caulfield12

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ May 10, 2007 -> 06:23 PM) Unless Erstad bats .330/.430/.600 for the rest of the season, he has no chance of being a Type A free agent. There's no more compensation for the lower types. And then there was a moment from the past Spring Training, when Jamie was watching her husband pitch in a "B" game from the somewhat uncomfortable metal bleachers near the Minor League back fields. Manager Ozzie Guillen promptly moved Jamie into a chair near the coaches and media behind the backstop. It was a move signifying the family feeling permeating the White Sox organization. It's a feeling that always will extend to the Buehrles, whether they stay in Chicago or move on to another locale. "Ozzie is unbelievable," Jamie said. "He's even said that he feels the same way about me as if he had a daughter that was pregnant. It's weird because I think, 'Why us? Why is he so attached to us?' But he has told Mark that no matter what, he'll be there for our child being born. "That means the world to me because I know a lot of managers really couldn't care less," Jamie added. "I just truly believe the way it's meant to be [with the contract], it will play out." www.chisox.com

QUOTE(BearSox @ May 13, 2007 -> 12:11 AM) If gooch doesn't start picking things up... Ozuna should start full-time at 2B. It's sad to see Gooch do so bad though, as no one can not like him... he is like a teddy bear. It would be a defensive disaster, but they also might consider Mack, because Sweeney's cutting into LF at-bats and we need to generate some additional offense from the infield with Crede, Iguchi and Konerko all struggling. Of course, Mack also looks like crap....so who knows? I would love to get Erick Aybar and have him at 2B, and he would also serve as insurance for Uribe at SS, his natural position. It just depends on whether the Angels really see Brandon Wood at 3B or not, or are simply trying to find him playing time with Cabrera locked in at SS...

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ May 13, 2007 -> 01:01 AM) Fields seems like he was hitting below the Mendoza line like 3 days ago. i think he's in the Carlos Lee "streaky hitters" club. If we just got 75% of Lee's production with Fields, we should be okay. We need a swing guru (not Walker) to work on that strikeout ratio, though. Maybe Butch Harmon is available.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ May 12, 2007 -> 11:21 PM) Well I think you look at the situation Chris Burke's been put in. There was no way he was going to start at 2nd base over Craig Biggio, so long as Biggio is healthy. And really his numbers aren't all that bad. He's got a fairly solid OBP around the .340-.350 mark, and he offers you some good versatility and is a good defensive player like you've said. My thinking is, if you could acquire him on the cheap e.g give up a Phillips plus a prospect who's not one of our real core guys, that's something I would seriously look at. Well, Phillips isn't really a prospect. We would have to give them someone like Floyd or Broadway...I don't think they would take Haeger either. As long as it's not Gio or Russell, it's a good deal, because we really need to replace Cintron and doing it with a younger and cheaper player with some upside is totally logical.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ May 13, 2007 -> 08:26 AM) If someone told me he'd be hovering below .200 into May, I'd have said "Highly doubt it" too. Or that Crede would have regressed to 2002-03 form...didn't see that one coming either. Iguchi and Dye, we knew, due to their ages, there would be a dropoff, and Dye's decline was inevitable...but Konerko? I just don't like the odds of spending $15 million on Ichiro in his mid 30's.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ May 13, 2007 -> 07:37 AM) Last years team has nothing to do with this years, you have to stop taking last years 2nd half record into account because it means squat. We're 3 games over .500 and only 2.5 out of a playoff spot when our best hitter has been out for a while, one of our best hitters against lhp has been out all season and just overall our offense has been brutal. No matter how good or bad you think this offense is, it's not THIS bad, they'll get better and a lot better. This team can win this year, there will be no fire sale, so it's time to let that go. 1st half 2006 (#1 offense in AL) 2nd half 2006 (#9 offense in AL) 1st half 2007 (#13-14 offense in AL) How can anyone argue there is no correlation? Sure, Thome and Pods not being healthy...especially Jim...that's ONE factor. But that doesn't explain Crede, Konerko, Iguchi and Dye all looking like shadows of their former selves. We CAN'T win scoring 3.9 runs per game, we need to at least be in the mid 4's like the 2005 team. I willing to adopt the idea Sweeney can adequately replace Pods, but Thome, Dye, Konerko, Crede and Iguchi all need to pick it up for this team to go anywhere.

