GreatScott82

QUOTE(CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Sep 30, 2006 -> 06:28 PM) I applaud your guts to post this. You asked other posters to do the same thing but not a single poster has, but you sure got your share of criticism. Typical around here. Easy to criticize , cowards when it comes to opening themselves up to criticism. Quite frankly I love the idea of Crawford and Rollins. It adds tons of speed , power, average and defense. Between the 2 of them it adds up to about 75 doubles , 30 triples and 45 homeruns , both hit lefties fairly well and steal bases. Crawford is 25 , Rollins 28 . I don't think Garcia and Uribe for Rollins is that farfetched as one poster suggested. Garcia is a potential 20 game winner in the NL. Uribe is a 20 homerun 70 rbi guy who plays good+ D.They also have the added intangible of having won a World Series. thanks cali! i just wanted to see what everyone thought it would take for us to get back on top. Obviously KW said he will be making minor tweaks. It would be nice to get both Rollins and Crawford, but there is a good chance that wont happen. Ozzie wants speed, so i'll be really dissappointed if KW doesn't try his best to aqcuire a guy like Rollins or Crawford, or in my wishes both

QUOTE(Leonard Zelig @ Oct 4, 2006 -> 01:37 AM) Well, supposedly, Fields is going to be playing outfield in winter ball this year. good point. why would they have him play outfield ball this winter if he is planning on replacing Crede? Wouldn't they just have him play 3B? Something is not right with this rumor.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Oct 3, 2006 -> 10:12 AM) Right now if you were offered Howie Kendrick, Ervin Santana and a prospect for Joe Crede, would you do that deal? Kendrick becomes your utility man, and would replace Iguchi in 2008. I don't buy the Santana is average talk. Yes his away splits aren't good. But this is his 1st full season in the majors, and that 4.28 ERA he put up this season would put him in the upper echelon of our starters for this season. And he's got pretty damn good stuff too, so that would please the people on here who are calling for us to have starting pitchers with more velocity over control. If he's more consistent, he'll take a big step forward. And I think he could do that next season. As for Joe, yeah he's one of my favorite players. But the Sox brass have to realize if he's not going to sign long - term and he's going to test the market, then his value will never be higher than what it is now. You've got Fields waiting in the wings, so I think it makes sense if you get a real good offer, you move Joe. Yea i would consider making that move. We can then trade Santana and Owens to Tampa for Crawford.

Is Fields really that solid defensivley to replace agruably the best defensive 3B in baseball? Fields can hit, but is he clutch like Crede? If this team can shore up the bullpen or possibly get an insurance spot starter/reliever (El-duque of '05) in return for Crede than i might consider it. However, i dont see Crede going anywhere. Unless its part of a Tampa package for Crawford

It seems like the only moves he plans to make is to aqcuire a new left fielder and some solid bullpen arms. Ozzie's patience ran out with Anderson (after he finally started hitting, which makes no sense) that means Sweeney, Fields and Owens will likely NOT be in our OF next year. I garuntee you Ozzie will tell Kenny he wants a new leadoff hitter/left fielder with mlb experience. The names that go through my head are Chone Figgins, Coco Crisp, Juan Pierre, Alfonso Soriano and Carl Crawford. I expect one of these guys in a white sox uniform for 2007. I expect KW to give Tampa a sweet offer they cant refuse for Crawford. Like a BMac and Owens for Crawford or something along those lines. Then we will have the same 5 starters as we did in 2006 and a 'Real' leadoff hitter who can play solid defense, something we lacked in 2006.

We will win 1 of 3. I like the chances tonite with the way Freddy is pitching and they should be able to wack around Bonser. They have nothing to play for, the pressure is on Minny to take this series. IMO Minny is the team to beat in the AL this year.

It would be funny as hell if we swept the Twins and they have to go to New York for the divisional series. It wont happen, but it would be kind of nice to see and a good way to go into the offseason despite this season major dissappointment.

QUOTE(chisoxdavid @ Sep 29, 2006 -> 09:31 AM) I dont know if Im gonna follow all the games but will probably end up watching a few games. Havent really decided on which team I will root for...........As and Thomas, Phillies and Rowand, I dont think I will be rooting for a division foe although it would be cool to see it stay in the central.........I might just root for the team we beat last year, besides after last year I kinda felt sorry for them after getting swept. Who you rooting for? Oh and I hate to say it but crazy Carl was right we didnt make the playoffs. yep crazy carl was right. maybe there wasn't dinosaurs after all.......

