Chisoxfn

First off want to say welcome aboard. As far as your lineup goes, while it looks nice that deal isn't an option. Perez is cheap and under contract for the next few years and its going to take a plethora of talent to land him alone. Consider him pretty much untouchable, imo. The Pirates are actually taking some steps in the right direction, imo.

Not a fan of Milton due to his lousy periphs and a high price tag. It doesn't help that he had the worse Flyball ratio in the majors. Just doesn't seem like a good fit. Especially with Odalis Perez out there. I also remember Kenny and more specifically Ozzie mentioning ground ball pitchers, so I'm assuming Milton isn't an option.

I don't think Spod is going anywhere. Kenny seems pretty excited with the move and I can't figure they are going to deal him elsewhere.

This means every other team has a shot to claim him. If they don't then he can either opt to become a minor league free agnet or stick with the Sox and not be on the 40 man roster. I'm pretty sure thats how it works.

No, since it is an official PTBNL, they will be acquiring someone most likely not on the Brewers 40 man roster. This means the guy they acquire won't be a part of this. I think this is foreshadowing another move, but we all know another move still has to be made.

Agreed Show...I still say he threw out that name and is actually looking at another pitcher. Although I think the interest would be mutual between Clement and Kenny, the question is price.

Well this frees up a spot on the 40 for a potential signing. I figured Reynoso would be the one to be pulled. If Meaux gets claimed I wish him the best. He should make it to the majors as a back end reliever, eventually.

I definately do. I hope the Sox look at AJ, even if Levine said they probably wouldn't. I think right now the needs are: SP, Catcher and then middle infielder.

Ya, that was Cottsy's best start. Only mistake he made in that game was after keeping Arod in check he gave up like a 3 run homer or grand slam to him. IIRC OF course I watched Neals' first start down in Anaheim...that whole series was ugly.

Ya, Yanks were gonna acquire him along with Elo but decided not to.

Exactly, once he figures out those pitches, which have improved during his time in the majors, he's going to be an even better strikeout pitcher and continue to limit hits. I do think he'll always have a more than average number of walks because he tends to pitch that way, but they should decrease. His control is better then you'd lead to believe, he gets up ahead of a lot of guys and than has trouble putting them away at times. They just continue to foul off his fastball (which they are way behind). As he learns to drop a pitch in the dirt he may get them to chase it cause they are so worried about the fastball. The radar says its 88-90 but the eyes say its 94 due to his release point. He's going to be a good one, but also one of those guys that takes a little more time to develop. We'll see him make big strides this year. However, my feelings on Adkins are that I think he's a journeyman reliever who will have a couple good seasons but you'll never know when those seasons will be. I think he'll bounce around a lot. I also don't think he makes the club and that he's dealt sooner or later. Wish him the best though. My opinion could change if he finds the fastball he had two years ago. But as of now he has little movement and no above average pitch.

With Lawton gone I think one of there priorities, along with adding a starter, is to bring back Ronnie.

I actually like that signing although I still say the Angels need oen more big time FA pitcher. I think Byrd will replace Scho who is dealt in a package for another starter or non-tendered. Still this tells me that Anaheim decided they weren't the favorites. They dont tend to like bidding wars. They like being the team that can come in, offer a little less, but the player wants to play with them so they accept. It could very well mean the Sox are in there and Clement will take the Sox offer unless someone really blows Clement away with an offer. Cleveland could, but I hope Kenny is very quiet on this cause Cleveland would probably offer a bit more (if they have the financial ability) just to keep him from going to a divisional foe.

Completely agree. Spod in left is a range upgrade over Lee and Dye has a better arm then Maggs and is a good defensive outfielder. Don't know how much he's lost range wise, cause when in his prime he was a gold glove outfielder. Now he's probably a notch below that. As far as whose in Arizona, I got no idea. Maybe Clements agent, maybe he's talking with the Dbacks GM? Maybe he is there with JR or maybe he's there negotiating an extension with Konerko who lives there. Who knows, but there is a decent shot that he's there for a reason. Especially given his answer. I mean if he was on a vacation with family he'd of obviously stated that.

I agree with that, but I think if the Sox don't have someone signed by then (ie a starter signed by Dec 20th) or if they have questions to that, then they will sign Scho to a deal. Worse case you have him and deal him somewhere cause he should be rather affordable. Plenty of teams would have some interest in him. You wouldn't get much, but you could mvoe him. I also have long thought he'd make a great reliever. However, with as deep as this bullpen is now, I don't know if the Sox would pay to keep him. He is a good reliever though, especially with the addition of the cutter and changeup to his arsenal. Plus he's got a good sinkerball. Its nice to have a guy like that coming out of the pen.

