Contreras Lost for Season, Most of Next
Jose Contreras was in top form for an inning and two-thirds Saturday night. His fastball was in the mid-90's. His forkball was dancing. He even ditched the sidearm delivery that so often gets him in trouble.
Then he had to run to cover first base.
With 2 outs in the second, Jacoby Ellsbury hit a groundball to Nick Swisher at first. Contreras took a bit of circuitous route to cover and take the flip. He stumbled as he got close to the base line, missed the flip from Swisher, and crumbled to the ground as he crossed the bag. He stayed down for a couple of minutes, and needed help to get off the field, the victim of a ruptured achilles tendon.
We have probably seen Contreras throw his last pitch in a White Sox uniform, possibly ever. With Contreras' age and the long recovery time for an injury of this type, I'd be surprised if we ever see him throw another pitch as meaningful as his last one. Contreras' career as a major leaguer might have ended in a heap just a few feet beyond first base.
For the White Sox, the obvious question is who replaces Contreras? Unfortunately, there are no easy answers, and the complicated answers are probably less than satisfactory as well. The Sox have three routes they can take to replace Contreras in the rotation:
-
Give the job to Carrasco -- DJ Carrasco has made two excellent extended relief outings this season, including the 4.1 innings of 1-run ball Saturday night. Unfortunately, with Scott Linebrink on the shelf, Carrasco has taken on more high-leverage work in the bullpen. Moving him to the rotation would mean extra high-leverage work for Dotel, Russell, and whomever is called upon to replace Carrasco.
-
Dip into the minor league well -- The Sox have already gone this route once before with dubious results. Clayton Richard showed what it looks like when you bring up an unheralded pitcher who started the season in A-ball, a lot like '06 Boone Logan, who I'll get to later. Aside from Richard, who I assume has been removed as an option following his last two lackluster performances, the only realistic options in the Sox minor leagues are Jack Egbert, who I jinxed with a mention last week, and 2007 first rounder, Aaron Poreda, whose last three starts in AA have been spectacular.
-
Scour the waiver wire -- Jarrod Washburn has already cleared waivers, and if Paul Byrd hasn't already, he'll easily slip through in the near future. But there's an obvious reason those two will be available; they're not very good. They'll give you consistently poor outings with a few good ones sprinkled in there just to keep you intrigued. And if the Sox have to give up actual talent, or take on actual salary, they're hardly of any interest to me.
While the Sox obviously have to replace Contreras, there's another member of the pitching staff who's overdue being replaced, Boone Logan. In his last 12 outings, he's allowed 20 runs in just, including 4 Saturday, and he's only pitched 8 innings. He's allowed 20 runs in his last 24 outs. There's little reason to keep a guy going through a stretch like that on even the worst team, let alone one trying to win a division crown.
So, assuming the Sox chose option 1 or 2, and I suggest they should, they'll need to be looking at both Egbert and Poreda either way. Whether it's Poreda getting a baptism by fire in the rotation or as a left-handed reliever, they'll need to drop to the minors to pick up two pitchers either way.
[Note by The Cheat, 08/09/08 10:04 PM CDT ]: As I wrote this entry, Buehrleman commented that 670 the Score has reported the Sox have already chosen option 3. They've traded Paulo Orlando, who sucks, and was probably one of the prospects Wilder used to skim money from the Sox, for Kansas City's Horacio Ramirez, who also sucks, but has found success by throwing junk in the strike zone out of the Kansas City pen. Also on the move, though yet to be confirmed, Boone Logan and Josh Fields appear headed to Charlotte. No word on who will be replacing them on the roster, though an infielder would figure to replace Fields; Chris Getz, anyone?
[Uptade by The Cheat, 08/09/08 11:15 PM CDT]: Dave Van Dyck confirms everything we wrote in the previous paragraph.
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bad day
jose looked good in his brief apperance tonight. I saw it mentioned in the game thread but the 5 spot is due up 9 times for the rest of the year, and I fear who is going to fill those starts. Id like to see poreda in the bullpen and one of washburn or byrd fill the rest of those starts. Cle probably wont help us, but if those guys have cleared waivers it shouldnt take too much to get a deal done.
by lod773 on Aug 9, 2008 10:22 PM CDT 0 recs
Carrasco is fine at #5
...but it makes Linebrink coming back healthy even more important.
by shaftr on Aug 9, 2008 10:30 PM CDT 0 recs
at this point
it sounds like late august is optimistic on linebrink. Its sounds as if weve got 2 roster spots to fill right now, are we looking at 1 pitcher and 1 position player, or is ozzie going to go back to the big bullpen?
by lod773 on
Aug 9, 2008 10:32 PM CDT
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think his corpse
can be exhumed in time for thursday?
by lod773 on
Aug 9, 2008 10:35 PM CDT
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Would this whole recap be considered lardy then?
