KevHead0881

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Jul 31, 2005 -> 08:50 PM) Offense still inconsistent? Last I checked, yes. Bullpen still void one more quality arm? Yes. He did his job last offseason season and for that I applaud his work. But Williams failed. We need to stop treating him like a five year old child by complimenting him for simply trying. My reason for criticizing Williams is simple: our team, as assembled, may be one of the best in franchise history. Our record would certaintly suggest that. However, it's obvious we're void one quality bat and one contributing arm in the bullpen. Neither move would guarantee us a World Series championship--nothing does. But no one can suggest to me this team, as currently standing, was not in need of improvement. If KW felt it necessary to give up more than necessary in the past, why is it any different the one year a postseason birth is almost guaranteed? It's obvious the market is weak, general managers are attempting their Jim Hendry rape proposals. But it's also obvious more than previous years this current club is expected to advance far into the playoffs. I doubt an abundance of talent would have been needed to pry Guardado from Seattle. Huff, while possible to acquire, may have been more difficult. Trade Andersen. Trade McCarthy. It doesn't, and shouldn't have, mattered at this juncture. I'm disappointed in Williams. You all can continue to pad his ass, but as I've said before, this team collapses or finds itself one-and-done in the playoffs it's all coming back to this point in the trading deadline where KW sat on his hands. And don't think otherwise, because it will. Good grief. Sure there was obvious room for improvement. Same for 29 other teams. The deal simply wasn't there. Kenny is an aggressive GM and has been known to even overpay if need be. His inability to pull off a big move only confirms to me that the asking prices for guys like Huff, Burnett, etc. were totally rediculous. I know its easy being an arm-chair GM, but in the real world, trades don't happen as easy as you'd like.

Can't blame Kenny here. I would have liked to see a big name added, but the big name simply wasn't worth the price. IMHO, the fact that the Yankees, Red Sox, Twins, Angels and Athletics all failed to improve their teams makes this a good day for us. I guess I'd feel differently if we weren't up by 13.5 games.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 31, 2005 -> 08:39 PM) Hairston doesn't play LF! He's their CF. Lawton will be taking over for Hollandsworth, Murton, and Gerut in the outfield. I say that's a major upgrade over those guys (yes, I know Murton's average is high, but it's been all broken bats and infield hits so far). Well, I was wrong, but I think Lawton is even less of an upgrade over Murton. If you've watched him, he does a lot of the same things that Lawton does. Either way, I'm not saying that Lawton isn't a decent player. Just saying that he's not a difference maker.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 31, 2005 -> 08:30 PM) Compared to what the Cubs had in LF, he's a major upgrade. I wouldn't even say that. None of his stats are overwhelmingly better than Hairston's. And Hairston is probably better in the field. I think Lawton is an upgrade, but not a "major" upgrade.

Actually, I think today was a pretty good day for the Sox. The Red Sox, Yankees, Angels, Athletics and Twins did almost nothing to improve themselves. I would have liked a move if it was out there, but since it wasn't, its nice that the other World Series contenders didn't make major improvements either.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 31, 2005 -> 08:18 PM) I heard it's for Jody Gerut. You gotta love the Cubs minor league team coming back to help out their team again. I do hate Matt Lawton though....always seemed like an asshole. As somebody said earlier, Matt Lawton isn't a move that'll put you over the top. He's decent, but not a difference maker.

QUOTE(robinventura23 @ Jul 31, 2005 -> 08:13 PM) Hendry rips off the Pirates yet again. Ripping off the Pirates for Matt Lawton? I'd be surprised if they got much of anything for him. He's nothing to get excited about.

Yawn. Ron Villone to the Marlins for 2 minor leaguers.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jul 31, 2005 -> 07:46 PM) How can we be tied to every single major trade rumor and come away with nothing but Geoff Blum. I'm not pissed at KW, but God damn it I am sorely disappointed. The reason? Nobody that is available is worth the asking price. I'd be upset, but right now, there are 29 other teams that aren't doing a lot of improving either.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 31, 2005 -> 07:33 PM) That's interesting. I have a feeling Vizcaino would be sent down or even traded then. Vizcaino has been pitching pretty good lately. I doubt they'd send him down right when he appears to be getting his s*** together.

Karl Ravich wearin a pimpin suit.

QUOTE(White Sox Josh @ Jul 31, 2005 -> 06:43 PM) My Ultimate Respect! Well, my life is now complete.

QUOTE(White Sox Josh @ Jul 31, 2005 -> 06:41 PM) Speaking of the Devil Rays does anyone know who the Rays traded Bobby Abreu for? Hint: He ain't in the majors. Kevin Stocker. What do I win?

QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Jul 31, 2005 -> 05:26 PM) I wouldn't be so quick to punch Willie's ticket... It's common knowledge that Ozzie dislikes Gload... If he can play 1B then Gload needs to watch his back... Do you know that Ozzie doesn't like Gload?

Nice move. I know we're all looking for a blockbuster, but its pretty important that we solidify our bench. Especially when you consider the games that Ozzie likes to use his B-lineup. He's a switch hitter that can play a bunch of positions. This kind of reminds me of when we acquired Tony Graffanino in 2000. Not saying he's as good as Tony G., but he can definitely fill that role.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jul 31, 2005 -> 03:46 PM) Is Huff the player who's hit 8 home runs this month, or the one who's hit 5 in the 1st 3 though? Something to consider. Looking at his career numbers, I'd say that the 8 home runs this month are more the norm than his performance in the previous 3 months.

Magic Number is 49. Am I correct?

Cheers to El Duque! Way to bounce back, boys!

It appears that Manny pulled his "hiding in the Green Monster" bit again:

By the way...watching the game right now and I sure hope Steve Kline isn't on our wishlist. He just doesn't look very impressive. I also didn't realize how large he is. Not that it matters, I'm just sayin'.

QUOTE(knightni @ Jul 30, 2005 -> 02:25 AM) This guy is Albert Belle times 2. I wouldn't go that far. Most of the things I heard about him (as a person) have been positive. I don't think he's the complete asshole that Belle was. The phrase used most often to describe Manny is "he marches to the beat of a different drummer." He's just a strange dude. Another thing thats been said of him is that he doesn't like the pressures of being in the spotlight in Boston. Supposedly, he was much more comfortable in Cleveland.

It's hard to ignore his bat, and I think I'd give up a lot to see his bat in the middle of our line-up. But man, the guy sure is a flake.

Never thought the BoSox/Mets/DRays mega-deal would ever happen, and its looking like it won't. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2119978

I really wouldn't say that Frank was the most important hitter in our lineup. Without Pods or Gooch this year, I think we'd be f***ed. But that's besides the point. As I said earlier, there was serious doubts on whether we'd see Frank again this year before we heard the news today. I don't think our urgency has increased at all. Our hitting needs were already pretty urgent. If there is anything good about Frank being done, its that it resolves the uncertainty that we'd have on his health the rest of the year. Now we can move on and assess our needs knowing that Frank is out of the equation.

QUOTE(DABearSoX @ Jul 29, 2005 -> 07:24 PM) aight I dont know if I am going to be able to hear any of the show after I get off at 5:00 cause I am driving up to Michigan but if anyone hears this read let me know. Email to MJH I really don't think Bruce leaking it will have any effect on the market. It's not like this is really surprising. At the very least, we knew that Frank would be out a while. I think our need for a hitter is just as apparent today as it was yesterday.