thxfrthmmrs

but mauer was by far the best player at a premium position, same case with Pedroia in 08. I mean the pool was quite weak last year, who else would you have chose? we have 3 or 4 very deserving candidates this year. Mauer missed a month in June and came back strong and CARRIED the twins into the playoffs. I always feel that it's a tremendous knock on a player if he missed significant time late in the season, when his team is fighting for positions in the playoffs.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Sep 15, 2010 -> 08:51 AM) ...IF Quentin was taken out of the discussion in 2008 for missing the final month, then we can discount Josh Hamilton, who is nowhere near returning. ...IF A-Rod could win it with the last place Rangers, then first place is not a requirement. ...IF there is any justice, Paul Konerko will win the 2010 MVP Award. This team would have been out of the postseason discussion for good in June if it weren't for our franchise player, Paul Konerko, who is quite possibly having his best season at age 34. I thank Paul Konerko for this season, for 2005, and for his career as a White Sox, which may or may not be coming to an end (I'm leaning that he'll stay). However, regardless of what shakes there... PAUL KONERKO FOR MVP if A-Rod could win, so can Miguel Cabrera. The only way i season konerko winning is if cabrera goes on a mini slump and konerko continues to play the way he played the last two weeks.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 15, 2010 -> 08:55 AM) An awful lot of people put Quentin lower on their list in 2008 not because he was hurt...but because the injury was self-inflicted. though a legitimate knock on hamilton is he is no longer the team leader in RBI. Vlad Guerrero is having a very good season in his own rights with .305-25-105. if hamilton is out till October, he can very well say goodbye to the MVP award.

