Chisoxfn

QUOTE (The Beast @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 02:14 PM) I think about how blessed I am to be able to go to school - a lot of my generation doesn't take it seriously and piss their parent's money away on nothing. My mom and dad came from humble beginnings, growing up on the south side of Chicago and barely were able to attend college. They were smart enough to go away to school, but went to Chicago State to get their education because they had to pay for school. My mother, a math major, went on to work at Sears for several years before she stayed at home to take care of 5 kids. My dad originally had thought he would become a teacher, and was trained as such. He then didn't like what he was doing, went to work for Radio Shack before getting a sales job. Since then, he has worked with several corporations and I know he does a great job. I just am not sure if he likes what he does or if he is miserable. I'll never know, so I won't ever complain. This is why I wish someone would have told me early on to take this route of going to the community college for two years before transferring to a major university. If I had done that, I would have taken the general education requirements, worked on my math deficiency, and worked to make money of my own. A lot of people knock the community college route, but I wish I had done that before I dove right into a university that I wasn't sure about to begin with. So now I'm hoping to go to SAU to finish off a business degree, intern with sports teams in Davenport and see what doors open. This time, I think I'll appreciate my education and opportunities that are provided a bit more than I had originally. This is why I won't drop out. I know that I can't work in the trades, I suck at working with my hands. I don't want to be a barista, work in fast food or at a grocery store. I could go into health care if I don't get into sports marketing. But I couldn't work in many jobs that don't require a college degree - with the exception of being a police officer and even then I'd be a bit traumatized. Dude, Community College can be a great route, but there is nothing wrong about going to a 4 yr school from the beginning. I knew what I wanted to do (Business), learned a skill (Accounting and Finance) went to work with a huge company (Deloitte), left for a nice raise to go work for another big company (Apria Health Care) and after 6 months at that company I've hired my replacement and am getting promoted shortly. What does the future hold, who knows, but hopefully another year or two here where I develop further mgr experience and when the economy picks back up I can parlay that into what might be one of the last companies I ever work for (hopefully a real good job at a really really good company with great benefits).

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 09:51 AM) Konerko obviously has 10/5 rights now, but when he signed his deal, he had a partial NTC. I recall Dye's NTC not allowing a trade to Boston, but I sort of remember it with Konerko too. I may be wrong, but if he didn't want to go there in the first place, there's no way he'd go now. I don't actually remember if that's the case, and I can't find the teams to which he won't accept a trade, but it's worth considering. I don't believe that is the case with Konerko.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 09:31 AM) Unless someoen in our org still thinks Kotchman has enough in the tank to turn into a 20 HR, .280 hitter, no. The Sox would be giving up 2 big offensive threats and getting 1 back. Right now I'm looking at casey as just a backup 1b, and with that, i can't agree to that deal. So your saying we should ask for more back? My thought is you are giving up Konerko but freeing up the resources to spend money on a good DH and a reliever. I'm not sure if the BoSox would include a Bowden or Bard instead of Kochman (or on top of Kochman). I was throwing the idea out as it might be one of the best ways to get a real good, young, top of the order bat, and shed salary.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 07:25 AM) That's funny right there. But, really why trade away our strength. The way the offense is shaping up it will be pitching in 2010 or nothing I wouldn't touch the rotation and I'd be hesitant to deal Hudson. I'd try to free up payroll as best as possible so that we can sign a few guys to short term deals and have a league average offense. If the team is playing great at the deadline, maybe swing for a big bat in the order or just hope that our younger player progress enough that they can fill in and eventually turn the league average offense into a better than league average one.

QUOTE (whitesox901 @ Nov 11, 2009 -> 07:43 PM) This is most reassuring. Its nice to know we're going to have 4 starters in our rotation that can beat another team's #1 guy, plus Freddy Garcia. This will be the biggest key in a turnaround. Garcia scares me though. He hasn't thrown even a 100 innings in some time and we will be relying on him for 180 innings and if we move a Hudson we have no back-up plan. Add in Floyd having a bum hip (potentially) and the fact that most teams have a few pitchers go down in a season and I'm not sure we have the minor league resources to step in and fill if we do have an injury. Hynick/Torres would be the next in line if Hudson were traded, imo.

