We are better off without ...

by LT_sox_fan on Jun 20, 2008 6:17 PM CDT

We, whitesox fans, often, but this year especially, have a lot of opinions and suggestions to Kenny and Ozzie regarding our lineup, team, and the farm system. In all of those suggestions I never hear anyone mention this crucial point: for us to develop our team we must get rid of Jim Thome.

A great team guy, awesome person, sure to get into Hall of Fame on the first ballot. But the only thing he has been doing to us since he got here is build up our hope for great potental but fail more often than not when we need him. His main problem: too predictable. The oposing team staffs know what Thome is looking for and what they need to do to get him out. Sometimes opposing pitcher will have a mental lapse or just just simply make a mistakes that gets crushed over the wall. But at the times when the game is ON and everyone is alert and executing Thome is a sure out.

With our payroll already stretched developing whatever is left in the farm system to become a major league player is crucial here. With Alexei and Swisher being very flexible in which position they play we sure could find ways to rotate people like Dye, Konerko, Owens, and Fields between DH, 1B, and OF positions. I better see Owens fail (but learn) to execute sac bunt, steal a base, do something than see Thome square up and strike out with 2 outs and 2 on.

Again, awesome baseball player historically. Great career. And I am half ashamed to write this, but I thought someone should speak out. I cannot wait until he is gone next year (team has an option for '09 which I don't know why would they pick it up).

SouthSideSox is a community driven site. As such, users are able to express their thoughts and opinions in a FanPost, such as this one, which represents the views of this particular fan, but not necessarily the entire community or SouthSideSox editors.

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Ranking Preferences:

250. Try for home run, fail.
249. Leg crushed by bus.
248. Hair on fire.
...
156. Try for home run, hit single.
...
85. Try for home run, hit home run.
84. Try for home run, accidentally sacrifice runner on first to 2nd.
83. Caught stealing (aggressive!)
...
22. Try to sac bunt, fail.
21. Try to move runner from 1st to 2nd with grounder to right side, hit into DP
...
13. Properly execute sac bunt.
...
4. Properly execute double steal.
3. VJ Day
2. Orgasm lasting for eternity.
1. Properly execute hit and run.

As always, I kid. I kid because I love.

by The Actual El Guapo on Jun 20, 2008 6:40 PM CDT 1 recs

This is bullshit, AEG

Where does “beating the shift with a well-placed hit through the 3b hole, legs out a double”? I’d opine that it’s in the top 5.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 20, 2008 8:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

Mankind

has not devised a number to rank the sheer awesomeness of that achievement. From the beginning of recorded human history, civilization has dared dream the impossible dream of the legged out 2 bagger directly to the LF, only to fall short again and again and again. Those who try and fail are legendary and heroic in their own right and adorned with appropriate laurels (Erstad, Eckstein, Rowand (DRINK!)), but, Icarus-like, all ultimately plummet back to earth.

The elders whisper tales late at night of a one initialed man with an interjective symbol (perhaps a comma, when the feeling is not as strong) who rides upon a mightly one-horned beast who may someday reach the summit, though this view is generally scorned by the more learned younger generation.

(My God, did I just type all that?)

by The Actual El Guapo on Jun 20, 2008 9:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

I will dare tread where others fear

and suggest the following:

DO quit your day job. Please just spend all your waking hours amusing us with your fantastic tales of merriment and mirth, widsom and sagacity, Tinker to Evers to Chance.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 20, 2008 9:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

Too kind, sir.

I would love to post all day, but, as the men with the white coats who bring me cookies and juice say, “we have to run these experiments on someone—back to your cell now subject #4235501.”

by The Actual El Guapo on Jun 20, 2008 9:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

You get cookies and juice?

Lucky bastard. I get enema bags and nipple clamps. But it’s a living.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 20, 2008 9:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

good for you. i'm paying a ton for that shit.

They're gonna give daddy the Rain Man suite, you dig that?

by MarketMaker on Jun 21, 2008 3:35 AM CDT up 0 recs

don't forget bowls

you apparently have at least one.

are you trying to use stats around here? what the fuck do you think this is? - MM

by colintj on Jun 21, 2008 6:21 PM CDT up 0 recs

here's the problem with your post, man:

when pitchers are executing, as you say, almost all hitters are going to be sure outs. not too many players routinely hit good pitches. these guys make their living on mistakes. thome makes more than most because when guys make a mistake to him, he frequently hits home runs. you can’t expect anyone to produce offensively when a pitcher is throwing well and locating, but you’d like to be able to capitalize when he isn’t.
pitcher’s pitch: thome k’s. owens grounds out.
mistake pitch: thome hits a homer. owens hits a single.
know what i mean?

They're gonna give daddy the Rain Man suite, you dig that?

by MarketMaker on Jun 21, 2008 3:42 AM CDT 0 recs

I know what you mean to some extend. But I think your point is too over-generalized. The pitcher’s mistake has to be this fat-big-over-the-middle-of-the-plate pitch that will get destroyed by Jimmy. But what about poorly located pitches that can be hit by the reach, something thrown inside “on hands”: none of these things I have seen Thome do in recent memory.

Again, I hate talking about this great guy like this … but the conversation is worth to be had.

by LT_sox_fan on Jun 21, 2008 12:11 PM CDT 0 recs

It's kind of funny...

for all the guff that Thome has gotten this year, I don’t think Konerko has gotten half of it despite the fact that he’s (Konerko) been much more of a detriment to the Sox’ offense than Thome has been. Is that because Konerko’s had the hand injury? Or am I completely off-base in my assertion altogether?

