posted on Thursday, May 01, 2008 3:30 AM by Jim

Minor major league notes

A couple of interesting things heading into a day off.



No. 1:  The Gentleman Masher has a new home run call (hat tip to The Cheat):
I'M AFRAID THE DAMAGE IS QUITE SEVERE.
No. 2:  Alexei Ramirez's Cuban-ness may have given the Sox an out. Via Mark Gonzalez:

MINNEAPOLIS - Alexei Ramirez's eight-month odyssey took a sharp and unexpected detour when the native of Cuba couldn't accompany his White Sox teammates to Toronto because of visa issues. He likely will miss a four-game series against the Blue Jays that starts Friday.

Gonzalez notes that Josh Fields was removed in the seventh inning Wednesday night after hurting his leg sliding into second, but said he was fine.  Joe Cowley, on the other hand, seems to think Jerry Owens would get the nod of any position player, not even mentioning Fields.

If Joe Crede does get a day off on the artificial turf, I'd much rather see Fields in his place.  Otherwise, go around the horn:
Add in Jermaine Dye, who isn't on track after returning from his groin injury, and that's not looking like a major-league lineup.  Fields seems to fit the Sox's needs better in a short-term situation.

Comments

# re: Minor major league notes

Thursday, May 01, 2008 9:35 AM by biganutz
If Alexei Ramirez drove in some runs on monday instead OF grounding into a DP, I would miss him in the lineup. But he didn't, he looks like he needs some polishing at the plate...But then again everyone in the lineup except Carlos Quinton looks bad at the plate. I cut Carlos's uncles hair in Norwalk California. I didn't know Carlos Quinton was from Bellflower CA !

# re: Minor major league notes

Thursday, May 01, 2008 10:14 AM by ChicagoPete
I don't know about this Alexei thing, you've got some serious Cuban pride issues involved so you got to be real careful. That pride, it's like a force of nature down there.

# re: Minor major league notes

Thursday, May 01, 2008 11:50 AM by CT Sox
Pleas, please, please ship Alexei off to Charlotte. Watching his struggles at the plate is tough. He needs to be playing everyday, probably at SS.

# re: Minor major league notes

Thursday, May 01, 2008 3:05 PM by Conor
Would flying Fields to Canada to play 1 game before getting shipped back south really do anything for him or us? I like Fields a lot, but I think he needs to stay in AAA unless Crede gets hurt, traded, or he's called up in September. I know a lot of people want to use him as a bench player to give Thome a rest against lefties, but I don't think thats such a judicial use of the bench. He doesn't really have any defensive value as a late inning replacement or spot starter, and doesn't do well against right handed pitching. While I think Ownens is doing a good job and deserves a shot, we already have a 4th outfielder in BA who is more valuable in that regard than Owens. I think if Owens, Ramirez, and Fields can get their heads on straight in Charlotte, we may have solved a lot of problems for next season.

# re: Minor major league notes

Thursday, May 01, 2008 3:53 PM by Jim Margalus
I don't think Fields would mind. He'd help more than another unreliable bullpen arm, or Owens if BA hits like he has been so far, because the Sox bench lacks pop.

Long-term, Bourgeois would be the best fit, except for the pesky lack of hitting thing.

# re: Minor major league notes

Thursday, May 01, 2008 9:13 PM by biganutz
May seems to be a rough month for the white sox. Jim one more question, what's the white sox record in may since Ozzie Guillen became head coach ?

# re: Minor major league notes

Friday, May 02, 2008 3:00 AM by Jim Margalus
2004: 16-12
2005: 18-10
2006: 16-12
2007: 12-14

Considering 16-12 is a 93-win pace, there's nothing particularly scary about May. They just had a bad team last year.