ThunderBolt

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 05:40 PM) Dallas Braden looked really sharp yesterday. The A's staff is going to have to carry them this year. The offense certainly isn't. I'll say also that Kurt Suzuki has turned into a lot better of a player then i ever thought he'd be.

For those of you who were wondering what A's fans have to look forward to in the following decade look no further then Brett Anderson. He's going to be scary good.

At least get the voice down, if you're going to post in it.... dagnabbit.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 05:20 PM) there is validity to the point of the people on this board not being in the cluhouse and knowing the players. Maybe Jones is down and needs a confidence boost so he is putting him the situation to see how he does. I'm not saying this is the case but Ozzie will do this for his relief pitchers and young players alot. ozzie may not always be the best x and o manager but he knows players and gives them plenty of room to excel or sink themselves. He basically allows the players to determine if they should be with the team or play. He will do the same with Jones and Kotsay. Perhaps, but I‘d argue that the gap between people “in the know” and outside the box is far smaller than it ever was. I’d argue that most of us are fully capable of knowing the rights and wrongs about basic lineup construction.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 04:30 PM) Joe West I F***ing love you now. He's right too. So much of the Red Sox-Yankees stuff is grandstanding by each team, and it's about time an ump called them on it.

Can I just say how proud I am of being on a Sox message board, that allows debate, and doesn't resort to screaming, "OZZIE PLAYED MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL!!! YOU HAVEN'T!!! YOU CAN'T QUESTION HIM!!!" when the legitimacy of a managerial move is called into question? This board is great, and one of the best things that ever could have happened for my White Sox fandom.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 04:20 PM) And for you people that call Ozzie a moron for playing Jones in center, well, quite frankly, you will be proven wrong. Jones is not some hack of a CFer. Neither is Alex Rios who is signed to a long-term deal that demands contributions to the team on both offense and defense. Andruw Jones is a reclamation project who has no business being treated like the player he hasn't been for four years, not until he proves he's worthy of that treatment outside of the cactus league.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 03:31 PM) I don't have a problem with DH'ing Pierre, you take your weakest outfielder out and you replace him with Jones, while getting Kotsay out of the lineup. Juan Pierre isn't the weakest outfielder, he's also not that very good of a hitter. He's playing designated hitter today. By definition, Ozzie's doing it wrong. I don't think i've ever been more frustated with Ozzie then i have over these last six months. He's pushing his luck. Andruw Jones better party like it's 1999 tonight, because Alex Rios is the quarterback of this outfield, and it's stupid to screw with a guy who has taken this long to get adjusted in Chicago.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 03:28 PM) I'm not a fan of Quentin sitting for 30 minutes between his at-bats. He'll go nuts. I still find this mentality hilarious. Carlos is hard on himself, not on the edge of sanity,

QUOTE (WCSox @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 01:32 PM) This could also be orchestrated. If there's anything that I've learned about contract negotiations, it's that you rarely hear the real story in the press. Even truly good individuals like Thome are cognizant of their image and will take the necessary steps to protect it. Then again, it's also possible that this did play out as it was broadcasted through the press. We'll probably never know for sure. Are we really starting up a conspiracy theory about a genuine guy who has been on record multiple times saying he wanted to come back, and was the subject of a public and heated exchange at Soxfest between the manager and the GM?

QUOTE (WCSox @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 01:13 PM) I'm convinced that Thome didn't want to come back. And I don't blame him, as I imagine that winning a WS is his top priority. An objective analysis would probably give the Twins a slight edge over the Sox this year. Not even close. Jim Thome was pretty outspoken about wanting to return to the White Sox. This is on Ozzie. He made the choice, and he justified it to KW multiple times by claiming eventual responsibility. Oh, yeah And This: ''I'll be honest, I would still love to come back,'' Thome said, tightening the blue batting gloves on each hand. ''I still care about the city. I mean, we're going to live there. Chicago's very fond in my heart. The time that I spent there, [chairman Jerry Reinsdorf] treated me great. I guess we'll deal with that when this is all over with.'' http://blogs.suntimes.com/whitesox/2009/10...urn_to_sox.html

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 12:58 PM) Now we're back to wishing/hoping we could pencil someone into the line-up with Jim Thome's numbers. Even though we apparently don't need or want Thome anymore. Maddening. Silly, Caufield. We don't have the at-bats for Thome. January 23, 2010 "The only reason I'm thinking about this and the conversation with Jimmy is I don't know how many at-bats I'm going to get him,'' Guillen added. "It's not fair to Jim Thome and the ballclub to play with that. I'm not going to lie to Jimmy and say, 'We're going to bring you, you can play every day,' then all of a sudden I change my mind. I want to walk into the clubhouse with my head up. I don't want to walk into the clubhouse and try to avoid Jimmy because he's not playing." http://blogs.suntimes.com/whitesox/2010/01...call_and_t.html WAIT, WHAT? March 29, 2010 "One thing I'm going to ask my players in my meeting is to be patient," Guillen said. "I know everyone wants to be in the lineup, especially on Opening Day. Be patient. Don't feel left out. I'm the type of guy who likes to play guys a lot, especially the bench. I've done that the past few years. They're going to get their at-bats." http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-spt-0330-bits-white-sox-chicago-spring20100329,0,7263710.story

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 11:43 AM) I think Jones has to play more than once every six games. Agreed, but neither of us are managing this ballclub.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 10:13 AM) Danks led the Sox in ERA and quality starts last year. I know, but i'm a stuff guy. I love Danksy to death, but his straight changes hold a place in my heart that's a bit below Floyd's curve.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 8, 2010 -> 11:15 AM) How about some Andruw Jones? The guy is growing algae on his body by sitting in the cold, damp dugout. IF this is a straight platoon we won't be seeing Jones till the opening game of the Twins series against Liriano.

QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Apr 7, 2010 -> 11:18 PM) Why isnt their a 3rd option for liking him even if starting, kinda biased results We're trying to make this poll as realistic as possible.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 7, 2010 -> 11:29 PM) Too early to start up the Agon trade talks? I don't want to harp on this, but with Ryan Westmoreland having brain surgery and the Red Sox having trouble getting rid of Lowell, i'd say we're the favorites at the moment. That being said, i think Jared Mitchell going down was a huge deal as it kind of forces the direction that the package has to go in.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Apr 7, 2010 -> 11:25 PM) It was also against a red-hot Carmona in rainy, 39-degree weather. Six walks. That should be enough to get things going.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Apr 7, 2010 -> 11:24 PM) I don't think anybody's going to be all pissed at Greg Walker when you have guys like Kotsay and Teahen doing what they do Ozzie asked to take the brunt of the blame this year if things go south. i suggest we honor that request.

QUOTE (mreye @ Apr 7, 2010 -> 11:24 PM) They scored 3 runs on only 1 hit. That's not Ozzieball enough for you? That one hit was a home-run. We live in a confusing world.

FEAR THE KOTSAY.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Apr 7, 2010 -> 11:14 PM) How sad is it that we're all openly rooting to see Andruw Jones hit? It made me furious to remember Ozzie giving that speech at the end of the spring about how everyone doesn't have to worry, becasue they're going to get their ab's, and then thinking about his excuse for telling KW not to get Thome.

It's really disheartening to hear that the heart of the order is coming up and knowing that Kotsay owns an intergal place in it.

QUOTE (T R U @ Apr 7, 2010 -> 11:04 PM) lmao at the 40% who predict this team to win 95+ games Oney has a lot of free time since he stopped tweeting.

At least we're not clogging the bases.