Sunday Night post

by The Cheat on Mar 23, 2008 10:31 PM CDT in News

I just got an email in my inbox saying we could be off-line for the move by as early as 11PM Chicago time, so I'm quickly throwing this post up here as a placeholder. I'll add to it for as long as I can.

I'm never around in the morning, and Monday will be no different. So the introductory post by Trei, our lead programmer (or something like that) should be on the right sidebar in the area you currently know as Diaries. Please make sure to read it, as it will make your transition much smoother.

I probably won't have the time to do it before 1.0 disappears, but I'll make a post sometime today (Monday) that helps demonstrate some of the new features that aren't yet apparent.

It now occurs to me that even this post might now make the trip. D'oh!

I encourage you all to use the next week before the season starts as a sort of Spring Training for our new platform. Test out the FanPosts and FanShots. Don't be afraid to make a mistake. It's spring training for us too!

* * * * *

In as quick as I can type White Sox news, Mark Gonzales offers some insights into the final roster. Gonzo seems convinced that Wasserman will make the club, which he's rightfully earned in major and minor league performance plus a solid spring, including a nice 1.2 innings on Sunday, but I'll believe it when I see it. I just think they are going to give Masset every opportunity to sink himself. And since MacDougal has an option remaining, and continues to walk guys, MMac might be the one who ends up in Charlotte. But that's just my gut talking, so it could be some bad Easter ham.

Ozzie seems non-committal on Brian Anderson making the club, which I can understand. I haven't seen anything new from Anderson this spring. The gut says he makes it, with the Sox unable to trade him for value. In that scenario, Josh Fields and Carlos Quentin end up in Charlotte (along with possibly Wasserman) because Kenny Williams was unable to properly guage the (trade) value of his own players versus his own view of their talent/worth.

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Comments

Let's test this mofo out

I'm digging the toolbar, but I'm not quite sure if having to preview your post before posting is going to be a pain in the ass or not.

Sox Machine

by Sox Machine on Mar 24, 2008 1:17 AM CDT 0 recs

It won't

You don't have to do any extra clicking. And they've cut out a page refresh plus a tab or two from the process.

You just have to get in the tab, enter, enter mode.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Mar 24, 2008 1:27 AM CDT up 0 recs

Ah.

I haven't been a big tabber on this site, for whatever reason. Probably because clicking gives me an extra second to double-check my post for any errors, open tags, etc.

Pretty sweet. The avatars I could do without (I wouldn't've added mine if I weren't a yelling guy by default), because comments take up more real estate now, but I can start to see how this'll improve the game-thread experience. Probably a net positive if I'm projecting it correctly.

Sox Machine

by Sox Machine on Mar 24, 2008 1:44 AM CDT up 0 recs

I'm pro Avatar

but not in comments. I like them in the FanPost section and profile pages. It gives some ownership, some personality....

But I could do without them in the comments. I've already learned to ignore them. Being on the right-hand side, while jarring at first, helps with the mental ingore

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Mar 24, 2008 1:50 AM CDT up 0 recs

testing 1, 2, 3

that may be the only thing that stuck with me from high school

good to be aboard the flashy new SSS yacht

I hope this all translates into a bundle in The Cheat's pocket....seriously

foxonfilm

by foxonfilm on Mar 24, 2008 2:14 AM CDT 0 recs

bear sterns

i hope no one acted on the not-so-bright idea to short BSC...

by larry on Mar 24, 2008 9:08 AM CDT 0 recs

Didn't short BSC, but after carefully weighing the options...

I've decided to just stick all my ill-earned loot in a mattress. I usually have no idea what the markets will do, but now I really have no idea. Is it ironic that a lot of Bernanke's academic work centered on the Great Depression?

by hitlesswonder on Mar 24, 2008 9:47 AM CDT up 0 recs

Nice layout

This will take some time to get used to but this is pretty cool.

"Lemonade was a popular drink back in the day and it still is.."

Gangstarr

by Big Daddy Kool on Mar 24, 2008 10:10 AM CDT 0 recs

I'm on the mofo

I'm getting lots of timeouts, having to refresh to get the connection. Otherwise, looks good!

by onlysoxfaninboston on Mar 24, 2008 10:37 AM CDT 0 recs

This is...

going to take some getting used to.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 24, 2008 10:41 AM CDT 0 recs

i guess i was wrong

you didn't die.

by larry on Mar 24, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up 0 recs

Nope...

real life rudely intruded on my internet time.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 24, 2008 10:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

welcome back

we actually kinda missed you.

by bhoov on Mar 24, 2008 1:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

One nice thing...

