Molto

it was also written yesterday, I just never posted it.

http://www.soxnet.net/snreport/364-11.13.html

since when is Rowand out? he'll be ready for spring training.

I have mixed opinions on this. from one point, it is a good deal. after all, if Lee stays (as well as Thomas) Lee will be batting 6-7 in the lineup. Lidle will be our #2/3 guy. who would you rather have a 6-7 hitter or #2/3 pitcher? obviously the pitcher. HOWEVER, we could do better for a #2 than Lidle. also, Lee is 25 and still very young. will Lee's offensive production for many more years be more valuable than Lidle's performances for 2-3 years? personally, I wouldn't mind this deal, just try to get some add ins in there. I doubt the A's will give us another guy, because they have the leverage based on Lidle's second half and our need for a starter, but perhaps each team can throw in guys of equal value in that the guys we give up, aren't too valuable to us. of course I can't think of anything as of this point. if this deal were to occur, we would HAVE to keep Thomas. if for some reason we don't, we better sign another guy (even a Ruben Sierra if needed). either way, Liefer goes to left and gets the PT he needs. he won't be great, but he can definitely be a power threat with 30 homers a year. then we hope Rowand can hold his own in center and decide which one to deal once Borchard is ready. either way, I think the Sox are gonna have to sign a backup left-handed hitting centerfielder.

http://www.soxnet.net/snreport/363-11.13.html I'll write more on it later guys.

well, if the Sox were jagoffs they can give Thomas 350,000 and then deal him for Colon. perhaps the Expos would take it then. of course, would we really want to give up Thomas at 350,000? no high priced guys will be given up for Colon. anyone making more than 3 mil will stay put.

the sox preferred that he wouldn't go, but Buehrle went. he didn't finish the season hurt and more or less went for fun. once again, he won't be pitching many innings, probably 7 or 8, but s*** that happened yesterday is the concern. when you have an ACE pitcher who is throwing 200+ innings, he should take part in no offseason leagues.

I think that is the only game he was set to play anyway. usually you play 1-2 games tops. hopefully it isn't serious and he can just take it easy out there, come home and get ready for 2003.

I don't consider a guy a prospect, let alone top prospect, after 3+ years of MLB service. Wells was a prospect who never panned out. Now granted, the Sox did rush him and he wasn't handled properly in the early going, but he became a really baby and couldn't throw a strike for his life.

thank you ian. Fogg wasn't considered a top prospect with us or any other team. that was the guy I hated to give up, but he wasn't this top prospect, and neither was Wells. prospects are guys in the minors or in their first year in the majors with loads of potential. Wells was decent for a few years and Fogg was never touted.

I just meant production, not chemistry. I don't think we can really comment too much on chemistry.

are you saying Lofton and Alomar didn't have successful stays here heather? perhaps you are right in part, he might come here and fall apart like so many other players. if we were to get him and he falls apart, for the first time I might really consider us a jinxed team with no luck whatsoever. I would still like to get him, even though I'm not his biggest fan. I don't recall him being a cancer though heather. I don't even recall hearing him talk.

HSC, I've respected your opinion and knowledge, but what you said was way off. KW pulls peoples leg? how many guys has KW brought up to the media and hasn't pursued? when reported asked KW a year or so again who he will pursue, KW said it straight up and honest, I can't spend $1.00 if I only have .50 cents, referring to JR's pockets. so nobody should question whether KW is pulling people's leg. second, KW DID NOT SAY THIS. it is a RUMOR. third, KW has gone after what he says he's needed. when we needed a veteran catcher, he went after Alomar. now although it wasn't the best acquistion, he didn't go out and say he was gonna I-Rod, he said he was looking into Alomar. when we needed a shortstop who knew how to catch a ball and throw it properly, he went out and got Clayton. the name being thrown around was A-Rod, but 25 mil a year is too much for anyone. after 2000 we needed an ACE. the media and fans alike were saying how the Sox needed a charecter, a leader. he went out and signed Wells. I was upset at the move cause we gave away Sirotka who I was a big fan of, BUT it was move that put us in contention. just so happens it didn't pan out. last year, after trying to get Erstad, he went out and signed Lofton. a center fielder who can bat leadoff, putting Durham in the 2-hole. it was a GREAT move at the time. and FINALLY, we didn't give up half the farm for Ritchie, WHY CAN'T ANYONE UNDERSTAND THIS. we gave up a long reliever in Lowe, a guy in Wells who never lived up to expectations and was criticized by MANY fans. And Josh Fogg (someone I liked), who was never a top prospect and wasn't even known to some sox fans until he was dealt and had a good first half with the Pirates. so don't go and say we gave up half the farm for Ritchie. I don't know I bother saying this, nobody will understand or agree, but I just have to get my point across hoping SOMEONE will be able to look at things from anotehr angle.

