GreatScott82

QUOTE (beck72 @ Oct 21, 2008 -> 05:20 PM) Garland should get a decent deal from a NL team [probably along the lines of what Marquis got, though I could see a 3, 4 yr deal, at $8, 9 mill per yr]. The sox should stay far away from that. I could see Garland going to the Dodgers. Especially if Lowe departs. He'll likely get 8-10 million/season which is good based on his below mediocre season. As far as Richard being in the 5th spot, its not a bad situation, but based on what im reading, KW might be aggressive toward a SP this offseason. Who it might be? I have no clue, but if we can solidify our rotation 1-5 than we can make another World Series run. The birth of Danks and Floyd into All-star caliber pitchers really has saved KW a lot of money. Instead of aqcuirering or signing 2 or 3 mediocre starting pitchers, he can now go after 1 top of the rotation guy. I wonder if KW has already made a few phone calls to SD in regarding Peavy? Its far fetched, but you never know. KW and Ozzie are good salesmen.

Okay most of the talk this winter is going to surround around adding speed to our offense- which is very important. However, what about our starting pitching situation. What happens here? I think its safe to say that Buerhle, Danks, and Floyd are here to stay for another 3-4 years. But what about that 4th and 5th slot? Vazquez really layed an egg when we needed him the most down the stretch and his confrontation with AJ really didn't help his reputation either. I would LOVE if he was traded this offseason for some bullpen help, another SP or perhaps some more speed. And then there is the Contreras situation. THere is talk about him not returning until June or July. Its safe to say he will not be in our rotation in 2009. That extension KW gave him is really biting him in the ass. So what happens to that 4th spot. Do we trade Javy? Im sure there are pleanty of NL teams that would love to have him. KW would likely get some decent peices in return, so i say yes! How can we fill that 4th spot then? Well there are free agents out there that we can take a look at. I think its safe to say CC Sabathia will play for big time bucks out on the west coast. So that leaves us with guys like Sheets, Burnett, Garland, Lowe, or Mussina on the free agent market. I personally like Derek Lowe for our rotation. He's nothing fancy but the guy just gets the job done when you need him most and can come a decent price. I would also take a look at Burnett, but he's likely going to ask for something HUGE and quite frankly he's not that much different than Javy. Mussina is another interesting name, this guys just gets better with age. Sheets may also be a guy to look at. Due to his injuries he can be had at bargain value. Garland will likely go to an NL team. So what about that 5th spot. Do we fill that hole temporarily with Clayton Richard until Contreras returns. Or do we go out and find another guy. I wouldn't mind having Richard in that spot. He pitched awesome down the stretch in New York and during the divisional series vs Tampa. He's our best farm hand option and I wouldn't be upset if we threw him out there every 5th day until Contreras is ready to go. I also wouldn't mind looking into a veteran guy looking to prove himself again. Freddy Garcia, Paul Byrd, Bartolo Colon, Jaime Moyer etc..... So in summary- trade Javy for speed/penhelp or another SP. Sign Lowe/Sheets for the 4th spot. Let Richard have the 5th spot OR bring in a veteran until Contreras returns. Thoughts?

If we can get a couple of speedy guys say to play 2b, 3b, or RF, than i would be all for having Griffey come back for cheap with B. Anderson being his daily defensive replacement. Guys like Orlando Hudson, Chone Figgins, Willy Tavarez, Brian Roberts would be great. Figgins (3b) -Trade for Konerko Hudson (2b)- Free agent signing Quentin (Lf) Dye (Rf) Thome (Dh) Ramirez (Ss) Griffey (Cf) Pierzynski © Swisher (1b)

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 11:06 AM) Their payroll is about to explode. Even with the jump in attendence, I am not convinced that they will be willing to swallow all of it. other than Crawford, who is all due for big time raises?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 11:40 AM) Perez isn't going anywhere. In fact I could see the Rays trading Crawford to make room for Perez for the cost savings. why would the Rays trade Crawford? If they cant afford to pay him 8.5 million dollars after making the playoffs then there is something wrong there. Everyone knows that i've wanted Crawford since 2006, but i finally came to a realization that he isn't coming here.

QUOTE (scenario @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 11:24 AM) Swisher batted .191 after the all-star game with a .298 OBP. He batted .164 in September with a .238 OBP. THAT is why he didn't play. Not because he is in some fictitious 'doghouse'. yep ozzie played his best lineup every night. after the last few years, i think this was a good year of managing by Ozzie. he played to win every game, he finally stopped worrying about his players feelings.

This team needs 1 more top of the rotation type SP and 1 or 2 more RP. If KW can fill up these by trading Dye than i'll be for it. I do believe one of Figgins, Hudson or Roberts will be here. With 1 year left on his deal, i think the O's will finally be looking to trade him at a reasonable price. For 3b i still would love to get Figgins, but something is telling me the Angels are keeping him. Unless Texiera goes elsewhere of course. Rumor has it the Yankees are going to overpay for him. So the Angels may call Kenny up about Pauly if that happens. At this point anything can happen. We have holes at 3b, 2b, CF, 1 SP, 1 or 2 RPs. KW is going to acquire 6 to 7 new guys to this team, it will be fun to see how he does it. I cant wait for Hot Stove and the Winter Meetings!