Levine was speculating that the payroll would be closer to 100M than 95. If so thats a real good thing, because a move of Jenks or Konerko could free up just enough salary that the Sox could make things pretty interesting.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 09:12 AM) He may not be hands-down better, but the biggest advantage he'd have is being at least a year ahead of Hudson, in terms of hitting the big leagues and starting to learn how to get big league hitters out. That's a big advantage for a pitching prospect. I'd say Bucholtz is the safer bet to be a solid big-leaguer given his 90 inning track record at the ML level this year, but I also think Clay has some flaws to his game (like most players do). The question is could the Sox offer a better all-around package and when Hudson isn't that much of a downgrade and your next best guy is potentially a major upgrade well than it makes things interesting. I still wonder if the two Sox can put together a deal for a Jacoby and Bard or Bowden. I could see the BoSox even having interest in Paulie (they looked at him this past trade deadline). I realize Victor Martinez/Casey Kochman are on board but Victor might catch (who knows) and the Red Sox have to be concerned with Papi. Probably unlikely, but what if: Sox Trade: Ramirez/Konerko for Kochman/Jacoby. Would you guys do it?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 08:45 AM) Just out of curiousity...what do people think he'll be looking at when he hits the FA market after 2011? Is he another Tex kind of contract guy, 8 years, $200 million ish? IF I were his agent that is where I'd begin the discussions. I drool over the thought of Adrian, but I don't think I give up a package consisting of Danks/Flowers/Hudson and someone else (and i'm referring to D2). I think we have a real nice set of young players that will actually produce and for a team with a payroll limited to 100M or so having a Danks/Flowers/Hudson/Morel/Viciedo producing for us would be absolutely huge for the next 5 years (or even a combination of 2 to 3 of those guys). The reality is this is, even after the Peavy trade, the best farm system we've had in a long long time and I'm not even counting some of our good prep arms that the Sox took in the most recent draft (plus Mitchell). I do think the club will target a pitcher or SS (I got a feeling the Sox might look heavily at the two Titans in the draft....Christian Colon (SS) and Gary Brown (SPEEDY OF). Colon probably goes before the Sox 2nd round pick, Brown is probably available.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 11, 2009 -> 07:16 PM) In all seriousness, if Clay Bucholz was out there, the only way we would top that is with either Danks or Floyd. In that case, I hope Kenny folds. Bucholtz is severely over-rated. He's a very good pitching prospect, but he's not an elite pitching prospect. I don't think Hudson is either, but more than a few people have rated Hudson in the top 10 pitching prospects in baseball currently. I'm not sure where I stand on that theory but Hudson is pretty damn good. Both have questions and neither are sure things (what prospect is), but I would argue that Bucholz isn't hands-down better.

Can't wait to get out there.

I wanted to be one of the following: FBI Agent Lawyer Baseball GM or Pitcher Business Man

I would do that deal. You could have Pelfrey as a back-up plan as a starter and probably use him out of the pen.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 8, 2009 -> 11:23 AM) Arnold had a chance to be that fresh start. After the recall stomping, he could have legitimately pushed for institutional reforms and probably won. He even had advisors (Buffet) saying that prop 13 needed fixed. Instead, he cut the vehicle tax with no way to replace the revenue, launched pointless fights with the teachers unions (demanding concessions but offering nothing in return), borrowed his way through budget deficits in good times, and did nothing to plan for the future. The way he was elected, he had a genuine madate to reform the state if he wanted to use it. He didn't. I agree with you. I'll be supporting my local council-men Cambell for the governor race. I doubt he'll even be the republican nominee though.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Aug 5, 2009 -> 12:37 PM) I miss that show. They really messed up canceling that. It was such a great show.

I can't get the idea of the possibilities a duo of Quentin/Gonzalez could be.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 11, 2009 -> 09:48 AM) Once i looked at the FA 1b, I was able to convince myself otherwise. There is literally 1 starting FA 1b on the market, Laroche. 2 if you think Nick Johnson can stay healthy or you're happy with Abrey Huff, but otherwise, that's it. The rest of them belong at DH. Delgado, Johnson, Thome, and a bunch of people with OPS's that a decent pitcher can beat. There are teams that just flat out need a bat at 1b, and if they don't land Laroche, it's a hole. The Mets. The Braves. Exactly. The Sox could have to put another piece in the deal (player or cash) to make it more attractive and ultimately allow them to get something back. But I could even see a Jenks/Konerko package working for a team that has a need at both positions.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Nov 11, 2009 -> 09:37 AM) It's not all that realistic but Trading for Gonzalez then turning around and dumping Konerko for little (saving $12M) then signing a Vlad to be the full time DH would be a coup. You'd be paying those two combined less than just Konerko. Now THAT would be a dangerous lineup and allow for some financial flexibility, I just don't think moving Konerko's contract is all that realistic at this point in time. If you get Gonzalez you almost have to move Konerko, he's worth about half of his $12M salary as a designated hitter, it's not very hard to find production similar to Konerko's in the DH spot. I know it is not 100% likely that we'd be able to move Paulie, but I still think teams value his overall package enough to be willing to make a move for Konerko. I could be 1000% wrong though, but even if the Sox had to throw in some cash, it would make a whole hell of a lot of sense. Getting Gonzalez would give the Sox so many options. I realize we'd lack a true-leadoff hitter, but could you imagine a middle part of the order with Beckham/Gonzalez/Quentin/Vladdy. I'd actually consider having Quentin in the #2 spot for his OBP ability with Beckham leading off followed by Gonzalez/Vladdy/AJ/Teahen/etc

