Chisoxfn

Fields has a perfectly good arm and is a good enough athlete to be a more than solid left fielder. Obviously there would be an adjustment period but if Fields starts in LF I think that makes it more likely you have Erstad getting substantial playing time in CF (since I think Ozzie would want Erstad near the top of the order along with Igucih). I know one thing, like last year, we may have absolute crap at the leadoff spot.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 08:11 PM) So the Bears are $2.85 to win at my local sportsbet place, $15 if they win b/w 13 and 18 points, $34 if they win b/w 19-24 and $67 if they win b/w 25 and 30. Worth a punt at those odds (because right now I think the Bears are going to win (and it shames me)). Nooooo...I don't need you picking us

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jan 29, 2007 -> 08:12 AM) I disagree, I think Deng is a better player and will be a better player than all those players you listed to draft. I also think at this point he is more valuable than Gasol. Gasol is only scoring 2 points more a game than Deng, and Deng IMO plays better defense and is extremely good at guarding the other teams best scorer. Also he is only 21 years old, which is the same age that alot of players are coming out of college, and he is already scoring 17 points a game in the NBA. There is no good reason to trade him at this point. Also I do not see Gasol as a top 5 C in the league, I think the trade talks have built him up more than he should be. He will give you 18 and 8 every game, is that really worth trading possible future superstars? I do not believe so. I agree, you don't trade Deng. You find a way to work out a deal involving Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas, PJ Brown (and possibly Chris Duhon as well as a future number 1....as long as the team can find another guard somewhere else, maybe even someone we sign off the street thats a vet).

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 09:39 PM) That would mean that Garland would (most likely) be gone after 2008. If we were forced to keep just one of the two, I'd keep Garland. Why? I think he'd get less money on the open market, and while he might not ever dominate the way Buehrle did, I think he's as good a bet as anyone to stay healthy and average-ish over the life of a five year contract. If there were two guys I'd give long term deals on the Sox it would be those two. I'd even consider Javy if he wasn't asking for a ton simply because all three seem to have proven to me that they can stay healthy and at times be above average major league starters. That said you are obviously running a risk that they don't perform up to the level of there pay grade. I still wouldn't be shocked at a 5yr 60-70 mill deal between the Sox and Buehrle (I think while the market for pitchers is strong, you also have to factor in what Carpenter when his contract was extended and in Buehrle's case he's basically guaranteeing the rest of his life a year in advance and that wouldn't be a bad thing considering he was one of, if not the worse pitchers in all of baseball over the 2nd half of last season. QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 09:53 PM) I'd agree with the reasoning behind it, and I'm not going to argue for my reasoning, because I think it's pretty clear for the reasoning behind keeping either of them long-term. You'd have to figure Garland is going to be more consistent over the life of the contract he receives than Buehrle will be, but I'll take the upside and sidedness of where Buehrle throws from over the consistency and (better) durability of Garland. It's all a matter of opinion, really. (I still wouldn't rule out resigning both, but I'll put the odds at not-good) Technically aside from half a season, Buehrle has been one of the most consistent and durable starters in franchise history. Garland has been consistent but his consistency has almost always been worse than Buehrle (by at least half a run a game to .75 runs per game). Both will throw a lot of innings though and I consider both durable pitchers and I'd like both in my teams rotations (because I think when they are at there best they will win you a game and when they are decent they have a shot to win you the game and at the very least keep you in it while going 6-7 innings).

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 08:42 PM) Chuck Garfind from CSN just interviewed Buerhle from Soxfest and they talked and Buerhle said right now he wants to come back to the Sox, and he thinks theres a 100% chance he'll be back. However he said a deal would have to be done before the season or after the season if a deal were to get done. Says his heart and soul is for the White Sox and doesn't want to go anywhere else. Buerhle pretty much is saying all the right things as usual... hopefully KW can get something done soon. Buerhle means a lot to this organization and fan base. Wow...this is the rare time the pure fan in me comes out, but Buehrle is one guy who if we sign him I won't complain if it bites us in the ass just because of how big of a fan of his I am. I'd love to see him perform the first month or two before we gave him a big money deal but he's proven so much in his career and still has a lot of good years ahead of him, imo. I also think having him back makes our rotation a hell of a lot better now and in the future (because we'd know that we wouldn't be filling quite as many holes).

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 07:27 AM) I actually almost like this team moreso without him than I do with him. In the playoffs we will absolutely need Ben Wallace. He was playing fantastic last night pre injury just like he played fantastic against the Mavs. The man makes us a different team when we go up against the best (and coincidentally thats when he plays with his full level of intensity/hustle/heart).

