Chisoxfn

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 10:36 PM) The rest of this season should be nothing more than open tryouts. I want to see all of the kids playing, and get them experience. That is the silver lining for me. The last time we had this type of pick, we picked up a few impact type players that meant a lot for this organization. I am jacked to think that we can get an impact type guy that can help us out for a long time. If we get it fine, but the organization has missed out on numerous high impact guys that they could have grabbed in the early rounds. Now I'm not saying other teams didn't miss on those guys either, but bottom line they haven't had much success and good teams will find good talent even without those high picks. Why is it that the Royals/Rangers/Marlins (although they have had semi-decent records)/Nationals/Orioles all have pretty mediocre to poor farm systems (and yes, I'm calling out the Marlins whose system really has declined) despite being bad (or in the Royals case horrid) the past couple years. The Reds have a pretty poor system (although they have a few high upside guys that end up making the system more respectable). Hell, right now the Angels/Dodgers/Yankees/Braves all have some of the 10 best farm systems in baseball and none has been bad over the past 4-5 years (so what does that say about the true need for the #1 pick). Bottom line if you have good baseball people and a lot of experts you'll get winners without the top pick (now I'm not denying if you have the #1 pick you at least have your choice of the entire draft board, but I'm also stating that if we win more games because our youngsters are playing well than I see that as far more of a positive than the difference between the #1 pick and the #4 or #5 pick).

QUOTE(Soxfest @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 07:25 PM) Floyd's last few starts have really been encouraging to me for 2008. I think he could duplicate Contreras production on the season and who knows, maybe he does better (he has the stuff...if he gets some confidence he could turn into a #3 guy). Plus it allows the Sox to be better suited at moving both Garland/Contreras (which hopefully clears payroll and gets you a couple prospects) and also allows the club to add payroll with other guys (hopefully guys that the Sox can pencil into the lineup not just next year but for a couple more years into the future).

QUOTE(ottawa_sox @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 06:53 PM) Who knows what to think of these guns. Gameday has him topping out at 94. Comcasts guns suck...so I'd tend to think its closer to Gamedays. One thing I notice is that Floyd's velcoity really tends to fluctuate between the 94-95 MPH range and the 88 MPH range so who knows.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 05:55 PM) Depends on which direction they go this off-season. If they add a competent SS and CF, then you can get away with having Richar at 2b, batting 9th. If Uribe is still in the lineup in 2008, with Owens some where in the lineup, Utley better be batting 2nd or 3rd. Or the Sox just have a lot of good prospects everywhere else as they opted to go into a full blown rebuilding mode (and no I don't think it will happen...but I would be acceptable of that).

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 05:54 PM) His defense has been average. He seems to be streaky in the field, which is something we read about in the scouting report. Average...I'd disagree. He's got a great arm on DP's, good range, and seems to actually be pretty heady out there. Offensively the hits haven't came, but he's shown he has some pop in his bat and he can run (although that doesn't mean it translates on the basepaths). As long as the Sox are patient, they will be rewarded (i've said this baout a few other guys and on the vast majority of those instances I was correct). Those guys would be Garland (never doubted him), Crede (got frustrated I'd admit, but felt he was always making strides plus his D was amazing), & Willie Harris. I must also admit I was dead wrong about Brian Anderson (even though I always said he was over-rated as a prospect, I felt with proper playing time he could potentially succeed...that said he had a horrid swing). And I was horrifcly wrong about Mike Caruso.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 05:19 PM) You know, the more I read stuff like this, the more I am starting to understand the posters that are frustrated with the whole "get the number one pick" thing. Not that I care too much one way or the other about games now, or that I don't want a high pick. But for crying out loud, why is it so hard for people to have the patience to see what this guy can do? He's had 3 of his last 4 starts go very well, and even with the bad one he is sporting a 4.50 ERA. I think some of you are way more interested in being right about your hunches than you are about the team or its future being good. I want to point out that I'm in the minority but I still say f*** the pick. I'm happy with any top 10 pick and I always feel its more important to win (that even sticks in the NFL when your playing for the #1 overall draft pick). I believe winning always makes things better (even when you flat out suck) and you notice that those teams that perennially get the top pick still find ways to suck year in year out (and it isn't because of a lack of talent...yes its cause of horrid decisions but bottom line the #1 picks are typically no brainers anyway). Yes I"d love Pedro Alvarez but I also see a lot of value in the taem winning games (even if meaningless). If it means we are winning because Floyd has a great start or PK has a 3 HR game than so be it. I don't ever want players not playing 100% and playing to win because as soon as you start to lose that winning attitude than your organization will be mired in losing for a long long time (and no I don't claim that teams playing to lose...I think 99% of all players always want to win...but there is always the Boston Celtics phenomena). Now if the club just sucks and we get the #1 pick, than fine...hopefully the club takes advantage of it. I'll always look at that as a blessing in disguise, but winning should still be the #1 priority (albeit you should be getting those wins by developing your players...and right now the Sox HAVE been doing that...ie Logan, Fields, Owens, Richar, Floyd, Danks).

