GreatScott82

What KW needs to do is FOCUS hard on Adrian Gonzalez right now! If we can get him right away in the offseason- the organization can move on and not take that big of blow losing PK. I am not sure what it would cost to get A Gonz- but the GM has came out and said he will be listening to offers. With that PK money- you can then sign Damon as your DH for a resonable price (5-6 mill) re-sign AJ and Putz and go out and sign Brandon Inge for 3B. It would be more of a 2005 offseason mind-set with cutting ties to Magglio. I would love to move Quentin, but i think the organization wants to give him one more chance. Not to mention we will need his power or somebody with power out in RF.

Let the offseason being

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Nov 10, 2010 -> 06:28 PM) Outstanding post! And this is the main reason, not the only reason, that the Jackson/Hudson swap was so pathetic. And why years of neglecting the farm are now coming back to haunt us. Wayyyy too many holes for a team with a 100+ million dollar payroll and little-to-no wiggle room to add to it. KW and CO. better get pretty damn creative this offseason. I expect KW to be super creative this offseason. . what he plans on doing? who knows. . I expect a lot of trades this winter. At the same time- we missed the playoffs the last few years, im willing to head in a new creative direction.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 23, 2010 -> 12:13 AM) 2005 - awesome. Since then ... a surprise. I thought the Sox would continue excellence if not domination for some time to come. Right after the Sox won it all, I think there was a feeling the team might have a sustained run. Granted we haven't fallen off the map with some playoff appearances, but as it stands TODAY, the team certainly doesn't look like an AL champion contender for some time to come. Our everyday lineup is not championship caliber. Our pitching (on paper) IS championship caliber. Unfortunately our pitching has been far from consistent and our bullpen has been poor the past 2 seasons at least. 05 ... magical. Tear-inducing. Since then ... Tear inducing for the wrong reasons. agreed. KW really needs to inject some offensive pop into the lineup. When I was looking at Texas' lineup last night, I was like "man this team is deep!" We are certainly far from that. As of right now, our 2 best offensive players are Ramirez and Rios. We are going to need more than that!

Jackson looked pretty damn good for us when he got here. He had a few iffy games but for the most part he can be dominating when his stuff is on. I cant wait to see what he can do during a full season in a White Sox uniform.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 13, 2010 -> 08:16 AM) That's certainly the best way to do it with Teahen. However, there's one other way things could work. Hypothetically, lets' imagine a situation where the Sox make a large deal for a top flight player. Say, Quentin + someone else, and the return is an Adrian Gonzalez or a Prince Fielder. Suddenly we're sitting there with a vastly improved team, but we have a hole that we need to fill. If we fill it with a person who is just a warm body, overall the team has been upgraded. Teahen can be used in that way. If you go into the season with the team as constructed right now, Teahen is a utility backup/platoon player with Quentin in RF and maybe Morel at 3b, but I'm not ruling anything out, as I expect this to be anything other than a boring offseason. I truly believe KW is going to go hard after A Gon this winter. With SD's GM stating that signing A Gon to a HUGE deal isn't very practical and KW stating that one of the teams first priorities is a stick from the left side- I can see some potential for a deal here.

Not only are they going to have to let go of Konerko but likely trade Buerhle as well to make this possible. But damn i love Carl Crawford

KW will see how much wiggle room he has to work in a couple weeks. By then we will probably figure out who isn't coming back and possible trades.

When KW was on ESPN1000 a few days ago with Bruce Levine he brought up the possibility of rebuilding in the near future. With the attendance down and the Economy still uncertain, I can see two things happen. 1. KW will work with his 'set payroll'. He doesn't know the number yet based on next year's revenue projection. But he has done this the past 3 seasons. Trying to win and get younger on the fly. It worked in 2008, the problem now is Minnesota- with their new stadium and higher payroll, it will be hard to compete with that. 2. Complete roster overhaul. Making trades. Letting veterans like PK, Jenks and AJ walk. Give guys like Viciedo, Morel and Flowers a chance to have a full season of MLB work. Rebuild the farm by trading guys like Buerhle and Quentin. Perhaps even trading Peavy at the trade deadline after he proves he is healthy to a team like New York or Boston. I honestly wouldn't be too upset with option number 2. But I highly expect KW to give it one last crack and it if it doesn't work by June, blow it up.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 27, 2010 -> 10:06 AM) I could see one of these options being exercised if the Sox decide to do a major overhaul and send out D1 or G in order to bring in a major bat somewhere. agreed. i also think the Sox are going to stetch out Sale during the spring and insert him into the rotation to replace D1 or G. Pena or Garcia will be used as a Peavy insurance policy.

