CWSGuy406

QUOTE(JimH @ Mar 21, 2005 -> 03:30 PM) So worst case scenario is, he's back in the rotation about May 10th, factoring in a rehab start or two. Sticking with a 5 man rotation would mean the Sox need a guy to make 6 starts while Buehrle is out. Six starts is a lot for a fill in guy and I doubt they want to pull somebody from the bullpen ... it appears they like the way the bullpen is set up. Again, sticking with a 5 man gives the #5 guy a start vs. Minnesota, Seattle, Detroit, Oakland, Detroit again, and Toronto. It comes down to: - Brandon McCarthy - A guy like Adkins or Hermanson - Someone from outside the organization Unless they can swing a good trade and get a decent depth guy in here cheap, it's hard to see a better option than McCarthy. Again, assuming the longest timetable for Buehrle being out. Good post, Jim. It comes down to, who does the organization feels gives them the best chance at winning? I certainly have the most confidence in B-Mac -- and while I was one of the advocates about him starting at AA to hone his skills, and keep him down there for awhile so the arbitration clock wouldn't start, he's clearly the best option we have. I'm a Felix Diaz fan as much as anybody here, but no one here can honestly tell me they'd feel more comfortable with him or Hermy or Adkins starting. I have my doubts, but he's above and beyond anyone else we have available...

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Mar 21, 2005 -> 03:29 AM) Lucky Rick Peterson. He has 2 pitchers in Ishii and Zambrano who are going to walk batters so much now. LOL -- here's a quote from one of the guys' over at BTF, it made me almost fall out of my chair...

I'd personally go with the UD tix, behind home plate, but that's personal preference. I'd say the overall seat location of the UD tix would be better than that of the right field line, but sitting on the lower concourse is a lot better than sitting in the upper deck. However, that's not to say the Upper Deck is bad, because it certainly isn't. I'm just saying that the amenities on the lower 'course seem to be better than that of the upper deck. But, I'd still say the seat would be better in the UD behind home plate.

QUOTE(KevHead0881 @ Mar 20, 2005 -> 10:26 PM) Usually, I'd agree with you. Especially when it comes to the performances of the regulars. But in this case, the job for the last relief spot seems pretty open. And Ozzie has said himself that Walker has made a strong case to come north with the club. I'd say that the performances of both Cotts and Walker this spring will have a great deal to do with who stays and who goes. True, but I don't necessarily think that that's the correct approach to take. But no doubt, in Ozzie's mind, he'll go by who he likes, with some exceptions...

QUOTE(thomsonmi @ Mar 20, 2005 -> 10:11 PM) I obviously meant infielder Pablo Ozuna. Seems to me the decision is easy, there's no need for 12 pitchers during the first couple weeks of the season. No one is saying 12 pitchers. Buehrle Garland Garcia Contreras El Duque Shingo Marte Cotts Vizcaino Hermy Politte Burke/Davis Pierz Konerko Gload Iguchi Crede Ozuna Harris Uribe Everett Pods Rowand Dye Perez 25 on my count, with Harris going down (organizational standpoint) when Thomas comes back.

I still think that a lot of us are taking way, way too much out of a couple of ST appearances... Walker can barely cut it in the minors. The spot is, and should be, Neal's.

Alright -- I'm typing up a paper on competitive balance in baseball, and I need a couple of reference points. First, I need a place where I can find who every team has drafted, going back about ten years or so. Second, I need a transaction website that lists various offseason signings trades of each and every team, again, going back about ten years. I'm looking on Google and not having much success. Can someone help me out? Thanks in advance for the help... (And I put this in the sports bar because I figure my paper has to do with sports, and I need some sports-related websites.)

Buehrle, Frank, El Duque, and Pierzynski top my list.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Mar 20, 2005 -> 03:05 AM) His face is incredibly shiny.... I almost spit my mil all over the computer screen. LOL!

QUOTE(Texsox @ Mar 20, 2005 -> 02:57 AM) Would you agree then that we are in the position of needing to gamble on talent, then pay for proven? Further, isn't a proven track record why stars are paid what they are? Yes and no. At the right price, you should take chances. That might be a shy attitude, but you shouldn't spend big bucks on a huge gamble. That's what I'd consider one of Kenny's positives, is that he takes some gambles on guys, not huge risks, but some nice rewards if they pan out. Uribe, Schoenwies (first half '04), Loaiza, etc -- all examples. And, yes, stars will ultimately get the big bucks -- which I'm not against. I just want the Bears to give the big bucks to 'the right guy' -- I don't feel Konerko is the right guy to be making $10 million plus on this team.

