Erstad's inevitable injury

by The Cheat on May 31, 2007 8:25 PM CDT in White Sox News

I take no particular joy in reporting on what looked to be bad injury, possibly of the season ending variety, to Darin Erstad. But I'd be lying if I said the first thing to enter my mind was something other than the clause in his contract that could have made him $6M next year if he reached 600 plate appearances. I don't want to see anyone get hurt, but I definitely didn't want to see Erstad reach 600 plate appearances.

We've been thinking about next year, the future really, for some time now. It was only natural for my first thought to be about the impact the injury would have on the future clubs rather than the current one. Because if I had been thinking only in terms of the '07 season, Erstad's loss would be a blow. Maybe not a huge one, but there is a dropoff to the Owens/Sweeney/Anderson trio who will be replacing him.

Post injury info and discuss the ramifications here. I'll post a proper recap for that wham-bam-no-thank-you-maam game later tonight.

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Comments

ozzie said it looks like a few weeks

also, ozzie said he didn't know whether owens or sweeney would be called up. eat that BA!

Stay grindy, my friends.

by larry on May 31, 2007 8:28 PM CDT reply actions

Owens should probably be called up

We need more 4th outfielders!

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 31, 2007 8:29 PM CDT up reply actions

we certainly need speed

i know darin "huh, how could oakland be so successful with so few SB" jackson will be happy.

Stay grindy, my friends.

by larry on May 31, 2007 8:30 PM CDT up reply actions

And I think he will be...

So stupid.

Logically, Anderson would make the most sense to call up. He is the most developed and CF is his natural position. And the rest of this season would prove once and for all whether or not he can hack it at the major league level. If he can't, dump his ass in the offseason. Let Sweeney get another season at AAA.

Of course, Ozzie will probably platoon Luis Terrero and Jerry Owens in CF being the moron that he is.

by SSH2005 on May 31, 2007 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Owens pulled from the Knights game

wouldn't want another 4th outfielder getting hurt.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 31, 2007 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions

might as well see what we've got

not like we don't know already, i guess, but confirmation always helps.

Stay grindy, my friends.

by larry on May 31, 2007 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm guessing three sub-.500 years,

counting this one as the first.

by Dongfang Hong on May 31, 2007 9:02 PM CDT up reply actions

How can you go wrong with a black Podsednik?

This organization is really dumb and I am starting to think that Kenny got lucky in 2005.

by SSH2005 on May 31, 2007 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Bwahahahahaaa, I just realized that...

Ozzie will probably start Owens in LF and Terrero in CF. Dye will be the only guy stopping us from having an all AAA outfield.

by SSH2005 on May 31, 2007 9:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Starting to think?

Come now.

by Dongfang Hong on May 31, 2007 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Positive

I cannot believe Sox fans of today give up so easily. It's freaking June 1st. The 83 Sox were in 5th place on this date with 21-25 record, 5 games out. They ran away with the division, by 20 games! PECOTA my ass. If the starters pitch close to what they did in April, the hitting will come around. They need to give Owens a shot because even with Ersty, they had NO speed. He's got 20 + swipes at Cha. Hell AZ brings up an unknown from AA to play 3rd(Reynolds) and he tears it up, carrying the club. Seen their record lately? Some of these kids need the chance.

by Richie15 on May 31, 2007 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions

The '07 Indians

would have won the '83 west by 35 games.

The '07 Tigers would have won the '83 west by 30 games.

The '07 Twins would have won the '83 west by 15 games, maybe more.

In other words, this isn't the '83 west.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 31, 2007 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions

You know how the Indians are going to finish?!!!?

Who's going to win the World Series???

by bevrat on May 31, 2007 11:19 PM CDT up reply actions

I think he's pretty obviously

projecting based on current performance.

by Dongfang Hong on Jun 1, 2007 1:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Re: Positive

The 83 Sox won 99 games, these Central teams are not invincible and none of them would have won that division. Since we have not had a healthy leadoff man since '05, many of you seem to have forgotten what a disruptive difference it makes when a fast man gets on base to start an inning. It can set the tone for the whole game and help the 3-4-5 see some better pitches to hit. Erstad should never have been the answer. I wish we still had Chris Young, but we don't, so let's roll out Owens until Pods comes back. BTW, what was the PECOTA prediction for '05. They don't play the games in freaking computers.

by Richie15 on Jun 1, 2007 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions

Luzinski is in the same shape he was back in '83

Think we can sign him from the Philly BBQ pit?

Stretch!

by stevegoz on Jun 1, 2007 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions

ROFLOL!

by The Wizard on Jun 1, 2007 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions

It starts with one

So if one starting pitcher starts to throw well, it will rub off on the entire staff, and in turn to the offense. The transitive property of greatness is upon us!

