Chisoxfn

They don't have more talent, but they have better fundementals.

If Hawkins is available, sign him. The guy is an absolute stud and if Guzman or Jones become available sign them too. Those are three guys on the Twins I'd take in a heartbeat. As far as Jose, ditch him. Of course he's starting once again tonight. JM, USE TONY G, especially against lefties. Plus, for pete sake, don't get that option to vest.

I still say move Thomas and Konerko. I hope Thomas can get a long term deal somewhere else. And if Thomas turns down the Sox option and puts the pressure on the Sox, there is no way I'd offer him 8 mill so he'd be gone that way too (Although, this year he can test free agency without declining the option). With Konerko, I'd personally move him looking for a middle infield prospect (YOu know the Sox need one) or a good young reliever. I wouldn't be asking for much cause the big thing is using his money on someone else. So when you trade Konerko for a nobody, you spend that 8 million on a better somebody (or a few of them). Then to replace the first base gap, the Sox can sign a guy cheap. Look at people like Daubach/Ortiz and others that will be out there and bring in two of them and let the best one win and the other play on the bench. Preferably have one lefty and one a righty. THere are plenty of guys that could put up solid numbers (Daubach is one of them) when given consistent playing time. I know you would lose a bit of production with Everett replacing Thomas and someone like Daubbie or other replacing Konerko, but you would add less one dimensional players. Everett can do the little things and not be a typical "DH" and open up room for a do everything guy like Rowand or Reed or even Borchard (Sorry, I think he gets dealt this offseason). At short you get a player that can play defense, get on base, and do the little things (Run, etc) and Matsui fits that bill. You could move him to the 2 hole with Carlos Lee moving to the 3 hole (He will fit in good there) and Maggs in the cleanup slot. This way you have Alomar/Matsui at the top (Two good small ball guys) then two good contact hitters as well as guys that will have a very solid obp, power numbers and avg at the 3 and 4 (Lee/Maggs) and then you get your lefty in there at the 5 slot in Everett (Good OBP, Good Power, GOOD RBI and a good runner). So your first 5 guys all have good speed. At the 6 slot you go with Crede (HE's shown that he's a productive player; He will come up with clutch hits a solid avg, great defense, and power; Not a high OBP for now). Then in the 7 hole you go with your first baseman (Hopefully a lefty; Ala Daubach). You look for this guy to provide OBP, some power and to be a good contact hitter (Scott Spiezo would be very nice). In the 8 slot you go with your young centerfielder who can do everything decent, especially the little things and then you have the catching combo in the 9 hole (Alomar Sr if he wants to stay and Olivo). Alomar Jr or Matsui (3 Mill) Matsui or Alomar Jr (7 Mill) Carlos Lee (6 Mill) Magglio (14 Mill) Everett (5 Mill) Joe Crede (500K) 1st Baseman (500K to 2 mill) Outfielder (Rowand/Reed/Borchard; CHEAP) Olivo/Alomar/VET FA (CHEAP) Thats a combined 38 mill at most devoted to the offense Rotation Colon (8-9 Mill) Buehrle (4 Mill; assuming he accepts a long term deal; otherwise it be less) Loaiza (3.5 mill; I think thats what his option is) Garland (2-3 mill; Give him a nice reward; Probably a very high estimate though) Insert Scho/Cotts/Rauch/Veteran to incentive laden deal (MAX 2 mill if incentives kick in; Most likely incredibly cheap) Rotation = 20 mill (Pretty high estimate) Bullpen Koch (7 mill; think thats what he makes) Gordon (2 mill; seems fair) Marte (2 mill; just a guess, could be much less) Sullivan (3.1 mill if the Sox want to) Wright (500 K) Wunsch (600 K) Sanders/Munoz (300 K) Free Agent (SIgn a vet for cheap; cause I'd like to see one more reliever) Bullpen = 14 mill max Total Payroll = 72 mill. The big ifs are Thomas/Konerko being gone. You also know that the following year Magglio won't make 14 mill a year and you lose Koch's salary. Others will increase, but the Sox now have most of their guys signed long term and you have this team built for the long haul. You give a few youngsters positions, but keep them in protected positions, where you don't need a lot out of them.

If reed tears up spring training, then I'd start him. Neither Borchard or Rowand have put up good numbers to earn the start. Now if they also have huge springs its another story. Reed should be in AAA regardless. You can play Borchard in right with Reed in AAA. Either way Rowand/Borchard will likely be in Chicago next year.