QUOTE(3E8 @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 09:22 PM) Shouldn't there be something said for having to pitch in the rain? Getting rotation on wet leather is difficult. After the rain picked up, Floyd and Carmona starting throwing two-seamers almost exclusively. Anyway, I don't think anyone here would count on Floyd to be more than a fifth starter. But if he could give us more quality starts than not at league minimum from that spot, it would be nice. I think people would be surprised if they looked at the quality start percentage of both our staff and other pitchers around the AL. Sans a few hiccups (ie when s*** hit the fan and you can't blame them...at one point or another the starters had to say f*** this and lose focus or just have all the pressure hit them as they were doing everything and than some and still getting f***ed thanks to piss poor defense, no offense, and the worse bullpen I"ve ever seen for a couple month span) this is still one fo the better rotations in the AL and baseball.

I don't get it...Floyd has had two quality starts agains the Detroit Tigers (one of the best teams in baseball) and a quality start agains the Cleveland Indians (one of the best teams in baseball). Last I looked those teams are also in the thick of a race and contending like hell. ITs not like Floyd is beating up on the Royals or Drays who truly have nothing to play. The Indians/Tigers are busting there balls and they aren't about to play soft just cause they are playing the Sox...no way no hell, they know that bottom line the Sox still have talent (the team just has lost its urgency after it completely collapsed during interleague play). This team is much better than the team thats played this year. Unfortunately I still don't know when better if it will be able to put it all together (and yes I am on the record right now as saying this same team back next year wins at least 10 more games, probably 15) but I also don't say that is good enough to make the playoffs either. We won't see the same team back either (and I'm happy about that) but I also want this squad to move some vets for young talent to try and put themselves in a better position to succeed in the next couple years as well as to prevent a massive collapse that makes seasons like this year more of the same on the Southside.

DROP IT. I don't want to see any posts about whose right and whose wrong. All of us hope Everett is able to recover and regain movement and the ability to walk. And some of us Bears fans also (in addition to hoping the best for Everett) hope that Brown is able to play the game again (even if its in another jersey).

QUOTE(BearSox @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 09:04 PM) last time I checked teams were willing to pay way above market value in free agency and that for a pitcher of Garland's status, 12 million is a worthy price. Basically, they can get Garland for 12 million or sign someone not as good to a ridiculous 3 year 29 million dollar deal or something. Not to mention surrender your draft picks. Hmm....Jon Garland for a year with the chance of resigning him (or getting comp for him when he walks) or you sign a guy like Marquis for the same money Garland would make this year (if not more) plus lose draft pick compensation. Cripes...I know If I were going after a pitcher this off-season, I'd much rather trade for a guy like Garland and take my chances that I could sign him than go after some of these other losers that will get similar money. And last I looked, teams always want pitching and Garland is a proven pitcher who throws innings and pitches pretty well in a serious hitters park. Oh and he's had success in the playoffs (albeit 2005 was just one year and IIRC he only made 2 starts). Give me a freaking break. I may over-rate Garland, but some of you guys are saying he's a league average pitcher and thats flat bulls***. Than again a lot of you continue to spew that trash about Javy Vazquez and Mark Buehrle. But all three of those guys are amongst the best in baseball the past few years at throwing 200 plus innings and giving quality starts (and in Javy's case he's about the best in strikeouts over the past 5 years as well).

