Chisoxfn

The Phils have been mentioned as one of the teams that could use an upgrade at closer. They have Lidge, who has great stuff and a proven track record of successes and failures. He has a great arm and if the Sox are able to get a solid prospect and cash from the Phils, it could turn into a solid deal. What does everyone else think? And I note that the Phils would have to agree to send a s***-ton of money the Sox way, since Lidge makes like 11.5M a year through 2011. Or lets hypothetically say the Sox dealt Jenks and Linebrink to the Phils for Lidge, cash, and a good prospect. Sox get a few more million that can go to signing a DH, get a good prospect, and still have a guy that has all of the stuff to be a great closer.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 14, 2009 -> 02:41 PM) But he is coming off 4 awful seasons in the NL -- .329 OBP and .688 OPS, fun -- and put up a .263/.317/.324/.641 over his final ~300 plate appearances last year. I'm not willing to give up a player and pay $6M-$8M over 2 years on a bad baseball player just because he's fast and hits singles. I agree, 6-8M is way too much if that is what it ultimately takes. If you can get him in the 3-4M range, than I could see it making a bit of sense, given the Sox financial restraints. It goes hand in hand with a supposed Crisp signing, it wouldn't excite me, but in combination with a good DH signing, I'd say the team would be in a great position to contend.

QUOTE (chisox2334 @ Dec 14, 2009 -> 02:41 PM) vlad isnt coming to southside folks. ozzie wants dh that can play the field and he dosent fit the description. sorry If Matsui could play the field, so could Vladdy. Not regularly, but you could always stick him in left in a pinch. I wouldn't recommend it, but with an off-season of rest he'd be capable of playing 1-2 times a week in the field.

QUOTE (docsox24 @ Dec 14, 2009 -> 02:38 PM) To ignore how poorly Rios hit would also be a mistake. He definitely hit real bad and I kind of think Kenny would take a do-over if he had to do it all over, but the club has a lot of Rios left under contract and historically speaking he's been an above average right fielder and if you moved those stats to left and factored in his defense, he's an above average centerfielder. I hate writing a guy off over a horrendous two month stretch. The Sox have tapes and he's had a lot of major league success. Rios will figure it out.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Dec 14, 2009 -> 02:31 PM) Then that is a very mediocre offseason. One really good and one really bad. Especially considering how bad we need offense. A Cy Young Award winner and an all star that is on the right side of 30. I'd call those pretty darn good moves for an off-season. Sure, Kenny has more things to do, but to ignore what happened at the deadline would be a mistake. Those moves were made a lot more for 2010 and beyond than they were for 2009.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 14, 2009 -> 02:23 PM) Well, aside from the whole '2 week' thing he's right. I know you'd disagree with me, but if the Dodgers picked up most of his salary he wouldn't be that bad of a move. I realize you can't stand Pierre and that stats point him out as pretty worthless and I'd agree with a lot of it, but given the Sox needs they could do a lot worse than giving up nothing for Pierre (if they could get him like that) and pay him maybe 3-4M a season. He had a very good season last year, but the big thing that kills Juan is that he just doesn't get on base at a high enough clip, nor is he a good defensive player. He's a little bit better, more consistnet version of Pods, and if the Sox get a solid DH that would be enough, but again, I'd think you could make a case that Crisp would again be the better get. That said, Pierre isn't coming off a serious injury (see Crisp) nor does he have the injury riddled past of a Pods.

So is this actually done?

What the heck?

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 14, 2009 -> 12:00 PM) Matsui is going to sign with the Angels. One year $6.5 million. Is that official?

QUOTE (Jimbo's Drinker @ Dec 10, 2009 -> 11:59 AM) Sad that people picked Howland as a top 5 coach in the nation also. Have you seen the guys track-record? He built Pitt into a national top 15 program, turned UCLA back into a power-house (3 final four apperances in 4 years) and he's having a down season. UCLA should never be this bad though.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Dec 14, 2009 -> 11:20 AM) As Ed O'Bradavich said Greg Olson is the first player to actually play smaller and slower than they really are. The Aroma thing that made Lovie look bad was that they saw all of this in practice?????? Huh....why is he behind Bennet and Hester than? I think the coaching staff continues to show that they are unable to get players to progerss as they mature and make sound decisions about both personnel and game managment. That last series was an embarassment. What does Pep Hamilton do? Completely agree.