"You know, if you stab a man in the dead of winter, steam will rise up from the wounds. Indians believed it was his soul escaping from his body." - Mikita's Manager, Glen
by omnipotent grab on
Aug 9, 2008 10:49 PM CDT
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you have Ho-Ram now
starting printing playoff tickets
by royalsreview on Aug 9, 2008 10:47 PM CDT 0 recs
you have orlando now
start printing last place tickets.
brian anderson would've caught that...
by BuehrleMan on
Aug 10, 2008 8:30 AM CDT
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I don't understand why any team that already has Joey Gathright...
would want Paulo Orlando. Orlando sucks even more than Gathright.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 10, 2008 8:49 AM CDT
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Chris Getz isn’t on the 40-man, so if he’s called up, who gets outrighted? Logan?
I cannot answer any more questions for you today. I has wickeds gas from drink too manys redbull.
by Marlafar on Aug 9, 2008 10:55 PM CDT 0 recs
No one has to be outrighted
1. there’s plenty of space
2. if there wasn’t, Contreras and Dony Lucy can be placed on the 60-day DL
AIM: SouthSideCheat
by The Cheat on
Aug 9, 2008 10:59 PM CDT
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LOL, Kenny didn't waste any time...
I hope he didn’t just acquire Horacio Ramirez because he dominated us. That sure is what it seems like.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on Aug 9, 2008 11:17 PM CDT 0 recs
I think he did because he came dirt cheaply...
Paulo Orlando is a shitty ballplaya.
by Craig Grebeck on
Aug 9, 2008 11:28 PM CDT
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It's a good deal just because Kenny didn't give up anything of any value...
Paulo Orlando would have to work hard to become the next Pablo Ozuna. I guess the Royals need a pinch-runner.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 9, 2008 11:30 PM CDT
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By the way, Cheat...
Paul Byrd has indeed cleared waivers.
So, the back end of the Yankees’ rotation working this weekend against the Angels in Anaheim will be Ian Kennedy tomorrow night and Dan Giese on Saturday – unless the Yankees have interest in Cleveland’s Paul Byrd, who has cleared waivers.
Greg Maddux has also cleared waivers but it doesn’t sound like he would accept any trade which moves him away from the West Coast.
Also, Rotoworld.com thinks that the Sox will keep Horacio Ramirez as a reliever to replace Boone Logan…
White Sox acquired LHP Horacio Ramirez from the Royals for outfielder Paulo Orlando.
It looks like Boone Logan will be sent down now. Ramirez had a 2.59 ERA in 24 1/3 innings out of the pen since joining the Royals. He’s spent the vast majority of his career as a starter, but it seems unlikely that he’ll get a chance to replace Jose Conteras in the White Sox rotation. He makes more sense as a reliever.
Maybe the Sox are sticking with Carrasco as the fifth starter and the Ramirez move was just to replace an awful Boone Logan. There are still other pitchers out there to be had—Jarrod Washburn, Al Reyes, and even Sweaty Freddy.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on Aug 9, 2008 11:27 PM CDT 0 recs
Official Press Release...
“Royals acquire outfielder Orlando from White Sox for Horacio Ramirez”
KANSAS CITY—The Kansas City Royals have traded left-handed pitcher Horacio Ramirez to the Chicago White Sox for outfielder Paulo Orlando.Left-handed pitcher Josh Newman will be recalled from Triple-A Omaha tomorrow and will be in uniform, wearing No. 63. Orlando will be assigned to the High Class A Wilmington roster. With the moves, the Royals 40-man roster now stands at 39.
Orlando, 22, is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound center fielder from Sao Paulo, Brazil. The right-handed hitter and thrower has spent the entire 2008 season with High Class A Winston-Salem in the Carolina League, hitting .264 (118-for-447) with 15 doubles, 12 triples, nine home runs, 42 RBIs and 73 runs scored. He has stolen 28 bases in 37 attempts.
Since signing with the White Sox as a non-drafted free agent on Jan. 21, 2005, Orlando has stolen 77 bases in a little over two and a half seasons of professional baseball. He entered the 2008 season ranked by Baseball America as the Fastest Baserunner and Best Defensive Outfielder in the White Sox organization.
Ramirez was signed by the Royals as a Minor League free agent on May 21. He was 1-1 with a 2.59 ERA in 15 relief appearances.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on Aug 9, 2008 11:33 PM CDT 0 recs
Another article...
