It used to mean something, ten or fifteen years ago.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Just among infield plays, the White Sox have allowed 14 unearned runs this year. The Tigers have allowed 32. I put value on defense because defense can help you win games.

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White Sox Pitching Coach Don Cooper made his regular visit to the "Mully & Hanley Show" yesterday on The SCORE with Barry Rozner subbing for Mike Mulligan. He didn't sound all that optimistic that John will be back until August at the earliest.

The SCORE's own Chris Rongey was on with Matt Abbatacola later in the evening and he thinks that a starting pitcher might be a longshot for these Sox.

Speculation offered up by Rongey.

By the end of the month, the White Sox will probably have a better idea of if Danks can realistically return. By the end of the month, they will have seen Quintana and Humber for about 3 more starts as well. Quintana was excellent against Texas, but has now been roughed up in 2 of 3 starts after last night. If, by the end of the month, Danks is unlikely to return, and the White Sox are concerned about the rotation behind Sale, Peavy and Floyd, I can see trading for a starting pitcher as more than a longshot. Even if they do trade for a starter, it may not be anything more than a journeyman type, not necessarily the best guys on the market. Of course, if Quintana can keep it together, they may not do a whole lot - relief pitcher maybe, perhaps another backup OF, but to call acquiring a starting pitcher a "longshot" right now is probably a bit of a stretch.

I think the Sox need a veteran right handed reliever with closing experience. A few guys who meet that requirement are Grant Balfour, Jonathan Broxton and Francisco Rodriguez. Brett Myers is another but holy crap does he make a lot of money.

Any of these guys would be a nice addition to the bullpen and they are all free agents after this season so it shouldn't take too much to acquire them.

I'm starting to come around to what BD is saying about starting pitching. I don't trust Axelerod, Humber, Danks. I like the lineup. A reliable veteran pinch hitter would be nice.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I would definitely get a starting pitcher if the right deal comes along.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Of course, but I'm not sure they have the prospects that it will take to get a guy like Hamels or Greinke. Rather than trade for a Dempster I'd just stick with my own sub-.500 guys and hope for the best.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Exactly. I think they would be in the market for a journeyman type starter. They just don't have the prospects for a front line starter (or you wouldn't think so) and with Sale/Peavy anchoring the rotation, they just need another arm, possibly, to round out the rotation.

I would like to see them get a pinch hitter to add to the bench a guy like Reed Johnson or Mark Kotsay.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

That would be another move to consider. Certainly wouldn't cost much to add a spare part like that, will probably depend on if they think Jordan Danks can be that guy.

Besides not having the prospects for someone like Hamels, Greinke or Dempster, the salary each commands for the remainder of this season, is probably an issue. Dempster for example, is owed 7 million for the remainder of the season. I don't see the Sox adding that kind of money to the payroll. There is no way the Cubs pick up that salary and settle for a mediocre prospect as well. With Quintana taking over Danks' roll in the rotation and Humber returning, there may be no need for a starter. That depends greatly upon how Humber throws in his next couple of starts. A veteran relief pitcher makes sense, but again, it would probably have to be a guy not making big coin.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I suspect Cub fans- if not the Cubs themselves- are highly overvaluing Ryan Dempster.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

$7 million for the last 2 months? If the season is 6 months long, that's $21 million. I thought he made around $13M for the entire season? I thought Dempster is owed maybe half of what you say, but nonetheless, if the White Sox were interested in Dempster, they would probably have to get some help in paying that. The White Sox would have to give a better prospect in return, which is debatable that they even have.

The White Sox have had to be creative in making some of their deals. Would now be a time to move Quintana if there's doubt about him keeping this up and just going with a veteran starter? I doubt they do something like this, but I never rule out something like this.

Francisco Liariano is also being rumored to be of interest to the White Sox.

I'm starting to think a utility guy who can play catcher would be a good fit. They are getting nothing from Flowers right now.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

$7 million for the last 2 months? If the season is 6 months long, that's $21 million. I thought he made around $13M for the entire season? I thought Dempster is owed maybe half of what you say.[/quote]


When I posted that, the Cubs had played just 86 games ( now 88) so they are just barely over halfway through the season. I didn't come up with the 7 million dollar figure on my own. It was the figure given by Steve Stone in an interview on WSCR when asked about the prospects of the Sox getting Dempster.

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Go Cubs!!!!

you're probably right. Club record for scoreless innings. Confirmied by multiple sources that 10+ teams actively trying for him.


Except not the the white sox.

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A pinch hitter and a 3rd catcher. Keep dreaming big, GD.

I'll bet you right now he doesn't help anyone win anything. I'm damn glad the White Sox aren't in the hunt for a sub-.500 starter. We'll see what the Cubs get and how much salary they have to eat. It is remarkable that one of the worst teams in the history of the game is so loaded with talents that are going to help other teams win, isn't it?

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

A 500 starter? When teams make deadline acquisitions they look at a players stats from 10 years ago???




He's one of, if not the hottest pitcher in 2012. Whether or not he 'helps somebody win' would depend On where he lands.

Pittsburgh? Probably not gonna happen.
Yankees? Real good odds.

But you go ahead and try to find somebody to take that bet.

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I thought he was afraid to go to the AL?

He could go help the Dodgers.

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You are wrong.



He cannot help anyone because he is over valued.








By everyone. But especially Cub fans.

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Well I'm used to being wrong.

_________________

True.





Scramble with Friends.

_________________

But it's true...

_________________

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

He's one of the "hottest pitchers" pitching for nothing. Are you really saying pitching for one of the worst teams in the history of the game is the same thing as going to the Yankees and taking the mound every fifth day in the middle of a pennant race? Ryan Dempster is who he is. He didn't just discover the keys to being a better than average pitcher. He's in a good groove. I wouldn't expect him not to give up a run the rest of the year. We'll see where he goes and when he gets lit up you can tell me I was correct, or- more likely- come up with an excuse why I wasn't.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Dempster would be a nice 3rd or 4th starter on the team but there are bigger holes to fill in trades.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I guess what I think fans don't think about is how baseball is a game of time and repetition. Time and repetition are the things that separate the good from the great from the lousy. For example, I don't think Jose Quintana is going to have the career Dempster has already had (although lefthanders have been winners overall throughout baseball history). But over 13 starts during the second half of the 2012 season the difference between the two guys is likely to be negligible. So, I just can't see trading top prospects (if the Sox had any to trade) and taking on more salary for what may not even be a real improvement.

I'm sure some team will make a similar move and they will likely regret it. Now, if you're talking about a real premium pitcher like Hamels or Greinke, that's a different story.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

I agree, just like Peavy and his injury history, the past seasons matter too. I'd be shocked if Dempster finishes the season with a sub 2 era.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!