Today's news

[JUGGERNAUT]

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/ds.../pro/051sd6.htm

"Once you sit on the edge so long and then you break, you got to probably get some better matchups for him a little earlier in the game."

 

"Marte and Flash (Gordon) have done a good job and have saved some ballgames before," Manuel said. "Until it looks like Billy kind of gets his stuff back, we've got to do what we've got to do."

 

The problem is Koch's much-hyped 100-mph fastball hasn't been seen all season, which leads Manuel to believe there's a problem beyond what can be detected on the surface.

 

"I can't recollect a velocity being that big a difference without something going on," Manuel said. "The guy (Koch) we saw in Oakland and Toronto would just throw the ball right by you."

 

DAMN RIGHT! I am so pissed at KW for letting Beane cajole him into this trade without making the radar gun a prime test in Koch's physical.

 

Want to know Koch's velocity last night?

3 @ 78, 3 @ 88, 1 @ 89, 2 @ 90, 2 @ 91.

It's not as bad as Olestra, but pretty damn close!

 

Contrast with Marte : most in the 94-96 range but still able to drop to 81.

His dominance is in his very effective offspeed pitches to compliment his heater.

 

At least Manuel has the presence of mind to say enough is enough.

4.5 gb KENNY!

[Chisoxfn]

I truly believe Koch is hurt.

 

While I know he has no movement, he can kind of get away with it when he has a 97 MPH heater and a couple lesser speed pitches so guys can't sit on one pitch.

 

I think Manuel has it right. I really think Koch is a battler and at the end of the season we'll see him go under the knife.

[elrockinMT]

I truly believe Koch is hurt. 

 

While I know he has no movement, he can kind of get away with it when he has a 97 MPH heater and a couple lesser speed pitches so guys can't sit on one pitch. 

 

I think Manuel has it right.  I really think Koch is a battler and at the end of the season we'll see him go under the knife.

This is the reasonable assumption and I think it's time for the Sox to require a physical check up. Koch apparently won't admit he is hurt and wants to continue pitching, but all he is doing is blowing it. Even the games he has won has been because the offense picked him up. I am sure Koch wants to be a part of the winning team and do his part to contribute, but he is the weak link at this point.

[SoxFan1]

KW has ONLY 1 more thing to do to solidify a pennant run:

 

Trade for a starter so Wright can be the closer and Koch a regular reliever.

[SuperSteve]

I would like to see Wright as the closer. It would be easier to see Koch come in to the game in the 6th and 7th innings, than the 9th.

[Chisoxfn]

I would like to see Wright as the closer. It would be easier to see Koch come in to the game in the 6th and 7th innings, than the 9th.

Koch in the 6th or 7th would be a really nice option. The flaw is the Sox are paying him so much money.

 

I really don't know whats going on, but I do think Jeff Weaver would be a great addition to this club. He's a great pitcher.

 

Still, no way should Cotts be involved. I still think a Koch for Weaver deal makes more sense, but I guess the idea is Wright will either go to the closers role or replace Gordon while Koch probably co-closes with Marte.

 

Wunsch should be back up soon, which will strengthen the pen and then the Sox could deal Glover and maybe Munoz and even Majewski for a good reliever that the Sox could keep for a long time. I wouldn't give up Arnie unless we got a long term solution.

 

Then instead of us worrying so much about after next year, we'd have the ability to lose Colon, yet still have 4 good starters (Buehrle, Loaiza, Garland, and Weaver).

 

We'd have a damn good young closer (Danny Wright or Damaso) and we'd have a good young reliever in the pen (No idea who, but there are always quality middle relievers out there; Lightenberg wouldn't be too bad or someone like Jorge Julio).

 

But who knows. I do think a Konerko, Glover, and Munoz move could get the Sox Ponson and a good reliever.

 

Then you'd insert Ponson to the rotation and have Weaver, Wright, Koch, Marte and someone like Ligthenberg or Julio, Wunsch, and White in the pen.

 

Thats a hell of a pen and a heck of a rotation. Rotation and Pen could each eat innings.

 

Then if Colon walks, you have Weaver come in and replace him and resign the cheaper Ponson, giving you a 5 man rotation next season.

 

I'm sure none of this makes sense, so to highlight, I'd go with my option two.

 

Trade Gordon for Weaver (Yanks eat a lot of his salary and no way do they give them Cotts; They hold out and worse case give them someone like Brian Cooper or Ryan Meaux).

 

Trade Paul Konerko, Gary Glover, and Arnie Munoz for Sidney Ponson (Whom we resign if we can't re-up with Colon or they could resign; Also give Sox money to resign Alomar as Konerko makes a TON) and Kerry Ligthenberg (32 Yrs Old; 3.13 ERA in 31.2 Innings of work) or add Jon Rauch into the package and get Jorge Julio (18 Saves and you insert him as closer or set up man to Damaso Marte). At 24, I think its really a hard move. Sox may not have to give up Munoz to get Lightenberg, they could go with Ginter or maybe even Majewski.

[YASNY]

Question #1 .... Why would the Yankees want Koch?

 

 

Question #2 .... How do we know Danny Wright can be a good closer?

 

Everybody has seemed to jump on that bandwagon. We've never seen him in anything close to that role. He may not have the intestinal fortitude to handle that job.... We are talking about that same guy that always gives runs in the first inning? That's a helluva gamble to take in a pennent race.

[JUGGERNAUT]

Question #1 .... Why would the Yankees want Koch?

They're pen needs a heater.  Oops.  Koch is Olestra 2.

Fughit abut it!

 

 

Question #2 ....  How do we know Danny Wright can be a good closer?

He throws harder than any one not named Colon on this team.  He can consistently hit 96,95,94.  I've even seen hi m hit 97 on occasion.

 

[Fem23]

I would put Koch on the DL--call it a dead arm. If he comes back w/ no velocity, then you know what you have for the rest of the season. And maybe then you can go out and get a closer. But for all these people to call him a bum and ask for his head is a joke. If he had his fastball, there would be no problems. And if I here about Keith Foulke one more time, I'll be sick. And don't get me wrong I loved Foulke, I thought he was mistreated last season. But if he's gonna ask for $10 million to get 3-4 outs a couple times a week, he has to go. We don't have the luxury to pay a closer that much. Anyone who says they weren't pumped to get Koch is lying. We envisioned nothing but gas--7 from Colon, 1 from Marte, and 3 Ks from Koch. He just doesn't have that fastball for whatever reason. His curve and slider are fine.

 

As for Danny Wright closing, gimmie a break. He's the last guy I would want in there. C'mon, his 1st inning is always the worst. He's not overpowering and doesn't have one plus pitch.

 

It just sucks that now Flash has to close and we won't get Weaver. I'd love to have Weaver here for the long haul. He's a stud--another guy who just has to get out of New York. I wonder if he's been close to getting shipped somewhere b/c he's had his start pushed back twice now I want to say. And this is after his best start of the year.

[Jim Fainter]

I agree about putting Koch on the DL. Gotta find out what's wrong, but we are stuck with him through 2004.

 

Re Wright, there is no way they would just thrust him into a closer role. If he does go to the pen, he'll get some middle relief shots, and we'll see how he does.