greg775

Ranger you should come up with a secret codeword that all soxtalk fans can use when they call your show after games. Or not.

I was just wondering what you all think. I know spring training is totally meaningless and all that. (But) when a player reaches a certain age or has something major to prove, can you learn anything or project anything from the upcoming plethora of spring training games and at bats? Will we learn anything at all about oldies Jones, Omar, Kotsay in whether they still have "it." Or will their at bats mean nothing? And Teahen. And Rios. Or are all their upcoming at bats meaningless cause it's spring training. Just wondering. I know young guys are sometimes judged on whether they are "ready" by spring training. What about vets? If I had to guess, the at bats are meaningless, but for some reason this was on my mind. Wondering whether scouts, Oz and Ken can tell anything about a batter's likelihood of success from extended spring training appearances. The reason I ask is if they are sure, say a Jones, will suck, why would they bring him North?

I'm not saying Crede had a good year, he didn't, but this was a pretty epic moment for him I'm sure. Wikipedia. Who's gonna sign Joe for this year? Anybody? He should get MLB minimum salary plus a ton of incentives.

I'd agree. If he couldn't throw strikes as a starter, I don't like his odds any better as a reliever. I wonder if they can teach him to just throw out of the stretch and try to develop some control. Isn't he a clone of MacDougal?

That does make sense. KW may have pursued some bats as well.

I really don't know too much what you are talking about. You mention my pessimism and burying our players. When I think of these guys I have positive thoughts. Do you want me to praise them on here? I will: I have positive thoughts of Lexi, Beckham, Paulie in the infield (I have negative thoughts about Teahen; I am neutral about Nix and Kotsay, leaning toward being negative toward Omar). I have positive feelings about CQ in the outfield, negative thoughts about Rios and Pierre. I'm willing to wait and see on Rios and Pierre this season. It's not like I want them to suck. I have positive feelings about AJP; negative about Castro. I have positive feeligs toward Mark, Peavy, Danks Floyd and Freddy; positive feelings toward Bobby and Thornton and Hudson; negative toward Linebrink, Randy Williams and any ex Royals relievers still on the roster. I like Oz and KW. Yes, I love the guys who departed: Dye, Crede, Thome, Pods. I am not a big fan of Getz, Fields or Brian Anderson. I like most of our players and am rooting for them all out of the gates this season. I didn't read your sarcasm, sorry about that.

Interesting they keep trying to get stud starters, but like some have said, what's the aversion to improving the lineup? I guess KW and Oz can say "I told you so" if and when Omar, Rios, Pierre, Kotsay and Jones excel this year.

What's your problem? You got the Monday blues? I never said he has to hit .400 the first month. The guy needs to produce at the money he's making, not be a Brian Anderson, all D and no offense. Rios is easy to hate. He needs to change it and fast.

Wouldn't Nix have hit 40 home runs if he had 500 at bats? That's all fine and dandy but doesn't mean too much.

Don't get on Rongey or he like many media members might tire of this site and go elsewhere. If he gives us an inside comment like that, why not, uh ... believe him. Asking players to defer money or give up money to get others is ridiculous, stupid and doesn't happen. These guys can say whatever they want. They don't give up money or have money deferred til later to acquire Johnny Damons. Get real. Damon has enough money and they know that; and then there's always somebody else to acquire at a later date and they know that guy needs money too. As far as Rios, every time I read something about how he doesn't care and how he hit 12 balls hard all year with the Sox scares me more. If he doesn't give a s***, we'll see it soon enough this year. He's starting 0-for-0, fresh. No excuses. He puts up or shuts up. We shall find out soon enough.

Thome. Damon can't hurt us any more than Grandy did or tried to do. Thome can hit some 3 run bombs that can KILL us. I wish we'd sign some ex Twin that would want to kill the Twins like Jimmy is going to want to kill the Sox.

That's possible. I know if we get off to a gosh-awful start for some reason, there will be finger pointing and it'll likely be at Oz. He's been here a long time and is right in front of the cameras every day. It's Oz's hide, not KW's, though Jerry probably would never agree to let Oz go no matter what happens. Remember, Jerry got the WS title thanks in large part to Oz, and owner's think differently than fans. I would suspect Oz has a lifetime contract as long as Jerry is in charge.

I really don't give a s*** Detroit got Damon. He's a downgrade from Grandy. We don't need Damon. We do need help, though, in our lineup. I want McLouth in a trade.

The rotating pile of crap line made me laugh. Good stuff.

Jermaine for 1.5 million this year; sign him, White Sox. He'll have something to prove and I'm sure he loves Chicago.

I'm sick of the clog the basepaths argument. Who gives a f*** about that? As far as worthless, you must think an awful lot of Sox players throughout history have been worthless cause we've won one WS in about a zillion years. Thome beating the Twins was priceless. It's not a one-man sport. Thome's home run vs. the Twins was special.

If we get Johnny I will be stunned. It ain't going to happen.

I'm glad sox fans are skeptical about Jones and some of our additions. Not many have drunk the hot stove league koolaid. These guys gotta produce.

I'll play in a regular yahoo type head to head league, a non keeper league. I would rather be in a league with casual fantasy type fans, not the ultra competitive phenoms. Just a normal soxtalk league.

I ain't sighing cause I figured all along we were being used by his agent. We're never going to get a Boras free agent. Right?

Rowand. We haven't exactly replaced him with anything better than Aaron himself. Rios has a chance to shut up we Rowand lovers forever. It's now or never for 29-year-old Rios. He's with a contending team in a city that demands performance. If Rios has what it takes, he'll show it this year.

Is Jermaine done? I would think teams are pretty set in their minds for the season by now.

Johnny is a grinder and a gamer, but he like Pierre can't throw the baseball. I still wouldn't mind acquiring him, but if we do I hope we dump Pierre.

I kind of agree with this. I'm thinking because of his track record, however, I'll have a lot more patience with him during slumps than, say, an Erstad. Johnny is a stud, but so at one point was Dye, Thome, Pods, etc.

I don't think we're getting Damon and frankly I don't really want him. If our team can't hit, maybe they'll make some other move during the season.