just so unfortunate we didn't get Miggy Cabrera when we had a chance, personality/off-field warts and all.

I'm not so sure. They have to have another option at DH besides Lillibridge to bat against LHP. If Dunn doesn't get a hit against the Royals, there's just no way I would keep him in the line-up when we play the Twins.

QUOTE (LVSoxFan @ Jul 2, 2011 -> 08:57 PM) I was there! Humber didn't have his best stuff but he battled! Way to go Thorton! Not the first time that's happened this week. Peavy's fastball was 3-4 MPH slow and Jackson was a mess, too.

I wonder if they'll leave him at SS. Probably, that's where he has the most value. Teams leave legit SS prospects there as long as possible (typically) until they possibly make a position change later. If he has quite a bit of pop, you wonder if the Sox might decide to switch him over to 3B if Morel doesn't hit for power or walk much in the 2nd half. How strong is his arm? Range? Does he profile as a better 2B or 3B from a defensive standpoint, based on his skill set?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 2, 2011 -> 07:04 PM) Nishioka has been hurt. You never call a guy a bust when he's been hurt unless that's all he's been. The Twins will find someone they have confidence in as a closer, you know that. Nathan would still be likely to return, IMO, just for a lot less money. It's possible they give him $2 million NOT to pitch for them next year and then offer him an incentive-laden contract. Knowing Nathan, he might accept. I'm not sure how wise it would be for them to put all their eggs in the basket of just one potential closer without a back-up plan. BTW, Mr. Capps just blew a 7-4 lead against the Brewers with the Crew now leading 8-7 after trailing 7-0 in the early stages of the game. They're also going to have to decide what to do with Pavano again. And how many Japanese players in the last 5-7 years that have been signed to MLB clubs have actually exceeded expectations? Not many.

KW and Ozzie clear the air about the "Pierre/Viciedo" debate and alleged sniping back and forth... http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,1950575.story

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 2, 2011 -> 08:37 PM) a pregame graphic stated that Beckham has the best fielding percentage among second baseman. And he proved it multiple times And not just sheer percentage (because that makes Rios look very good this year), but turning the double plays more quickly (saved the game earlier this week), stopping balls from getting to the outfield...his range is arguably the best of any 2B in the AL right now. He's also gotten better at balls hit towards the bag or up the middle. Ramirez has made his typical 2008/2009 "lackadaisical" errors, but it's hard to argue there's a better defensive infield right now with Morel also picking it up after a rough start...and Omar Vizquel in reserve. You'd like to think that having Omar around has rubbed off positively on both Alexei and Gordon. And a 700 OPS 2B isn't anything to sneeze about. We need to readjust that expectation of him putting up 850-875 every season. Not with offense down like this all around baseball.

The problem is that Konerko, Dunn, Rios, Quentin, Ramirez, Buehrle....will never be the type of players to make this kind of comment. We expect it from AJ. Pierre's not afraid to express his feelings, either. Beckham's far from being the leader of this team....so I don't mind it at all. Rios has been going more up the middle and hustling more often. Morel's doing the little things. Beckham's showing some signs of turning things around. It does feel like that game where they scored Quentin on a 225 feet flyout in COL was enough to get everyone to think the breaks might start going their way again. We're now 11-6 in interleague (yet again). Not quite last year's 15-3, but we'll take it. And Santos has started to legitimately appear like one of the best closers in baseball. Not many guys you'd take over him going forward.

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Jul 2, 2011 -> 08:30 PM) Huge props to Coop for Humber, but you can't teach heart. Phil battled all day. He's the story of the first half. Kind of like Garcia last year. But Humber has been much better statistically.

.168 and sinking like the Lusitania. Seriously, the Royals have been playing like absolute crap. This should be the last series Dunn gets carte-blanche to play every day. No way he should still be in there against the Twins (if he goes hitless for 4 more games), who are on another mini hot streak of 4 games in a row. It would suck the life out of this team (and White Sox fans) if we don't at least split with them at home.

