greg775

I'd comment, but I don't even understand Oz's quote. Are the Sox going Rios third, Dunn fourth and Paulie fifth? I think I'd prefer Dunn third, Paulie fourth and Rios fifth. Actually my preferred lineup would be Rios, Beckham, Dunn, Paulie, Quentin, AJ, Alexei, Morel/Teahen and Pierre. If not Rios/Beckham, then Beckham/Rios. Juan Pierre is a No. 9 hitter. He is not good.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Feb 25, 2011 -> 12:33 AM) What's all this stuff about him "begging" the padre's pitching coaches to come look at his mechanics? Coop said he didn't have any mechanical issues brought on by his '09 ankle injury but Peavy says he did. Is there a riff? Can we say there is? (this s***'s getting boring) Nothin wrong with a second opinion. Nobody's perfect, not even medical doctors.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Feb 24, 2011 -> 09:58 AM) This is the most random post ever. What did you do? Nothin. I hesitate to start new threads. People sometimes get mad at me when I do so. But I was curious about soxtalk use in the offseason. Go Sox!

Since this is an offseason catch all thread and I fear starting new threads cause people sometimes get mad ... Can I get a roll call to pat ourselves on the back? How many of you used this Website regularly all offseason? How many days a week did you check it and did you post much? Roll call please? My answer: I checked it every day. I posted a fair amount. p.s. Do the mods take into consideration how much a person uses the site year round when making decisions in the heat of the season whether to suspend somebody a couple weeks for mouthing off? Or is everybody considered equal in that regard?

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Feb 22, 2011 -> 11:40 PM) If there are any blowjobs, they are occurring on the field of play and nowhere else. Sox record vs. Twins: 2000: 7-5 (.583) 2001: 5-14 (.263) 2002: 8-11 (.421) 2003: 9-10 (.474) 2004: 9-10 (.474) 2005: 11-7 (.611) 2006: 9-10 (.474) 2007: 9-9 (.500) 2008: 9-10 (.474) - this includes game 163 2009: 6-12 (.333) 2010: 5-13 (.278) These years were contention years, and this is how we did vs. the Twins down the stretch those years: 2000: 4-2 over last 6 2003: 2-5 over last 7 2005: 7-3 over the last 10 2006: 4-8 over last 12, but the final 3 games didn't matter (we were out of it), so actually 2-7 over the last 9 that mattered 2008: 2-6 over last 8 including game 163 2010: 3-10 over last 13 Since the last full rebuilding effort ended with the 2000 season, we've run out two teams over the last 11 years that were capable of beating the Twins. The 2000 team had the best record in the AL and was tied (with Atlanta and St. Louis) for the second-best record in all of baseball, two games behind the Giants. In 2005 we also had the best record in the AL and the second-best record in baseball, one game behind St. Louis, and of course everyone knows what happened that year. So yeah. And this s*** has gone on well before Ozzie got here. And LMAO at anyone trying to make it out like Hawk has anything to do with it. GTFO. Pretty humbling post. I'm sure Twins fans wish they'd take it a step further and build a team not only capable of beating the White Sox, but also capable of having a shot in the playoffs. The Twins haven't even come close to winning a playoff series of late.

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 23, 2011 -> 03:11 AM) Based on what are their salaries nuts? Based on what a cop earns? Or based on the profits that baseball teams make? Based on the price of a ticket, parking, beer and pop and food at games. My god ... baseball was a sport that once was affordable. Good for you if money is no object. I guess most baseball fans are affluent and don't care about costs at all. You know what ... baseball owners didn't have to do this, escalate salaries to this level. Their own greed and insatiable egos forced them to pay (most of) these players WAY TOO MUCH money. Oh well, to those of you who can afford it (obviously you can get in the park and sit in the nosebleed on Tuesday nights for pennies, whoopie), good for you and more power to you. And the poor ballplayers of the 60s and 70s who see what a dime a dozen player like Alex Rios for godsakes is making compared to them and they are crying in their beer.

Talk is cheap. I don't mind Alex saying whatever he wants to say, but the Sox have to show something on the field. The Sox lost every possible way to Minnesota in recent history. The one saving grace was the one-game playoff, a totally satisfying, meaningful win. It really would be nice to see the Sox play better against all teams in the division this year. The only reason the Sox were halfway in the race last season was the utter domination of the NL. I don't think the Sox can bank on that every year.

The best thing he said was we've reached a point of no return. Baseball is already out of control. If somebody is willing to give Pujols 30 million a year for 10 years, it's insanity. Look at Manny Ramirez. He's basically finished at what? 37? Dye was finished at 36, 37. There are tons of stories of guys dropping off at that age. Who is to say Pujols is going to be productive for the last four years of that deal? But for the Yankees, Red Sox (which is where he will end up) are banking his presence coupled with all the other high money guys could give them 3-4 WS titles which would be "worth it." The Cardinals haven't exactly dominated baseball with Albert. It's too late for anything to change, but I respect KW for calling it "asinine." Perfect word.

How are the Yankees going to win anything with Freddy as No. 4 starter and Colon No. 5? Those guys can't go more than 5-plus innings. If allowed to go more than that, their pitches scream, "hit me." I love Freddy and he was great in his role last year, but I would think Freddy/Colon is a recipe for disaster.

I'm also up for a nonkeeper league with casual fantasy players like myself.

