GreatScott82

16-15 since the ASB isn't too bad when you look at our schedule and saw we played vs teams like the Yankees, Angels, Rays, Tigers and Twins. The thing i don't like seeing is that we are under .500 vs the AL Central and 15-14 vs KC and Cleveland combined! Honestly our defense has probably lost us 5+ games this year. Our starting pitching has been solid, our offense is solid, our pen has been shaky but most pens are iffy this time of year, its our horrible defense thats going to make or break us.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 17, 2009 -> 07:38 PM) Yup. And I believe 2011 is Linebrink and Buehrle...although hopefully MB is extended once more if he wants to keep going. Then 2012 is Peavy, unless we pick up his option. It's a good progression of rolling through people, which is sorta how you want it. Yeppo. We are set up pretty nicely. Raises to Quentin and Danks really isn't going to effect us that much. KW will have about 10-12 million to spend on free agency and i think Figgins is the guy he'll be courting this winter.

A win is a win. Going to tommorows game. Can't wait to see how Freddy will pitch.

QUOTE (gatnom @ Aug 17, 2009 -> 04:26 PM) I can't see this team actually having enough money for Figgins let alone having enough to fill in the other holes. What other holes? I really think this team can fill everything else internally. Hudson may be ready for next season. The infield is set, the outfield would be set with the aquisition of Figgins and Thome would be brought back cheap for 1 year.

QUOTE (Lemon_44 @ Aug 14, 2009 -> 07:01 AM) i agree. I don't see any way THome is not back next year unless his contract demands are outrageous and i can't see that being the case. Ozzie,and all his teammates, love the guy, he's going for 600 HR, and he's lefthanded. As much as i'd like Blalock to be brought in, i think Thome is on the team and Dye may be the odd man out. Replace Dye's contract with Figgins and having an OF of Figgins, Rios, and CQ would be acceptable. Pods could be brought back as a #4 OF. I agree with everything except for the Pods brought back as a 4th OF. He will likely land a starting OF spot somewhere after the season he is having. Hopefully it is not with us. I love him offensively but defensively he is too much of a liability. Dye is going to want some pretty good cash and he is likely seeking a 3 year deal. Since we already have a lineup stacked with Right handed hitters, i just don't see him as a fit next year. Thome is going to want a 1 year deal for like $5 million plus incentives. Yeah he'll miss his seasonal 15-30 games/ year, but his OBP is still high at .380 and he is on pace for another 30 HR season. At this rate, Thome will hit his 600th HR around late August of next year. That would be great for marketing as well. Pending some trades, the Sox will have about $10-12 million to spend on free agents. I personally would love Figgins. Yea he is getting a bit older but he could steal bases (37/50) he could still get on base .401 OBP, and he is better defensively than Pods. So yeah i would spend that Dye money on Figgins.

KW is preparing for a serious run in 2010. That being said, if the Sox win the division in 2009- its nothing but a bonus. KW already addressed the defensive situation by aqcuirering Rios. So far i like what im seeing out of him out there. The infield needs to improve their defensive play. One thing we have to remember is- Getz, Ramirez and Beckham are all playing their respective positions for the first time at the MLB level. I can't remeber that every happening before as a Sox fan. So there is definitley room for improvement there. Next year our rotation could arguably be the best in baseball with a full season of Peavy. With a few moves in the offseason KW has set himself up to have a pretty awesome team next year. As far as this year goes, we were predicted to be on the bottom of the division. Instead were in the thick of things- Gordon Beckham has made his arrival, KW gets Rios for nothing, Podsednik returns and is super rejuvinated, and we get a Cy Young pitcher in Jake Peavy. Yeah- i'd say things have turned around pretty quickly. If CQ could get some rest here and there, i'd say we have a great chance of winning the division this year. And hey, if Freddy Garcia could give us a few good outings- i'm going to like our chances even more. If we come up just short- i won't be too sad because i know in 2010- we are going to be one of the best in baseball.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 05:41 PM) For the record, I was for and championed Pods getting his number back from Josh Fields (when you all thought Josh was a big part of our future), but I am not for Freddy getting his number from Gavin. That being said, what number does he get? 33? 43? 24? 1? 00? I think Freddy is going to sport 33. Gavin has earned #34.

Should have won this game. Plain and simple. I think Ozzie blew this one. He took Danks out waaayy too soon. Then he puts Jenks in the 9th when he could have easily used Thorton.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 05:26 PM) I sure hope we don't waste this chance to gain on the Tigers...not to mention the Twins too. seems like we've been 2.5 games back for ever. hope we dont blow another chance to sweep.

QUOTE (WSoxMatt @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 05:20 PM) That ball hit off the 17 for LAA, Pods wasnt going to catch that even if he were all the way back, he is too short If only Rios was in LF today. The only way Pods catches that ball is if he uses the wall to leap up higher. Lets win this one in the 9th. Hell of a performance from Danks.

lets do this!

QUOTE (son of a rude @ Aug 14, 2009 -> 01:59 PM) He did it all wrong It must go five seven five He sucks at haikus lol oh well i teach science not english.