This is looking a bit less laughworthy. Although the only scenario that makes it possible SEEMS to be trading Viciedo, and HOPEFULLY that never happens. The reason they can't trade Viciedo is that there's nobody in the line-up that they could realistically replace. Rios? No. Dunn? No (and that's Viciedo's job anyway.) Beckham? No. Morel? Maybe, but very very doubtful they'd add even more salary this year when Morel seems to be settling in more and more at the major league level. Obviously they're not looking for a starting pitcher, and they could probably use another RH reliever, but Ozzie seems comfortable with Bruney (for now) and they're not in a position to add a Capps-level salary. Nor can they afford to part ways with Dayan without Sox fans storming the gates of KW's condo with pitchforks.

Indians beat the Reds for 5 in a row this season. SF's feeble offense taking it to Scherzer. Scored five runs in the first. Have a feeling that game's far from over. It would be a travesty if the Giants' 6-0 lead over the Tigers was wiped out by rain. Hopefully they can get it restarted.

Nobody. And very few were "sure" what we'd get out of Sergio. Certainly nobody was predicting 16/18 or 17/19 in saves, whatever he has. On the other hand, if you put up the numbers for Dunn/Rios/Beckham/Jackson/Danks (W-L) (and Thornton) at this point, you'd have to guess we were 6-12 games under .500 and on the verge of breaking the team apart. Say what you will, KW always seems to come up with guys like Humber or Sergio on the cheap...enough to almost offset the "big/bad" moves. And 7-1 in Peavy starts? That's a bit unexpected as well. Konerko is most deserving, along with Humber and then Sergio. Alexei would have been on the outside of the conversation about 2-3 weeks ago. Same with Carlos.

Beckham actually winning over skeptics with his defense, who'd a thunk it? In the new world of baseball, you can carry a 660-670 OPS 2B. Heck, you can carry a sub 600 OPS 3B. But you are nearing the point of no return in 2011 on Dunn. They have to bench him and insert Viciedo into the line-up for at least 2 weeks. Pierre is almost undoing all the damage he did the first two months. ALMOST. I don't think anyone would have predicted a week ago he would be be perhaps the most integral offensive piece in winning in 3 games. Long-term, Ozzie isn't right on this one...but he's looking a LOT smarter.

QUOTE (Benchwarmerjim @ Jul 2, 2011 -> 01:34 PM) the Twins would of been raked over the coals if they didnt sign Mauer after getting the new stadium. After all, the whole point of Target Field is so they could sign their own guys. The Twins were kind of in a no win situation there. Nathans big contract comes off the books this year, so does Capps. thats about $16 mil in bullpen money eaten up I think Delmon Young is gone after this year. If they can get a low to mid level minor league guy in return, I think they would pull that trade. Gardy really loves Ben Revere. His ceiling is about Juan Pierre, which is cool by me. There has been a lot of talk about trading Cuddyer, I am not sure if he gets moved. He is a Twins guy through and through. I think the only way he gets traded s if the other team blows them away with an offer. I think Kubel would get traded before Cuddyer does. Kevin Slowey is probably going to be gone by the trade deadline too. Cuddyer's more important to the team, which is why another team would be better off signing Kubel. Nishioka's basically been a bust as well, yes? Who would be closer if you dump Capps and buy out Nathan as well? Twins fans should know after watching Guardado and Nathan for a decade the importance of a strong closer at the back end of the game. They probably would have been better off going with Revere/Span in the OF, the approach they had with Jones/Stewart/Hunter from 2002-2004. Never should have given up both Hardy and Hudson and turned the infield completely over. And Valencia's not the same presence. Without Morneau healthy, even with Mauer hitting like 2009 the Twins are in serious trouble. And Young's putting up nothing like the numbers he put on the board last season. Then you have Slowey's contract you have to dump, somehow. In the end, all the issues started with assuming they could rebuild the bullpen on the cheap AND tearing apart their veteran leadership in the middle infield.