macsandz

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Jun 14, 2011 -> 04:37 PM) I am going to pick Dinkleman to be the bulls*** luck player of the day. Revere gets my vote. Sox fans are gonna hate that dude.

QUOTE (MAX @ Jun 14, 2011 -> 05:00 PM) Not just in it, but leading off. Suddenly, I'm feeling slightly less excited about this game. Batting .225 so far this month. Do it JP!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 14, 2011 -> 04:58 PM) Well clearly good enough that he belongs in the lineup against Pavano. He's terrible against RHP (.569 OPS) and brutal on the road (.573 OPS). Give him as many at-bats tonight as possible, Oz.

Honestly there may be no way to justify the guy even being on the team anymore, and certainly not in the everyday lineup. I just thought that stat was unbelievable.

Mr. Juan D'Vaughn Pierre in 25 games.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jun 13, 2011 -> 06:26 PM) That's acceptable, at least for the time being. ...and where would Tank play?!

Williams believes Viciedo is ready to contribute Young Cuban is hitting .313 with 10 homers, 45 RBIs in Triple-A By Scott Merkin / MLB.com CHICAGO -- The question to Dayan Viciedo didn't need an English-to-Spanish translation, although Jackson Miranda was on the line to help facilitate the process. Before Miranda could ask the power-packed young outfielder if he felt Major League ready, Viciedo provided a definitive response. "I'm ready," said Viciedo in English during a phone interview with MLB.com All White Sox parties agree that Viciedo is a Major Leaguer. The 22-year-old looked prepared offensively in 2010 when he hit .308 over 104 at-bats during his big league callup, but he didn't really have a definitive defensive position. Now, Viciedo has found a home in the outfield, leaving only a pair of questions to be decided about his future. How will Viciedo be used with the White Sox? And when will he arrive? During a conversation with MLB.com, general manager Ken Williams seemed strongly inclined to get Viciedo up to the White Sox soon, but definitely not in a reserve capacity. "It would be awfully interesting to have him in this lineup," said Williams of the player dubbed "the Cuban Tank." "He's ready. He's obviously got some things he still needs to work on, but I would have no qualms about bringing him here. "I'm not going to bring him here to sit. [White Sox manager] Ozzie [Guillen] is not ready to change the mix he has right now, and that has to be respected." Guillen always has favored a fleet-footed hitter at the top of his lineup. He watched the 2003 Marlins, with whom he served as third-base coach, win the World Series with Juan Pierre as the leadoff man. And he watched his 2005 White Sox claim their first crown in close to nine decades with Scott Podsednik setting the table. In the 2011 White Sox lineup, that leadoff spot once again belongs to Pierre. He's a hard-working, upbeat and popular clubhouse presence, but has one strike going against him. The start to the present campaign has not been good for the 33-year-old playing in the last year of his contract. After hitting .243 with a .286 on-base percentage in April, Pierre bumped those numbers up to .286 and .365, respectively, in May. He has since fallen to .225 and .311 in June. Pierre also has struggled with basestealing, checking in at just above a 50 percent accuracy rate (10-for-19), and has had some surprising problems catching the ball in left field. Speed never slumps is a theory espoused by Guillen, who readily admits that he looks at the game in a slightly different way than does Williams. But even as a staunch defender of Pierre, Guillen is not locked into the speed factor if it's not productive for the attack. "If you have speed and you can't hit, then we don't need your speed," said Guillen, speaking in generalities and not addressing Pierre specifically. "Speed is good when you get on base and you can hit, and that's what Juan has been doing lately. "You always like to have some speed at the top to make things happen. This guy can run, but you can't steal first." Williams and Guillen share the opinion of Viciedo needing to play regularly if he comes to the White Sox. Guillen set the bar at getting Viciedo out there five times per week, or for 20 or 30 at-bats, in order to continue his development and keep him productive. Give credit to Viciedo for honesty. The 5-foot-11, 230-pounder, hitting .313 with 10 homers, 19 doubles and 45 RBIs for Triple-A Charlotte, wants to make an everyday impact when he gets the call. "I love to play and I love to play every day," said Viciedo, with Miranda's assistance. "That's the kind of player I am. It's the only way to do what I'm doing, playing every day." "He is slowly acquiring a little bit more plate discipline, and the ball comes off of his bat harder than anyone we have," said Williams, who regularly sees Viciedo through Minor League video feeds that he has at U.S. Cellular Field. "And the sky is the limit to where his potential can take him. Getting him off of third base and putting him in the outfield, it has really helped him start to make some progress offensively." By his own admission, Viciedo came into Spring Training this season with a greater focus than in previous years. It was noticed by Guillen, who said that Viciedo put the White Sox on the spot, as they have to think about what they are going to do with him. A fractured right thumb, suffered when hit by a David Bush Cactus League pitch, derailed Viciedo's rising challenge to break camp with the team. "Now we know why we signed him and what we have for the future," said Guillen of Viciedo, who is playing in the third year of a four-year, $10 million deal. "Finally we put him in one spot and say, 'Let him play there and see what happens.' "To me, he seemed like a kid who didn't care nothing about it. He seemed that way. But he definitely cares. He has pride. He matured as a man and matured as a player." Viciedo will be in Chicago for two days this week to finalize his United States citizenship process. It might not be too long before Chicago becomes his permanent baseball residence. Adam Dunn is locked in for three more years at designated hitter, and Alex Rios is set in the outfield for another three as well. There are those who believe that Viciedo and Carlos Quentin will become an either/or outfield proposition. Williams is not one of those people. "That's going to be the trio of Chicago," said Viciedo of an outfield including himself, Quentin and Rios, with Quentin potentially moving back to left. "There are some pretty good hitters in the lineup just mentioned," Williams said. "Someone else will have to figure out the leadoff spot, if that were something to think about."