QUOTE(Soxbadger @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 11:08 AM) Refs keeping the game at Iowa close. Are you kidding me. You guys got away with a ton of hacks on the bigs down low for Iowa. That said good god is Tucker ridiculous. f***, I'm pissed though, Iowa missed about 10 layups in the game and a few more easy shots. Geeze, we could have beat you guys (albeit you were in control the whole game, despite a few real nice Hawkeye runs) but good god talk about Haluska and Smith having off nights. Oh and Mike Henderson, what a piece of s***. A veteran, a senior, boy you wouldn't know it by the stupid mistakes he makes out on the court. QUOTE(Soxbadger @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 12:10 PM) Hard to foul when you dont play any defense... It was the best thing he could do because Smith was giddy the entire first half pissing away shots he makes all season.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Jan 27, 2007 -> 09:40 PM) Bulls win a hard fought game 100-97 over Miami at the UC (I was there). Almost blew a 14 point lead after 1, Heat actually took a 2 point lead with like 3 mins left, but Ben and Kirk were on it all night and made the plays to win it at the end. Man it's fun beating the Heat, but Big Ben screwed up his knee pretty bad late in the game. I haven't heard anything yet since I just got back, but I'd assume it's at least a sprain and they will have to do an MRI to make sure there is no damage. That would be REALLY bad if there is because Ben did play really well tonight, plus if he's hurt, it makes the Bulls seem even more desperate for a big in a trade. During the Bulls game they said sprained knee. They didn't give any prognosis though.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jan 27, 2007 -> 09:07 PM) Gage reads the Wall Street Journal. http://whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/ar...sp&c_id=cws Just trying to catch up on the Sox before I pass out early so I can wake up super early to go snowboarding tomorrow...YEAAAHAHHHHHH WHOOO HOOOOO

I am thrilled to see Kenny was a man, admitted his mistake in going public and apologized to the Buehrle's. Couldn't make me happier because Mark has been one of the classiest and best pitchers to wear a White Sox jersey in this franchise's history.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Jan 26, 2007 -> 08:09 PM) The Sox, but if Iowa State were to win a national championship in football or men's basketball, that would surpass the Sox moment. I wasn't brought up as a Sox fan...I figured that out on my own. But the amount of heartbreak and just plan suckitude I've had to go through in just 19 years as a Cyclone fan tips it that way. Don't hold your breath buddy. Your best chance was when ISU had to play Michigan State in a freaking home game for the Spartans. If that game is on an actual neutral court, the Clones are national champs that year. Or if Fizer stays (which means the Bulls wouldn't have wasted a pick on him too, LOL) you had a great shot that following year and probably would have been ranked #1 to start the season. But don't worry, I'm in the same league as you, unless Ferentz can start getting some real good recruits in (Iowa will always be solid to top 10 under Ferentz but I don't know if he'll be able to get us to the national championship game unless we start getting the better recruits...lately we've just been missing out on them).

BAHAHAHAHAHAAA

QUOTE(rpmahr @ Jan 27, 2007 -> 11:38 AM) especially when the AL central will be weaker than last season...90 games might win the division depending on if detroit has a soph slump Welcome aboard

QUOTE(LVSoxFan @ Jan 27, 2007 -> 11:26 AM) I am more than tired of KW's mouth at this point. Whoever said he should have a stock answer for these types of questions is right--have the discussions behind closed doors, not through the media, where KW cannot seem to resist any pissing contest opportunity presented to him. We haven't started 2007 yet and KW's talking like this about Buehrle? Great. I understand KW's point about the obscene Zito contract and the market being inflated by WE GET IT ALREADY. He seems obsessed with what he WON'T pay rather than what he will and that, I think, is why he and the Sox are appearing to some people to be cheap. Just SHUT UP and play ball. Remember? Remember when we used to do that? Back in 2005? My big thing is Mark is saying the right things, he's saying optimistic things to Sox fans. Kenny can just keep his freaking mouth shut, he doesn't need to respond. Sox fans are going to be excited just hearing Mark say how he wants to stay in Chicago because a lot of them have heard so much about the Cardinals thing. Kenny doesn't need to turn it into a war of words and he did exactly that. I am a big fan of Kenny as a GM (at one point I was probably one of his very few fans) but he is a complete boob when he takes his players and rips them or says stupid crap about them in the media. Just say that our organization is very leary about giving pitchers long term deals and we have yet to approach Mark with a proposal in the year range that his camp would like as our philosphy differs but that Buehrle has been amazing for the Sox and if there was one guy we would consider doing so with it will be Mark but we will have to see how the season progresses and I will not comment any further on any contract discussions. I don't f***ing care if he doesn't mean it, just say that and end it. Don't use the media to do your contract negotiations.

