ThunderBolt

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 22, 2010 -> 02:07 PM) A 7-man bullpen is f***ing stupid for a team with an offense this weak and a rotation this strong. Who gets the extra-spot on the bench? I'd bet you that unless Retherford hits hiss ass off in spring, it would be Lillibridge. Does that sound worth losing a spot in the pen for?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 22, 2010 -> 01:41 PM) I'm very concerned that Putz is supposedly not close to being 100 percent. It's a bit odd that we haven't got any fluff about his arm being is great shape. Maybe there is some thing to be concerned about,

Wow, Lance Broadway is freaking crazy.

Seven Guys Hudson Williams Linebrink Pena Putz Thornton Jenks

Allow me to blow off some steam for a minute, guys. I’m starting to think that Ozzie Guillen has lost his mind. Ozzie’s tenure as White Sox coach has produced some compelling and eccentric lines of decision makings over the years, none more eccentric then the notion of the “rotating DH” that he’s pushing for this year. Sadly, it is beginning to look that much of Ozzie’s thinking is ill-suited for an AL lineup, and is in my humble estimation potentially damning for a team that looked like had a great chance of competing for something other than a pissing content with the Twins for the next six months. It infuriates me that Ozzie feels the need to tell Rios to, "give me 50 stolen bases and three home runs." This is a guy who has the potential to do so much more, this is a guy we’re going to have to count on to pop at least 15 for us to have a chance at contending. And then we have this "We are not a home run team anymore." The hell you’re not, Ozzie! You play in the Cell! I understand the importance of a balanced lineup, but the things he’s stressing are to the detriment of this team. We can’t shift the focus away from hitting for power, when our main asset for the last decade has been just that. We can’t marginalize a power position in the lineup, to give Mark Kotsay some kicks. This isn’t the right way to be going about things, and it’s unfair to everyone (primarily, the fan base) to go into a season with a gaping hole in the middle of the lineup, that EVERYONE can see. A hole that will eventually need to be fixed, like the CF situation, and we’ll only tread water to the day where we have the stones to acknowledge that the endeavor was a mistake. Our offense was a huge problem for us last year, and as it stands now, we’ve done very little to improve the team other than hoping like hell that Teahen and Beckham continue to improve.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jan 22, 2010 -> 12:58 PM) Thome might be close to signing with the Twins per The Score 670. If this is true i'm going to be more then a little pissed off. Especially, in light of that interview yesterday where Ozzie reiterated his belief that Visquel as a DH is a good idea.

QUOTE (scenario @ Jan 22, 2010 -> 12:58 PM) A's prospect Grant Desme retiring from baseball to join the priesthood? I'm sure that has probably happened before, but I can't remember anybody getting as far as he has and then escaping to the cloth. This kind of odd-retirement stuff seems to only happen to the A's. What with Jeremy Brown packing it in the minute it seemed he had the backup catching spot in the bag. And Desme looked like he was really putting things together, but i can't begrudge the guy for his faith.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 12:31 PM) Terrible signing by the Angels. I'd be surprised if he repeat his 2009 numbers. Especially, sans Dave Duncan.

QUOTE (Ranger @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 01:32 PM) The only concern with having Quentin as a primary DH is that I'm not sure it's the best thing in the world for him to go straight to the bench after an AB. It might do a guy like him some good to get his butt back on the field after a strikeout so he can forget about it. I don't know that they want him stewing on the bench for 3 innings until he comes up to the plate again. Ideally, having the four veterans on the bench next to him, might help him get a hold of himself after failure.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 02:39 AM) It's crazy to think that the White Sox have a guy like Gordon Beckham on the team. It's great to see a guy that you know is going to be here for a longtime. He's going to be a figurehead for this team.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jan 21, 2010 -> 11:07 AM) Well, the question is, then what do you carry on your roster? Do you only carry an 11 man pen? Or do you cut Nix from the 25 man? You cut Nix. No question about it. Let him find a job somewhere else, and if he doesn't you outright him to AAA.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jan 20, 2010 -> 04:40 PM) Does mustard color signify hatred? I hope so.