well, Nuke, I'm not the biggest Colon fan. I've never liked him for the simple reason that he has never been consistent (until this season), but even I know he would be a great addition to this staff and team. the guy throw 98-100 and gets better every year. no signs of him breaking down. the only catch to this deal would be if the Sox were to sign him after trading for him.

well, you are right in that regard Cubkilla. I just don't think any sox fan should look at KW as guy who pulls people legs. if he says he is looking at someone, he certaintly will go after that person. of course, let us not forget that Williams hasn't mentioned any of this. strictly rumors. all KW has said is that he wants to get a power pitcher or a left-hander. doublem, you are right. the key isn't who we give up, but if we sign him. I think it is clear we aren't a WS contender, with or without Colon. if we plan on picking up Colon and standing pat, then we MUST sign him. in 2004 or 2005, with guys like Garland, Rauch, Crede, Borchard, Jimenez, Olivo...etc developing, we could be in very good shape, but if we are only getting him for one year and are gonna give up plenty for him, they better go out and sign a Moyer or someone like that, to go with a left handed bat like Finley. with those moves, I consider us contenders for the world serious, but getting colon, standing pat, and offering no contract won't get us there. then again, look what happened to the Angels. here is a question for sox fans. would you rather have the Sox go all out, sign big name talented players and go for it all in 2003 (legitlly go for it all as in being a favorite) and risk many years of failure after that. or would you prefer to stick to their guns and keep the team we have now in tact and have a contending/competing team for the next 5 or so years?

sorry, not to get on you again, but how many ploys has KW pulled? if anything, KW doesn't say anything. both the Wells and Ritchie deals came out left field, from our standpoint. also, a rumor is a rumor. that is what message boards are for. talking about rumors and wondering what will be given up and what will be the result of it. personally, if KW says he's gonna go after someone, I believe him (of course what he gives up is a question on its own) but I don't think any of us could complain that this is another ploy. ploys occurred daily during the Schueler era. you guys seem to forgot how CLOSE we were to SOO many deals and signings. if you ask me, we were fooled more and screwed more during Schuelers era than KW's. although Schueler was a great evaluater, he never had the balls to pull off big deals or big signings. the only thing he did was Belle, and that only happened by request of Reinsdorf. can't argue againt you on Reinsdorf though.

http://www.soxnet.net/snreport/360-11.10.html

yeah, he re-signed with them the other day.

I have to agree with you on that mike.

the way you wrote it looked as if you were saying he is. either way, it was the negative approach I responded too. not just to you cubkilla, but to all sox fans. as soon as the news came I knew fans would question it or be upset, because that is how sox fans are, which is good in a way, but a bit frustrating to me.

I agree. I would take the risk with Byrd. it all depends how much though. if some team is dumb enough to throw 7-8 mil at him, good for them. if we can get him for 5-6 mil, which is basically the money we'll save from Thomas (whether he stays or goes), it could all work out. also remember that Durham's, Alomar's, and Clayton's salaries are no longer with the team. of course Ordonez will be making 10 mil this year and konerko and buehrle will be looking for cash.

byrd was pretty good in Philly in 99' he went 15-9 with an ERA of 4.60. then he struggled in 2000 before getting dealt to the Phillies in 2001. since then, he's been pretty good. in his 48 starts since, he's gone 23-17 in 321 2/3 inning pitched with an ERA of 3.94. those are pretty good numbers. if we can get him for 5-6 mil a year for 3 years I'd consider it. he could be a strong #2 behind Buehrle. he is also 32 years old. not young, but considering he's a late bloomer, may not be a bad idea.

oh god no. Joe Nossek would be an awfull manager. it is why he's been a bench coach. he's a perfect right hand man, but he can never manage. he's done it a few times when a sox manager has been suspended or weren't around and he's done a lousy job of it.

you know what, if the Cubs get Baker, it may be the best thing for all Manuel haters. Baker is clearly a top manager in the game. him being in Chicago may exploit Manuel's weaknesses and inability.

we aren't talking about now, but in the coming years. they are saying that if they keep him down there, bad blood may evolve and he'll leave the first chance he gets.