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Jan 27, 2007 -> 08:32 AM) According to Levine the Sox offered Buehrle a 3yr $31 deal last July and it was turned down.Doesn't surprise me, he's going to get a longer term deal and I Don't blame him for not trying to get 5 years and my guess is that is what his camp countered at. It is a business and if we aren't willing to pay our guys what is fair than we shouldn't be in the business. I'm sorry, we can't just come in here planning on paying guys nothing. I'm not saying we give them the prices this years ridiculous market offers, but at the same time you can't be unwilling to pay guys market level and just be a cheapass org because that will never work. It is one thing if you don't think a guy is worth what he's asking (because its a joke of a contract) its another if you just weren't willing to make him a fair offer (ie going 5/50 to 60 with Buehrle last year). Instaed we lowballed the guy which is flat bulls***. If we were interested in negotiating with him than make a fair offer Kenny, don't throw around this bulls*** when you don't really try. I don't care if we resign him or not but now we are going to have to hear this s*** all season long and its not fair to Mark for what he's done for this organization and its yet another time where Kenny is going to start slamming a guy in the media (its inevitable).

QUOTE(Cali @ Jan 27, 2007 -> 04:25 AM) The funny thing is, last time you saw me, I so had short hair...haha It was the San Diego series right? I cant remember if you came over to my friends house after the game or not, I remember having a splitting headache and not being able to get as drunk as I wanted haha Haha, yep I think that was the last time. I mean coudln't have been Anaheim since your not brave enough to venture into the OC

QUOTE(Cali @ Jan 26, 2007 -> 08:43 PM) As a shaggy haired person, I'm gonna go ahead and say BA needs to keep it long. He was all clean cut at the begining of the year and SUCKED He let it grow toward the end of the year and SUCKED a little less. I think the choice is clear....

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Jan 26, 2007 -> 12:59 PM) Sarah Spain story (She's from Chicago and she's a huge Bears fan) nice pic but to give her a ticket AND pay to have her come along???? ummm....no thanks. I could take a buddy, have no delusions of getting sex and have a much better time. I will give props to a very nice pic of a Chicago girl. Screw this...take a Gage to the superbowl...all you got to do is give me a ticket and get me transportation there (and I have to be home on Sunday night so I can go to work or ass early Monday morning otherwise I'm fired).

QUOTE(elrockinMT @ Jan 26, 2007 -> 02:10 PM) Do we have the chance of getting ST games on XM satelitte radio? I only get WGN or ESPN so it seems ST TV is limited for me too. There ought to be a law agin it! Ya, you can listen to the spring training games via XM.

QUOTE(Craig Grebeck @ Jan 26, 2007 -> 11:10 AM) From 2001-2006, Erstad has not even had a year that was league average. In the three seasons that he actually had 600+ plate appearances, he posted OPS+ of 78, 88, 89 (100 is the league average). I sincerely doubt he was better than most outfielders during this time span. I'd probably put him in the lower quarter of outfielders during the last five-six seasons. Doesn't mean much when you consider he hasn't had an OPS over .746 in six years. Every team needs good ballplayers. Erstad is not great, he is not good, he is not average, he is below average. He does absolutely nothing tangible well. We are stunting Brian's growth for this? Giving Ozzie Erstad is like giving Dusty Baker Neifi/Womack/Macias. This will be the year where Ozzie's hard on for grittiness really hurts us and Brian. In short, his good days are behind him (as well as his average ones). The fact that he's on the 25 man roster makes me sick. But you have to factor in the fact that for a top of the lineup hitter, I think OPS is extremely over-rated. Add in the fact that you don't compare his positives defensively, on the field or when it comes to sacrificing himself and giving up outs (which he did a whole lot from the 2 spot in Anaheim under Scioscia). For cripes sakes, I understand if people want to say he doesn't have a good OBP for a top of the order guy but thats the only thing you can really slam when it comes to a healthy Erstad. And yes I think stats are such a bulls*** way to go about something. I think you have to factor in a lot of other things and I'm glad our organization doens't just throw stats out there because had we done so we wouldn't have picked up AJ and his crappy OBP/OPS (yes he hits for a decent avg but with no power prior to joining the Sox and we would have ignored the fact that he calls a good game and adds a ton of intangibles; we wouldn't have picked up Cliff Politte because his stats were awful in Toronto or Podsednik who was coming off a down season and statistically wasn't good aside from stolen bases). Ya, stats are the be all end all. AJ brought intangibles to this team (and a good stick for a catcher, even if he won't hit for power). Politte turned into a damn good reliever for two seasons. Pods had a great year for us in 05 (even though he tailed off near the end). Heck, we'd have dumped Garland and Crede long before if we based things on stats and ignored how Garland was young and had stuff or the fact that even when Crede stunk offensively he was a whiz kid defensively. All you guys doubting Erstad will be flat out wrong if he is in fact healthy. If he isn't, you'll be right and we'll have spent 1.5 mill on him. Big whoop...we were paying Ben Davis that in 04 or 05 when he wasn't even on our roster. Sorry for the rant but f*** I hate people that just throw stats at me since I'm so not a stat guy (even though I do look at them, I just don't call them the end all be all).

