caulfield12

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 6, 2009 -> 12:49 PM) You have to give Alexei a day off occasionally, and with his performance of late, this seems to be a good time for it. What would you suggest as an alternative? Lillibridge is the only other real option, and he is hitting so badly that his defense can't really make up the difference. I actually like this move. There's no permanent solution here for 2009. The only options are either moving Getz or Nix to SS (and I think moving Nix makes more sense than moving Getz from a purely "ability to play the position" standpoint) or bringing up Eider Torres as a stopgap. Neither Beckham nor Lillibridge are viable for first-half 2009. You can also forget about Betemit, even though I would almost rather see that than Eider Torres, who would be essentially like Lillibridge/Andy Gonzalez.

It's almost like the MORE Fathom brings up the Betemit situation, the LESS likely Ozzie is to play him. It "feels" like they have to determine this season if Fields can be an "everyday/non-platoon" player, and that next year the position would be Betemit's to play as the stopgap for one season, but ONLY 1) if Fields fails this year, 2) Viciedo is moved off the position and/or doesn't hit over .225 this season in BIRM or 3) Beckham is left in the middle infield. So maybe a worst-case scenario of a Nix/Betemit platoon there next year...with three players that would be more likely to be permanent, long-term solutions at that position.

I hope we get better results out of Poreda as a starter than Cotts. I think about the only thing they would have in common would be 100 pitch counts within 4-5 IP. It doesn't seem that Poreda will be able to miss many bats if he's behind in the count (while his FB moves more than Thornton's, it certainly doesn't move like Bartolo's)...Cotts got by more with deception and being "sneaky" fast but neither had/have reliable secondary stuff. The jury is still out on Poreda developing into a legit starter, but, to hear Ozzie recently, he's not in the current thinking of the club. I suppose that could change, but, based on "hints," it would seem 2nd half 2009/2010 is more realistic for when they feel he'll be CLOSER to being ready.

Great idea to put Nix at SS. It's always well-informed to put career 2B who have played 40 games their entire career at the position (and of course, when they were 18, eight years ago) at the most difficult position on the diamond. Wait, he played a few games then on his rehab assignment. That makes it a sure bit to work out, since he didn't make an error in RF, and he ONLY made two questionable plays at 3B the other night (one was saved by a miraculous Konerko snag of a throw that wasn't even close to the bag, the the other a muffed ball that led to the missing on an easy DP).

Tyler Flowers passed ball...still a lot of work to do defensively. Santeliz is getting roughed up a bit this inning.

Shelby piling up the doubles....#8 and an RBI. 11 batters this inning, Beckham with a sacrifice fly. 2 RBI's today, 13 for the season. 8-2 Barons. Tyler Flowers continues to get on base at a prolific rate with a HBP.

Former pitcher Neil Allen sighting...in Montgomery. Interesting tidbit, Tyler Flowers smashed the all-time Mrytle Beach (not that the franchise has a LONG history) of 71 walks with 98 last year. Quite a different approach from AJ, who almost never walks and almost never strikes out. Yay...Viciedo hammered a 3 run homer to LF. Come back from hiding, Cubano! Still only hitting .223. But he does have 17 RBI's so far, which is mostly because almost every time he's batted, Beckham/Flowers/Allen (at least one of them) have been on base. 5-2 Barons, no outs in the top of the sixth. Flowers and Allen had walked b4 Viciedo's bomb to LF.

Viciedo seems to be exactly mirroring Alexei's struggles with the major league team. Just when you think he might have turned the corner (he was back up to almost .240), he starts striking out and leaving runners on base in bunches and taking some wild swings. Brandon Allen has been really quiet the last 7-10 days, too.

