CanOfCorn

I apologize to all of the good posters out there by continuing this hijacked topic, but i can't help it. Anthrax, there is only one thing that puts butts in the seats...winning. Ballparks, while helpful, don't put butts in the seats. When was the last time Wrigley was full the entire year? Fenway sold every seat for every game for the first time in a looooong time last year. And I remember the 80's and early 90's when Yankee stadium had a buttload of empty seats. Personally, I'll take all the players you mentioned if it would push them into the playoffs. RJ only pitches once every 5 days and half the time on the road, so that isn't going to make that big of a push in attendance. White Sox fans want to see the team win...that's all.

Because Leiter is 39 and Wright is 29.

It's a sad state of affairs when no one even mentions Illinois for the top coaches. I pray to all that is holy that we don't hire Mike Leach. He wins because he has a fluke system that no one gears up for. It works because he can recruit out of texas which has talent enough to fill the rosters for most of the colleges in and around Texas. If it's going to be an assistant, I would like Chuck Long. If it's going to be an NFL assistant, Tim Brewster. If it's going to be a mid major coach, Dan Hawkins. If it's going to be a college coach, Ty Willingham. Woo, this fence hurts my butt.

By the way, Anthrax, if it truly makes a difference how you finish, as you say, then Jaret Wright should be right up your alley... From ESPN.com (Post all-star break): ERA W L SV SVO G GS CG IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG 2.96 9 3 0 0 15 15 0 88.1 68 30 29 5 29 77 .215 http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/spli...ching&year=2004

He may not be optimal, but isn't Danny Wright back next year? At least he has some experience starting.

Again, he hasn't even thrown one pitch in Comiskey as a White Sox (I still refuse to call it the cell). And a 4 ERA in Comiskey isn't that bad. No one on the board can see in the future...so let's just wait and see what he can do. He was the cream of the crop for the Indians in '97 and for the Braves last year. That's not too shabby. Wright would be a better signing, IMO, than Russ Ortiz, Brad Radke, Matt Clement. The only reason I would want Perez or Milton is because they are lefties.

Back to the topic... If Wright has another year or two of what he did last year, $5-6 mil would be a frickin' bargain. Instead of condemning him before throwing a pitch, let's see what he can do. He's still young and has shown success in the past.

I'm in. He would be an excellent No. 3 or 4 pitcher. We aren't signing him to be our ace...we are signing him to be an innings eater. To keep us in the game. Also, this doesn't mean we are done shopping...this makes Garland more shoppable for another SP or outfielder.

Ahhh, so what you are saying is, the man's keeping you down. I believe there are some local minor league teams you could start at...the Cougars, Jackhammers and Flyers to name a few. If you are as good as you say you are, you should be the next Theo Epstein. Or will you be the next MC Hammer with the A's? Hmmm.

Jeckle, your avatar sums up dealings with Anthrax. And I agree...Uribe and Harris are young, cheap, and improving. If we can't deal for another established infielder, I would be happy with those two starting.

So let me get this straight, you KNOW FOR A FACT that your plan would work. I would love to hear this. PS, do the players/agents/lawyers/owners/GMs/etc. know about your perfect plan? Why don't you have a job as a GM somewhere, oh humble one?

Well, guess what, you ain't gonna get it, so deal with it. You've got Garcia and Davis. And as for the topic at hand. I'm guessing the Sox will get a Jaret Wright or an Odalis Perez. Those are the ones K-Dub is going to look for...I think. Radke...too pricey Ortiz...going to TB (I think it's his hometown) Milton...NYY Pavano...Red Sox Martinez...Mets or Red Sox, probably Red Sox RJ...Cardinals or NYY, I hope Cardinals, just because I can't stand the Yankees.