“White Sox acquire Horacio Ramirez
Chicago sends Minor League outfielder to Kansas City”
It is likely the White Sox will use Ramirez in the rotation, but with the planned demotion of reliever Boone Logan coming Sunday, they may decide to use him out of the bullpen and call up one of their Minor League starters.In six Major League seasons with Atlanta (2003-06), Seattle (‘07) and the Royals (‘08), Ramirez has gone 39-30 with a 4.53 ERA in 121 games, 104 of which were for starts. His best season came as a rookie with the Braves in ‘03, when he was 12-4 with a 4.00 ERA in 29 starts.
Ramirez will wear No. 49 with the White Sox.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 9, 2008 11:36 PM CDT
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Carrasco is the favorite to start...
D.J. Carrasco filled in well for Contreras, giving up one run and three hits in 4 1/3 innings. Guillen said Carrasco is the favorite to take Contreras’ spot in the rotation.
White Sox OF Ken Griffey Jr. sat out Saturday’s game with general soreness.
Haha, rotting corpse indeed.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on Aug 9, 2008 11:41 PM CDT 0 recs
it's starting to look like junior could just sit out every day with general suckiness.
Listen, you fucking fringe, if I throw a dog a bone, I don't want to know if it tastes good or not. You stop me again whilst I'm walking, and I'll cut your fucking Jacobs off.
by MarketMaker on
Aug 10, 2008 10:51 AM CDT
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So Carrasco will replace Contreras in the rotation...
Horacio Ramirez replaces Boone Logan.
Chris Getz probably replaces Josh Fields.
Maybe recently DFA’ed Rays reliever Al Reyes replaces Jose Contreras when he is placed on the D.L.? He then replaces Carrasco’s role in the bullpen?
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on Aug 9, 2008 11:58 PM CDT 0 recs
Or it could be MacDougal!!!

"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 10, 2008 12:03 AM CDT
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This is truly the saddest day ever...
First Contreras and now Orlando…
Hudson, that is.
Orlando Hudson could miss the rest of the year with a dislocated left wrist suffered Saturday against the Braves.
It’d be a major blow to Arizona’s hopes. “(It’s) not great, dislocation, fracture of a bone in his wrist, and we’re not 100 percent sure whether he has to have surgery,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Probably a pretty good chance, but we will know in the morning. If he has the surgery, he’s out for the rest of the year, and if he doesn’t, there’s still a chance he could be out for the rest of the year.” The Diamondbacks figure to make Augie Ojeda their primary second baseman, with Chris Burke backing him up. They could also attempt to trade for someone who has cleared waivers. Brian Roberts and Mark Ellis probably wouldn’t, but lesser options like Tadahito Iguchi, Ronnie Belliard and Mark Loretta could be available.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on Aug 10, 2008 12:07 AM CDT 0 recs
say it ain't so SSH! say it ain't so!
it’s just not right!
i think it would be pretty sweet if ssh's kid and kenwo's kid had offspring together...whether you believe in nature or nurture, it wouldn’t be boring.-larry
by furby2056 on
Aug 10, 2008 1:15 AM CDT
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One thought before I retire for the night, and to break up SSH's colin-like string
Ozzie should order Ramirez to throw at the Royals when they come to town, just to see what happens.
AIM: SouthSideCheat
by The Cheat on Aug 10, 2008 12:09 AM CDT 0 recs
You want some more bad news?
I saw this post at another White Sox board…
Boone’s been sent down and the reporter at the Cell on SportsNight said the word in the clubhouse is it might be Broadway up.
If true…
**pukes**
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 10, 2008 12:13 AM CDT
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i personally am in love with his 4.68 ERA
and 160 hits in 138.1 IP
i think it would be pretty sweet if ssh's kid and kenwo's kid had offspring together...whether you believe in nature or nurture, it wouldn’t be boring.-larry
by furby2056 on
Aug 10, 2008 1:19 AM CDT
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I can like him, doesnt mean hes good.
Hell Im sure someone even has a Juan Uribe jersey right now.
by JoeCoolMan24 on
Aug 10, 2008 1:28 AM CDT
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who doesn't love that little tubby guy?
with his gravy stained facial hair
i think it would be pretty sweet if ssh's kid and kenwo's kid had offspring together...whether you believe in nature or nurture, it wouldn’t be boring.-larry
by furby2056 on
Aug 10, 2008 1:54 AM CDT
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Yea, well I like the White Sox...
And therefore I don’t want them to call up subpar players like Broadway.
by Craig Grebeck on
Aug 10, 2008 2:27 AM CDT
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The replace Livan with Liriano...