Going forward, Konerko might just be this team’s biggest problem—two-and-a-half more years and close to $30 million left for a guy who probably doesn’t project to be much better than average (compared to other first basemen) over that time frame. Then again, perhaps I’m just overreacting to an injury-riddled two months.

by CWSKeith on Jun 21, 2008 2:53 PM CDT 0 recs

Konerko has definitely gotten it here, IMO.

by SSH2005 on Jun 21, 2008 3:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

i suppose, but i'd say konerko has gotten off lightly compared to thome by many of the casual to moderate sox fans.

They're gonna give daddy the Rain Man suite, you dig that?

by MarketMaker on Jun 21, 2008 6:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

Ageism.

And DH-ism.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 21, 2008 6:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'd throw in

for sure the hand injury and the fact that Konerko has been on the team for a long time.

Plus (this applies more to the casual fan) Thome replaced Thomas and was traded for the ever-loved Rowand

-Jeeves Life in the Cell

by jeeves on Jun 23, 2008 7:06 AM CDT up 0 recs

You think folks hold grudges like that?

I would think the casual fan doesn’t remember the family tree.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 23, 2008 9:20 AM CDT up 0 recs

yeah, that contract looks to be a problem...

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Jun 21, 2008 9:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

hey, maybe we can trade him for justin smoak!

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Jun 21, 2008 9:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

No no no. Paulie’s contract is not that bad after all. We have DH spot waiting for him. Also, go back to the time when we resigned him. The moment that is. It was right after WS capture. I think he showed to the rest of MLB that Sox are a good team to stick with. He could have bolted for Angels, but he didn’t. Then we had Buehrle resign. Look at our team overall, most of the coaches are ex-Sox. And that’s how we should keep it, you want to stick to the southside sox because they are da shit. Let’s face it, there are 30 teams fighting for the championship and not always the best team wins. I better keep a solid group of guys around than chase some chunky Cabreras around just to get a crown.

by LT_sox_fan on Jun 21, 2008 11:04 PM CDT 0 recs

Dude, you're nuts

If I was guaranteed a trip to the WS just by having a team of “chunky Cabreras”, I’d do that in a heart beat. Give me A-Rod, Jeter, Nick Punto – hell, even Curt Schilling, if it guarantees me a shot, I’m doing it no matter how big of a douche bag the player is.

Of course, there are no guarantees in baseball, other than ChiSox11’s ability to entertain MarketMaker, apparently, so there’s that caveat, along with the salary issue, etc. But I hope you get the point.

Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.

by rhythm on Jun 22, 2008 3:11 AM CDT up 0 recs

Where the eff you been?

You better be ready this eve.

CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.

by winningugly on Jun 22, 2008 10:05 AM CDT up 0 recs

Puerto Rico, my dear friend

Not sure about this evening, as I’ll probably be watching the action in a neighborhood bar, but it will be nice to get back into the swing of things this week.

Did I miss anything while I was away?

Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.

by rhythm on Jun 22, 2008 1:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

i love that crazy bastard. he was so unpredictable. i think jim's on board, as well.

They're gonna give daddy the Rain Man suite, you dig that?

by MarketMaker on Jun 22, 2008 12:25 PM CDT up 0 recs

Count me in as well

I especially liked his frequent use of “Lare”, it started out as annoying but really grew on me.

Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.

by rhythm on Jun 22, 2008 2:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

that lare stuff was gold. antagonizing and baiting larry like a 12 year old kid trying to start a fight. that whole thread was like a bizarro world to me and i loved it.

They're gonna give daddy the Rain Man suite, you dig that?

by MarketMaker on Jun 22, 2008 2:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

i actually got called fat by a 12 year old recently.

I’m trying to decide if I should actually get fat out of spite, or start running because I’ve evidently been seeing myself in the mirror too favorably.

...then i remembered ”!2 year olds Dude.”

are you trying to use stats around here? what the fuck do you think this is? - MM

by colintj on Jun 23, 2008 3:06 AM CDT up 0 recs

a world of pain.

has the whole world gone crazy? am i the only one around here who gives a shit about the rules?

They're gonna give daddy the Rain Man suite, you dig that?

by MarketMaker on Jun 23, 2008 4:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

OVER THE LINE!!

are you trying to use stats around here? what the fuck do you think this is? - MM

by colintj on Jun 23, 2008 4:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

its ok

i had a 12 year old talk about how he saw me at a bar with a co-worker and then told the co-worker i probably wouldnt be so fat if i laid off of the beer. and that goes along with the nickname fattie mattie. i hate this job sometimes

He was banned for today partly because he uses bad words (in a mean way; unlike everyone else who only use them when absolutely necessary in order to fight the terrorists)

by whitesoxmatt on Jun 24, 2008 12:25 AM CDT up 0 recs

"not always the best team wins"

so let’s just keep around the white guys we developed

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Jun 22, 2008 2:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

speaking of white guys...

do you realize that other than Wise, there is only 1 black man on the Sox? Last year with Owens they had a major league average 2.
Historically, the Cubs were the white team.

When she farts, a little rainbow comes out...

by Chiburb on Jun 22, 2008 4:33 PM CDT up 0 recs