5th Starter Spot...

[Bonzosa]

I'm looking for some input on the 5th starter to be.

I've been looking at the stats for Danks, Floyd and Gonzalez, none of them impress me.
I live on the West coast so I have yet to see any of these guys pitch.

What makes each of them impressive?
Their numbers surely don't produce the notion they are dominating the competition in the minors.

So why is it that any of these guys are ready to be in the starting rotation?

It looks like Floyd likes to give up the long ball and people run freely on him. He gave up 14 HR's in 54 innings.

Danks looked good in the last 6 minor league games last year but did not throw many innings. He does have a decent K/W ratio.

Gonzalez looked fine as a starter although has less impressive stats than Danks overall.

What do you guys think? What have you seen that would lead you to believe that any of these guys can produce some quality starts (along with some bumpy games)?

[BigBadBill]

I like Danks. I want to hear Hawk saying things like "Danks for dat" all season long.

[Lucifer]

For one thing ya cant pass judgement on any pitcher right now cause they are all trying to find their stuff, find the strike zone and are still getting their arms into shape/stretched out. None of our starters have been impressive yet and ya have to remember that they have only faced live batting for 2 weeks so give em some time.

Go to WhiteSox.com and look at the stats. Actually the young guns are pitching better right now than the starting vets.

Danks has been the most impressive. Friday he pitched 3 scoreless innings, gave up 2 hits that were erased by DP's had no walks and no K's. The no K's tells me that he pitched effectively and efficiantly and seeing as how he only faced the minimum 9 batters Id say thats exactly how he pitched. He's givin up one run over 6 innings so far in S/T. In those 6 innings he 0 walks and 3 K's.

Haegars Knuckler just isnt working down there in AZ. Nuff said.

Floyd has looked decent and has a 4.50 ERA through 6 innings of work.

If these guys are still struggling in the last week of S/T then I can see getting worried but until then I believe these guys will be fine.:rock:

[Bonzosa]

That's all well and good, but do you see any of them worthy enough to be a starter in the rotation?
If so who do you think?
The White Sox site seems to think that Floyd has the upper hand.

[Lucifer]

That's all well and good, but do you see any of them worthy enough to be a starter in the rotation?
If so who do you think?
The White Sox site seems to think that Floyd has the upper hand.

Yes I think Floyd, Danks and Haegar are legitimate 5th starters.

Its too early to say who it will be but I will say it comes down to Floyd and Danks. Theres already talk by Ozzie that he may consider Danks for the pen If he doesnt get the 5th rotation spot. Now if Danks gets the 5th rotation spot then Floyd might find himself in the pen where Coop can continue to work with him. Floyd still has plenty of time to get things worked out. Like I said, we'll have a much better idea going into the last week of spring training.

[the fluffer]

My only concern with the fifth starter spot, isn't with the pitcher occupying that slot of the rotation. What happens to the bullpen if it turns out that Gavin Floyd indeed does suck ass? If he consistently posts lines of 2.2IP, 7ER, 10H, etc.... those bullpen arms will be awfully tired.

Adding a guy like Haeger to the pen would be greatly benficial in the event Floyd or Danks prove to be ineffective. Hopefully Ozzie, Cooper, KW, etc are considering this notion as well.

[Lucifer]

My only concern with the fifth starter spot, isn't with the pitcher occupying that slot of the rotation. What happens to the bullpen if it turns out that Gavin Floyd indeed does suck ass? If he consistently posts lines of 2.2IP, 7ER, 10H, etc.... those bullpen arms will be awfully tired.

Adding a guy like Haeger to the pen would be greatly benficial in the event Floyd or Danks prove to be ineffective. Hopefully Ozzie, Cooper, KW, etc are considering this notion as well.

The only thing that scares me about Haegar being in the pen is him coming into a game that AJ is catching. He was handcuffed last year by that Knuckler. Im not saying AJ wont improve but until he shows that he can catch a Knluckler it scares me when I think back to last year.

I agree having a guy like Haegar in the pen would be a nice thing to have as long as both catchers can catch him.

[Myrtle]

The only thing that scares me about Haegar being in the pen is him coming into a game that AJ is catching. He was handcuffed last year by that Knuckler. Im not saying AJ wont improve but until he shows that he can catch a Knluckler it scares me when I think back to last year.

I agree having a guy like Haegar in the pen would be a nice thing to have as long as both catchers can catch him.

I'm sure AJ's been working on that. At the end of last season he made it clear that he hadn't had much experience with a knuckler and that he was going to spend some time getting used to those kinds of pitches. But then again, how exactly do you practice catching a knuckler anyway? :confused:

[Lucifer]

I'm sure AJ's been working on that. At the end of last season he made it clear that he hadn't had much experience with a knuckler and that he was going to spend some time getting used to those kinds of pitches. But then again, how exactly do you practice catching a knuckler anyway? :confused:

Right. We only have one and the only time to catch him is S/T but Hall needs to catch him too so that cuts into AJ's time with him. Not to mension Molina caught Haegar his last time out. Who the hell knows?:shrug:

[Bonzosa]

The spot has clarified a bit according to this mlb.com article (http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070310&content_id=1837422&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws).