I just realized that Alexei only net his 10th stolen base of the year tonight, and to go along with 9 caught steals. In this career, he is 36 for 59 in stolen bases, like 60% success rate, that is beyond terrible, especially for a guy with his speed. I always feel like that he is one of the faster shortstops in baseball, in a 20-80 scale, he is probably a 60 or 65. A guy with his speed can easily swipe 20-25 bags every year. There is a reason why he's called the Cuban Missile. When he accelerates and gets it going, he is really fast. I remember in his rookie year, Hawk and DJ pointed out that when he start off the steal, his lead foot pushes backward instead of taking a stride forward, hence leading to a step slower. I don't know, I haven't paid attention to his baserunning lately, does he still run the same way? Why has no one teach him how to use his speed? Alexei has improved his hitting a bit this year, and his defense is worlds apart from last year. If he can improve his baserunning, and continue to improve his bat, I think his inline for a .280-20-80 to go along with 25 steals, while playing exceptional defense at short. I think that is the making of an all star shortstop.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Sep 14, 2010 -> 10:31 PM) Large changes. They are going to end up without Morneau for half the season, without Nathan for all of the season, we're getting just about a career year from Konerko, and we're still going to finish way up the tracks in the standings from them. I don't think small changes are going to cut it, between our payroll situation and just that the Twins are way better than us right now IMO. Twins are better than us, indeed, but not by that much. Here are the bright sides heading into next season. 1) We got off to a bad start, were 21-30 at the beginning of June. Had we played consistent baseball throughout the year, we could easily be a few games in front right now. We had a nice stretch from June to the beginning of August, but I guess the team ran out of gas, and we knew that the team will eventually cool off. But all in all, I am proud of the fact the way we came back from 9 under .500 and actually took a 4 games division lead. 2) We saw how good our offense can be if we can get everybody going. Our offense was horrid in April and May, and I remember at one point we were hitting .234 and last in MLB in team BA. But right now we are 6th with .269 team BA. I would assume we had the best team BA in all of baseball since the beginning of June. Guys who got off to a bad start, Quentin, AJ, Beckham, and Alexei, with the exception of Alexei, they weren't known for being slow starters, so if we can get them off to a quick start next year, we can be very good. Once again, our offense has potential, it's just a matter of consistency. 3) The Twins got lucky, very lucky. They had the easiest schedule to finish of all the teams in a pennant race. Another poster point out last week, the Twins keep winning despite being out hit in a lot of their games recently, especially after Morneau went out. They can't count on the same type of luck next year. Guys who are having a fluke year: Carl Pavano, the guy who is having a Renaissance year, the last time this guy had a year with sub 4.50 ERA was 2004. Then he couldn't stay healthy for 5 straight years. and this year, he is on pace to throw 230 innings. It's safe to say that he would either due for a drop off next year, or he will spend some time on the DL next year. Brian Duensing, who the hell is this guy? with an ERA of 2.00 in over 100 innings pitched, and his minor league track record suggests that he is nothing more than an end of the rotation pitcher, it safe to say that he too, is due for a drop off, a tremendous one. Danny Valencia, he has only 1 season of .300+ BA in the minor leagues, and has been on fire to start off his major league career. I say he will eventually go on some slump similar to the one Brennan Boesch had. Jim Thome, we all know he has power, but he is 40 years old, and 41 next year. You can't count on a 40 year old to give you another year of .280 BA and 1.000+ OPS, and is he a free agent at the end of the year? 4) Here is the reason why I think the return of Nathan next year won't make them any better than this year. As good as Nathan has been, he still blows 5 or 6 saves a year. The duo of Capps and Rauch only blew 6 saves this year, and lost only 1 game, and if I am correct, one of the trio of Capps, Rauch and Fuentes will not return next year. AND we don't know how Nathan will fare after a year off due to injury, perhaps he won't be the same pitcher anymore? 5) Yes, Paulie is having a career year, and is carrying us by himself, we don't know if he is back next year, and knows for sure he won't put up the same production next year. But if we can resign Paulie, or sign a good free agent, Vmart, Dunn, or Beltre, and with the good young talent from our farm knocking on the door, Viceido, Morel and Sale, and the return of JFP, and a full season from Ejax, we can be even better than this year. In conclusion, Twins are good, but they aren't that much better than us. Unless they go deep into the playoffs and win the WS, they won't have the payroll to add significant pieces. We in good shape heading into the offseason. I feel that no matter what we do in the offseason, it's still a two team race between the Sox and the Twins for the division title next year. EDIT: IIRC, the terrible defense of Teahen at third costed us at least 3 games. If we can resign Omar, and put Morel at 3rd next year, and trade Teahen or put him on the bench, it would greatly improve our defense. (That guy is seriously a bad luck charm. After he went down, the Sox immediately caught fire, when he returns, the Sox came back down to earth. GET HIM AWAY FROM THE SOX NEXT YEAR!!) If we can also move Quentin to DH next year, we can field a great, great defensive team, to go along with the great starting rotation. Pitching and defense wins championships, and we have both.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 14, 2010 -> 04:52 PM) Depends on what I'm doing with the other $75 million. of course, if it were the white sox, it would be a bad fit, because we are known as a slot drafting team, drafting on a $4 mil budget, and we are not a big spender in Latin America. We have a bad farm system, and does not regularly develop young prospects to play in the Major league level But for a team like the Rangers, Rockies, Braves, Rays, even the Twins and Red Sox, who has very good farm systems, I can sign Pujols for $25 million, and still fill a very talented team with young players and guys in the Pre- arb years, with a 90-100 million budget.

QUOTE (knightni @ Sep 14, 2010 -> 08:56 AM) No one is worth more than 25 mil a season. Would you rather have 6 Mark Teahen on your team or 1 Albert Pujols?

