hogan873

With the Cubs trading for a new closer in Gregg, Kerry Wood is no longer a Cub. He is supposed to file for free agency at midnight. Is he a guy that the Sox should even take a look at? Not as a closer, but as bullpen help?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 4, 2008 -> 04:47 PM) You're not allowed to trade a person you sign until after what, June 1? Even for pants. Oh, good point.

Maybe this is the year that KW actually makes the move everyone expects him to, like Figgins or Roberts. But then, we wouldn't really expect him to make the expected move, therefore making the move unexpected. Pretty clever, KW, pretty clever.

Re-sign Juan Uribe then trade him to Levi's for pants for the team. Juan would then be Levi's model for the "ample-duffed" man.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Oct 20, 2008 -> 09:07 PM) 1.) Contreras won't be throwing again for a while now, and in fact, I'd say there's a good chance his career is over. 2.) Anyone saying that they'd prefer Contreras over Vazquez is plain and simple stupid. Ouch! Thank you for pointing out my stupidity. Okay, okay, I get it now. Javy is a better pitcher than Contreras, but I plain just don't like him. He failed for us big time when it counted. I won't go so far as to say I'd rather have Javy, but I'll say I don't want either one.

I guess the implosion that was Vazquez towards the end is what sticks in many people's minds (mine included). He does have some good stuff and has shown flashes of brilliance. But it's hard to wash that taste out of my mouth...towards the end (when it REALLY counted) he was horrible. You just knew it was going to be a loss.

So, I would think that Buehrle, Danks, and Floyd are locks. What about the 4th and 5th spots? I hope that we've seen the last of Vazquez and Contreras (although I would take Contreras over Vazquez if we kept one). Is Clayton "Teeth" Richard a starter next year? Are the Sox going to bring someone fro within, sign a FA, or make a trade? I don't see any big FA signings, but I suppose a trade would be possible. Any ideas out there? Wishes?

I saw a crawl on ESPN that the Brewers were possibley going to offer a contract to CC Sabathia who will be a free agent. I know this is someone the Sox COULD use, and me as a fan WOULD love to see him there. But, does anyone think that he's a real possibility? Obviously the Sox would have to free up some money via trade or not re-signing someone. Any thoughts?

I look at it this way. They didn't get swept. The lost to a better Rays team. There were several great surprises this year. Danks, Floyd, Ramirez, Quentin. The OC experiment failed. Oh well. Rid of him, add some speed, lose a few dinosaurs and this team is making another run next year. Go '09 Sox!

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Oct 4, 2008 -> 10:31 AM) Pods as a regular again? Are you joking? April Fool's? If we want the 2009 version of Pods, then we might trade for Tavares or Figgins, but I don't think either of these is very likely. Yes, my comment about Pods was in jest. But someone like the 2005 Pods is what we need. Who is that? I'm not sure.

I like the idea of shaking up the team and returning to speed, defense, and pitching. We are way too slow, especially in the middle of the lineup. Sheer power doesn't work for this team...it really doesn't work anywhere. Look at Tampa. This is an energetic, fast team with good pitching. A lot like the Sox in 2005. I don't have a lot of information handy where I could conjur up some trades, but there are certain players we need to keep and certain players we need to rid of. I guess Konerko, Dye, and Thome are here for 2009. That's fine. Konerko should return to form, Dye is solid, and Thome is an okay DH at this point in his career. I like Swisher. He brings an energy to the team that we need. Problem is, he's better at first than in OF. Could be an issue. Cabrera...he gone. He was an experiment that didn't work out. His defense is okay, but we didn't trade for okay. As much as I like Uribe at third, I think he's gotta go. We can find a better hitting third baseman out there. So who do we target? Roberts, sure. Crisp, why not. Do we keep Anderson? I'm on the fence. I think he might actually be better if he got to play all season. Like I said, I can't really serve up some trades or come up with a new lineup, but something has to be done. Hitting the most homeruns in the majors go us to the playoffs...barely. I don't think it will get us much farther. Hey, is Pods available?

This team doesn't deserve to go to the playoffs. How can they expect to win one game in the first series? Vazquez? Useless. Griffey? Useless. Juan Uribe? Sir Swing-a-lot. Forget it. Throw in the damn towel.

Thank god there's a vent thread! Why can't these guys swing the damn bat at strikes? Why do they watch two fastballs right down the center of the plate and then have to battle a bunch of pitcher's pitches? I've been a Griffey apologist since he was acquired, but no more. This guy is the worst god damn offender of this! Swing the bat, Nancy!

I had the sound turned down right before the game started when they were showing some of the players wearing the Sox hockey jerseys. Does anyone know if those jerseys are available anywhere, or were those just for whatever they were doing with the Blackhawks?

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Sep 2, 2008 -> 07:45 PM) "dey need they resst...loo' bish, i maa' da lineup car', not ju!"

Back in the second, DJ was saying that they can't worry about hurting people's feelings (when he was saying that they needed someone getting ready in the bullpen because Danks was getting shelled). Same thing goes here. Why start Owens? Every game is important from here on out. Use Owens as a pinch runner late? Sure, but not in CF in a lineup that isn't hitting already.

Dammit! *throws in the towel*

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Sep 2, 2008 -> 07:33 PM) That is my problem. Anderson has sat on an MLB bench all season. Owens couldn't make this team. To be a September call up, and get a start over someone who has been here all year is a huge slap in the face to Anderson and the team. The Sox deserved what they got in the 6th. I agree.

Yeah, I'm already sick of seeing the way the team is playing. Now I'm watching what looks like a team that has figured they're out of the running. It's great to see these guys get called up and get some ML time, but Brian Anderson is a better option in CF right now.

This may be wishful thinking, but: Sox 93-69 Twins 91-71

AJ is simply awesome. It's great to have him on our side. He's a playmaker anyway you look at it. The dropped third strike in the ALCS, today's incident...he makes things happen. If this team can continue to get it together and win (especially when MN loses) they have a chance.

1. Buehrle 2. Vazquez 3. Contreras 4. Buehrle (throw a Danks jersey on him) 5. Buehrle (throw a Floyd jersey on him)

I could have voted for several and possibly written in a few names, but I had to vote for Bobby. The guy pitches his heart out every time he's out there.

Realistically, Cabrera does exceedingly well and wins his second Gold Glove, Buehrle wins 18 games, and Joe Crede starts at third 120 times.

On a player level, Jon Danks throws three perfect games in a row and baseball officials discover he's just a figment of Kenny Williams' imagination. The Sox organization is fined an undisclosed amount after promoting "No Pants" Mondays.