Chisoxfn

I don't even want to think about next years lineup soley because if they suck this year, there isn't going to be a next year because almost anyone that is due money will be gone, imo. Buehrle won't be gone, but Colon would be and it would be shame not to have Colon and Buehrle at the top for a long time.

I've yet to figure that one out Cali. I keep calling for him to be called up to Birmingham who could really use some help at the top of the order. Plus Bham is playing Shaffer of all people at shortstop and he stinks. Get the duo of Reyes and Yan back together in AA.

You can hide it if Frank isn't a 3 hitter anymore, thats for sure.

Rip crede all you want, but the guy is still playing great defense. Offensively he will be fine. Had a basehit tonight and really looked a lot better at the plate. Seems to be coming out of his funk. Plus if I recall he's a slow starter typically or at least he was last year. I think he was doing pretty bad for the Knights early on and then just caught fire.

That would be sweet too. I'm with you. I think Konerko will be one of the better first baseman throughout his career. He's a great 5 hole hitter and Kotsay could move into the 2 hole pushing Jose back in the lineup giving the lineup more balance. Defensively we'd be much better. I'd still love to get rid of Frank for anything.

Wagner is filthy and my guess is he will be closing for the Red Sox if the Astros fall out of conention and even if they are in contention he may still be in Beantown. He's definately gone in the offseason though.

Very impressive. Its great to see him get back on track.

I agree with you Koch. The Thomas deal was something I was reachin on, simply because I don't see Thomas as a marketable player unless we take someone on with a high salary a team is looking to dump. The Klesko/Kotsay swap would be a big help for the Sox and I think it would help the Pads. Its one of those deals that would help both teams, imo. I'd really miss Konerko, but since we can't get rid of Frank Konerko would be the one to go. I'm a huge huge PK fan though.

Mainly wishful thinking but right now pretty much anyone with salary could go for the Padres if it would bring in a more established type player that would help draw crowds at the new park. Konerko and Lee could be players to build a franchise around but it was just an idea I came up with.

Damn, should of made my post in this thread. I'd fire Ward and hire Walker. Then I'd trade Konerko, Carlos Lee, and Willie Harris to San Diego for Kotsay and Klesko (if we could land a prospect or somehow pry Ramon Vazquez away then that would be great too) Next up I'd try and move Thomas for Higginson (Tigers could then dump Thomas pretty much and free space. Tigers would probably have to pay part of Higgy's salary. Then I'd be done with the moves. We'd of probably freed up a bit of money and I'd invest that money in the pitching staff.

Gagne, Smoltz and Percy are as filthy as it gets right now.

I like my idea of Kotsay more The problem is, if I'm a general manager I'd probably lock down on this idea. But he's one of those guys I just love to watch play.

Kotsay is one of my favs too Koch. The scouts are probably right, but I like him to Jim Edmonds, but healthier and with a bit less pop. Him and Klesko would each still 20 bases and draw plenty of walks and make the Sox a much more fundementally sound team. Right now I'd be really happy to move Lee and Konerko for that (Both would be fits) and they would be a bit younger for the Padres. Konerko is the kind of guy you could build an offense around in the Pads new ballpark. I like Konerko a ton, but if we can't unload Thomas, you got to move PK, imo. Could you imagine if we could somehow get the Tigers to take Thomas for Higgy. Then do the other swap. Have an outfield of Higgy, Kotsay, Maggs an infield of Crede, Jose (even though I cringe at the thought), Jimenez, and Klesko with Daubach dh'ing. Jose could also DH plenty with Aaron Miles or Tony Graffanino or even Hummell playing. We may become pretty lefty oriented, but we'd have a few switch hitters and lefty based teams can win, especially when you have a grand old righty in magglio ordonez in the middle of the lineup. Maggs, Olivo/Aloamr and Crede are enough righties to break it up, imo. The thing is, I've never ever heard of a team making this many moves all at once. I think they are all viable, but it doesn't happen in the majors for some reason. Maybe its cause it wouldn't work, but I'd sure as hell love this lineup. Jimenez Kotsay Klesko Maggs Higgy Crede Daubach Jose Olivo/Alomar

A ton of money, but thats the kind of guy we'd have to give up absolutely nothing to get, other then cash of course. I'd rather resign our current pitchers, imo. Womack can play center though right?

probably the big reason was the game was over when jose made his error so at that point it was like so freakin what...had he did that in the first inning and it lead to the 2 runs that it did we all would have been on him too.. plus jimenez 's was a routine pop up...we see guys make throwing errors al lthe time...but NOBODY drops a routine pop up..and it couldnt have caused more damage..3 unearned runs... a real scorekeeper would have given him 2 errors on that play too..first for dropping it..and a 2nd for kicking it rf and letting the 3rd run score.. timing is everything in life The thing is, everyone is so heavily against him it seems. I'd b**** if it looked like he wasn't hustling on it, but he looked up for the ball and didn't look like he was dogging it or anything. I'm assuming he lost the ball in the lights. Its definately inexcusable and I complained about it, but I also complained about Jose's error, because it put the game out of reach and to me ever error matters. Even if they don't score another run a pitcher has to throw more pitches and if that doesn't hur them this game those extra pitches when magnified with all the other errors could lead him to being more fatigued or something along those lines.

