Jordan4life_2007

The '05 Sox we're too "lucky" to qualify.

QUOTE(shawnhillegas @ Jul 4, 2006 -> 06:11 PM) So is this going to be Neal's role as long as he's in a white sox uniform, or do people think that he will be moved back to starting in 2007 or 2008? It seemed so certain that he would be a starter two years ago, but now... If Cotts ever does become a starter again, it won't be with the Sox. He's way too valuable/good in the role he's in now.

This, my friends, is what you call rebounding after a pathetic performance last night.

I'm now hearing that there could be another move made real soon. Tyson to the Hornets for Brown and Smith.

They're reporting it on ESPN news right now. Big Ben Agrees to Terms with the Bulls By Jason Gage TalkBulls.com Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon, known for hitting big shots in the 4th quarter will have to push his nickname (Big Ben) aside as the real “Big Ben” is on his way to Chicago. Espn.com’s Chad Ford is reporting that the Chicago Bulls and Wallace have agreed to terms on a four year $60 million deal that will drastically bolster the Bulls front line. In desperate need for front court help, Paxson opted away from the safe pick Lamarcus Aldridge in the draft and instead went for the potential superstar in Tyrus Thomas. Some questioned the move since Aldridge was a legit big, but Paxson obviously had a good feeling about Wallace whose signing is the first part of the Bulls off-season plan. Wallace had a rough Eastern Conference finals series with the Pistons where he struggled against Shaquille O’Neal and the Heat. Wallace struggled more so than usual from the line and in general the Pistons played pathetic in a convincing Heat series win. However, Ben is a former defensive player of the year and will join the best defense in the league (from a defensive fg % standpoint). This past year Wallace averaged 7.3 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 1.78 SPG, and 2.21 BPG. He’ll look to become the best starting center in franchise history and bring stability to a position that had none in 2006. It is unclear who Wallace will play next to in the front court as Paxson is still fielding offers for C/PF Tyson Chandler. If Chandler remains in Chicago, he would team up with Wallace to form the top defensive front court in the NBA, but it would also be the most futile front court, offensively, in the league. Some options for the Bulls are to move Chandler for an expiring contract to free up salary to resign players like Hinrich, Deng, Nocioni, and Gordon in the upcoming years. This could help keep the Bulls from going far over the luxury threshold (in upcoming years). As of now this may be Paxson’s current plan as the Bulls are reportedly very close to making a deal that would send Malik Allen and Tyson Chandler to the NO/OK Hornets in exchange for P.J. Brown and J.R. Smith. They may also be able to deal Chandler for a low scoring post player, such as Carlos Boozer of the Utah Jazz or Troy Murphy of the Golden State Warriors. Regardless of what come’s next, GM John Paxson and head coach Scott Skiles must feel confident that they were able to get the cream of the FA crop, especially one that helps fill a major need (center).

QUOTE(shoota @ Jul 3, 2006 -> 04:55 PM) Yeah, it's definately worth the risk of throwing off his swing during one of the best season's of his career during a pennant race. So do you know JD better than JD himself?

Excellent analysis, ssirish.

I'm not worried. I don't think JD is, either. If he thought for a second that participating in a HR derby could potentially throw off his swing/timing, he wouldn't be going.

Player that's exceeded my expectations the most: Matt Thornton. I didn't even think this guy would make it past April. He's been argubly our second best reliever. Player that has dissapointed me the most: Javier Vazquez. The talent/stuff is undeniable. I figured he would be able to turn his career around here. Everything pointed towards the direction of him having a big year. You had Ozzie, who he's close with. You had Cooper, who's one of the best pitching coaches around. Unlike New York and Arizona, where he was counted on to, more or less, lead the staff, he was simply brought in to make an already great staff better. I still have hope he'll turn it around after the break. Has the team met my expectations? Well, no. One, I expected this team to be in first-place by the break. Yes, I know they have a good record, and that they're only 2 1/2 games behind the Tigers, but I expected them to be in first by now. Offensively, they've gone above and beyond anything I could've expected. I knew it would be better. But I didn't expect guys like Dye and Crede to do what they've done. Even Konerko has exceeded what I expected of him. The bench has done just about what I've expected of them. The starting pitching, defense and overall fundamentals have all been inconsistent. Can we still win 95 games and get into the playoffs? Sure. The Red Sox did just that last year with mediocre pitching and defense. But we saw what happened to them once the real season started. I don't care how many runs we score. This team will go as far as their pitching takes them. And the defense and fundamentals have to improve as well. That's what made us so good last year. We didn't have to score 6-10 runs every game to win. We could beat you in a variety of different ways. Not just out-slugging teams. Which we've pretty much done all year to this point. So, yeah, while there's alot to be excited about, there's a few concerns. I will say this much, though: If and when this team puts it ALL together, and I believe they will -- it's gonna be really, really scary for the rest of the AL.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Jul 3, 2006 -> 10:04 AM) In fairness to the starters, we knew thay wouldn't all have '05 years again, that's why the offense was improved. We did? The only guy that had a career year was Garland, and he's pitched much worse this season than any of his inconsistent years before 2005 (although he's pitched very well in 3 of his last 4 outings). The starting rotation has been a dissapointment to this point. I can't help but wonder if one of Kenny's biggest fears before the season started has come to life: has the wear and tear of last year's title run taken a toll on our starters? It's a legitimate question.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jul 2, 2006 -> 11:00 PM) That would be me. Lummy still has some strides to make, but it was no secret that he had the best left handed arm in our system. It was just a matter of staying healthy and he's done exactly that. Its pretty impressive considering this is his first full season. Because of that the Sox need to be careful with him and I wouldn't be shocked if he slides into the pen eventually as they try to be careful with his innings (to kind of protect him). I also think we may see him at the major league level at some point this year (out of the pen). But it may not be wise if he isn't going to have much of an impact cause there would be no reason to start the clock early. Slide him to the 'pen? They don't have to do that to protect him from overworking himself, IMO. Also, I'd like to see him complete atleast one full season at Bham before there's any talk of him joining the Sox.

