Chisoxfn

The Royals....they may just beat out the Sox in the cellar battle

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 02:28 PM) No idea, but I'm sure they'd be interested in Danks or Gio. Would one of those guys alone get a deal done for Hamilton or are we talking about a ridiculous package. I'd consider dealing Hamilton for one very good prospect but I don't know if I'd start going crazy packaging people. I'd prefer to put up an offer of one of the starting pitching prospects (preferably one not name Gio/Danks but I'd probably give up Gio before Danks) as well as Sweeney or Anderson. I know talent for talent wise it isn't a great deal from the Reds side of things but I just can't see giving up a ton of talent for a guy with that type of checkered past. However, I would be incredibly excited if the club picked Hamilton up since he is a super talented player.

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 02:22 PM) Wasn't he hurt or pulled himself out of that due to getting situated with his family? I can't remember everything involved, but there was somethign going on. Like I told Fathom - please show me something different. I can't find anything else on the guy but positive. I would love to see more. If you have other information then please show it to me. Thank you. I've seen quotes from various people in baseball (I believe the one I recall the most was from someone in the Indians organization) who said he had a nice skillset and some promising upside. By no means am I saying that makes him a sure fire bet to succeed this year but it would give the Sox more talent and I'm all for that. I also assume the price is going to be relatively low so you have the whole risk/reward thing going for you potentially.

Ramirez would be an awesome signing, especially if you made it around the same time you dealt Konerko for a few prospects. Than you wait and try and move Jermaine/Thome during the season and just get as much talent as you can (hold onto Javy and Mark since pitching is harder to find and tell them you plan on going all out in 09 when the team should have more than a few promising young players that are playing at a high level and tons of talent to go out and acquire some of the missing pieces).

I'm really feeling happy about the fact that I will at least get to see Garland kick some butt for the Angels

QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 01:28 PM) Jason where did you see those figures? I haven't seen any, but I'm guessing he will sign for somewhere between 2.5-3M a year to coach Arkansas, and will get some of the 20+M the Falcons were to give him. I heard Stephen A Smith say that on his radio show when I was driving to lunch. I think he resigned and is pretty much SOL when it comes to getting anything else with the Falcons (aside from that whopping bonus).

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 01:34 PM) So let me get this straight. You people who are b****ing thought that we were going to sign rowand, and he was going to be the difference between 4th place and a contending team? When did the intelligence level of this board drop off so suddenly? I have been waiting patiently to see how the Sox planned on contending. I can't figure out how they do so without having a great lineup and to do that they need a Cfer and a leadoff hitter. They still can find that but the options are getting much thinner and they will probably cost the Sox one of the few quality prospects they have (if not multiple ones). Kenny is going to have to get real creative if he plans on contending. I was always for more of a rebuilding mode but I have always said it was unrealistic since the Sox are still banking on the World Series revenue and whether we like it or not are going to be going balls out for at least one more season (the problem is based on the last couple days it looks more and more likely that the team is going to end up stuck being content with a .500 type of ball club and it isn't a .500 ball club that is on the up-swing, rather a .500 club on the downswing).

Happy Birthday Mike!!!! Hope its an awesome one!!!

I should state, I wouldn't have as much of a problem with missing out on these CFers if the team opted to go into a rebuilding mode (which I would have been fine with). Maybe not a full blown rebuilding mode, but one that would have consisted with clearing out many of the veterans for younger players who would have their best years ahead of them (ie packaging veterans up for not only prospects, but also considering dealing some prospects for younger every day players that are proven so you are still in a decent position). Instead the Sox are stuck in no-man's land (at least for the time being) and it has me concerned. They decided to go for it (Cabrera and Linebrink moves were signs of that, but without a CF and a leadoff hitter you really have little shot at going for it, imo). Heck even if they landed Rowand/Roberts there is no guarantee (as the rotation is still shoddy) but it at least gives you a solid lineup, what looks to be an improved pen and a rotation with two proven starters and 3 question-marks.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 01:20 PM) Can you name a team that has won the World Series recently based mostly on guys it picked up in FA at nearly full price? The White Sox won the world series in part because of FA acquisitions Tadahito Iguchi & AJ Pyrzinski (though not quite the magnitude of the money you are talking about) Red Sox won the world series because they made major splashses (both in FA and the Trade Market). You can say JD Drew/Lugo were busts, but they also gave Daiske tons of money as well and I don't think they win without those guys (maybe without Lugo but Drew ended up helping them in the playoffs and Daiske was quite solid in the regular season helping them get home field advantage throughout). The Red Sox also got Lowell because they were willing to take on his contract (in order to get Beckett of course). The White Sox probably couldn't have made that move. St. Louis is a bad example because they really haven't been too big on the FA market the past couple years, primarily because they've resigned most of their guys. However, they haven't exactly developed most of their starters (and the Eckstein signing helped them win the World Series). Bottom line I think every good team has at least a few key pieces that were picked up in FA. I'm not saying you bring you hole club from FA, but you probably need to use it to fill some holes.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 01:11 PM) 5 year, $60 million deal. I never thought I'd see the day Rowand signed for $60 million. But if any team is that foolish, it's the Giants. Enjoy the .270, 15 homers, 60 rbi for that SF. Given today's market that is a cheap contract, imo.