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Oct 8, 2008 -> 08:52 PM) Not usually smart to try and trade a player at his lowest value ever ever. I think Pauly will be traded. Although he didn't have the greatest season, he brought his value back up when he finished strong and had a solid series vs Tampa. I like Swish as our everyday 1b. Swisher cant get much worse offensively. Hitting at the 8th spot should do him well next year. The only 2 places PK will go is LA or AZ. I really dont think AZ has much to offer and they are not trading one of there young starters. We need a 3b or 2b. I think if we can get Figgins from the Angels in some sort of package, we have our 3b. Then all we would have to do is sign Hudson or trade for Roberts and we have our 1-2 punch! I think this trade can happen for 2 reasons. 1. Texiera is likely sign a HUGE deal with New York or San Fran 2. Pauly loves Scocia and vice versa 3. KW loves Figgins, so does Ozzie. And when Kenny loves a player, he usually ends up getting them eventualy. (Thome, Griffey, Alomars, Everett- twice etc....) Hmm I wonder if KW can somehow get really tricky and involve Vazquez also. Like some sort of monster deal for Figgins, E. Santana, Mathews. Konerko, Vazquez, Fields for Figgins, Santana, Mathews. That would help both teams quite a bit. LA unloads Mathews contract, they get their 1b and a big time strike out pitcher. We fill up our needs, another young SP, an every day true CF, and a 3b who can hit lead off. Okay im rambling on and on but this makes sense to me. Chone Figgins 3b Orlando Hudson 2b Carlos Quentin LF Jermain Dye RF Jim Thome DH Alexie Ramirez SS AJ Pierzynski C Nick Swisher 1b Gary Mathews CF Now thats a STRONG lineup. Rotation: Buerhle, Santana, Danks, Floyd, Richard/Contreras (Maybe even go after an older veteran like Lowe or even give Garcia another shot, he looked impressive vs us last monday)

I think Javy pitched his last game for the Sox. His comments and his performance down the stretch really hit the wrong nerve with the Sox organization. The Sox need another SP. Obviously CC would be perfect but he will strike gold somewhere else. Burnett and Sheets maybe decent options via free agency. KW will probably try to sign O. Hudson and try to aqcuire Figgins. If Hudson goes elsewhere, i can see KW going hard after Roberts again. 1. Chone Figgins 3b (Figgins and Scot Sheilds for Konerko) 2. Orlando Hudson 2b (Free agency) 3. Carlos Quentin LF 4. Jermaine Dye RF 5. Jim Thome DH (Take the option) 6. Alexie Ramirez SS 7. AJ Pierzynski C 8. Nick Swisher 1b 9. Willy Taverez CF (Taverez and L. Vizcaino for Javy Vazquez) Rotation: Buerhle, Floyd, Danks, (Burnett/Lowe/Sheets), Contreras/ Richard pending on health status of Contreras Bench: Hall C, Anderson OF, Wise OF, INF? Bullpen: Jenks CL Linebrink Set up Sheilds Set up Thorton Set up Dotel Set up Vizciano Long man MacDougal garbage man Playing GM is fun, but i know KW has something completely different in mind. Haha i cant wait to see the moves he makes!

We made the playoffs with pure guts and heart! We obviously didn't have the health or the complete team to go all the way. Im proud of the White Sox and even more encouraged for our future. God bless you all Sox fans. It was a very fun season of ups and downs. We'll be back! I trust Kenny to make all the right moves. We saw many great things this year- the emergence of Floyd, Danks, Alexie, and CQ. Thats the young core we build around.

Another blackout tommorow? I hope so. Its truly been special at home this season.... lets get some runs early and play solid baseball...

2000: Jose Valentin hits a walkoff single to beat the Yankees. (The Sox then went on to sweep the Yankees at home and in New York!) 2001-2002- Dont remember much. A couple of Maggs walkoffs, some Canseco and Wells action, even some Todd Richie. But for the most part, those years sucked. 2003: Sox beat Cubs on a Valentin walk off homerun Sox beat Twins to take a 2 game lead (Colon pitcher all 9 innings!) Frank hits his 400th HR! That was a fun game, i remember getting a flat tire on the way home haha. 2004: Sox beat the Cubs, then aqcuired Freddy Garcia that same day! In 2005 i went to a lot of games: 1) Crede's season saving walkoff homerun vs Cleveland in september. 2) Game 1 of the ALDS vs Boston 3) JD's walkoff homerun vs the Angels in May 4) Timo's walkoff single in May 5) There comeback win vs the Dodgers, by playing small ball- that game in on the WS DVD! 2006: Opening day of MLB, when they unvieled the World Series banner! Went to a few games in the 1st half when the Sox just dominated. Then saw a few loses as they collapsed in the 2nd half. 2007: The lost season that i refuse to think about. 2008: Swishers grand slam game vs Dempster and the Cubs. Double header wins vs Detroit (D-Weezy's grandslam) I've been to soooo many games, but that 1st playoff game that i ever went to was really special vs Boston in '05. It really set the tone for the postseason that year. Also, Opening Day 2006 was electric! Im hoping i can add to my favorite 2008 games this year. I won the raffle for getting tix for the ALCS!

