caulfield12

Who knows what the White Sox are actually getting in Jake Peavy? It's not clear when he'll be able to pitch or how long it will take for him to be ready to pitch in the majors again, and it's possible or even likely that this trade was more about 2010 and beyond than it was about 2009 because of the minor hole that the deal has created in Chicago's current rotation. Peavy was a top-tier pitcher in the National League but probably will see his stats take a hit when he takes the mound in the tougher league and in a hitters' ballpark, but a John Danks-Mark Buehrle-Peavy-Gavin Floyd rotation not only will be among the league's best but also will soak up 700-800 innings per season, so inferior middle relievers will pitch fewer innings. I worry about Peavy's long-term durability; after his great 2007 season, he had elbow trouble in 2008, and his arm action is not easy. Keith Law, ESPN White Sox general manager Ken Williams was not discouraged by the initial rejection from Peavy. "He never said no, he just said 'not yet,' " Williams said. "So those words 'not yet' for me meant just that. ... If you are patient in your pursuit, then sometimes you can ultimately get what you want," he said. "When we called back this time, he was better prepared -- he and his family were better prepared for what lies ahead. We were all able to make it work." The 28-year-old Peavy is 6-6 with a 3.97 ERA in 13 starts with the Padres this season but has been on the disabled list since June 13 with a strained tendon in his right ankle. Williams said the White Sox don't expect Peavy to pitch until the end of August and he could go on a rehab assignment in the middle of the month. "We're going to still be conservative with our approach. In our division this thing is going to go down to winning games in September," Williams said. "We want to be as strong as we possibly can in September. That's what we're focused on."

GQCQ...if he's back, watch out ALCD. Twins strike back against Angels, now leading 3-2 and batting in the home fourth.

Where was that Konerko defense against the Twins? Oh, well...DJ gave them a run with his lack of hustle, Konerko took it back. Would be great if we could get 5 innings out of Carrasco...he's really righted the ship and that'll preserve the pen a bit for the rest of the series.

Right now, if it was the playoffs and you had only two choices, I would want Gavin Floyd over Danks. But that's just me.

Buehrle/Peavy (when he's healthy, co #1's), Floyd, Danks (one of the best "4th" starters in baseball), CONTRERAS (OOPS) and now Torres/Carrasco/Garcia/Colon/TBA. Yankees=Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Chamberlain, Petitte, Mitre (Wang/Kennedy/Hughes) Red Sox=Beckett, Lester, Wakefield, Buchholz, Penny, (Dice K/Smoltz) Angels=Lackey, Weaver, Saunders, E. Santana, Palmer (Escobar/Loux/Moseley)...would have given them the advantage before this season. Rays=Shields, Kazmir, Garza, Price, Niemann, Sonnanstine Definitely, we have the best starting rotation outside of the AL East, there's no arguing that much. 2nd, do we make a move for Doug Davis or Paul Byrd to get possibly only 3 starts out of them (if Peavy's really coming back in August) or just gut it out with what we have...?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 05:16 PM) I don't know about that yet. Obviously, if Peavy returns to form, this is an absolute steal personnel-wise, but who knows when that will be. He has always wanted an ace, that's what he goes for. Wells, Colon, Garcia, Peavy twice. Those are just the ones he got done. He's probably asked about every ace in baseball. Let me introduce you to El Gran Titan de Bronze, the "ace" in all of baseball for 4 months over 05/06. On the other hand, he really learned from giving up a "future ace" in Kip Wells for what he thought was a 3 starter in Todd Ritchie. He was also interested in AJ Burnett at one point, if I remember correctly.

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 03:52 PM) Those outfield fans better be prepared for some incoming bombs. It'll just be hilarious if, by the time Peavy is ready to pitch, we're 6+ out of first place and would have just been better with Richard; and then after the season worry about Peavy. 2004 all over again with Contreras and Garcia coming on board. Let's hope 2010 is a repeat of 2005. Realistically, KW must know we're a long shot at the division this year, but that Peavy getting any August starts could be a huge lift. More than likely, we're just setting ourselves up for the offseason. Reminds me a bit of the Vazquez deal, where we gave up Young instead of Anderson because of the money coming back our way...or the Thome deal for Rowand. Now I don't expect $22 million like the Phillies sent, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was $7.5-12.5 million dollars at least, at least $3 million per year to get that contract out from under the Moores and their divorce.