All the Sox had to do to shut us all up, and make us all optimistic for the season is to sign Dunn and get rid of Kotsay. That's it. To a lesser extent, getting rid of Bobby also has silenced all the naysayers and put everybody in an extremely positive frame of mind (although I still love Bobby). Many of us don't like Teahen, but there's not the unabashed, vicious hatred especially with him likely being in a platoon role. Can you ever recall an offseason where all of the Sox fans on this board have been so pleased? The only thing that could wreck this feeling is if the Sox start slowly, then there will probably be a lot of anti-Ozzie stuff beginning again. But this has been a nirvana off season for Sox fans. If I lived in Chicago, I definitely would have bought in season ticket wise for this season.

Ken Jennings is one funny, great man and Jeopardy rocks now and forever. Jennings' close to man vs. computer with the Simpson's reference was immortal.

Sox win 85 games and lose out to Twins by five or so. We haven't added enough to get over this fear of the Twins or whatever it is. Also it's tough to reverse the trend and just suddenly start dominating Cleveland, KC and Detroit after being so mediocre against them for the last season and a half. Our only hope is in the first series we play the Twins our starting pitching kicks major ass and we put them in their place right off the bat this season. I know Jenks was unpopular, but I see our closer situation being a problem. Add that to our already suspect set up situation and I think 85 wins is about right. Prove ... me .... wrong ... please.

I went with Paul Konerko. A slugger who also is willing to slug a simple single up the middle or to left when the team needs it. A scoop artist at first who isn't a bad defender at all. Also a pretty good hitter in the clutch. He might suck big time this year, who knows, but I think entering the season on paper he's our best player.

As great as Albert is, this makes no business sense. You've got to assume at some point there will be a decline and/or significant missed time with injuries. Baseball teams slay me with what they will pay guys. 30 mill a year for 10 years? My god. He's not going to be guaranteed to be special at the ages 37 to 41.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Feb 14, 2011 -> 02:42 AM) OK, I'm like seriously jonesing for some baseball right now. I mean, I even miss Juan Pierre's epic attempts at getting on base via the weak single. We should all remember this post when we're all b****ing in mid May about whatever. Bring on baseball!

Is anybody else worried Jake, the gamer that he is, is going to get hurt very early this season? I'd love to see him start ASAP, but this time shouldn't he take it really slowly?

I love his name. What a great name. Lastings Milledge. My gosh. He may have the best name in baseball.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 7, 2011 -> 10:48 PM) No real Sox fan would deface that statue considering his roots with our club as well. Tasteless. I agree. Sox fans should love Harry as well. He was great embassador for the Sox.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 7, 2011 -> 04:59 PM) Then no team is all in. I'd agree with that. I don't think what we've done by any means says the Sox are "all in."

QUOTE (ChrisLikesBaseball @ Feb 6, 2011 -> 09:56 PM) Agreed. Good off-season marketing, but I really hope they go with a different campaign once they start playing ball. I agree. It's stupid because we're not really all-in when you think about other teams who are as good or better than us on paper. Stupid slogan. You are not all-in when you have a lot of question marks. I mean the slogan should be "Right There." This team should be right there, but it ain't all in. I wouldn't bet 10 bucks in Vegas that we'll even beat the Twins much less bet the house.

QUOTE (Wanne @ Feb 4, 2011 -> 10:47 PM) This. Really seems like a no-brainer to me too scenario. Gotta prove you've still got it. Exactly. If he can play, the team he's with will know by the end of spring training. How can he expect somebody to bow down and give him a guaranteed deal after he sat out a year?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 29, 2011 -> 06:18 PM) You're probably right, but the difference between this year and last, is the White Sox are counting on Teahen to provide absolutely nothing. Chances are he's a bust again, but anything he gives you that is positive is gravy. His contract is signed, the Sox are most likely stuck with him, maybe something clicks. Obviously we are in the fluff portion of the year, and everyone had a great offseason, is in the greatest shape of their career, and is primed to have the best year of their career. Most of the time, they wind up being who we thought they were. Sometimes there is a surprise. I'm not saying Teahen will surprise. I believe he won't. But there's always a chance. That's a damn fine post.

QUOTE (WhiteSUX @ Jan 29, 2011 -> 03:19 AM) Ok guys. But seriously, what do you think of your team this year? Is Dunn going to make any difference? Jesse Crain really isn't that bad and wish we could have kept him. Best of luck to you this year and would like to hear your thoughts on us? QUOTE (WhiteSUX @ Jan 29, 2011 -> 03:38 AM) Another question I would like to ask all of you is your general feelings regarding Ozzie as manager. I know he has had some success there in the past, but as a fanbase are you in support of Ozzie, embarrassed by some of his antics, or just simply ready for a change? Personally I think his days are numbered if not successful this year. a.) Ilike our team this year, but we need to start beating your team (last year's record vs. the Twins was ridiculously bad) and other teams in the division. If we play like we did last year against our division we won't win squat. b.) I love Ozzie.

The guy seen on TV burning Cutler's jersey is a f***ing moron, unless he was a Packer fan playing games with the media. The guy sleeps in bed with the jersey the week before, burns it the next week. Urlacher is a great Chicago Bear. He said Cutler is tough. Case closed. Cutler was hurt. I trust Urlacher's opinion. Packers by the way had a better team. Bears still have some work to do, though the defense played proud.