Hottest reporter in Mexico, too hot to handle. http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Woody-J...ork-Jets-091310 http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/gallery/Ines-...-gallery-091310

if anyone cares, Steve Bartman still lives with his parents in the North Suburbs, works at an international consulting firm, and lives a great life. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=bartman he was one of my favorite baseball related figures in the 2000s B)

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 13, 2010 -> 02:16 PM) So was Alex Gordon. Anyway...that doesn't really tell you anything...he was playing there mostly on a rehab stint, and he performed well enough there that it got him a callup and eventually helped interest the Braves in a trade. anyhow, don't want him anywhere near the Sox Like you said, he was Mark Kotsay on juice before, now he's Mark Kotsay without the juice, and with the fragility of Wood/Prior

Ankiel was playing for the Royals Triple A team for god sake

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 13, 2010 -> 02:06 PM) I'm not sure if I'm even joking, but can someone list the 2001 All-star roster? Probably a better idea of the type of player KW/Ozzie will target. Actually, Garcia and Manny were the only 2 players from the 2001 ASG that played for the Sox since 2001 I think you are probably referring to the guys who were former allstars, then faded and then targeted by Kenny, guys like Vizquel, Jones and Putz

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 13, 2010 -> 12:55 PM) I think I have to half-disagree with you here. No matter how big DV is, he's still fairly quick getting to the ball at 3b. He also has a major asset that you've neglected to mention...he has a rocket launcher for a right arm...so he'd be able to cover up somewhat for deficiencies with his speed. That said...if both of them turn out...Morel at 3b and Viciedo at 1b/DH is a better option than Morel blocked by Viciedo and traded for peanuts. Even if he took a big, big, big jump up this year...I wouldn't pencil Morel in at 3b any time next year just yet. He's got an injury to recover from and his bat still needs development time. He could easily be ready by next June...or he could hit a slump and need some time to work through it. He raced upwards this year with doubles power; with time, some of that might turn into HR power. I'd hate to see us rush him when he clearly is a guy who could benefit from more time in Charlotte. I think Omar will be back next year unless he decides to retire. I'm not sure how else to structure things though...there's a whole lot of other decisions to make first. He does have a great arm, but it's still highly unlikely he will turn out to be good at third defensively. and I don't know what's the organization's plan for him, if they were to have faith in him, they wouldn't have put him at 1st base this year. I am assuming he will eventually be PK's successor at 1st base if he isn't traded by then, and Morel will be the long term solution at 3rd.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 13, 2010 -> 12:23 PM) First of all...I wouldn't care about that at all if they put up decent OBP's. More importantly though...what makes you think Andruw Jones will be back next year? I was quoting the a post, obviously I was just analyzing the scenario the OP mentioned.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 13, 2010 -> 12:35 PM) Guys can improve an awful lot with the glove given experience at the position. Case in point; Alexei Ramirez. Careless and disappointing at SS last year. Experience and an offseason of work...and the best fielding SS in the league this year. Alexei is a natural SS and has all the gifts to succeed at that position. He has always shown flashes of how good he can be defensively, and he finally puts it together this year. I just don't see how Viceido being 5'10 and 240 will turn out to be a sufficient third basemen defensively. From what i have seen so far in the big leagues and the minor leagues, it's highly unlikely Viceido can bring a good glove at third.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 10, 2010 -> 02:46 PM) I say work with Viciedo all winter on his defense at third and he is the starting third baseman next year. Lillibridge proved hitting wise that you can reinvent yourself over the winter. Can't Viciedo do the same on the defensive end? Take him somewhere warm starting in midJanuary and work on his defense for a month til spring training starts. I would think the Tank can become an adequate third baseman. He already has to be as good as Teahen defensively. If Tank can't be adequate at third, then I guess we sink. But we already know Mark T can't be our regular third baseman if we hope to be a contender for the division title. 1) that is not saying much. 2) Lillibridge didn't reinvent himself, he is still a poor hitter. He got off to a hot start and that was a fluke, his post ASB OPS is .500 3) With hard work, some players may turn out to be pretty decent defensively. But Viceido is way too big, lacks the quickness and the range to be a sufficient third basemen. (There is a reason they call him Tank) A similar case would be Miguel Cabrera, who was terrible in the outfield and third base, and eventually switched over to first base. Viceido is the same path. 4) Why put Viceido at third when we have Morel who is almost MLB ready? His glove at third is great from what i've heard. He should be ready by ST next year, if not definitely by June. We can resign Omar and put him at third until Morel is ready.

