caulfield12

There's no way they will ever get to the playoffs in 2010 with Matt Thornton as the closer. You can't get away with one pitch in that role.

Update: Since we were 5 games over .500 and Buehrle was on fire, we're the worst team in baseball at scoring runners from 3rd with less than 2 outs. Jesus. Of course, you know somehow the Angels will come back to win 4-3 the way this season has gone and is going. And there's a difference with a Crede or Uribe on the team...those guys somehow got the sacrifice flies deep enough to get the runners in during those situations. Memo to JD, watch Abreu set up for a throw home. Thanks.

Quentin 2008 version, sure. Which player do we have going into 2010? The 750 ops guy or the 950 ops guy? Or something in between, not as good (perhaps ever) as the MVP Carlos, but not as low a BA and the a wrist with a full year to recover, which is almost always the case that you come back better the 2nd season (like Tommy John recovery).

That's twice this year that has happened. Interestingly, the baserunner should not be sent back...he should be ruled out, but supposedly it's a discretion of the umpire call. PS Yet another example of JD's horrible throwing mechanics. Should have had an out there at 1st. Hopefully it won't come back to bite us. Also two huge fundamental mistakes from Hunter (although Beckham was sent back) not backing up on the throw from catcher and not moving towards the ball that got away from Abreu and became an inside-the-park home run for Pods. Those mistakes would never have happened while he was playing in Minnesota.

I guess we'll never know until later how much the Rios situation and 2010 contract affected JD. It's easy to say that it shouldn't have, or to gauge how much of an affect the lawsuit had on Alexei's April/May, but there have been a lot of distractions and the team has seemingly lacked focus or clarity in its style of play all season long, except for brief glimpses of how well this team could really be if all the parts were actually working together. Still, you'd have to say there were MORE issues last year and the "clubhouse chemistry" was seemingly better....despite Swisher, the blow-up doll situation, Cabrera, Vazquez, Crede being shut down by Boras, etc.

Yeah, the Angels have a pretty nasty line-up, Morales has really surged this year, FINALLY, and there's not even room for the likes of Howie Kendrick because "Mighty" Maicer is playing so well. Rivera and Hunter have picked it up over their career numbers, too. Napoli is second in major league homers from the catcher spot over the last two seasons to McCann. GMJ is also superfluous. There aren't many holes. It's like "upside down" world, because their offense is usually a bit questionable, with their defense/speed and pitching (both starting and bullpen) leading the way. Brandon Wood would be getting significant playing time in many other organizations, but won't even sniff the Angels' line-up anytime soon.

Including the 2005 AL playoffs, the White Sox are 24-16 against the Angels. We're the only American League team during that timeframe with a winning record against them. Texas is .500 against them I think, at least according to their announcers.

QUOTE (chisoxt @ Sep 11, 2009 -> 11:06 PM) You say that he has had success but then you list all of his failures. Add to those failures... Danny Richar.. Horacio Ramírez, MacDougal (although he was OK when we got him)... Garcia was his best acquisition during the season. But the 2004 team wasn't contending (due to injuries) when we took on Contreras and Garcia, either one which could be termed the best KW move for setting up the following season. Those first three trades had little or NO impact on our post-season drive, negligible, at best. MacDougal, as stated above, was very good in his role that particular season, but many other factors undermined that season. What I'm talking about is a move that actually HINDERED our chances of getting to post-season. Pena has been inconsistent, but that hasn't really been as big of a factor as Rios' disappearance, because he's a set-up guy, and he has pitched well at times....Rios has been lost since we acquired him, and looks like he just wants to get this season over with.

This isn't specifically about Rios, per se. It's what has been the worst "in-season" (May/June/July/August) move that KW has made, 2001-2009, in terms of the "negative" (up to you to determine) impact on that particular season, on a White Sox team that was contending or close to it? So moves like Adkins/Durham don't count, because we were already out of the race and wanted to play Willie Harris and save money.

Usually KW has a really good touch with these mid-season adjustments (even Geoff Blum contributed eventually), but I was struggling to think of one that has had more of a detrimental affect (short-term) to our playoff chances when something was expected of him. Peavy, there was uncertainty whether he would even pitch again this season. Griffey was already washed up, but was acquired more for his veteran presence, leadership and steadying presence. I have a pretty strong belief that Rios can get things turned around next season, but Alex has failed consistently in big situations since we've acquired him. Just perplexing. Roberto Alomar? It was pretty clear he wasn't the same player, as his skills went south very quickly, just like Ryne Sandberg at 2B.

Excuse me, sir. NEXT TIME I WILL SEND A PRIVATE MESSAGE IF SOMEONE HAS SOMETHING IN THEIR SIGNATURE that's not even 100% correct, unless we're willing to say that our own CF is even worse. Because apparently people have nothing better to do than complain about other posters or yell "you lie!" at the President. What ever happened to civility in our society?

I'm still not 100% convinced that Ryan Sweeney sucks.