The Knights should be pretty damn good this year!

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 24, 2008 10:47 AM CDT 0 recs

A quibble with the Cheat...

"I haven't seen anything new from Anderson this spring".

Where have you seen this before:

BA SLG OBP AB TB BB K
.362 .690 .464 58 40 11 12

Next time, Bhoov, do some research.

by Chiburb on Mar 24, 2008 11:06 AM CDT 0 recs

i'd bet cheat could find

a similar 58 AB stretch sometime in BA's career.

i'd also bet he wasn't referring to his numbers but his approach. BA still looks kind of clueless on breaking balls. he still does not look like a player who can start in the major leagues.

by larry on Mar 24, 2008 11:13 AM CDT up 0 recs

He...

and Ramirez scare me a bit.

I'm happy to see them both doing well this spring, and I'd like to see Anderson get one more shot (why the hell not?) but I agree - I don't know that we're witnessing a breakthrough.

The one nice thing I've noticed is that Juan Uribe has cut down on the Ks quite a bit.

I'm trying to find a silver lining wherever I can.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 24, 2008 11:18 AM CDT up 0 recs

OTOH...

I 'll bet you can find at least a few MLers who can't handle the outside breaking balls. And I certainly don't recall BA walking as much as he Ks previously.
I know, sample size and all that. But he already has more games, more ABs, and MUCH better numbers than last ST when we agreed that he not only made the team but deserved to start (or at least platoon). And I refuse to say he was a bust last year. 17 ABs in 20 games isn't even a sample.

Next time, Bhoov, do some research.

by Chiburb on Mar 24, 2008 11:18 AM CDT up 0 recs

I'd love it if BA could play

But a hot 58 ABs mostly against very inferior pitching proves nothing when his swing and approach are the same as they have always been. I would say Anderson starting the season on the Sox big league roster is still 50-50 at best. And I doubt he'd see much action if he makes the roster.

I guess, for me, that last point is a key. I'd be more interested if Anderson were on track to get a bunch of major-league at-bats again. But he's not. So his hot spring lamentably means very little to the Sox organization. With players like Davannon and Johnson freely available, I don't see the spring numbers increasing Anderson's value much, especially given that scouts can see that his swing is unchanged.

by hitlesswonder on Mar 24, 2008 12:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

Anderson is...

walking more, which is encouraging.

Personally, I think if anyone needs some seasoning in the minors, it's Alexei Ramirez. He's not going to learn to hit breaking balls sitting on the bench.

I will admit that Boone Logan (I never got what the team saw in that guy) has looked good this spring.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 24, 2008 12:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

It's funny that you bring up the Booner.

I really haven't seen him throw this spring, except for one of the early games when he got hit around.

Numbers wise, he's actually been worse this spring than in his previous two.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Mar 24, 2008 12:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

This spring...

he's actually striking guys out, which is what I want to see from a short reliever. His peripherals look pretty decent.

One guy who has me worried is Bobby Jenks. Small sample size caveats and all, but 6 BBs, 2 Ks in 9 innings?

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 24, 2008 12:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

Don't worry about Big Boy

He said he could still throw 100 MPH "if I need to".

Next time, Bhoov, do some research.

by Chiburb on Mar 24, 2008 12:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

I always worry...

about Bobby Jenks. I've seen too many relievers flame out to ever have real confidence in them.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 24, 2008 12:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

Anderson batted over .300

and hit 3 HR in each of the last two springs. He's added walking to his repertoire, but It would be silly to think that he can suddenly walk at a rate of about 20BB for every 100 AB after his average minor league walk rate.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Mar 24, 2008 12:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

No he didn't.

He hit .292 last spring with 2 HR. In '06 he did hit .309, but with 1 HR.

Also, for a team that will need exceptional pitching to improve, his defense should be factored in.

Next time, Bhoov, do some research.

by Chiburb on Mar 24, 2008 12:14 PM CDT up 0 recs

Faulty memory

I thought Anderson, Fields and Sweeney each went deep 3 times in the last couple of springs. I wouldn't even know where to go to look that stuff up.

From what I've seen. Brian's got the same old swing, with maybe, maybe, a little more patience.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Mar 24, 2008 12:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

Here are the ST stats going back to '02

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/springStats?team=chw&type=bat&year=2007

Next time, Bhoov, do some research.

by Chiburb on Mar 24, 2008 12:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

I think...

Anderson's showing a bit more power than he's shown the past couple of years, but who knows?

