Chisoxfn

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Sep 12, 2005 -> 10:41 AM) Konerko: 2005 RISP: .240 BA .840 OPS 2005 Runners on: .267 BA .871 OPS Career RISP: .272 BA .818 OPS Career Runners on: .278 BA .824 OPS He may not be very good with RISP 2 outs but he ain't bad with RISP and better with runners on in general. Also, RISP is a very seasonal stat. Rarely does it correlate into a great player or not and Konerko has usually been a very solid player with runners on, if not a good one. This season it hasn't paid off, but he's also had a lot more pressure on him than usual. Obviously he's put up good numbers, are they amazing numbers, no. He's never going to put up amazing numbers, especially when he's pretty much a one man wrecking crew. Put him in the 5 hole and watch this guy flat rake in the runs. If this team gets a legitimate 4hole hitter it will do wonders for Paulie (and we may just see him get that avg back into the .285 range). Tadahito can be the 3 hole hitter the Sox add, find a cleanup hitter (who hits lefty) and slide Konerko to 5, AJP at 6, Dye at 7, Uribe at 8, Crede at 9. Move Rowand to the 2 slot behind Pods (if the Sox can only make 1 move). If they can make a couple moves: Pods, Furcal, Tadahito, DH (new acquisition, maybe Huff), Konerko, AJP, Dye, Rowand, Uribe/Crede Quite frankly thats one hole in the lineup and both Juan/Joe are above average defensive players. Thats not a major change to the lineup, but a good one. You add a little more balance (Huff is lightyears better than Everett, imo, especially when you get him on a good team). Heck maybe they make a run at someone better than Huff, who knows.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Sep 12, 2005 -> 09:15 AM) Guys don't make the All-Star game by accident, especially when there already where players from your team choosen. I've understood some of the anti this or that player rants, but anti-Kong stuff has me baffled. I can't wait for the months of get rid of him and use the money to plug holes comments. And great point ChiSoxfn, PK in the 5th spot would be great. The bat we may have for #4 is good old #35. I'm hoping for that. Gooch, Frank, PK in the 3-4-5 may be the best we can hope for in the off season. At the minimum, it should be the minimum. Tex, you had me until I saw #35 in there. Unless the Sox trade for someone and let them use #35 (which I'd throw up at) than having Frank in the cleanup spot is not an option. That means this team basically did the status quo and made no changes on offense. Its obvious that ever year you try to upgrade and the offense needs an upgrade. I'm telling you, find one legitimate middle of the order or 3 hole hitter (finding both would be nice) and keeping Paulie and than you have yourself a pretty darn good offense, imo. Remember, when I talk about hitters, only the DH can suck at defense. So if Aubrey Huff is added, he's playing 1st or DH same can be said for Chad Tracy (unless its an ocassional 3rd or LF or something). The Sox can not replace Crede with some hack at 3rd base. When you build your team on pitching, when you make a move to your lineup, you need to make sure your not downgrading the defense (especially up the middle).

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Sep 12, 2005 -> 08:35 AM) They get Tracy and then sign Kong for DH and make a shot at Furcal and move over Uribe to 3rd and we have something. Plus Tracy could ocassionally go over and play 3rd against tough righties. Its not a major upgrade to the offense, but its definately an upgrade. Plus the Sox would have a little cash left over to add some help to the pen (getting another lefty).

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Sep 12, 2005 -> 07:03 AM) We got swept by the Angels, I can live with that. Not good but we are still on pace to win 97 games, with 20 left. We play the Royals, Cleveland plays Oakland. This looks nice. We play the Twins while Cleveland is playing the Red Sox, I beleive. Twins look to have packed it in and we have 6 left with them. All of these things point to a nice week ahead. Maybe. Ozzie needs to leave town to get away from the City of Chicago??? Doesn't the entire team leave for a week tomorrow? Who are these folks beating him down, the (softball question) reporters? Do the fans get to sit down and chat with him? Who is he getting away from??? Sounds like the 2004 cubs if you ask me now we just need to get rid of some broadcasters. I was fine with the state of affairs until I realized (I saw no baseball all weekend, Sox included until last night) that a Twins starter did not make it through the 5th??? Sanatana was beat? Maybe the schedule is not as favorable. We need to hit, it is that simple and we need to change up a couple of things. This is where the manager needs to see what he has and go from there. This is where Ozzie needs to lead, and he is off to Miami.......maybe he will chat with Nick Saben, remember him a leader the Bears could not use. I gotta get away from the city of Chicago. Nice schedule or not, easy team or hard team, the Sox are going to have to do one thing, play winning baseball. They don't do that and you can kiss the playoffs goodbye. Pitching has been really up and down...guys have a brilliant start than go right back the next start and get litup. Offense has been the same and in the Angels series it was pretty bad.

