SB Nation - Mark Buehrle

Rosterbation-Mania!

U-God — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:18:10 -0000

More photos » by Ted S. Warren - AP

Raise your hand if you want to play for the White Sox next year. Esteban, please put your hand down. Seriously though, Esteban, you aren't welcome. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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Over the past couple days, and inspired by the infamous U.S.S. Mariner post and the on-going reader input over at Sox Machine, I've been putting together my off-season plan. I tried to keep it as realistic as possible (no video game trades), especially in terms of payroll. Feel encouraged to leave your own roster plans in the comments section. U-God's 2010 plan lies after the jump.

Free Agent Acquistions:

DH- Nick Johnson, 1 year/5.5 mil

I love Jim Thome and always will. He is my back-up plan. With that being said, I would be thrilled if KW went out and got Nick Johnson. The 31 year old lefty has a career .849 OPS fueled largely by his .402 career OBP. Johnson also allows us to rotate Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin in at DH as well. He does come with injury-risks, but using him mainly as a DH in combination with one of the premier medical staffs in baseball should counteract that. The injury risk combined with the down market should allow the Sox to grab him at a reasonable price for a year.

RF- Marlon Byrd, 1 year/4.5 mil

Byrd would be a very refreshing change of pace out in rightfield. He has posted an OPS above .800 each year since joining the American League and has been an above-average defender in right as well. His career high 20 homers last year will guarentee him a raise, though probably a modest one. Byrd also provides a nice stop-gap for our outfield prospects.

C- Brian Schneider, 1 year/1.5 mil

Schneider's days as a starter are over. He's a lefty-catcher who has had good success stopping opponent's run games (38 CS%). Being a backup drops his price tag and lowers his risk of getting hurt again.

1B/OF- Mark Kotsay, 1 year/1.5 mil

Bring him back. He was good after we traded for him and gives Ozzie more flexibility with his bench and lineups.

Contract Extension:

Offer John Danks the Jon Lester deal (5 years/30 mil). It's a back-loaded contract that buys out John's arbitration years and allows him to hit free agency at age 31. It may take more money to lock him up, but for simplicity's sake, I'm just going to use the Lester deal.

Batting Order:

DH- Nick Johnson, 3B- Gordon Beckham, LF- Carlos Quentin, 1B- Paul Konerko, C- A.J. Pierzynski, CF- Alex Rios, RF- Marlon Byrd, SS- Alexei Ramirez, 2B- Chris Getz.

That OBP in front of Beckham gives me dirty thoughts.

Bench:

C- Brian Schneider, 1B/OF- Mark Kotsay, UTIL- Jayson Nix, OF- Alejandro De Aza

Nix gives pop off the bench and De Aza gives Ozzie a speedy pinch-runner for late in the game.

Starting Rotation:

Jake Peavy-RHP, Mark Buehrle-LHP, Gavin Floyd-RHP, John Danks-LHP, Freddy Garcia-RHP

I like the idea of having Peavy and Garcia pitch back to back.

Bullpen:

Bobby Jenks-CL, Matt Thornton-LHP, Scott Linebrink-RHP, DJ Carrasco-RHP, Tony Peña-RHP, Jhonny Nuñez-RHP, Randy Williams-LHP

I wanted to trade Jenks, but his value is too low right now and I don't want a repeat of the Nick Swisher trade.

Other Costs:

$1 mil buy-out for Jermaine Dye

$.35 mil for Mike MacDougal, damn him

Team Payroll:

$96.65 mil, only .55 higher than last season's opening salary. All figures (except my FAs and arbitration guesstimates) taken from Cot's Baseball Contracts.

Fantasy Baseball: FIP Losers in 2010?

raygu — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:15:10 -0000

by Jack Dempsey - AP

Is J.A. Happ a one year wonder?

View full size photo »

Yesterday I posted an article discussing the pitchers with the best FIP, or Fielding Independent Pitching, which aims to give fantasy/roto owners a clearer picture of how well, or not so well, a pitcher performed in 2009.

Today I give you the pitchers whose FIP was higher than their ERA in 2009, who could see their ERA's rise in 2010:

6.45

3.04

2.13

1.08

0.241

1.23

0.270

85.20%

2.93

4.33

-1.40

Kevin Millwood

5.57

3.22

1.73

1.18

0.258

1.34

0.279

78.60%

3.67

4.80

-1.13

Jair Jurrjens

6.36

3.14

2.03

0.63

0.235

1.21

0.273

79.40%

2.60

3.68

-1.08

Matt Cain

7.07

3.02

2.34

0.91

0.231

1.18

0.268

81.60%

2.89

3.89

-0.99

Bronson Arroyo

5.19

2.66

1.95

1.27

0.256

1.27

0.270

76.50%

3.84

4.78

-0.94

Randy Wells

5.66

2.5

2.26

0.76

0.261

1.28

0.294

76.00%

3.05

3.88

-0.83

John Danks

6.69

3.28

2.04

1.26

0.246

1.28

0.273

77.70%

3.77

4.59

-0.82

Rick Porcello

4.69

2.74

1.71

1.21

0.268

1.34

0.281

75.50%

3.96

4.77

-0.82

John Lannan

3.88

2.97

1.31

0.96

0.265

1.35

0.276

72.70%

3.88

4.70

-0.81

Ross Ohlendorf

5.55

2.7

2.06

1.27

0.249

1.23

0.265

76.30%

3.92

4.72

-0.80

Jarrod Washburn

5.11

2.51

2.04

1.18

0.244

1.19

0.257

75.40%

3.78

4.58

-0.80

Randy Wolf

6.72

2.44

2.76

1.01

0.227

1.10

0.257

77.30%

3.23

3.96

-0.72

Doug Davis

6.46

4.56

1.42

1.11

0.261

1.50

0.294

76.00%

4.12

4.84

-0.72

Trevor Cahill

4.53

3.63

1.25

1.36

0.269

1.44

0.276

72.60%

4.63

5.33

-0.70

Edwin Jackson

6.77

2.94

2.3

1.14

0.249

1.26

0.281

76.70%

3.62

4.28

-0.67

Johan Santana

7.88

2.48

3.17

1.08

0.249

1.21

0.296

78.00%

3.13

3.79

-0.66

Mark Buehrle

4.43

1.9

2.33

1.14

0.27

1.25

0.282

74.70%

3.84

4.46

-0.62

Felix Hernandez

8.18

2.68

3.06

0.57

0.229

1.14

0.289

76.70%

2.49

3.09

-0.60

Joe Saunders

4.89

3.1

1.58

1.4

0.278

1.43

0.290

73.50%

4.60

5.17

-0.57

Ted Lilly

7.68

1.83

4.19

1.12

0.232

1.06

0.270

77.80%

3.10

3.65

-0.55

The last column in this chart gives you the difference between the pitcher's ERA and FIP for 2009. As you can see, the Phillies J.A. Happ may have benefitted from an extreme LOB% of 85% this year. Looking at his peripherals, he gives up more than a HR/9 and his K/BB% is just over 2, which is good, but not great.

The Giants Matt Cain is another pitcher whose LOB% was over 80%, which is above AVG, so we can expect his ERA to rise in 2010. Cain benefitted from a reduced GB% and LD% in 2009, but his HR/FB% was the highest in his career. Something to watch in 2010.

The Braves Jair Jurrjens LOB% approached 80% as well, which is the highest of his young career so far. His 2009 FIP of 3.68 is exactly what his ERA was in 2008, so I would expect his ERA to rise in 2010.

A couple big name pitchers on this list to watch out for are the Mariners Felix Hernandez and the Mets Johan Santana.

Poll

Are you buying JA Happ's rookie season in 2009?

Yes, he pitches for the best team in the NL, and should give you double digit wins.

26 votes

No, his peripherals are ok at best.

40 votes

66 votes | Poll has closed

Joe Nathan Blows the Sweep

Jesse — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:14:07 -0000

More photos » by Ann Heisenfelt - AP

2 months ago: Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Joe Nathan sits in the dugout after he was replaced by Matt Guerrier during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Minneapolis, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009. Nathan gave up back-to-back home runs with two outs in the ninth inning in the Twins 4-2 loss. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

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Two outs, two strikes. Twice.

Somehow, knowing that the Twins won the series doesn't make me feel any better. In fact, I feel sick. I was ready to write headlines like "Twins Eliminate Sox" or "Punto Wins Game With Head-First Slide Into First Base" or "Twins Say Goodbye To Sox In Style". But NO.

For seven innings Brian Duensing was brilliant. He retired seven on stikes and allowed just ~~four~~ five hits, walking two. Nobody scored. The double plays came at the right time, the strikeouts were huge, and as good as Mark Buehrle was, Duensing was just better. Even when Michael Cuddyer made a catch against the baggy and the umpires played Make Believe, pretending to have seen the ball hit the wall, Brian was able to cowboy up, settle in and retire the White Sox without surrendering a run in a four-out inning.

Buehrle cruised for a while, blowing through five innings and picking up steam before the Twins got to him in the sixth. Jason Kubel picked up a pair of hits off Buehrle tonight, the biggest coming with two outs and the bases loaded in said frame to score Denard Span and Joe Mauer and give the Twins their 2-0 lead. And for a short time, it looked like that would be it.

Fast-forward through a third double play turned against the Sox and Jason Kubel throwing Carlos Quentin out as he tried to stretch a single into a double, through Jon Rauch and another double play, through Joe Mauer (did he stare down Randy "Oops that fastball got away from me" Williams?) getting plunked, through Mark Kotsay and Scott Podsednik (wow did he suck tonight, is anyone surprised?) in the ninth inning.

With two outs, Nathan worked ahead of Gordon friggin' Beckham 0-2 before throwing three consecutive balls and then watching an inside fastball somehow end up in the home run porch. Paul Konerko also saw a two-strike count as Nathan was clearly struggling, and on pitch number seven of the at-bat Nathan's slider ended up about two feet higher than Span could jump in left field. Tie game.

Fast-forward through Jermaine Dye and Quentin walking and Nathan getting pulled. Fast-forward through Alexei Ramirez and his single, through Span's good throw and Mike Redmond being unable to A) block the plate and B) hold onto the ball, through a wild pitch (passed ball?) that got by Redmond. 4-2 Sox, all runs coming with two out, the first three runs coming with two strikes.

I take no joy in the fact that the Sox are still dead in the water, and it's of little comfort that the Twins took two of three. It was the last time the Twins and White Sox would face off in the Dome, the sweep was ours for the taking, and it was blown by the guy who is arguably the best closer in the game.

Here's hoping the Indians can do us a solid and take out the Tigers tonight. After today's game, we could use a favor. Well, another favor.

Stars of the Game
#3: Denard Span (3-for-4, R, .040 WPA)
#2: Jason Kubel (2-for-3, 2 RBI, .257 WPA)
#1: Brian Duensing (7 IP, 4 5 H, 7 K, 2 BB, 0 R, .436 WPA)

Teeth Gnashig and Shredding of Clothes
#1: Joe Nathan (0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 HR, 2 BB, 4 R, 1 K, -.396 WPA)
#2: Matt Guerrier (0.1 IP, 1 H, -.429 WPA)
#3: Mike Redmond (0-for-3, ~~passed ball~~, dropped ball on play at the plate)

GameDay Chatter: A Metrodome Moment

Jon Marthaler — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:00:14 -0000

(NOTE: Sunday, I appeared on the Twins postgame show yet again, doing the quick one-minute "GameDay Chatter" segment. Below, the text of my appearance.)

It has been a loud few weeks for the Twins, thanks to the pitching staff's implosion and the team's subsequent scramble to plug those holes. We fans have fretted and agonized over the team's August swoon, then looked on happily as a small winning streak has landed the team back, improbably, in contention.

While all of this was happening, though, it was too easy to forget a rather nice moment from last month.

In late July, Mark Buehrle of Chicago threw a perfect game against Tampa Bay. Nobody’s ever done that two games in a row, but in his next start, for more than five innings he held Twins batters spellbound. Finally, with two out in the sixth inning, Alexi Casilla drew a walk and Denard Span got a hit, breaking up a league-record string of batters retired. This was the hated White Sox, who were beating the home team at the time, but even so, the Twins crowd stood to applaud. They did again when it was announced that Buehrle had broken the baseball record for consecutive hitters retired, then again when the Sox lefty – by this time trailing – left the game. I admit, I never thought I’d see a Chicago pitcher tipping his cap to a Minnesota crowd in acknowledgement of an ovation.

It was a small moment, but I’d like to think one that will be remembered by the pitcher and by the fans. For just a short time, all partisan rancor was set aside, as the Twins crowd roared in appreciation of the White Sox hurler, who’d come closer than anyone to doing something nobody’s ever seen before. We could all stop being Twins fans for a minute, and take a chance to just be baseball fans, to sit and watch the national pastime without thinking about pitching disasters or the games-back column in the standings.

I’d like to remember that moment. In this age of blanket media coverage and the presence of critical voices from all sides, those kinds of moments are all too rare.

Robbie and ribbies reconcile their differences, gets pied in 5-2 10-inning win

CrazyYankeeChick — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:50:20 -0000

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

"This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship [with RISP hits]."

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Sometimes I think the new Yankee Stadium was built in Narnia. Or through the looking glass. Maybe mystique characterized the House That Ruth Built, but the 2009 season has been trotting out one "Nope, didn't see that one coming" experience after another.

If it's not a 12K loss from AJ, or 3 straight walk-off wins in a row, or a game going scoreless for 15 innings, then it's our 2B overcoming his RBI allergy to end a rainy 10 inning night in the Bronx with a win.

When I went to pick up Chinese food in the 4th inning, I was legitimately concerned that by the time I returned from the corner, the game would be in the 8th inning. Just like the aforementioned 15 inning marathon, there was the definite kernel of expectancy that this game was flying by so fast, we'd wrap this up in no time.

CC was dealing, as CC is wont to do, eating up innings, collecting Ks like they're stamps on his Tasti-D-Lite card, shutting down Chicago, as economic with his pitch output as he is liberal with his caloric intake.

It was so seamless that I went into a food coma post Lo-Mein, only to awake to a 2-1 game in the 7th.

Serves me right. It was like the gods of baseball were punishing me for catching some Zzzz's during the game. If CC can wait til the game's over to eat, I should be able to, too. (I'm sorry, his girth will never, ever, ever cease to send me into fits. It's at an all-time high today on account of my buddy at the game alerting me that his music selection is "I love it when you call me Big Poppa." Few things have made me happier than this information.)

But despite the shallow 2-run comeback, the Yanks were able to best the White Sox, bookending the game with long-balls--a solo from #1 hitter in the captain's first at-bat of the game....and then a 3-run rocket from our #7 hitter in the 10th inning. (Check out those numbers. Interestingly enough, the historical Mega Millions numbers for tonight? 1, 17, 31, 37, with Powerball 31. What's more, the only innings either team scored were in the 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 10th.)

And for some more relevant information on the game:

CC deserved the win, but his ND is proof that baseball always evens itself out in the long run, as he certainly didn't deserve a W in the last Chicago series. Even though the ND broke his 6-game winning streak, his pitches are somehow improving with every game. His control is so impeccable at this point that he could probably knock a beetle off the ump's shoulder on command.

Brian Bruney got the win, and I just realized that this sloppy clown is 4-0. Eh, the race doesn't always go to the swiftest, I guess. Congrats, #38. Way to save the game.

Phil Hughes is beyond filthy. If Girardi hadn't pitched him, I think Yankee fans would have staged a coups. This Thor-like supergod of relievers threw 14 pitches, 10 for strikes, and struck out Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, and Jermaine Dye in his 1-2-3 inning, all of which were called out on swinging strikes. I actually got chills watching him work.

The agility and sure-handedness of our fielders can't be discounted in this win. A-Rod made 2 key run-saving plays that keep the Sox at bay, including one beautiful diving stop to keep Jayson Nix's screaming shot in the infield. He really makes it look easy sometimes.

Outfielders should be able to throw out runners at home. It's part of their job description. I don't ask my boss for a raise for coming into work on time. That said, I still gotta give credit to Swish for his throw to the plate that enabled Molina to tag out Ramon Castro. After watching the defense so determined to not give the Sox the lead in that inning, I realized just how resolute and unflinching the Yankees have become.

Melky Cabrera certainly likes him some Mark Buehrle. Our sparky outfelder's been in a bit of a slump lately, but once again came to life against Chicago's ace. Hopefully this fires him up enough to get back into the black.