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 13, 2011 -> 12:17 PM) Haha...we've gotten 29 IP of basically league average production out of him this season thus far. He's been paid approximately $6.62 million thus far this year. So that means we're paying him $228,000 AN INNING for league average production. Since we acquired Jake, we've paid him roughly $25 million dollars for 156 IP. And outside of 3 meaningless starts in 2009, he's been league average for his entire time here. So thus far, we've paid Jake $160,256 per inning for league average production. Yes, that is an absolute disaster. Wins.

QUOTE (rowand's rowdies @ Jun 13, 2011 -> 12:10 PM) When I heard these type of statements, I literally LOL'd. I would like everyone who said any of the following to admit it, call themselves some kind of deragatory term (as mild or harsh as you feel you deserve), and we can all move on while recognizing the sillies who say these kind of things and expect people to listen. It's a slow Monday and I'm feeling good about our Sox (like I was a month ago looking at the Indians and Tigers above us and the Twins below us). The heat lost so I figured we're all in a good mood and sometimes it feels good to get these kind of things out there. Clear your conscious people and feel a new sense of excitement for these soon to be 2011 Central Division Champion Chicago White Sox! Statements - (1) The Cleveland Indians are for real (2) The Indians are really hard to beat at home that's gonna make them tough to catch (3) The Indians are legit (4) The Indians will be good next year (5) Travis Hafner is finally healthy they are dangerous (6) The Indians finally have some pitching (7) The White Sox are done (8) The Red Sox are done (9) The White Sox are too far back this time (10) We can't make up all those games on the Indians AND Tigers (11) The Detroit Tigers are good (12) The Tigers are one of the best teams in baseball (13) Our pitching blows (14) Send (X player other than Juan Pierre) on the first train out of town (15) Lillibridge sucks (16-10,000) Any of the many silly things I missed regarding the Tigers, Indians, Red Sox, WHite Sox, or chubs. I'll start it off because I am guilty of (15) and never believing in Lilli. Dear Rowand's Rowdies, JJ Barea. That is all. Awesome post. The drama queens around here are guilty as charged!

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 13, 2011 -> 11:58 AM) It looks horrible for us, regardless of whether the Padres get any production out of anyone we traded for them or not. That trade was not about players, it was about Jake's condition and money. It has been an absolute disaster for us to this point, regardless of how you view it. "Absolute disaster", BS. Peavy gave the team wins against the top offenses in the league already this season and will do more of the same going forward. In this race, wins are everything.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 12, 2011 -> 12:27 PM) Anybody take a second to learn that Brent Lillibridge's improved defense in LF would most likely be more valuable than any offensive contribution Juan might make that Lillibridge could not, because of the handedness of the Oakland SP? Have you been watching the games this year? Didn't think so. Pierre 2-for-4 today. Sox win. Enjoy.

