Gene Honda Civic

Vasher Tillman Briggs Archuleta all inactive today. Bears in for some big trouble. It's all Rex's fault.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Sep 29, 2007 -> 10:31 PM) I don't think he's picked up much baggage since SF, and some of that was BS. He's not the best catcher in the league, but he's far from the worst, and he seems to pick up big hits as much as anyone on the roster. If the Sox had anyone you could reasonably expect to be able to catch 120 major league games without embarrasing themselves in the next year or so, I would be all for gambling, but AJ is not getting a huge bump so he is giving a discount. He should be fine, especially if a compentent back up is in place. I don't think the baggage is that warranted, but he's perceived as a malcontent (his comments re: the Toby Hall signing support that). The reputation exists regardless if it's deserved. AJ is the most hated player (by other players) in baseball. The pool of teams willing to acquire AJ is extremely limited, just like those for Bradley. His tradability is not an asset.

The polls shouldn't come out until October.

Pierzynski's easily tradable like Milton Bradley. Somebody will take him, but you're not going to get much in return thanks to his post-Minnesota baggage.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Sep 29, 2007 -> 07:41 PM) I have no problem with the extension because, honestly, what other options are there? Surely you'll recall the support for one Kurt Suzuki around here in June of '04? We have no other options for two reasons. 1. The Sox failed to draft/produce a capable ML catcher the last 10 years. 2. Instead of a firesale, the Sox elected to resign any aging veteran with trade value. In that respect, I would hope this extension raises your blood pressure. It highlights the poor short and long-term decisions the organization has made to back themselves into this corner.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Sep 29, 2007 -> 05:50 PM) While I agree with you on this. The Sox are spending far too much money (though I have no clue as to their '08-'10 budget) on good-but-not-great talents who are all on the wrong side of 30. In '09, They're locked into about $80M to Thome (assuming his option is picked up, which it will if he doesn't die next year), Konerko, Dye, Buehrle, Vazquez, and Count. That group averages about 34 years old in '09. And that doesn't include Hunter/Eckstein, who would add another $20+M to that number. This has disaster written all over it. The numbers --- Though I expect Count to be gone, and there was some non-specific allusions to the Phillies kicking in some money if Thome's option vested Name '09 Age '09 Salary Mark Buehrle 30 $14.00 Jose Contreras 37 $10.00 Jemaine Dye 35 $11.50 Paul Konerko 33 $12.50 AJ Pierzynski 32 $6.25 Jim Thome 38 $13.00 Javier Vazquez 32 $11.50 ====================================== Avg. Age: 33.9 $78.75M Torii Hunter 33 ~$17.50 Aaron Rowand 32 ~$11.00 David Eckstein 34 ~$6.50 ====================================== ~$17.5-$24M Total 9 players ~$96-103M

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Sep 29, 2007 -> 05:42 PM) I was merely looking at it from the organization's point of view, and how, even as terrible as he was, Podsednik was a much better investment than Pierre. While I agree with you on this. The Sox are spending far too much money (though I have no clue as to their '08-'10 budget) on good-but-not-great talents who are all on the wrong side of 30. In '09, They're locked into about $80M to Thome (assuming his option is picked up, which it will if he doesn't die next year), Konerko, Dye, Buehrle, Vazquez, and Count. That group averages about 34 years old in '09. And that doesn't include Hunter/Eckstein, who would add another $20+M to that number. This has disaster written all over it.

The future of this franchise is seriously troubling. With the additions of Hunter/Rowand and Eckstein, I count 8 high dollar players on the wrong side of 30 on the '09 team, which could be the Sox 3rd straight season when they finish 4th or worst.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Sep 29, 2007 -> 02:55 PM) Love the fact that I don't get the best game of the day. I don't get the ECU/ Houston game either

Hiking is cool, provided it's in the right environment. I know some that would consider a stroll on a paved path in forest preserve a "hike." IMO, hikes should contain limited to zero time on pavement and should ideally have a midpoint/end at some scenic destination. Gorp rules.