West Virginia leading Wake by one with one minute to go!

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Mar 20, 2005 -> 12:25 AM) This has sort of become a team direction thread as opposed to Koney alone so I'd like to comment on that as well. If I'm not mistaken the starting rotation is earning about 30M which represents a little less than 1/2 the payroll. This is a reflection of Ozzie's mgmt style: Spend on the arms & save on the gloves & bats. That's very similar to the Twins & Oak styles as well. I think we can expect the Sox to continue in that direction. Not really...

Link Berkman is what, 28? Any thoughts on the contract? He's a hell of a player when healthy, I think 14 million + is right about what he deserves. To the continued terrorizing of the Cubs, Lance!

QUOTE(Texsox @ Mar 19, 2005 -> 11:12 PM) I am not seeing a building process. We seemingly cannot build with any All-Stars. You mention two players who, by the time their contracts are up, will probably command too much money. I just do not have confidence in the team keeping a player long term who makes more than 7 or 8 million. Pierzynski has got to prove himself before I'd agree with keeping him long term. 3 teams in 3 years is not confidence inspiring. The balance may be where to spend the payroll. I believe up the middle is important and that fits in with you mentioning Piers and Rowand. So perhaps 1st base isn't the place to spend money, and a case could also be made to not spend it on a DH either. Another thought, each time a starter is replaced, building would mean replacing him with a better player. We don't seem to be doing that. We take from this pile (Lee, Olivo, Maggs unavoidable) to add to this pile. It doesn't seem like a net gain. Retooled a bit, but we knock down high spots to fill the holes and we wind up with average all the way around. As far as Uribe and Rowand, I'd like to think that we can lock them up early, rather than doing what we've done with Konerko and Maggs these past two years (waiting till the contract year). Keep them on with the three year contracts, and anywhere between the second year and the beginning of the third year, work hard at extending these guys, especially if they're still producing well and being exceptional at what they're exceptional at (defense, slugging, etc), give them what they're worth. One can overpay a little bit, but not to the point where it will take away in other areas. I half agree with your statement about building and replacing players with better players. There's areas where you could say that's true (Lee>>>>Pods), but there's also areas where you could say that isn't true (I'd much rather have Pierzynski over Olivo, Olivo hasn't done much in his career). Ideally, over the next couple of years, we'll have an influx of good young players that will replace some of our older guys, and we're able to really cash in at other positions because this young, cheap talent coming up. Unfortunately, when you haven't won a WS in almost 90 years, it's going to be as far from ideal as possible.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Mar 19, 2005 -> 10:18 PM) Anyone who watched most of the game today, what was Buehrle hitting on the gun? I ask because in the 9th, every pitch cotts threw was between 92 and 94. Last season his FB was 89-91. If he has added a couple MPH, that's gonna be great. But it could just be a fast gun. The Comcast Sports Net radar gun is f***ed up. Buehrle threw a pitch that was 62, and it was clearly a fastball. A few days back, they had McCarthy at 87-88 all day, when really it looked at least 91-92... Anyone else notice this?

I didn't get to see Utah play much this year, but man, they're a joy to watch. Very smart offensive game plan. Almost every play goes through Bogut, and he's an awesome post player once he gets the ball down low (I know you guys already knew this, but seeing him for the first time, it's amazing), not just shooting, but passing. He's an excellent passer. I'm on the Utah bandwagon. I'll be cheering for them first and foremost through the tourney...

