Chisoxfn

It sounds like he's doing good. WAY TO GO HEATH!!!!!

No biggie, I'm not one to make a scene. I've had little to no part in setting up this site. I just move a post or two around and make graphics. I think very soon you'll have more involement, cause with the opening of futuresox, you'll have more responsibilities.

Hey I can't agree more. This isn't my column. I disagree with it. I think it was well written, but I don't think the top of the order (Jimenez and now Lee) has been the problem. I also think its nuts to trade Colon without getting Weaver.

Trading Colon Could be the Solution By Rob Knowles May 29, 2003 SoxNet.net The excitement of that cold winter day when Bartolo Colon came to Chicago is long gone. The days of dreaming how his triple digit fastball would look in October are looking like nothing more than that-dreams. It has not been Colon’s fault that the Sox are slipping in the standings. Colon, with the exception of Esteban Loiaza, has been the most consistent player on the team. No, Colon has not been the problem--the offense (or lack thereof) is the problem. How can the White Sox fix this atrocious offense? While contemplating my next submission to SoxNet.net, I thought a great deal about that topic. First, I had to focus on two problems which reared their ugly heads in the spring and still continue to plague this offense. The problems are a lack of consistent hitting at the top of the order, and no production from center field. It is obvious the only way this can be resolved is to trade outside the organization. The Sox haven’t developed any top of the order guys that are ready to take on the task, and Joe Borchard is simply not ready to become an every day major leaguer. Trade possibilities are always something fans love to talk about. Perhaps it’s due to the feeling of power that comes with these conversations (rather like being a general manager), so I enjoyed coming up with possibilities on how to fix the Sox problem. All of the possible trades resorted back to trading one player in particular - Bartolo Colon. What team in contention would not want this guy? After thinking for a while, I devised the following plan on how the Sox could try to save their season. An obvious candidate for Bartolo Colon is the New York Yankees. With a bottomless wallet and a never ending search for the perfect team, the Yankees would use Colon to replace struggling Jeff Weaver. With age also a factor for the Yankees, Colon would supply them with an ace if Roger Clemens or David Wells were to be placed on the DL. Since the Yankees also could use reassurance in the bullpen, the Sox would ship Gary Glover out in the same deal. In return for Glover and Colon, the Yankees would give the Sox Juan Rivera, Erick Almonte, and Jose Garcia. Rivera, a solid hitting outfielder, was hitting .327 in AAA Columbus before being called up while Bernie Williams nurses a knee injury. Rivera is the Yankees’ top prospect but with Hideki Matsui, possibly Raul Mondesi, and possibly Vladimir Guerrero lined up for next season, Rivera is expendable. Almonte, a shortstop, also has a good bat. He replaced Derek Jeter earlier in the season and hit .270 over the stretch. Garcia would be the final piece of the trade, as he has compiled a 1.98 ERA over 6 starts in high-A ball. The White Sox could ship Carlos Lee and Edwin Almonte to Baltimore for Sidney Ponson and Melvin Mora. Lee has consistently disappointed at the plate, and has had problems defensively in left field. With Juan Rivera taking his spot, Lee could be sent to Baltimore, a team desperately looking for power in the corners. Edwin Almonte is a closer in the Sox organization, but is already 26 and would be valued more by Baltimore. Ponson would replace Colon in the rotation, and Mora, who hit over 20 home runs in 2002 and is batting .321 this season, would be the new Sox center fielder. Luis Matos would be the Baltimore center fielder if Mora left. This combination of trades would strengthen the Sox lineup, with either Almonte or Mora being inserted at the top, and Valentin being placed on the bench. It also gives the Sox another young talented pitcher in 26-year-old Ponson. If the Sox do not win with these additions, they would at least have a long-term shortstop, a solid middle of the rotation pitcher, and (if Mora continues to play well) a solid centerfielder. Although it is somewhere between unlikely and impossible that these trades would ever see the light of day, they illustrate how trading Colon could change the entire White Sox dynamic. It’s Kenny Williams’ turn to be creative.

