fathom

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 09:01 PM) Oh I can buy that, for sure. I think the Sox had there eye on Dave Roberts, but didn't want to go the 3 years, and I don't really blame them. Same goes for Pierre. I don't know how much interest was actually there, but giving Juan a 5 year deal would have been awful. I just remember having the feeling that Podsednik coming back wasn't really possible. Just seemed like such a miserable season, they were sure to move on. Guess not. The Sox thought they'd have Pierre signed within the first week of the FA period. What worries me about Pods is the fact that he took so long last year to get anywhere close to game ready after his shoulder issue. Now, he has a more serious injury, and he's just starting to play on March 14th? Keep him on the DL until late April, and then see if he can beat Joe Crede in a running race.

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 09:00 PM) At this point, the better debate might not be whether AAAnderson makes the big club, but whether Erstad or Pods will lead off if Pods if not it stealing mode by opening day or not hitting the ball well. 100 pct guarantee that Pods will lead off.

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 08:57 PM) I think some people on here won't be happy until Erstad and Pods completely fail. We have them both signed for better or worse. Deal with it. I'll root for both if they contribute to the Sox winning. I have no problem with Erstad....but he should be playing in LF. At least he'll give 100 pct and run through the base....unlike Pods.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 08:54 PM) I just distinctly remember having a conversation with one of my buddies in late November, talking about Pods, and me saying "There is just no way you can bring this guy back, not after the 2006 he had. You just can't do it" Sure enough, he is being penciled in as our Opening Day Leadoff hitter. I've heard this from numerous sources within/surronding the Sox organization, but they had absolutely no intention of bringing him back after last year. Then, they started getting paranoid about some of the big deals that teams were giving to guys, and they figured they'd lock him up in case they couldn't find anything better. In some ways, that Cubs/Soriano deal has really messed up our organization.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 08:50 PM) That quote last night really set me off. You're 100% right, unless something happens to Pods or Erstad in next two weeks, Anderson will start the season in AAA, I really don't have any doubt in my mind. Too be honest, I guess I would rather see him do that than get 3 AB's a week with the big club. Just an awful situation this OF has become. It just stinks because there's no doubt in my mind we'd be a better team without Pods on the roster, and letting Erstad/Ozuna platoon in LF, with the occasionally start for Mackowiak, and then letting Anderson/Erstad handle CF. This way, we could keep Perez on the bench (assuming he's not crippled now).

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 08:44 PM) AAAnderson grounds out to 2nd. Great nickname. Like you said in the other thread, that article today really makes it look like he has no chance to make the big league club. Assuming Pods is on the roster, we already know that Ozzie said Erstad will get starting time as well. Considering we have Dye in RF, that would make one believe that Erstad would be in CF. Thus, Anderson isn't the full-time starter.....and Ozzie said the only way Anderson will be on the MLB roster is if he's full-time.

Let's hope Perez didn't re-injure his achilles. Like I've been saying all along, I fully anticipate he'd be our most dangerous hitter vs LHP. Why can't Pods just be on the 162 game DL, and solve all these problems?

More ominous comments about Anderson making MLB roster http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...-home-headlines

QUOTE(BearSox @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 04:26 AM) carl yastrzemski Jim Rice Catfish Hunter we could go on for days So, when will the Sox sign Lew Ford?

The funny thing about mentioning grinders is that if we used our collective brains last year, we would have guaranteed that Erstad would be on the White Sox. What other players does Hawk gush over about their all-out hustle?

