How many people who appear to be dancing from afar are actually being hit in the face? // Fred Thornhill, Reuters
The White Sox lost 4-2 to the Blue Jays Friday night, managing just three hits off of a heinously wild Kyle Drabek, who walked five. This story was already old upon its first telling, but given some of the Sox previous struggles against guys who can't throw strikes, maybe this is progress. Frighteningly slow progress.
A funny thing; if it was Monday, and Kyle Drabek fell woefully behind Carlos Quentin with the bases loaded and tried to get back in the count with a meaty fastball right down the heart of the plate, CQ hits it eleven miles for a granny, and the Sox win. Instead it was Friday, so he fouled it back and muttered to himself. I love having Quentin in the lineup, it's lots of fun. Being tied to his whims because he's one of three worthwhile hitters is less fun. I don't know what I'm whining about, he drew a walk and tied the game. Clearly, everything is Konerko's fault.
Juan was the biggest power-hitter on Friday. Yeah, they lost // Fred Thornhill, Reuters
It won't be much longer that staying the course while Viciedo sits in Triple-A and Ozzie continues to find opportunities for Dallas McPherson constitutes an approach geared for short-term success.
Quick thought: Burying Morel on the bench is equally pointless to relegating Chris Sale to mop-up time. Play the best prospects in the system full-time...doesn't matter where.
Mike DePilla has ideas for improving interleague play. Frankly, I've never gotten into a tizzy about interleague play because it seemed to improve the overall health of the league (via attendance), the inequality of play due to the DH seems overblown, and I've never bought into the sanctity of the separation of AL and NL play. But Mike makes a good point, some attempt to balance the schedules is due.
Future Sox covers Ryan Buch's promotion to Winston-Salem and breaks down hot & cold prospects of the past week. Jared Mitchell has stopped striking out at preposterous rates in the past week. Whatever thing it is you do to celebrate monumental occurrences in life (weddings, births, successful bank heists), do it now.
Like I just did, J.J. pointed out much earlier that if two of the guys we depended on to be above-average run producers--Alex Rios and Adam Dunn--continue to play at levels that doesn't even earn their starting role, then we're screwed in a gigantic way. He also insists that Pierre should be the first to go if Jackin' Dayan (h/t Jim Margalus) is promoted, and thinks Humber should keep the role he's earned.
Finally Jim chronicles Brent Morel's inability to take a walk (hmm, maybe he shouldn't play), gapes in shock and horror at what has become of Adam Dunn, and points out that taking the most reliable starter out of the rotation is going to sound pretty stupid.
A.J. Pierzynski doesn't think there should be rule changes for catchers in the wake of the Buster Posey injury, which is pretty much you'd expect someone like him to say. Changing the way the game is played is always going to irk the vets, and changing in the wake of single incident might be a dubious process, but neither the integrity of the game nor fan interest seem to really be in danger if you make it illegal to block the plate.
This is going to be a hectic time for me and the blog. I'm going on vacation starting this next Friday with three old college friends that I haven't seen in a very long time and don't know when I'll ever see again. The amount of time I'll spend blogging is highly indefinite. Come June 13th, I'll definitely be at full productivity again.
Furthermore, ChicagoNow is making a transition to a WordPress format on June 6th. While overall I'm excited about the transition, the adjustment period could have it share of blips and screwups coming from both me and the new system. Bearing with me will be a prerequisite.
I think I'll be buying a real domain name soon. Even though it will just re-direct here, I hope you'll find it helpful.
Follow White Sox Observer on Twitter @ JRFegan and on Facebook 28 May, 2011
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Source: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/white-sox-observer/2011/05/shoddy-offense-housekeeping-links-punch-pie.html
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