He will definitely be one of the many DH candidates the Sox consider. There are serious concerns around his health though, much like Carlos Delgado, who could be another option, despite the fact that Delgado hates Chicago.

That would make the BoSox rotation a lot stronger, imo. Lackey is a good bet to be a pretty solid #2 for a long-time. The money and years are too much for a guy that has had some nagging arm issues the past couple seasons and we know he isn't a true #1, but Boston can afford to overpay a starter.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 13, 2009 -> 02:19 PM) I'll gladly take Putz at $3M over Carrasco at ~$1.5M, the potential upside between the 2 isn't even close. Somehow I'm not too broke up about losing the 33 year old coming off a career year as a mop-up man. It stinks losing him because he had a lot of value as a long-reliever. However, you dont' want him pitching in the 7th/8th innings of games you are winning and if he is getting 2-3M he's going to get into those games and I think that would be a mistake. DJ will be able to find a job and start for some team and I wish him the best cause he was valuable on the south-side in his role for a great price, but now the Sox can turn things over to Hynick or Hudson or someone else and I'm fine with that. The mop-up guy shouldn't be the reason why your team does or doesn't make the playoffs, imo. Putz at 3M could end up being a guy that really helps your pen be lights out and that would have a ton of value.

QUOTE (LDF @ Dec 14, 2009 -> 09:38 AM) jose arredondo, imo would be a great gamble (reclammation) looking for 2011. i players i have been looking at seems to be pitchers,. scott olsen (before he signed with the nat), matt capps, even miller.... i just thought of this a an inexpensive way of getting the players who can help without giving up prospects. with ref to position players, is there any out there in the no tendered that tickles anybody fancy? A few people have mentioned Ryan Garko, but given the Sox needs, I just don't know if there are any great fits, outside of some of the catchers that were non-tendered (John Buck/Miguel Olivo). By the way, as always, good to see ya around LDF!!!

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 13, 2009 -> 03:57 PM) Billick was saying during the game that you just dont know if that is on Cutler or if it is on Knox for running the incorrect route in that situation. We wont ever know unless they come out and say it, but it doesnt matter it goes on Cutlers record Cutler has kept his mouth shut for a while, but after almost every pick you see him over talking with one of his young wide-outs and explaining to him what he should do. Than you see the replay and you'll see the vast majority of the time the WR being talked to made the wrong cut. When I say that, I mean a WR needs to read the situation usually and cut one way or the other depending on where the defender is. Jay is going to throw the way he expects you to break and most of the time he's had his ugly picks, the WR has gone the other way. We saw it again countless times in todays' game. You also see him working to make things better and Knox is getting better and Arash looks like he could be pretty damn solid. Great body control and good hands from what I've seen in his limited action. Bout f***ing time he gets to play after Jay has lobbied for him all damn season.

