CWSGuy406

Brando, I wouldn't be opposed to that at all, but the good thing is that Rauch has the potential to give you seven or eight innings of three runs or less baseball. If he doesn't have his best stuff, maybe he only goes three or four innings, then you can send Cotts out there to make up the rest of the three or four innings. But I keep hearing and seeing that Rauch is out of options. Can someone please clarify whether or not that is true? I don't think he is out of options, but I'm not positive...

Carlos Lee did have a good game, yes, but look what Aaron Rowand did. 3 for 6 or something along those lines, a couple of RBIs, a homer, a couple of singles. Im not comparing Lee to Rowand, because IMO Lee is better that Rowand, but I still think that Lee is very expendable. A platoon in LF of Rowand/Perez/Gload is something that wouldn't be terrible to me, especially if Reed isn't quite ready for the bigs yet.

I'd do it just to get him in our bullpen. He'd be a nice righty along with Shingo, Jackson, and Adkins. I no longer consider Politte very good (once he starts using his change and slider he'll be more effective) and Koch is the closer. I'd do it if: a.) we don't give up that much for him. b.) they eat most, if not all of that contract.

Yeah - I realize that, I didn't say that they'd do that, it's just YASNY said that he wouldn't do that deal, and Im saying why I would do it, and why I feel Lee is very, very expendable...

Ok - but we cannot continue to give up every fifth game, and in a trade, you need to give something to get something. IMO, we're deep at the OF position with Anderson, Reed, and Sweeney. Plus, pitching is what will win us the AL Central. Last year, had our fifth starter won just a few games for us, five, six, we might have won the AL Central. Rather, we messed around and went with Danny Wright, Neal Cotts (wasn't ready last year and isn't ready to START this year, but he's effective from the bullpen). Kenny needs to make a move, and if you can get a guy who can give you potentially ace-like stuff (so far this year, a 2.89 ERA IIRC) without giving up top prospects (Borchard is no longer a top prospect IMO), then you do it. Like I've said, I think a platoon at LF (Perez/Gload/Rowand) can give us anywhere from a 250 AVG to a 290 AVG, and if they can stay within that range, that will help the team, not to mention the production from Garcia. I can live with a lineup of: CF Harris 2B Uribe RF Mags DH Thomas SS Valentin 1B Konerko 3B Crede LF Rowand/Perez/Gload C Olivo/Alomar Especially if that is backed up by a rotation of Buerhle Loaiza Garcia Schoenwies Garland

Tell me why Lee and Borchard for Garcia is overpaying, I'm just wondering... Because if that offer were on the table, I think I might make it official. Garcia has potential ace stuff, he'd give us not just a fifth starter, more like a number two or a number three, he'd give us a power-righty in the rotation. Not to mention he plays in a pretty damn good division offensively, and while some of the lineups are pretty good in the AL Central, they don't come close to the Rangers/Angels lineups. Yeah, I'd do Lee and Borchard for Freddy G.

Let me bring this up for thought - if Lee were to be traded, what situation would you guys be most confident in: a.) Crazy idea first - bring up the unheralded Borchard, who has struggled but maybe a fire can be lit under his ass? That would be a stretch, though... b.) The more heralded Jeremy Reed, who's got a good eye, solid D, good stick, good on the bases, plus he's lefty. But I do NOT want to rush a kid who isn't ready, that isn't to say Jeremy Reed isn't ready... c.) And this is what I would do, and, actually I wouldn't be to mad about it - a LF platoon of Timo Perez/Aaron Rowand (vs lefties)/Ross Gload. I think we all know what Rowand could do when he's seeing the ball good (just before we traded for Everett last year, Rowand was crushing the ball). You'd have to play the hot bat/numbers with Gload and Timo. IMO Lee is very, VERY expendable at this point. I'd say he's even more expendable than Paul Konerko, because really we only have one option outside of a trade if we did trade Paully, that being Ross Gload. I'd try now, not later, NOW to make a package including Lee and Borchard (as well as others) to Seattle for Freddy Garcia. We need a fifth starter. It's pathetic that every fifth day we can barely expect to be in the ballgame. I'm friggin sick of it, honestly. A pitcher who can keep us in the game, have a less than 4.50 ERA is all I want. Please, Kenny, Please... P.S. Don't trade Sweeney.

IMO it wouldn't take Lee to get Benson. Hell, the Cubs got Aramis Ramirez for basically jack squat last season, along with Lofton, Simon, etc. I also (I think I'm in the minority here, but I dont know) like Benson a lot, and I really think he could be a good asset to this team in the fifth starter role. In fact, I think he could put up a 4.00 to 4.30 ERA in that role for us, which I would take out of a fifth starter. Kenny needs to make a move for a fifth starter ASAP. Whether it's giving Rauch another shot, trading for someone, whatever it takes, we cannot continue to trot out guys who aren't ready (physically like Cotts, or Diaz who was overmatched at this point) for the bigs. I hope Kenny made a few calls after this game. At this point Cotts is a key asset to the bullpen, I really really hope this doesn't screw with his mindset, and he should continue to pitch where he's pitched well (don't fix what isn't broken.)

Yeah, honestly beast, give KW his props...

Jordan, I want that sig, it rocks and I love it! The only thing it's missing is Ozzie, but it's awesome. I have to agree. For all the bashing that some people do on Kenny, they don't point out all of the good he's done for this team.

He's got the stomach flu, got it just prior to the game.

The game that worries me is Saturday night, it's basically like us having duel starters, Cotts and Adkins against whoever's pitching against us. If Cotts could give us four or five innings, that would be awesome. If this were a dreamworld, here's how I'd hope Saturday would shape up: Cotts goes five. Adkins goes three. Shingo finishes off but who cares because the Sox have scored eight runs already!

Steff, tellin' it like it should be!

Dang, Schoney threw a lot of pitches that inning, but nice job only allowing one run. Lets Go offense, lets get Scott a win after what you guys did to him against the Twinkies, or, what you didn't do to Twinky pitchers.

HE GAWN! THAT A WAY KOCH!

Two strikes on Merloni! LETS GO KOCH!

The pills are out. Full count...

No walks, Billy! Come on Koch!

That a boy, Billy!

Dang, I have to poo-poo but I want to watch Billy.

It's Koch time!

Wow.

ONE STRIKE AWAY!

What's going on with the sox game?

Is it a perfect game too, or just a no-no?