Anyone got the new Spoon album yet? I'd love to hear some reviews.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jan 18, 2010 -> 06:52 PM) Yes, happened early in the year, it was decided right off the bat. lol. I dunno the first Peavy trade thread was f***ing epic. That and the board meltdown that occured for the Pods pickoff/Extra-inning Mariners game.

I’m still picking up the pieces of my shattered soul from my crushing defeat at the hands of Cubano in the ROY voting last year. Hopefully, I’ll be able to rebound and look towards the future.

I like how this organization is actively recruiting lefties for the minor league system. Hopefully, gone are the days where Wes Whistler was the only crutch to fall back upon.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 20, 2010 -> 03:30 PM) Were those draft-and-follow guys? Nah, sounds like Jernstad went to the Joliet Jackhammers right after graduating from NIU, and Piccola's from the Tigers organization. http://www.wcthunderbolts.com/team/roster/...ml?player_id=59 http://www.wcthunderbolts.com/team/roster/...l?player_id=118

Sox bring in two lefties from the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier League. "Matt Jernstad was acquired from the Joliet JackHammers during the 2008 season. In his short time with the ThunderBolts in 2008, he pitched 7 strong innings and had an ERA of 1.29. The left hander was a member of the 2008 Frontier League Champion Windy City ThunderBolts. Jernstad, who is a resident of Oswego, IL, produced stellar numbers in 2009. He had a record of 7-4 and an ERA of 2.31 in 78 innings pitched. He struck out 97 batters and only walked 23. Jernstad showed great control of his pitches which made him stand out to the White Sox. When asked about the opportunity, Jernstad said, "Being signed by the White Sox is a great accomplishment. I had such an awesome time in Windy City, the players were all great and the coaches really helped me out." Zach Piccola was another southpaw signed by the White Sox. Piccola, who hails from Bedford, NH, played two years of affiliated baseball in the Detroit Tigers organization in 2006 and 2007. In 2009, Piccola was acquired late in the year by the ThunderBolts. He pitched in 8 games and faced a total of 40 batters and only allowed 11 to reach base. Piccola had an ERA 3.72 and struck out 13 batters. Both of these left-handed pitchers look to make an impact in the White Sox organization in 2010." http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/r...ses/?id=3951535

Well, if Greg Walker says it, it must be true. I think Rios will rebound, solid D, .270 AVG, and 15-20 HR's sounds about right.

If Jones really is going to start for this team he needs to be playing the OF full-time with Q as the DH. We cannot waste Jones defensive advantages just to get Mark Kotsay ab's in the name of "flexibility."

A Kotsay/Jones platoon reduces our power projections from 184 (with Jones being the sole DH) to about 173 homeruns. Bill James has that platoon producing 14 bombs. Once again i'm not slavish to these, but that's not good. We need to get an actual DH here, the kind of guy that is a lock to get his numbers year-to-year. Thome's that guy, thick or thin, he's going to pop around 25 for us.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Jan 17, 2010 -> 03:24 PM) As we stand I think we project to have a good amount of power already. Most projections have us around 184 homeruns, which is exactly the same amount we had last year. This is a fine number if we're counting on our pitching staff to carry a lot of the weight, but it sure could use another shot in the arm.

QUOTE (since56 @ Jan 17, 2010 -> 09:14 AM) Why are we so locked into the stereotype of a DH being a power hitter. There wwere times last rear I would have had Pods at at Dh because we needed him at lead off but his defense was so bad I wouldn't want him out there. If you have a guy that can not play the field but can still hit what you have is a pinch hitter. Ozzie wants the Dh spot to be able to hit in match ups run the bases and go into the field if necessary. The DH does not have to be a home run or nothing guy. He will use his bench to fill that spot. That also gives him room on the roster for another picher. The position is called "Designated Hitter" not "Designated Guy Who Can Do Many Thing, Most Of Them Not Involving Hitting".

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 11, 2010 -> 10:25 PM) I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see it directed by Michael Bay. Honestly, i think the Spider-man reboot is something that Joss Whedon needs to get his hands on. It's almost the perfect fit for his writing style and might get him some play with the public at large.

QUOTE (since56 @ Jan 14, 2010 -> 09:05 PM) I am not predicting total collapse or gloom but lets be realistic, will these guys prove to be the best staff in the A.L.? They might, I hope so. Christ, you get anymore optimistic you’re going to have a brain hemorrhage