AL Exec of the Year: Ken Williams

His deal for Quentin officially removes his Todd Ritchie trade of a few years back...

Yeah, we need to give him his props albeit cautiously. The season isn't over and I haven't seen either the Twinkies nor the Tigers falling off a cliff.

I like the way the Sox manufactured that winning run with Wise and Cabrera. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SEE MORE OF! Those kinds of runs are necessary in tightly pitched ballgames during the season and almost always in the playoffs.

So far, Mr. Williams, you've earned a smile.

I was at last nights game, sat in the left field line upper deck, and followed Alexis' home run ball from the time it hit the bat, travelled HIGH above the Cell roof, and then PUSHED by Mother Nature inches away from an outstretched glove. All night long fly balls were landing in left field exactly where their trajectory put them; not a foot farther, but for some odd reason this particular ball just kept goin' and goin' and goin'.

As is the case on any play, the angle with which it is seen makes all the difference in the world. When I saw the replay from the home plate camera you have no clue exactly what happened. It just looks like a homerun that barely made it over the fence. From the nosebleed 540 section, you see it as if it's one of your goofy falls in life; you know, the ones where it seems to happen in slow motion. I wasn't alone last night in determining on where fly balls to left would eventually end up and I wasn't alone in determining that homerun would not make it out either, but for some odd, mouth open, slow-mo reason, it just kept goin' and goin' and goin'. That was awesome!

Sorry, had to get that out. Anyway, from Quentin to Linebrink to Ramirez to Cabrera, yes, my hats off to Kenny.

Wise and Russell are going to be two more heads the opposition is going to have to deal with. They both look good!

My questions are;

Will Kenny make one or two more moves that put us square into the Elite?

Will Ozzie one day realize that he's managing professional baseball players, making millions of dollars to HELP their team win, and that sooner or later he's gonna have to ask one of them to BUNT to manufacture runs because the situation reasons so?

No disrespect to Konerko or Thome, but I'd like to see Wise in center, Swisher at first, and Fields at DH. With a solid pitching staff in order, run production is sparse at times, and I've seen enough to know that Konerko, Thome and our lack of bunts are our achilles heel. It's too far into the season to think they might get hot. They strike out at the most inopportune times, are SLOW, and are PAST dues-paid.

Let's see if Kenny and Oz 'can pull a rabbit out of their mouths'.

Yes I bashed him during the off season and I still want them to score with out hitting the long ball all the time but his moves with the bull pen have been great and picking up Ramirez and Quentin have made this season.
Swisher finally woke up (and filling in at first base) so that move is now working out. If he can re-sign Cabrera I will never rip him again.

I'm not a Sox fan, but I'll give Kenny Williams his due as Exec of the year for sure. Never did I ever think that Quentin (the guy looks a lot like Jose Canseco) and Alexei Ramirez would be this good, same with John Danks and Gavin Floyd. Not bad at all. I wasn't surprised about the bullpen in the beginning, Dotel and Linebrink were good risks. Thornton and Logan have great stuff. This is a good team. Hopefully they're not peaking too soon with the young guys...

Anthony, as I read your description of Ramirez' flyball, I couldn't help but recollect watching in person the homerun that Bo Jackson hit to clinch the division title for the '93 Sox. Frankly, while Alexei is stronger than he looks, I can't believe that his flyball was completely like Bo's. I was sitting in the boxes behind first base. He took a severe upper cut and hit what appeared to be a very high "pop up" to shortstop. Instead, it just kept going and going and going until--as you describe Ramirez' flyball--it just fell in an eerie super slo-mo into the left field seats. While it only went some 370 feet that September night, it caused oohs and aahs from many including Mariners' manager Lou Piniella since it really looked like a certain popup to short! It wasn't the wind as there was very little and flyballs weren't really carrying that night. It was a profound example of superhuman strength! That guy, while not a great ballplayer, had athletic skills that were off the charts.

Now all we need is NOLES and Jewels to give him the nod and its official! Sorry Culzie - no vote here. I count on Noles for my stats and Jewels for the mojo-baby-yeah! (by the way NOLES great roast of stuck in the Rose blog). But in the end I simply trust Kenny AND Ozzie. They are right way more often than wrong. And they are champions. Tip your hat to Kenny.