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:29 PM) Petrino to Arkansas. A roundabout way to change college programs, but a good decision nonetheless. He really left all that money on the table to take a 5yr 2.6 or so M offer. 500K a year from over 5M per year. Good grief.

Oh god....Coco Crisp....WEEEEEEEE. Not that I don't have a problem with Coco, its just I had higher expectations. I can't imagine what Dye is going to call KW and say now.

QUOTE(jasonxctf @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 10:13 AM) i go to vegas 1-2 times per year. Stayed at a lot of places, including the Westin. It's weird because they allow Dogs in the hotel. Small casino so you'll probably want to play elsewhere. Westin table games don't open until nightime. Go play at Ballys/Paris instead. Watch out for the "ladies of the night" at the bar. Some are tranies too. If you do play at the Westin, sign up for the players card. They do good with comps. downtown is overrated. It takes forever to get there (Especially at nighttime), and isn't that cool. Kind of slummy down there too. Watch your wallet. On the strip, I really enjoy playing at Paris, Ballys and Mirage. Caesars is pretty cool too. Fun non-gambling things to do... * Check out the Caesars Mall, including the new portion with the winding escalator. * Check out Caesars pool, its pretty neat. * See if Pete Rose is signing autographs. He's been there the last 3 times I was in Vegas. (My buddies and I wanted to get him to sign a MLB line sheet but thought that was in poor taste) * If you're there on a Sunday or Saturday, hang out in a Sportsbook and take in a day's worth of Football/Basketball. * Aladdin/Planet Hollywood is pretty cool at night. Quite the party. * If you're into Casino hopping, the Wynn and the Mandalay Bay are worth checking out. * Ride the trams... your feet with thank you later * Buffets are pretty expensive now. The days of the $5 all you can eat are long gone. (And probably the places that offer this, you don't want to eat at anyway) * Bellagio fountain is cool. * Check out the free coupon books on-line or at the casinos. Lots of Free Food deals. (Hot Dogs, Ice Cream, etc) * Hooters Casino can be fun to hang out at. * Palms casino is overrated. They have the Playboy tower/club but I think its $40 just to get in. HAVE A GREAT TIME. I LOVE LAS VEGAS. Everytime I've been to Vegas since turning 21 (4 times now, 3 in the past year) I've seen Pete at the Field of Dreams at Caesars and every time I continue to talk way too loud saying smart ass comments about Pete (from the words of what a loser to, couple sentence rants on why the prick should never belong in the hall). And yes since it is Vegas I'm typically drunk at the time. Oh and Caesars is awesome...awesome. I love the Casino, mall is nice if you are into that thing, and ya Caesars is my place (Wynn is pretty cool too, but I still prefer the Venetian in terms of a cool looking hotel).

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 10:28 AM) On the bright side, there's no way anyone can now argue that the Sox have the WORST farm system in baseball... At this point it's no question. Also, Jason, the Dodgers didn't sign Andruw Jones to play a corner OF spot -- CF is his. My bad, I forgot about that (I think I'm trying to erase the bad taste of the Sox still not having a Cfer). Either way the Dodgers still have Kemp, Ethier, Pierre plus Jones and Kent at 2nd so I have no clue where Roberts would play.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 10:07 AM) Sure. Just have to beat the Cubs or Dodgers offer. Are you sure the Dodgers offered on Roberts? Kent just exercised his option and is slated to play 2nd and they have Pierre in CF. I know the Cubs will be after Roberts but besides that the Sox would be the only other team. If they could get Roberts with Richar and a prospect or two (not named Gio) than I think thats a move you make (ink Rowand and you really do have a pretty damn nice looking lineup). The rotation would be shaky, no doubt, but it has two good front of the rotation guys, a major questionmark in Jose, and a couple young pitchers with some upside (maybe not Andrew Miller upside ,but both have major league stuff).