Get rid of PK and Thomas and then you can make some real big changes to the offense and keep the pitching staff in tact. Actually if I dump Thomas, then I'd offer Everett a deal around 3-4 mill a year to DH and play outfield a bit. He's got such a great attitude, is a heads up baserunner, and can pitch in in so many ways. Then add the shortstop and stick a young guy in center most of the time with Maggs/Lee around him and ocassionally have Everett out there (Great Veteran leadership). Bring back someone to fill Sullivans role (if its not him, maybe Foulke depending on what he wants; but only way that happens is if Koch is gone somehow; So call that a pipedream; But him Gordon, Marte - LETHAL).

I sure hope Brady Quinn Starts. THe other team I root for Iowa, will be going up against ASU (Ranked #16) in what should be a very good game.

Hitting .400 in AA means you don't repeat. He'll be in AAA at the very least next year and will be knocking on everyones door early, but I doubt he'll get the starting job right out of the gates. Rowand and Borchard will both be on the active roster, imo. Harris or Miles will be as well. The other won't be in the organization. As far as Maggs, don't be shocked if he gets dealt along with Konerko. I think the Sox are gonna do a bit of retooling. Maggs definately won't be the one they want gone, but their is a possibility you could see him go if they can't work a long term deal cause they won't go into the season without him signed, imo. If I ran this team, you'd see Lee, Crede, Rowand, Borchard, Olivo and Maggs as the position players that stick around. I'd move Konerko (Not because I don't like him, but because his salary is way too much, especially at this time of lower salary). YOu also have to get rid of Jose. That is a MUST in my book. Jose is not that good of a player and is incredibly one dimensional. He is a power hitter against right handed pitching. That is the only thing he can do. Show him a lefty or a curveball and your toast. You'd be just as well off with me at the plate. Another guy you'd try to move is Billy Koch (Simply because of salary again). This pen has proved that it doesn't need him. He won't be going anywhere though, unless another team who has an overpriced closer is looking to swap. This means the Sox are stuck with him one year. In regards to Colon, you try and reup with him. If you can then you keep that rotation in tact with an in house replacement as your 5th starter. I think Bartolo has shown enough of why this team needs him. He's a freaking stud workhorse and can absolutely carry a team. He's made huge strides late in the year and is gonna win a cy young in his career and I hope its with us. With Buehrle, you sign him now. His value is down and a 4 yr deal around 4 to 5 mill is exactly what the doctor ordered. You also offer the same for Elo. Give him less years though, probably a 2 year extension. At 2nd and Short the Sox go on the market looking for something. If you can get ALomar at a year and 2.5 mill then you go at him. Or 2 yr 4 MILL (2 per year). Otherwise you see what else is on the market. When it comes to teh shortstop position, look long and hard at the Japanese player and if that doesn't look realistic make a big move for a young shortstop. Maybe deal with the rival Twins if Guzman doesn't get cut. Guzman would be one of my targets. If the Sox are gonna lose Maggs, then you have Rowand/Borch and Reed for their and go with Jacque Jones or someone good in center that will be cheaper. The payroll is definately gonna increase, but you cut Everett, Konerko, and Jose from the books and you lose 21 mill next year (Everett's doesn't really count, but based on his salary). Either way they cut 13 mill of actual payroll and then will be keeping Colon's salary close to the same (No biggie there) and Maggs goes up a bit (4 mill more; leaves you with 9 mill). Some of that money goes to Carlos who probably gets 5-6 mill a year over 3 years. That is only a two mill increase over what he currently makes so you now have 7 mill. Pay Buehrle the extra 4 mill and Elo some extra money (his option) and thne you have all those guys and roughly the same salary. So the additions come with Alomar Jr (Not much) and minor arbitration. This leaves the money to add a little more payroll or something later in the year. AND if by some Chance Frank turns down his option, then jump for joy as you free up another 5 mill. That means that you could lose Frank, Jose, and Konerko and bring back Alomar Jr, Colon and a stud shortstop (Tejada/Matsui) and bring back Scott Sullivan. If somehow you could dump: Jose (DON"T LET THAT OPTION VEST), PK, Thomas, and Everett then I'd be very happy.

Look out cause i'm making my comeback. Had a much better week, although I biffed the monday night game.