Damn straight. Heads its about time you figure it out.

Why the hell is drew carey getting cancelled?

I'm loving my family guy dvd. Family guy whenever I want to see it. Plus I missed so many episodes cause I never knew what damn time the show was on (Stupid ass fox for changing the show around a million times). PITTS was way lame and its no shock futurama was gone. Funny first two seasons, maybe 3, then got lame.

If Colon wins them the series, they will trade Sanchez and more for him.

I always have said that Boras is the freaking man when it comes to being an agent. There is no way I'd want anyone other then him.

Hummel could play short. I think Jimenez has enough range to play short and a good enough arm. Its not ideal, but Eckstein plays there and he has much fewer defensive tools then Jimenez.

Thats what i always called the real Rex Hudler when he played. I think they call him that during some of the broadcasts (Angel games) as well. It was in reference to the poster here Rex Hudler.

I think we could get Sanchez if we do a package with Colon or if we trade Koch. Now that they are getting Kim, makes things more difficult though.

Lol so true. Your one of the best strategist when it comes to those type of situations. And for example, on Crede's homer that went foul in Bmore. If you didn't argue it, you'd see me running onto the field to argue with the ump, lol.

One thing that I really like about Crede is just how quick his hands are. If he could ever hone his eye, he'll be really good. Thats why I think he's going to be a stud. His discipline should improve and his hand eye coordination as well as power to all parts of the field is very impressive. We all know I love Jimenez's approach at the plate, so that wasn't shocking.

Someone told me back when Rauch was in AA that they had like a screenshot from behind the plate. Don't know if it was from barons.com or not.

no problem Tex. I enjoy helping out here and hopefully one day I'll be running the Sox so you can all whine and complain about me

Anyone know if you can watch the games on tv. I heard from someone that they used to have them on tv (via the net) and was going to see if thats still viable?

With Wells he was hurt well before the Sox were out of the race. I think he was hurt after the first month or so of the season so trading him wasn't really an option. Maybe I'm remembering it wrong though?

Mike, just tell me and I'll do your report for as long as you need it. I'm fine now that finals are done tomorrow. Let me also give Mike some quick props as he's the real expert behind the prospects. I rank him ahead of me. I also rank the Hudmeister on the board as awesome on minor league players and I love hearing everyone elses insites as well.

When I was there he looked good in the field and good at the plate. I guess it really makes a difference on how you evaluate someone based on a few days. I saw him more towards the beginning, I think like the 10th. Then again, he was playing against lesser competition at the time. He got better each at bat I saw. I think he played in both of the games I saw. Didn't see Brumbaugh, other then seeing some general bp with him. Or at least I didn't think I did. Munoz was off when I saw him, although I saw the potential.

In regards to Jose, he could be a viable option in St. Louis. They lost Fernando Vina for a while. Don't know if they want to add the payroll though (The Cards).

Caballo.

Oh ya, really quick I will add what Futuresox.com is It is a new site that we are developing that will be soley for whitesoxminor league baseball. And of course it will be in "affiliation" with Soxnet and Soxtalk. If anyone is interested in writing stuff dealing with minor leaguers, shoot me an email at jason@futuresox.com or jason@soxnet.net We hope to have the site up soon. I'm done with school tomorrow and am going to get to work designing it and dont' want to release it until it is rather complete. Some stories on futuresox (The major ones) will be syndicated over on SoxNet while more minor minor league news will stay there. Of course all of it will be posted here. Hopefully it goes well. I'm excited about it, cause right now I need something to take my mind off the Sox

And in the ninth inning Brantley was talking to whoever the other guy was and they started talking about best closers. They brought up the name Billy Koch and Brantley immediately began questioning the way Manuel handles his pen instead of questioning Koch. He said that as a closer he knew that you weren't always on and that the best thing is to let them work out of it. He also implied that Manuel has that pen up in arms and no one knows their role, which is a huge reason the pen is in shambles. I'm not going to say the pen is in shambles, but I thought it was interesting hearing it from a former closer.

Wow thats quite a few guys all coming from the same area.