Chisoxfn

I think Gordon will be gone. The Sox are gonna get some draft picks for him and he was very productive. I'd call it a productive move. The Sox should look for someone more stable. See who stays out there. Relievers aren't making as much as they were two years ago and some good ones will be out there as they are everyyear. The Sox need to have two really good guys around Marte...and thats not counting Koch.

Itzuris is a fantastic defensive shortstop. Offensively he's still growing, but I think he will turn into a productive offensive player. If the Sox could get Mota and Odalis Perez as well as Itzuris then I'd say heck ya. Don't know if that would happen though. Then the Sox would have 20 mill available to sign Colon an bring in Castillo at 2nd. Then they use Everett and they have a good outfield or they could make a push at someone else they like.

Damn thats weird. Gonna do that one fix then tomorrow when I change the board over

Manuel>Shoop. Shoop = Jauron = Blache = Morons and Associates

Good grief this is freaking ugly. What the hell happened to Marty Booker. By the way...MORE DAVID TERRELL. Will someone please give these guy the starting job and let him grow accustom. He is a freaking PLAYA.

I go with Lincoln and Jefferson.

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. This really comes down to Frank's ego. If he walks declines the 6MIL option then he's trashing a guaranteed 27MIL contract. That's what remains. I suspect his agent is on the phone now seeing if there's a sucker out there willing to offer him 24/3. Frank 101: 2004: Frank 6MIL, SOX only 8MIL 2005: Frank 8MIL, SOX only 10MIL, Frank buyout 2MIL 2006: Frank 10MIL, SOX only 12MIL, Frank buyout 2MIL 2007: Frank 12MIL, SOX only 14MIL, SOX buyout 3MIL Again, what the SOX gained in this contract is the right to trade him any time, any where. He waived his 5/10 yr rights. Don't be shocked if thats what happens. I really think they may unload him. He's pretty valuable on the open market and could get someone valuable in return (Not an all star...but a valuable piece none the less). Of course I'd say right now there is about an 80% shot that he returns (just my estimate).

I've pretty much decided if the Sox are gonna spend the money do it on Cabrerra/Castillo. I'd rather have those two then Matsui and Miles/Harris/Whoever at 2nd.

Somes teams are cutting the advanced scout. Read an article in BA a while back on this. Saying they could do just as good of a job watching it from tv. They said the only thing they really missed was the outfield alignment and such. I think the Cards, Rockies and Padres were some of the teams that dropped them. I do agree things need to be changed, but Rex and others brought up a good point in regards to the players having to listen to them.

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.