caulfield12

I thought I had been banned by Kapkomet in the middle of the night, lol. Actually, I haven't been posting very much here these days...so that didn't make sense, either. Here in Thailand, I'm pretty much elated if I can get Gameday Audio streams to work uninterruptedly, and when I post at soxtalk.com at the same time I am listening to the game, it kicks me out of the game broadcast because of my weak wireless connection. Not sure what the recent news is...Josh Fields should now play everyday and we should send Beckham back down? AJ relives his past glory versus Dodgers? White Sox are playing pretty well again and still losing ground to Tigers? It actually sucked to have to root for the Cubs, and there wasn't as much joy as in the past when they blew the first game against DET because that meant WE were losing more ground. And Transformers 2 pretty much sucked AND was about as long as yesterday's extra inning game!!! We are now 7-12 in one run games....which is a bit surprising, because our bullpen is the strength of the team. I would argue it's 15-20% the bullpen's fault and 75-80% the offense and lack of clutch hitting in close games. Looks like the "real" power hitting Konerko is back too, nice to see. Alexei Ramirez continue to lead the league in being an enigma...but still, at his age, with his contract, he's one of the best bargains on our team and in the top 10-12 MLB shortstops offensively, certainly since the first 6-8 weeks of the season. Nice to see Aaron Poreda come up big, too. We now know Ozzie thinks more highly of him than Jimmy Gobble, FWIW.

I'm reminded of all the Sox fans who were in love with Aaron Miles 6 years or so ago when we traded him for Uribe. You would have thought their dogs had been killed. Ramirez will be the starting SS next season. Due to his age, his arm, his contract, superior range to Beckham...too many factors to list. When you can put up an OPS of 700-850 at that position (and possibly improving with a higher BB rate) for the contract he has, you'd be very silly to trade him unless you could get something better than Homer Bailey or Bowden in return. If you're going to trade someone to get a "potential" starting pitcher, put together a package with Jenks, Fields, Anderson or Shelby. Viciedo's not going to be traded when the largest portion of his contract was the signing bonus for this year. We control his rights for 6 seasons in the "prime" (actually pre-prime) of his career at ages 21-26. Will he be the next Miggy Cabrera? Probably not, but trading away either Alexei or Dayan seems far-fetched. The jury is still out whether Getz can be a full-time starter at 2B. Maybe...if we get stronger contributions from 3B (Beckham) and the outfield (that means you Brian Anderson, for about 4 years running). As far as trading Jenks, we've done quite well with "bargain" or suspect closers over the last 10-15 years. In fact, you could argue our worst closer was Koch, and he had the highest amount of expectations. Look at the backgrounds of Howry, Foulke, Takatsu, Hermanson, etc. They still could try Thornton (skeptical), Poreda (skeptical). Then there's the likes of Omogrosso or Santeliz, Nunez...I think we could get a serviceable closer (maybe not a 85% conversion rate, but 70-80% perhaps) out of the minors and the contributions by bolstering the starting rotation over time would compensate and overcome the loss of Bobby. That and the fact that his salary was one of the biggest bargains in baseball his first 3 years with the Sox, now it's close to becoming a liability if we are really looking for areas to slash payroll going forward.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jun 20, 2009 -> 04:21 PM) I don't know why they haven't moved him yet, maybe they wanted him to concentrate on his hitting without having to worry about a position change first year in pro ball, but I just don't see Viciedo ever being a big league third baseman. The Brewers will be in a code red situation if they don't shore up their pitching in a hurry. They went to scout Pedro Martinez in the DR and he didn't even throw for them. They wouldn't have time to wait on him 4-6 weeks to get ready anyway. Besides that, they need multiple pitchers if they are going to stay in the race in the NL Central. Contreras and Richard might be the second and third best starters on their staff. If I were KW I'd offer those 2 + Jenks, pay Contreras' salary and see what they'd be willing to part with. Why is there pressure on us right now to go out and trade the likes of Contreras and Jenks? Sure, if there's just an overwhelming offer on the table, but that's not going to happen in June like it has in the past. Every GM will wait as long as possible to commit precious resources when their teams are in "iffy" positions as far as competing for a division or WC spot. Just look at the White Sox the last week, we were only 3 GB and should have put the Cubs away to stay there...then we were on the verge of being 6 GB after giving up 5 early runs in Cincy. This team is schitzophrenic, but we're not chasing after the late 90's Indians here, it's the very much flawed Tigers. Even without having Thome to use recently and Quentin (possibly for the season), we're still in this thing. Sure, if something crazy like getting swept by the Dodgers and Cubs AT HOME takes place, then you can start to think about moving some players like Fields. If we really believe that Poreda will never do anything but DECREASE his value from this point on at the major league level, then trade him and figure out why we have such an institutionalized "coaching failure" to turn pitching prospects with good arms into legit starting pitchers by adding secondary pitches to their arsenals. Omogrosso is another pitcher in that category, although certainly much less hyped than Aaron because of his lower draft status. It would be nice if one of our young pitchers actually developed...and we didn't have to wait another 1-2 years for the pitchers in A ball or recently promoted to BIRM to make a contribution. I said this at the beginning of the season when seemingly there was a debate about Brian Anderson everyday, but he should have a 700+ OPS to have a spot in the line-up everyday. Otherwise, he's either a trade chip or your fourth outfielder. I'd venture that he has another 2-3 more weeks to make his case or KW will end up making another move there, like the Griffey one last year. Nix is fine in the Uribe role, and he wouldn't bring back much in trade anyway. We all know that Ramirez has the ability to be at 700-850 even with his terrible OBP. And Getz is a rookie who's showing some nice signs of progress and comfortability at the big league level now, so shoring up the outfield by replacing Anderson and/or Wise is the first place to go. With Jordan Danks having some wrist problems, and Mitchell and/or Shelby at least 1 1/2 seasons away from the big leagues (if they end up sticking as CFers), we really have to find a better offensive threat from that position. Pods at his advanced age has been our second most valuable outfielder offensively, so KW really got lucky there as well or things would be even worse with Owens/Wise getting more playing time.

