Clarkdog

Notice George Offman in his personalized Score Windbreaker. The other media guys must beat him up in the parking lot after practices with a jacket like that.

QUOTE(Steff @ Nov 10, 2005 -> 03:21 PM) Joe did an amazing job.. I'm not taking anything away from him at all. But I'd be a lot more hesitant to let him go if A. he was more consistant, and B. Boras wasn't his agent. No doubt they had a great time... but memories don't pay the bills. I agree, Steff. I never thought about dealing Crede this offseason. I was pretty sure it would be Rowand. But Crede is an interesting option. Given the post season he had, his value has never been higher. You could get a lot of quailty for him if you packaged him in a trade with someone like Marte. They are grooming Fields for 3B, and Uribe can play the position until he is ready. In this scenario, and in combination with Ozzies comments, I could see the Sox get in the Furcal game. Also, IMHO Furcal would never accept playing out of position to play with the Yankees. He would be asking to be skewered by the NY press the minute he makes a critical outfield error while being payed a hefty contract from King George. It's the Cubs and the Mets right now. And if the above were the case, potentially the White Sox.

You're table is ready. Enjoy.

QUOTE(Iguana @ Oct 27, 2005 -> 02:55 PM) WE? you talk as if your a Sox fan. Certainly doesnt seem like it in this post. If you actually watched them this year, you would know they were one of the BEST TEAMS in the last 25 years. In the last 25 years? Try in baseball history. Only 2 teams have accomplished what the Sox did last night. They won their division, which was statistically the best in the AL, wire-to-wire. And then completed a sweep in the World Series. The only teams that can boast that: - 1990 Cincinnatti Reds - 1927 New York Yankees That's right, the '27 Yankees: Murderer's Row. Widely regarded as the greatest team in the history of baseball. Put it in perspective, and you really see how special this team really is. I still can't believe it.

Anyone who wants to really understand what happened with "The Call" last night should read this piece. The mistake was not Edding's - he made a judgement call - that is what umpires do. His mechanics may have sucked and created more confusion, but he believed the ball hit the ground. The mistake belongs to Paul. He knows that on a borderline pitch in the dirt like that - you tag the runner. Whether you picked it clean or not. He's probably known it since he put on shin guards. He had every opportunity to tag AJ, or throw down to Erstad if he wanted to be sure of the out. It's just easier to blame Edding for making a bad call. Nice job Ryno.

QUOTE(chisox72 @ Oct 12, 2005 -> 04:38 AM) Bottom line, they need to execute better, which I think they all understand after tonight... There are 7 to play and we weren't going to win them all... So true. It's a seven game series, and your not going to win them all. The upside of this loss, is that the White Sox know why they got beat. They simply didn't execute. In this series the team the executes best will win. It's not like they played a perfect game and then lost a heartbreaker on a walk-off homer. They didn't. They had plenty of opportunties and didn't get it done. I feel like this team always rebounds after it realizes that they weren't playing their game well. Beside, I would still rather be in the Sox position with my starting pitching in good shape and rested than the Angels whose rotation is a bit of a mess. There will be more opportunities, the Sox just need to play smart. They didn't play smart last night.

Hey Steff - Work in Oakbook Terrace. We're headed to Sal's Pizza and Sports Pub in Lombard at the corner of 22nd and Finley. Champps was kind of a zoo last time I was there, so I'm pursuing an alternative. Enjoy the game! Go Go Sox!

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2005 -> 02:53 PM) I can guarantee you that KW had no intention of trading Rowand for the length of his deal heading into this season. Sorry, I may not have been clear. I certainly don't believe that KW signed Rowand simply so he could trade him in 2005. But the length and size of his contract give KW some flexibility to move him in 2006 or 2007 if he wanted to and get something of value in return.

QUOTE(Randar68 @ Sep 26, 2005 -> 02:45 PM) I'm nit sure how many times I have to call this plan: A ) Stupid B ) Asinine C ) ludicrous before people stop saying it. YOU DON'T BRING UP PRIZED PROSPECTS AND SIT THEM. ESPECIALLY IF YOUR CF'ER IS A .750 OPS PLAYER WITH INFERIOR DEFENSE TO THE PROSPECT! Sheesh. Guys, if anyone is going to be the 4th OF'er next year, it's Rowand. Get over it between now and April 1st next year... PLEASE! I agree. I think KW's plan is to trade Rowand in the offseason and let Anderson take his place. Rowand was signed to a very reasonable three year deal that would make him attractive in trade package. Remember KW's big board - he said that both Anderson and Sweeney are on it well into the future, the real question is - is Rowand?

Ask the Atlanta Braves about the importance of winning the division and how it realtes to post season success. Just get there, anything can happen in October.