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Sep 28, 2010 -> 01:46 PM) My gut feeling is he says that he intends to test the market but would love to be back. Exactly. He is a true class act and will likely say "I plan on testing the free agent waters but I would love to finish my career here.

DH What do we do with the DH spot next year? Do we sign a free agent like Dunn? Do we attempt to make a trade for Prince or Adrian Gonzalez? Do we go with a cheaper option and go after H. Matsui or even re-sign Manny? One thing is for certain. . KW won't botch this up again. 1B I think there is about a 65% chance that Konerko is going to re-sign. But lets say he does go to LA or Arizona to be closer to home, where to we go from there? Internally we have Viciedo. But honestly i don't think he's ready. Once again, i will bring up Prince or A. Gonzalez. Its going to be hard to replace Konerko's production but one of those 2 guys can definitley come close. The price will be steep to get one of these men, but it something we will need to look into. 3B I love Omar and what he did for us this year, in fact i want back next year as a backup again. This year we need to look elsewhere. The Teahen experiment DID NOT work. The dude is not good in defensively and appears to be sliding even more offensively. I like this Morel kid and i believe we should give him a shot to develop. I LOVE his tools defensively and he has a decent swing. If the Sox aren't ready for him. I would love to sign Brandon Inge. I love his attitude and overall game. He is a great club house guy and wouldn't be too expensive. C I thought for sure we would be entering the Tyler Flower era in 2011. However, he struggled offensively and doesn't appear to be there just yet. Due to this, I would offer AJ a 1 year deal in which he would likely accept. Trades Many people believe the Sox will look into trading Quentin this year. I think it maybe the right move and the time to do so. What are your thoughts on a Quentin for David DeJesus straight up? The Royals are likely going to accept that 6 million club option and im sure they would love to take a chance on Quentin in exchange for DeJesus. Rotation Peavy, Buerhle, Floyd, Danks, Jackson, Sale I hope the Sox keep the rotation as is and add Sale to it. Obviously Peavy will be a HUGE question mark so keeping Jackson and adding Sale will likely be essential. What are your thoughts on the direction of this team?

The Twins are the better team. I hate saying that, but its the truth. You can't go 5-11 vs the team ur chasing and expect anything good. Its going to be a loooooooooooooong winter folks.

Wouldn't it be funny if tonight was the start of an epic Minnesota late September collapse?!? Oh Twins. You have the world in the palm of your hands. . don't blow it away!! Or should I say "Don't get Munsoned" for those of you Kingpin fans out there!

I was looking at the Twins schedule and its pretty easy. The only team left to even give them a challenge would be that final 4 games vs Toronto. Maybe even Oakland. But the fact of the matter is, we need to win the next 6 and Minny needs to lose 4 of 6 to give us a chance. Meaning- lose 3 vs us and 1 vs the Tribe. If that happens we are 2 games back and still alive. We played pretty poorly the past 3 games. They really need a good win tonight combined with a Twin loss to give us some minor hope if any.

