Chisoxfn

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Dec 29, 2006 -> 11:25 AM) If we can sign Mike Pelfrey, I say, Do it. Just to point something out, but Pelfrey does not have to be signed. He is a rookie who has just one year of minor league experience (having been drafted in 05).

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 29, 2006 -> 11:17 AM) Jason Schmidt's contract only lasts 3 years. Schmidts deal is one of the steals of this off-season (if you could call many deals a steal). In addition, Adam Kennedy's signing was a tremendous move as well. Heck, I could make a case for the BoSox signing of Matsuzaka being one of the better signings this off-season as well (considering he has ace stuff and with any success will make Boston millions over-seas in addition to opening themselves up to being able to get other players from Japan). Of course you got to judge that based on this off-season, which in general I'd call one of the worse off-seasons in the history of baseball (from a generic baseball perspective).

Check out this new article by Kevin Morris as Soxtalk.com's front page makes its return as Soxtalk.com continues to do its best to remain the most informative White Sox & all around baseball site on the web. Three Reasons Why the White Sox Will Contend in 07 By Kevin Morris Are you growing sick of the doom spellers, the skeptics, and the doubters who scoff at every move Kenny Williams and the White Sox front office makes? Here are three reasons the South Siders will contend for a pennant and their second world series trophy in three years...MORE

Happy Bday to the minor leaguer that came before all of em....DA BULL. Also I hope 3E8, and CHwRock both have fantastic bdays as do the other members on that list.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Dec 29, 2006 -> 09:34 AM) How close is Pelfrey, I was under the impression the guy was almost ready to make the jump. He'd start on a whole heck of a lot of teams today and did get some time in that terrible Mets rotation late last season. Is he ready to dominate, maybe not, but the guy is ready to pitch in the majors (more time wouldn't be horrible). In fact, while he wasn't great in his debut with the Mets, I like the fact that he got to see what the majors were like, talk to Rick Peterson (Mets pitching coach and a darn good pitching coach) and get a feel for what he needed to work on to be ready for the majors next year. Basically put, he can definitely start now (for a lot of organizations). That doesn't mean I guarantee success now, but I think its very likely that he will have long term success. And he would be stlil very raw as he has only pitched one season in the minors (making 4 starts in A, 12 starts in AA, 2 in AAA, & 4 at the major league level. As such considering he hasn't really seen a ton of innings it would be wise to be very careful with him and kind of plan on easing him into the rotation (than give him a break period where you piggy back him with someone else for a bit to ease his workload and make sure he gradually sees his innings increase). If I was running things I think it would probably be best to let him get more time in AAA, monitor his workload carefully (its easier to do it at the ml level where while you are trying to win, you still are looking out first and foremost for your prospects) and than eventually bring him up at some point this year (if a guy goes down) or next year. Basically put if you trade for Pelfrey (and I'm the Sox) I'd trade so knowing that Haeger & Floyd are both far more major league ready. In addition I'd say that Danks is probably a bit more ready as well (based more on his progression as I feel Pelfrey is the more complete pitcher and a bit better prospect (albeit both are great prospects), its just a matter of getting him his innings somewhere and being careful with how we handle him).

There are a lot of names on that list that intrigue me.

I actually think the writer was pretty dead on (even though he didn't make much of a conclusion) but at least he was smart enough to realize this market is ridiculous and if you don't plan on getting yourself fully engulged and giving guys ridiculous contracts you better decide to load up on stud arms (ie loading up) and plan on going to battle with those guys and see which guys turn into heroe's (ie viable pitchers).

QUOTE(YASNY @ Dec 28, 2006 -> 10:14 AM) I always wondered why Brian Giles wasn't included in that trade. I remember everyone kept waiting for his name. It seemed like we had two deals on the table and than just decided oh well, just get Ritchie (when we could have had him for a lot less). Oh well, it was a past blunder and I'd like to think Kenny has learned from it.

If Anderson is involved fine, but I wouldn't want Floyd, Danks, or Gio involved. If its Haeger, Broadway or Fields or anyone like that in addition to BA fine. Oh and I wouldn't be a big fan of dealing Massett. And if its just Gio/BA for Baldelli than I'd be fine. That said I don't really want to move Floyd or Haeger since I expect both to be competing. Maybe we deal BA, one of our pitching prospects (not our very best one's like Dank), Broadway, and a guy like Russell or Egbert or someone like that who is a lower level guy (or not quite as highly touted, but still a guy that could make a potential impact). Maybe I'm under-valuing Baldelli but with his checkered past with injuries I'm skeptical when it comes to dealing our best pitching prospects for a CF (when we are including a pretty good CF prospect as it is).

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Dec 28, 2006 -> 07:49 PM) The part I found funny about TSN's report on this is they had the teams sending the guys to the wrong teams...someone needed to double check their facts... The Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks have completed a minor league deal with Chicago sending right wing Pierre Parenteau and defenceman Bruno St. Jacques to Anaheim in exchange for goaltender Sebastien Caron and forwards Matt Keith and Chris Durno. Ya, even my dumb self picked up on the fact that they had the players listed as being traded to their own teams.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Dec 28, 2006 -> 10:36 PM) Jason, if Ferentz leaves for the Steelers this offseason, which I doubt, you still ain't getting Stoops. I bet we'd have a chance. Stoops loves Iowa. That said the timing may not be right for him to come back. But please please don't even mention the thought of Ferentz leaving.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 29, 2006 -> 07:33 AM) So if we send Anderson, Floyd or Danks, and another arm, does that change people's opinions of either the Garcia or McCarthy deals depending on which guy gets dealt? I wouldn't want to make that deal.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Dec 28, 2006 -> 04:55 PM) hmm, career stats say... no I would be hard pressed to say that Zito is better than Buehrle. The only reason anyone would say Zito is because he's actually coming off a quality season while Buehrle was absolutely god awful.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 29, 2006 -> 05:32 AM) With the immenent departure of Jermaine Dye after this year, I would like to see a deal done with Pelfry and Milledge, or no deal at all. At the very minimum we would need that. In fact, I really think we may have to very well try and force the issue and get a more veteran guy like Heilman in addition to the package (because if we move another starter, we than would be bringing in two new arm's to our rotation and I'd like one of them to be a guy thats pitched at the major league level before, plus it would give us a plan b sort of speak and Heilman is exactly that sort of guy). The problem is there is absolutely no way I see the Mets giving us all three of those things unless we include something else (and I don't know if that would be a non pitching minor leaguer or a lesser pitching prospect or maybe a bench player or something). I really don't know but KW has to know he can't really trade one of our starters now unless he gets major value in return (knock your socks off type deal). Or unless he has a plan B and will be acquiring a proven pitcher at the same time in some sort of three way deal (ie, us finding a way to get Dontrell or Peavy).

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Dec 28, 2006 -> 11:33 PM) If McCarthy's talking pissed anyone off it was Ozzie. MMMHMMMMMMMMMM. Ie, yep.

Iowa is also an apparent front runner (although Wiscy is very close) for RB John Clay (4 star rivals; 5 star scout). Other big time schools are also on his interest list (OSU, Tenn, & Nebraska)

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Dec 28, 2006 -> 04:53 PM) Justin Johnson has been starting at PG for Iowa so I'm not sure what you are talking about. JJ is considered more of a 2 guard though. Its just that with Henderson having been out we've been forced to put JJ in a position he's not as used to.

Their is some talk that the Hawkeyes are sleepers for Jai Lucas (son of former NBA player John Lucas). Lucas is a 4 star recruit for the 07 class and his father is very good friends with our recruiting expert extraordinare. Apparently Lucas is interested because Iowa will have just Freeman at the PG position next year and that means he'll be able to get a lot of minutes early. Lucas is the 6th ranked PG of the 07 class and would be a major pickup to go with a couple 3 stars we have coming in. Match that with Tyler Smith and our other guys and than our studly 08 class (as of now 2 4 star recruits and Jackson/Negedu are both very interested in Iowa) and we are talking about some really skilled guys Iowa should have around. The key will be for them not to totally blow this season to the point that we could scare off some of those potential recruits.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Dec 28, 2006 -> 02:21 PM) In my best Hank Hill voice; "OCCUPIED!!! OCCUPIED!!!" I have a narrow eurethra OR do you need extra padding on your lawnmower seat?

I dread the fact that you are in the same Hall that I am in. It makes the club feel so much less exclusive

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 28, 2006 -> 10:14 AM) Another thought on Bonds role in this... I'd be willing to bet a moderate amount that Bonds did NOT test postitive. Remember that he was on that Balco product that is still pretty much impossible to test for. I'll bet he flew under the radar here. Yep, I'd be stunned if he got caught. Without blood testing its pretty much impossible for the big boys (who are using really high quality stuff) to get caught (unless they are stupid).

QUOTE(YASNY @ Dec 27, 2006 -> 07:14 PM) No, that's not correct. They cooperated after the union pressured them. At least, that's the way I remember it. However, they did make their point. Yep, thats exactly what happened. I'm going to be interested to see who tested positive because my guess is there are some big names that got off the juice following that testing.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Dec 27, 2006 -> 09:35 PM) Yes he is, and I believe he's the lead guy on any talented recruits the Hawks snag, or at least, that's been said. Ya, he's taken the head of the recruiting and looks to be putting together an outstanding 08 class.

Am I the only one that thinks a 3 foot tsunami would be really small? I know I've ridden a 2.5-3 ft wave before (as you can tell I'm not much of a surfer) and lived to tell about it.

5. I way pretty much the exact same weight I did when I got out of high school (160) 4. I own these sites and these sites have been mentioned in publications like ESPN Magazine (and .com), ESPN Radio, The Score, Sports Illustrated, Rotoworld & more. A little known fact, but a couple times (one time in particularly) I have been offered a relatively nice chunk of money to sell this site. Probably because its too special of a place and for a long time this place was a big hobby (now work is my main hobby, lol). 3. I declined going to the University of Washington, University of Evansville (had the opportunity to play on the golf team, even though I never played high school golf and to this day I'm not quite sure how or why they wanted me to play golf there), & Michigan State and instead chose the prestigious baseball school known as Cal State Fullerton (ya thats about all we are known for, lol) where I was able to get a job at Deloitte (the 2nd largest CPA firm in the world). 2. My little league baseball team was one game away from being the champions of southern california. I had pitched the decisive game that got us into the championship and scored the only runs in our championship game (I also relinquished the only grandslam I ever gave up as a pitcher in the champion ship game; it was also on the first pitch I had thrown). 1. I too come from royal descendents. A distant relative on my dads side was a General for the British in the revolutionary war and another relative was a lord and a member of the House of Lords (and lives in a castle with our last name on it). I am kind of thinking he died recently.