I'm sure it is. I remember doing a contest for SoxNet on ocassion and there were only like 10 people in it and it was a royal pain in the ass.

Classic yet True.

I will root for Jose, but my dislike for him has never been a secret. He's incredibly over-rated although I will give him credit for much improved defense. At the plate he's atrocious though. Never willing to draw a walk and will strike out an absolute ton, especially if temas only threw him curve balls in the dirt. Come on KELLY.

Definately agree with that. As far as leaving Loz in. I think JM had to. He was hoping that Elo would get things figured out. Plus, he had to know that going to the pen early could cost the Sox the entire series instead of just one game. I still got faith in tonights game. Come on Sox, score some runs and let the Sox pitching hold the Twins the rest of the night and the rest of the series.

And he's got a sprained ankle. And your right, Maggs was swinging for the fences, but he rarely does that.

Wow...shocked they scored. Carlos Hustling as always. Good call. Now come on PK, BIG HIT

This time Maggs fails with two on and one out. f***ING BEAUTIFUL.

I still hope Frank kicks ass the rest of the way and then leaves the Sox and gets a multi year deal elsewhere. I'd much rather have a damn good shortstop then Frank Thomas.

If this was known yesterday then JM is a f***ing moron. A complete moron. JG has been pitching his ass of all year and would of been just fine. If this is something that came up today and for whatever reason they couldn't go to JG then and only then is that an excuse. Still, I'm really questioning. For cripes sake he was gonna PUKE??? well jason its about damn time you see this for what it really is...... a cluster f***.......jm is a f***in moron........tinker tinker tinker........we cant seem to get enough..... :fyou the management of this team and its owner.......someone should have had balls enough to tell or say to jm hey the guys sick dont start him .........geez us I've wanted Manuel out since the end of last season. I gave him last year as the year to show that the injuries were the excuse for the demise in 2001. It wasn't the case and I was ready for him to be gone. Backman has been my guy for a while and I know you've been backing him too

I haven't seen heartless play persay. I've seen teh team fail to execute cotinuosly over the season. Its not this game that will lose the season for the Sox, it wil be the countless games that they should of won that they didn't. The games where they failed to knock the man in with less then 2 outs and a runner on 3rd. The games where they failed to close out with HUGE leads. The games that they got handed to them by Detroit. These are not games that could of went either way. These are games the Sox should of freaking owned, but they own half assed play and poor coaching (The lack of stressing the fundementals and the lack of a constant lineup) led to them. With that said, it ain't over till the fat lady sings.

Twins made it sound like he had a sore throat and other stuff, so that wouldn't be from eating. I dunno, but either way, I'd think they could of moved up JG on short notice. Hell, it would of been a nice thing to pull on the Twins who expect one thing and get another. If the man is sick give him the extra day rest. JG would of been on his normal rest if he went today.

Have we all season? Why start now?? Its never too late to do the things that are needed to win in the playoffs. I've b****ed about this all year and in previous years and it is my biggest reason why I want JM the hell out of here. Unfortunately seeing him go means the Sox don't make the playoffs and I have such HUGE expectations for this year.

If this was known yesterday then JM is a f***ing moron. A complete moron. JG has been pitching his ass of all year and would of been just fine. If this is something that came up today and for whatever reason they couldn't go to JG then and only then is that an excuse. Still, I'm really questioning. For cripes sake he was gonna PUKE???

F the Sox and their lack of clutch hitting and their unwillingness to do the little things (With exception to Roberto, Crede, and Konerko). Now its time for Scho to step his ass up and play a huge part. You want to start next year, well start off by kicking some ass in this relief performance and keeping the Twins at 4 runs. Offense, get some s*** going. Do what you got to do. I just am scared that if you don't whack a few homers, you'll never score a thing.

Elo was sick according to the Twins broadcasters. He mentioned it before the game. I guess this will start a new debate of whether Manuel should of skipped Garland. Especially if he knew that Elo was sick last night.

They are hitting, until you get two guys on.

s***...double play. For cripe sakes SMALL BALL. I don't give a s*** if they are down 4 runs. There are a ton of innings left. Get some freaking runs on the board (Like one and then you can use it to get ya back into a groove). They should of been utilizing it in the 1st (With Frank doing everything he could to get them to 2nd and 3rd) and they should of been doing it after Crede's leadoff single in the 3rd. Everett hit a line shot, but it still didn't pay off. For s*** sakes, EXECUTE.