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ May 12, 2007 -> 08:51 AM) LOL, it isnt about his prediction, it is about yours. You made the thread, its a long season and it was a bit premature. You should expect these types of reactions. Very well...and I'll continue to say that we're not in that top or elite group with Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, and possibly the Yankees and Angels. We're very similar to the A's, if I had to make a comparison. I didn't think Minnesota would struggle this badly. They will give it another month, but they have the same issue with Torii Hunter we have with Buehrle and Dye. Our offense is still the worst in the AL after the last 2/3rd's of a season. It's difficult to argue with that measuring stick. We're 4th in pitching, ERA-wise. I doubt we can be first, but we need to stay 3-5 in that area and get our hitting/runs scored somewhere around 7-10th in the AL to have any chance. Are we closer to being an "elite" team or a rebuilding team? I would say the latter. It's unfortunate, because we have the makings of a great bullpen, to go with our strong starting pitching. Crede, Konerko, Erstad, Dye and Iguchi have looked really bad recently. Iguchi, Crede and Konerko are all huge question marks to me. We can't win without at least two of those three guys hitting. We don't have anything close to resembling prospects at SS or 2B. The jury's out on Anderson and Fields as well, at best. What we do have is lots of pitching prospects, and the more legit prospects you have, the higher the odds that one or two will actually make it and become members of the rotation. I'm encouraged that Honel seems to coming back onto the radar screen as a prospect, and Danks has impressed nearly everyone. We went through a 167-95 stretch of play in 2005 and 2006 (until the All-Star break). We would have won 105 games last year if continued to play like we did in the first half (best offense in the AL). Obviously that didn't happen, for a number of reasons. Since then, we're 51-56. That's an incredible drop-off in the level of play. Which is the prevailing trend? Well, we'll find out in the next 6 weeks, but having KC simply hand us four games out of four doesn't mean we're a good team or that anything is "fixed."

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ May 12, 2007 -> 10:03 PM) LMFAO! This comment tops Pratt's "He hit it hard up the middle and the Royals made a good play" comment in the game thread. He hit it hard up the middle and the Royals had him played perfectly. I think the benching Iguchi for Gonzalez controversy will be the next board topic, lol. I can't imagine keeping Terrero over Sweeney after tonight. Even if you have Sweeney, Cintron and Mack on the bench in some situations...you go with your best players.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ May 12, 2007 -> 09:59 PM) I thought Gold Gloves are a sham and mean nothing because Rowand, Buehrle, Uribe, Garland, and Crede have all been screwed out of one over the past 3 years or so. I don't think Rowand or Uribe were screwed out of anything. Buehrle, Garland and Crede all have arguments...but it's more based on reputation and also offensive production. It's like the House of Representatives incumbency effect...once you win the GG, you keep winning it until someone takes it away, but they have to play clearly better.

QUOTE(danman31 @ May 12, 2007 -> 09:51 PM) Fields is heating up, hitting .318 in May with a .523 slugging and currently on a 10 game hit streak. Cunningham is 4 for his last 36. Kannapolis 9, Savannah 2 Shelby 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R Carter 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI (at .336 on the year) Long 5.1 IP, 2 R, 6 K, 1 BB, 6 hits I think Shelby has a chance to be a nice player. Too bad he or Getz isn't ready to play for Iguchi right now. Gonzalez profiles as a utility player, at best.

QUOTE(BearSox @ May 12, 2007 -> 09:54 PM) Well, I think we all would like to keep the same chemistry, but the pinch running for Konerko was a no-brainer. I remember a few innings last year where we didn't score on three singles in an inning. No thanks. My only qualm is not using your best pitcher (Jenks) out of the bullpen in the Top of the 10th. Scioscia has the right theory there....shorten the game and don't give the opponent a chance to breathe. We by all rights should be 2-2 against the Royals this year. QUOTE(Heads22 @ May 12, 2007 -> 09:56 PM) I know, that's why I suggested it in the game thread. What I'm trying to say is that Darin isn't a great enough 1B to be justified as a defensive upgrade at first. He won a GG there in 2004. Konerko's made himself above-average, but Erstad's still a better fielder.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ May 12, 2007 -> 09:50 PM) If you can resist f***ing with your IF defense late in the game, you try to leave it alone. That's just what I believe. I'm just more comfortable with Paulie finishing it off. We used Gload quite a few times in the late innings over the years. It's a non-issue for Erstad to go over there, Ozzie just doesn't want to move him out of CF to LF.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ May 12, 2007 -> 09:35 PM) That's one of the stupidest things I've heard all year. I'm surprised at you. Andy Gonzalez over Iguchi? Please. Tadahito has been garbage but let's not go nuts. I do think Iguchi could use Sunday off (and Monday) and he should work strictly on hitting line drives to the opposite field (he had a good AB late in the game, no results), like some of the other White Sox hitters have been working on. It wouldn't be so bad if his defense wasn't also slipping a bit. That's the frustrating thing. It would have been nice if we could have swept both DET and the Twins in those series.