QUOTE(qwerty @ Sep 21, 2005 -> 04:54 AM) While this may be true... Indians garland? Hardly. Elarton is 0-1 with a 6.94 vs. the Sox - the Sox hit .347 with 3 HR against him this season. Garland is 2-0 with 2.84 vs. the Indians - the Indians hit .346 with 1 HR against him this season. I'd call this a tossup with Elarton's recent good pitching combined with Garland's last strong outing and the fact that he tends to keep the ball down to protect against the HR - I don't see a a multi-HR game for either team. This will be about who can pitch better and deliver the timely hit.

Lest anyone forget this team has won 90 games. Only Steinbrenner would fire someone with that type of success - a likley because they failed to get the 27th WS ring. Cashman - probably gone. KW - no way in hell. If a collapse occurs you simply can't replace the GM immediately. KW had a plan. Bring in a new GM and you'll get a new plan. To put that plan into effect and begin to see results will take at least three seasons. The White Sox will not have that long to kiss and make up with an already dwindling and infuriated fan base. So who pays for a collapse? Reinsdorf and the ownership. Now I noted in another post how the White Sox organization has never had the mindset of a winner. But if this collapse happens (I still think it won't) then they will need to take a crash course or get out of the business completely. A collapse will bring about a fifth season of underachieving capped by the greatest exhibition of underachieving in the history of baseball. If they miss in 2005, then the ownership needs to look at 2006 and beyond as an investment in the future of the franchise. They will need to open up wallets and pay to bring in and develop players to win a World Series regardless of how the bottom line may project out to the end of the season. The fan base held up their end of the bargain in 2005 - they should reach 2.3 million fans come the end of the season. Best attendance figures since 1993. How were we rewarded in '93? With a strike whose primary champion was Jerry Reinsdorf. The fans will have NO goodwill left for this ownership group if the Sox fail to make the postseason in 2005. Reinsdorf and the ownership will have to make good to us. Whatever it takes to fill the holes in the 2005 team that will bring victory in 2006. Signing Konerko to an extension, bringing in bullpen reinforcements, buildling bench depth, aquiring Manny Ramirez, etc. They will have to do this until they either win the World Series or are forced to sell because they can no longer afford it. To me - it is that serious for them. I doubt they see it that way, but if they "die trying" in 2005 and then trot the same club without seeking to significantly improve it in the offseason - it spells doom for attendance in 2006.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Sep 20, 2005 -> 07:40 PM) There's one thing that I'm afraid of and angry about when it comes to baseball. I don't want to end up being one of those elderly people that say, "I just want to see the Sox win a WS before I die." I'd rather them do it sooner than later, and take that stress off of me. I try not to think about that. I count on the law of averages to assure that doesn't happen.

QUOTE(CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Sep 20, 2005 -> 06:28 PM) Quite possibly the post of the year unfortunately. Good job. Thanks. For the record, in no way am I on the ledge - I am a believer in this team and these players. They are my guys and I will support them until the last out. I take a lot of pride in being a supporter of this team as I'm sure all of you do as well. It can be frustrating and exhilarating and it certainly isn't popular. And I think that is what makes us unique. But I resigned myself to the fact along time ago that the Chicago White Sox will never have a great winning tradition. They are the ultimate underdog. But I think that is what makes me a fan - the possibility and hope that they will change that tradition someday.

I have been a Sox fan for 30 years (I couldn't actually believe it when I did the math). Here is my take of the White Sox in the 30 years I've know them. This organization has never had the mindset of a winner. Ever. It is run like a business first, as it should - but winning has never been factored into the business equation and it should - and for successful teams it does. The byproduct of that is that no one in this organization really knows anything about winning. Winners focus on winning. This organization tends to lose that focus at critical times. Winners don't start a fire sale when the team is 3.5 out in July. You should be a buyer, and fill the holes for a pennant push. Winners don't encite a labor action when thier team is steaming toward the postseason. You figure out a way to come to an agreement. Bill Melton said something a few days ago that got me thinking. He said that in all his years of watching the Sox (beginning in his playing days) he has only seen one team deliver a consistent winning effort across an entire season - that was 1993. That says something about an organization and what it really knows about winning. Sure the White Sox have had spotty success in my 30 years - 1983, 1993, 2000, and this season. But there has been more consistency in the Sox being mediocre, then there has in them being a winner. The Sox have never had a period where they really considered a consistent winning organization - like the Braves, the Indians of the late 90's, the A's of the early part of this decade. Putting together a string like that develops the knowledge of what a winning baseball organization is. The Sox have always been also-rans. Good enough to finish near or above .500 but never good enough to capture the prize consistently. If the Sox have a curse - that is it. I appreciate Kenny Williams' fire and passion, and Ozzie Guillen's energy and enthusiam. But if this season goes by the wayside and the Sox fail to make the playoffs (which I don't think is possible) then you really need to look squarely at the two of them and question what they really know about running and managing a consistent winning baseball team. Anyone can run and manage a losing team. But it takes skill to win over the long haul. Look at the Braves John Shurholtz and Bobby Cox - those guys know what it takes and how to win. Does this organization really get it? Time will tell. But if what is past is prologue - then I'm betting against it. But such is the lot of a Chicago White Sox fan.