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Dec 13, 2009 -> 02:54 PM) I'm still very much behind Jay Cutler, having said that (sorry larry david) I cannot defend that second interception. He eyeballed Knox the entire time, and there was absolutely no reason to throw the ball in that situation, it wasn't even a good defensive play. . . Jay threw the ball directly to Collins and Knox wasn't even in the vicinity. I believe that Jay has the ability to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league. . . but he is far from a finished product and may have been a little spoiled in Denver with that offensive line and those receivers. He needs to stop making the kind of decisions that cost the team points and victories. In addition to firing Ron Turner, I hope they fire Pep Hamilton as well. I don't know what role he plays as the QB coach, but he has failed to develop any player under his tutelage and I'd like to have someone spend time with Jay who can get into his head a little bit more. What a disappointing season. He wasn't in the vicinity because Jay was expecting Knox to come back. I think Jay should have probably taken the sack, but at the same time, the reason that ball was directly to Collins was because Knox kept slipped and kept running a bit as opposed to coming back on the ball which is what Jay expected given that you are taught to come back when a QB is pressured.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Dec 13, 2009 -> 12:51 PM) Unbelievably stupid challenge, well really the challenge itself was bad but challenging after the TO is what makes it truly indefensible. Also, Greg Olsen please make a difficult catch for once in your life. Olsen isn't that good and the Bears would be best suited trading him. He doesn't have great hands, can't block and while he has great speed and everything else, it really is off-set by a lot of other things. I really think if I were the Bears I'd try to move Olsen/Hester for 2nd round picks each and use those picks to address other needs. The money saved can go towards helping the Bears hire new coaches as well as allow them to throw some money at a wideout.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Dec 13, 2009 -> 12:47 PM) lovie should be fired on the spot for this challenge. I said it at the bar, if you are going to call a timeout you might as well challenge. Don't call a timeout and than challenge what was going to be a questionable but understandable challenge. One of the dumbest coaching calls I've ever seen and if a couple blow-out losses earlier this year didn't end Lovie's career in Chicago, this should have.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Dec 13, 2009 -> 12:38 PM) look at the play they just broke down again. The receivers simply do not run the right route frequently and that leads to a good percentage of the interceptions. Throw in a few no-call pass interferences and you're near or above 50% of the INT's not being on Cutler. Just look at that play, people in the bar I watch the game at were berating Cutler and I'm like guys, the WR isn't running the right way and because of it, it looks like Jay is throwing to a bunch of Packers but in reality, Knox cuts the right way and you have a shot at a nice gain. This is what happens when you entered the season with 2 of your top 3 WR's having 0 receptions in the NFL (Bennett/Knox) and a 3rd having just 2.5 years of experience in his career at the position. You are going to have a ton of mistakes and I'll give Cutler credit for not snapping. Probably 15 of his picks can be attributed to guys running the wrong routes and that is f***ing unbelievable. However, I think Knox/Arash are going to be keepers. The body control Arash has is spectacular and his size should be very helpful. Get us a good receiver in the off-season to go with this guys and I'd think long and hard about moving Hester. That said, you could keep Devin and use him too, but I think long-term Knox will be the superior wide-out and Hester makes a ton. If we could get a 2nd for Devin, I'd do it.

Arrondondo has a spectacular arm. Bummer that he'll need Tommy John and he fell way off the radar for the Angels, but could use a change of scenery once he's healthy again. It would be a very low risk move that could pay off big-time. The guy has plus plus stuff.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 12, 2009 -> 01:15 PM) I calculated them myself, they're off by at most 4 days. Unacceptable. Seriously Kal, your the f***ing man!!!

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 11, 2009 -> 03:04 PM) I guess not. I don't live there and see him on TV or hear him on radio. I just read it. He gives us stories and lots of them and stuff to talk about. I don't understand the problem, but that's just me. I like the guy at the Trib as well. From afar it does seem the Cowley fellow churns out a bit more all year round. Of course the Trib writer is probably taking a well deserved vacation after a long season. Those guys get vacation time built up, too, I bet. It just seems so personal; that people hate this Cowley for some reason. And a few of you have pointed out the reasons of which I thank you. http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/soxnet/200...ys-attacks.html Read that link

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 11, 2009 -> 02:19 PM) It's interesting how many guys we have that have something to prove next year. Putz is coming off surgery on his throwing arm. Yikes. But the Sox have medical experts and must know what they are doing. As fans we can only hope for the best but wouldn't we be expecting a lot to see him pitch before June after surgery?? He's another very tall pitcher. Has he had control problems? GO SOX! Kenny indicated he's 100%. He's already been throwing off the mound for teams. Barring any set-backs, he'll be ready to rock and roll right when training camp starts. How effective he is and whether the injuries hinder him or come back could possibly happen though.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 11, 2009 -> 01:35 PM) Wouldn't Putz's agent shopping around the White Sox's offer have had the same effect? Because there's no doubt he did just that. Exactly. Putz agent is doing his diligence and I don't think something getting out in the media on the FA front will have much impact on a signing happen. It could put added pressure on a club, but an agent isn't going to just wait and see who calls him, he's also going to talk to plenty of teams and shop an offer around. I think the media jumping in on trades can and often does make it more difficult for a trade to happen.