QUOTE (OilCan @ Jun 12, 2011 -> 11:50 AM) IMHO, Oz has been doing better at decision-making, managing. I didn't like at first how he handled Brent Morel, riding him on the bench, but....Brent has come out better, so no more complaints from me. It's too easy to nit-pick every single day on someone and not take the time to give someone credit for the good that they're doing, like we don't acknowledge of it. For the good Pierre has done, which I'm not going to dissect every little detail, good or bad...I feel that his every-day playing is over. The eye-test has told me that he's lost a step both defensively and his strongest asset which was running, as well as when you have those two now as a negative, and being just a slap hitter, well...that's not good. I feel that if you start to platoon, at the very least, Lillibridge and Pierre in LF from this point on, then you'll have Juan's legs fresher which hopefully will help him out, while getting some ABs to the Stealth Elf, who's been playing out of his mind all year and has proven that he should be getting some more ABs. Good call. I think that's what Ozzie is moving toward.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 12, 2011 -> 11:20 AM) Absolutely no idea...and I don't think it's a KW supported thing...I think he would love to have Lillibridge playing instead, but he has no power over Ozzie. Anybody take a second to learn that left-handed hitters fare better against the actual pitcher opposing Sox hitters today and therefore Ozzie stacked the lineup to reflect the best chance for success? No? Didn't think so. Please continue...

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Jun 7, 2011 -> 10:10 AM) How can an owner say he is satisfied with his GM/Manager when his $125-million team is under .500? Because the goal is not to win the early June Championship.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Jun 7, 2011 -> 10:23 AM) To look at the loss column at this point in the season is RIDICULOUS. More important is that the Tribe has played 4 less games than we have , and will likely lose two of those. If you've actually watched the Indians play, you couldn't possibly be worried. Their pitching is a mirage. We're chasing the Tigers - Cleveland will be irrelevant soon. Any mention of the loss column is as moronic as mention of the Indians magic number to clinch the division.

The Sox have shaved 5.0 games off the 1st place lead in 4 weeks, they are 7-3 in their last 10 games at home, the offense is solid, the bullpen is steady and every thread, article, interview and call into a post-game show is ADAM DUNN and ALEX RIOS.

May 6th the Sox were 11 games back.

The guy wasn't even supposed to return to MLB until July in the first place! Step off his neck for god's sake!

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jun 3, 2011 -> 10:12 PM) that was unrealistic. Even with laprascopic surgery you need to cut through abdominal muscles and for a hitter that is painful. Apparently PK is pretty sore today. Doubtful for tonight, possible for tomorrow.

Making hot corner plays to save runs! Do it, Mo!

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Jun 1, 2011 -> 10:33 AM) First time I've heard this. Do you have more insight? Stone has more than eluded to this several times. Walking off the mound, Jackson has twice this season showed up his teammates by glaring out to them after an error or misplay and throwing his glove into the dugout when he's been removed. Guys don't take that sh*t well that they haven't in the clubhouse. Coop has just flat out stopped trying to help the guy a couple games and just left him out there to burn when he typically visits.

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Jun 1, 2011 -> 10:27 AM) Props to Edwin Jackson for stepping up and for being willing to do what's best for the team. I'd like to see the Sox re sign this guy and keep him around. The Sox are not resigning Jackson. Coop is not a fan and neither are most of the players.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jun 1, 2011 -> 08:34 AM) Who we face on the home stand: Tigers- Oliver, Verlander, Penny Mariners- Pineda, Hernandez, Vargas A's- Cahill, Gonzalez, Anderson, Outman Sign me up for 6-4 now, I'll take it. 5 lefties, plus Verlander, Pineda, Felix, and Cahill...good luck, Dunner. Good Lord, that is the best pitching in the AL coming at us. Yikes.

As I've always said, that dude belongs in the bullpen for this team. He should be the one to go.

If the Sox sweep the Sawx it would be a 5-5 road trip which very respectable all things considered. Even if they just win the series, 4-6 on this brutal stretch is fine.