caulfield12

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Mar 1, 2009 -> 10:15 AM) Finally an addition Royals fans can view as more than a lateral move at best. Sucks we couldn't get in on that. He'd be a great replacement for Dotel after he walks. And this whole dream everyone had of offering Dotel arbitration next year, I think you can pretty much forget about that happening. I think we will just let him go, like we did with Riske. As far as the Royals go, they have the pieces now, if Eric Hosmer, Moustakas and Hochevar are as good as billed. Of course, we don't even know yet if Alex Gordon will be the next Mark Teahen or Mike Schmidt. Early returns are at best mixed...this is a huge season for both Gordon and Billy Butler. The reason I'm not SO worried is that the Royals still have the likes of Miguel Olivo and Jose Guillen in that clubhouse. They don't know where to play Teahen, or to trade him. Jacobs doesn't scare me that much, although he's definitely an upgrade over Shealy and Gload. Aviles has to show he can repeat last year's success in his sophomore campaign. Until they really solidify both SS and 2B, then there will huge question marks about this team. I'm sure their SS OPS offensive contribution with Pena, Jr., was around the worst in baseball. Aviles is better suited for 2B. The Royals, since the end of the Mike Sweeney era, have been searching for an identity and leadership. It's going to have to come from Trey Hillman IMO...if it's Guillen, that bodes poorly. Ideally, it would be some combination of Greinke/Gordon, the two young budding starts of the team, along with Gil Meche's veteran presence.

QUOTE (Cubano @ Feb 28, 2009 -> 02:30 PM) Guys, The rumor in Santiago de Cuba is that 1B Jose Julio Ruiz is missing for a week. Jose Julio is 23-24 and he is good. If I am KW or any other GM, I go after him. He is learning how to elevate the ball to hit HR. He is a gap hitter. I was trying to find a HR he hit vs Industriales in the playoffs that went over the stadium roof. Here is Jose Julio vs Yadel Marti in 2007. Go to the 3:57 mark on this video to see Jose Julio Industriales RHP reliever Alexei Gil may be in the D.R. He is a 90 + MPH pitcher but he needs to work with his control. He relatively young. Would you say this guy is better (projected to be) than Kendry Morales? I don't normally like players who wrap the bat head behind their head, almost right at the pitcher...because you really have to have a ton of forearm strength and bat speed (like Sheffield or Julio Franco) to get away with it. Everyone's still waiting to hear when Marti and Arguelles will actually be able to sign...along with CF Felix Perez. By the way Cubano, did you ever see Alexei play CF for Pinar del Rio, or was he always playing SS? It looks like they're wearing pajamas, but I guess they have to be comfortable in the heat/humidity of Cuba...right? Who the heck is Jose Carlos Moreno? We haven't heard much about him....just a fringe/utility type player? Age? Thoughts? Two other Cuban defectors, shortstop Jose Carlos Moreno and center fielder Felix Perez, joined Viciedo's workout for scouts on Thursday. Moreno and Perez haven't been cleared by the State Department to work in the U.S., so they cannot sign with major league clubs yet. Nonetheless, one of those two players has the Astros' interest. "As a group I'm excited about them," he said. "I'd say our interest is stronger in two than the third." Remaining the ultimate poker player not wanting to tip his hand to the competition, Heck won't say whether he's interested more in Moreno or Felix. "We're really at the mercy of one, they're fielding offers and they're engaging the market (on Viciedo)," Heck said. "Unless they get blown out of the water, I don't think this is a fast-track situation. We've engaged in talks with Jaime Torres and tried to gauge where the market is going to go. "The other two players are subject really if they will be unblocked. It's a timeline neither (we) nor the agent control with the players being unblocked. You're waiting for their process to be completed for being unblocked by the State Department."

AJ's contract is one of the better ones of the "worst." I don't really understand the rationale for inclusion...because we added two years to his contract? Well, at his age, that's just about right, because at 33/34 that's when they will need to turn the position over to Flowers or someone else. It might happen before he finishes his contract in 2010. If anything KW was pretty smart to lock him in and ensure the stability of the position while trying to improve minor league depth behind AJ...he's a Top 5-7 catcher offensively and, even though he doesn't throw well, he manages the pitchers and game situations well, is a clubhouse leader and has the complete confidence of the staff (coaching and pitching), which has been especially important with Danks and Floyd. They should have included Raul Ibanez on this list, and Dempster, too. What struck me the most was the long list of Tigers....Bonderman, Inge, Robertson, Sheffield, Willis....and even Ordonez and Guillen aren't sure things at their age. Not to mention the fact that they wasted $3 million on Renteria's buyout, and were left with just a little for Everett. If you wanted to include any White Sox players, it would have to be Contreras and Konerko...and maybe Thome, just because that's a huge amount of money to pay a DH in this day and age, as the market has reset and those hitters have become a dime a dozen, almost. There's also a long list of players like Rowand, Fukudome, Hunter (not on the list), Michael Young, Vernon Wells, that we could easily have ended up with...and I'm also glad Carlos Lee is no longer our problem, especially at that crazy salary he's making for essentially being an NL DH/LF.

