SoxAce

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 29, 2011 -> 05:10 PM) CF, this is really some of your best work. You're making us all proud. I've never seen this side of him before. Makes a brilliant post like this.. QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Sep 29, 2011 -> 04:25 PM) Well, Marty "The Genius" 34. We finished 9-10 games back of the Twins in 2004. Clearly they were more talented, they'd crushed the White Sox in 2003 and won three consecutive division championships. So tearing apart the entire organization and dumping everyone to rebuild at that point in time would have been the prudent move from a financial standpoint in order to protect JR's pocketbook. Oooops, they did that, well, sort of....getting rid of Ordonez, Lee and Valentin. But KW clearly didn't trade away every talented player left for "prospects/suspects," like you're suggesting with Ramirez and Santos. And we actually won the World Series the following year. What do you know? A clever retort besides we finished 15 games behind the Tigers would be nice, but I'm not expecting much...thanks in advance for your time and consideration. So Marty, how is 2011-12 any different for this organization with KW in charge than 2004-2005? Because we finished 9-10 GB instead of 15 and were OH SO CLOSE (seemingly) to the juggernaut Twins? Then goes back to "caulfield" with this stuff. QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Sep 29, 2011 -> 04:51 PM) You were there with Rodin to notice "The Thinker" lurking in that block of granite...or warning onloading passengers to leave the Titanic before its maiden voyage, or the Hindenburg.

Second place again. Shoulda picked Konerko, Viciedo and De Aza 90% of the time like buhbuhburrrrlz did.. Congrats man, and it is just awful luck I keep getting top 3 in this and still not winning. Good to see elrockinMT and LittleHurt05 still in the top 5 as well. There's always posters who win it kinda flukey, but you guys are always up there till the end along with myself. (and I still can't win the damn thing.. )

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 29, 2011 -> 10:03 AM) He still had a much better arm then, than he does now. He was a guy who sat around 90, and could push it up to 92-93 when he needed to. That change was still coming around then, and really got perfected under Cooper. You are correct about his change. His slider as well was getting corrected/fine tuned. The cutter however is what really made him go.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 29, 2011 -> 09:42 AM) NO one knew who Mark Buehrle was when he got here. Crede was a known guy as he was a two time minor league MVP. Well no s***, he was a 38th round pick. The definition of a diamond in the rough, but he did have the stats. His arsenal however, is what turned scouts away from him and not say.. a Corwin Malone or Lorenzo Barcelo.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 29, 2011 -> 09:26 AM) Mark Buehrle? Joe Crede? Funny thing is.. neither one of those guys were top 5 prospects (well... Crede on scouts list) but I remember guys like Kip Wells, Myette, Rauch, Barcelo, Dellaero, Borchard, Hummel (both just drafted during that time) and Garland (didn't quite graduate yet with his 13 starts in 2000) being up there. (some even still liked Christensen) Buehrle and Rowand were very underrated during those days.

QUOTE (robinventura23 @ Sep 29, 2011 -> 08:35 AM) I'd choose Alomar, he's well respected and I use the notion that catchers make great managers (Scioscia and Bochy come to mind) Well let's not get carried away. I've said it over and over on this board that Scioscia has spoiled me in that aspect, but for every Scioscia, Torre, Bochy, McKeon (maybe Girardi for some people) etc. there's Yost, Melvin, Merrill, Bevington (maybe Hurdle for some people) etc. though better ratio of good catchers turned managers than bad. Sandy is just a very intelligent baseball mind. That is why he is intriguing to me. Not the first on my list (might not even be the second if Francona is available) but he's up there for sure.

Stalberg was injured as well. (rumor is potential ACL/MCL) If his and Smith's injury are serious, Hawks will be down 3 guys to start the season. (Carcillo 2 game suspension) Might see a couple of youth guys make the team to start.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Sep 28, 2011 -> 04:02 PM) Just aced my job interview, Sox get the 13th pick, and now I'm going drinking. Today is a good day. Same exact pick that Chris Sale fell into the sox lap when we made their selection in 2010. (and thank god the right pick was made as he was a projected top 5 pick) Hopefully we strike gold twice in next year's draft.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Sep 28, 2011 -> 05:04 PM) AL MVP: Bautista Glad to see you came to your senses..

