Synthetic or not, the
Bobby Abreu-for-Jermaine Dye rumors are likely officially off the table. Abreu has caught fire in the past week or so, while Dye underwent a procedure to drain his knee. Still, it appears that
three-fifths NL West teams are still interested in the Sox slugger.
Should the Sox trail by double-digits in the standings by the trading deadline, there's only about one reason to
not move Dye -- and sentimentality is never a good enough excuse in and of itself. At this point, fans should begin to emulate Dye's blasé attitude towards any potential dealings.
I just hope Kenny Williams truly knows the corpse is cold when he pushes the eject button, because Josh Fields' performance
during today's victory leads me to believe there is no immediate replacement for Dye at any position. Fields went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, and while hat tricks happen, they shouldn't happen on two pitches Fields missed. One was a center-cut, belt-high, 89-m.p.h. Wandy Rodriguez fastball, and the other one was 90 m.p.h. in about the same spot, maybe a couple inches higher.
Darrin Jackson actually provided some accurate commentary when he said Fields would need to shorten his swing before the first strikeout, and the whole process reminded me of
the game that led to Brian Anderson's demotion, when Anderson swung underneath and late on a Todd Jones fastball clocked at 88 m.p.h. Greg Walker deserves a lion's share of the criticism -- and
Ozzie Guillen did offer some, although it was light and qualified -- but instructing also needs to be scrapped at the lower levels.
As long as Fields can't get around on room-service fastballs, he will likely have the same issues that Anderson had, and Joe Crede before him. I hope they get Fields right, because he's got a better set of tools than any other Sox prospect, with the plate discipline the farm system sorely lacks. At some point, the front office will have to feel pressure to develop a hitter who can contribute with power within three major-league seasons.
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After Dewon Day fell behind 2-0 to Carlos Lee, the crowd at U.S. Cellular Field started to grumble. After Day fell behind 3-0 to Mark Loretta, boos started to make it into the Comcast audio feed. They increased in volume when Day fell behind 2-0 to Morgan Ensberg, and continued through Boone Logan's subsequent walk, the third in a row by Sox relievers.
On one hand, I'm thrilled that Sox fans are airing it out. At this point, I'd rather see the bullpen give up three solo homers than issue three walks with a five-run lead, because at least it means the pitchers are trying to get hitters to get themselves out. I'm yelling at my TV while it happens, so I'm glad to have messengers there.
On the other, I'm not sure how much the doomsday attitude can help at this point. It reminds me somewhat of Corey Patterson's decline with the Cubs that led to his departure, leaving the Cubs without a true center fielder for two years and counting while Patterson enjoyed a rebound season with the Orioles before struggling again. Ozzie Guillen, Don Cooper, Kenny Williams, Jerry Reinsdorf and everybody else in the ballpark knows the relievers suck ... are the extra reminders from the fans ultimately worth it?
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Minor league round-up:- Charlotte 4, Indianapolis 3
- Following up on his best effort of the season, Gavin Floyd put together another quality outing -- one earned run over seven innings, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out eight.
- David Aardsma closed out the game, allowing one run over the final two innings. The run came on a double and a single in the ninth inning, but the game ended on a strike-him-out-throw-him-out. At least he didn't walk anybody.
- Gustavo Molina had two solo homers, and Ryan Sweeney went 2-for-4. Scott Podsednik went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.
- Craig Wilson went 0-for-4, striking out three more times. Brian Anderson went 0-for-4.
- Birmingham 12, Mississippi 3
- Victor Mercedes hit for the cycle, scoring three runs and driving in two.
- Donny Lucy and Cory Aldridge had three-hit games; Jeremy Frost and Ricardo Nanita had three RBI apiece.
- Jack Egbert struggled with his control, walking six over five innings. He also allowed six hits, but helped to limit the damage by striking out six, and he picked off a runner.
- Rober Valido went 0-for-6.
- Winston-Salem 6, Wilmington 4
- Adam Ricks broke the tie in the eighth inning with a two-run, pinch-hit single.
- Aaron Cunningham went 1-for-5; Micah Schnurstein went 1-for-4 and hit his 27th double.
- Gary Bakker picked up the win with four quality innings of relief, allowing only one run while striking out three.
- Greensboro 4, Kannapolis 2
- Anderson Gomes and Brandon Allen had two hits apiece; Lee Cruz drove in the Intimidators' only two runs.
- Justin Edwards allowed two earned runs over six innings, but was stuck with the loss.