QUOTE(JimH @ Sep 12, 2005 -> 07:55 AM) Yes, he has one more year left on his contract and the Sox will keep him around as an insurance policy, just like the Yankees did for a few years. I wouldn't count on him for more than 15 starts though. At this point he can probably give you 125 serviceable innings - that's it during the course of a year. From what I know, Brandon McCarthy will be the Sox 5th starter next year. Right now the Sox are quite pleased with Contreras progress and the same can't be said for El Duque. They were already frustrated with him earlier in the season and he will not be around next year. As far as him not having trade value, his contract is 4.5 million and he's pitched a decent amount of innings. Someone will take a chance on him and if he's packaged with Marte in the off-season (a distinct possibility) you could potentially grab a guy like Chad Tracy from Arizona (who wouldn't mind another starter and than a reliever).

QUOTE(longshot7 @ Sep 12, 2005 -> 08:10 AM) Moving Erstad back to the outfield is a BAD idea. From what I've heard he's going to be playing there come playoff time. They will probably give him a couple games right near the end of the regular season to adust. He's been making throws from the outfield during BP and has been taking outfield practice. Their lineup is better with Erstad and Kochman than it is with Finley and Erstad and they are doing everything they can to fix it. Obviously there is a risk that Erstad goes down in the playoffs, but its a risk the Angels are willing to take. Plus Erstad is a top tier defensive outfielder (even if he hasn't played there in a couple of years). However, if Finley hits the rest of the league like he hit the Sox this weekend, than the Angels won't have to worry about that. Oh and it definately makes sense that they'd make a run at Konerko. Its a given that they will be adding a power hitting bat and 1st/DH is a hole for them power wise. They aren't going to give up on Dallas McPherson and will probably shop Kochman this offseason. Casey has played pretty good since he last came up and has some definate trade value. Angels are also willing to offer money and Konerko is well liked out here from his Dodger days (not that Dodger fans liked him). I've long said, Sox fans seem to think Konerko is garbage, but that couldn't be as far from the truth. Konerko is one of the key kogs of this offense and needs to be brought back. The guy is a veteran presence who can carry an offense. Is he the best cleanup hitter in the league? No, he's not, but he'd be one of, if not the best 5th hitter and baseball and if the Sox can bring in a bat for the 4 slot and move Konerko down a slot and get a legitimate hiter (not Everett) in the 3 hole next year, you'll see a lot of pressure off Paulie and him producing even more (and he's producing at a pretty damn good clip right now).

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 11, 2005 -> 07:05 PM) I'll be happy if I don't have to hear another reference to a past accomplishment of Duque for the rest of this season. Luis Sojo had some clutch moments in the playoffs....does that mean he deserves to keep playing near the end of the season even if it's obvious his skills have deteriorated and isn't the best option for the team? I'm with you on that. I don't want people telling me how great he was 5 years ago. Thats like telling me how great Frank was 5 years ago and how nice it would be to have him in the lineup. Obviously those things would be great, but its not going to happen. Fact is El Duque isn't the pitcher he once was. Those years he pitched well in the playoffs, he also pitched well during the regular season. You don't just show up in the post-season and turn into another pitcher (there are always exceptions, ie Derek Lowe last year) but for the most part it doesn't happen.

For me its ND and Iowa. If there was a 3rd team it would be UCLA (that would I guess be my local team).

Sounds like you had a total blast

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 11, 2005 -> 04:35 PM) If we don't make the playoffs, you're not going to see an increase in payroll. Like I said, there will be an increase in payroll.

I can already tell you this seasons priorties in the off-season. 1st round, I'm drafting a freaking offensive lineman and hopefully there will be a really good one out there. If not an oline man in round 1, than I go stud WR in RD 1 to join Bradley and Mushin (these two are winners and they need 1 more quality guy around them). But the big key is getting a legitimate tight end in here. A great TE is a QB's best friend. I don't know what will be out there, but maybe a Todd Heap or someone of that caliber will be a FA (Bubba Franks even). Someone that can be a good pass catching TE for 3rd downs and PA plays. Defensively I'd look for someone to replace Hunter, but aside from that, resign Zoom and I got no complaints with this defense. The unit will control to grow and gel. Orton is the future, find out if Rex can get healthy and be the 2 or find a legitimate backup.

As far as Huff is concerned, forget about it. The Drays aren't going to give him up without getting a total ransom. Plus he doesn't fit in the Sox plans unless he's a DH. Personally I think that would be a really nice pickup. Could you imagine the club, resigning PK, trading for Beltre (package would obviously involve Crede, Duque or another starter, and 2 top notch prospects plus they take on his contract) and than trading for Aubrey Huff or a bat of his caliber. All of a sudden you have a rather potent lineup and you haven't negatively effected your defense: Pods/Guchi/Beltre/Huff/Konerko/AJ/Dye/Rowand/Uribe Odds are that won't happen, but if upgrades are to be made the two spots they should be made are 3rd base and DH. That would cost the Sox probably 20 million though in salary (Which would bring payroll up quite a bit). I know they'll have money to spend though, especially since Everett/Thomas, and than Duque would be gone.

I don't know why everyone's so negative. I saw a lot of positives in todays game. Namely Kyle Orton, the guys going to be really good. He throws a really accurate ball and has a strong arm. Best of all he has the attitude of a great quarterback. He's going to make his share of mistakes, but he's going to learn and adjust and get better and better at making quicker and better reads. The Bears have a bright future and they got a shot to start that future this year. Mushin = THE MAN. Dallas Clark = FUMBLITIS. That moron fumbles about .7 times a touch. Freaking imbocile. Ced looked good in his couple carries and picked up a key block on one passing play he was in. Oline did a good job early in the 2nd half (as a part of 2 drives) and than fell totally apart when they had 3 straight false starts. After that the oline looked absolutely futile. Once again a Lovie coached team shot themselves in the foot way too many times (once with the INT when the Bears were in FG range at a minimum) and than the 3 penalties and sacks when they got to the Skins 34 on like 1st or 2nd down. Last year was a joke (I blamed Shea for all the penalties) but they better not continue this year.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Sep 11, 2005 -> 02:06 PM) Not eaten alive. Just eaten. And Azumah got burned by Thrash today, not Moss. Tillman was on Moss throughout the whole game. Nope, Moss burned Zoom on a 3rd down play where he came across the field and Zoom had a horrible angle and Moss caught it and went for a while.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Sep 11, 2005 -> 01:20 PM) And I'm an Iowa(football) fan. Despite some of the hype of this year's Iowa team . This is the type of year that will be a semi rebuilding year. Iowa has the skills to win the big 10, but they aren't a national championship team. They should finish in the top 15 though and next season I expect majorly big things with Young becoming a junior and Tate being a stud senior. Iowa will probably lose one more game this year, two at the most. Iowa is still a very good team, but they lost a ton of players last year and its very hard to over-come that. My hope was that Iowa would be able to pull off some wins early as the team still meched, but that obviously wasn't the case. However, Tate doesn't go down, Iowa would win and it would of been handily. Iowa was able to run the ball with authority and thats going to be something that makes them a better team once they get on a roll. Still I give ISU credit, they capitalized on Iowa's mistakes and made us pay.

I'll pass on Helton. Konerko should be brought back.

If I were to trade for a 3rd baseman, I'd take a chance and talk to Seattle about taking on Beltre and the remainder of his contract. I don't know if Seattle wants to shift their focus from two big boppers or not (it would be early for them to give up on it). However, Beltre is a really good offensive player and a stud defensive player as well.

Everett isn't that great of a DH/3 hitter. He's been good for the Sox, but that doesn't mean he's a good 3 hole hitter. He's probably the worse or one of the worse 3 hole hitters in all of baseball. This off-season the Sox are going to have to add a couple bats. Gload has been swinging the bat well though and I'd like to see him playing instead of Everett. I also want McCarthy in the rotation and Duque to be shut down for the remainder of the regular season and postseason. Like I said when they got him, it was a terrible move.

I got a feeling McCarthy will be making the next scheduled start in place of Duque.

QUOTE(JimH @ Sep 11, 2005 -> 01:49 PM) Very good point. If Marte were "fired", that would be a trip to the DL, with him being told he should not hang around. Personally, I believe it, it isn't far fetched. I know they're at their wits end with him. All you have to do is listen to Harrelson, he's the mouthpiece. Marte will be dealt in the off-season, there is no doubt about that. I'm guessing the Sox are going to put him on the DL. I think the poster is referring to him showing up to the game late and Ozzie telling him to go home and not be at todays game. The Sox aren't going to waive him, he has trade value.

QUOTE(DePloderer @ Sep 10, 2005 -> 03:08 PM) I will be visiting Washington/Richmond/Bristol area next year, how hard (how much) will it be to get to Chicago for a couple of days? Not too hard. I think there are some round trip flights out of Washington or Baltimore for pretty inexpensive (maybe 140-159 bucks roundtrip).

I was laying in bed asleep and my mom came running down stairs and woke me up. She was like, Jason, a plane crashed into the World Trade center. At first, I didn't think much of it (I thought it was an accident and while sad, I figured it was a small plane and the building was meant to handle that). I then got up (had school in the morning) and turned on the news and saw them talking about it being an accident and than pretty much right when I turned it on the 2nd plane hit. Thats when everything sunk in that this was no accident. It was just surreal, everything was in slow motion, 2nd plane hits and than they are talking about the plane hitting the pentagon and than eventually about the plane heading for the white house, which was the plane that went down in Pennsylvania thanks to those brave men and women. I think I watched coverage for hours, drove to school (radio on), got to school (classes were cancelled) and went over to my dads work and we all just watched news and talked about it pretty much the whole day. Truly a horrific day and one I'll never ever ever forget.

I'm excited, gonna head to the bar in a few minutes. Man I can't wait.

He's pitched well in his two outings thus far for the Sox.

ND may hit the top 10 today. I'm guessing they'll sky-rocket in polls. They still got a hell of a schedule. Regardless, the Weiss era has opened in definate style. 2-0 with 2 wins against ranked opponents at the time (one of which was #3 Michigan in the big house).