I'd vote a lot more if you didn't have to type in your e-mail address, date of birth, ect, every single time.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Jul 2, 2006 -> 10:33 PM) He was a sleeper coming into this year because he was hurt all of last year. Remember, Tyler was taken 4 picks befoer Gio. The talent is there, and, heck, he can throw both right and left handed, to appease everyone. Indeed. The fact that he missed all of last year with an injury even makes what he's doing this year even more impressive. And it's not like this is low or high a he's doing this in. The Southern League is pretty prospect-packed.

Who was it that said Lumsden was a better prospect than Gio? Was it Jason? Anyway, good call. I'm not saying that Lumsden is better, but he's exceeding my expectations and then some.

Lumsden

:puke

QUOTE(Wolverine31 @ Jul 2, 2006 -> 07:38 PM) BTW I think Ozzie is even more of a tool for taking all of his players to the game instead of the most deserving players. There's no way guys like Liriano who lead the AL in ERA or Verlander who is third in ERA and has 10 wins did not deserve to go before Ozzie's home team picks. The only questionable selection was Buehrle. The other 5 deserve to be there as much as anybody.

That dog would so be dead now if it had been up to me to save him.

QUOTE(GoRowand33 @ Jul 2, 2006 -> 07:16 PM) the point is that I doubt the Tigers would have the best record in baseball without verlander Way to go out on a limb. Dude, the Tigers have the best staff in baseball. It's not just Verlander. Not even close.

QUOTE(knightni @ Jul 2, 2006 -> 02:14 AM) Gary Matthews Jr. just trumped that play. Easily the play of the year to this point.

QUOTE(GoRowand33 @ Jul 2, 2006 -> 07:12 PM) alright maybe I was being a bit extreme, but they don't have 5 solid starters without him, and we know what the sox did with only 4 good starters... Huh?

QUOTE(GoRowand33 @ Jul 2, 2006 -> 07:03 PM) thats not true at all Lliriano is keeping the Twins alive, and without Verlander the Tigers have no starting pitching AJ does represent intangibles that are great for an individual team, not the all-star game Kenny Rogers: 10-3, 3.72 era Jeremy Bonderman: 7-4, 3.65 era Nate Robertson: 8-3, 3.14 era Zach Miner: 4-1, 2.59 era Yeah, you're right. They stink besides Verlander.

QUOTE(Al Lopez @ Jul 2, 2006 -> 06:18 PM) Today Jones to the Sox was floated on the Score by Steve Stone. He said he thinks Andruw will be traded by the deadline, and said the Sox could wind up with him, for BA and pitching, but not BMac. Stone said that BA and BMac wouldn't be necessary to swing the deal. FWIW. Thome/Konerko/Dye/Jones? Nope. That wouldn't be fair.

Sorry, I love AJ, but I'm gonna have to be fair on this one. I'm voting for Liriano.

QUOTE(LowerCaseRepublican @ Jul 2, 2006 -> 06:53 PM) The 'Stros got 1 (Berkman) but show me anybody else who is putting up the kinds of numbers that should be there for the NL from the 'Stros -- ones that could oust anybody in there. The only person for the Sox that you could make an argument for not being there is Buehrle but everybody else is deserving. If anybody complains about snubs in the AL -- for f***'s sake Mark Freaking Redman got in. He only got in because you have to take one guy from each team.