What happened last inning? Did Alexei think Pods was coming home and get caught between 2nd and 3rd? Alexei is having perhaps his best game of the season, but he's still not all there mentally...not to mention the pickoff at first, although Farmer thought it was a balk move. That ball that Taveras hit where Konerko was pulled off the bag definitely shouldn't have been ruled a hit...costing Richard some ER's that weren't his fault. I guess the Cabrera trick of calling up to the scorekeeper worked for a struggling Taveras this time, at least we didn't go out and get THAT guy, one of the often-debated non-moves of the offseason.

A myth. He throws harder than Cotts, for sure, but 91-95 is what we should really expect I think, sometimes at 96, with accurate guns. Joins the club with Felix Diaz, Jon Adkins and Nick Masset with pitchers overhyped for having dominating stuff at the minors or in winter ball or wherever that mysteriously disappears at the MLB level.

QUOTE (tommy @ Jun 19, 2009 -> 07:38 PM) 2 of 3 vs Pitt 2 of 3 vs Mil 1 of 2 vs Cubs Realistically, we should be 7-1 in those games, easily. Jenks' blown save in the 9th against PITT and then the debacle yesterday. It's not like we have been overmatched in any of those games, even with some scary-bad looking line-ups in the NL parks.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 19, 2009 -> 08:27 PM) Our relievers are really struggling for the past 2 weeks or so. Everyone's giving up runs it seems. Which was probably Ozzie's thinking with Thome there. Even though the odds are against it, he's the player off the bench (along with Nix MAYBE) most likely to get ahold of one and put you back in the lead...to change the momentum. Maybe Guillen feels the lack of confidence the bullpen now as well and saw the game slipping away...it's not like he has a arsenal of competent weapons to choose from off that bench. AJ would have been nullified by Rhodes too, but at least he's more of a contact hitter than Big Jim.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 19, 2009 -> 08:19 PM) Exactly...the Reds wouldn't play match-ups in the 9th with Cordero. Of course, Wise should have been playing today (you have to maximize your lefties against Arroyo). And the sooner we promote Kroeger for Gobble, the better. Agreed, IF it's D-Weezy from LAST year...but unfortunately he's been a shade of him former self, which wasn't all that good to begin with. Of course, you can always go with the "revenge against former team" approach playing Wise. The fact that we think Josh Kroeger could really help this team speaks volumes for our season.