GREAT Post Navarro. Wise and Anderson are also making great contributions in the absence of PK. Ramirez has made us forget the GOOCH. Sometimes, things just work out. Great franchises keep stepping after parting with a star or two. Look at Minnesota...

As long as he puts on that sweater and does that dance he did to "It's not Unusual"...

I hope he wins

Of course Kenny gets my endorsement! This team is stacked, baby - yeah!

Who?

We tend to forget we were basically fielding a minor league team last summer, no Erstad, Pod-sed-nik, Thome, Dye, Crede, the list goes on. Fields, while a good hitter, is no Crede at third, or clutch enough at the plate. Our bullpen stunk, and we were still leading in a good many games until our pen got in. I won't name pen names, basically everyone but Yenks was sorry.

Even after all that we were 72-90.

I knew when we picked up Linebrink and Dotel, it was worth 10 wins, but I did not see Missile or Q-perman doing what they do, they have a great lineup, and a great pitching staff.

The OC trade solidified the infield, and Danks and Floyd made the jokes about our 5th starter a moot point.

WTG KW, all your haters must now lick your bootstraps, and Ozzie, do what you do. The brother that Billy Beane rode, rode us to a WS championship, and hopefully he can ride us there again. What has Oakland done again? Guess moneyball wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

Well, every one knew how much potential Alexi had..and still does. Quentin was a standout with the D'backs....so I don't know how much Credit Kenny actaully deserves....let's face it...they were not his first choice. It kind of 'accidentally'(that's the 3rd time Julie) happened. I am amused watching all you people who bashed Kenny earlier (Yes you did Roman)...now applaud him. Such is the life of a typical Sox fan.
That second rate bullpen won't be lucky forever. I smell an August collapse.The Cub's collapse has already begun. Hopefully they have enough time to rebound .

If you do as many deals as Ken tends to do, some will fail and some will succeed...It will be interesting to see if Q, Danks and Floyd keep it up in the second half...For all we know they could be one year wonders like Rick Hill, Kent Bottenfield, Brady Anderson (intentionally used), etc...I guess it is still too early to tell...

Julie sez: "Of course Kenny gets my endorsement! This team is stacked, baby - yeah!"

Jules; allow me to help you in the presentation / punctuation department here.

That would have read better like this:

"Of course Kenny gets my endorsement! This team is stacked baby,
.... YEAH!"

It's all about where you place the comma.

Oh Lord, I've created a monster.

I bet you'd trade the Cubs bullpen for the Sox bullpen in a heartbeat, Stuck. Have you watched a Sox game at all this year? Read the paper? Seen SportsCenter? Anyone who has would never use the term 'second rate' to describe the Sox bullpen. Your point about 1st choice, second choice and potential in reference to Ramirez and Quentin makes no sense either. These guys are producing. They were brought here by one man. Jealousy is really unbecoming; talk about typical.

No-don't care to. No-don't care to. Who in the world would get any factual information from sports center?????? That is probably the worst of all the tabloid shows.
Don't like 'second rate' eh? How about 'throw aways'? If they were able to pitch when it counted, they wouldn't have been 'thrown away' by other teams. Cubs Fans know all too well about 'throw away' pitchers.
Quentin and Alexi were not the first choice of Ken Williams. He took them because nobody else wanted to play for the WhiteSox. What doesn't make sense about that? It is flawless logic. Ken Williams has become 'accidentally'(4th time) successfull this year.
yours truly,
Flawlessinwisconsin

Second rate?

I'd call them diamonds in the rough.

And wasn't Edmonds a throw away too?

So where do you get your information? Clearly not from watching actual games like the rest of us. Who was it exactly that didn't want to play for the Sox, and how do you know this? They texted you personally I bet. And as I'm writing this, throwaway Alexei Ramirez just hit a dinger, FYI. And yes, you should know about throw away pitchers, i.e. Neil Cotts and Bob Howry. Thrown away by the Sox of course, but good enough for the Schlubbies!

