caulfield12

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ May 7, 2007 -> 12:19 AM) Sweeney and Anderson both have very similar tools. One projects as a better corner outfielder (Sweeney) the other as the better center fielder (BA). However, both are capable of playing all three outfield positions. But the difference is that Sweeney has baseball skills and when I say baseball skills I mean he has a baseball swing. Brian Anderson has a mechanical mess that gets exploited like crazy against mediocre major league pitching (let alone good major league pitching). We can hope Anderson eventually changes things, but there is absolutely no reason BA should be at the major league level unless he's replacing some other player because he is not better than Ryan Sweeney. I think Sweeney is a much better thrower...he just has better "baseball instincts," he's a player instead of an athlete playing baseball, however you want to look at it. I think it would be great to keep him in LF, but we have to either keep Dye or sign another power-hitting RFer for us to be able to keep two outfielders who will hit less than 15 homers, possibly combined.

QUOTE(retro1983hat @ May 7, 2007 -> 09:37 AM) Last night on the radio post game show, someone called in and told Chris Rongey that this team has been cursed since we release Chris Widger. I laughed at this, but then I thought about it. We were great all of 2005 and won the WS. Last year we were one of the top couple of teams in the game through the first half until we released Widge. Does anyone have any supporting facts what our record was in 2005 and early 2006 before the release of the Widge and since? By August 1st last year, we'd already started to tail off and were only 20 games over .500. We fell to 90-72, and we're .500 this year. So we're 2 games under .500 since the release. I think the health of Pods and Thome have a lot more to do with it, and the lack of production from Konerko and Crede in particular.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ May 7, 2007 -> 09:29 AM) I think he learned his lesson the first time around. If he doesn't get back in the line up too soon last time, he could be playing by now. I would rather have a player that wants to be in the line-up too soon rather than one who always seems to be injured and milks his time on the DL. I think Thome knows his body...those rib cage injuries are so delicate, you can feel 100% and then you're back to zero after resting it for as much as 3-4 weeks. It's the worst injury a player in a sport where there's a violent swing can have, with the possible exception of golf or tennis. Maybe, just maybe....we can tread water and will have discovered that Sweeney can be the answer in RF or LF and we can survive and adapt without Pods in the second half.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 7, 2007 -> 08:01 AM) My theory: BA couldnt hit at the big league level with his new swing so they sent him down to get more at bats. Looked like his "old" (April/May 2006) swing to me....what's the difference? QUOTE(kyyle23 @ May 7, 2007 -> 07:46 AM) It is tough to keep "interesting" situations out of the media nowadays. I would be somewhat surprised if something happened that p*ssed Ozzie off that badly, and it didnt hit the papers or airwaves in some form or another. Somebody always sees something. I think BA's arrogance/confidence would grate on anyone if the performance isnt there to back it up. We all know that BA needs constant ABs right now, and he is in the best place for that. Sweeney very well may take an open OF spot if he continues to show the moxie and signs of improvement, and I actually think that Ozzie would be open to letting Sweeney take the job from Pods because he likes Sweeney so much, provided Erstad continues to be a decent leadoff hitter. If Erstad starts to tail off, Pods will be back in the lineup as soon as he gets back, even if Sweeney is smoking the ball. I think he's willing to play Sweeney in CF and Pods in LF if Erstad tails off like Lofton did in 2002. However, Sweeney in CF is obviously not the long-term solution, he needs to be on one of the corners to maximize his contribution defensively. Some also think that Erstad will get injured again b4 the end of the season.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ May 7, 2007 -> 12:59 AM) I really like the thought of Figgins, because he's due to atleast get on at a respectable clip, has the speed to steal 50 bases, and has a bit of pop in his bat as well. The problem then becomes where he gets playing time, whether at 3B or LF (I would assume 3B mainly because Sweeney is looking like a legitamate bottom of the order hitter this year, even if he is a bit mediocre defensively there). It also gets Erstad out of the leadoff spot, which means he would still likely remain at 2, even though Iguchi is the best 2 hitter in the lineup; that's beyond the point, because Erstad is a better 2 hitter than he is leadoff hitter, and I become atleast slightly satisfied. It would also spend the end of the Podsednik era in Chicago, which would be outstanding for the team because he just doesn't serve much of a purpose at all anymore. I'm also not sure how high the organization is on Logan, but they most definitely really like Sisco, and they did sign Thornton to a contract extension in the offseason, so I imagine they probably like him a bit too. If Anaheim would do Crede and Logan for Figgins and Morales/Aybar, I'm not sure how the White Sox can turn it down. The problem is that I'm not sure how willing the Angels would be to trade off a 50+ steal guy along with a solid prospect for a 3Bman hitting .210 and a rookie reliever who some think may be a LOOGY long term. And from everything I've ever read and seen from Kendrick, it'd be just about impossible to get him. Regardless, I'd love to get Figgins because he'd be a capable leadoff hitter, and I'd love to get one of their middle infield prospects. I've also come to like Willits too (I'm sure beautox is just loving me saying that), so if he could be acquired for anything close to cheap, it would be a steal. The only place on the field I would like to see Figgins (for the White Sox) is 2B. That's the position he can do the least amount of damage defensively, and where we need an upgrade in athleticism.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ May 7, 2007 -> 08:42 AM) It depends on what you mean by "spending money" they have had a payroll pretty similar to the White Sox for years now, except they have WAY higher revenues, both from the ballpark (higher prices+higher attendance), and especially from their TV and radio contracts. They have got to be one of the most profitable franchises in baseball on a year to year basis. I think they're #2, behind the Yankees. The only other arguments are for the Dodgers and the Red Sox, but I think "pure profit" has the Cubs at #2, from everything I've read.

QUOTE(palehose23 @ May 7, 2007 -> 01:44 AM) You want a 'real' CF how about looking on the Northside at Jacque Jones- He is exactly what the Sox need- Lefty pop, decent glove, and hatred for Cubs fans Jones in CF? No thanks. Why would you want someone with a guaranteed, long-term contract that was not part of our future any more than Erstad. And Jones has never been a "plus" defender at any position besides LF. He has a below average arm for RF and doesn't have the instincts for CF.

QUOTE(joeynach @ May 6, 2007 -> 10:47 PM) Me and friends used to see some of the Gullien kids out with Freddy at the bars and playing pool last year. Plus I have seen Bmac and Anderson hanging out in Lincoln Park last summer as well. I know young guys go out and do what young guys do, Im one of them. As for BA to look out for the gullien boys I dont buy it. They are probably more popular and more social in this town than BA or anyone sox player so why would BA, a young party guy, be assigned to babysit them. You would think if they went together it would cuz they wanna party together not one watching out for the other, and isn't Ozzie's oldest like the same age as BA anyway? Or maybe he got them in trouble when he was with them, and Ozzie had to bail them out? I'm not sure, and KW has perfectly plausible explanations for trading McCarthy...but you never know what's going on behind the scenes.

QUOTE(beautox @ May 6, 2007 -> 10:44 PM) no thanks, all though as i stated in previous posts i still think the giants then phillies make the most sense for Crede. I'd be all about getting Jonathan Sanchez and one of their promising up and coming 2B either Marcus Sanders or Kevin Frandsen. We need to trade for Michael Bourn Supremacy and make him the starter in LF with Sweeney in RF.

QUOTE(maggsmaggs @ May 6, 2007 -> 04:50 PM) You could argue that it is from the competition, but look what happens when you get consistent at-bats. The way our hitters are going, he should still be in the majors starting in left or center with Erstad the other positon. Ummmm....no. I would much rather have Sweeney playing than BA at this point, and I prefer Erstad until Anderson can put together two great months in AA.

QUOTE(Texsox @ May 6, 2007 -> 10:36 PM) mixed bag. I thought rowand sucked last season. Not to mention the fact that he was injured. That Victorino kid always does something to impress you...stolen base, he had an amazing throw from RF to nail a runner at the plate earlier in the week...extra base hits, I know he also had a homer tonight as wel. The Phils' outfield is VERY similar to ours right now: Burrell=Dye Rowand=Estad Sweeney=Victorino

QUOTE(chisox72 @ May 6, 2007 -> 10:09 PM) I was happy as hell to see them pull this one out today. Kudos to Sweeney, he continues to impress me. AJ, great clutch effort... Let's go into Minny carrying this momentum and do some ass kicking. We may have just caught a small break too, as the boo-yah network website is reporting that Mauer is now on the 15-day DL... You gotta love that guy...quotes from the Trib after the game. "I was joking with Molina the last few games I haven't started this year," Pierzynski said, "and I was telling him, 'One of these days, you're going to get a complete game.' So we have two goals for him -- to get him a hit and get him a complete game."