2 games under .500 against OAKLAND I think we're a combined .500 against KC, CLE and Baltimore. DET has really played so much better, especially that TB series. They definitely deserve the division...everyone was saying they'd finish with 84-85-86 victories, but they're on pace for 87 or 88 probably, about like our team last year. Actually, with the front end of their rotation, they're probably more dangerous in the playoffs than we were, for sure. But that offense will really struggle to score runs...however, they're able to comeback and also win in the late innings, something we've failed to do consistently this year, so we'll see what happens in the playoffs. The Twins are definitely a bigger disappointment than the White Sox, especially considering it was their last year in DOME-LAND to use that to their advantage before they have to adjust to a new park like the rest of the league.

Has anyone actually seen Santos Rodriguez pitch in person? Does he throw a legit mid-90's from the LH side? Perhaps Jones or Rodriguez become the next Scott Radinsky or Boone Logan to basically jump from A ball to the bigs.

The common thread among the disappointing careers for the two Youngs, Hermida and Francoeur is that pitchers have exposed their plate discipline in the majors. But with the exception of Francoeur, that wasn't a major issue for any of them in the Double-A Southern League four years ago. Delmon Young, whose performance I addressed in the May 19 Ask BA, could have drawn a few more walks but he didn't strike out excessively and did a good job of using the whole field and hanging in against breaking balls. He walked 25 times in 84 games for Montgomery and has taken just 90 free passes in 565 games since. Hermida led the SL with 111 walks and a .457 on-base percentage in 2005, and while he isn't the free swinger the other guys are, he hasn't been nearly as disciplined with the Marlins. I hold out more hope for him than the rest of this group, and I wonder if Hermida has focused too much on trying to hit homers rather than letting them come naturally. Francoeur struck out four times as much as he walked in the SL, and after he had a strong second half with the Braves in 2005, big league pitchers realized he'd get himself out if they'd let him. Francoeur hasn't adapted his approach, and athleticism alone isn't going to save him at the plate. Chris Young walked 70 times in the SL, and though he had 129 strikeouts in 466 at-bats, he was making progress against offspeed pitches and using the whole field. His strikeout rate has stayed the same but his walk rate has dropped significantly, and if a hitter is going to chase out of the strike zone, major leaguers will let him. Francoeur's struggles could have been forecast, but I don't know if anyone could have foreseen the extent of the Young's and Hermida's difficulties. I think this serves as another example of how developing and forecasting prospects is more art than science, and there always will be elite prospects who succeed in Double-A but can't get over the hump against better competition two levels higher in the major leagues. Our rankings are based on extensive conversations with scouts, player-development officials and managers, which gives us the weight of multiple looks at players from several different sources. from baseballamerica.com, jim callis

It would be great if Pods was our 4th outfielder next year and PR, that would make a very nice veteran combination with Mark Kotsay off the bench. Would be scared to death of approaching the season with him as the leadoff hitter....just too big of a risk, like starting this year with Anderson/Owens/Wise/Lillibridge. However, as many have noted, if he is able to finagle a Willy Taveras type of two year deal (for $5-6 million) from another National League team (making the Rockies look a bit silly for giving up on him) as a starter, there's no way he would want to come back in a diminished/bench role. Of course, a lot of this is dependent on "what if's" like Quentin's health in 2010 and what happens with Dye, Thome and the FA market for leadoff hitters and big LH bats (last offseason, the likes of Abreu and Dunn).

Exactly. It's nice to say that in hindsight, but why not say, "if we had traded for Edwin Jackson" and "if Cabrera came back" and Getz, Nix and possibly Beckham never even ended up playing with the Sox this year, particularly Nix and Getz... Well, when KW does sign another LH power hitter (maybe it's Thome for $4-6 million), then we can talk about whether Swisher would be better than that option, keeping in mind his escalating salary...and the fact that Quentin and Swisher in the OF limits where you can have a leadoff man coming from...it basically forces Pods off the team and makes Getz/Nix, Ramirez or Beckham your defacto 2010 OD starter in the 1 hole.

We already have to be concerned about the Linebrink and Rios contracts, NO WAY we offer Dotel arbitration. Never, ever, ever. KW lucked out with Cabrera last offseason, he won't risk it again anytime soon in this economic climate.

Matt Long or Jhonny Gomez? Who is Mabee? Is he related to Dubee? (just kidding...) And since when was Rasner (Rangers) considered a prospect these days? Wonder if KW thought of Hynick, or it was already too late...I'm sure they can change again, last year Gartrell was supposed to go, I think, and someone else (Danks?) went in his place? Maybe my memory's just bad.