One season the guy makes like 4 starts. His minor league numbers were absolutely amazing and he has pretty good, deceptive stuff. Neal Cotts is a keeper. Had the Sox had his arm stretched out he would of been by far the best 5th starter the club had last season (minus a healthy Scho, who was very good for a 5th starter). Cotts should turn into a good pitcher, although I wonder how stunted his development will be in the pen. He's got the courage though and seems to pitch well out of the pen. I think his numbers will really dazzle this year.

Disagree. Some players can handle it, others can't. It definately puts strain on you cause a lot of players do care where they play. They don't want to constantly move places and they hope they stya and when you wonder where your going to be playing it can really effect your playing time. Sure Sheffield and Manny handle it fine, but they are the exception to the rule, imo. On a sidenote Epstein vehemently denied reports that Manny was on the block.

He has an odd delivery, but his ball has some serious bite to it. I think he needs to have more faith in his stuff though and use the fastball a little more to set up his whicked hard breaking stuff. He's going to be good. By the way, if the Sox pitcher struggle early, they should bring in Rick Peterson

I still say they address catcher. With the top of the order deemed shut by the Sox (hopefully Spod plays more like he did two years ago batting average wise) then it means you now have Willie in the 9 spot which is perfectly fine. He's a solid OBP guy regardless and should improve, especially without having mega pressure. This makes 2nd much less of a hole then it once was (still a utility guy would be nice or a guy that could hit lefties for Willie) while catcher and starting pitching stick as big holes.

This makes sense. I've heard many players quoted as saying the Cell is the most difficult or at the very least one of the most difficult places to play defensively (speaking of CF specifically). Torri Hunter doesn't have a problem but many players do. I think Arow will be staying there. Otherwise I expect Dye in left soley because he doesn't have the range he once had.

All I'm saying is I'd just as well get Garcia who has a high upside as well and wouldn't cost prospects. He may have great numbers but he's not a guy I pin my hopes on. I'd just as well see Gload/Garcia battle for the 1st base job. Plus I happen to like Gload quite a bit. I do think his stats trend upward though and thats reason for optimism, but I don't give up Garland for him. I don't mind the idea of Howard, its just that given what the Phils will want for him there are better options, considering the Sox are playing for this year. At the same time this guy will strike out 200 times at the major league level.

Plus the 1-4 of this staff is better then the 1-4 of last years opening day staff. Not to mention the bullpen is light years better this year.

Buehrle had a pretty darn good year last season and I think he's going to get better. He seemed to up his strikeout number and refine his sinker which was missing for a couple year period. I'm excited about him and I hope Garcia is 100% cause he has phenomenal stuff. Get another guy to go with them and then I am pretty happy with Jose and Garland behind them in the rotation. And I LOVE the bullpen.

Ya, happened a while back. He was a strikeout machine and couldn't get any hits.

- They ask him about Joe Borchard and says its a bad sign that he is cut from a mexican league team. Specifically talks about him not making the adjustments to be made, but says he isn't the first prospect with ability to get cut from a winter league team. - Says the team has to be patient and they don't have a choice at this point. - Talked about Ordonez and says he wants to move forward, but sounded pretty somber about it. You could hear dissapointment or even a bad taste in his mouth about how this ended. - Talked about the media being one of his toughest parts of being a GM (This stemmed from something he told them early in his time as a GM). Talked about how fans, some like moves, some don't and that he doesn't look at fan reaction; obviously good fan reaction is nice, but as a whole if it makes the club better who cares(said it in a good way..my wording is pretty crappy). - As of today that Ben Davis and Crede are starters, but said if that impact pitcher isn't available that they will look at other places to upgrade itself and that he doesn't know what his path would be if that is the case. Talks again about defense and confidence in Crede and Harris (makes no mention of Ben Davis). Says how the Twins just wore them out. And that one of the biggest misnomers about the club was about how great the offense was but that if you really look at the numbers you find that it wasn't consistent enough. Beacuse with the pitching and defense they will be consistent at keeping the other team off the board - Said Vizcaino was almost as key to this deal as SPod and that this bullpen can help make it a 6 inning game. - They talk about him having the toughest job in Chicago sports. How he is in a major market where 90% of the city follows the northsiders and that he has a midmarket payroll. He says who wouldn't want a New York or LA payroll but those aren't there economics or resources. They say they spend whatever they bring and "hell" we've spent more the past couple years. - Goes back to the pitching staff and says the Sox have a pitching staff that rivals any of those high budget teams and thats where it starts. - He is calling from Arizona, but declines on the reason for it ; Kenny goes "I cannot tell you that" Haha, good interview.