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 11, 2009 -> 09:17 AM) Realistically, if they get Gonzalez, Konerko could move to DH for his last year, and you are pretty well set, except for needing one more OF who can lead off. The pen needs some work to, at least to replace Dotel. The nice part is Konerko's contract comes off the books at a time where you'll be needing to throw some coin Adrian's way (if you want to keep him), plus Buehrle's would be coming off the books as well. So the Sox would be okay financially, imo. Especially if they could get some cost-certainty in Danks (since they have it in Floyd) and maybe Quentin. I do think they would try to move Konerko though if they got Gonzalez for financial reasons. But with Konerko in the 6th spot of a lineup that isn't a bad thing. I'd rather move Konerko to a team, even if it was for payroll relief and go with a guy like Vladdy as my DH though, cause it might give the Sox just the leftover money they need to work a Danks extension into the budget as well as have the flexibility to pick up a reliever.

Why trade Votto when you could package Alonso for someone. Or Package Alonso with others. It isn't like Votto is about to become a FA.

QUOTE (1977 sox fan @ Nov 9, 2009 -> 05:41 PM) I read on espn about a trade possibilty Jenks to cubs for bradley with the cubs eating part of bradley's contract . Whoever suggested that should get fired on the spot. Why would a team trade a guy like Jenks, whose there closer and historically a very good one, for a guy with an albatross of a contract whose a glorified DH, coming off a horrendous year and who has attitude problems. Oh and I forgot to mention, if the Sox wanted to, they could just opt to let Jenks go. And they won't do that this year, but that would be a better choice than trading for Bradley.

It would only make sense for the Sox to look at Gonzalez. If they acquired him I'd expect other changes to follow (ie, Paulie and some other guys) but he's the type of bad you find a way to get. High impact player. If we could make the deal without giving up any of our every-day parts it would be a tremendous move. I'd even consider a deal built around Alexei Ramirez in the case of Adrian Gonzalez. A Hudson/Ramirez package would work for me. Or a Hudson, Viciedo, Danks package if that is what interests the Pads. I don't know if that is ultimately enough, but we are talking about a legitimate potential MVP bat.

I absolutely love the idea of Joey Votto. However, I continue to state that I will not trade Danks/Floyd. They are just to important to the long-term and current future of this club. I would consider giving up most of our minor leaguers for a guy like Votto but I doubt that deal would have much interest in the Reds.

QUOTE (Soxy @ Nov 9, 2009 -> 07:50 AM) The Orphanage was really good--but it carried a lot more of an emotional kick than most scary type movies. Highly recommended though. Sorry this is so late. No problemo...I ended up going with that one and we both really really enjoyed it. Definitely moer in the pyschological thriller than a pop up and scare you movie, but it was creepy and I enjoyed how the ending tied everything up.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Nov 10, 2009 -> 07:21 AM) That trade is only unlikely because it would be one of Kenny's biggest steals in his history as a general manager. A more accurate deal would be Paulie to the Mets for basically nothing, or Paulie + cash to the Mets for Murphy. Clearing $12M off the payroll while adding that much talent in return for a player like Paulie is a pipedream. It was Paulie and Jenks I believe.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Nov 9, 2009 -> 04:23 PM) They did the exact same thing with Gio. They knew how to get the most out of him, and didn't want to expose him by moving him up the organization, killing his value. I still say they will not be moving Hudson unless he's packaged with other high priced players. Otherwise he isn't going anywhere. Even than I find it highly unlikely since Garcia has only thrown a very limited amount of innings the past 3 seasons and it would be very foolish to count on him for 180 innings, let alone 200. And without Hudson, the Sox don't really have any starting pitcher waiting in the wings, that could step in and replace Garcia.