I'd have to think Bedard and Roberts will be on the way out in the next week as well.

Tejada has to be on the Mitchell report otherwise the Orioles are just getting a bulk of mediocre players (one pitcher is an above average prospect, everything else is at least a bit meh). They have repeatedly turned down better offers from squads like the Angels (I have no idea what the Angels offered this year, but the O's turned down deals that had 3 young players going (all 3 of which were better than any one player that the Astros are giving up). I don't think this move makes the Astros a contender though and I'm guessing in the O's case they are hoping all of these guys contribute and develop at the major league level (and its probably relatively safe to say that all 5 will play with the Astros at some point in the next year, most of which will play for them this year).

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:52 PM) Not that I'd expect the players to say as much, but is there anybody in this organization who can just be honest and acknowledge how completely devoid of talent -- not grind, work-ethic or 'edge' -- this franchise is? No one would ever say that. The Pittsburgh Pirates every year start the season with a glimmer of hope. No one is going to go out there and say we suck. These are all talented individuals (ever single person that plays in the majors is) and at some point they can only go out and worry about how they play (and of course play as a team) and hope that it will be enough to get your team to the playoffs and beyond. The reality is the Sox are still a club with a couple good starting pitchers, a few good big bats, and well a lot of question-marks in between. I remember a lot of people questioning the 05 rotation and look what happened there (entering that season Garland was still hated by many, Contreras hadn't proved crap (heck he wasn't that good for the first couple months of the season, El Duque was old and injury prone (albeit he was a reliable 5th) and you had Mark/Freddy who were legit). Their weren't many people going out on a limb predicting the Sox to win the series. You also had question-marks at 3rd (Crede could field, that was it), 2nd (Iguchi got very little love when he left and no one knew if he'd turn into a solid player), SS (Juan Uribe had shown some flashes of talent, but no one knew what they'd get, except good defense), Pods (had up/down years in Mil but had the potential to be a good leadoff hitter), Frank/Everett (come on, these guys were question-marks for the most part). Maybe they should have came out and quit too? Jesus, I swear some of you don't get one thing...these guys have pride and they believe that if they play at there best they can win (and that very well may be the case). The club still has holes to fill, no doubt, but it isn't April 1st now is it?

I'd like to point out that there is some awesome discussion going on over in the Bears site. We've just added a ton of new members and the site is going to be changing names in the coming week to Bearstalk.com. I hate to advertise in here, but hell, I don't think I'll get banned for it www.talkbears.com

Goldy, hope your having a good Bday. And don't be a stranger!!!!

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 08:45 PM) You really do need to learn the Aussie Lingo Ian, although I thought sunnies was a commonly used term around the world, instead of just glasses. Nah, Sunnies are a common used term for a religious group in the middle east Shades, Sunglasses, Glasses are what people in this hemisphere call em

I've seen a couple minutes of that movie on one of the movie channels on a super late night and it is completely f'd up. I don't think I could put myself to watching the whole thing. Someone had to be real jacked up to come up with that movie.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 01:29 PM) I'm not that high on Gio or anything but for me, if we're going to give him up in a deal, we need to be getting pitching back as well. That's the reason I wouldn't do that deal. I'd prefer to give up others, plus I don't see a big bat in the middle of the lineup as a significant need. I'm much more concerned with finding a leadoff hitter. I absolutely do not want to see Orlando Cabrera leading off. A lot of the good things that he does are not really ideal aspects for a leadoff hitter (but they are for a #2 hitter). Giving up ab's and moving runners is something he's as good as anyone at baseball at and when you are leading off that strength isn't valuable. Stat people will tell me I'm full of s***, but I know damn well that Orlando Cabrera's true value is as a #2 hitter (in fact in the right lineup I even see him as a solid #3 hitter). I can however, live with Rowand in the leadoff spot (not that I really want it) and wouldn't be opposed (as much as I like Richar) to the Sox signing Rowand for a lower in the lineup threat and than bundling Richar and prospects for a leadoff hitter who can play 2nd base (a leadoff hitter is by far what I consider the Sox #1 need). After that happens I can't say whether the rotation will be good enough, but the lineup should be very solid and complete with the hope that Jose/Javy/Buehrle pitch good (big if when it comes to Jose) and Gavin/Gio/Danks can keep the club in games (with a strong pen) that the Sox can stay in the thick of things (and than if needed eventually buy another pitcher at the trade deadline or if they aren't in it, spin off some of there vets).

A healthy right knee.