I couldn''t help but notice the absence of 'throw aways' on the All-start teams? What happened to the 'best bullpen' in the majors? You would think the players would at least recognize one pitcher from the 'best bullpen' in the majors? They understand that the Sox bulpen is a fluke. The players and myself always know the real truth.

Cubs:7 allstars=success
Sox :2 allstars= pity choices

I'll take a second-rate, throw away All-Star any day!!!

Yours truly,
ahappychicagoannotstuckanywheretheysayeh

With regards to the All Star Game,

"Everyone knows the best players aren't there."

Posted by: stuckinwisconsin | July 1, 2008 10:38 PM

Thanks, Stuck! I couldn't have said it any better myself!!!

Yo Stuck:

It's not just the best bullpen in the majors; it's the best pitching staff ... period.

And not one starter made the All Star Roster.

Something's rotten in Cooperstown.

Dear Stuckinwisconsin,

Your disdain for the White Sox is duly noted. However, that team is not your biggest problem.

I am.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

'Dear Stuckinwisconsin,

Your disdain for the White Sox is duly noted. However, that team is not your biggest problem.

I am.' Posted July, 7, CC Sabathia.

The REAL CC Sabathia would put his hat on 'STRAIGHT' before he'd use the word 'disdain'. Keep it REAL next time.

Stuck, I agree with your assessment, partially, on the White Sox bullpen. I won't say it's a fluke, but it's not the strongest, either. I've given that title to the Twins for the last three years. As for the Cubs, they deserve their accolades. Looking at the rest of the National League, they had no choice but to place 7(seven) Northsiders. There wasn't much else to choose from!

The top 2(two) leaders in saves in the N.L. have 'gas prices' for E.R.A.s.

Seeing how the A.L. beat up on N.L. pitching this year, it's a no wonder the Cubbies are 'swingin' well'.

Actually, I'm a Chicago fan overall, and I'm glad to see Chicago represented in the Popularity Contest, uh, All-Star Game, but when a George Sherrill makes it ahead of a John Denks, it gives a whole new meaning to 'a numbers game'.

So I'll just plead the 10th.

See you in October, White Sox Fans!

I'd much rather win the 'Prevailer Contest', anyway.

Fantasies of Cubbie Fan

Cubs:7 allstars=success
Sox :2 allstars= pity choices

Posted by: stuckinwisconsin | July 6, 2008 04:11 PM
***************

Realities of White Sox Fan

Cubs:7 allstars = Yippee, we got seven players in the All-star game! North-siders giddy as usual and have not won anything.

Sox:2 allstars = Our players are more concern towards playing in and winnng the 2008 World Series. See the difference, a mature perspective towards winning it all.

Therefore Cubbie Fans jump up and down and over the bleacher wall with elation.

Please remember this boastfulness when September rolls around and no Cub players are in the playoffs, long least the World Series for heavens sake.

To Ken Williams Exec of year. That is what the (Yes!) was for. But on a realistic note....Sox Fan...the Cubs may make the playoffs, they have a chance, the question is will they get swept out like they were last year? Or, will they grow up and go all the way like 2005, leaning toward last year to me. Not enough pitching.

"The top 2(two) leaders in saves in the N.L. have 'gas prices' for E.R.A.s."
- Anthony Navarro

Ha! We need to add another classic Bculz.

Kenny still needs to make a move for a starter.

Ha! We need to add another classic Bculz.
Posted by: stuckinwisconsin | July 8, 2008 08:14 PM

iM A BIT CONFUSED...

this can be read so many ways..

"We need to add another classic Bculz."

could be read ....

A. "We need to add another one to the list of classic...eh? Bculz?"

B. What Navarro said was so funny it qualifies as a Classic Bculz. in where i am now a noun. and a Classic BCulz is what you say now, when someone says something funny....like..."hey..that was so funny, it was a classic bculz"

c. or you just dropped Bculz at the end of your statement as an exlamation to garner attention to the statement...
like..."We need to add another classic...BCULZ!!!!" LIKE "BAMM" TAKE THAT!!!

or well...maybe you can just explain...

AorB