Who's the last knuckleball reliever you remember?
If Haeger was effective he would throw a wrench into any lineup faced. Imagine MB, JG, JV or Danks/Floyd throwing in the 90's, in comes Haeger throwing in the 70's even 60's and then you finish off the job with Jenks. That would be effective in theory.

We'll see.
Anyways, regarding the spot becoming clearer, I don't think you only look at their innings pitched, you also have to look at their composure and management of the game. There are more intangibles that go into the decision than just their numbers.
That'swhy I don't think I have a clear idea of who it's going to be. No ST games on the air in Portland, sad to say.:(

[soxwon]

Im still holding my prediction that our 5th starter
will still win as many or more games than BMAC.
ive stated this repeatidly since we traded BMAC.
We have a bunch of studs in these kids.
White Sox WMD's Aiming at a stadium near you......

[fquaye14ten]

The spot has clarified a bit according to this mlb.com article (http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070310&content_id=1837422&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws).

Who's the last knuckleball reliever you remember?


Tim Wakefield 2002...and that dude from Detroit 2 years ago....

but that was back when I was a young lad and a television cost a nickel

[Bonzosa]

Tim Wakefield 2002...and that dude from Detroit 2 years ago....

but that was back when I was a young lad and a television cost a nickel

Wakefield was a starter.
I don't remember pitching in relief.

It's funny how Sox nation has turned on BMac. Most people loved him, and now people despise him. He was traded, he didn't pull a Frank Thomas or anything.

But yes, BMac will suck. I don't think he is all the hype.
But the hype provided good value in the trade...:thumbsup:

[fquaye14ten]

wakefield was not a starter in 2002 or previous. he worked out of the bullpen in boston mostly

[fquaye14ten]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/wakefti01.shtml

[Unregistered]

Tim Wakefield 2002...and that dude from Detroit 2 years ago....

but that was back when I was a young lad and a television cost a nickel

I remember when frankfurters cost a nickel.

[Bonzosa]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/wakefti01.shtml

4 of his 14 years he was not a starter.
I didn't even think it was that long.

[fquaye14ten]

what exactly are you

a.) saying

b.) getting this information from?

b.) trying to make a point about?

Looking at the Baseball Reference sheet, I only see 4 years where he didn't pitch out of the bullpen.

[Bonzosa]

what exactly are you

a.) saying

b.) getting this information from?

b.) trying to make a point about?

Looking at the Baseball Reference sheet, I only see 4 years where he didn't pitch out of the bullpen.
Those are all great questions!:thumbsup:

What I am saying is that you are wrong.

I was trying to be nice about it, but there you have it.

Look at the stats you linked me to...
For example- In 1998, which is before 2002, he appeared in 36 games, 33 of which he started.
1997- he pitched 35 times, 29 as a starter, it goes on and on...

A secondary point from my last post was that I didn't think he pitched in relief for 4 years as the stats confirm. I remembered it being a much shorter time out of the pen.
So, in summary, you were right about him pitching out of the pen, but not all years prior to 2002 as you stated.
I will be more clear next time.

[fquaye14ten]

I didn't say in all years prior to 2002. I did say that he was a reliever in 2002. And as a matter of fact he was---more than 2/3 of his appearances came in relief.

I still don't understand what your point is in general

[Unregistered]

What I am saying is that you are wrong.

I was trying to be nice about it, but there you have it.


Well you're wrong about trying to be nice to fquaye.

He's like a junkyard dog. He'll mistake that for weakness and bite your balls.

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/2773/biteyb7.gif

[LuvSox]

and bite your balls.



Or lick. :shrug:

[fquaye14ten]

luv sox I've had it up to here with you (i'm pointing well above my head)

[Unregistered]

Or lick. :shrug:

http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/1759/wellplayedda6.jpg

[Myrtle]

http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/1759/wellplayedda6.jpg

Your GIS skills never cease to amaze me. :omg:

[Unregistered]

Your GIS skills never cease to amaze me. :omg:

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/1715/thanks20a20lotzq9.jpg

[Lucifer]

So what exactly does Wakefield have to do with the Sox 5th starters job?:shrug:

[LuvSox]

So what exactly does Wakefield have to do with the Sox 5th starters job?:shrug:

He wants it.

[Lucifer]

He wants it.
He wants it too. In fact he got it!:)
:mybad:

[Prope]

What about Heath Phillips? Sure I have just watched one inning of him pitching in his entire career but why not? Can he even make the team?

[Unregistered]

What about Heath Phillips? Sure I have just watched one inning of him pitching in his entire career but why not? Can he even make the team?

He doesn't look too awful today, so far...

Certainly not as bad as any of our other starters have looked. :shrug: