Chisoxfn

QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ Sep 12, 2005 -> 12:39 PM) Oh yeah, I'm the first person to go off on a tangent on this board. Oh, I'm not posting blame. I just don't want anyone to attack the poster because he has rap images. Please, I've led many convo's off topic myself.

Were all diehard fans. If you want to argue about attendance, please do so in a more polite way. Everyone one on this forum does what they can to make games. We are not the reason why the Sox didn't draw well over the weekend. With that I'm leaning towards closing this thread because I don't think any good will come of it.

I'm not in the Chicago area so I can't really help out. WIth cell coverage it all depends on where you live. As a whole I think Verizon is by far the best. I've had Verizon, T Mobile, Cingular and ATT all at one time or another. Verizon was the best of the bunch. It is a little more than Tmobile and Cingular though.

I'm not in the Chicago area so I can't really help out. WIth cell coverage it all depends on where you live. As a whole I think Verizon is by far the best. I've had Verizon, T Mobile, Cingular and ATT all at one time or another. Verizon was the best of the bunch. It is a little more than Tmobile and Cingular though.

Awesome

What the heck does this have to do with the post? Lets not rip the guys taste in music. If he likes rap so be it.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Sep 12, 2005 -> 11:27 AM) Why is Thomas not an upgrade? When he played for just a little bit this year, it was a huge lift for the team offensively. He hit about the lowest average wise you possibly can, yet still put up an OPS that would either be leading the team or would be second on the team to PK. If he puts up a .240 season, that could be a .950 OPS campaign. He'd be a little rusty, for sure, due to barely having played the past 2 years...but if he is truly, 100% healthy, he is still one of the best power hitters in the league, and will still slug the hell out of the ball. You bring him back to a fairly incentive laden deal(perhaps a Juan Gonzalez deal, where if he only has one at bat for you, you aren't screwed) and there is very little risk at all, and all the reward in the world. JMHO, but I think it would be worth it...just because he can only DH does not mean he's not a valuable player. Because I'm not putting the fortunes of a playoff or world series team on a player whose last healthy season was a FEW years ago, not last year, but a few years ago. That would be an assinine assumption, especially when the player is up in age. Also I don't give a crap about his OPS and how impressive it was or his OBP. Thomas was not a good player this year. He hit hr's in groves, but he couldn't hit for a lick and started to really tank after his hot streak right when he came back. He was guessing on pitches and pitchers made the adjustments and realized he was cheating and looking for inside fastballs. If he didn't get one of them or a hanging breaking ball, he was out and thats why his average just continued to drop after he was re-activated. As long as Frank is looking for 500 HR's and is content on not being the type of hitter he was in the prime of his career, than I don't want him on the Sox, in fact, I'll be one person whose quite pleased when the Sox buyout his contract.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Sep 12, 2005 -> 11:29 AM) B Mac in the playoff rotation? No way. All this time, I thought people just wanted B Mac to get all of Duque's remaining starts before the playoffs. Duque and B Mac will be in the pen for the playoffs. Well Willie or Gload is going to be on the post-season roster cause the Sox won't be carrying 12 pitchers. That means one of Bmac/Duque won't make the playoff roster.

Just because I'm an ass, I'll just say my feelings are the exact opposite. I think San Fran is a rile and disgusting city and do my best to stay clear of it. It felt dirty as all get up and has very little to do. Of course Detroit is worse.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Sep 12, 2005 -> 09:03 AM) I understand the frustration with Duque, but let's give some credit to Ana. That is a solid ball club who handed it to Mark B. and Garland as well. Sorry, I'm an Angel fan and I think they are built similarly to the Sox, but it is far from a solid lineup. The Angels have had a putrid offense for a while now. Sure, maybe its coming together, but fact of the matter, Duque gave up HR's to guys that don't hit HR's and he has been getting shallacked left and right.

I realize some will whine. But I'm closing this thread. I'm superstitious when it comes to my sports team and I don't think these type of things do any good. So if you want to have a magic number up or something like that, please just put it in the sig. Unless of course the Sox sweep Cleveland and have like 2 or 1 games left. I don't want bad karma hurting the Sox Now its to go into KC and sweep em with the 1st win coming on Tuesday

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.