Owens LF 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .252 Fields 3B 4 0 3 2 0 0 1 0 0 .254 Hall C 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 Anderson CF 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .300 Haeger (W), 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K's Honel, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K's....3.34 ERA Day gave up 2 runs in the top of the 9th to blow the lead, 2 K's but 4.74 ERA 2-1 Mississippi leading now going into the bottom of the 9th

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ May 12, 2007 -> 09:04 PM) Reminds me of the Brazoban at bat in 2005 Ended up more like AJ's AB in Yankee Stadium against Mo Rivera.

QUOTE(CYGarland @ May 12, 2007 -> 08:59 PM) s***, and i was just about to walk out the door, lol.....Cmon AJ, lets finish this 1 off Well, I think we have a #2 hitter for the next week or so...thanks Juancito. Sweeney didn't get the calls, AJ just got saved by the ump.

QUOTE(fathom @ May 12, 2007 -> 08:46 PM) I might be the only one, but I want to see Sweeney swing harder and pull the ball. The only thing was that he didn't look smooth with his swing in his first AB. Uh-oh...well, I guess our offense wasn't going to score against the intimidating Royals' pen anyway. Teahen owned the Sox last year. Sisco taking lessons from Contreras? For the record, I would have stayed with Greinke...but Bell wants to build on the success of tonight and not let him lose the game I guess, and he's never been called to save a game in his life, I would imagine. PH for Iguchi with Cintron?

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ May 12, 2007 -> 08:42 PM) I keep hearing from the parrot in the booth that we are snapping out of this offensive slumber. Well he is right, we are hitting .232 over the last 7 days, that is statistically up from the pathetic .213 BA that we are having on the month of May so far. Dont worry, flip their baseball cards over and imagine them hitting. Its what our coaching staff does. Maybe if we collectively wish they might hit a ball. Sisco is down from 94-96 to 92 now. I know he's supposed to have more control, but he doesn't get much movement with that pitch. Maybe Jim Morris from The Rookie is still available. That was a gutsy 3-2 pitch by Sisco. Hopefully he won't walk the next guy. And Ozzie's allowing Sisco to face a righthander...???

QUOTE(mr_genius @ May 12, 2007 -> 08:40 PM) the top of lineup is weak, and thats being really generous. We're last in runs scored in the AL over the last 106 games. This comes as no surprise, especially with Thome out.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ May 12, 2007 -> 08:37 PM) People are hitting over 300 against him. Meanwhile, we are getting pitch by pitch radar gun reports of how hard Grienke is throwing by Hawk. I think Greinke might end up becoming the Royals' closer. Dotel has always been shaky since his injury problems, and Soria's best role is set-up.

QUOTE(danman31 @ May 12, 2007 -> 08:35 PM) I feel a little better after looking at Alex Gordon's stats. .164 with 37 strikeouts in 110 at bats. At least he walks (has 13), but damn, the Royals rushed him. Those are sub Anderson numbers. Imagine how much we would hate Gordon on this board? He has 8 HBP, which is why his OBP hovers around .300. Thome 25 walks in 20 something games Rest of team 90 walks in 32 games The Royals tried to hand us four wins in a row. I guess it's baseball karma that we hand back at least one of those four games. I think Bell will go to Soria, but I would seriously consider leaving Greinke in to close it out.

QUOTE(TitoMB345 @ May 12, 2007 -> 08:10 PM) Wow. Javy looks like a BADASS with those shades on. So does Danks. Unfortunately, they look much better than Dye, Konerko, Erstad, Crede and Iguchi. If we had Dontrelle Willis, he might be DHing on this team. Masset still in the 90-93 MPH range on his FB.

QUOTE(TitoMB345 @ May 12, 2007 -> 08:08 PM) Oops, I was thinking of Sisco...... My mistake. Or MacDougal.

QUOTE(Capn12 @ May 12, 2007 -> 08:02 PM) Hey!! Theres that guy in our lineup with a proper approach at the plate! Veterans, stop and watch how Sweeney goes about things at the plate please. Unfortunately, our best hitter right now is a 22 year-old. Greinke had as much life on his pitches as I've seen this year. In the 17-3 game drubbing the other day, he actually admitted he walked a batter intentionally because he was afraid of giving up a grand slam to a particular hitter. Big difference tonight. Looks like their plan is Greinke for two innings, maybe Gobble if needed, then Soria.

QUOTE(TitoMB345 @ May 12, 2007 -> 07:34 PM) Haha, a good manager in Buddy Bell. The same guy who throws Gil Meche 115+ pitches in every start. Good way to kill you're $55 million pitcher! Have you seen the Royals' bullpen? It's clearly the worst in the big leagues. You can't blame him, as Hawk said, rock and a hard place...it's not fair to Meche that he lose every win he's earned when he leaves the game.