BamaDoc

Politte in the eighth and Hermanson in the ninth.

You have got to love the numbers on the prospects. Pitchers are consitant 93-95 and touching 97. Then they get drafted and are 90. This is just like football where everyone is a 4.3 40 time and 4.6 when actually measured by the pros. Don't get me wrong, I hope we get a stud but it is such a crap shoot. The recent articles on previous drafts really show how much injury luck factors into the results. Rauch was a can't miss and now may be done as an example.

I keep Willie over Timo because he is a much better pinch runner for Frank. If he gets on 7-9 innings, Willie time.

I will skip my favorites who were stars. Too easy. Kevin Bell pre knee injury Buddy Bradford .....Mr April-May Nyls Nyman Jack kucek Ken Henderson Jim Spencer Mike Squires

first three RH, I believe we have seen the transition to Herm. Long live the Herm!

Sorry didn't even see we got to 5-3. Mark with about 106 pitches, finish, Hermanson or Takatsu.

[ "Watching" via gameday on mlb, I bet I am behind many. Ilstill like the move although it didn't work.

great move for Everett. Hope he drills one.

The Indians inability to play small ball and move the runner over after a lead off double came back to haunt them. Go Sox!

After an off season that addressed most holes on the Sox, What would you upgrade? If we are talking about utility infielder do you realize how far we have come from previous springs? I am still not sold on Contreras as anything but a #5 and I hope he proves me wrong. Health may be the only obvious thing holding us back but if we have a healthy spring I think we have as good a shot as anybody in the division.

Most those players are on the downside of their careers. I agree with Furcal being interesting but lets win it all this year and worry about next after.

Health for several: Hernandez, Buehrle, Garcia,Thomas, Dye, Everett, and Uribe. Consistancy from all, especially starting pitching.

If Frank is ready by June aprox 120 games remain. I would bet closer to 25. If we are in the race, I think he may just go nuts and turn back the clock. Call me an optomist.

Much has been made of our club record home runs and our power loss for this year. I am wondering if we really might not suffer as much as many expect. 2004 homers lost Lee 31 Valentin 30 Maggs 9 Borchard 9 Harris 2 Olivio 7 Davis 6 total 94 I included Borchard, Harris, and Davis though still on team I expect at bats to drop or vanish(Borchard). 2005 replacements Pyrzinski as primary catcher I think can handle the 13 of Olivio/Davis Podsednik and Iguchi (I don't want them swinging for fences) I don't think a combined 15 is unreasonable. That would nearly equal what Maggs, Borchard, and Harris provided. That leaves 61 from Lee and Valentin. Dye and Everett if both can remain healthy should reach a combined 40-50. These are pretty realistic projection, I think. Net loss is around 15-25. Now I expect some of our regulars may not repeat their numbers of last year but I don't suddenly see us as a Go Go Sox team. We still have pop. I have intentionally left out Frank. 74 games in 2004 with 18 hr and 434 OBP. I think he can improve on the totals. If he takes a while to get healthy and we only have him for the second half, no team in our division will add as big a presence to the lineup at the trading deadline. When people talk about our power numbers last year they forget Frank and Maggs (our mashers to most general public) only accounted for 27 homers. I don't think 200 -220 is unreachable.

I have not seen him in action. What allows him to steal so well? Blinding speed, great reads, great acceleration or some combination of the above?

Willie's problem is not unique. He is only 26 in a sport/profession where he has the potential to make millions if he produces. It is hard to produce from the bench. Our lineup is now pretty well set in the positions he can play. I expect if Iguchi looks okay in spring training, Willie will be moved for prospects or injury coverage. There is a reason most utility guys are older. You need the attitude of being happy to make several hundred thousand and help the team, not I am a star. I liked that he said it would motivate him. If he plays well in the spring it enhances his trade value. I can understand being pissed when told that "we have great plans for you" and then a somewhat (from Willie's standpoint) unproven guy is given millions for your job.

I had hoped to get him in previous threads as the super utility guy and platoon secondbasman. I agree he doesn't want to retire. I wouldn't be surprised to see him wait through most of spring training or longer to see if a team loses a shortstop. If it was May and we lost Uribe for the year you would probably give someone like him a call.

If he wins utility job does he bat left or right handed? Could spell Willie vs lefties?

I became a fan in the 70's. I can't pick one by decade but here goes 70's Bucky Dent and Wilbur Wood hon mention Chet Lemon 80's Fisk, Baines, and Walker 90's McDowell, Thomas, and Ventura 00's Buehrle and Maggs

I like having options if someone were to get injured and miss significant time. Don't want to HAVE to trade and be forced to overpay.

Hermanson 2005 2.0 million, 2006 3.0 million, 2007 3.5 million or .5 buyout so two years at 5.5 guaranteed Schowenweis 2005 2.5 million, 2006 2.75 million. total 5.25 This may be interesting to compare as the year moves forward. I'm a little surprised Schowenweis got that much guaranteed due to his elbow trouble. He is supposed to be a left handed specialist which he would have been unhappy doing here last year.

24 year old in A ball............Yawn

Right, he would have to understand that Uribe was the starting ss. I don't know why he intrigues me. If he would come with the player/mentor attitude it could be good. Maybe organizational job post playing but he would probably do that in Cincy.

QUOTE(Jake @ Jan 9, 2005 -> 08:02 PM) what benefit is there in having a PTBNL in a trade? They may have him protected on the 40 man roster when the draft occurs(aalows us to protect one more), we may have a pool to select from thus giving us time to reasses etc.

QUOTE(Chisoxmatt @ Jan 9, 2005 -> 08:07 PM) Thats not a bad idea at all... What were his splits vs. lefties last year? Im to lazy to look them up. 92 at bats .207avg .279obp small enough sample that I bet he has better career numbers.