Look... Colon is a flyball pitcher too. We got outbid for his services. He took the better deal. He didn't have much of a year this year IIRC. I think he turned it on in the second half. Rowand was turning it on in the second half last year, but he was still coming off that shoulder injury and the Sox didn't have faith in him for the stretch run and the playoffs if they got there. Neither would I. Everett, while kinda crazy, is still a proven player. And he did a pretty good job for us. And about GMs, I bet you could go through the resumes for every single GM and find a crappy trade. You go with need first. this team has been close for years in a weak division, so you go for it. you give up some players to get some players. We aren't the Yankees with bottomless pockets, all we have are prospects and the occasional big dollar FA. I would really like to know how you could do better with the limited information you have. You have no idea what goes into a deal, what goes into negotiations, what goes into the drafting process. you just blurt out, "KW is an idiot, because he doesn't do what I want him to do." Why don't you send him a letter or an email with all the gripes you've posted here and see what he has to say. Better yet, get a job with a baseball team and get an inside look at what goes into player personnel decisions...until then, unless you have an productive post, just shut up.

C'mon everybody...say it along with me... O-ver-pay-ing Clap, clap, clap clap clap... O-ver-pay-ing Clap, clap, clap clap clap... O-ver-pay-ing Clap, clap, clap clap clap... If KW does this, JR is enough of a baseball man to fire KW on the frickin' spot. Just curious, but do you like Anthrax or do you have Anthrax, cuz this trade is ree-goddamn-diculous.

Man, if you think that Garcia was a loss, you're crazy. In 2003, picking up Alomar and Everett was exactly the thing to do. So was Colon. So was Wells the year before. So which do you want...a stacked farm system or a World Series title, because there aren't too many organizations that have both.

I agree with you, up to a point. I think they will wait until the winter meetings...if nothing happens, the flood gates will open anyway. Teams won't be able or are afraid to wait too long. A team like St. Louis who sniffed a World Championship will rush to sign or trade for someone if the RJ thing takes too long. I still think he will go to the Cards, but teams can't wait forever.

I'm sorry I'm going back to the hijacked topic, but Anthrax...baseball drafts are nothing like football or basketball drafts. There are 50 rounds and I bet there is a relatively even number of low round draft choices in the majors as high round. Remember Buehrle was a low rounder. Mike Piazza was a low rounder. Some players bloom later in their careers. Some are or always will be AAAA players (Scott Ruffcorn anyone). Can't blame the draft for the farm system. A good chunk are from trades (Jon Garland, Willie Harris, etc.). So back off KW. He made some fantastic trades and pickups last year. We lost two of our best hitters and the heart of the team (at the time). Because of that, the team fell apart. kW can make all the right trades, but injuries can happen or the team may not jell. Or some other teams make better trades. Their are a million things that can happen, and that's what makes baseball fun.

This would be good...if the Cubs sign Maggs, then it would be a straight up trade...from last year. Maggs for Nomar. KW always gets his way.

What age does it go from maturing to aging to good clubhouse presence for young shortstops?

What is it with Sox fans and 2b? We had to warm up to Cora. Hated Manrique. Dealt with Sax. Hated Ray Ray when he first came up. Do we have some sort of 2nd baseman tradition that I'm unaware of? Is the southside 2B U? Willie Harris did ok last year. Not great, but not bad. If he has a full offseason with Rock Raines and Cora to work on bunting and baserunning, he may improve. Shocking, I know...but it's possible. If not, yank him and trade him. As far as I'm concerned, he's our starting 2b until someone beats him out.

Does Kendall have a no-trade clause?

Nen = Nen. Rob = Robb

Jim and quick, While i agree with both of you, there are two sides. If your team isn't competitive at all, you don't put butts in the seats. So, it doesn't matter how much payroll you cut, you still aren't paying those debts. i think that's why Joe G. Jr. was so adamant about trying to keep RJ and Sexson (well, that and to up RJ's trade value). He needs to have some sort of draw for people to buy tickets and concessions. No fans, no money.

How much for all of them? I'll take it!!!

I reserve the right to change my mind at anytime!!!