jeremyb

That would be a massive mistake. Robbie has been by far the worst player in the majors since coming over to the Sox. Worse than Sandy and Borchard, which is no easy feat. Slow, weak bat that would be lucky to produce 600 OPS next season. By far the worst range at 2B in the game. Weak arm. Downright lazy on some DP. Non-factor on the pads. Will be 37. Beyond done.

As Willie's platoon mate at 2B, he could prove to be quite valuble given his ability to smoke southpaws and good defense. His salary is a problem. 4 M for a part-time player who is more suited for 2-hole than lead-off spot? I don't know. I guess.

Marte and Uribe are more easily replaced than a very good leadoff man is. Marte and Cotts have basically the same numbers [ERA, yes, but MArte has had Shingo ready to bail him out--Cotts has had Gas Can Jackson to allow his runners in]. I'd sign a FA reliever who could set up or could close, in case Shingo fails in 2005. Uribe is basically a UTL player. As a starting SS, he'll have a .250 BA and a .300 OBP, basically what Jose will give w/o the power. Marte has looked lost this year, very hittable. I'd say he could be moved before teams catch on. Ozzie certainly isn't impressed. Shingo and others have had to bail him out numerous times Pierre is 27, also entering his prime. If he could be had, he'd be better than Figgins. Though I like Figgins and have stated that he could be traded for on other threads. Hairston-Harris platoon (LHP/RHP) is more than capable of matching Juan Pierre OBP/OPS. The production is far from guaranteed, but the potential is definately there. Marte's having an off year, mechanics suprisingly erratic. Next year look for 2.25 ERA and OPS-A 575-ish. Very important part of the pen who will be missed when he is gone. Uribe is a stud - batspeed, all-field power, speed, range, arm, ability to play multiple positions well, cheap - you don't just give up on talent like that because he hasn't been consistent enough to duplicate his 1st half success in 2003 or 2004. Be patient. His batting eye could use improving, some mechanical tweaks in his swing are high on the priority list in the off-season.....he is young enough to turn the corner yet. Just watch. Figgins is more talented than Pierre, much cheaper and more versatile, too. We have no place for Pierre; we do for Figgins......Then again, neither speedster is likely going anywhere, and the last thing I want to see Sox do is grossely overpay. Don't try to rationalize this, just let it go.

As a pinch-hitter and a defensive sub for Konerko in blow-outs, I have no problem with gload. He has above average speed for a 1B, a good defender at first and pretty mediocre-to-solid in left. A nice short and quick swing, a LH version of Rowand when he first came up. But like Aaron, Gload doesn't see the ball well, is easily fooled by a good breaking ball. Tends to choke in big-game situations. Until he learns to relax, he won't be starting material. But nice to have around just in case.

Rowand can play in RF, with Pierre in CF. FLA would get talent in Marte and Uribe, and have an everyday SS who could post better offensive numbers than Gonzalez for less cash. FLA's bullpen is very weak, esp if Benitez becomes a FA. Mota, I'm not sure about. Marte is very valuable. But Oz keeps saying he hasn't seen the Marte of 2003 yet. No. Marte and Uribe stay. Too much talent, too cheap for Sox get rid of. And like it or not, either a healthy Magglio or a healthy Everett will be patroling RF in 2005. Unless of course Borchard blows everybody away in the next 5 weeks...which won't happen. See, Chone Figgins is another story altogether since he can actually play 2B/3B and will be cheap for another 2-3 years. Quicker swing than Pierre, smarter baserunner. Just entering his prime

No thanks. We don't need Koskie that much if other pieces are acquired, anyway. Joe Crede is one small off-season adjustment away from being a decent 3B. I'll take my chances.

I am fairly confident that a 2B platoon of Harris-Hairston can produce at a 370 OBP, 400 Slug pace next year. More than enough for a lead-off spot. With Lee in LF, Rowand in CF and Everett in RF, where do you play Pierre? Sure, I'd love to have JP in the 1-spot, which effectively pushes the 2B combo back to 9-spot, where they could toil with less pressure on them....but at what price? Florida won't just give him away. In fact, Marlins might not even want to part with him in the first place, I don't think.

Konerko 8.7 Lee 8.5 Garcia 8.5 Thomas 8 Pavano - ? Contreras 6 (+ yankee $$) Buerhle 5.5 Mota - ? Everett 4 Garland - ? Shingo 2.5 Marte 1.7 Davis 1.5 Everybody else makes peanuts. Maggs, Koch, Valentin, Loaiza, Schoeneweis, Politte, Jackson, Sandy (totaling almost 34M are off the books.. Based on 2003 revenue, 2004 OD payroll came at around 65M. With Garcia, Alomar and Everett added, it went up to 68-70M. We know ticket, concessions prices all went up coming into the season. On top of that, 2004 attendance and ratings are up by 15% as compared to 2003. Likewise, luxury tax/revenue sharing will bring in a little more than last year. And then you have Comcast $$ next year. So really, anything short of 75-78M OD payroll in ’05 will be criminal. I wouldn’t rule out 80M at this point. As long as Pavano and Mota’s demands are within reason, they can be easily fit into the budget. Hairston, too If healthy, the team will win the division in '05 by a good margin.

I'm with you all the way. What's the point of giving up with 2 months left to go? Unless this team goes on another 7 game losing streak "knock on wood" i'll keep the faith. are you serious bout all that?

oops it should read "8/25 games". thanks.

Charlotte is losing to the Ravens 6-4 in the 12th. 2 homers for Wilson Valdez. Nice outing for Yofu, bouncing back from the tendonitis with all his pitches intact. Barons rained out. Mac is pitching tomorrow. yay. Fields with a couple of RBI doubles as Warhogs pull it out 3-2 in the 9th. Lumsden with 2 relatively scoreless innings of work in relief. Sweeney has cooled off 0 for 5 plus another error today. Tom Brice is still over in Athens.

do you need help with the server? .

we're done irregardless. Season was essentially over when Sox failed to win those 3 maddeningly close 1-run games in Detroit....then laid down in front of AAA Royals....finally capping it off by dropping 3 out of 4 to the Tribe - at least 2 were winnable if it weren't for ill-advised Diaz start and some awful situational hitting. That's a 5 game swing in the standings. At that point, the team was dead as dead can be - not enough talent or intensity to fight back from the deficit.

Jerry Hairton Jr to platoon with Willie at 2B (righty-lefty OBP thing). Carl Pavano to slide El Defector and Judy to 4-5 spots. Guillermo Mota to magically transform the pen as a set-up man. Hairston is cheap. Pavano's injuries and past inconsistencies lower his value to 7 M per or so. Mota will look for Hawkins money. If we're losing Magglio, might as well get those 3 quality upgrades using that money. Garcia, Frank, Shingo, Caballo, Mark, Konerko, Garland raises as well as Davis, Everett salaries will be covered by the $$$ that were ill-spent on Koch, Loaiza, Politte and Valentin in 2004 . I fully expect a 75-78 M payroll next year thanks to revenue increases in 04 and comcast dough rolling in '05. As it stands, it's at 68 M. So, other additions could and should be made. Todd Hollansworth and his 940 OPS would look nicely on the bench - who knows, if Everett is unable to pefrom in RF, Rockstar might find himself in the starting line-up. Korey Koskie is at 3B, after Uribe moves over to SS. That's it, payroll is maxed out and Sox are in business in '05.