Chisoxfn

Is that new political show any good? I'm watching Carnivale right now. This is the first time I've seen it...

Everyone has been saying Guzman is available. How so if he is not on here? This list looks pretty good. He is arbitration eligible and the Twins have said him and Hawkins most likely won't be back. As far as that list...I swear Scott Spiezo is a free agent, but I could be wrong. Another shortstop that would be nice is Orlando Caberra. He made Jose Valentin money last year and I think you could get him right at that again this year, maybe a bit less and then go with Castillo as well. Those two would be beautiful up the middle. I'm pretty much in love with the idea of Luis Castillo at 2nd base and then go with matsui, Guzman, Cabrerra at shortstop. For those that say they would take Alomar Jr. over Castillo I have to say your nuts Here's each of their numbers this year: Alomar: .258 AVG, .333 OBP, 12 SB, 5 HR, 39 RBI (Those are his overall numbers; He was actually worse with the White Sox...both avg and OBP Castillo: .314 AVG, .381 OBP, 21 SB (19 CS though...stolen base numbers were way down from previous years), 6 HR, 39 RBI, 63 BB, 60 K Now heres the shortstops numbers (Can't give you Matsui's) Jose: .237 AVG, .313 OBP, 28 HR, 74 RBI, 54 BB, 118 K, 8 SB Cabrerra: .297 AVG, .347 OBP, 17 HR, 80 RBI, 52 BB, 64 K, 24 SB (2 CS), .807 OPS, 47 DOUBLES Guzman: .268 AVG, .311 OBP, 30 BB, 79 K, 18 SB, 3 HR, 53 RBI, .676 OPS Aurilla: .277 AVG, .325 OBP, 36 BB, 82 K, 13 HR, 58 RBI, 2 SB, .735 OPS I think after looking at these stats its obvious that the Sox should invest 10-12 million per year between 28 year old Luis Castillo and 28 year old Orlando Cabrerra. The two of them have great speed, are good defensive players and are good offensive players. You let Castillo lead off with Cabrerra in the two hole. I'd say Cabrerra is the 3rd best of the Tejada/Matsui and those two will command the money. Its been said a few times that not too many teams are in drastic need of a shortstop and are willing to spend the money. If the Sox can move Konerko and even pay a few mill of his salary then they would be much better off with these two compared to what they had. They would get an additional .56 points in AVG at 2nd base and basically the exact same increase in OBP. You also get more steals and more runs scored. At shortstop they get an additional .60 points in AVG and .34 points in OBP as well as a ton of doubles and a lot more stolen bases. If anyone wants to tell me the Sox wouldn't be an incredibly better team with those two players compared to what we had all season. Plus best of all it wouldn't be a huge increase in payroll compared to what they paid Jose. Basically they are paying double Jose and are getting two all star middle infielders who are entering the prime of their careers. Then resign Colon and spend some money in the pen...cheapen up in center with Reed/Rowand and let the 5th spot be settled in house. Rotation the same with Scho as the 5th. Bullpen the same but you add Latroy Hawkins and lose one of Gordon/Sully. Then in the 7th spot you let one of the young relievers the Sox have get the role. Whether its Munoz/Sanders/Adkins/Majewski/Ginter/etc. That would be a hell of a team. And you could put it together right around 65 mill. You get a 5 mill increase in the middle infield...a mill increase with Frank's new deal...4 mill increase in Maggs contract...lose part of Konerkos (I'll say 4 mill)...add 3 mill to Elo...3 mill to Buehrle...and 5 mill to everyone else arb eligilbe (Roughly speaking). That is 68 mill next year and you figure there are some other things that could be done. If you lose all of Konerko's payroll somehow then you really find yourself in good shape. But either way that leaves with enough room to give Buehrle his extension (Figured in there), give Garland an extension, Carlos an extension, and sign one of your in house relievers and Hawkins or someone else thats good. KENNY...please if you can..pull this off.

Thats pretty much identical to the way I want the lineup to look. From my calculations as long as you move Konerko and don't bring back Carl...you'll be right at 70 mill or a mill or two under.

Her schools team is as good as mine. *Hint* - My school hasn't had a football team since 1994 or so

I'd say so...Grub..Golf...Nice Tax Write off. And you get to talk to two pretty sharp baseball guys

I think Ortiz is a free agent, not positive on that though. I do like your idea though.

Like I say Rex...you fill two holes by getting Guzman/Castillo or Matsui/Castillo. You fill the 2nd/ss position for a long time and also have your top of the order combo for a long long time. Then up the middle you have very good defense everywhere. We know Rowand/Reed are good defensive centerfielders.

No...I take that back...only way he's back is if the Sox bring him back at a lesser price. They won't be tendering him anything. I just want Matsui and Castillo or Castillo and Guzman. Damn it I'd love to have one of those combos. Then let Reed/Rowand/Borchard battle it out. Personally I think Reed is gonna do it.

s***...sounds really cool.

