fathom

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 10:16 PM) The Red Sox are best served to make sure blister gate doesn't happen again this year before tendering a long term deal to Beckett. And I don't think he's worth as much as Mark is as far as a contract goes, but Boston will most likely overpay to keep him. Yeah, I highly doubt any GM would give Beckett more money than Buehrle.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 09:19 PM) Just like KW said that negotiations broke off with both of them. KW lies well enough to apply for the White House Press Secretary job. He had no reason to lie after they signed though. It wasn't like he was using that for negotiations. I didn't think it was a secret that Garland/Contreras were on the market this offseason.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 08:54 PM) Did KW actually come out and say that or was it just a rumor? Even if that information is true, Garland finally had ONE good year after five very mediocre ones. Contreras is at least 34 (possibly as old as 36) and had not been as consistent as expected in his major league career. Neither of those guys have as much long-term upside as Buehrle and, therefore, are not as important to the team's long-term goals. Yes, after Contrereas re-signed, KW said something about how those guys have no clue how close they were to getting traded.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 08:34 PM) And which one was that? Garland and Contrereas were definitely on the market this offseason.

QUOTE(redandwhite @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 08:26 PM) Yes, he did, and it was an excellent catch, but a risky one aswell. Is it true that Papelboner comes out to the Ultimate Warrior's music? If true, that makes me a fan of his.

I'd also like to add that he's homered already against Buehrle, Santana, and Bedard....easily 3 of the best lefties in the AL.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 08:16 PM) It's an upgrade and a nice signing, but not even close to one of the best of the offseason IMO, that's a BIG stretch to say. Considering the money they gave to him, and the position that they were in, it's a great signing. It was a low-risk, extremely high-reward signing. Most guys that can produce like he can against LHP would have cost you 6-7 million per season if they were a full-time player. With the tough lefties that pitch in the AL Central, this was a tremendous pick-up for Cleveland.

QUOTE(redandwhite @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 08:17 PM) What taking a gamble with the bases loaded that had it gotten by him would have entered the triangle resulting in an inside the park grand slam? I like Stern, alot, but this will benefit him greatly and was the plan since day one. Um...he caught the ball, that's what he's supposed to do. I'm eagerly awaiting to see Willie play though.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 08:14 PM) A 37 year old platoon man at 1st base who only hits lefties is one of the best signings of the offseason? For what that team needed, absolutely. They already have guys who feast off of lefties (Belliard, V. Mart, Michaels), and they added another masher vs LHP. Considering they had Jose Hernandez in that spot last season, it's a huge upgrade.

Stern was giving the Red Sox some defense in center field that Harris and his groupies could only dream of providing.

QUOTE(ThinWhiteDuque @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 08:08 PM) As I've mentioned before, Ryan Church would look awfully good in a White Sox uniform. If BA pans out, Church would be the best 4th OFer in baseball. If BA doesn't pan out, Church would be an above-average starting CFer. Neither Bowden nor Robinson are Church fans, so I can't imagine that it would take anything more than a mid-level prospect to get a deal done. And, by the way, Gathright is garbage. The Nats called up Church, and he's done great since the call up. I don't think he's going anywhere.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 08:06 PM) Could be a good day today, both the Twins and Tribe are losing at the moment. And just like that, one of the best signings of the offseason, Eduardo Perez, homers to give Cleveland a 3-2 lead.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 07:32 PM) Given that the Sox will likely be very competitive next season, I doubt that Beuhrle will be dealt (unless we're significantly below .500 in July of '07). We were going to be competitive this season, but that didn't stop KW from considering trading one of his starting pitchers.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 08:00 PM) The Royals offense isn't as bad as the numbers suggest. They've got some pretty good hitters. They're just all in a mega-slump right now. Yeah, I like some of the changes the Royals made. With that in mind, their hitters were awful this series. Some of the guys that give us trouble, like Berroa, simply had no clue at the plate. I'm not taking anything away from our pitchers though, they did what they had to do in order to get people out.