He seems to say a ton of things that I'd agree with, so I believe he'd be my style of manager. I also think he's always got the best out of his clubs. Looking back I can't say there was a time when one of his clubs underachieved. I could of said last years bunch, but look at what Howe has done with them. They are even worse and thats after adding Tom Glavine.

Well I just came up with my new idea of the week. Lee, Konerko and Harris for Klesko and Kotsay. We are way better defensively, pick up two great baserunners and fill the woes in center (meaning Daubach can now play left) and can bring up Aaron Miles or Rowand as a backup. We could also use Borchard.

Lets try to think of some guys that are on the market that could help the team. Obviously their is Carlos Beltran, but I think the Sox have too many needs right now to give up so many players to KC. -Bobby Higginson (But he does have a hefty contract He would provide left handed pop and is a very good defensive player. To me he's a big time improvement over Carlos. But only a good move if the Tigers pay a large part of his payroll (They may be willing to do it). He shouldn't be tough to get. -Rafael Furcal I love this guy but I think it would be tough to get him from the Braves. He is super fast and would be great at the top of the order with Jimenez (Jose moves down and becomes DH after these trades; Daubach also plays a lot more sometimes at DH other times in outfield, othertimes at first). Would they go after a swap involving Lee or Konerko? I doubt it, especially since they are playing so good. -Ryan Klesko Doubt we could get him, but he'd be a sweet deal. I'd trade Konerko for Klesko. It would be a rather fair swap, imo. Both are relatively young, not sure what the contract is of Klesko but I think he just signed long term as well. Most importantly Klesko is really smooth at first and can also play outfield. He provides real good left handed power and not looking at stats I'd swear he draws quite a few walks. San Diego could definately be willing to move him. -Mark Kotsay Really good centerfielder both defensively and offensively. Don't think their is much of a shot to pry him away from San Diego, but you never know. A package to land him and Klesko would be awesome, but they'd be nuts to do it for Carlos and Konerko, wouldn't they? Throw in Willie Harris, you could have a deal. -Shannon Stewart Many have talked about him, so I figured to mention him. If anyone else has any ideas, add on, and maybe the Sox will listen or maybe they will catch fire on their own. I'd just like to see Jose move to DH, the Sox drop a few of their righties with other guys that aren't one dimensional (Only offensive players) and pick up better guys.

Thomas is the one person you can't blame Ward for. Ward doesn't do crap with him. Thomas was at least more agressive, but oh well. He got quite a few meatballs today. Konerko was impressing me trying to go opposite field and he has been doing so for a while. Him and Olivo have been about the only guys willing to do so lately. I'm with KOCH 100% in what he says.

The Sox must move one of Carlos Lee, Frank Thomas or Paul Konerko. I'm sick of having all these righties and its time to bring a speed game to the table. Bring in some more lefty bats with speed that can play defense. I'd actually be perfectly happy if all three were gone, but if we moved all three we'd have to get at least two very good starters in return. Plus we'd be cutting a ton of money meaning they can sign the pitchers, and that is key.

Bobby V would be such a great hire.

Graff should play ever game against left handed pitching. Why he wasn't in their against one of the best is proposterous. I know Jimenez made an error, but he is a much better hitter against lefties then Jose. Also, why are so many complaining about Jimenez's error, yet I hear nothing of the sort about yet another error by Jose. Jose's cost the Sox a couple runs too and he makes errors far more often then D'Angelo.

Well what a surprise. Maggs finally drives one opposite field and gets a double. Konerko strikes out on an inside pitch, but that was a tough call. PK was trying to go oppo field the whole at bat.

I have no problem with a dp if the approach is right. The last few I've seen Konerko hit into he's been using the right approach. I really haven't seen maggs try to shoot it opposite field much at all this season. The sad thing is, his entire career he has been willing to do that. What I want to know is what are people telling him. Is Ward telling him to hit more homers or something. If he is he needs to shut up. Homers come. You got to preach to all your hitters to hit to right field and take your hits cause any good hitting coach would know, when you do that you'll get inside pitches to drive and the homers will come.

In this case it will be the firing of the hitting coach and possibily JM or Williams or both leaving.