Kalapse

Adam Russell needs to prove that he can get AA hitters out first, then he can set his sights on the big leagues. Spring Training production really doesn't mean much.

Jenks will earn $550K this year which is 37.5% more than the White Sox are obligated to pay him. It's also the most the Sox have ever given to a player with only 2 years of service time.

QUOTE(TheBigHurt @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 11:01 PM) Um, well, where would the Sox play in that case? Milwaukee

QUOTE(BearSox @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 03:20 PM) what's with the hats today? (sorry if already been asked) NIU

Thome nearly beat that one out.

QUOTE(daa84 @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 03:09 PM) fields grounds to short....uribe singles to left and holliday plays it like hes never played LF before and it turns into a double Holliday is a terrible defensive LF. He just seems clueless out there.

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 02:59 PM) I don't think the Boone has ever given up a run in spring training. He gave up 1 ER in '06, he owns a career 0.38 ERA and 0.63 WHIP in 24 spring innings.

BOONE!!!!!

QUOTE(daa84 @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 02:43 PM) billy sample and ed randle ....both are really knowledgable...they do mlb radio on mlb.com Very mellow sound, I like it a lot.

QUOTE(Leonard Zelig @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 10:14 AM) Who does Tatis play for these days? He has a record that will never be broken, a couple actually. He's in Mets camp as a non roster invitee.

Francisco Liriano, Juan Salas, Willy Aybar, Joel Guzman, Tony Pena, Juan Cruz, Juan Gutierrez, Jesus Colome, Luis Ayala, Jose Lopez, Jesus Flores, Francisco Cruceta, Dennys Reyes, Tony Armas Jr, Jorge Julio, Fernando Tatis, Alfredo Simon, Carlos Maldonado, Romulo Sanchez, Henry Rodriguez, Omar Beltre, Alexi Ogando, Robinson Diaz, Pedro Lopez, Hector Luna, Alexi Castilla and Carlos Martinez have ALL had visa problems. So at least 28 players have shown up late to camp. I don't get it.

I updated a few minor details. NEW! The number of remaining minor league options for each player has been added to the graphic. Enjoy.

QUOTE(JFields27 @ Feb 26, 2008 -> 03:14 PM) can we actually see a line of Ladd-Toews-Kane .. in the future ... that be nuts I mean Ladd is a former top 5 pick and a true LWinger. I dig that trade more and more ... theres like 45 minutes left in the deadline ... it would be nice to see another trade The deadline came and went at 3:00 ET.

QUOTE(Cali @ Feb 25, 2008 -> 11:16 PM) Here's a bunch of pics from Photo Day.... Photo Day 2008 I like how Swisher looks in the pinstripes \m/ Massets first picture is hilarious, that look on his face cracked me up. On a side note Ginger: Do you go to Tin Horn Flats for Bears games? Or if you want to have even more fun you can search for "Chicago White Sox" and "Media Day", start on page 22 and work your way back to the present. So many awesome pictures.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Feb 25, 2008 -> 08:26 PM) He sure was terrible in August 2006: 1.84 ERA, .95 WHIP, 10 saves He had a brutal July and even worse September sue in part by Ozzie being afraid to use certain members of the bullpen (Riske.) I can play with the dates too. From August 8th 2006 to September 3rd, Jenks' numbers: 11 G, 13.2 IP, .66 ERA, .88 WHIP, 13k's, 5BB's, 9 saves, 1 W Think that August stretch gave Ozzie a lot more confidence in Jenks. Ah f*** it, he was dreadful after July 5th all the way through the end of the 2006 season. Here's my rule that I've just come up with now and have put no real thought into: if you're bad for about a full month then good for about a full month then bad again for about another full month then you relinquish credit for that good month sandwiched between the 2 bad ones. Otherwise you can really lend no credence to good or bad stretches of play, they lose all value since you can just play around with the dates. Any date in time you choose is going to arbitrary whether it's the beginning of a month or the day after the all star break it's an arbitrary date. You say Brian Anderson was terrible in 2006, someone else says he was actually pretty damn good in July and August, another person says between July 21st and August 13th he was brutal, where does it end? Do you go game to game? Week to week? Month to month? Is there any value in cumulative stats between arbitrary points in time? Did Jim Thome have a great first half in 2006 or did he have 2 really good months followed by an only ok month? Was Jermaine Dye really that good after the AS break last year or was it just a great August that makes his 2nd half look a whole lot better than it actually was?

