Molto

New York Post reported earlier this month that hey may switch agents, from Boras to Alan Nero. He also met with Boras a week or so ago to talk about his free agency.

well, not never, he missed one today, but that isn't technically a missed tackle since he over ran the ball carrier.

so you think because he couldn't outperform Mark Grace and Todd Helton, he hasn't earned a chance?

I don't think Gload is better than Konerko. nor am I blaming Konerko for the teams struggles. If Konerko stays, great, but trading him, which would land us someone and clear up salary, and opening the position up for Gload is something to consider.

I don't understand how someone who has never been given the chance to start before and is considered to be a "great" bench player with impressive numbers will automatically be a poor starter. that doesn't make any sense. if someone is a great bench player, has been productive and has the numbers to back that up, why is he is no way capable of being a starter?

I personally am against the idea of having a DH-only player, which is what Frank Thomas is. My only thing is that it is Frank Thomas. Plus, he brings something to the team we lack for the most part, an eye and patience. Another plus, who do you think would be easier to trade? A young Paul Konerko who can still play the field, is healthy and is making $8 million or an older Frank Thomas, who can't play the field (at least in his eyes), is coming off an injury and will be making $10 million. I would love the idea of having a situation where we have more than one option at DH, as well as other positions. Trading Thomas, however, will likely get us the lesser player in return and will require us to pay some salary. good point though. tough call.

obviously you need some sort of a backup plane. the idea here isn't to sign Gload to a seven-year deal and ignore any possibility of getting a firstbaseman simply because Gload has been good for 90 games. you have to have a backup plan whenever you are a playoff-aspriing team looking to start a guy like Gload. the dumb thing would be to put all your money on Gload ... not giving him a shot.

so I assume all of you guys have seen what Gload to do if given the chance over the course of a whole season? Oh wait, you couldn't have because he's never been given the opportunity. The chance he has been given has been this season off the bench and he's been not only productive but consistent through it all. Since 2000, the Sox and us fans have been stuck on getting the guys with the best "numbers" at each position and what has it gotten them? nothing. if they find the right replacement for Ordonez in right field and/or solidify their situation at third base, having Gload play first and bat between 7-9, then this isn't something anyone should be pissed off about. I, like Jason, have liked Gload since seeing him play two years ago in Charlotte. He's a solid, consistent, fundamental hitter who never been given a chance. You hear that, a consistent fundamental hitter ... a consistent fundamental hitter ... we haven't had many of those guy pass through the organization in years. And when we do, a lot of people would rather say he isn't a "starter" because he isn't going to hit homers and put up nice numbers that will likely be put up in non-pressure, useless situations. Now, don't get me wrong, Gload could turn out to be one of those players who is a great bench player and below average starter ... Gload even mentioned the possibility, but if the Sox make the right moves around him, Gload starting at first isn't a bad idea by any means. People thought Aaron Rowand would never be a starter, and now there are some who believe is a longterm piece (some are even buying his jersey). Juan Uribe was supposed to be only a bench player, but there have been many people (whether they are saying it now or were saying it earlier in the season) who would prefer him starting at short or third. Ben Davis was guy many here thought upon acquiring him that he was a add-in that would spend time in the minors and never see the majors, let alone produce. Now people are ready to make him and Jamie Burke (another guy who, like Gload, has never been given the chance) the catching duo for next year. Sometimes someone just needs to be given a chance to prove himself, especially if they've earned that look in the brief time they've been given.

I'm not sure what was your intentions behind this, but we aren't looking for Mariotti's. If someone wants to take a Mariotti approach, they can do so.

Just want to toss this out to see if anyone on the board is interested. At CSR, we're starting a Chicago sports blog (www.chisport.com/blog), but it won't be a blog with minature blogs with one guy talking about one team ... it's a Chicago sports blog. We're looking to find 5-10 guys who would like to write about Chicago sports (those interested in national sports are also welcomed as a national sports blog may be stemmed from it). Anyway, we aren't looking for someone who will write everyday about topics we'd like to see ... you write about what you want (within reason, obviously) and when you want. The length of each has to be reasonable as well (no two sentence posts or 2,000 word, never-ending rants). Right now we are in the early going, but we're looking to really get this going and make it bigger than your typical blog. If anyone is interested, shoot me an email at [email protected]

our two best clutch hitters are our bench players ... weird

they need to just have a rotation at DH of Lee, Konerko and Gload (since Everett is hurt again).

you said he was upset about his playing time ... he knew he wasn't going to complain. so either he isn't upset and wants to stay on the club, or he is upset and is just a complete dick for getting upset over a situation he knew he was getting himself in to. that aside, Walker is not a player I'd go after, unless it's coming off the bench or something.

he went to the Cubs knowing he was going to be coming off the bench ... if that is true, he's an idiot for being suprised and upset.

I was thinking the same thing, he should be, the decision to play him at second isn't that inane or stupid. he still should be able to make the play.

although everyone here and Hawk is right, I like it how nobody, Hawk included, was wondering why he was playing second prior to that play...

they should've left him in ... sometimes you have to leave a guy so he gets his ass kicked around.

10-20 at bats would be 10% to 20% than what he has now (100) and would help him get to about 200 at bats by season's end, double what he has right now. it's a good amount.

yeah, but your basis is that he hasn't earned it, put up the numbers, or is the typical #2 hole player, which is completely understandable. but, as you said, the point would be to get him better pitches to hit. now, from a lineup situation it makes sense too. whenever you have a lineup like the Sox have now (one where you only have a few legitimate threats within it) you want to spread it out, if possible, which means throwing a weaker hitter in the two-hole with the hopes of putting him in the best situation to suceed. that is one of the goals of a manager, putting his players in the best situations to succeed, unless the move hurts the team. this would likely hurt the Sox, but at 7.5 out with a month left and no momentum, nothing to lose. Borchard obviously hasn't succeded batting in the middle or end of the lineup ... try him up near the top, even if only for a few games.

Borchard could've gone 0-5 with five Ks today and the idea of him batting second would still be an idea worth considering. since we're out of it as many here have stated, the lineup should be this for the rest of the way: Harris, 2B Borchard, RF Lee, DH/LF Konerko, 1B/DH Gload, LF/1B Rowand, CF Uribe, SS Davis, C Crede, 3B there is absolutely nothing to lose in doing this ... outside of games, which is pretty moot at this point.

I don't understand how people can post on this board all day long saying how the Sox are out of it, and then something like this is proposed and we won't consider it because, basically, it won't help us win. throwing Borchard in the two hole wouldn't be done for the purpose of making this lineup better, but for the purpose of getting him at bats and putting him in the easiest spot in the batting order.

the thing is Borchard see a lot of pitches at the same time. it's something I'd consider.

that makes no sense. you say he has limited experience and then say he has no extincts ... you answered the second with the first.

the same could've been said for Carlos Lee at one point and you can say the same about Harris in center. If you were to play Gload in the OF and keep him there, he would become a good defensive player. That doesn't mean I want him starting (even though I'm a huge fan of his), but just because a guy makes a few mistakes in limited playing time at a position he's rarely played, doesn't mean he's bad there.

I'll sign it, just make sure it's anonymous so jason doesn't know.