But will they also be able to heal the bullpen?

Stretch!

by stevegoz on May 31, 2007 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Three things:

The Sox indeed have a chance to win the division. That chance is less that 1%, according to PECOTA.
We're dead on PECOTA's prediction so far.
Insisting that the Sox not do what is in their best interests because "they've still got a chance and you've got to support them" is the same thinking that led the Cubs to their century drought.

The Sox are not going to win the series this year. This is not '83, with a wide-open division. This is '07, with three strong teams ahead of us, and no real depth to speak of in the minors. Will Owens snag a few bases? Yeah. Sure. Was speed our problem? Heck no. Our guys aren't even getting on base. They aren't hitting for power. They aren't bringing runners home. The fact that we're not getting a stolen base here and there is inconsequential.

by Dongfang Hong on Jun 1, 2007 1:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Don't look this gift horse in the mouth...

or whatever that cliche is.

This is the perfect opportunity for Kenny to deal our pending free agents for top prospects. It's quite obvious that we don't have the young talent to compete with the Indians, Tigers, and Twins in the upcoming season. Trade them all but don't fuck up, Kenny.

by SSH2005 on May 31, 2007 8:36 PM CDT reply actions

I really think he's going to fuck it up anyway.

I really don't see him pulling the trigger on a white-flag, to tell you the truth; he doesn't seem like the type to admit such catastrophic failure. But even if he does, he has a marked tendency to like low-OBP grinders. And we can stockpile all of those that we like, but it ain't going to help us one bit.

by Dongfang Hong on May 31, 2007 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Terribly disappointing.

The lead-off spot hasn't been our greatest asset for awhile but any team that loses three lead-off guys in the first two months of the season is going to have problems. However, Kenny should've looked at these guys and known that injury was inevitable. We've had a great stretch of health in the past few years and I think it kind of blinded KW.

Out-underacheiving the other guy.

by defensive indifference on May 31, 2007 8:40 PM CDT reply actions

Well, at least the Orlando

Magic seem to be getting William Donovan as their coach tomorrow, so I have a VERY slight distraction on which to focus.

I have been flying my Stars and Stripes this week because of Memorial Day. Might have to leave it up and leave the WS 2005 Champions flag in the garage for awhile - at least until we wim another game.

Keehrist.

by winningugly on May 31, 2007 8:51 PM CDT reply actions

You know,

I hated the signing, and I hated making him our everyday CF. He was nothing more than mediocre. But mediocre looked like an all-star compared to the rest of the garbage we've been throwing out there. His injury isn't going to help this team by any means.

The only silver lining in this is that maybe KW might finally decide to punt this season. He chained our club to a pack of declining, injury-prone veterans--and he can't complain nobody could see this coming, because the overwheming majority of the blogosphere did. Hell, PECOTA did, and he laughed it off. Maybe--just maybe--this injury will convince him that this club isn't going to overtake the Indians, Tigers, or even Twins. And frankly, next year is even worse.

The longer we wait to raise the white flag, the less we're going to get for our guys. Let's get firesalein'.

by Dongfang Hong on May 31, 2007 8:55 PM CDT reply actions

Owens was pulled from tonights game.

Ozzie runs AJ, when he gets someone out there he thinks is fast, he will run this kid and run him over and over. Marlins 2003 NL offense = championships. Ozzie forgot the part where Cabrera comes in to drive them in.

by southsideirish71 on May 31, 2007 8:58 PM CDT reply actions

What if Owens does not

have a passport to get into Canada?

by squeegeeman on May 31, 2007 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions

then he's pretty stupid

and the sox organization is even worse than we all though.

Free Bobby Jenks!

by larry on May 31, 2007 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Than he would have a toughttime playing games

in Ottawa, which is in the same league (International, duh) as the Knights

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 31, 2007 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Can Owens play CF?

What % of his last 2 year's games were in center?

I thought I read where his defense is uninspired?

I can't take a Mac in CF look alike. Still have nightmares.

It amazes me, how can you hit a major league pitch, but not play the outfield (Difficulty 0 - 10: Hit, 9.5; Field 5).

by ballyb on May 31, 2007 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions

He is a fourth outfielder...

and he can play one position -- LF.

by SSH2005 on May 31, 2007 9:37 PM CDT up reply actions

In other words...

he is a cheap Podsednik.

by SSH2005 on May 31, 2007 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions

gio interview

cheat's kinda got it buried in the upper right corner of the main page. it's worth the read.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/features/264040.html

Stay grindy, my friends.

by larry on May 31, 2007 8:59 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks, I needed something to read!

