Kalapse

Why not get excited, these are young, talented players we're talking about here. The team on the field certainly isn't providing any entertainment, speculating about which prospects the Sox could receive in a deal and how they could help the team out over the next few seasons is pretty exciting. QUOTE(Wedge @ Jun 16, 2007 -> 12:35 PM) The two Schilling trades (which moved a total of 8 prospects) have been pretty disappointing as well. That said, I think if you can get Milledge, Pelfrey, and Martinez that's a great trade. I have a lot more faith in those players than 1) our organization's chances in resigning Buehrle and 2) the two players we would draft if Mark leaves via FA (if we even qualify, don't forget we have to make the same offer, right?). If we get those three, that's about as good of talent as we are going to get in return. If Buehrle qualifies as a Type A free agent (which he will if he finishes off the season with a sub 4 ERA) then the Sox would have to offer Buehrle arbitration meaning the two sides would go to an arbitrator and submit a figure as to how much they feel Mark should make next season and whichever side the arbitrator picks, that's how much Buehrle would make for a 1 year contract. Since there ain't a chance in hell he would ever accept arbitration that means the Sox would receive compensation for the loss of their Type A free Agent which is the 1st round pick of the team that signs him (unless the pick is one of the first 15 in the draft then the Sox get a 2nd round pick which would be somewhere in the late 40's, 50's or 60's depending on how many Type A free agents there are) as well as a Sandwich pick between the first and second rounds.

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Jun 16, 2007 -> 12:26 PM) How often do the Indians and Mariner trades work out that way? Carlos Guillen was ok, but wasn't as good as he is now until he went to the Tigers. Brandon Phillips (franchise) was the main piece in the Colon trade and that didn't work out well. Prospects are just that. We could end up being VERY disappointed - you are VERY right on that one. All I am saying is some of you people pine over and love prospects. Some of you want this whole team to go young. I think that could be VERY disappointing, as Kalapse put it, for everyone. Supposedly that was a hell of a lot that the Sox gave up for Garcia - yet none of it panned out. VERY dissappointing indeed. It's the risk you run when selling off talent at the deadline. Look at it this way, let's say the Sox have no interest in re-signing either of Dye or Buehrle. At this point you're getting one of two things for these guys, you're dealing them for near major league ready highly touted talent, meaning they've already made it through 2-4 levels of the minor league system and are considered some of the better young players in the minors or you let them walk at the end of the year, offer the arbitration and take the 2 draft picks you're due. I'm taking that minor league talent, even if there's a chance they will bust you have to take that chance and hope your coaching staff is good enough to bring out the best in these guys since the talent is there. This is the risk you run when you go into a semi-rebuilding mode, it works out for some teams like the Marlins (twice) and for others such as the Pirates it just never comes together.

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Jun 16, 2007 -> 11:57 AM) And how did that work out? And you guys want prospects? Nice. I say it worked out just fine for the Mariners when they got Freddy Garcia and Carlos Guillen for Randy Johnson or for the Indians when they got Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore for Bartolo Colon. Good luck getting established, young, major league talent from a team in contention in exchange for a pending free agent, it ain't gonna happen. The one thing you can get this time of year are near major league ready high end prospects. A team like the Mets who are in first place aren't going to be giving up any of their talented, young players when they're looking to win a world series. If you're expecting major league talent to be brought in before the break then you're likely going to be VERY disappointed with the return for Dye and Buehrle.

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Jun 16, 2007 -> 11:13 AM) No one is saying that is the answer. No one is absolving the players from responsibility -- they are receiving plenty of criticism on this board. You keep making up strawmen because there's no valid defense of Greg Walker at this point. Please, answer the question you keep avoiding: When is the hitting coach responsible? Under what circumstances should they be fired? Do they bare no responsibility for having the worst offense in baseball? There's another question that has yet to be answered. What is the job description of a Hitting Coach, what exactly are his responsibilities.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jun 16, 2007 -> 10:34 AM) I think you could use the Freddy Garcia trade as a measuring stick. Reed was highly thought of, as was Olivo who also was playing decently on the major league level, and Morse was a decent prospect. Buerhle has to be considered better than Garcia, so KW should get a little better package than that. In 2004 when the Garcia deal was made Reed was the 25th rated prospect by BA. At the time he was traded in '04 Olivo was a 25 year old catcher putting up a .270/.316/.496/.812 line for the season, pretty damn good especially for a very young catcher with his arm strength. I can't find it online but I believe Morse was a top 6-7 prospect in the Sox' system that year. That's a pretty decent hall right there. 1 top #25 prospect who's pretty much major league ready, an up an coming major league talent and a raw but talented high up side prospect.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jun 16, 2007 -> 12:12 AM) and John Buck is having an ok-ish season last time I checked. .906 OPS, 20 X-Base hits including 10 HR.

QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Jun 15, 2007 -> 09:24 PM) The avy would be way more impressive if you put two-face in a Sox hat/uni. But that would require work and I'm not exactly down for that. Eh, we'll see. QUOTE(BearSox @ Jun 15, 2007 -> 09:25 PM) I think the half and half one. With the mixture one, people might get confused and think it is one of the dodger's prospects that they never seen before. True, true.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Jun 15, 2007 -> 08:55 PM) I like the new avy kalapse. Very nice. Which is better though?