QUOTE (MO2005 @ May 6, 2009 -> 07:00 AM) Here are the Sox problems.. Alexei Ramirez - timing is wayyyyy off. Late on fastballs and early on breaking/curve balls. Hawk said it great last night that when this happens, usually it can last almost a whole season. If that's the case, we have problems. Brett Lillibridge - Just can't hit period or play defense. First of all this guy has no place in center field and his defense is horrific. It is almost like Ozzie and kenny are refusing to send him down because they don't want to feel like the Vasquez trade went for nothing. AJ - Cannot throw runners out, so everyone runs on us. Gavin Floyd - I said it before the season started. Had a career year last year and was going to be hard to duplicate. He is not in command up there on the mound right now. Mentally he is breaking down, losing confidence, and allowing the big hits. Jacobs 3 run homer last night. Josh Fields - Strike Out King Pods - Last Resort for now and using it. Jose Contreras - Shouldn't be starting or even playing. But how can you sit 10-15 million a year in salary? Bullpen - Relying on them too much right now to save games for us with our starting pitching/ inconsistent offense. We all remember what happened in the 2nd half last season when our bullpen was lights out in the beginning of the year, right? The problem is our bullpen is not even lights out right now. Is there anyone in this bullpen you feel 100% comfortable with to hold a lead? Situational Hitting - Still does not exist. I don't care what anyone says, but if you do not have a situational hitting ballclub, you will not win a championship. Yes we could still wina division title because our division is weak, but not a championship. I blame this entirely on Kenny Williams for STILL not getting the players that can do this well. Since the 2nd half of 2006 we have not been great at getting runners over and in. Hitting sac flies when we need them or like last night runners on third with less than 2 outs and failing to get them in. Fields K rate... 2007=33.5% 2009=32.6% Crede, at age 26, was striking out roughly half that rate (16.5%). Of course, Josh has a 700+ OPS because of his higher number of walks, so, even agreeing they were roughly equal offensively, there's still an advantage to Crede because of his defense (when healthy)...but we have to give Fields the whole season to see if he can put up a 775+ (minimum) OPS.

I think Shelby is 22, turning 23 this year?

Shelby and Danks are plenty athletic...there's some question, though, whether Shelby can legitimately play major league CF. Scenario would be able to discuss this, because I think Shelby mostly played LF last year, at least that was my impression, after they moved him off the infield. Shelby III seems to be one of his favorite players. Cutting down strikeouts is one of the biggest issues for both, although Danks has improved in that area recently. Ultimately, I don't think BA will make it here in Chicago (there are questions about Fields and Ramirez, too), but KW has to let him play from mid-May through mid-July and see if he can legitimately win the position and keep it. No platoon with Pods or Wise, just play him everyday. Same thing with Fields (with some Betemit against tough RHP) and Ramirez. The trade chips would have to be Shelby OR Danks, Poreda (if they don't see him as a starter) and possibly Getz, but only if Fields and Ramirez play like expected for the remainder of 2009 (because Beckham has to go somewhere, and MOST logically to SS or 2B). So Shelby OR Danks, Poreda (but we will need to replace at least two starters next year, probably) and Getz/Ramirez/Fields (one of the three). It's not like Milledge has established beyond a reasonable doubt (especially low OBP), that he would be the answer in the tougher AL. And Dukes is the wildcard with that organization...not sure if they would be willing to give up on Lastings quite yet. Hopefully KW is smart enough to stay away from Eric Byrnes...but it would be REALLY nice if the D-Backs would give up on Justin Upton.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 6, 2009 -> 06:13 AM) We just have to pray BA has no setbacks... if he comes back after Wise (I don't know when he's due for return), then we'll have to suffer through that some more. Anywhere from late May to mid-June, depending on how he does with his rehab one would imagine.

Cupboard? I think you have have the Chicago Cubs on the brain, or Mike Cubbage, lol. Maybe the Cubs having a winning streak (until Lincecum) while we've been sucking hasn't helped so much!

There was an article in spring training about this, too...when the leadoff hitter issue was at the forefront...he went to a CAL game that weekend, supposedly scouting college OFers who were possible leadoff hitters. There's no doubt that Shelby and Jordan Danks are at least 1 1/2 years away from contributing... Other than that, we have Gartrell who might become a prospect if he has a really good season at Birmingham. Viciedo, if they decide to stay with Fields at 3B, would seem ticketed for LF or DH...but he also, right now, looks about 1 1/2 years away.

Seriously...it's WEIRD that you always have something to say for no real apparent reason. If you want to comment on what I wrote, fine. I purposely didn't post last night because there wasn't very much productive to say at 1130 pm after a game like that. If this site is going to become like WSI where people are FORCED/COERCED to say only positive things about KW and the organization or labelled as "Dark Clouds" for being realistic about their team, well, then I guess everyone can live in their dreamworld where Gordon Beckham and Aaron Poreda arrive just in time to save this season from the abyss.