QUOTE(BearSox @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 08:56 PM) Jennings was coming off of a better season, but Garland has a much better track record and is widely considered throughout baseball as the better pitcher. If both are FA's, there is no doubt Garland gets the bigger deal.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 11:16 AM) Dave Roberts got no where near $10M a year. He got nearly half that. I want David DeJesus. He's going to be dealt this offseason and his value is way down after his slugging% took a huge hit this season. I want him. Plus IIRC he was signed to a relatively affordable extension about a season ago. I'd be all about this as I think Dejesus is a pretty solid all around ball player.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 10:07 AM) Oh come on now. I know people here aren't big Owens fans for the most part, but jeez, the guy has done pretty well since his recent call-up, continues to improve his hitting and has been a pleasant surprise on defense. It amazes me that people wanted BA to keep playing all year while never reaching .200, and some of those same people wrote off Owens before he even got here (despite that he has been far more productive than Anderson was his first year). Believe me, I'd rather have Rowand or Hunter or someone else high caliber out there in CF in 2008, and have Owens as the 4th OF, if that situation can work. But if we can't get that done, I think Owens will probably do OK in a full season out there. He would probably be better than we got out of the CF position offensively in 2005, 2006 or 2007. 2006 & 2007...no way will he do better than Rowand's 05 (even if Rowand wasn't that great during 2005, he was still solid especially when you factor in his defense). I agree though, a lot of people have written Owens off. He has made some strides, but the thing I don't like his he's mediocre defensively in Cf (with a bad arm) and I'm not sure he has the ability to hit for a good enough average. He has actually impressed me with his base stealing (he still needs to work on getting better jums, but overall he's made a lot of strides in this department over the course of the season) and he does a nice job looking at pitches (and I can definitely see him being a guy who can draw a lot of walks). I even like how he's willing to go opposite field, however, he goes there so often that I think for him to be succesful he will have to learn to turn on the inside pitch (which will hopefully give him a few extra base hits as well). Mix that in with higher walk totals (and lower k's, which could happen as he learns to lay off a few more of those breaking balls) and you have a pretty darn good top of the order hitter. The only thing is, I hate pencilling him in out there when the club has so many other weaknesses.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Sep 9, 2007 -> 07:21 PM) We're not going to add Heath Phillips to any offer so that another team will give us a top prospect. Heath's contract situation and mediocrity say, No. I assume you are referring to Heath being out of options rather than him being anywhere close to arbitration. And I completely agree with you. I also buy on whomever mentioned the Sox potentially packaging Sweeney in a deal. Its too bad, a lot of us are looking to be wrong on that guy (Dan is not one of those guys as he was always far more careful about Sweeney than a lot of people). He just can't stay healthy and despite being a good athlete with an all around swing he's yet to put anything together where he had just a flat out all around good season in the minors. I keep holding my breath that it will happen because if he made a few minor adjustments he'd be a .300/15-20 HR/good D type of guy (that would be cheap on the Sox books for a few years).