I told you Flynn was pretty good after watching him against the Hawkeyes. That being said...Brady Quinn is gonna be an absolute stud. Crap what an arm and poise. The guy took an absolute beating and I thought he played very well considering it was his first ever start.

Not horrible. Sox won a hell of a lot of games in the 2nd half of the season and I expect them to win a hell of a lot next year and to make the playoffs.

While this season was extremely dissapointd I can also say I don't think I ever had as much exictement as this year or anticipation.

Ah yes...spring training. And of course I'll be the lone one rooting for the Cubs Plus...the Cubs do good...it puts a hell of a lot of pressure on the Sox, namely ownership.

I'm kind of getting excited over the idea of having Guillen. Thomas said some good things about him and you hear a ton of good things out of Florida in regards to him. I like the Sox coaching staff on the most part and I think the only real change should be a new manager. Coop has done a good job...Santana has (Look at how much jose improved defensively and how much the team did). Walker did good too.

And thats a White Sox Winner..so on a plus side they finish the season on a strong note. Congrats on #21 Estey

Happy Bday Awesome

Plane Awesome ELO

Hell ya ELO

Alomar/Guzman wouldn't be bad either. I'd suggest Vidro but I don't see a shot in a hell that we'd get him. I pretty much have him ticketed for LA. But I do think the Sox should invest money in the top of the order cause that is what sets it for your offense. Have guys on base and you can sign a bunch of power hitting .260 hitters for rather cheap and you'd score a ton of runs. Then keep this pitching staff in tact and your set.

I don't feel that way at all. The Central division is not that strong at all, and if/when the Twins lose a few guys because of money issues, they will come back a little bit. The Royals have to prove that they weren't a fluke, and their pitchers aren't scary at all. The Indians have a ways to go yet, they're going to be good, just maybe not next year. The Tigers are the Tigers. If the Sox can ( pardon the expression ) TINKER with the roster to add some On-Base kind of guys while keeping enough bang in the order, they can certainly stay competitive. There's no reason to think otherwise, given the guys who are likely to return. The Sox are not as good as we thought in August and they're not as bad as we think now. I agree. Sox are gonna be contenders next year and I pretty much guarantee that. With the Cubs making the playoffs the Sox can't bow down. They will have to step it up and show they want to win. I think they did that this season and will have to show the city, their fans and the media that they are serious again this year. That would start by hiring a damn good manager. The next case would be bringing back Colon and a lot of the team. Personally I don't think Alomar is the best way to spend the money. Unless they are also willing to bring in a good shortstop to go with him. I think the biggest thing the Sox should do is add a hell of a lot of speed at the top of the order, move Frank to the cleanup slot or 5 hole and deal Konerko. Also add Hawkins or another reliever into the pen and keep either Sully or Gordon. Do that and I think the Sox will be in contention in the central (Twins have proven time and time again they are the team to beat and will be until someone dethrones them).

Guys like Jose, Frank, Konerko have had years to show what they can do. They dont have chemistry at all and cant play smallball to save their asses. Instead of staying with this old, slow ballclub, why not give a chance to guys like Willie, Miles, Gload and see what they can do? We most likely arent going anywhere next season so why not start building for a real future? We could go somewhere if they really wanted to. As the Sox proved this year, you need balance in an offense. Yeah, a group of mashers can't win, but thinking a group of "smallball" players can win in the American League is ridiculous. You need to have your 40+homer bats (Frank) and you're stolen base threats. And you've got to be kidding if you think a lineup of Willie Harris, Ross Gload, and Aaron Miles is "building for the future. Ha. Pretty much everyone in the upper 2 divisions of the Sox farm system (with a few exceptions) is crap... No present, no future. The Sox need to keep the biggest bats (Thomas, Caballo, Ordonez, etc.) and add some key, players to the middle of the field. Agreed. The top of the order should be Matsui Castillo OR Castillo Guzman

