maggsmaggs

QUOTE (SexiAlexei @ Aug 20, 2008 -> 11:41 AM) Where would he play? Unless you cut/trade Konerko and move Swish to 1st, it looks like a pretty crowded outfield already. Well KG will be gone, Wise could be gone, Anderson could be gone. The latter the least likely. I am not 100% convinced that both Konerko and Swish are back next year. Realistically, our lineup cannot be the same next year because per usual we are too home run happy and on the road, we stink offensively a lot. You need to upgrade the defense in CF as good as Swisher has done considering his limited range and so-so arm. He also provides a top of the order presence with his speed and allows the Sox more room to manufacture runs versus good pitchers and on the road. I think Swisher has been solid lately, which is good, but you might look to trade him because you could potentially get some value for his, especially if he ends up at 25 HRs and 80 RBIs. Maybe you trade Swisher and a minor leaguer for a third baseman or another starting pitcher. Konerko is staying because you aren't moving him and his contract, but Baldelli would fit really well in CF with Dye's limited range. With Crede + Cabrera + Swisher (in my proposed world) that clears about $19 million dollars. With that money, you could add both Casey Blake and Orladno Hudson, then add Baldelli with extra money the Sox receive this year from the team's success. You then have a lineup of: CF-Baldelli 2b-Hudson LF-Quentin RF-Dye DH-Thome 1b-Konerko C-AJ SS-Ramirez (assuming the Sox think he could handle SS, which I am not so sure of and he has looked spendid at second, so why move him) 3b-Blake (2-year deal till Beckham is ready, I think he could move to third eventually like Longoria has) Very balanced lineup with speed on the top that rivals the Pods/Iguchi in 2005, but these guys are better hitters overall. then you got 4 power hitters in the middle. Then 3 contact guys who have pop. More realistically though, Uribe will be a one year stop gap at SS till Beckham is ready, we sign someone for 3rd and we have Swish in CF. But I think we improve offensively and defensively in this manner.

Apparently Rocco Baldelli is going to be a FA after this season because he had his options declined (this according to MLBtraderumors). He would be an interesting buy low candidate with his injury issues and health concerns. If healthy, he is the perfect player to balance our offense. He is a terrific defensive playe with great speed to be a solid leadoff hitter or an very good 7 or 8 hitter. At 26 years old, if you could sign him to an incentive-laden deal of maybe 2 years guarenteed for $12 million and with enough at-bats it could be a three or four year deal worth much more. If you had a healthy Baldelli with our core of Q, Alexei and then soon Beckham (hopefully) that is a pretty nice core for awhile. Just a thought with Baldelli as he could be a terrific asset. EDIT: I think 2-years, $12 million might be a little too much with his issues, but you get the idea.

We are getting back to good baseball as evident by the win streak and we are killing oponents and not winning close games. This is when you know the Sox are playing well when they don't just win, they crush. Just look at how the run differtial has gone up since the start of the KC series.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Aug 19, 2008 -> 11:27 PM) Coughlin is definitely attractive. Johnson has normal sized teeth in a smaller body, looks weird. I just saw the high bar performance from Horton. I hate to be wine about it, but I think he got robbed. The Chinese guy had a great performance, but Horton's blew me away. But he isn't as good as Sarah Shire on the bars Haha. Johnson is cute, IMO. Luikin is kinda hot at times. But Coughlin is pretty good. My favorite though was LoLo Jones who when not sprinting looked pretty damn good.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 19, 2008 -> 05:53 PM) I could see the Sox using Carrasco. I think the Sox will have CQ up in the bottom of the inning. Can the Sox use Carrasco? I am under the impression you are only allowed to use players that were on the 25-man roster at the time of the game.

Are those Seinfeld DVDs? haha. If they are, good choice!

Also Matt Ginter. Great story about him. When my family and I were in Anaheim for vacation when the Sox played there in '01, we stayed at the same hotel as the Sox. So I was trying to get all the autographs I could, as were others. I was about the only person there who knew who Ginter was (at this time he had a bright red beard) and so I asked him. Then people came behind me after they saw me getting his autograph and tried to get his. But they didn't know who he was. So they just asked if they could have his autograph and he responded, "what's my name?" and they didn't know. So he started ramlbing about how you going to ask for my autograph and not even know me, but in a joking manner. He eventually gave them his autograph and in general was a really nice guy. Also, I met Bobby Howry who was there with his parents and as much as people hate the guy, he could be the nicest ball player ever. He was real nice to us and talked to us for about five minutes, as well his parents were real nice. But yeah, I love me some Matt Ginter.

Maybe Beckham got promoted to Chicago and he will start tomorrow instead of Poreda or Richard?

Antonio Osuna

CQ 4 MVP and really it shouldn't be close.

QUOTE (tommy @ Aug 17, 2008 -> 03:20 PM) BACK TO BACK JD! It is only fitting that Thome and Konerko will go deep now.

Uribe!! please start hitting, he makes the lineup so much more dangerous.

Uribe keeps trying to pull outside pitches.

Jeez. A's flashing leather.

Alexei sick with runners in scoring position. Wow, a .450 average.

Big break. Feel bad cause I really like Gio, but he can suck today and then pitch well the rest of the year.

Damn. I thought he had that one. We really need Alexei to pick him up here.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 17, 2008 -> 03:02 PM) Conlicted because he can't have Griffey bunt here? It was during Paulie's at-bat...but KG should take another strike.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Aug 17, 2008 -> 03:01 PM) i believe anderson gomes was a dave wilder creation...along with paulo orlando gio cant locate.....hasnt thrown anything for a fastball for a strike....and even thats been all over...sit on one in your zone and just rip him Orlando can fly and so can Gomes, both were Olympic caliber sprinters, I believe and in ST you could see Orlando go. There other talenst were clearly fabrications though.

What is Ozzie so upset about?

Great start for Javy. Let's hope we get this Javy the rest of the game.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 17, 2008 -> 02:54 PM) Arnie Munoz also was "famous" in the Sox organization for having the "wipeout" curve. Sometimes I laugh, or Dewon Day's amazing slider...or Willie Harris is a miniature Ray Durham. In this case, Gio is Barry Zito with a better fastball. Well, we shall see. He pitched very well his last time out. Also, there's a big difference pitching for the White Sox in the second half of 2007 versus 2008. I guess we will never know how Gio would have done in the heat of a pennant race, because it seems Oakland will be forever rebuilding and deconstructing. I remember how excited I was for Munoz, especially after his AA season where he had like 15Ks/9 inn. He blew and that Montreal game was epic for how bad he was and how we almost came back.

Nice to see Javy put away a hitter right away, not messing around with them.

QUOTE (Jake @ Aug 17, 2008 -> 02:50 PM) I'm not on the Gio bandwagon like so many Soxtalkers were/are. I think he may do well, but there is no reason to think he is going to be an ace. His stuff isn't unbelievable, his control isn't impeccable. What is it that seems to project so well? Well he is young and you really didn't get to see his curve and changeup which is plus-plus pitch and a plus-pitch, respectively. If he gets ahead in the count, he can be dominant. But his control will always keep him from being an ACE. But I don't think people on here thought he was an ACE, just a very good top of the rotation guy (a John Danks type, not Halliday). I was always high on him, but now I think he is a middle of the rotation guy.

Am I the only in the gamethread? lol.