KW really needs to find/identify our 3-4 best young relieving prospects and send them all to the AFL. I'm guessing that list would include Nunez, Santeliz, Ely, Shirek, Harrell, Omogrosso, Nathan Jones would be really an outside thought, Francisco Hernandez....whoever the organization believes the best suited are, get them all lots of looks against the best competition out in AZ. Hudson should be rested, obviously. The other two spots, you can decide between Viciedo (maybe they will want him to take some time off, but it's possible they keep pushing him), CJ Retherford, Jordan Danks, Shelby or Gartrell possibly...up to KW. It seems we really need to find at least 1-2 relievers internally, and that hasn't happened this decade that we've produced them from our minor league system. Recently, only Russell and Wasserman come to mind, and both those guys had their serious ups and downs, although Wasserman was reliable for one-half season in 2007 when there was no pressure on the team. It's going to take at LEAST one or two guys like that panning out, because the money's not there for the bullpen (unless we trade Jenks and split that money into 2-3 younger relievers), leadoff, 5th starter, etc. I would guess we'd have to be prioritizing the bullpen, LH power and leadoff (coming from CF/LF, Pods or Figgins or Crawford or whatever name you throw out there)...fifth starter is the luxury item now, but definitely not Top 3.

I just don't see how Fields has any value at all to the organization as a bench player. Insurance for injury, like Uribe for Crede? Maybe they'll give him one shot at getting AB's at DH/1B next year, but Kotsay would seem to negate some of Fields' value in that role. There's also trading Ramirez/Getz/Nix, putting Fields at 3B, Beckham at 2B and Ramirez at SS...or the other way around...with Nix/Getz out, but I think that has a 2% chance of happening now. You don't see him moving to LF again...so he will have to battle Flowers and Kotsay. If he had a great ST again (like this year), you could see him as the primary DH coming out of Arizona, but the odds of that happening are also only 5-10% I'd guess.

When I was listening to the game today, Farmer and DJ brought up the fact that Pods, Getz and Rios all have 20+ steals. I know there's a Sox historian who has the answer, but I'm pretty sure this hasn't happened since the early to mid 90's team with Ray Durham and Lance Johnson leading the way. If you throw in Ramirez (15-25 bags per year, possibly), Beckham (10-20), Nix (10/10 this year so far, you'd have to think 15-25 for him too) and Quentin even (although we don't want him to be stealing, he's a pretty good athlete), we have six or seven pretty athletic players for the first time in many, many years. (I know someone will point out that Anderson, Fields, Wise and Owens were also athletic, unfortunately they are/were also dubious baseball players). Then you look into the future and you might have a Shelby, Danks or Mitchell added into the mix, that's quite a turnaround from the 2000-2006 offense. With those guys, you're not thinking more than 1 of the 3 will make it, and it's possible all three flame out, but still it's something positive to think about for our future. And there's a lot of excitement about Trayce Thompson's potential too, (of course he's 3-5 years away right now.) And now KW has some interesting questions with Pods and Kotsay going forward (especially because Konerko will need to be rested more at 1B and also he will DH a bit). Both of those guys definitely deserve a spot on the team (I feel), but how much should KW will be willing to pay either one? Is Figgins a realistic option at 3 years and $27 million? Dare we risk that with contracts on the books for Rios and Linebrink already? When you think of Ramirez, Beckham, Rios and Quentin all playing up to their potential offensively and defensively, you have a "youngish" group of players in their prime, then the Konerko/AJ veteran presence. Maybe Pods and Kotsay...then we're left with those nagging questions about DH, LF/RF and 3B/2B. Let's assume KW leaves the infield set with Getz as the starter at 2B and Nix/Fields as "trade bait." This team could change in many, many ways going into 2010 or almost not at all...especially with Pods, Kotsay and Castro back. Does KW replace Pods with an upgrade or go for the big, left-handed power hitter to replace Thome and that can rest Quentin/Konerko from time-to-time? It doesn't seem possible to do BOTH things. Do you really believe this team has turned a corner again organizationally and the new speedier/younger/more athletic Sox will be the future "stamp/imprint" of KW??? Are you still sad Brandon Allen isn't part of that future? (Just kidding about the last one).

If everyone is down on Nix, isn't his being around 750 OPS for a middle infielder the equivalent of Swisher as a 1B/DH/RF/LF player at 850? How does Swisher solve anything for this team if he's not capable of playing CF on an everyday basis?

I guess we can make this the "travel/tourism" thread. I lived in Colombia, South America, for one year and simply loved it. It does really help to speak the language. Have also lived in China, Philippines and Thailand. Currently, in my 2nd year living and teaching (university and ESL, two jobs) in Thailand. Loved Philippines and now Thailand, China not so much, although it's an amazing and interesting country, I never really felt comfortable there. And my wife is from Russia...although technically we're separated and will be getting divorced soon, I can still claim her debts, lol.

Nobody could have predicted with 100% accuracy Dye and Konerko falling off so much. As mentioned, Beckham slumping has hurt the team as much as anyone, even though most of the hits he has managed have been pretty darn clutch, like against Sabathia and Nathan. They managed to rally enough to hold off the Twins last year...that, in and of itself, was a minor miracle.