QUOTE(lvjeremylv @ Feb 25, 2008 -> 07:15 PM) 1 full season of success? Have you been hibernating somewhere? Since coming onto the scene mid-2005, he has compiled 91 saves in 103 chances (counting the 2005 playoffs). That's much more than 1 full season of success. His ERA wasn't the best in 2006, but all that matters with closers is that they come in and close out the game, and he was successful 91% of the time that season (41-for-45). The guy is clutch. Pay him. Bobby Jenks was dreadful in the from July 5th 2006 through the end of the season. 32.1 IP, 5.85 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 37:20 K:BB. So he had a very good stint with the big club in '05 and was very good for the first half of '06 but 2007 was his first FULL season of success. Having a very good closer with only 2 years of service time is one hell of an asset, it means you can sign 1 year deals for the next 4 years without having to guarantee him anything beyond that season. There's a reason why the Angels didn't throw $30M at K-Rod after the 2005 season when he saved 45 games as a 23 year old . . . because they didn't have to, they knew that they had him under their control for the next 3 seasons. Closers have this awful habit of falling apart after a few years of success, why guarantee one huge money when you don't have to?

QUOTE(lvjeremylv @ Feb 25, 2008 -> 06:36 PM) I hope the Sox and Bobby can come to terms on a long-term deal some soon. I've heard people on here saying "Why pay him before we have to", but the simple fact is that he's been one of the best closers in baseball since taking over in 2005, and he deserves to be compensated for it. Something along the lines of a 3 year, $18M deal would be good for both parties. I'm pretty sure Bobby would take it, and it would be a good deal for the Sox. That does absolutely nothing for the Sox except maybe save them $3M between '09-'11 (assuming Jenks continues to produce and stay healthy.) If the Sox are going to give him a long term deal it's going to have to be at least 4 years, buying out all 3 years of arbitration and the first year of free agency. And giving a 4 year $28M-$32M deal to a closer with a history of arm problems, velocity loss and 1 full season of success under his bealt would be just silly. The Sox aren't in the business of unnecessarily rewarding players for doing their jobs, they're in the business of winning championships and guaranteeing big money to a guy who plays a notoriously inconsistent position just to guarantee themselves a 5th year of control over him would be irresponsible. And they are rewarding Jenks for his fine play by paying him 25% more than they have to next season.

QUOTE(JoeCoolMan24 @ Feb 25, 2008 -> 03:47 PM) Wow, a player not getting gready? Haven't seen that since Paul Konerko. Good for you Bobby. Bobby had no choice, the Sox decide how much to pay him, he has no say in the matter. They'll soon do the same with the likes of John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Ehren Wasserman, Boone Logan, Nick Masset, Jerry Owens, Josh Fields and Danny Richar (assuming they make the team.) When a player has fewer than 3 years of service time he's at the mercy of the team when it comes time to sign their deal for the season.

QUOTE(Haarold @ Feb 25, 2008 -> 02:05 PM) Your list is a joke. How many of those guys are wearing rings right now? Pitching and defense win baseball games. Period. You have your choice of Alex Rodriguez, Joe Crede and David Wright, who do you take?

QUOTE(BoogeyBaby04 @ Feb 24, 2008 -> 10:55 PM) What was the question? What movie have you seen in the past 6 to 8 months that you would recommend?

QUOTE(Brian @ Feb 24, 2008 -> 10:31 PM) Good Luck Chuck? I cringed when the question was asked, I just knew I wasn't going to like the answer.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Feb 24, 2008 -> 10:01 PM) The Final Word (FOX) is going to air an interview with Nick Swisher some time in the next half hour. It's on now.

The Final Word (FOX) is going to air an interview with Nick Swisher some time in the next half hour.

Some large pics from Sportsline: