White Sox 4/29

[BobbyBlueChip]

Season Record 8-14 -4.89 units

For White Sox 4-7 -2.89 units
Against White Sox 2-5 -2.32 units
Overs 1-1 -0.09 units
Unders 1-1 +0.41 units
Dogs 4-9 -4.35 units
Favorites 2-3 -0.86 units

Garland's off his best start . . . ever. He looked awesome against the Yanks except for two homers, one that A-Rod thought he fouled off that snuck out and Posada nailing a good, if not great slider. He hasn't had the best success against the Tribe, but the players that hit him just aren't there anymore. D'Amico got shelled in his only outing against the White Sox, but he is a righty and should be able to hold his own against a Sox team that was lucky not to get swept at home against the DRays.

Under 9.5 (+100) 1 unit

This is a surprising article from Mlb.com regarding Wunsch's status. I can't believe that they can't find a spot for a guy who just gets everybody out. You could move Kotts to your fifth starter, try Wright in the bullpen. Marra, Do you have any idea who Wunsch pissed off?

Left out?
A muscle strain just below Kelly Wunsch's left shoulder looks as if it will keep the left-hander with Triple-A Charlotte for the full duration of a possible 30-day rehabilitation assignment. But even when Wunsch gets healthy, there's a chance he won't be back with the Major League team any time soon.

"Right now, there isn't a spot for him," said Williams of Wunsch, who avoided arbitration by signing a one-year deal worth $800,000 during the offseason. "He's going to be eligible pretty quickly to get back, but he will probably have to spend the whole 30 days down there.

"After that, we will have to see where we are," Williams added.

 

[IE]

read this quote somewhere:

"Wunsch came out and said he was injured when the trade for Bellhorn was about to go down and that ended talks, or something to that affect. Not sure if that's true or not, but if it is, that would certainly explain why KW would be pissed."

 

[BobbyBlueChip]

Why KW would be pissed at KW?

That makes sense, but if he's not coming back, he's valuable to somebody, so why would you treat him like that. Thanks for the info, IE.

 

[EXTRAPOLATER]

I was taking a look at this total, too. Underwise, that is.
Garland has much potential. The former 1st round pick (10th overall by Cubbies) is still only 24 but now has 2 full seasons of experience. He's not exactly overpowering, and he's had trouble vs the Indians in the past (2-7 in 10 starts), but the former International League Pitcher of the Year (2000) seems to keep opponents hits less than his IP's. His whip will improve if his BB's come down and, more importantly, his era will improve if he can keep the ball in the park, maybe the biggest weakness so far in his career. Another thing that sticks out in my mind is some commentator on ESPN (Hendrix only knows who it was) touting Garland, going so far as to say that this should be a break-out year for him.

D'Amico, from my recollections, seems to be either hit or miss; either he throws a beauty or a dog. Mind you, he's had only 1 'beauty' in 4 starts this year. Also, in 2 games vs the Chisox he sports an 11.42 era.
Still, Chisox are hitting lefties better this year, same as they did last year.

# has gone from (under) 9.5 +100 to +110
Not sure why the movement (assuming it IS caused by bets on the over), unless people are going by the Injuns pitiful bullpen.
Chisox pen looks better this year.

GL
may try it myself

P.S.
I love the line on Estes tomorrow...+100?
thank-ya-now
Had Marlins yesterday, but I was fortunate that their 1st inning production (6 runs) was enough, as they were blanked over the final 8 frames. Oliver, in my opinion, is a bust. Also, while they're not doing it yet this year, Rockies feasted on lefties last season. They have one of the best home records in baseball, the past few seasons, and Estes seems to be having no trouble pitching at Coors.
Cheers!

 

[IE]

Here is white sox aaa charlotte team report for monday, i would think first things first maybe with wunsch, getting him healthy and take the damaged goods look off him so K Williams could get the most out of him in a deal, maybe?

=====

Near the end of the first month of the 2004 season, the Charlotte Knights find themselves in the midst of a 5 game losing streak. Currently they are 7-10, but, they are only 3 games behind the International League South leading Durham and Richmond.