Yesterday I said that if Jeter went hitless today, I was going to be delivering to his locker Minka Kelly's cheerleading vest with a fish wrapped inside. Fortunately, he saved her from this fate literally right off the bat. That's love.

The wind was a discernibly mitigating factor in tonight's game, and flyouts fooled me on more than one occasion. I can't even think about what this meant in terms of Sterling warning track antics, without my head starting to hurt.

The RISP situation: 1 for 7. Chicago was 3-8. I'll take any kind of win, and knowing how poorly the Yanks tend to work in the rain, I am thrilled about the way they played, particularly in light of the other Sox coming back to beat the Jays.

The more significant RISP situation: When Robbie hit that blast, you could see in his face the liberation he felt from the statistical stigma branding him up til that point. "You see the statistics up on the board," he said. "I want to get better." Consider yourself unshackled, kid. That shot meant more than the win. It meant the start of an RBI tear.

...Which will come in handy since tomorrow they send in Sergio Mitre to face Jose Contreras. I don't see this going as neatly as tonight, from either end.

We're mere days away from September, and the Yanks are still in first, as they've been for now 40 days and nights, and I expect Robbie and the Yankees to tear through the next month, plowing through their opponents like an army of Pac-Men who just binged on power pellets.

Let's keep it going.

-CYC

O's 5, White Sox 4: A Series Win, Finally.

Stacey — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:19:52 -0000

More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

2 months ago: Baltimore Orioles' Nolan Reimold launches a two-run home run off Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Mark Buehrle, that also scored Nick Markakis during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009 in Chicago. Watching on the play is catcher Ramon Castro and umpire on Ron Kulpa. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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The Orioles beat the White Sox 5-4 to win their first series since July 10-12 against the Blue Jays. Jason Berken battled through poor defense in the first inning and pitched 5.2 innings to earn his third win. Home runs by Felix Pie and Nolan Reimold and a 3 hit game from Brian Roberts fueled the offense, while Kam continued to be the man. Jim Johnson took a page out of Flat Breezy's book but in the end there was never a doubt as he earned his 6th save.

Jason Berken pitched one of his best games this year, although it didn't start out so well. In the first inning he induced a routine ground ball by Scott Podsednik that was booted by back up shortstop Robert Andino. That was followed by another routine ground ball by Gordon Beckham. Mora picked the ball cleanly but airmailed the throw into the camera well. Podsednik, who had stolen 2nd base, scored on the error and Beckham went to 2nd. Berken didn't get rattled as he retired the next three batters, but instead of getting out of the inning 3 up-3 down in 14 pitches, he had to get five outs on 22 pitches, and a run scored.

After the first inning, Berken went on to pitch the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th without any trouble or any defensive miscues. He retired the first two batters in the fifth, but then lost his control, walking the number 9 hitter Brent Lillibridge. Podsednik hit a double that bounced up into the stands to score Lillibridge and Beckham singled in the second run. He got out of the inning and came back to retire the first two hitters in the 6th before giving up a single to Carlos Quentin. That would be it for Berken, but he'd done enough to be in line for his 3rd win of the year. With his family making the trip down from Wisconsin to see him pitch, Berken came through.

The offense had a good day against White Sox starter Mark Buehrle, and they started in the first inning. Brian Roberts hit his major league leading 47th 2B of the year and scored on a single by Adam Jones to take a 1-0 lead, and in the 4th inning Brian again led off the inning with a hit, this time a single. He stole 2nd, moved to third on a groundout by Robert Andino, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Felix Pie (Pie entered the game for Jones in the 2nd as Adam was having back spasms). Two batters later, with Nick Markakis on base via a single, Nolan Reimold took Buehrle deep for his 12th HR of the year. Buehrle would give up one more run on HR by Felix Pie in the 5th. Buehrle exited the game after 5.2 innings and the White Sox bullpen allowed just one more hit, a double to Chad Moeller in the 9th.

After Berken exited the game, Kam Mickolio took over and again impressed us all, going 1.1 innings without allowing a hit. His season line is now up to: 9.2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 11 K. Danys Baez followed Kam with a perfect 8th inning, leaving it to Jim Johnson to close out.