DLS is 3 Carter is 9

I think you got the magazine in the mail already.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Sep 29, 2007 -> 11:45 AM) In addition to their pre-season top 3 recievers. Season's over. They'll be lucky to repeat their 2-6 in the B10 last year. James Hardy has literally crossed the 500 yards receiving plateau against the Hawkeyes. After consecutive 200 yard performances, he had 95 yards in the first 17 minutes of today's game. Greg Walker, I mean Norm Parker, is baffled.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Sep 29, 2007 -> 11:29 AM) Klinkenborg and Moylan out for Iowa against Indiana. In addition to their pre-season top 3 recievers. Season's over. They'll be lucky to repeat their 2-6 in the B10 last year.

27-38, with 11 blown saves since July 20th. By comparison, the White Sox have gone 28-38 with 7 blown saves since July 20th.

So much for an exciting last weekend. After tonight, it appears three of the NL spots have been decided. Any loss by the Mets or Phillies (or a win by the Padres) means the Padres clinch. The BHAMs clinched. And the Cubs clinched. Boring.

QUOTE(WilliamTell @ Sep 26, 2007 -> 11:07 AM) I used to hate O'Reilly back when his show first started on Fox News, now I like him to an extent, I think he's funny at times. Stockholm Syndrome

Crack is whack!

QUOTE(Heartattack19 @ Sep 28, 2007 -> 04:16 PM) i thought this was an act of fiction, that is what it said in the comments? I may be wrong though, the story seemed fa fetched, but then again, i would not put it past Bonds to do what is said in the story! You mean you didn't notice that the authors' names were anagrams for FICTION and SATIRE?

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2007 -> 08:00 AM) Let me put it this way... Your view of the Sox=Price of tea in China. They have nothing to do with each other. Just like what you think of the Sox=Twins responding to the loss of Hunter and Santana. It doesn't help an argument, it doesn't hurt an arguement, it just has no place in the arguement. Now the rest of your post at least focuses on the Twins, which was the whole point here. Your inclusion of the Royals -- generally considered the cheapest tea around -- opened the door to make comments on the relative price of tea in other regions.

I'm getting one that says "your tattoo doesn't make you special"

Before the beginning of the season, I told myself I was giving Broadway a free pass in the first half. He had a decent ERA, but his peripherals were garbage. But I'm not going to hold that against him. He was learning to control a new pitch, and he'll need to be a control pitcher to survive at the big league level. So... He improved in the second half, even though the ERA didn't show it, he had a K/BB ratio of exactly 2:1, and was striking out near 1 batter per inning. There was improvement, but not nearly enough to suggest that he was ready to consistently get major league hitters out. Even if Coop come out and says something about how they worked really hard and refined some of his mechanics/control, I still need to see more from him on the minor league level. If he true ability was what we saw tonight (6IP 0R 8K), he'd be able to consistently post those numbers in the minors. As it was, only one of his last 10 starts in Charlotte was that good, and there were 4 starts that could be considered disasters. The only way I can picture him in the opening day rotation is through a slough of pitching injuries along with a trade or two.

And now for my second post in this thread... yousorryasscockknockingturdburglars!

http://www.dundermifflininfinity.com/

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Sep 27, 2007 -> 02:53 PM) Still, what does a cheap shot of the Sox have to do with how the Twins hitters will hit, or how their pitchers will respond to added pressure? What you think of the Sox organization has nothing to do with any of that whether it is the "truth" or not. It is a poor strawman arguement. Is there an argument which you will accept as valid, or does my well-reasoned pessimism with regards to the White Sox future automatically negate any valid view which I may express? I look at the potential Twins roster for next season, in the context of this thread, and I see a 1-5 of Bartlett, Mauer, Kemp, Morneau, Cuddyer, Kubel. All of whom are in their prime on the right side of 30, and carry a major and minor league track record of success Even with the theoretical subtraction of Johan, I see a pitching staff with Liriano and 4 of Baker, Bonser, Perkins, Garza, Slowey all of whom will be under the age 27. And again, all of whom carry a resume of major and/or minor league success. Those 12 players alone should be enough to prevent them from "falling past the royals." And if the Royals were to continue to improve more rapidly than expected, there is the perfectly acceptable argument that the White Sox will be there to cushion the the Twins perceived fall.