THe fact that we even got here was an accomplishment based on the injuries and the teams in the division such as Minny, Detroit and Cleveland. However, to win this thing next year i think we need 3-4 things. A leadoff hitter with lots of speed, another SP and another dependable reliever. Its been a wild year guys. I hope it doesnt end on sunday, but if it does- god bless. That Tuesday night game vs Minny will be one of my favorite games of all time! It goes right up there with winning the world series, but not as good of course!

Watching Tampa and Minnesota play against us make me realize how bad this team needs alittle bit of speed. Granite we have a homerun hitting ballpark, but to succeed in the post season, it is almost impossible to win with out it, esspecially on the road. I think the 2005 team had a perfect blend of power and speed. I have no doubt in my mind that we cant win games 3 and 4. But i have no doubt in my mind we'll lose game 5 if it comes to that. Orland Hudson would be a perfect 2 hole hitter. But this team really needs a true leadoff hitter. A guy who can steal 50-60 bases and a decent OBP.

looks like were going to have to win 3 in a row again. yikes!i just hope we dont get swept. getting swept in the playoffs sucks ass.

had Kazmir on the ropes in the 1st and only score 2 runs. that is why where were at in this game. its up to Dye, Thome, Pauly, Alexie, AJ, Griffey, Wise, hell i want everyone batting next inning!! How about a 4 run outburst........ Were going to have to win in Tampa eventually. Why not tonight! GO Sox! Dont stop believing!!

i wouldn't be suprised if we can men on 1st and 2nd with nobody out next inning and come short once again. we cant convert when it counts. I hate this s***.

f***ing Iwamore... That was a freak homerun. We had too many chances.... we just cant win in domes apparently. I think we can win at home vs these dudes, but were definitley not going to win game 5 in tampa. we suck balls in domes and on the road in general. good game by Buerhle... what a waiste.

its not over yet.... got 6 outs! Dont stop believing. we need to win this game.

If Buerhles shuts them down tommorow, going home with a 1-1 series tie would make me very confident and relaxed. There definitley is a magic vibe at the Cell this season. I think we can definitley win both at home. Will Buerhle step up? Will the offense show up in key situations? I cant wait to get back at those guys tommorow!

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ Oct 2, 2008 -> 04:39 PM) This game is on Ozzie for starting that piece of s***. We all knew Javier would piss his f***ing leg, we have been saying it for the last two to three days, there was a whole thread dedicated to the fact that he was starting this game. He had no chance against the Rays tonight, and Clayton had come off two strong outings against GREAT offenses, AND is a left-handed pitcher. AND THEN he comes into this game after Javy blows it, and OWNS THE f***ING RAYS. f*** you ozzie guillen, you put this team in the position to LOSE right out of the gate Ozzie didnt have a choice. Javy was going to start one way or another. Its better we attempt him in game 1 and realize he 'officially' sucks now than say in a pivitol game 3 or 4. Buerhles, Danks and Floyd all have 4 days rest now, something they desperately needed. Our pen did very well. I like our chances in game 2, 3 and 4! We'll bounce back. We have to win 1 in Tampa, and tommorow is our best chance to do that.

Kudos to Richard and Dotel. Damn if only Buerhle, Danks, Floyd could have pitched! Javy is just bad and if we somehow advance to the playoffs I really hope Ozzie even considers starting Richard over Javy. Lets get 3 here and do extras! If not lets get them tommorow and come home with some momentum!!

17 wins by Gavin Freakin Floyd! Amazing!! Cant wait for the blackout tommorow!! We can do this!!! Will Danksy step up, will the offense step up, can we do this thing......

Its even more ironic that Freddy is pitching against the guy the White Sox traded him for. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Freddy as a fan, but tommorow I hope we destroy him early and get to there shaky bullpen. I want to see Farnsworth out there in the 6th! Im thinking it will be an offensive battle, just the thought of Maggs and Cabrera freak me out! Baseball wants a 1 game playoff, baseball needs a 1 game playoff!

QUOTE (WilliamTell @ Sep 27, 2008 -> 01:02 PM) Yeah if we happened to win today and they happened to lose today, we'd get a Monday game unless we happened to win Sunday and they happened to lose Sunday. Bottom line is yesterday's loss was huge. It is what it is. With the way the Sox have played in September it truly is a blessing that they are still alive and have an oppurtunity to be in 1st going into the final day of the season. Why not make the best out of it... today is our last best chance to regain 1st. The Royals have Meche going today, while the Indians have Lee going tommorow. If we win today while the Twinkies somehow lose, we are garunteed to be alive going into Monday.