greg775

I'm really starting to like A Rowand the more I hear about him. That means we'll probably trade him soon.

How did you all meet each other? Did soxtalk have a banner or something set up? WIsh I coulda gone. Sounds great.

I love Oz's loyalty. Keep ARow in cf!

I'd trade Everett for Graff and the Royals might do that if we pick up some salary. Royals are desperate for some punch.

I'm kind of getting excited about our team. I wish we'd get rid of Carl, though. I don't like that guy as a player. Do you all think he's good or not? I say trade Carl now for a bad second baseman.

I think it's a copout to say this but I believe anything can happen with this team. I have no read on it. The starters are intriguing, the bullpen seems good. Even if we get a new second baseman the lineup is a question mark. I hate to put it all on Oz but maybe it is all on him to make this team work. It seems he's been given some talent to work with, especially potential pitching talent. If we add an upgrade at 2B (I guess they're set with Uribe at ss) it'll really get interesting. At any rate, congrats to Kenny for getting a catcher. If this blows up in his face I don't see how we can blame him. On paper, he's acquired a pretty good option at catcher.

It's my favorite move of offseason so far. I hope he's not a cancer and has a good year. I think we needed a decent bat at catcher. With him and Burke we should be decent at catcher. I would think Big Ben is a goner now.

LF Scott Podsednik SS Juan Uribe RF Jermaine Dye DH Frank Thomas 1B Paul Konerko CF Aaron Rowand 3B Joe Crede C Ben Davis 2B Willie Harris SP Mark Buehrle SP Freddy Garcia SP Jose Contreras SP Jon Garland SP Orlando Hernandez CL Shingo Takatsu It's funny. On paper, this isn't that bad. Potentially we could have a good team with this squad, especially in my opinion if we either replace Ben or Willie with an upgrade. Is it up to Ozzie to make this work? These players if they have A- or Bplus type seasons could lead us to 10-15 over .500 I believe. We ain't gonna win any wild card so we better win the division.

I have no ill will toward Maggs. He's not the only White Sox to have expressed displeasure with our horses*** management team. In today's climate, he was with us a long long time. Let's see how we do without him.

It's weird how Loiaza was an all star last year and nobody wants him. Bring him back.

I just wish these guys would sell, then. Maybe there is no local owner who would buy the team.

I thought it was a good article. I like when he rips our ownership for not overspending like Steinwhacker, the BoSox and the 4-5 other big spenders. It would be nice if we'd sign some free agents once in a while if we are serious about winning. Mariottis is right. As the team roster stands now, we don't have the talent to win with our new Ozzieball philosophy unless miracle of miracles Uribe, Harris, Crede and our catching platoon all have career years. We're not going to score enough runs. Rowand, the guy with the long name and Dye are not going to instill fear in any pitching staff. We could be in for a long year like Mariotti says unless somehow our pitching staff wins a s***load of 3-1 games. p.s. Funny, however, how the owners continue to spend incredible amounts of money, continuing to make it impossible for the Sox, Royals, et. all to win a Series. In some ways I wish baseball was hockey, have a lockout for a couple years and get some sanity back.

Sounds like we're trying to be in about the 40 mill payroll range before long. Contraction?

I always like reading what Mark B has to say. This is scary, though: "It's a little tougher on the pitching staff because we won't be working with as many runs as before. But we are still going to score our share and not just score one or two every game. It will work both ways because defensively they will be making plays in the outfield or in the holes they didn't get to last year." It sounds like he realizes on paper our offense looks very anemic. I was thinking more about Cowley's story. Unless he called Mark B to warn him that was stupid of him to just say Mark B. was a player who didn't like Lee. He should have called Mark B. to get a fresh quote on the matter like this writer did, or run it by him. Maybe Cowley did run it by him and Mark B. said go ahead and print it, if not that's pretty stupid to just attribute Mark B as the one Sox who didn't like Lee. Calling out Mark B is not a good way to get Mark B to give good quotes in the future.

This is it for Joe. I wonder what he's doin this offseason. Hopefully listening to Walker at that hitting studio in Lisle. He's good on defense; it sure would be nice to pencil him in for 10 years like Robin. You sure hope he and Garland get off to good starts. Maybe it'll help Garland greatly if he's our No. 5 and nobody expects much from him except 14-10, 14-11 type record.

I wouldn't mind a catcher. How bout we reacquire Olivo.

Good luck to Jose. I always liked him. He was no Royce Clayton, that is for sure. You are right IMO, third base is not a good option for him. He was horrific there. I hope we do not trade Paulie or Garland. I think that would be stupid, but that's just my opin.

Randy Johnson is too old to give away all those players mentioned in the first post. If I was another GM, I'd hold out big time when trading with the Sox because Kenny will overpay.

I read every post on this thread. What great posts! I think it's OK to write the story now for the reasons everybody said, but I also am thinking back to the season. Didn't Carlos watch a couple shots from home plate ultimately hit the wall? I remember at the time backing Carlos on it. But if Carlos is indeed the biggest dick since Tracy, shouldn't somebody have written a blast column after Caballo watched those homers from home plate. Joe probably shoulda showed some balls back then and wrote a similar column. Cause when Carlos watched those homers, that could have been newsworthy and just as readable back then and would have let us readers into Carlos' apparent donkey-like personality. That said ... good luck Carlos. One story won't make me hate you. There are 2 sides to every story, though I trust Steff and she repeats Cowley's assertions as Carlos being a dick.

Oops, my apologies. This is in the other thread. My bad. Kill this topic.

Cowley wrote: At one point near the end of the 2004 season, Lee was sitting in the clubhouse by a few reporters and was asked whom he liked on the team since Ordonez had been absent because of a knee injury. "No one," he responded. "I hate everyone." Go get 'em, "El Asno." --Wow. Do you believe this? Carlos didn't seem like the bitter type.

Good luck Carlos. That Cowley story was wild. Cowley has been around the team a lot. It must be true. Our Sox hated El Caballo?? Amazing.

I'd take him, also. Bring him on.

Good posts, we seem to agree Arvia is the best of the bunch so are any of you concerned about his column? Is our team now incredibly weak up and down the order like he says??? I would feel a lot better if we had a catcher who could rip the ball and/or Big Hurt of 7 years ago.

I'd give us a C- right now. We have an improved bullpen on paper, and allegedly improved defense in outfield, and more team speed. However, our lineup is not strong and we need another stud starter. The key is to spend some of this money and fill some needs without giving up any more talent. Free agency anyone????