Nix just hasn't had many AB's recently. Not sure we can look at him very confidently coming off the bench at this point in the season...and everyone knows Fields' weaknesses.

Well...it's almost where the mentality is you expect to leave runners on 2nd and 3rd with less than two outs with this team. Better to be pleasantly surprised with a hit I suppose. Beckham let a fastball he could have crushed go by on the first pitch and then looked pretty bad swinging and missing two hittable pitches. "Work in progress."

Nice aggressiveness we're showing on the basepaths this game...now, if only we had some clutch hitting. Thome on deck to bat for Jose.

Contreras is always so fragile with his stuff and his confidence. Tonight, it appears he's lost the aggressiveness he had his last two starts. When he works more quickly and trusts his stuff and goes after hitters instead of tentatively nibbling, he's a heckuva pitcher. Still, a "quality start" and you shouldn't expect to win many road games with 2 hits.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 19, 2009 -> 07:45 PM) I told you, it's really weird seeing how out of it Jermaine and Konerko seem. I guess it's just age/health issues that are finally catching up with this team...KW got away with this risk for 4 years running. The one thing that hasn't happened is AJ going down, which he acquired Castro as insurance for (also because Miller was/is horrible and there was probably a decision made that bringing up Flowers to play everyday with the eventuality of an AJ injury would be a disaster). Ironic that our oldest player, Contreras, has unexpectedly been one of our best recently...when absolutely nobody predicted or expected it. Looked like a slider/forkball that didn't move and just hung out over the plate...tried to surprise Phillips with offspeed stuff. Farmer thinks that Contreras is tipping his pitches with his glove position.

Why is Konerko taking a 3-1 fastball there and not ready for it? Was he really expecting a curveball? You have to look for the FB 2-0 and 3-1, then he ended up pull hooking an outside slider into an out. Are we last in the majors hitting with RISP, or is it the Cubs? Has to be one of these two pathetic offenses.

Ummm...Beckham hitting 8th balances out our line-up out and takes the pressure off of him. Although you can certainly make the argument that Getz did well for a stretch earlier in the year at leadoff, he's finally found himself again batting at the bottom of the line-up where he really belongs (on a playoff or championship-caliber team).

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 09:52 PM) No way we will take this division "easily." No way. We are wildly inconsistent in all phases of the game. This team is .500 at best and likely to finish about .450. We know we are capable of lousy stretches like that horrible homestand. We have yet to show any signs of putting together a long win streak or stretch of 12 wins in 15 games, something like that. We had a 10-3 string going before we ended up winning only 3 out of the last 11 games on that homestand (after the first win against OAK at home).

QUOTE (tommy @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 10:25 PM) Not sure if you know already but Brandon Allen got promoted to AAA Charlotte. I think we might see him this season. Well, at least Flowers, Viciedo, Retherford, Danks and Shelby will get to experience playoff baseball, theoretically, in September. That team has already lost Beckham, Allen and Poreda...and there's also a "decent" possibility they will bring up Flowers/Dayan/CJ in July or August to AAA.

I think we MIGHT be better off with Fields or Nix in RF over Wise. GASPS in horror, ala Bart Simpson and/or Munch's "The Scream" or M. Culkin after the aftershave burn in "Home Alone"