Let start looking ahead here. 2011 free agents: Bobby Jenks, Freddy Garcia, Paul Konerko, AJ Pierzynski, Andruw Jones, Mark Kotsay, JJ Putz, Omar Vizquel, Manny Ramirez . This is a combine salary of around 30 million dollars. Im assuming the Sox will part ways with Garcia, Jenks, Jones, Kotsay and Ramirez. I think the Sox will offer Konerko a 3 year deal worth 10 mil per year season with bonuses. He has proven once again that he still has pleanty in the tank and that he can carry this team. I think they will offer AJ arbitration and he will accept it. I say he'll get around 4 million next year. I also believe they'll re-sign Putz and Vizquel. They both were HUGE pieces to this years team. Putz will likely get a 2 year 4-5 million deal while Vizquel another 1.5 million deal. So lets look at it: 30 million- 10 mill (PK) - 4 mill (AJ)- 4 mill (Putz) - 1.5 mill (OV): Thats about 17 million left over to spend on a DH or 3B based on last years salary. Lets look at the lineup: Pierre LF (proved to still have it- lead league with SB) ???? 3B (Omar will likely go back to bench role with proper aquisition) The guy I want is Beltre. . . Rios CF (I loved his play all year long!) Konerko 1B (The King will return!) ???? DH (KW will definitley address this issue right away in the offseason) Who do you like? Quentin RF (if there is one guy KW will trade this offseason, i think its him) Pierzynski C (With Flowers regression, AJ will get another chance to rebound) Ramirez SS (had a hell of a year defensively) Beckham 2B (really picked up his game in the 2nd half before the hand injury) Bench: Lillybridge (infield/outfield)- cheap. needs to work on his baserunning Castro C- loved him as a backup this year Teahen INF/OF- Most overpaid bench guy we will have next year. Likely will be PK's backup at 1B. ????? OF- KW will likely get a veteran with something to prove again here. Vizquel- INF- the old man has GAME! Rotation: Buerhle- Getting older- but proven to still have it. Peavy??? Will he be ready to go? Or should i say will he ever be the same? Danks- Loved him this season. Floyd- Im still waiting for him to excell- the dude can pitch. Jackson- In a full season i think he can turn out to be our ACE. Bullpen: Sale CL- Yes i want Sale as our team's closer. This dude is NASTY! I think he can be someone we can rely on no doubt. Putz SU- He was very impressive until his injury. Thorton SU- Mr. Reliable! Santos SU- This guy has nasty stuff and his getting better and better. Pena MR- This guy impressed me all season coming in and salvaging games for us. Linebrink MR- Yep his contract continues on. Threets LS- A lefty specialist. Hopefully he returns healthy next year. Our pitching appears to be set which is a great luxory for KW to have going into 2011. We will still need a DH, 3B and another OF specialist for the bench. I want Adrian Beltre for 3B. For a DH i can see KW making some sort of a blockbuster deal perhaps involving CQ and some prospects. What are your thoughts moving ahead. . i love the makeup of this team and feel that we very close!

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 9, 2010 -> 02:47 PM) 2007 Mets blew a 7-game lead w/ 17 to play wow i didn't realize they had that big of a lead! 2010 Twins blow a 6-game lead with 22 to play?

QUOTE (J.Reedfan8 @ Sep 9, 2010 -> 02:33 PM) The series against the Twins is a must sweep now. Unless the Sox pull a Colorado over these next 19 games, this division race is pretty much over. If I'm the Twins, I smell blood, and beat the Sox at least 2/3 times to wrap the division up (depending on what they do against Cleveland). I can see them doing that to us easily. They have owned the central and US all season long. Honestly, they deserve to take the AL Central. Unless they choke it away which is very possible of course. Didn't that happen to the 1995 Angels?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Sep 9, 2010 -> 02:29 PM) Who knows. The Twins could get swept this weekend. I've seen weirder things in my life. I'm going to go on a limb here and say that wont happen. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to cheer them on until the ship sinks, but its time we start thinking about 2011.

We can't afford to lose any more games. So yea- we BETTER win today. I don't know why but im clinging on life support right now. If we do sweep Minny- it can change everything. Here is what NEEDS to happen: Win today: Gain a half game. (5 games back) Sweep KC: Minny takes 2 of 3 in Cleveland. (4 games back) Sweep Minny: (1 game back) Minny then plays a tough Oakland team, while we play Detroit at home and I believe we can gain ground during this series as well. IM KEEPING HOPE ALIVE JUST LIKE IT WAS 2005! But it all starts with today. . . .

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 8, 2010 -> 09:32 PM) So there's been a 9 game swing from where we would have been if we won that Sunday game vs the Twins after the ASB to now. Plain and simple, Twins deserve the AL Central with their amazing play since the ASB. The better team will have won. Yep the Twins are the better team i hate to say. They beat us when they had to and they haven't lost much since. I just can't see us sweeping a team as hot as them and thats what they will HAVE to do now being 5.5 games back. There is NO WAY Minny loses any ground in Cleveland.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Sep 7, 2010 -> 08:44 PM) Gotta come back and get the last two. And hope the Twins lose one... Yes. . thats a must now! We NEED that game back. Being 4.5 games back with 24 to go is not that good of a situation.

Give him a week off and see how it progresses. Thank goodness its September and we have guys on the bench. I would definitley like to see Morel a few times.

As long as we continue to play good ball anything can happen. My hope is to head into that series vs the Twins 2 games back.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Sep 2, 2010 -> 02:16 AM) Logic would also suggest the Tigers win more than 1/9 at Minnesota. That's hard for even the White Sox to pull off against the Twins. The Tigers will win today. The Rangers will win 2 of 3 and we will win 2 of 3 @ Boston. I said it before, my hope is to head into the Minnesota series down at LEAST 2.5 games. I think we match up pretty well vs Boston, while Minnesota doesn't match up too well vs Texas. This maybe our only opportunity to gain ground until we play them in that pivital series.