QUOTE (scotty22hotty @ Sep 13, 2010 -> 10:29 AM) I'd just roll the dice and have TCQ as the full time '11 DH and resign Jones as the RF if Quentin is willing to accept a full time DH at the young age of 29, then I think the Sox will be more than happy to keep him. I am mean Quentin at DH can put up something like .250-30-100, and with more upside because his confidence will not be affected by his poor defense, and will keep him healthy thus leading to even better production But then having both Jones and Quentin in the lineup means that we will have two homer happy guys in the everyday lineup who will not hit above .250, and possibly 3 if we go with Flowers at catcher, do we really want that?

just checked to see how horrible CQ's defense at right field is He is dead last of all qualified MLB player in terms of UZR and UZR/150, with a UZR/150 of -28.8 Konerko is also in the bottom 10 in UZR/150 with -12.0 In case you were wondering, of the unqualified players, our golden boy Teahan at 3B has a UZR/150 of -24.2, and Kotsay at RF would a whopping -81.0 UZR/150 I'd say we need to fire our fielding coach

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 12, 2010 -> 07:09 PM) Bobby was still touching 98-99 earlier this season. I think he usually sits at 95 this season. When he was having weight issues the previous years, he throws 93-94, and he allegedly lost weight coming into this season, so figures. The funny thing is, the guys throw over 100mph Strasburg and Chapman are skinny dipsticks also, it really depends on the guys arm speed to a good fastball, so Sale should be fine even if he stays Alexei skinny

i still remember the good ol days when Jenks was throwing 100 mph then he "bulks up" and couldn't even strike out Mark Reynolds.

i really think that EJax was on a roll throwing the baseball up till the game vs Cleveland where he already threw 8 innings of 1 run ball, with 120 pitches for the night. but Ozzie decides to leave him in in the 9th, and he gave up 3 hits and 2 runs. At that moment, i was really hoping the bad ending won't derail EJax from his hot streak, you know, baseball players are all about streaks, rituals and superstitions. EJax has really cooled off since, and back to earth he comes.

QUOTE (Brian @ Sep 11, 2010 -> 02:03 PM) LoL ?? not saying Westbrook is better, but Westbrook sure knows how to make things happen with his athleticism, haven't seen the same from DRose in the Worlds

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 11, 2010 -> 12:12 PM) I don't know if anyone is following the FIBA World Championships, but Kevin Durant has been dominating, making his case as maybe the best player in the world. USA up double digits on Lithuania in the semis. yep, and DRose had another bad game, got benched most of the second half in favor of Westbrook. It just seem like Westbrook is everywhere on court with his athleticism. Rose needs to learn something from that guy.

we should really push signing vmart, if we let konerko, jenks, and aj walk, and trade away CQ, i think we should have the cap space to do it. I think a package of CQ and Danks2 should be good enough to get Choo, if not a guy like Markakis. If we do sign Vmart, talk about the flexibility we have LF Pierre 2B Beckham C Vmart DH Manny CF Rios RF Choo 1B Viceido SS Alexei 3B Morel bench: Viquel De Aza Jones (I heard he's willing to return for the same money) Castro Both Morel and Viceido are fairly young and inexperience, we can throw them out there 4-5 days a week and still have a pretty good secondnary lineup with Vizquel at 3rd, Vmart at 1st and Castro catching. I am no expert at contracts, but I think Vmart can be had for 5 year $65 Mil or so? really gives us someone who can play the catcher and first base, and switching hitter in the middle of the lineup.

QUOTE (knightni @ Aug 27, 2010 -> 10:51 PM) Fuentes would be nice right now - with Threets going down. in case you missed it, fuentes was traded to them evil twins this morning