Gathright might be the most overrated "prospect" in baseball.

QUOTE(elrockinMT @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 06:54 PM) The last three pitching performances for instance. WOW! cough Royals cough

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 07:02 PM) And like I said, with the lack of quality left handed #1 starters who never get hurt in MLB, someone else will throw more money at Mark Buehrle than he could ever imagine. It will be significantly more than STL or CWS will offer him, based on the Sox and Cards recent history with FAs. I honestly think Buehrle cares more about where he pitches then the money he would earn. He's definitely not one of these "whores" who will sign with whoever offers the most money.

QUOTE(Cuck the Fubs @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 06:53 PM) I don't think he would. I see it as he just wants to pitch for them and doesn't want to wait until after 2007. It's not like we're the Marlins, and he's playing on a team with a bunch of guys he can't stand. Pitching for the Cards has supposedly been his dream all of his life, and he's finally going to get the chance if he becomes a Free Agent after the 2007 season. I don't get the sense that he has one foot out the door yet. I think some people are getting a little too worried about something that likely won't matter for another 310+ games.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 06:49 PM) If Mark makes it even to start free agency, its obvious money is the reason why. If he is willing to take a lower salary he will stay here, or he will request a trade to St Louis. He might get traded to STL, but there is no way that someone won't throw a boatload more money at him than STL or us are willing to spend, out on the open market. Imagine The Boss getting a chance at a guy like MB in the front of the Yankees rotation, or the Red Sox trying to outbid the Yankees to keep him away from New York. There is no way he would end up in St Louis. It's a lot easier for Buehrle to just sign with the Cards via free agency than it is to demand a trade to the Cards. If he demands a trade, then he's turning his back on the Sox fans a lot more than he would if he just signed with them when he's a FA.

QUOTE(Cuck the Fubs @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 06:44 PM) The Marlins are planning to build their team around Cabrera and the D-Train. They'll know by 2007 if they relocate or get a new stadium, so they won't be on the market until then Every rumor from legitimate baseball sources state that the Marlins have let teams known that these guys will likely be on the market either at the trade deadline or in the offseason. Even if they were to get a stadium deal in 2007, many baseball people think that Cabrera will force a trade out of Florida. I'm not concerned about his attitude at all, as I think he'd get along great with Ozzie. I'm a firm believer that our outfield is the position with the greatest need for upgrade in the next few years (I like Cabrera in LF more than at 3b).

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 06:40 PM) St Louis also has a history of not offering players top dollar contracts, instead working trades and trying to get exsisting players to take hometown discounts, much like the Sox do. In fact I would be willing to bet today, that if Mark hits free agency he signs with neither the White Sox nor the Cardinals. I would be willing to bet that Buehrle won't sign with any other team besides the White Sox or Cardinals.

Here's my opinion on Buehrle. If KW can tell that Mark won't be able to be brought back when he becomes a FA, then trade him to the Cards in the offseason. St. Louis is going to be in the market for pitchers this offseason, and we could try and get a lot of prospects for Buehrle. Then, you take one or two of those prospects, and you trade them along with Fields and Sweeney for Miguel Cabrera. With the saved money on the non-Buehrle deal, you can lock up Joe Crede to a multi-year deal.

QUOTE(Felix @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 04:53 PM) Do you know how much they got cut off? I'd hate to see short hair Joe again For Joe, it was only enough so that his hair wouldn't show under his hat. He still has a lot of hair, according to the radio.

QUOTE(UC76 @ Apr 20, 2006 -> 04:45 PM) Did this go down today? Anyone hear it? I thought they were getting cuts on the air, but have not heard a radio today. Yeah, it was on the Mike North show from about 9 to 10. It was AJP and Crede getting it done. AJP was his typical "asshole" self (I mean that in a good way).

As I said the other day, this KC series had the lowest amount of pre-sales tickets for any series this season.