QUOTE(BearSox @ Jun 15, 2007 -> 09:07 PM) Where's this from? The press conference? Fields looked great today. Sure, he struck out in the ninth, but he didn't look bad while doing so, he just couldn't catch up to the heat. And I am sure those 3 line drives (one for an out) were so much worse then Andy Gonzalez's suckiness. I'm looking for the quote but can't find the thread for whatever reason but a few days ago Ozzie said he hasn't decided who he's going to use at 3B just yet. It was between Gonzalez, Mackowiak and Fields.

Per Ozzie

I can't believe Ozzie is actually contemplating using Andy Gonzalez at 3B over Fields.

#1 pick here we come!

QUOTE(Beastly @ Jun 15, 2007 -> 01:27 PM) Is Aardsma coming up soon too? I mean, I liked what I saw from him early on in the year, how is he doing in AAA? Out of 23 batters faced he's only walked 2.

Who would have guessed that the first player to be DFA'd this year would be Bret f***ing Prinz?

Before anyone rips apart AirScott this quote from earlier in the thread should be revisited since it seems no one picked up on the sarcasm from AS. QUOTE(Jimbo @ Jun 14, 2007 -> 07:17 PM) Air Scott your must me lke 15 years and well versed to think we have any chance.

Good, I'd much rather have MacDougal working through his problems at the major league level than at Charlotte. Hopefully he can finish up the year strong and solidify himself a spot in the '08 pen. Prinz was absolute garbage.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jun 14, 2007 -> 11:05 PM) Is 4 titles in 9 years really a Dynasty to you guys? I mean, at least to me, during the same time the Spurs picked up those 4, the Lakers picked up 3 and lost in another finals. Shaq has picked up as many rings in the last 9 years as Duncan. I'm not sure I'm convinced by this one. 4/5 = Dynasty 4/6 = Dynasty 4/7 = Dynasty 4/8 is not a Dynasty In other words, you have to win the majority of the Championships over the timespan in which you're winning them.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jun 14, 2007 -> 08:16 PM) Isn't he a little ahead of you, too? Or did you catch some of him? I can't believe you caught all of his prime years or even most of them. I'm under the impression that you're not THAT much older than I. I'm only 2 years older than you so yeah he's before my time as well. I do remember seeing him play some in his mid to late 30's when he was still one of the better leadoff hitters in the game.

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Jun 14, 2007 -> 08:12 PM) Better than Rickey Henderson in his prime, or was this not your time? I don't really know when your time is. Rickey Henderson was damn good. Ricky's was the greatest in the history of the game but was before Pratt's time.

QUOTE(southsida86 @ Jun 14, 2007 -> 07:17 PM) Buehrle for Weeks straight up is a total fleecing by the Brewskis, IMO, and KW should be canned right on the spot if he makes that trade. Any trade to Milwaukee involving Mark should bring back Gallardo. If it doesn't then you hang up the phone. If we trade Mark, then we ABSOLUTELY have to get AT LEAST 3 guys that are going to contribute to our Major League club next year. Kenny has to ask for the farm, and if he doesn't get it, then you take the picks if Mark walks. Tough luck if he walks, but that is the way it is. Weeks and Gallardo should be a starting point on a deal with the Brewskis. Good luck finding someone in the '08 draft who's going to contribute to the team's success over the next few years the way Weeks will. Ricky Weeks > a 16-30 and a 31-48? pick. If Weeks is the best package offered for Buehrle then that deal needs to be made.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jun 14, 2007 -> 07:49 PM) Kalapse, you think attendance will be "moderately higher" than last year? I was under the impression that attendance will go down and has been, but I don't know, so let me know. Yeah you're right, typo.

QUOTE(Brian @ Jun 14, 2007 -> 07:08 PM) If Pods comes back and can score from 2nd on a single, I'll be happy. Do we have anyone capable of that? Owens but he is never on base. Terrero which is good because I'm thinking he's the only outfielder currently on the team who will be here next year.

QUOTE(Mr. Showtime @ Jun 14, 2007 -> 06:58 PM) Why the hell am I just now seeing these sorts of quotes? First the Cleveland quote and now this one. Someone find me more stuff like this...

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jun 14, 2007 -> 06:58 PM) He hasn't stolen a base all week. Hell, he hasn't even attempted one yet.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Jun 14, 2007 -> 06:15 PM) Or maybe you shouldn't take veiled shots at people, since you have a history of being overly-sensitive to criticism. Back the f*** off the personal s***, I didn't take any veiled shots, next time don't get your numbers wrong and maybe you won't have to be corrected. Why does everything have to be so damn personal with people? I never even said I want him in the lineup just that I have no use for Erstad since he's constantly injured. I'll take a player in Anderson who is atleast going to stay healthy over Erstad who's going to end up spending around half the season on the DL or hobbling from an injury. This isn't about defending Anderson's offensive abilities, it's about him being a better bet to produce than a CONSTANTLY injured Erstad. I'd take Terrero over both of them for the record. QUOTE(WCSox @ Jun 14, 2007 -> 06:24 PM) (2) Prior to this season, Erstad has hit reasonably well when healthy. Anderson has not. Too bad he's incapable of staying healthy.