Okay everyone has been saying we need a new leadoff hitter, a better bullpen, more grinders, more balance, better starters, etc.... With all of these posts going on latley, i decided a new topic to see what each of you guys would do to make the 2007 a championship caliber team again. Put together your 25 man roster. Be realistic, what should KW do?!? My 25 man roster: Starting Lineup: Rollins SS (for Garcia and Uribe) Crawford LF (for McCarthy and Sweeney) Dye RF Thome DH Konerko 1B Iguchi 2B Pierzynski C Crede 3B Anderson CF Bench Gload 1B, Cintron INF, Ozuna Inf/OF, Stewart C, Mackowiack OF/3B Starting Rotation: Contreras Garland Buerhle Vazquez Mussina/Pettite (sign via free agency) Bullpen: Jenks, Thorton, Macdougle, Cotts(innings eater),Chad Bradford (via free agency), Roberto Hernandez (via free agency) I think if KW can do something along those lines we'll be okay!!

This team can't afford to have both Anderson and Owens in the OF next year. I understand they want to develop within to save money, however, we have guys like Thome and Pauly getting up there in age, the time is now to win. I dont want to spend another season having a guy learn at the big league level. We tried that with Anderson, and im sure the experience helped the guy and all but this team needs a guy with experience out there in LF. A guy like Crawford. If it takes trading Sweeney and BMac to get him, then do it. We have too many OF prospects anyways, not to mention Fields will be playing out there in winter ball.

hmmm lets see. not even a year since we won the world series, we just set the ballpark record in attendance and revenue.... yea the thought of rebuilding better be put to rest. enough said.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Sep 28, 2006 -> 03:27 AM) . Leaving the rotation as is and merely HOPING every starter improves is something that Quasimodo looking goof on the Northside Jim Hendry would do. Don't think like Jim Hendry. dont ever refer me as jim hendry again. yes it might be wise to change the rotation a bit. but i am not considering anything like Hendy. He relied on broken arms, i will be relying on the fact that the starters will turn it around. Buerhle has proven he can do it, and Vazquez and coop figured things out. THe lose of BMac would hurt possibly in the long run, but right now, this team NEEDS a leadoff hitter. Our top 3 weakenesses are: 1. Bullpen 2. Leadoff hitter and scrappy guys 3. scrappy guys to fit Ozzie's small ball style at the top and bottom of the orders Our rotation is not a weakness at all. They had a down year, but with more rest and NO World Baseball Classic, they'll be back with full force in 2007. This team NEEDs a guy like Crawford. Dont settle for a guy like Pierre. Because thats what 'Jim Hendry' did and my friend I DONT think like him.

BMac for one of the best leadoff hitters in the game... Crawford is what this team needs badly!! I can go one more year with the 5 starters we have. The rotation is getting older, the time is now to go after that World Series again. If KW can some how bring Crawford over for BMac, this team will do it again. I know one thing for certain, 1 of our 6 starters will be dealt. Either for a guy like Rollins, Tejada, Crawford, a major bullpen upgrade..etc... Its up to Kenny to decide what this team's biggest weakness is and how to determine what arm this team can afford to let go to improve the team. But my #1 would be Bmac for Crawford. I can see it now... Crawford LF Gooch 2B Dye RF Pauly 1B Thome DH Crede 3B Pierzynski C Anderson CF Uribe SS I highly doubt KW lets go of his pride and joy Anderson. I can possibly see him trading Uribe though.. So many decisous he must make

This team had no chemistry. It was a lot easier to cheer for last years team because they were fun to watch. I couldn't say that about this team. We didn't have the 'grinders' anymore. I know losing Rowand was overdocumented, but he truly was a key loss to this teams chemistry. KW needs to go out and find some grinders again to patch up our top and bottom of the orders. This teams pitching really failed. We were supposed to be one of the "best rotations ever" according to ESPNs steve phillips. Well it looked good on paper, BUT not once did our rotation have quality starts 1-5 in sequence until the very end of the year. But by then our bullpen was in shambles. #1 priority: Fix up the bullpen. #2 priority: find a speedy left fielder and a grinder center fielder. (trade bmac and anderson for Crawford to play LF and sign Hunter via free agency. #3 priorty: fix up the bottom of the order. trade Uribe and Broadway for Rollins. The 2007 lineup of my dreams: Crawford LF Iguchi 2B Dye RF Thome DH Konerko 1B Pierzynski C Crede 3B Hunter CF Rollins SS (Lol okay that would be ridiculous!!)