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 02:28 AM) All I'm saying is, I never remember you saying it. Got any links? That's what I'm thinking. Be my guess and go back through my thousands of post. Nothing like have GPatt and jphat trying to team up on you to say you didn't say something. There's enough smart people on here that I wouldn't risk getting shown up saying that I posted something if I actually never did.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 02:12 AM) I just realized this... but Ryan Bukvich has a realistic shot at making the team. 7 IP, 8 K's, 0 BB's, 2 ER, 8 Hs, 2.57 ERA That is probably best out of all the relievers. He used to have pretty electric stuff, but I think injuries have cost him a high 90s fastball. Like with many of our other relievers, control has been an issue in his past.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 01:25 AM) I can't recall a single time you saying that once, let alone more than three times. I probably said that 1000 times during the season, how I would guarantee Garcia would be throwing harder during his FA year. When someone comes out and says that they don't even try in big games, that's a pretty significant signal to me. Now that his career rests on how he does this year, you better believe he'll be trying harder this year.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 11:28 PM) Brian Anderson will have more homers than David Ortiz this year. Prove me wrong jphat. HOW DO YOU KNOW HE WONT? Maybe, maybe not. I don't know....the fences in Charlotte are pretty small. And I couldn't agree with you more that we could really use Garcia this year. You make a great comparison to Loaiza and his cutter. The thing I said all last year is that no matter how annoying Garcia was, I guarantee he tries harder during his FA year.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 10:44 PM) It very well could have been the best deal at the time, but teams always need pitching and KW was holding all of the cards. He could have waited them out. He could have asked for the moon like he did with Garland. The Rockies package for Jennings blows our package out of the water. I know Jennings is better than Garcia, but at least the Rockies got likely 3 MLB players out of it. At this point, we might be lucky to get 1 from our deal.

How long before the rumors start up about the Sox making a run at Garcia when he's a free agent?

QUOTE(quickman @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 10:36 PM) i know you didn't post to me, but if it wasn't the best package, then I would have just stuck with freddie until all star time. could have gotten more, or hell maybe we could have been in first place with him. i realize its hindsight, but the phils would not be giving up on there number one pick if they thought he could play. They needed pitching, and now we need pitching. I guess we had to open up some salary for our big FA signings, as well as open up a starter spot for our future stud Brandon McCarthy. Looking back at this offseason, I really am disappointed at what happened. We went from one of the top few teams in baseball to a team with some huge holes.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 10:32 PM) I completely agree with this. It was my biggest fear the second we traded McCarthy. I remember how everyone on here thought it would be Haeger in the lead role....then all of a sudden, it's Floyd who seems like the organization favorite to be the 5th starter for NO FREAKING REASON.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 10:23 PM) I think either Danks or Floyd can do as well as Bmac will do this year. Obviously we won't know for awhile though. If Floyd and McCarthy pitch this entire season as starters in the majors, I would bet my soxtalk membership that McCarthy would win more games and have a better ERA. It simply amazes me that Floyd is even being considered for the 5th starter spot....he's just not a good pitcher.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 10:15 PM) I can't possibly see where the White Sox could come up with the conclusion that Floyd is capable of having any success in the major leagues at this point judging his past performance and his performance so far in camp. If he's the fifth starter, its because they think they would be rushing Danks, and they can't acquire anybody else. If either Floyd and Danks both aren't ready to start for the MLB club, then KW really messed up by trading McCarthy. I don't care if he likes him or not....at least he's ready to be a 5th starter in the majors. I liked the McCarthy trade, but the timing is terrible with all of our offensive players aging and getting close to leaving via free agency.

If Gavin Floyd is our 5th starter, it was never a competition to begin with. It's pretty simple with Floyd....it's been a long time since he consistently got out AAA and MLB hitters.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 08:50 PM) 4-3, Floyd gets roughed up. I'd be lying if I said I'm not happy.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 08:41 PM) Erstad and Anderson have been two of the better Sox hitters this Spring. How about this... instead of those two competing for the CF job, we put one in LF and one in CF. Better defense in LF? Yup. Equal or slightly better production than last season? Yup. And a roster spot for Eduardo Perez, making the Sox bench uber-strong? Yup. Looks like that would leave one guy out in the cold... We could only hope for that situation. After seeing how long it took Pods to get comfortable after surgery last year, there's no doubt in my mind he should spend the first decade, sorry, I meant month, on the DL.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 08:34 PM) 4-0 Sox. Damn you Darin. Huh?

I think soxtalk would have paid for any fines handed to Mackowiak if he would have refused to go into CF today.