Wagner would be an incredible addition to our pen. And down the stretch, we are going to need all the help down there as possible.

Freddy Garcia is one of my all-time favorite Sox players. It will be a pretty nice story if he could help contribute to our success down the stretch. Could tonights game be Contreras' last? I'm guessing if he lays another egg he's out of the rotation.

Freddy Garcia seems to be doing a pretty impressive job down in triple-a. per dailyherald sounds like sweaty freddy will be back! Tuesday, August 18th Freddy is back!! Kind of sounds like a nightmare on elm st. film.

Jakey-Jakey first made a mistakey He came to his senses A good rotation is now stellar.

Im loving his radio call. .

If the starting pitching performs like it did the last few days, we will make the playoffs. Last night was just one of those freakish games where no team could buy a run. I could definitley see the Sox scoring 6-8 runs on friday night. Our next 9 games are against below .500 teams. We NEED to take advantage of these games. 3 @ Oakland: Hopefully we'll win 2. But this place has been a nightmare for us for whatever reason. 3 vs KC: A sweep would do wonders. We are playing better at home of late. I say we'll win 2. 3 vs Baltamore: Another opportunity for a sweep. But we'll likely win 2 here. Anything less than 6-3 would be a dissappointment.

QUOTE (son of a rude @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 05:57 PM) I don't see why the Rays would let go of Crawford. They have a team option for around 10 million for him. If for some reason they don't take that option, he will get a buttload of cash from some other team. He is having a career year. The Rays are going to take that option and likely trade him this winter. The question is, how much will you be willing to give up for 1 year of a great player?

I love what KW has done this year. Its kind of like Deja-Vu right back to 2004. We were in a tight division race with Minny- KW goes out and aqcuires Contreras, Garcia and Everett. We just missed the playoffs- but KW finished putting together his puzzle that winter. Fast forward to 2009. The Sox are in a pretty tight race with Detroit, KW goes out and brings in Jake Peavy and Alex Rios. Now I hope we don't fall short, but if we do- you know damn well KW will finish putting his puzzle together this winter. With the additions of Peavy and Rios, we are that close to heading back to the promiseland. . . My favorite KW move was aqcuirering Freddy Garcia back in 2004. I knew right then and there we would be tough to beat. I have a gut feeling the Peavy deal will be just as good. The 2010 plan is begins. . . NOW!!!

QUOTE (kev211 @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 03:41 PM) In Kenny I trust. Best GM in town! No doubt about it.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 03:08 PM) Thats a lot coming from a thome boy I agree, although if Thome is ridiculously cheap due to good teams already having a DH.... and the fact that he can chase 600 in a HR-friendly park (while close to Peoria) Then maybe enough stars align for the Sox to take him and they can spend the savings elsewhere The Sox are in a possition right now where they may be better off signing Pods and Thome to 1 year deals and letting Dye walk. With guys like Jared Mitchell, Jordan Danks, Tyler Flowers and Dayan Viciedo waiting in the wings. If they do that you'll have Thome, Pods, AJ and Konerko coming off the books. THe only player out of that list i see coming back is Konerko. I'm hoping Viciedo will be ready for next season. If that happens we could perhaps center a package around Chris Getz for a young starter such as Zach Duke. I wouldn't mind this at all: Pods LF * Beckham SS Rios CF Thome DH * Konerko 1B * Quentin RF Pierzynski C* Ramirez 2B Viciedo 3B *= last year of deal. Peavy, Buerhle, Floyd, Danks, Duke= WOW!!!

If you could aqcuire Zach Duke for a package centered around Chris Getz you do it. Our rotation would be set for many, many years. Peavy, Buerhle, Floyd, Danks and Duke- thats simply amazing! KW still wants to get younger and if Viciedo plays very well in Fall Ball- bring him up! KW has done a great job this season showcasing his prospects and young talent. I truly believe we could aqcuire a young starting pitcher such as Duke w/o giving up Ramirez. With the depth of our farm- we could risk losing Chris Getz.

QUOTE (suicidesqueeze @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 02:39 PM) His cheap contract is what could net us a solid starting pitcher or 3rd baseman, IMO. Shed a little payroll here, a little there, and we're in the ballpark to add another piece... Ramirez is just a freak with the bat. I hate to lose that. Honestly we maybe able to get a solid starting pitcher for Chris Getz. Pittsburgh will likely be looking into adding a 2B this offseason after losing Freddy Sanchez. I would love to bring over Zach Duke. Ramirez is much more effective at 2B. You could move Beckham to SS and perhaps bring up Viciedo for 3B if he's ready. The thing is Viciedo will likely not be ready for 2010. Here is the latest Viciedo #'s from Double A Birmingham: In 422 at bats he is hitting: .277 with 10 HR, 63 RBI's with an OBP of .314. What worries me about Viciedo are his 77 strike outs. The good news is he has improved greatly since the start of the season and he is proving to be developing into a solid run producer. My question is can he play defense. If he can't than its simple- keep the infield the way it is.