Jon Garlands 3-run homer in Cincy! I was there for that one!!

I appreciate his interest, but no thank you! We are much better off with either a speedy lead off hitter like Carl Crawford or developing Sweeney or Fields.

If Florida takes Cora, i think it would be an awesome move by Ozzie to bring Carlton Fisk back to the southside as our new bench coach, while Rock Raines takes over 3rd base.

Garland and McCarthy and Fields for Willis and Cabrera. Move Cabrera to LF. But since this wont happen forget it. Garland is our best pitcher. There is a reason KW signed him to that nice contract.

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Sep 21, 2006 -> 10:22 AM) These games are not the reason the Sox didn't make the postseason. These games were: 14-11 vs TB and KC, and 7-9 vs CLE. awesome post!! yep that just about sums it up. imagine if they went say 17-8 vs TB and KC and 10-6 vs Cleveland? we would be either tied of just a half game back of the race right now. So yes there is a reason when that old saying "every game counts" takes place.

This team failed because of the break up of GROUP 4!!!

QUOTE(whitesox1976 @ Sep 21, 2006 -> 09:04 PM) If I had to get rid of one Sox pitcher it would be Vazquez and put Bmac in as a starter. Give the guys a standing ovation Sunday win or lose. Just to let them know that we still love them. WIN IT AGAIN IN 2007!! yes i will be there for the final home game. and yes i will give them a standing ovation for a great 2 year run. a world series title for the first time in 88 years and almost making it to the post season for consecutive seasons in the first time in franchise history? Not bad at all. 2007 will be a killer season! I can't wait to see what KW does. Operation #1 fix up the pen!!!!!

expect a new CF and LFer in 2007 Ozzie just doesn't like BA. And KW knows he got the one great year Pods had in him in 2005 and now its time to move on. The only sure keepers for 2007 are: Pauly, Gooch, Dye, Crede, Garland, AJ, Jenks, and Thorton The probably keepers are: Buerhle, Contreras, McDougal, Cotts, R Mack, Gload, Ozuna, Thome The big question marks: Uribe, Anderson, Vazquez, Garcia, McCarthy, Riske, Cintron Good as Gone: Podsednick, Alomar, Hermanson KW has alot of work to do come November

QUOTE(CWSOX45 @ Sep 20, 2006 -> 06:46 PM) I'm not expecting anything miraculous to happen at this point. However after reading that a Minnesota radio station had a "mock funeral" for us, I want our boys to destroy everything in their path the next 12 games. EAT s*** MINNY They really did that? Yikes thats bad karma! Good luck minnesota, because now you will need it. Who does that, seriously?

For those who don't remember Buerhle had similar struggles in 2003 before finally turning it around in the 2nd half of that season and went on to have a 16-10 with an era of 3.89 in 2004 and followed that up by going 16-8 with an era of 3.12 and was a HUGE reason why they won it all in 2005. His 2006 struggles are very similar to 2003. You have to pick him up. For what Zito is going to get this offseason, that $9.5 million is a bargain IMO. Keep Buerhle, he's been our most consistent pitcher over the past 6 seasons and he has proven once he can turn it around and going into his free agent offseason next year, i garuntee he has a great year. IMO i would keep the rotation as is. I know there are pleanty of Freddy and Javy haters out there, but lately they have turned it around and look to have finally found it. Contreras and Garland have also been pretty consistent. Garland is only getting better as well. The pitcher i would trade is BMac. I know Ozzie doesn't blaim him for his struggles, but i do. If he can't make the transition into the bulpen what makes you think he can revert back to a starter's role? Not to mention pitch better than Javy or Freddy? If KW was smart he would package BMac with others and try to go after Crawford. Ohhh how bad this team needs a guy like him. Solid defender, with alot of speed. Get him and totally revamp our bullpen and we'll be fine.

another good game by freddy. you still want to get rid of this guy? if there is one guy to consider getting rid of it would have to be buerhle based on this season. he has been aweful. but i wouldnt even do that based on his awesome reputation to turn it around. i say keep the rotation as is and trade BMac in a package for a leadoff hitter.