And I never knew we had a Santana in our organization (Barons manager Rafael)!!!

Out-underacheiving the other guy.

by defensive indifference on May 31, 2007 9:14 PM CDT up reply actions

The White Sox way

Player X suffers significant injury.
The White Sox refuse to DL Player X and play Mack/Cintron in Player X's place
OR Player X is put on the DL and Non-Prospect Y is called up instead of Fields/Sweeney/Anderson.
Player X returns too soon and plays crappily since he is still injured.

by hitlesswonder on May 31, 2007 9:06 PM CDT reply actions

Already

I hate to say it, but the early reports sound like Erstad is going to come back in a month and suck for the rest of the year.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on May 31, 2007 9:09 PM CDT up reply actions

It's all the good vibes

that were circulating here at SSS. Too much positive energy about an injury. We only have ourselves to blame.

by ballyb on May 31, 2007 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, we should only hope and pray...

that Erstad comes back healthy enough to save our season.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAAAaaa.

by SSH2005 on May 31, 2007 9:19 PM CDT up reply actions

In other meaningless news...

Armando Benitez may be headed back to Marlins.

by SSH2005 on May 31, 2007 9:30 PM CDT reply actions

I saw his pair of balks the other day.

That was beyond funny.

Out-underacheiving the other guy.

by defensive indifference on May 31, 2007 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Giants to get Messenger for Benitez...

The Giants will get Randy Messenger from the Marlins in return for Armando Benitez, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

by SSH2005 on May 31, 2007 9:40 PM CDT up reply actions

In the TRYING TO STAY POSITIVE vein.

We didn't hurt our Pythagorean Theorem projection much tonight ;)

by ballyb on May 31, 2007 9:40 PM CDT reply actions

I'm not bothered by the loss

Which means I must truly have given up on any Sox playoff hopes for the season. I am interested in seeing the Sox build a good team, so I'd like to see them start making moves in that direction. It doesn't have to be a firesale, but they should really take "advantage" of the injury situation and see what some people can do. If it's Jerry Owens, that's fine with me. Maybe he plays well and at least has some trade value. I want to see the Sox quit giving at-bats to marginal veterans and use them on their top minor league players instead.

by hitlesswonder on May 31, 2007 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Charlotte Knights news...

Jerry Owens was 2 for 4 with a double and a RBI tonight before packing his bags.
Josh Fields was 1 for 3 with his 10th homer and 2 RBI's. He also had 2 BB's.
Brian Anderson was 3 for 5 with a double.
Ryan Sweeney was 2 for 3 with 2 BB's.
Craig Wilson was 3 for 4 with 3 singles.

Call up Craig Wilson, pray that he is productive in LF with some power, and deal him for a prospect at the deadline to a team that needs a decent bench player.

by SSH2005 on May 31, 2007 9:47 PM CDT reply actions

Playing/Dealing Wilson

Would be great, I'd accept that as a positive move for the future. I was hoping that Erstad would go that route -- imagine the ridiculous outcry from the media if the Sox had "white flagged" by trading Ersty for a prospect :) Given the hagiography in the papers, I get the feeling the writers want Erstad to retire as a White Sox and wear a Sox cap when inducted into the HOF....

by hitlesswonder on May 31, 2007 9:52 PM CDT up reply actions

hagiography

nice.

speaking of saints, the sox could really use a real one.

by spengler on Jun 1, 2007 1:19 AM CDT up reply actions

I missed the game,

can someone please fill me in on the details of the injury. I'd feel terrible if Mrs. Pods was involved.

by ChicagoPete on May 31, 2007 10:06 PM CDT reply actions

josh mora said

that the white sox would call up sweeney or owens... i think brian anderson is done with this team

by Jbasic89 on May 31, 2007 10:08 PM CDT reply actions

Turned on WSCR postgame, 2nd night in a row.

All Chris Rongey has talked about for 2 days is finding the right deal and trading to improve the team in 2008 and beyond.

Seeing that Farmer, Rongey, et al. almost never criticize and god forbid never give up on the Sox, is this a sign that the Sox brass are ready to deal and "play out" the year.

by ballyb on May 31, 2007 10:18 PM CDT reply actions

Don't ask why I would listen to the WSCR postgame.

by ballyb on May 31, 2007 10:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Rongey

I heard him a couple days ago & he wasn't bad -- he went off on a caller who played the Rowand card and another one that blamed the Sox demise on lack of speed. In the latter case, he said speed doesn't matter if you are never on base & the Sox biggest problem is that they simply don't get on-base. Not bad for sports radio...

by hitlesswonder on May 31, 2007 10:25 PM CDT up reply actions