You have to look at it like this...Colon and Contreras have each been the best pitcher in baseball as recently as three seasons ago. I'll take that over Marquez (who, IF IF IF he fulfills his potential, will be like Garland, a 4/5 type guy). The main reason to be optimistic about Contreras is that this is the first time he's had such an extended period of time to rest his arm in many years. I think/expect we'll see his fastball back in the 93-95 range more consistently, and sometimes touching 96. I don't think we'll get a 97 or even 98 out of him again, though. When he can freely throw in the mid 90's and not 89-92/93 (which he's been limited to when battling injuries), then he's MUCH more devastating, because that forkball in the low 80's is almost impossible to hit unless it's hanging up in the zone, and, even when he's only going out there with two pitches, he's still successful. But he has to get ahead in the count, work more quickly and not be forced to go after batters with his fastball.

Simply, when you're seen as organizational "filler," it just takes an overwhelming statistical season and the right combination of injuries (Owens wasn't ready last year, so Wise was the only logical choice, and Buddy Bell was really high on him, which helped) and lack of depth for a player like Cook to get a chance. It's the same reason you didn't see Eldred take Konerko's spot in the line-up last season. Or it may be that he has the ability at AAA/AAAA but he just doesn't "project" as a major leaguer...of course, they said the same thing about Alexei Ramirez when we signed him and look what he did when given an opportunity. Someone mentioned he was "old/er" for a prospect, just like we've been saying about Jerry Owens from the beginning. He really has to get an opportunity and then "force" his way onto the roster like Aviles in KC or with Swisher falling out of favor last year and Ozzie going with the hottest hand in D. Wise. Low round draft choices like Buehrle or players like Cook will always be doubted...until they come up to the 25 man roster and perform and they just keep performing and everyone (scouts/GM's) realize the guy is a player. But there will always be that lingering doubt about players drafted outside the first 3-5 rounds or so...which is the main reason we held on to Anderson and Fields and have brought in so many former #1 draft picks (Marquez, Aardsma, Sisco, Thornton, Danks, Floyd, Carlos Quentin) or top prospects from other organizations.

Sometimes it was unfair to Big Frank that the "mantle" was passing to Konerko/Buehrle of "team leader" and he couldn't seem to keep his foot out of his mouth. I always appreciate Konerko's candor/honesty and willingness to discuss almost anything. I really like his quote about not being concerned about "legacies," he's one of those players who knows he will always be considered a White Sox (of course, 2005 has something to do with that, too) and nothing will ever change his feelings for the organization that gave him a chance after the Dodgers and Reds sullied on him. One of the biggest lessons KW has learned from 2001-2004 and 2006-2007 is that having a high payroll and lots of talented players on the roster doesn't always assure a championship, if they're not good fits and the chemistry isn't right, it has a lot to do with preventing that from happening. The White Sox problems with Frank Thomas (at times), D'Angelo Jimenez, Kenny Lofton, Nick Swisher and Orlando Cabrera are well-documented, and sometimes these players also rubbed off negatively on the likes of Lee and Ordonez, too. Still, with Konerko, Buehrle, Crede, Rowand, Thome, Dye and AJ, you're not going to find a much better core group of players with compatible personalities. If not for the back problems and Boras, I think Joe might have come close to approaching Ventura's legacy (largely because of 2005) with another four or five years on the club. All those guys genuinely liked each other and got along well (Thome would arrive later), and they even peacefully co-existed with Carl Everett and the mix/chemistry was nearly perfect. Last year, you kind of felt we won despite Cabrera, Swisher and Vazquez sometimes (Logan, etc.) And KW was quick this offseason to address those concerns and bring in new/fresh blood to revitalize the organization. But you never felt that the clubhouse was cohesive, that they would automatically win every time they had a 1-2 run lead going into the 7th or 8th, that they were clearly the better team and would walk over most opponents like 2005...last year was a big-time struggle for the final 3-4 months of the season. It is an exciting time. It will be interesting to see how this season plays out...I'm expecting a definite rebound from Konerko, but we're going to have a lot of growing pains. As someone pointed out, betting for the White Sox to win less than 80 games has been a sucker's bet 12 of the last 13 years, but I'm also not ready to proclaim them ready to compete for the division quite yet either. Definitely a transition year for the ballclub, like last season for the Twins.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Mar 3, 2009 -> 12:25 PM) good point. I'd love to see the guy have a good year, but of course I'm torn. He'll be helping the twins. But if he could have a big year and sign a good contract that sets him up for life, that would be nice. He's one of the good guys. I would hope a guy like Joe who seems like a pretty simple, laid-back dude (like Buehrle) is already set for life, unless he's invested his money with Madoff or Sanford or one of those types of guys.

Had to be for the AL Central. I could buy that, I guess. Must have mostly to do with the positive reports on Contreras and Colon. Nothing else has changed radically with our team in recent weeks.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 2, 2009 -> 03:49 PM) It worked for Shingo. For one-half season.

At this point, I actually think MacDougal has a better chance to make the team than Russell or Wasserman. We haven't seen much of Link yet, either. Jimenez might have pitched in the B game against the Dodgers, not sure. Beckham with the double clutch on that throw.

