Let's Play GM: It's Time to Put Paulie On the DL

While the White Sox have won five in a row, and are back in first place in the AL Central, not everything is quite right just yet. The offense blew up for 13 runs yesterday afternoon, but there just still isn't any consistency to the lineup right now. Though, I don't know how much of a coincidence it is that ever since Ozzie finally changed the lineup around, the Sox are 5-0.

Remember, there were plenty of fans and media folk alike saying that the Sox had to make lineup changes, and that chatter helped lead to Ozzie's rant against the Cubs and the way the Sox are treated. Well, he finally listened, and things have turned out pretty well?

So with that in mind, I have some more advice for the White Sox in general. I was going to write about it on Friday, but didn't have time, though after I discussed it a bit with Silvio over the weekend it's still fresh in my mind.

Paul Konerko has been struggling big time over the last month. As a result, he was moved down from the clean-up spot to the sixth spot in the lineup (fifth over the weekend in San Fran). The reason for Paulie's horrible hitting can be mostly attributed to a pretty bad bone bruise he has on his right hand that probably makes hitting a baseball one of the most painful things on earth.

It hurts just watching Paul swing right now. How many times do I have to see him pop up to first base, and then walk to the dugout with his right arm hanging lifeless at his side. The pain from the bone bruise in his hand shooting all the way up his arm.

It doesn't look fun.

So that's why the Sox should place Konerko on the disabled list as soon as possible. I'm not sure two weeks would be long enough for the hand to heal, but I am sure it's not going to heal if he keeps playing with it everyday.

Plus, moving Paulie to the DL right now could help the Sox in other areas as well. The biggest reason the Sox have so much trouble scoring runs now isn't the fact they can't hit, as they've been hitting again, but it's the fact that they're probably the slowest baseball team ever assembled. They need speed.

So Kenny Williams, if you're reading, here's what I think you should do. At least consider it.

After placing Paul on the disabled list, call up Jerry Owens from Charlotte. I know his bat has cooled down considerably down there, but he has speed the team desperately needs. Jerry doesn't need to play everyday, and I don't want him to. Instead, you can platoon him in center with Brian Anderson, and automatically the Sox defense has improved tremendously.

Nick Swisher can then be moved to first base in the interim.

Then give Charlotte another call and tell them that you want to start playing Josh Fields at first base. Give him a few weeks over there to get a feel for the position. I honestly don't think it will be that hard of a transition for him, because if you can play third base, you can play first.

This will set the team up pretty well for this season and the future, in my opinion. If Fields adapts to first base, Paulie then becomes expendable. You can try to move him at the deadline for some pitching or second base help. If you can't move him at the deadline, let Josh stay at first down in Charlotte for the rest of the season. Then move Konerko in the offseason. The money you save on Paulie's contract can then be put to use re-signing Joe Crede. That extra cash you have that you may have used on Crede, can then be put towards signing a pitcher this off-season (Roy Halladay would be nice, but that's probably just a pipe dream).

Then next season you have Crede at third and Fields at first.

I'm not done yet, though. Right now in Charlotte, Lance Broadway has been outstanding. He's 5-1 with a 1.67 ERA, and his stock has never been hire. Trade him at the deadline.

I know a bunch of you are reading that and wondering why you would trade a young pitcher that could be a part of the rotation next season. It's a good question because you don't want to trade young pitching in this league.

But to that I ask you this: When was the last time a home-grown pitcher worked out for the White Sox? If you look at the entire White Sox pitching staff right now, how many of them were actually drafted by the White Sox? Three: Mark Buehrle, Ehren Wasserman, and Boone Logan.

Other than those three, every pitcher on the roster came from another organization.

The Sox just don't have good luck with pitching, so frankly, I'd rather trade Broadway now while his value is high instead of watching him not work out. You can probably use him as part of a deal to land a second baseman like Brian Roberts (not that name again!) from Baltimore.

Just think about it, Kenny.

Let's Play GM:It's Time to Say Goodbye to Mike MacDougal

Even after the White Sox 2-1 loss to the Athletics last night, there really isn't much for me to complain about with the Sox so far this season. I have to admit, it's an odd feeling because it seems as though last season has me fully conditioned to complain about everything. They're 7-5 after twelve games, and they are sitting atop of the AL Central.

More importantly, they got off to a 7-4 start in their first four series, which were all against division opponents, and it's never too early to start beating teams in your own division.

Still, despite the fact that the Sox lead the American League in runs scored, are second in the AL in the increasingly important OPS department, and the pitching staff has a respectable enough 3.99 ERA, I do have one bone to pick with the Sox.

And that bone is Mike MacDougal.

Seriously, in the list of things in my lifetime that have scared me, Mike MacDougal is right up there with the monster I was convinced lived in my closet as a kid, my knife-wielding sister, and the thought of Oprah Winfrey naked. (My sister being the scariest because monsters aren't real, I'll never actually see Oprah naked, and my sister is very real and will stab you.)

Monday night did nothing to change those feelings. With the Sox trailing 2-1 in the 9th inning, Ozzie brought in MacDougal to pitch and I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. Next thing you know, Mac is behind 2-0 in the count to Kurt Suzuki before Suzuki singles to get on. Then Chris Denorfia steps to the dish, and before he knows it, Mac has fallen behind 2-0 on him before walking him.

Before that fourth ball even crossed the plate I swear Ozzie was three steps out of the dugout on his way to get Mac the hell out of there. I only wish the Sox would be so quick as to get him out of the bullpen and off the team, period.

The Sox bullpen has been pretty strong so far this season with the exception of MacDougal, and I don't see why we need to keep up this experiment. I know he was pretty damn good when he first came here in 2006, but in 2007 and so far this season, he's sucked ass. Big, hairy, ass. How much more do we need to see from him before we realize he's just not going to get the job done?

He's done this before you know, which is what led to him joining the White Sox in the first place. He started his career off in Kansas City rather nicely before losing all concept of the strike zone, and being traded here. Now it's happening all over again, and the Sox need to part ways as soon as possible.

It's not like they don't have other options, as Ehren Wasserman was fantastic all spring, and would be on the club right now if Nick Masset had any options left. So far this season in Charlotte, Ehren has made 5 appearance for 4.2 innings, and hasn't allowed a single hit or run.

Wouldn't that be a nice addition to have in the White Sox bullpen right now?

I know that the starters have pitched decently so far, but don't let Gavin Floyd's flirtation with a no-no on Saturday fool you (Seriously, how in the hell could anybody call what he did on Saturday dominant? He may not have given up any hits for 7.1 innings, but he still walked walked four guys). He's still Gavin Floyd. John Danks has all the potential to be the next Mark Buehrle, but he still hasn't shown any consistency on the big league level, so we can't count on him. Then there's Jose Contreras, who, well, he's Jose Contreras.

It's nice that the Sox are in first place right now, but if they plan on staying there for the rest of the season, they're going to have to rely an awful lot on this bullpen. That bullpen would be a lot better off and more capable of carrying the load if Ehren Wasserman were in it rather than MacDougal.