ApplingsRevenge

f*** the experts. If I had to give 10-11 million to a pitcher for a one year contract, it would be Maddux. We all know that would never happen with us, but it'd be nice to get 190-200 innings, 3.50 ERA & 15 wins. Ahhhh.......

Well said. The battle for supremacy in MLB will have to be done with fiscal responsibility, at least if you're not the Yanks, Red Sox, Mets, or the revolving door of the last 10 years (Orioles, Dodgers, Seattle).

You can do worse than Valentin. The glove improved thanks to Alomar & if he would give up the switch-hitting bulls*** I think he'd be ok. He plays hard, something we need in 2004.

I've posted with Ncorgbl from whitesox.com, so I'm going to make a few points: I disagree with him on many things, notably that I think Kenny Williams is actually in charge (after Reinsdorf) and that Colon is ESSENTIAL to our success in 2004. I've also argued & scrapped with him on specific points in the past, concerning performance and salary. I also agree with him on the value of Frank Thomas to our team (high OBP and RBI production). Is he abrasive at times? Sure he is. I've seen him defend the White Sox against trash Cub attacks on South Siders and our team, and support the White Sox at every turn. He's ok with me. Nothing wrong with a little scrapping to add to the conversation in my book. He's a White Sox fan, and I value his opinion. ApplingsRevenge

I hope so too, otherwise we might as well cut the payroll & start another youth movement. Pitching, pitching, pitching.....

I would trade Konerko for Weaver, just because I'd rather gamble on pitching than hitting. They're both inconsistent, although Konerko seems to be a 'tougher player' than Weaver. I don't think the Yankees would do it though. When they increase salary it will be with players that are more of a sure thing for productivity than Konerko. If he had a three month slump in New York he would be finished there. As always, I'll state that I like Konerko, but his slumps make me nervous.

Of course, by "just read this", I meant that I just read this, not that I'm actually ORDERING anyone to read this. OK, no more coffee.....

I'm not sure if someone already posted this, but I found it interesting: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1648388 Doesn't sound good about Colon. I'm guessing plan B is Ponson or perhaps a trade of Ordonez for a top starter, although that's a bit far-fetched. What does everyone think? How about Ordonez for Kip Wells & Josh Fogg, LOL! ApplingsRevenge

In my opinion the White Sox should do what they can to deal Koch, but it's probably pretty close to impossible for anyone to take a guy that lost 6-7 miles off his fastball inexplicably (I believe he's injured). Konerko is a personal favorite, but has no value on the trade market (I don't believe they'll just dump him) so we're stuck with him. Unfortunately, the odd man out here is more than likely Ordonez, provided we get maximum in talent return on a trade. I would make the Ordonez for Soriano deal straight up if the Yankees would have it, it increases salary flexibility, is fiscally responsible and gives us the opportunity to possibly keep Everett & stay in the picture to re-sign Colon. Let's say we make the Ordonez/Soriano trade & sign Everett to a 2 year contract at 8 million a year (I realize I'm probably low on the offer #) & manage to land Colon at 13 million per year for X amt of years. We're now talking about 22.2 million for Colon, Soriano (isn't he projected at 1.2 million next year?) and Everett in 2004 rather than 14 million for Ordonez. It just makes more sense. Sorry about the long GM rant! ApplingsRevenge

Great post, I agree 100%. Colon SHOULD see how much he's offered by other teams from a union & personal standpoint. That said, NOT ONE PENNY MORE than the rumored offer should be tendered. I wouldn't be that disappointed if we ended up with Ponson (forget Millwood, if Colon is out of our price range, so is Millwood). At least it would be a sign that we were retooling instead of rebuilding. The thought of another youth movement really bothers me.

Good evening everyone. I hope Reinsdorf was paying attention tonight & through the playoffs. We need pitchers that can go 8-9 innings consistently, and Colon is one of the few in baseball that can do that almost every time he takes the ball. I'll go out on a limb and say this: If the highest paid player (14 million by Maggs contract in 2004) comes down to Maggs or Colon, we should make the offer to Colon & trade Maggs for other pieces. I love Maggs, but I love pitching more. Maggs could bring a LOT in a trade & we could keep the rotation intact & improve it. I'll take a lineup of 'grinders' (KW's words) as long as the rotation gives us a chance every day.

KW said the day he acquired Schoenweis that he was projected to be the 5th starter next year. Here's my guess for the rotation in 2004: MB Loaiza Garland Wright Schoenweis Here's a better one, if Colon takes our offer: Colon MB Loaiza Garland Schoenweis That's much better, would everyone agree? The wild card to our rotation will be acquisitions if/when we trade Ordonez, which I think is more than likely going to happen. ApplingsRevenge

I don't know if Everett is gone. I keep seeing Ordonez making 14 million next year, and I can't imagine Reinsdorf paying that unless a serious run is made salary-wise for a World Series next year. Everett is expensive, but he's less expensive than Ordonez, and it may dull the negative fan reaction to a trade of Ordonez (not to mention the windfall we would receive for Magglio in a winter meeting setting rather than a fire sale setting). Lee, Rowand, Everett in the outfield, we save approx. 5-7 million and we get either TONS of young talent for Ordonez or a few veterans. I don't think that's completely out of the realm of possibility.

I'll say this much. If the rumored deal for Colon (3 years, 40 million) is true and Colon doesn't like it, see ya later fat ass. That's the best he'll get on the South Side. The real question is, will Reinsdorf commit 13.333333333infinitum million per year for the next three years on other free agents while keeping some of the key pickups last year (Alomar, Everett, etc.)? If he would, that could end up being better for us. I love Colon, but not for ONE PENNY more than the rumored offer. ApplingsRevenge

Konan! What's the word? Of course I remember you! Good to hear from you again, I'll talk to you soon! ApplingsRevenge

To all my whitesox.com boys, Thanks for the welcome from the old neighborhood, I'll go back there when I get up enough energy to get another email address (very lazy right now & don't feel like taking the 2 minutes to get a b.s. email), but I'll be back to kick some crying loser Cub ass when I'm feeling more like scrapping. You see, right now I'm loving the Cub choke so much that I'm even leaving my Cub friends alone! Of course, the first time they open their mouths next season, they'll shut them again right away, lol! Ncorgbl, hold down the fort like you always do. I'll be there at some point to enjoy the rumbles! Your friend, ApplingsRevenge

Thank you everyone for your kind words. For Spiff's question, I was back & forth to Europe (specifically Great Britian and Ireland), but that's over & done with. I got home permanently just in time for the bad weather to begin. Anyhoo, thanks again for the kind words & I'll be stopping by from time to time. One more thing. My favorite post in looking through the archives when I got back was the guy (I forget the name & am too lazy to look it back up again) that posted "Show me f***ing scrubs crying" after the Meltdown of '03. I fell out of my chair laughing. ApplingsRevenge

Hello ladies & gents, I've been on a sabbatical and just returned to the States on October 1st, I was unable to post on whitesox.com (I was formerly some similar versions of my above name), I fear I've been banned forever from the MLB sites because of my hatred for all things troll and Cub & Twin related. I've never posted here before, I again say hello to all my fellow White Sox fans. How 'bout that Cubbie choke? Anyway, I'm looking forward to talking baseball from time to time with my fellow diehard South Siders. Some of you will know me from my whitesox.com days, I look forward to talking baseball with all of you. ApplingsRevenge