Sox replace Contreras with Broadway. Seems like a fair trade…

"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 10, 2008 7:11 AM CDT
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The Twins, that is.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 10, 2008 7:12 AM CDT
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Contreras
Well, when you’re 52 years old and still playing in the majors, the injuries are bound to catch up with you.
As for Boone, send him down, send him out, send him to Mars for all I care.
"We were the never-say-die White Sox tonight." - Nick Swisher (8/5/08)
by tailgater on Aug 10, 2008 12:36 AM CDT 0 recs
feed him to juan
i think it would be pretty sweet if ssh's kid and kenwo's kid had offspring together...whether you believe in nature or nurture, it wouldn’t be boring.-larry
by furby2056 on
Aug 10, 2008 1:19 AM CDT
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no-ci-o-ni
clap, clap, clap-clap-clap
I don’t want my beer to taste like fruit or honey. I want pussy to taste that way.
by thatshortkid on Aug 10, 2008 3:53 AM CDT 0 recs
Sun-Times' Chris De Luca thinks Kenny will make a push for Jarrod Washburn...
With few suitable in-house options, look for general manager Ken Williams to make a strong push for veteran left-hander Jarrod Washburn.Washburn - a pitcher who was on the Sox’ radar before the latest Contreras injury - reportedly has cleared waivers. Washburn, who turns 34 on Wednesday, is 5-11 with a 4.76 ERA in 23 games with the Mariners, including 22 starts.
Washburn’s $10.35 million dollar salary in 2009 makes me think otherwise.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on Aug 10, 2008 9:03 AM CDT 0 recs
that 0.5 games back makes me think they'll give it a whirl.
by larry on
Aug 10, 2008 10:07 AM CDT
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Even with Washburn's salary for next season?
I would say with certainty that Washburn would be a White Sox within days if he was a free agent after this season. But I don’t see Kenny paying a combined $20.35 million to Washburn and Contreras next season when only one of them is actually pitching for the Sox. The Mariners would have to pick up a lot of Washburn’s contract for Kenny to consider this and I doubt they are interested in doing that unless they get a good prospect or two in return.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 10, 2008 10:16 AM CDT
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ssh, this injury is a critical blow. and KW isn't so stupid as to not know it. and neither is JR.
by larry on
Aug 10, 2008 10:17 AM CDT
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Agreed, it just seems like a Washburn acquisition would kill any of Kenny's plans for 2009...
Do the Sox get any money back if Contreras never pitches for the Sox again? Is there any sort of player insurance?
You Maddux idea was still a good one. Too bad the old bastard doesn’t want to play anywhere other than the West Coast. He would be cheap both in terms of added salary and prospect(s) and more importantly, he would be gone after the season.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 10, 2008 10:22 AM CDT
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i think the sox will have to seriously consider throwing out the best laid plans for 2009.
and they’d likely have needed to acquire a starter anyway, unless anyone has been really impressed with broadway, richard, egbert, etc. do your shopping early, i guess.
infrequently pitcher contracts are insured. considering contreras’ history, the cost likely would have been prohibitive.
by larry on
Aug 10, 2008 10:26 AM CDT
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Would you give up Lance Broadway for Jarrod Washburn right now?
I wonder what Washburn would cost in terms of talent…
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 10, 2008 10:31 AM CDT
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he should cost very little.
but considering what those idiots were apparently asking of the yankees, who knows. the mariners are a bunch of dopes.
at this point, the sox should consider any request that doesn’t include fields or poreda. it’s not like anyone in the system is that great. this is the clear situation where the marginal utility of a marginal improvement could be very, very high.
by larry on
Aug 10, 2008 10:38 AM CDT
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I agree with you...
but man, that 2009 salary is going to be a killer.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 10, 2008 10:39 AM CDT
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can we just bring up poreda and see what we can get out of him?
or maybe even sign freddy….i mean then you don’t have to worry about huge salary killers…
i think it would be pretty sweet if ssh's kid and kenwo's kid had offspring together...whether you believe in nature or nurture, it wouldn’t be boring.-larry
by furby2056 on
Aug 10, 2008 11:38 AM CDT
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Anyone else think Jim should start writing Jose's eulogy?

"as much as i hate dj i don't want him to get molested"- BuehrleMan
by U-God on Aug 10, 2008 9:16 AM CDT 0 recs
Chris Getz called up, per Jesse Rogers on WSCR 670 "The Score"...
Getz is replacing Josh Fields. JRE is happy. ; )
Horacio Ramirez already replaced Boone Logan.
