Chisoxfn

Sox need to have a great bullpen, imo. You have a great pen with a great pitching staff, good defense and a solid manager and you will be a playoff team. The Cubs did that without the solid pen and now they could very well go deep into the playoffs. My goal for the Sox would be to invest the money in the pitching. Maybe not gordon, but Hawkins and Sully back...and if you can unload Koch bring the three of them in.

I don't see Gordon as much of a priority, but they do need someone like him..and I'd prefer Hawkins. Gordon scares the hell out of me because this was his first full year in like 5 years. Can we really expect another? Its a tough call.

Not a big Hargrove fan...although I am not really familiar with him. I will say this...Cleveland was a top notch organization during that time period and I pretty much respect everyone involved with that organization during that time period so I'd say its worth a look. I also think Baltimore did pretty good considering what they had.

I don't think he ever pitched for the Cubs either. The two of them are done.

Its great to see that the Sox moves this year and attempts at a win brought ya back. I think the Sox are gonna have to continue to try and go for it all next year and in the future years if they want to win a lot of the other fans they've pretty much pissed off. I can only hope they will stay agressive and up the payroll and be willing to take the shots to become a world series champ. All I can say is if they blow this thing up...I'll be extremely pissed.

I agree. I think the pitching staff will look the same if not better (Few changes in the pen). The Sox will make wholesale changes offensively, imo. A few of Konerko, Thomas, Everett, Ordonez, Alomar will be gone. I'd say if the Sox lost all of them...they still wouldn't be screwed because it would open up the team to really do some interesting things.

12 mill is way too much to give Bartolo. The biggest thing I have against KW is he overpays in regards to contracts. I said for a long time he overpaid for Konerko...should of given 5 mill max and he did the same for Koch...although since it was only a 2 year contract it isn't horrible. Now with Maggs the Sox are in deep crap giving him 14 mill this year. He is an 8-9 mill a year guy...thats it.

Did you subtract the 4.5 mill that Jose Valentin made. First off...I am with you 100%. I think the two of us should walk into Sox headquarters and lay down our list cause we pretty much see eye to eye. The only worry I'd have with Fullmer is whether he's 100%. I am almost positive he would be as he's a workout nut and was on base to have an awesome year last season. Stick him at the DH and your set...You can not play him at first, it will be ugly with him and Frank there, imo. Spiezo is an awesome defensive player which is why I like him. I couldn't possibly see Spiezo get more then 2 million either. Other then that we agree 100%. I would of said deal Koch, but I just don't know if its possible. Personally I think Koch is more marketable then Konerko. Koch was a stud a lot longer then Konerko ever was. Plus you take a shot on Koch and he pans out then you can sign him the next year...you don't have a long term contract to take on. If Konerko flops then your stuck for a few more years. I'd offer Konerko to the Orioles and try to get a prospect that you see something out of (Not a highly rated one) and just take the money and if you could do the same for Koch and Philly then I'd do that too. Figure you pay some of the salaries then you can get 10 mill freed up. That assumes you pay 5 mill in contracts. With that 10 mill freed up you can get your middle infield. I think at the most that would cost 12 mill. Then you use the 4.5 mill that was allocated for Jose and give it to Colon/Your New First Baseman. Then the only real increase you see comes with the arbitration guys. Carlos won't get a huge huge raise cause he was already well paid. I see him right around 3 yr 15 mill and JG won't get much of a raise and I think Buehrle can only go up a certain amount, like 1 mill or so. Then next year he will get a huge jump. Still, I see the Sox going long term with him for about 4 mill. Basically at 6-8 mill on the beginning payroll from last year and your set if you can move those two. Take what Gordon/Sully made and bring back two guys their caliber. You then go with those two...plus Marte, Wright, Wunsch a rookie and then either cheap vet or another youngster. Scho is in the 5th slot. Here's the exact salary breakdown: +12 Mill for 2nd/ss - 4.5 Mill for Jose - 10 Mill between Koch/Konerko (Estimate...assume sox pay 5 mill) + 1 Mill for Frank +3-4 Mill to give Gordon or whomever a raise and add another good reliever + 1 mill on Carlos + 3 mill on Buehrle (Give him that extension) + 2 mill on Loaiza (Don't know what exactly it figures too) + 4 Mill on Maggs (Not sure if thats what it is) Thats 62.5 Mill or so. If the Sox can renegotiate with Magglio on a long term deal that pays him fairly, I think you could save about 4 mill here, which would bump ya around 58 mill. If this doesn't work, then the Sox could deal Maggs to another team that has cheaper young guys that could come up and contribute right now. This could get them their 5th starter and of course an outfielder plus some prospects.