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 06:54 PM) I think the team can compete, but I am not against moving Linebrink. With that fastball it has to be located well or he will be hit hard as we have seen. I am not sure he can be the type of middle man or bridge to Jenks in the 9th Then why would any team trade for him? If he was available for "free" (with the condition that the team claiming him would have to pay the 2 1/2 remaining years on his contract), would ANY team in baseball do so in today's current economic marketplace? I don't think so.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 05:23 PM) PK's contract isn't as burdensome next year since others are going away. I agree that if you can move it, probably not a bad idea, but KW and the org has done a good job, and gotten a little lucky, so there's nothing crippling after this year Linebrink's contract is definitely starting to look like the worse contract we have going forward. We can't pick on Contreras (who still might be a key, one that nobody expected TWICE now), MacDougal or Paulie anymore. Nor is the Thome contract, which was a very good bargain until this season because of the Phillies' subidization of it, going to be on the books either. I can just imagine if the Peavy deal had gone through...we'd be looking like we were on the wrong side of the Mike Sirotka/Wells deal, and four players short, including two of our most promising young pitchers for the future.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 05:14 PM) The Sox are sellers. If we win and move onto the playoffs it will be because our young players play good. The team isn't going to win the world series and we'll be contenders as long as our starters pitch decently but that doesn't mean we should pretend and make short sighted moves. Kenny needs to be smart and now is the time to move some guys and get our youngsters some experience and who knows we'll still be able to compete and maybe make the playoffs and in that case, it'll be great experience for our youngsters. That's THE argument for why the Twins should win this year after doing unexpectedly well with youngsters after "retooling" on the go with the losses of Hunter and Santana and staying in the race until Game 163, which they still believe they were robbed of due to the coin flip. Unfortunately for the Twins, they've also seen regressions from Baker, Liriano, Gomez, D. Young, Casilla, their bullpen is short an arm or two and Nathan's not quite the imposing/dominant figure he was coming out of the bullpen 2-3 seasons ago.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 03:06 PM) Seriously, I raelize Ozzie made some bad calls, but you do realize the beloved savior all of you guys wanted to put in, Thornton, also failed to get the job done. His job was more difficult than Linebrinks but he too failed. Bottom line you win as a team and lose as a team and the Sox didn't execute on bit. I personally don't care, the club isn't going anywhere and I'm watching games to see how the future of the organization does. I hope we win, but I hope its because of our young guys developing and while Getz had a less than stellar defensive game thats okay because he's starting to hit and figure stuff out and defensively he is darn good. It seems as if Anderson and Getz might end up having the remainder of the season to prove they're everyday players, which many here have wanted. Beckham will get to play everyday as well, leaving Fields (and Nix) obviously as the odd men out. If nothing else, we should know whether those two guys can be counted on for 2010. Ramirez is starting to look a little more clutch, and no longer an offensive liability. Six weeks ago, you couldn't even be sure he would rally and look like a major league regular again in 2009. Playing without Quentin and Thome is another issue...the White Sox weren't THAT good LAST season, and that was with a HEALTHY/PRODUCTIVE CQ. Perhaps we can pull off competing for the entire season without adding pieces at the break (especially if the starting pitching continues to do well), but we're neither as good or yesterday or as bad as today. As you said, we're a team in flux/transition from the old to the new. Actually, it's nice they are still in the race and it looks like we will be playing meaningful games for at least a couple more months.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 03:00 PM) He also booted two grounders right at him. The second one looked like a bad hop, but you have to get that ball. If that out is made, the bad 8th might have never happened. And that's why Linebrink is paid millions of dollars...to pitch over those types of errors, the contract given to him was for one of the best set-up men in baseball, even with his 2.25 ERA after today, he hasn't pitched as if he belongs to be in that category any longer. Unfortunately for KW, he's going to be paid that way for the next 2 1/2 seasons, whether we like it or not...and probably used in that role until he has 2-3 more disasters and has to be replaced by Dotel.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 02:57 PM) Did yesterday not happen? Why would you assume we get swept by the Dodgers (responding to the post you responded to)....? The White Sox have been getting REALLY good starting pitching of late, we've been in most games, and there's not any reason to think with the crazy way this season has gone that we WON'T win two out of three. The Dodgers don't have any competition in the NL West, they're not THAT good. If we're going to look back at any stretch of this season, it's the 4-8 homestand as well as going 2-3 against the Tigers when it coulda/shoulda/woulda been 3-2 or even 4-1 in our favor. If our starting pitching continues to do this well, we could easily sweep the Reds. Or we could be the same team that was wiped out by the A's, Royals, Rangers and Blue Jays at different times this season. The Cubs were just more DESPERATE to win this game...usually, playing that way leads to losses, but they just wanted it more in the end. Once again, this White Sox team doesn't really have any sort of identity yet, and we're 40% of the way through the season.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 02:55 PM) Ozzie f***ed this game up today. I don't know why he's in love with Linebrink now for some reason. Has he been blind for the past month? Linebrink has been terrible. Those two runs in the 8th did us in. If we didn't score those, Thornton comes in and we probably win this game. Getz was also horrible at second today. He made the best play of the game on a ball up the middle by Fukudome that would have scored a run had it gotten through. We could have survived the Lee homer, it was the Soto one that blatantly said "when/how will the White Sox manage to lose this one?"