And the throw over to Dan Majerle at 1B. Mowry...well, close to Myrow.

That was quick. I didn't even get to see him bat, I was typing heren't and didn't flip back in time. He should get up again in the 8th or 9th.

No, Rowland-Smith, he of the "unique" name, did not have a "good" outing Bill. Why are we giving these at-bats to Myrow instead of Brandon Allen?

Lillibridge at 2B, Beckham at SS, Sergio Santos at 3B. Would be nice to see Escobar once at SS, but he's really too young. We definitely won't be seeing Silverio.

AJ was out by so far, it wasn't even close...reminiscing about Top Gun with Kenny Loggins playing, that movie's close to 25 years old now, isn't it? Beckham in the game now for Alexei, and Lucy getting some PT finally.

Didn't Ramirez make more errors than an 2B in the AL in the second half of the season? I'll agree he COULD have been the best defensive 2B in the AL...but he didn't end up that way. Personally, I think he just wore down over the long season and had some concentration lapses, usually on routine plays. Don't think you can conclusively say he was the best, it can be argued I suppose. Platooning Anderson and Owens? WHAT? Bill, please stop breathing so heavily, you're worrying us. Not such good baserunning today by AJ or Fields...too much admiring the ball and hoping for the homer AJ, and not enough hustle.

It's even more fun to hear him pronounce Dayan Viciedo... I'm hoping that was Linebrink working on that split-finger. Will give him the benefit of the doubt and hope that 93-94 MPH fastball comes back. Even more fun...Melton chiding Bender for saying "Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Arizona" before quickly correcting himself. I actually remember one game in KC where Sweeney hit into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded and only one out in the bottom of the 9th and the Royals only down by one...but he's done pretty well against us in his career, duly noted.

Crushed that one, around 420-430 feet. Good thing Ozzie played the infield in Bill, we're still in this vitally important/crucial game. Josh Fields does look a bit quicker with his hands this year...he waited nicely on that breaking ball and yanked another double. Lefties are afraid of Brian Anderson, so they want to go right after Chris Getz. LOL!!!!! Nice camerawork...showing Fields running instead of the ball that looked like it could have been a double to the gap.

More insight, Bill. Ryan Rowland-Smith is a unique name. Thanks for that contribution to the broadcast.

Melton: Alexei Ramirez was the best 2B in the American League last year. A young star. Ummmm....maybe Bill, in the first half of the year, but definitely not over the full season. Apparently the White Sox don't care if their pitchers give up runs at all...only if they have a good BB/K ratio. Good news, Bill. And an error on Dye allowing the double. A woeful AA/AAA roster is dominating the White Sox (minus Beltre) and sending Wasserman to Charlotte again. Is Melton serious? They're playing the infield in because they don't want to go down one more run (from five to six) and they have the offense to come back? REALLY? Carlos Quentin did a good job last year defensively (WHAT?) and he has the best pop-up/sliding catch that Bill has seen, lol. UGH!!!! Don Wakamatsu is apparently a "good baseball man." Glad to think they might have hired a bad one was GM, but didn't. You would think Melton would be more familiar with him due to his White Sox ties.

Josh Fields looking like Carlos Lee on the basepaths. He just went too far around third, was caught napping a bit and the catcher threw behind him. What the heck was he doing? He wasn't going to score from 2nd on a wild pitch...pretty horrific. Wasted a leadoff double with poor execution by Getz and bad baserunning by Fields. Bender with the fact of the inning. I had no idea Wasserman hadn't given up a homer in 57 career appearances. At least he's done some homework. Melton wants the DP to get out of the inning and there's ZERO outs. He's managing to make Singleton look like a combo of Vin Scully and Ernie Harwell.

Nice recovery by CR. Realistically, most of those balls in that inning could have been fielded. They would have been pretty good plays, but I think Beltre's past Konerko definitely could have been stopped...or if Fields had at least knocked down the double and kept it in the infield. Or if Getz had nabbed that liner. It's not like he was getting rocked, just bad luck compounding on itself. "Josh Field"?? "Versatility with your knees?" You mean flexibility? Not a productive out there Getz.

Funny, Konerko. That posture is about as symbolic of you as Thomas and Crede popping up to RF. The typical pull/yank to the left side of the INF with the head down out of the box and it actually goes through...I thought it was going to end up a routine ground out. Why do I have the feeling Ramirez would have speared that ball that Getz just missed? Joe Crede would have had that one!!! Just kidding. 2-0 M's, 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. (shouldn't have had a runner on 2nd, sloppy) 4-0 M's...Richard looking shaky for first time, giving up some perfectly placed groundball singles and doubles.

Trey Bender, Gary Bender's son. Normally does ASU baseball...obviously from a broadcasting family, that helps too. Former White Sox Mike Morse still on the M's roster. He never really found a position where he could be a plus offensively, as he was too big and lacked range for SS. I guess the 90 degree heat is the reason for the small crowd? Being positive. Of course, it's a weekday game, too.

I'm really glad Belton doesn't do the radio or TV on a consistent basis. Quentin hasn't looked locked in yet this spring...I'm sure he will come around and get locked in eventually.