Jon is gonna establish himself as #2 or 3 on most teams. The good news is he'll likely be the #4 on this team. The kid stepped up big time in my opinion and I think he's pretty much broken into the majors and is a very good pitcher. He's gonna get better though.

Mark my words if Frank puts the ball in the Sox court then Frank Thomas will be playing somewhere else next year. I think in that case the Sox and Thomas will have a classy breakup. Thomas gets a good contract somewhere else and the Sox free up the strings to not only reup with Colon but to also build a new middle infield. I just can't see giving him 8 mill...it would be foolish, imo. Especially when someone like Fullmer could be had for a million and he is a 25-30 homer guy.

Great Post and I have said for a while that Colon will be back.

Well I wish ya the best Jerry. You weren't horrible but the job wasn't done the past few years and it was time for a change. I'm really loving the idea of Ozzie Guillen taking over and I am fairly confident thats what you will see happen. He can then bring someone else with him, maybe even Harold Baines for all I know. If the Sox were gonna get Larussa then they probably would of waited to fire any of the coaches other then Jerry, imo.

You could get the both of them. They have shopped Peavy before. Most likely I think Kotsay would be a part of any deal or at least one of thier outfielders would be.

Pitching is what the Sox need. Invest the money there and if it takes moving Magglio for a couple young studs that are ready then go for it. Then turn some of that money into your new shortstop, Matsui and I'd be happy.

Happy Bday Clu...hopefully next year around this time you can be celebrating the sox making the playoffs.

Your teacher shouldn't of ever done something like that unless she was willing to open it up for discussion.

What the heck. Things never cease to amaze me.

Thats classic. Saw it on cerb's profile a few days ago.

I dunno what it was called...it was on after Carnivale. Maybe I'm behind in the times and its not a new show.

The polls show that the recall will most likely pass. Their needs to be 50% in favor of it and right now it shows Davis would need 11% to catch back up. Arnold is leading Bustamante by 7% or so and the best candidate is in 3rd...aka Mclintock.

I think its probably the reason that I have nothing against the Cubs. Hell, I'm gonna be rooting for them in the playoffs. I want to see the Cubs vs the Red Sox. As long as it ain't Yankees Braves I'll be happy. Sox are #1 by a longshot though.

I agree 100% with you. I think its a gimme that the Sox will increase their ticket base by at the very least a thousand a game because of him. The Sox could finally open their way into the Asian market in Chicago and it would also help the Sox get more known in the International Community (namely Asia). This kid is definately the real deal. I'd take him over Tejada or Cabrerra and if we could get him it would be awesome. This is the kind of guy you can build your franchise around. Right now my vote at short is Matsui or Cabrerra. Both are huge upgrades over Jose Valentin and Matsui would be a great draw. Can you imagine how many matsui jerseys they would sell, both in America and out. He's exactly the kind of force the Sox could use to rebuild themselves as a major market team. Mix that with the other quality pitchers and a great pitching staff and the Sox could get themselves into "dynasty mode" where they can put themselves in a position where they can spend a little more if necessary. Only thing thats odd is how low his stolen base totals were this season, but if I recall its because in japan they play a different style and they rarely steal (Well if Mr. Baseball is true, lol). I've read that they say he is as fast if not faster then Ichiro. Not sure if I buy that, but if he's even close to that, it would be awesome. That being said he still avg's 40 a year or so. Sox definately are short of speed and small ball players, but that alone won't help...cause Willie Harris would fit that bill. You still need the guy to be a playa and Matsui is exactly that.

Xtra innings is awesome. Allows you to watch a ton of games. Pretty much when I'm home doing homework or just sitting around with some buddies we just turn the games on and will catch a few innings. You learn a whole lot, whether its hearing the announcers or watching the game and coming up with ideas. By the way thanks, now if only one day I can convince Jr or whoever the Sox owner is then the Sox will be in great shape

Your probably right. I'm with ya in regards to Rowand...somehow I'm just hoping and thinking the Sox are gonna go big this year. I believe the only trade made will be one that involves Paul Konerko.

I'm pretty futile as well. But in the relationships I've had I've never cheated, never was tempted either. Sure I'd look at other girls and awe at them, but when I'm with a girl I ain't gonna cheat on her. Of cousre I've never been married an in a situation where things are just going horrible with that person and your hammered and a fine fine girl comes up to ya. Don't know what would happen in that situation, but I'm still pretty comfortable saying I don't think I'd cheat. If I wanted to cheat, then its cause I just ain't happy with the girl I'm with, so in that case I'd probably break up with her cause it just ain't working. But i'm pretty damn picky