Well, look at the moves the Red Sox made on the "cheap" compared to the Yankees....Penny, Smoltz, Kotsay, Saito, Baldelli. None of those moves worked out in spectacular fashion either. At least KW has been able to add some payroll during the season with the additions of veterans Castro and Kotsay. Now the interesting thing is whether KW has the stones to make a counter-move to the Tigers' acquisition of Washburn. Dombrowski obviously feels the window of opportunity closing with this team and is desperate to hold on and get to the playoffs in 2009. Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't Jackson become a FA after this season....? They can offer him arbitration, but coming off this season, he'll get a ton of money from another organization, like Adrian Beltre did after his one wonderful statistical season, or GMJ.

Two outside sliders, two quick pull-hook outs after Beckham's great AB. Just what we needed this inning. Chances to win this game: 10-15%

Thanks, JD. Could you at least move the runner over to 2nd. Now one of our slowest runners on the team will need two base hits (or three) and/or a homer to drive him in. Thanks for nothing.

Just a really wonderful AB from a professional hitter...maybe already our best "pure" hitter.

If we get wiped out by Jesse Crain, you know there's something wrong with the Sox. He has been absolutely terrible this season. Great stuff, but head not all there. Even sent him to AAA for awhile.

Hey, we predicted a move by Ozzie. Now watch Cuddyer hit a 2 run double into a gap... WOW....41/92 pitches by Jose tonight have been outside the strike zone, but we're still hanging in there somehow, for now.

Here comes the inevitable Twins "charge/rally/comeback" with this part of their order.

Tough inning coming up for Jose with the top of the order...

I think I'd rather see AJ in LF than D. Wise at this point. Seems Pods...Ramirez....Dye, all slumping at the same time, and Konerko's cooled off quite a bit, too.

Castro must have learned that pull hook on the outside pitch from somewhere, lol...maybe BA?

It happened, he finally ran into a fastball. 2-2. Still not having much confidence with the way our pen has been the last 2-3 weeks. At least we're still in the game, the first inning looked like it could be a knockout punch to the solar plexus. How did he hurt his foot again? Limping? On swing or running?

You can't ask much more from Contreras. Their running game and the Dome is a bad match-up for him...if we can't beat their middle relievers in spot starts (even without Thome), we don't deserve to go anywhere this year, ANYWAY. It seems, though, that no matter how badly we try to knock ourselves out of the race, the Twins or Tigers will keep letting the other two teams back into. Bullpens will be tested tonight...which is the way it should be. The White Sox will need to cover at least 3 innings with their pen in "high stress" situations.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 08:14 PM) I can't wait to see Kotsay get way too many at bats. This year's Erstad, Daubach or Mackowiak, undoubtedly. Armando Rios, anyone?

Would you rather have Wise playing that Kotsay? Thome's out for how long? AJ DHing with Konerko at 1st? That might be better, AJ's around a 700 OPS against lefties this year and loves to play against the Twinkies, of course.

Wow, someone actually made Duensing work....the guy's getting a spot start and we're letting him stretch all the way into the 6th or 7th inning. Exactly what the Twins needed. We start someone out of the bullpen, we consider ourselves lucky to get 4 or 5 innings. DET and Verlander hammering Texas 6-1 early. I'll just count that as a Tigers victory and hope to jinx them like a couple of the Twins' losses last week, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Kotsay's 607 OPS this year with BOS is right up there with Wise and Quentin.

QUOTE (beckham15 @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 08:05 PM) nope it's just frusterating watching them you can't help but complain because they've showed a definite lack of enthusiasm, effort and there is no spark what so ever with this team That's how all teams look when they're losing...didn't we LOOK/SEEM the same in September of 2005? Of course, that club was OBVIOUSLY much better, but last year's team was maddeningly inconsistent too. They just barely survive the 2nd half of the season to hold on....and the Twins 50% choked it away, too. PS: WHAT HAPPENED TO LIRIANO?

We play well against the Yankees, at least this decade. I expect us to take 2/3...not a shocker for the schitzo nature of this year's team. Maybe this is the series that Quentin runs into a couple of fastballs for homers.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 07:59 PM) Jayson Nix would be insane to have if he could raise his OBP slightly. .766 OPS and Gold Glove caliber defense. Better than anyone else in our division...especially what the Twins have produced at that position, it has been like our CF (minus Pods). Although if would trade me Polanco for Nix, I'd take that deal for the remainder of the season in a heartbeat.