I heard from a very good White Sox fan that BA was out for a night on the town with at least one of Guillen's kids on a road trip and got him into a very "interesting" situation when he was supposed to be looking out for him. As with the Contreras is getting divorced rumor, take it with a grain of salt. This person is usually very credible. And it makes sense I suppose. I don't dislike BA. From a fan standpoint, I don't want to see him fulfill his promise with another organization. To tell the truth, it looks like Fields and Anderson are beginning to look like two more first round busts, and we don't need another pair to add to our embarassing draft history since the late 80's/early 90's under Himes. If he never plays with the White Sox again, and most believe this to be a 50/50 proposition, then we're not going to get anywhere close to his "highest" value in trade...it will be one of those change of scenery moves like taking Gavin Floyd off the hands of the Philllies. Well, it worked with Thornton for Borchard, so you never can tell, but I'm not sure we can so easily come up with a legit starting CFer off the scrap heap like that.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ May 6, 2007 -> 06:12 PM) You don't trade the middle relievers, not when you have everyone of them locked up entirely through 2009. You can trade one or two pieces if you are entirely overwhelmed, but unless it's Krivsky on the phone, that's not going to happen. It would be tempting to trade with DET due to Rodney's ineffectiveness and Zumaya's injury, but there's absolutely no way in hell that happens unless we're 8-10 games behind at least two teams the first or second week of June. With the Yankees definitely back in the race with Clemens, there's a lot of pressure on CLE, DET, MIN, Anaheim and the A's to do whatever it takes to make it into the playoffs this year.

QUOTE(shipps @ May 6, 2007 -> 07:07 PM) Even before this game I was thinking I want to Sweeney in the lineup EVERYDAY.I very rarely get on Oz but if he goes and puts Sweeney in the lineup like once this week and thats it Iam gonna go crazy.I dont care if Pods even comes back if they put Sweeney out there,his defense is far better anyways. Sweeney will play 4-6 games per week. You can bet on that.

QUOTE(SpringfieldFan @ May 6, 2007 -> 06:57 PM) Well they say the only stupid questions are the ones we don't ask, but I guess I will attempt to prove that wrong here. Why is Podsednik so terrible? He seemed to be doing alright before the injury. Other than injuries, what went wrong since our love-fest got him the 2005 ASG? SFF 2006, his injury history over the last 3 seasons and the fact that nobody expects him to return to the form that had him threatening for the most stolen bases in the major leagues through the first two months of the 2005 season. If you take away his speed and his aggressiveness, he's a below average LF with no power...and you can't get that lack of production out of LF if you have a low OPS hitter in CF as well. The other reason is because so many Sox fans are rooting for a homegrown White Sox prospect to make it and, if not an All-Star, at least be the equivalent of Rowand or Crede as any everyday player. Sweeney is only 22, likeable, plays the game naturally, has a great swing, is beloved by Ozzie...a lot of people (myself included) see him as the future, but nobody was sure if it was in LF, CF or RF. But he's here now...so everybody is rooting for a breakthrough with our minor league system.

QUOTE(WhiteSoxfan1986 @ May 6, 2007 -> 05:40 PM) Huge win for us today. Sweeney with a nice game. Bobby still worries the s*** out of me though. Curiously, we've come from behind in 8 of our 9 road wins this year. We really need to pick it up at home though, where our "power" line-up gives us an advantage. 2 games under at home, 2 games over on the road.

QUOTE(chisoxfan79 @ May 6, 2007 -> 05:32 PM) 85 that radar has to be off He had one at 96 on the Angels' gun. 12 Men LOB for angels so far today

QUOTE(Whitewashed in @ May 6, 2007 -> 05:32 PM) So who DO you want to keep? Masset, Aardsma, Sisco, Logan

QUOTE(fathom @ May 6, 2007 -> 05:30 PM) So...is Jenks ever going to get his fastball back? He seems to have leveled out at 94 mph. No, which is why we should think about trading him as well...he's going to be lucky to close 70-75% of his games with the stuff he's going out there with now.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ May 6, 2007 -> 05:27 PM) Geez. Only 2 more outs and your leaving already? He just jinxed it I think...

QUOTE(danman31 @ May 6, 2007 -> 05:25 PM) He only has 2 hits. Ooops, forgot the runner got thrown out at 2nd on that ball that Aybar lost in the sun.

QUOTE(fathom @ May 6, 2007 -> 05:24 PM) Is Mackowiak injured? Seems weird we didn't let him hit for Ozuna there. Oh well....it's Jenks game now. I think the feeling is that it's easier for righties against Rodriguez's curve or Rivera's cutter.

QUOTE(Whitewashed in @ May 6, 2007 -> 05:23 PM) Time for Jenks to slam the door. Bottom of their line-up. Let's just get out of there and get on that plane with some good feelings about this team. Please?

QUOTE(chisoxfan79 @ May 6, 2007 -> 05:20 PM) Pods should have had his last AB for the Sox Angels only 70-2 when leading after 7 innings last year. We lost more games like that in our first 15 this year.