I'm playing on All-Star, and I'm on a ten game winning streak. Lots of close games, too, but I'm pulling 'em out.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Mar 19, 2005 -> 08:05 PM) I should have been clearer. I am bored with the process. It doesn't matter who the player is, the comments are always the same. Greedy player for not taking the team's offer. I believe Kong and the White Sox should negotiate the best contract they can and in the end, if it means Konerko stays great, if he leaves, that's fine also. I can not fault either side for doing their best. What bothers me the most, is the team cannot seem to keep their best players. (Frank is the exception, and if he was a position player, not a DH, I'll bet he would have been gone also). We keep dumping our best players to "fill holes". Soon we will have nothing but Crede's all around. A bunch of $3mil per year guys, a .500 record and no playoff appearances. Signing (enter player name here) is always presented as giving something up. I guess what we have is a situation where as soon as a player should be payed more than $5 mil per season, he must be dealt and someone else brought in. OK -- I see what you're saying. But we haven't really had "that guy" yet. By "that guy", I mean the offensive force, the complete player who really deserves that big paycheck. You may disagree with me, but Magglio was the closest we've had to that, and even he wanted four-five million too much. A healthy Maggs, IMHO, was worth in the area of 10-12 million, and he wanted 15-17 million. Next to Mags, I thought Lee was our next best player. And now he's gone, because the organization thought he didn't fit the mold. The guys that I want this team to hold onto, and lock up long term, are Uribe and Rowand -- if they're able to repeat or come close to last year. Both play exceptional defense, are young, and are forces at the plate. Neither are OBP guys, but they do a lot to make up for that in their ability to hit for X-tra base hits. And did I mention defense? Both of these guys are our up-and-coming studs -- or the closest we have to that (and I'm not talking about prospects). I also want them to keep Pierzynski long term, or at least till he proves that he can't handle the abilities behind the plate. I guess what I'm saying is, we can't give the big bucks to guys who aren't star players. That's not to say I want a Joe Crede at every position, but I think the money can be better spent elsewhere (as far as Konerko, and if he wants ten million + -- if he wants 7-8, I think that's a lot more reasonable...).

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 19, 2005 -> 08:17 PM) The only data we need to know is that Jon Garland has yet to pitch like he can. Will he? Who knows, but fact of the matter his control is the reason why he's not a very good pitcher, thats it. I don't need stats to tell me that. Exactly. And damn -- nice bunt by Willie there!

QUOTE(Texsox @ Mar 19, 2005 -> 12:51 PM) I get so bored with this. The Sox will offer less than Kong can get elsewhere. Kong is a greedy SOB if he takes it. We need to spend that money to fill holes. Get a 3rd baseman, whatever. The guy was out best position player last year. When you can not build with your best, you are always rebuilding. Tex, you were saying the same things last year with Magglio. You wanted him to get the 15 million, I didn't. And if we give PK 10+ million, people will be happy that we opened up the wallets -- when really, (at least IMHO), it's a pretty gross overpayment...

Jumbo shrimp is a good way to go, but I'm not sure what types of fish you like (it seems every person is different -- my brother loves salmon and tuna, I'm more of a shrimp guy). Pasta and Pizza are always good too. Fedduccini Alfredo when made right is really, really good...

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Mar 18, 2005 -> 10:16 PM) Jeez. Does Gload deserve to make the team? All I have seen him do this spring is ground out. His defense at 1B has been great though. Borchard lines out to RF. Inning over. Gees -- Chill out a little bit there... I mean, who gives a damn that he hasn't hit? It's Spring Training, who cares. Ross will be Ross. At every level, all he's ever done is hit (except for AA). And the same to your comments about Garland. You don't worry about El Duque because he said he doesn't take it seriously, but you rip on Garland? Mercy -- he's probably working on new pitches. It looked to me like he was throwing a ton of offspeed stuff today. I'm with ya, Tru -- I'm glad #20 will be our number five, he's certainly one of the best, if not the best number five in the AL...

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Mar 19, 2005 -> 05:11 AM) He's not YOUR guy though qwerty. While I certainly don't want the Sox to be get in a bidding war over this guy -- or, at least a huge, overpaying-for-the-guy bidding war, I'd imagine that he's going to be pretty high, or in the upper half, of teams he'd want to go to. Especially if Shingo is resigned, and Iguchi plays well. How nice of a rotation would Buehrle-Garcia-Hernandez-Matsukaza-McCarthy be? Ugh -- I wouldn't want to go up against that in a seven-game series...

QUOTE(Soxbadger @ Mar 19, 2005 -> 05:00 AM) Illinois should be thanking Kansas for taking Self. In other news Wisconsin gets Bucknell in the 2nd round. Much nicer than Kansas. SB Can Bucknell be the team that makes it to the Sweet 16? In no way am I trying to degrade the Badgers, but Bucknell (just heard on ESPN) beat Pitt at Pitt earlier in the year, might they be that 'Cinderella' team that makes the S-16?

CBS YOU f***ING SONS OF b****ES! THEY CAN'T GET THE FEED TO THE KANSAS GAME ON! SONS OF b****ES!