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 26, 2007 -> 09:25 AM) I think I'll take a second and chime in here...from the perspective of a lot of the stat-guys, Erstad even when healthy has been a terrific drag on the offense of the Angels the last few years. He simply does not contribute much with the bat at all and has not done so for several years. He's been tolerable for that team because of his defensive performances, but he's also been a big part of the reason why they haven't been able to put together an offense around Vlad since their WS run. Erstad in 2000 could start and play for 90% of major league teams. Erstad from 01-05 could start and play for a few ML teams, those that had holes and needed a guy to play solid defense. Erstad after his injuries...probably even less. Ya and that Erstad (01-05) was still better than most outfielders (he just happened to be at 1st base making a lot more money than he should, but that isn't his fault, its the Angels). And I could give a s*** about the stat guys because Erstad doesn't post a high OBP, he still is a career .275 plus hitter, who will get a ton of doubles, steal a clutch base when needed, is a tremendous base runner, a leader on the bench, a hard worker, a guy willing to go out and get hurt if it helps his team win. Ie exactly what this squad needs. And when healthy Erstad will hit .280 and even if he doesn't draw a ton of walks or put up a monster OBP, I'll take him hitting .275-.280 with him being a top 10-12 defensive CF'er and I think if he is in fact healthy he's capable of doing exactly that for the Sox. And Erstad in 2000 would be a star on every major league team (not 90% of them).

QUOTE(knightni @ Jan 26, 2007 -> 09:17 AM) They can. Brown/Gasol The other 3 can be filled in with D league guys or throw-ins from Memphis. Please elaborate more so that you have something to read during your suspension. Nope, we go after Antonio Davis again and get him to join the squad for one final playoff run (for AD, not the Bulls).

I happened to be flipping the channels last night and he was interviewed on Best Damn and apparently Harris offered him tickets to a game next year and an autographed jersey (which is pretty classy, imo) and the guy was like I am a season ticket holder to I don't need tickets. If you ask me the guy is an asshole for trying to start this. I could see it if he was joking around with Harris but its another thing when you start going on TV saying how he deserves this tickets. He doesn't deserve s***.

QUOTE(Soxy @ Jan 26, 2007 -> 08:34 AM) Got to see Last King of Scotland last night. The performances were all astounding. I was expecting Forest Whitaker to be awesome, but I was also blown away the Scottish doctor and most of the supporting cast. Definitly an impressive cast. Whitacker was really amazing at capturing the range of moods that Amin goes through during the film, and he really makes him unpredictable, volatile, terrifying, and extremely childlike. I'm not exactly sure, though, how Whitaker was the Leading Character (according to the awards), he did steal every scene but in terms of pure screen time, he's definitely more of a supporting character. On the way out my friend remarked that it was predictable, but I think that was actually kind of the point. Especially considering that Gillian Anderson's character pretty much lays out the course of the new regime in the first 10 minutes of the film. It was a little more violent and suspenseful than I was expecting, but I enjoyed it a lot. The screenplay was co-written by the guy who wrote the queen, so the screenplay is good too. I've heard the movie (adapted from a book by the same name) took plenty of liberties from actual history, but in my mind the greatest bit of liberty was probably that I never saw the Scottish doctor who spent plenty of time out in the hot African sun with a nasty sunburn. Come on now. . . Well you've sold me on not seeing the Brad Pitt movie but instead seeing this movie. I like Whitacker and it sounds like its got some action in it as well as drama and suspense.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Jan 26, 2007 -> 09:11 AM) I am fine with Pods having a reduced role by any means possible, I am just going to have a huge problem when I see Pods AND Erstad in the OF together, and I fear we will see it way more than we should. Why should we fear that. Erstad has proven in the past he can be a fully capable player and if Anderson plays like s*** he doesn't deserve to start. If Erstad is healthy (and I don't know if he is) than he is worthy of starting for the Chicago White Sox (and 90% of major league teams). Notice I say if he's healthy because if he's healthy Erstad is still capable of being in the top 10-12 defensive CF'ers in the game (maybe better). Obviously its a big question mark but if he's playing a lot I think it will be an indication that he's healthy and playing well (or maybe he's ont playing well but he's still doing better than one of Pods/BA who is doing absolutely terrible). So bottom line, I want to have as many quality players as possible and I have no fear of seeing Erstad out there. No one is going to tell me a healthy Erstad will be worse than Pods/BA were in LF/CF last year so as far as I'm concerned we have nowhere to go but up (ie Erstad is healthy and does solid or BA develops a bit more and isn't quite as terrible or Pods gets healthy and rights ship or none of the above happen and we have just as sorry of a core out there as last year...either way we at least have brought in another option who when healthy is pretty solid).