I doubt Everett will be back. The Rangers have been making a lot of noise since they traded him about what a great guy Carl is and how much they'd like to have him back. I can't see the Sox matching Texas for his services. I'd much rather have a more traditional lead-off hitter in center anyway. Juan Pierre, anyone? I agree with you. The Sox biggest needs should be to get a #1 and #2 hitter. RIght now I don't think anyone on the lineup currently should be there unless Harris can get a .350 OBP or Miles can prove to be a good hitter (Miles would be the #2 guy). Luckily...someone named Matsui is available via free agnecy and he would be a beautiful two hole hitter. Then you could insert Jeremy Reed and him and go with an odd top of the order. Or you could bring back Roberto as well for one more year while you find another leadoff hitter. Or how bout this...Castillo from Florida. Invest the money in him...find a two hole hitter. Trade Konerko (This is a must..replace with Spiezo...I believe this will be a huge benefit; Konerko is a better hitter..Spiezo is a better all around player). And the key to all this...move Thomas to the 4 or 5 slot. Either put Carlos in the 3 hole with Maggs staying in cleanup or drop Carlos to the 5 hole, Maggs in the 3 hole and Frank hitting cleanup. Guzman could fit that bill. Instead of investing a lot in Matusi and having a shabby 2nd baseman, you get Castillo and Guzman. That would be a very good defensive infeild and it will also give the Sox a TON of speed at the top. Then you have Graffy and another on the bench for the infield and keep Daubs around if you can. In the outfield you can bring back Carl (If you can bring him and Colon back) or go with Arow/Reed. Some scenarios I wouldn't mind: Probably my favorite realistic scenario Luis Castillo Christian Guzman Carlos Lee Magglio Ordonez Frank Thomas Scott Spiezo Joe Crede Jeremy Reed/Aaron Rowand (or Carl if ya can bring him back) Miguel Olivo/Sandy or FA That lineup still has some guys who will hit 30 hrs (Potentially 5 of them..if Crede can do it) and I'd say there would be 5 20 hr guys. It also has some incredibly fast players at the top and then Thomas is the only slow guy there. Most of those guys know how to handle the stick and move guys over, with the exception of Thomas. If you don't bring back Everett, you use Rowand..etc in the outfield. If possible I'd love to see Castillo and Matsui brought in. DOn't know if the Sox would be willing to do it. If they were...I'd say Castillo gets 4-5 mill and Matsui 7-8. Thats a lot in the middle but you lose Konerko's 8 mill (Deal him for anything...just straight salary dump). You also lose Jose's 4.5 mill and you aren't paying Roberto 3-4 mill. So basically your saving 3 mill in this move. You give Spiezo a 2 yr 4 mill deal which is plenty for him. You could probably do it for 3 mill and throw in some incentives. So instead of having Jose...Alomar...Konerko you could have Matsui, Castillo, Spiezo. All of those guys can field...two can steal 40 bases a piece (i'd say the Sox could have 100 stolen bases between the two). Then the Sox need to get creative...don't spend the money on Everett, which would of been 5 mill. You look and see if their is another superstar out there you cna get that is signed longterm at a more affordable rate (Maybe to replace Magglio) or you sign Magglio longterm at 8 or 9 mill to be your star. Sorry, he ISN"T worth more then that. Give him a longterm deal that makes him feel secure and bump in some incentives that can up it to 11 mill a yaer if he's MVP. This lowers his salary for the first year, but gives him good terms the rest of the way. Next up you sign Colon at whatever they are offering..I'm gonna guess its 7-8 mill, about the same as he made this year. So the Sox payroll which was 53 mill or so this year. - Thomas adds another mill (Assuming he accepts the option; if he doesn't Sox replace him with Everett at 5 mill so it don't matter either way) - Matsui adds 3.5 mill over Jose Valentin (compared to Jose's salary this year) - Castillo adds 5 mill (we weren't paying Alomar) - Spiezo is a net -6 Mill (Konerko at 8 mill...compared with Spiezo at 2 mill) - Elo makes an additional 2.5 mill or so (Something like this) - Colon stays the same - Buehrle increases 2.5-3.0 mill - Garland increases 500 K - Carlos Lee stays about the same..max up 1 mill(Remember he made pretty good money last year..I figure he gets about a mill bump to around 5 mill a year). - Koch is up another mill - Marte goes up a mill or so - Someone pitches at Gordon's salary of this year - Someone pitches also at Gordon's salary this year (So figure about 3 mill more on the rest of the pen...allows Sox to add at least one quality arm and keep one of Gordon/Sully) Pretty much that figures most everything. This is a rough estimate and it would be an awesome lineup and pitching staff as well as a complete defensive team. The total payroll would be flat out 68-69 mill so figure 70 mill. I think thats exactly where the Sox want their payroll. My thought is, Kenny gets a bit creative he can keep a lot of the team the same while making some subtle moves to really improve the teams weakness as well as improve on its strenght. I don't know about everyone else but this rotation mixed with that lineup would look pretty damn good. Colon Buehrle Elo Garland Scho..or a youngster Bullpen Marte Koch Gordon or Sully Hawkins or another solid reliever Wunsch or Munoz or Sanders Wright Munoz/Sanders/Wunsch/Fa/Adkins/etc That pen has four guys that can close and then you have a good lefty specialist and a hell of a long reliever, plus the shot to give a youngster some seasoning. I don't know about everyone else, but that would look like one hell of a team to me.

Miles is fine as a backup. As I type this Miles ropes a double. This kid can hit. If the OBP slowly improves then he's a keeper, imo. Either way the kid is gonna be with the Sox next year playing a vital role off the bench. I wouldn't be shocked if Harris/Miles are playing 2nd base next season and the Sox take the money that would of went to Jose/Roberto and give it to a stud shortstop. To me I'd rather have a stud shortstop and see what you get out of Harris/Miles/Vet FA. We know they can all play solid defense and can do somethings. To me one of the main goals is adding another arm in the pen, finding your 5th starter, moving Konerko and replacing him with Spiezo. With the trade of Konerko..potentially find yourself a starting middle infielder to go along with the other guys that can do it.

Now thats small ball Willie is the man