AL: Rays (that's it in the AL) NL: Zona (only cause of Huddy. The Rockies are my second favorite team, but they are done like my w.sox) Brew Crew is a very close second.

Unbelievable. Cards and Rays.. simply amazing. And I hope Boston never wins another title in their city again. (or at least till I'm dead)

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Sep 28, 2011 -> 10:38 AM) Would AA have had him as a final 2 candidate if he didnt pay attention to stats? You probably meant to quote Sqwert, but exactly my point.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Sep 28, 2011 -> 10:20 AM) I for one am looking forward to a rebuild, even though I'm not sure Kenny is the one to be in charge of it. Bring it on. As am I. It won't be a total rebuild however.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Sep 28, 2011 -> 09:57 AM) I'd much rather have Martinez. Sandy seems like a quite version of Ozzie, a manager that goes with his gut. I want someone who uses statistics to make better decisions. I would think a former catcher has a statistical background. I said this in another thread, I always found former catchers to be very intriguing as managers. Part of that is Scioscia being a personal favorite of mine however.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Sep 28, 2011 -> 02:52 AM) I know you're not supposed to speak this way about "The Great One", but Wayne Gretzky at center in the NHL now wouldn't be great. Or even good. Jesus.. lets not get carried away here.

I never realized how beautiful an actual blue jay bird was.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Sep 28, 2011 -> 07:22 AM) Last year Alomar and Martinez were both interviewed for the Toronto job. Neither got it, but Alomar was the runner up. Though I've been on the Martinez bandwagon for a couple years now, I always found former catchers to be very intriguing as managers. Part of that is Scioscia being a personal favorite of mine however.

Alexei.

QUOTE (MAX @ Sep 27, 2011 -> 09:05 AM) He might be tough, but is he "chicago tough"? I think not. QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Sep 27, 2011 -> 09:05 AM) Yes, but is he CHICAGO TOUGH????? Seems like you two were on the same page with that one.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Sep 27, 2011 -> 08:52 AM) THis was just brought up on the Score: Imagine Dave Martinez coaching the Sox and Ryne Sandberg coaching the Cubs.... Yes, some soxtalk posters have brought that up for a couple years now. The tension when those two go to give the ump their lineup cards (and even the "handshake") will be immense.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Sep 27, 2011 -> 07:08 AM) BTW, who's the interim? Cora? I haven't seen that posted anywhere. Yes. He'll be the interim for the last two games. (So we still got baby Ozzie! )

A.J.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Sep 27, 2011 -> 02:54 AM) Someone I knew from my high school (just knew of him) died in a car accident today (well, Monday). Just weird to see that someone so young (20 yrs old) can be taken away just like that (car accident on the way to school for him). It's also kinda weird but cool to see people reach out on facebook to send their condolences. I understand it's not the most personal, but for those who went out of state and were just in his classes in high school that is how they found out. Seen it too when my friend's ex girlfriend was killed by a truck driver a couple weeks back (also my good friend since elementary school died of an overdose a while back, believe I posted that on this very thread). The thing that pisses me off about some of these facebook people is when they say they were "good/great friends" with the person (not to mention act all super crushed) who died when in reality, either that deceased person didn't like that particular person at all (or vice versa) when he/she was alive or that person never hung out with that said deceased person just because he/she had a class (or two) with him/her way back when. It's like they say something to feel like they are important/want attention when in reality, they don't give a s***.

Tony LaRussa might be the only possible available manager out there that would make me miss Ozzie. I've been on the Martinez bandwagon for two years as he is a saber/statistics guy but there will be some interesting darkhorses out there. (saw SF is bringing back their entire staff as Ron Wotus was an interesting name thrown out there prior)

As I said in the pinned thread, very happy as it had to be done. I was just a little (and I mean very little) sad to see a true Chicago guy go. Definitely had to move on though. Thanks for 2005 (and anyone who says we won despite of him is full of s***, even I'll admit that wholeheartedly) and good luck managing in Florida. (and for an NL team)