Chisoxfn

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.

Got the internet feed on, but I'm also reading (stupid finals) so if someone else can type up a summary that be great Also Kogs your a machine lately on this type of stuff

I thought Blockbuster dumped late fees a whlie ago, now they just rebill you the same amount and give you another week.

I don't know how mnay posts there were yesterday, but I'm going to reckon there were more then 2000. But, hell, I know this site has tons of passionate fans and its always funny getting into discussion about the Sox and other things with everyone here.

Trust me, only way Hermy is in the rotation is if one of the starters gets injured or sucks horribly.

I think a 3yr 21-24 mill offer by the Sox will get Clement.

When I graduated high school we had a huge ass bonfire and all of us burned our notebooks and books

Ian...I'm sure your still in shock that I got it up so quick. I must have Soxtalk viagra right now, lol. I'm even creating a subforum for the hot chick contest as we speak, lol.

I talked about him a couple days ago, but he's versatile. Can play short or 2nd and had an above average OBP last year (too lazy to look up the stats, but I think it was like .354 or .364). Plays good defense at 2nd and is an average defensive shortstop. Has very little pop but rarely strikes out. Smart ballplayer who works his ass off. Would be a very good pickup if he's non-tendered to complete the infield. Would fit in nicely in the two hole cause he can handle the bat. If he gets non-tendered (which I doubt happens) then I think he'd be a favorite to go to the Sox and join his brother. Along with a possibility of Perez or Clement and then I'd love to see Pyrz.

Nah, I never cried over Ring. Thought the Sox may of given up too much for Webster when they include Rupe, but other then that never had a problem. I think if your going to deal one of your top few prospects though, that you should get a guy thats more then just a rent a player, unless your talking about a legit guy that can bring you the series. Getting Garcia was fantastic and as much as I hate the fact that the Sox are saddled with Everett he was still a solid pickup at the time a few months ago cause Rauch was nothing and while I am a fan of Majewski, it was a solid pickup. Sox needed to see if they could make the playoffs. This season I like the chances a lot better cause it seems like they'll have a team at the start of the season and then won't have to make a move just to make the playoffs, but hopefully will be making a move to ensure a World Series I should add I'd deal any trio of prospects for Huddy if the Sox are willing to sign him to an extension. God would I love Hudson.