There is one more move to be made—whomever is replacing Jose Contreras.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on Aug 10, 2008 9:33 AM CDT 0 recs
gonna need to be a guy who can go long.
the broadway rumor makes sense. as does egbert.
by larry on
Aug 10, 2008 10:11 AM CDT
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you'd think they's be worried about their own post season chances
without speculating about ours
Sox fan from England, marching on together
by hoodlight on
Aug 10, 2008 9:47 AM CDT
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that
It was maddening to read them shitting on our outfield, but then I remembered they are cubs fans and havent won anything of consequence in the last hundred years.
by lod773 on
Aug 10, 2008 9:50 AM CDT
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I should have known better
than to click on that link
by lod773 on
Aug 10, 2008 9:47 AM CDT
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Wait a second
I thought they “didn’t care about the sox”
by 815Sox on
Aug 10, 2008 10:02 AM CDT
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as a left coast guy i've been watching washburn for years...
...he was used up a long time ago but now he’s throwing the split finger w/ some effectiveness but clearly he is a 5th starter in his waning days
by RoyEgan on Aug 10, 2008 9:56 AM CDT 0 recs
If Washburn was a free agent after this season...
the move would make some sense. Washburn has been pretty good since May 25th (3.44 ERA in 81 innings). But Kenny has $10.35 million reasons not to acquire him. I don’t see it happening.
But I also don’t think that the Sox are going to stay on top of the Twins with Carrasco, Broadway, or any other bum they call up to replace Contreras.
Anyone think Kenny would reverse the Cabrera or Swisher trade right about now if he could?
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 10, 2008 10:12 AM CDT
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Cabrera...maybe
I was a multiple time all star throughout my little league career. Won 5 championships- 4 in a row- thats more in a row than MJ… (kenwo4life@aol.com)
by Ozzie Montana on
Aug 10, 2008 10:13 AM CDT
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it's broadway and getz
Sox call up Broadway, Getz
Mark Gonzales, 9:56 a.m.
Pitcher Lance Broadway and infielder Chris Getz were promoted from Triple-A Charlotte.
BOSTON
Drew rf
Pedroia 2b
Ortiz dh
Youkilis 1b
Lowell 3b
Bay lf
Ellsbury cf
Varitek c
Cora ss
Buchholz p
WHITE SOX
Cabrera ss
Pierzynski c
Quentin lf
Dye rf
Thome dh
Konerko 1b
Swisher cf
Ramirez 2b
Uribe 3b
Floyd p
by larry on Aug 10, 2008 10:13 AM CDT 0 recs
Now I wonder who the starter will be for now -- Carrasco or Broadway?
Broadway is going to get rocked. Hopefully he is just going to fill Magic Masset’s role of bullpen jizz-mopper.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 10, 2008 10:17 AM CDT
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And with the Getz addition, I believe the Sox 40-man roster is now full.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 10, 2008 10:30 AM CDT
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Yeah, whichever prospect or prospects gets traded for a guy like Washburn...
will free up a space. Wise could be easily DFA’ed at this point as well. We don’t need six outfielders.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 10, 2008 11:05 AM CDT
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i was thinking more of contreras.
and that’s seven outfielders if you count getz.
by larry on
Aug 10, 2008 11:06 AM CDT
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Doh, dat's right.
Contreras to the D.L. frees up a spot on the 40-man roster.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Aug 10, 2008 11:08 AM CDT
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isn't that always the way?
contreras looked back in form for the sliver of a game he pitched last night before going down with the potential career-ender. if he could have at least been terrible before he got hurt yesterday we could all be more optimistic that whichever clown replaces him could be that ineffective. it’s getting to the point where the sox are really gonna need to catch lightning in a bottle from some unexpected source. that or our good players are gonna have to be clicking in unison. one things seems clear, we cannot sustain another injury from a starter/everyday player.
Listen, you fucking fringe, if I throw a dog a bone, I don't want to know if it tastes good or not. You stop me again whilst I'm walking, and I'll cut your fucking Jacobs off.
by MarketMaker on Aug 10, 2008 11:05 AM CDT 0 recs
the sox already crossed the can't sustain another injury threshold.
by larry on
Aug 10, 2008 11:08 AM CDT
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i'm gonna hold out hope for the aforementioned lightning in a bottle.
but with a farm system like this, there’s no way lightning strikes twice. i do think that broadway is a questionable choice for this callup though, just because he hasn’t even shown stretches of efficacy since april. his numbers in aaa are fugly. he seems to be as bad an option as we have down there.
Listen, you fucking fringe, if I throw a dog a bone, I don't want to know if it tastes good or not. You stop me again whilst I'm walking, and I'll cut your fucking Jacobs off.
by MarketMaker on
Aug 10, 2008 11:18 AM CDT
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