The ideal situation, of course, is that the Sox dump Jermaine Dye for a bag of baseballs, and they find room for both Quentin and Anderson.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 24, 2008 12:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

Dye will need to produce first

which will make the Sox reluctant to get rid of him... and doesn't he have a no-trade clause for the first year of his new deal?

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Mar 24, 2008 12:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

That's right.

That signing looks stupider every day.

One more thing - Toby Hall looks like toast, not that that will prevent him from making the team.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 24, 2008 12:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed on Hall

It was a well conceived signing, which makes it all the more frustrating that it's turned out so poorly.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Mar 24, 2008 12:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yup.

I liked that signing at the time it was made, too.

But he's either still hurt, or he's just lost it.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 24, 2008 12:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

Depth at C

Is Lucy the backup to Hall? Or did the Sox bring in a AAAA Wiki Gonzalezesque C to fill that role at Charlotte? If they haven't, I think that's pretty poor planning. I still can't believe the Sox have allowed this situation to bleed over into this year.

by hitlesswonder on Mar 24, 2008 12:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

Paul Phillips.

Nothing special about him at all, but he's the AAAA-type the Sox have this year.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 24, 2008 1:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'd guess that Paul Phillips has surpassed Lucy

Armstrong might soon as well.

Phillips was 2-14 with the Royals last year... and the popup says JRE beats me to the punch

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Mar 24, 2008 1:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

i think

BA would get a decent amount of playing time, at least initially. the way ozzie has used him this spring in every outfield position makes it clear how they would use him. he'd certainly see lots of time as a late inning defensive replacement and he'd probably start against lefties to one degree or another.

quentin will be putting pressure on from AAA, though, so his opportunity will probably be brief unless he really seizes it or owens continues to be hurt.

by larry on Mar 24, 2008 12:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

Agree about Quentin, and rightfully so...

Not too shabby a player to have waiting in the wings. As for BA's "brief" opportunity, yes: he has to continue his hot hand early and often, or he deserves to sit (except as a defensive replacement). Or perhaps...
Konerko does get traded and Swisher moves to 1B.

Next time, Bhoov, do some research.

by Chiburb on Mar 24, 2008 12:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

Cool layout

I like it. Welcome back JRE.

"There is not a liberal America and a conservative America. There is the United States of America."

by Tdogg on Mar 24, 2008 12:36 PM CDT 0 recs

Thanks.

Good to be back.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 24, 2008 12:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

BA's approach

You know how you can confirm that you havent watched much of spring training this year? You say that Brian Anderson hasnt changed, and that his results this spring are the same as previous seasons. His swing is 100 percent different. He has shortened his stride and cut down the length of his swing while keeping the bat much more on plane. His barrel effectively stays in the zone a bit longer which has helped his power in the gaps and to the opposite field. He no longer is relying on pure pull power as he now has pretty good power to all fields. of course you could just sit back and continue to lie and say he's the same player, we just all know you havent taken the time to actually watch his at-bats.

by Rockraines on Mar 24, 2008 2:28 PM CDT 0 recs

How could you see more than a couple

ABs? The 2 televised games I saw were minus BA in the lineup. Do you live in Tuscon?

Next time, Bhoov, do some research.

by Chiburb on Mar 24, 2008 2:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

?

You think there have only been 2 televised games? Theres 13 in total

by Rockraines on Mar 24, 2008 2:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

über-pwned

dang, not only the first pwnage of the new site, that was a double-pwn. the rock does say know your role and shut your mouth. 100% different? does he swing backwards now?

by larry on Mar 24, 2008 2:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

BA

Take a look at it the next time you watch a game. His swing was horrifically long in pervious seasons. He even brought his back hip through the zone with his bat which made it very long and slow. This season he goes right from his set position and brings the bat down on the ball short and quick. He appears to have gained more strength and especially wrist strength that has helped him morph this shorter swing into a powerful one as well. His power to RF, which can be seen pretty easily in the last televised ST game, is improved and his quicker swing allows him to stay on the ball a bit longer, which I think was one of his weaknesses in the past, and one of the reasons he struck out so much. He seemed to always be guessing fastball previously, and now seems to look to recognize the pitch and then wait for one he can hit. The last at bat I saw I believe was this past weekend where he watched the pitcher burn a breaking ball for a strike, then recognized a fastball out over the plate and quickly took it out of the park to RF. THATS the BA that can succeed in the majors.

by Rockraines on Mar 24, 2008 3:29 PM CDT up 0 recs