"Some people on this team better check their [rears]," Guillen said after the Sox squandered two four-run leads and failed to hit in the clutch in an 8-7 loss to Kansas City in 11 innings at Kauffman Stadium. "Some people think for sure they're going to be the stars and they're going to be there, they'd better check their [rears]. They better start thinking about the way we're playing. "I'm not talking about everyone. I'm talking about players who want to take it for granted. Well, they better be careful. I'm not afraid to move people. I'm not afraid to make changes." Really, there's not much he can do. It's kind of sad. We can bench Ramirez, but are we really going to win with Getz at 2B and Jayson Nix playing SS? Nix has almost as little experience playing SS as he does 3B and RF...which isn't much. Getz would be fine at short for a couple of games, but lacks the arm strength and doesn't have enough range to his right to play that position, unless Gold Glove version/healthy Joe Crede is playing to that side and not Josh Fields. Beckham is far from being ready to play the position. If we take Contreras and Floyd out of the rotation...then we use who? Richard? Poreda? Carlos Torres? I agree Ramirez and Floyd should feel like they're on the "hot spot," but is it really going to make either of these somewhat "fragile" players perform better? I don't really believe it will. We're pretty much stuck with what we have. He certainly wasn't calling out Broadway, that would be like picking on the weakest kid in 3rd grade. He shouldn't even be on the roster (along with Lillibridge, Pods, possibly Nix, Miller, etc.) Betemit is a good hitter, when used properly and in the right situations. The only players who really performed under pressure last night were DJ Carrasco and Dotel getting out of that inning tied, even though he wet the bed, which was kind of to be expected after pitching so well for most of the early season. And I guess Linebrink walked the tightrope too, but there must have been 50+ 3-2 counts in that game, mostly from our pitching staff. There were a couple of situations that we could have PH Nix (for Getz) and Betemit (for Alexei) and I suppose Ozzie's argument (especially with Alexei) is that he needs his horses to come through for him if he's to have a prayer of competing...and taking Ramirez out of the line-up as a threat by getting him in the mentality that he should bunt the last couple of games, you're basically telling him you don't believe he can get a hit, when he came through is so many clutch situations last year (and even earlier in the game). It's kind of a no-win situation for Ozzie. Maybe getting the squeeze down to score AJ would have energized Alexei and the club...but there was better than a 50/50 chance he'd miss the bunt and get AJ thrown out at home, too, and everyone surely would have been all over Guillen for that move. Also, kudos to AJ for a great game last night. The stolen bases against him are/were not preventable. They sensed the hit and run last night, it's just that Broadway isn't a good enough pitcher with his shaky command and stuff to miss bats. You knew that walk was going to score, somehow, and at least you could go to bed knowing the result of the game, instead of staying up another hour or two. Also, Carlos Quentin has been playing some really good D these two games...and that was a very nice play to get Maier (their first round bust version of Broadway), even though he might actually have been safe. That was the point in the game you thought they MIGHT have a chance to come back and win, but then our normal offense for the past two weeks returned to roost.

The Royals perfectly executed a hit and run. We had two opportunities to score with runners on 3rd with less than 2 outs and failed to get them in, with Getz and Ramirez both striking out. Always the kiss of death. But, as someone mentioned, Gavin Floyd has to be the biggest concern after last night's game, not Lance Broadway, with Alexei Ramirez a close second. The game was over right there...on the road...we might as well have put Wandy Rodriguez in the game to throw to Geoff Blum just for old times' sake.

Well, Getz had a chance in the same situation as Ramirez and failed to get the job done, too. We're just not very good at this point, at much of anything.

Don Cooper has walked about 4 miles tonight. That's one positive of a game that's headed for 350 pitches.

CoCo Crisp with 20 walks this year already. AJ 1 for 19 throwing out runners...around 6-7% or so.

Hopefully our hitters don't study Hall of Famer Thome this year or we'll lead the AL in GIDP's again like in 2008. Damn, I wish I could be there for the Ponson/Carlos Silva match-up tmrw in KC. Ought to be a good one!

Linebrink or Jenks in a tie game=Joakim Soria save situation We're not right around the 300 pitch mark for both teams combined. Geez...I can't imagine the game that was 500+ the other day, good thing Contreras and Floyd can't pitch against each other, unless Jose is released.

KC radio station talking about Bonds coming to play for the Royals. Wouldn't that be something? They concluded that Bonds' ego was too big for that market...not enough fanfare. "White Sox have been giving up leads all night..." says the Royals' broadcasting crew. Apparently Jamey Wright, a career journeyman, is this year's JP Howell.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 5, 2009 -> 07:30 PM) The Tigers aren't playing terrible right now. They also made some interesting lineup decisions today. I'm sticking with that pick to win the division at this point. If Porcello and Verlander get rolling with Galarraga, they'll be awfully tough to beat, just like Greinke and Meche.

Walks kill. Maybe KW has ordered them to play for the first round draft pick. Check that, we are still trying to win this game. Big games this series from Quentin, who has come to play this year defensively.