White Sox vs. Padres Gamethread

Sox: Wise-CF, Nix-2B, Pierzynski-C, Konerko-1B, Fields-3B, Anderson-RF, Lillibridge-SS, Owens-LF, Floyd-P

Dads: Burke-SS, Rodriguez-3B, Giles-RF, Blanks-1B, Gerut-CF, Macias-LF, Hundley-C, Antonelli-2B, Young-P

this is a good crew we got out there today. I’m not naming names, but there are some crews, well, let’s just say I’m happy we got this crew out there today

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Ten children at a day care center drank windshield wiper fluid after a staffer served it from a container mistaken for Kool-Aid and placed in a refrigerator, authorities said Friday. The day care owner surrendered her state license Friday.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-windshield-fluid-sickness,0,5187117.story

Our tech guy at work posted this term, with which I was unfamiliar until coming to SSS:

woot! Nothing if not professional.

MESA, Ariz.—Cubs’ infielder Aaron Miles says his right shoulder “is just bruised” and that he expects to return very soon.

       “I dove into first base in a game over in Peoria,” he said. “It was just kind of jarred a little bit and was sore the next day. It’s a lot better and it shouldn’t be very long before I’m full tilt”

      A dive into first base?

       “It was a very awkward dive into first base, and probably unnecessary,” Miles said.“But it was just a reaction. I was trying to avoid the tag, not be Nick Punto.”

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/03/cubs-infielder-aaron-miles-says-shoulder-not-serious.html

“That’s why I’m trying to throw too hard, because I feel too good,” Buehrle said. “Too much energy and adrenaline getting out there on the mound. I just need to settle down and focus on movement instead of trying to throw harder.”

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=278477

Nice inning for the Sox.

Wise continues to strengthen his grasp on the leadoff job, homering in the fifth inning. 17 minutes ago

when our c team mops up their A team, reminds me of this

Home Depot Criticized For Pledging $10 Billion To American Cancer Society For Every Padres Home Run
 
SAN DIEGO—Home Depot has come under fire from cancer patients, baseball fans, and Padres players for the company’s recent “heartless and insulting” offer to donate “$10 billion in cash” to the American Cancer Society each time a Padres player hits a home run for the rest of the 2006 season. “This outrageous offer of ‘charity’ is a slap in the face to our organization,” said Jay Czarnecki, a spokesman for the ACS. “Having your donation depend upon a San Diego player hitting a baseball over 300 feet through the air is not only placing unfair and unrealistic expectations on the Padres, but is equivalent to telling everyone who has cancer to go off and die.” Czarnecki suggested that, if Home Depot truly supports the research and eradication of a disease that kills millions of Americans every year, they should pledge a dollar for each time a Padre strikes out or commits an error.

If so, what’s he mean? Why is he mean? What is the mean?
Back to my gin.

did MacDougal really pitch a full ininng with 2 SO’s?

put him at leadoff

Sox general manager Kenny Williams was asked about the possibility before the Sox’ 6-2 Cactus League victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Would he consider taking a chance on a player with so little pro experience?

“Sure, if he’s the best guy to take,” Williams told the Daily Herald. “You can say 14 minor-league games, but I saw him play in the Arizona Fall League, and that’s a Double-A league. If you dominate in that league, you can play in the big leagues.”

Beckham, 22, batted .394 with 3 home runs and 13 RBI in 18 games in the AFL. Following an All-American career at the University of Georgia, the infielder hit .310 with 3 HR and 8 RBI with Kannapolis.
…
“I’m not putting any restrictions on whether this guy will or won’t be part of the team,” Williams said. “We’re taking the best.”

Needless to say, Beckham is making quite an impression on the White Sox’ GM.

“There are certain things, certain positions you get in as a hitter, certain things you are able to do,” Williams said. "For instance, driving the ball hard to right-center field, that’s an indicator you are able to stand in and take a good crisp breaking ball and have a chance to do some damage.

“But at the end of the day it’ll be what (manager) Ozzie (Guillen) likes as a fit in his lineup.”

At the beginning of the week, Guillen also gave Beckham a strong endorsement.

“I love making decisions like that,” said Guillen, who broke in with the Sox at 21. “I’m not afraid to play the kids; I’m not afraid to give those guys a chance as long as they know they can do this.”

Watching Beckham deliver again Wednesday apparently swayed Guillen even more.

“He’s got a lot of confidence now, and that’s the key,” Guillen said. “He’s good and he knows what he’s doing.”

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=278476

Q. How crucial of a role does Jose Contreras really play in aiding Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo?

Gregor: If Jose Contreras and Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez weren’t with the White Sox, Ramirez is probably playing for the Oakland A’s now (they offered more money) and Viciedo would likely be with one of the New York teams.

Hernandez is gone, but Contreras’ presence has been invaluable in helping the White Sox keep the Cuban pipeline open.

Ozzie also deserves a lot of credit, because there is no language barrier.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=278610

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/03/13/irod.interest/index.html

After Dewayne Wise hit a home run and drove in four runs Friday, manager Ozzie Guillen couldn’t avoid the obvious.

“I think right now, he looks better than the other guys,” Guillen said after Wise helped the Sox cruise to a 15-4 win and bolster his chances at becoming the Sox’s leadoff hitter. “If this continues, we have to make a decision. Right now, we still have a few games, but I think he looks better than the rest.”

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/03/white-soxs-friday-recap-wise-the-leader-at-the-leadoff-spot.html

Chris Getz still is the leading candidate to open the season as the White Sox’ starting second baseman.

In Thursday’s 9-3 exhibition loss to the Royals on Thursday, Getz (.304) was 1-for-2 with a walk. He also played a solid defensive game.

“Getz is getting into the groove,” manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Getz batted eighth against Kansas City. He’d likely stay at the bottom of the order if he breaks camp with the Sox.

“I’d rather for him to be like (Alexei) Ramirez, you know just stay down there (in the lineup), don’t put too much pressure on himself, make the plays, that’s what I expect from second base,” Ozzie Guillen said. “Just go up there and do your job.”

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=278796

Last week I noted that Nate Silver expanded upon Bill James’ initial work on aging patterns to show that hitters tend to peak between ages 25 and 29, cresting at 26 and 27, with some understandable variations by position. Speed-based players like middle infielders and center fielders peak toward the earlier side of that range, while catchers develop more slowly, and third basemen, who tend to be slower and thicker, peak later and retain a larger share of their value over a longer period of time.

Nate’s findings mesh with another concept that James introduced to the masses in the 1982 Baseball Abstract, the existence of a defensive spectrum which runs like so:

1B—LF—RF—3B—CF—2B—SS—C

The positions at the left end of the spectrum are easier to defend, but carry higher offensive demands, while the positions to the right prioritize defensive skill over hitting ability. Note how well the 2008 Equivalent Averages by position match up with that spectrum:


Pos EqA
1B .283
LF .276
RF .276
3B .270
CF .268
2B .264
SS .255
 C .252

15. Chicago White Sox, NPV: $75.89 million

Top 100 Prospects: Gordan Beckham (26), Aaron Poreda (56), Tyler Flowers (80), Dayan Viciedo (91)
The White Sox have done a pretty good job of restocking their farm system, though they still could use some more depth. However, they appear to be in a contending while trying to get younger stage, which can be quite difficult to execute successfully. The White Sox might be at the point where it’s best to just head in one direction.

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/farm-system-value-rankings-part-2/