QUOTE(southsida86 @ Sep 9, 2007 -> 05:07 PM) Sorry Jason, but Garland has worse trade value right now and going into this offseason than Freddy Garcia did last offseason, and probably identical to Buehrle's before this season. with him making $12M on a 1 year deal, I'd be surprised if we could get more than a reliever coming off a down year, or a couple of prospects like we got in the Iguchi/Mackowiak trades. I think it is best to hang on to him and hope he has a first half like he did this season so we may be able to get something of value for him at the deadline next season. I have no clue what Kenny is doing for this team because in all honesty this is a 5 year rebuilding project. The only guys on our team who have trade value are Buehrle and Konerko. Everyone else is worth a bag of balls to other GMs. I call BS. Garland is younger than Freddy and is coming off a far better season. Look at his overall season, its pretty average, but you throw out a 5 week stretch and he's one of the better starters in the AL this year. And despite him talking about a tired arm, he's on pace to again go over 200 innings. Move him to the NL and you are talking about a guy who will perenially give 200 innings with an ERA in the 3's and on a good team compete for the cy young year in year out (note I don't say win it, but I definitely think he could be in the top 10 cy young candidates for a few year span if he's pitching in the NL).

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 07:08 AM) They aren't his players. Maybe McCarney was a lot better than everyone thought. He had ISU playing pretty well considering the history of the program before he got there. Still, ISU is going to be desperate when they play Iowa so anything can happen. I hope Iowa will be able to improve to 3-0. I'm really excited based on Christensen's improvement, a very strong defense, and what I think is a good rushing tandum (Simms/Young).

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Sep 9, 2007 -> 08:38 PM) I think college football may turn out like this, in no particular order: USC LSU Okla l l l l l l l l Everyone else..... Notre Dame (LOL) Updated it with ND in the equation (although I'm excited to watch Claussen develop...I think this year will be much like Quinn's freshman year).

That stinks for Brown and Dusty. The Bears obviously can't replace Brown's leadership but he they signed Archeletta and can now use Adam and Manning. I'm also sure the Bears will look long and hard at a potential FA or trade pickup as well to bolster the safety position (or Kevin Payne will get activated depending on how much they like him). Dusty really had looked tremendous this preseason and again this week when in the game. I think he'll be really missed as now the Bears depth at the dline is a little less (luckily they had Walker and we still have Adams and Garay).

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Sep 9, 2007 -> 04:52 AM) Hmmm; Now I wonder, if the Rockies offered say Fuentes, Chris Iannetta and another reliever for Garland, would that get you interested? Are you kidding me....relievers for Jon Garland. If Kenny does that he should be absolutely f***ing fired. RELIEVERS....your talking about RELIEVERS...NO NO NO. If you bring up some of there stud prospects..yes yes yes...but relievers...NO.

s***...that just sucks. I wish Mike the best of luck, but I think if thats the case his career as a coach should begin now.

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Sep 8, 2007 -> 07:14 PM) No, not really. VaTech being taken to the wood shed, yikes. Goes along with my OU LSU National Championship game. Those two teams are ridiculously good.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Sep 9, 2007 -> 04:06 PM) Cedric Benson, is not. The entire offensive line deserves a lot of the blame too. Peterson and Benson f'd up with the fumbles as well. Overall though I was quite pleased with Rex handling the Chargers pass rush and his throws (although he started the game off a little rough). Defense played suberb till they finally just got beat down thanks to all those stinking fumbles.

Gotta love it...Hawkeyes taking care of business against Syracuse this time around (after having to barely win last year). 28-0 in the 3rd. The young QB Christensen with 3 TD's and the defense is just playing awesome. Running game hasn't been near as strong as it was against Northern Illinois.

Thomas deserved to be stopped short on that 3rd down. And I don't buy into this Weiss stuff...he cares about winning and his players respect the heck out of him. Call him unclassy or whatever you want, but he's a great football coach and he's going to help a lot of guys have great careers.

I'm really with Keith...trade Konerko to the Angels or Rangers or Dodgers (preferably the Angels or Dodgers because they have a couple guys that you have to really like and would be good fits for the Sox) and than make a heavy push for Andruw Jones (as a FA) to come in, fill CF, and fill the hole in the middle of the lineup. Kochman semi replaces Konerko (no he's not as good, but he's more than solid and still has some upside) and Jones when right is still one of the very best CFer's in the game.