JJ was shaky, allowing a leadoff double to Paul Konerko. He struck out Carlos Quentin and then Alexei Ramirez singled, putting runners on first and third with one out. JJ bucked down, though. Pinch hitter AJ Pierzynski grounded to shortstop, scoring Konerko, and Mark Kotsay struck out to end the game. Never a doubt, Jimmy!

O's win to take the season series from the White Sox 5-4, their first series win against them since 2001. Tomorrow night they start a 3 game series with the Twins to conclude their 9 game road trip.

Poll

Who was today's Most Birdland Player (MBP)?

Jason Berken (5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K)

62 votes

Brian Roberts (3-4, 2B, BB, 2 R)

70 votes

Felix Pie (HR, Sac Fly, 2 RBI)

34 votes

Nolan Reimold (2-4, 2 R HR)

82 votes

248 votes | Poll has closed

Perfect Games Have Consequences

larry — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:57:56 -0000

More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

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Or so goes the argument. Whether or not one believes that the physical and mental effort required to throw a no-hitter/perfect game causes poor performance immediately thereafter, Mark Buehrle has performed poorly in his six starts since his July 23 perfect game: 37.2 IP, 54 H, 7 BB, 12 K, and 26 RA. As is apparent from that line, control hasn't been a problem as his walk rate remains low. What else is apparent from that line, though, is that command has been a problem. His K rate is low and his hit rate is insanely high. He's been throwing strikes but they really haven't been good ones.

With the White Sox embarking on a treacherous 11 game road trip against the Red Sox, Yankees, Twins and Cubs they also need to ride their best pitchers. Unfortunately, it's hard to ride them when they aren't performing like the best. And with the offense scoring 1 to 4 runs, it's also hard to overcome less than stellar pitching performances.

With the loss, the club is three games back (pending the completion of the Tigers-A's game). The teams they'll be facing are good so the White Sox could very well find themselves out of the race by the end of the trip. The offense is going to need to produce. Jose and Freddy are going to need to turn back the clock to 2005. And Buehrle is going to need to turn the clock back to July.

A Memory of Mariano

jscape2000 — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:00:17 -0000

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

Will Mo hang a Cy Young trophy beside his RBI ball in the ol' trophy case?

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When Mariano gave up his first run since June 12th last night, I was reminded of something my father said to me once, when I asked him how good he thought Mo was just after Mo took home the World Series MVP Award in 1999.

"Don't get too attached to these relievers. You'll be surprised by how quickly they flame out."

It's really too early to start award talk, but no one is on pace for a 20 win season. I'm not suggesting that 20 wins represents some kind of magic number. I'm also not daring to predict that one of Beckett, Halladay, King Felix, CC, Verlander, Jered Weaver, Buehrle, or Greinke won't go on a romp through the final 2 months and make an indisputable case for Cy Young.

But with Mo posting his best K/9 in the last dozen years, his fifth sub-2 ERA in 6 years, his 4th sub-1 WHIP in 5 seasons, on pace for his most saves in 5 seasons (47), and his usual unhittability, do you think this might be Mariano's Cy Young season?

Poll

What're the odds that Mo brings home the hardware this season?

Hang the shelf, it's as good as his

95 votes

75% or up: this is the season

136 votes

Fifty-fifty, career award for a HoFer

234 votes

25%: a lot has to go right

226 votes

2%, same odds as Mine That Bird

110 votes

801 votes | Poll has closed

Dodgers Hope A Team Effort Beats a Tim Effort

Eric Stephen — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:00:18 -0000

More photos » by Ben Margot - AP

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Two games in: so far, so good for the Dodgers in San Francisco. The Dodgers have to face the best pitcher in baseball today in Tim Lincecum, but I haven't seen this team back down from a challenge yet.

Its an early start today, so go ahead and take a long lunch to take in at least a few innings of the game.

Since giving up a home run to Ryan Braun nine days ago, Jeff Weaver has retired 13 straight batters. Only 32 more consecutive outs away from Mark Buehrle's MLB record, Weaver gets the start today for the Dodgers. This is the sixth start for Weaver. He pitched exactly five innings in his first four starts, but only lasted 3.1 innings in his last start. Weaver pitched three innings on Sunday, throwing 25 pitches, so its unlikely he will be asked to pitch deep into this game.

