BlizzardOfOzzie

Well, until I see Jermaine Dye make it past one full month without getting injured, I'm not exactly banking on him just yet. I think he was a great pickup to replace Maggs in the field (they could have signed someone who's not as good as Dye is), and I think he'll fit in well. But, I'm skeptical about his staying healthy - he just seems to have had a rash of bad luck. But, for the price he came at and his statistical credentials, I think he was arguably the best KW could get without sacrificing more cash towards inproving the team in other areas. Good move.

There's no way El Duque pitches 5th. When healthy, he's a way better and more proven starting pitcher than Contreras and Garland.

Tell me if I understand "small ball" correctly: Small ball basically means you play for one run at a time rather than wait for the three run homer. You do this by bunting and stealing bases. It can work in the AL. I believe the Sox are doing this because they have a limited payroll. They have invested much of their payroll into the pitching staff, and not spending as much on the hitters. Kenny Williams thinks (and I agree) that you can be much more consistent with good pitching and defense. With that said they still have Thomas and Konerko to drive in runs. I think the AL version of small ball can work very well. You will see Posdenik hit 1st, another fast guy hit 2nd, and then work the batting order to put guys on the basepath. They all need to hit in order because by the time Konerko and Thomas come up they will clog the bases. Well, unless I'm mistaken, this is the formula the Marlins used to win it in 2003 and Guillen wants to implement it here.

Whatever, dude. You're just bitter and pissed because the Bears Still Suck. Not Mariotti's problem and sure as f*** no problem for me. I've been enjoying things since 1992, much like you enjoyed the 1980's. Deal with it. I put up with fatass William Perry running over George Cumby in 1985 and all that other bulls***, but who cares? As long as McCaskey owns the Bears, I've got nothing to worry about. f*** 'em. Mariotti RULES. It amuses me to think that every day people turn their first back page of the Sun-Times over to see that picture of Mariotti looking all stuck-up with a smirk on his face to tell you HOW IT IS once again. Cracks me up. The Sox are the only Chicago team I'll ever root for, so I could give a hot mad fat flying f*** what he says about the other teams in "Bear Country". His Sox bashing doesn't influence me and his columns shouldn't dictate your mood either. He does his job and does it well. If you don't like it, don't f***ing read it. My rant of the week. :headshake

Come on! Jay Mariotti, Rick Telander, and all of those sports writers are NOT fans of either team. If they are, it's anyone's guess. Not sure about the others, but Mariotti grew up and is from Philadelphia. Why would he give two s***s about either team, or any Chicago team for that matter? His job is to be objective and provide viewpoints as he sees things without bias. I love reading his column every day. He tells things like it is and if it pisses people off, f*** 'em. He doesn't need to give a s***. I don't like when he disses the Sox, but he's just telling it like he sees it. So what? It doesn't influence whether I love the Sox or not. Besides, I'm also a life-long, die-hard Packer fan and I LOVE his columns about the Bears. Pure reading enjoyment for me.

I agree. Those were horrible. So ugly. I like the current logo and uniforms, but if I had any say in it, they'd go back to either the 1977 butterfly collars (super pimp) or the 1983 big block style lettering. The late 80's style was the worst - totally.

Thanks for the replies. Just wanted to get the scoop.

I adopted the Sox and started watching them hard-core in 1998 or so - so I'm a relative newbie. If anyone can answer this because I'm simply curious: How did Bo Jackson get to the Sox? Was there a big trade with the Royals? How did Reinsdorf so freely open his wallet, as I'm sure Jackson commanded some fat coin, even back then. Was he already retired from football when he got to the Sox? I seem to recall he got hurt against the Bengals (hip injury) in 1990 or so and then never played football again. If someone could brainstorm a bit and shed some light on this, that would be cool.

Soxfest - Fine, I hear your points, but RELAX. Let's wait and see how he does for us. The 39 years old thing I find baffling. He does NOT look that old at all. Jose Contreras looks way older than El Duque and he's what - 35?

Welcome aboard, malon. This is the best Sox MB on the net. Bar none!

Thanks for the props. I'm glad someone else sees things the same way. I notice some people in here just piss and moan like their mommy took away their f***ing toys or something. What the hell? I guess you can't please everybody. Not my f***ing problem. Yes - today IS a good day on the south side. El Duque it is - We just signed an 8-2, 3 ERA starting pitcher. Meanwhile, the Cubs are in a slapfest over a bunch of f***ing nets to catch falling concrete. Nice. Now THAT is something to maybe b**** about.

I can take it. I just get sick of the backwards negative s*** sometimes. What - should we just stay stagnant forever and never make any moves to change the team? People should be happy we're making changes that will hopefully make us BETTER. What the f*** is so hard about seeing it that way?

Don't anyone take it personally, but there sure are some negative motherf***ers around here. :headshake Be excited about change for once. No World Series wins since 1917. If what you have ain't cutting it, then you make changes. I'm stoked for the season to start, regardless of who's on the field. That's how true die-hard fans should react. b****ing about Reinsdorf and his tight wallet, KW doing his job as a GM, and all that horses*** isn't going to change what it is. Be a Sox fan and just go with the flow and hope for the best.

Well, I got no beefs putting pics up on here. Here's me with my 1983 jersey and two friends at the home Opening Day 2004 vs. KC. It was damn chilly, but the Sox won huge - great day!

I'm going on Saturday. Get LaRussa to autograph a 1983 batting helmet. That would be S-W-E-E-T.

Kickass. The mascot is already green and gold. Now the seats are gonna be green. That makes this die-hard Packer/White Sox fan a happy camper. With that last comment I don't expect to win a big popularity contest around here amongst any Bear fans with a grudge, so save your breath and don't waste your time with any anti-Packers crap. It all goes in one ear and out the other. I was a Packer fan in the 80's when the shoe was on the other foot, so we've all been there. Leave it at that. Green seats rule. As if.

I gave up. On quitting. It's a real b****, man. Cold turkey is the only way. Sometimes I wish I never started. Get that first beer in my hand and I'm jonesing like a motherf***er.

Good points. I guess I was referring more to the many times he did hit some clutch late-inning homers that either tied games or ultimately won them. But, yeah - his strikeout streaks were bad. I won't miss him. Good riddance.

All I know is, I was dead sick of watching Jose Valentin at shortstop. I never minded him at the plate. But, his fielding skills were horrible, as if anyone who watches every Sox game doesn't know this. I think Uribe will find his home at SS once he gets into the groove as an everyday player, rather than all this platooning stuff. His bat was hot and cold last year - no doubt. But if you want to compare him defensively to Valentin - Uribe will be a vast improvement, and I really don't think that's wishful thinking.

Just curious as to what everyone thinks. Isn't this a toss-up or is Buehrle that much better than Garcia?

I think we need to try and understand what Kenny Williams is trying to do. The Sox problem has been defense and team speed. I think Williams is trying to get the defense better. Posednik is much better defensively than Carlos Lee. Additionally this will save the Sox money which can go elsewhere. Although Posdenik's batting average wasn’t great he does score runs and on the Sox that will be his job. He will score 110-120 runs (which is very good) for the Sox. I don’t know too much about Ginter.

No s***. What the f*** is going on here? If there's no Ben Sheets, the Brewers can go cap themselves in the ass.

Santo=Dorf - That Easy-E picture RULES!

You guys made your point. I'm sounding like a broken record. I guess things won't change, so no point in bringing it up. My bad.

Cripes, man. Sorry for being brutally honest.