Despite their lack of success on the field at this present time, there have been many positives from players early in the season. Offensively, Jeremy Reed has been leading the way. Jeremy is leading the team in batting average (.349) and stolen bases (5). Reed has recently been moved to the leadoff spot for the Knights, and with the lack of production from Willie Harris in Chicago, Reed could find himself leading off for the Sox and playing centerfield.

The big surprise so far for Charlotte has been the stellar play of Bryant Nelson, who was signed to a minor league deal after spending the previous year in Japan. Nelson has been moved from the leadoff spot to the number 3 spot in the lineup to take advantage of his surprising power. He leads the team in home runs (3), runs (12), runs batted in (12), hits (23) and slugging percentage (.529). Nelson is emulating the season of last year?s second baseman Aaron Miles who finds himself competing for the second base job with Luis Gonzalez in Colorado.

The Knights offense, minus Reed and Nelson has struggled to muster up any consistent attack. Former star prospect Joe Borchard has had another disappointing start. He is hitting .238 with 2 home runs and a 7/14 BB/K ratio. Joe?s play has picked up in the last few games and hopefully he can continue it for the rest of the season. Jamie Burke who was very unlucky not to be part of the 25 man roster in Chicago is hitting .250. Many of the Knights infielders are having trouble getting on base; especially Bobby Smith and Mike Bell who have 17 K?s and 12 K?s respectively and both are hitting below .235.

Charlotte?s starting rotation has been the most impressive aspect of the Knights play so far, with Felix Diaz the stand out. Diaz is undefeated with a 3-0 record and a 2.59 ERA. He also leads Charlotte with 21 strikeouts and innings pitched with 24.1 in 4 appearances. If Felix continues to pitch well, he will put a lot of pressure on the White Sox hierarchy to promote him, possibly as the 5th starter where Dan Wright hasn?t had the best start. Jon Rauch and Jason Grilli have also been impressive with their strikeouts (19 and 17), although both have fairly high ERA?s over 4. Ryan Kohleimer has been the surprise starter in the Knights rotation with a 2.76 ERA in 3 appearances.

Jose Santiago has been leading the way in the bullpen with a team low ERA of 1.64 in 6 games. He also shares the team high in saves of 2 with Gary Majewski, who has been roughed up early on. Kelly Wunsch whois scheduled to complete a 30 day rehabilitation assignment with the Knights, has pitched in 3 games with an ERA of 6.75. Darensbourg leads the Knights bullpen in appearances with 9, and former Cub Courtney Duncan is the only reliever to pick up a win.

Charlotte may have had a disappointing start to the season, but they will be looking to force their way back up to the top of the division In order to do this, the Knights need to hit better and give support to Jeremy Reed and Bryant Nelson who are playing lone hands so far. Joe Borchard and Jamie Burke are 2 players who should improve as the season continues. The Knights also lost one of their better hitters from a season ago, Mike Rivera, to the Oakland A?s. He was claimed when the Sox removed Rivera from the 40 man roster. The starting rotation has pitched well enough and should only get better, but it will have to carry the team.

Upcoming Schedule:
April 26-27 vs Norfolk
April 28-29 vs Richmond
April 30 ? May 3 vs Louisville
May 4 ? 7 vs Indianapolis

 

[Marra]

Wunsch is in KW's doghouse for reasons undisclosed. Plus, They are saying that they can't find a place for him in the pen, and they actually have a point.

Adkins would be the most reasonable canidate do get sent down, but Adkins has given up nil in 5 2/3rds. So, sending him down is out. Cotts (the other lefty, taking Wunsch's roll) has a 1.30 ERA. Marte has been unhittable since the opening day disaster. Politte is one of the teams biggest bring spots. Mike Jackson has been getting people out.

The only people that deserve to be in AAA are the two guys making the most money in the pen (go figure) Koch and Takatsu. KW doesn't want egg on his face for Takatsu, and is blatently ignorant when it comes to his closer...Koch. Him, Ozzie and Cooper are the only 3 guys in baseball that doesn't think he sucks.

Plus, Wunsch hasn't been pitching lights out in AAA, anyway. So there you have it.

Look for Jeremy Reed to get called up by the all-star break. I know they are very high on Rowand, but Reed is back to his hitting ways....hitting .375 in AAA after a slow start. You can't keep him there much longer.