Luckily, in addition to knuckleballer Charlie Haeger backing Weaver up, the Dodgers have a well-rested bullpen all ready to pitch with an off day coming on Thursday:

Jonathan Broxton: threw 11 pitches Monday night
George Sherrill: threw 10 pitches Monday night
Hong-Chih Kuo: threw 6 pitches Monday night
Ronald Belisario: threw 3 pitches Monday night
Ramon Troncoso: threw 17 pitches Sunday
Guillermo Mota: threw 12 pitches Sunday
James McDonald: threw 7 pitches last night

Matt Kemp doesn't have a walk in his last 59 plate appearances, but with 40 walks on the season he's still in line to meet my 50-walk challenge. He also has 19 RBI in his last 13 games.

Half of Andre Ethier's last 78 hits are for extra bases (20 doubles, 2 triples, 17 home runs).

With Orlando Hudson likely out one more game, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports that the rest of the regulars are scheduled to play, except for Russell Martin, who is likely to sit in favor of Brad Ausmus today.

Get your guesses in for "Just A Bit Outside" here.

Game Time: 12:45pm

TV: Prime Ticket

Baseball Reference Preview

White Sox Gamble Again

Jesse — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:27:06 -0000

More photos » by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

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Kenny Williams might have just pulled off his second coup in the last two weeks.

Gambling on Jake Peavy was one thing. A Cy Young candidate when he's healthy, it's pretty easy to defend the $52 million Chicago will be shelling out for his services from 2010 - 2012, and maybe even that $22 million option in 2013 could look like a steal when the time comes. Now the Sox have added Alex Rios. He's having a down year, but there's no denying what he could bring to the table in the middle of the order for an aging lineup.

Like Peavy, Rios is owed a lot of money over the next few years. It's $58.7 million from 2010 - 2014, with a $13.5 million dollar option in 2015.

Prior to both of these shrewd maneuvers, the White Sox had approximately $45 million committed to their 2010 payroll, and roughly $28 million committed to 2011. (Figures courtesy of Cots Contracts.) With these two additions they still have room to maneuver, but I wonder how much.

Player	2010	2011
Jake Peavy, SP	$15,000,000	$17,000,000
Alex Rios, RF	$9,700,000	$12,000,000
Mark Buehrle, SP	$14,000,000	$14,000,000
Paul Konerko, 1B	$12,000,000	---
Jermaine Dye, RF	$1,000,000	---
A.J. Pierzynski, C	$6,250,000	---
Scott Linebrink, RP	$5,000,000	$5,000,000
Mike MacDougal, RP	$350,000	---
Dayan Viciedo (Minors)	$2,250,000	$2,250,000
Matt Thornton, RP	$250,000	---
Alexei Ramirez, 2B	$1,225,000	$1,225,000
Gavin Floyd, SP	$2,750,000	$5,000,000
Total	$69,775,000	$56,975,000

That's a lot of money. It doesn't include picking up options on Dye (add $11 million, if for some odd reason the Sox actually pick it up) or Thornton (add $2 million), paying Bobby Jenks more than $6 million for his second year of arbitration or Wilson Betemit around $2 million for his third, or money for first-year arb guys like John Danks and Carlos Quentin. Jim Thome, Octavio Dotel and Jose Contreras are all free agents.

If the White Sox are planning on duplicating this year's $95 million opening day payroll in 2010, it will be interesting to see how they choose to fill their open roster spots.

The genius behind both of these moves is that if they pay off and both Peavy and Rios play like they're capable of playing, Williams will have given Ozzie Guillen a pair of stud 29-year olds who inject high-level and prime-aged lifeblood that will keep Chicago's window of competetive ball open. The gamble, naturally, is that if Rios is closer to his '08 or '09 version than his '06 or '07 version, and/or if Peavy doesn't get and stay healthy, then Chicago has taken on over $100 million worth of contract for two guys.

I haven't always been a fan of the way Williams has run the White Sox, or the way he sometimes handles himself. But he made a couple of ballsy, high-risk, high-reward maneuvers these last couple of weeks, and nobody can accuse him of playing it safe or of not taking the risks necessary to put his club over the top. And the best part (for White Sox fans) is that it couldn't have come at a better time, whether you're thinking about 2009 or the future. Chicago has given playing time to 16 guys 32 or older just this year. This rejuvenation was necessary.