jackie hayes

How do you think he looked this week? His results are not phenomenal (game's still on, 10-6 Seattle), but he has made a couple beautiful (thread-the-eye) passes. What do you think about his future?

I imagine you'll get a lot of flak on this post, but...count me as at least one fan of this post. I'd prefer we get a better 3b, not sure about Valentin, but definitely agree w/ Konerko, Lee, and absolutely agree w/ the main idea. We should be disappointed w/ the team, but to ship off the best parts doesn't make much sense. Even though I don't agree w/ some of your specific points, I think you're very right about the "start all over" tenor on the site.

I'm glad to hear about Simas. I kept track of him last year w/ the 51's, and I'm glad he's doing well. Thanks for the info!

Does that matter? Each argument should be taken on its merits, and I think fathom had a point, here. Even if you disagree, noone can deny that it's reasonable.

A LOT of questionable decisions coming from Ozzie the last week or so. I liked the hiring, but this year has left big question marks in my mind.

Not everyone. Maybe KW, if the news reports are to be believed. But I want PK on the team. He's not Valentin or anything.

Re: your point on pitching, I think you're right, and this is more important than everyone's making it. 3 of our 4 starters for next year are talented (good stuff), but maddeningly inconsistent. We can't count on 3 break-out seasons on our staff. But I don't like the "dump 'em all" strategy. We get rid of PK or Lee, we have another question mark. We're not going to get two players who are just as good for one of them -- if we're the one shopping them, I'm not sure we'd get even value. Does anyone know how many teams have had this much turnover (4-5 lineup players) and competed (at least won their division) the next year?

The last couple years, Crede's had a lot more confidence from the Sox than Rowand. Even during his struggles he's been out there as our starting 3b. Meanwhile they displace Rowand with a terrible fielder (Everett) just as he's starting to hit well. I thought, or maybe hoped, Crede would be a very good player -- until this year. When a player doesn't produce with 2 years of consistent play, I think it's probably time for a change, especially when he's your weakest regular.

Yeah, agreed, it's not on Ritchie, it was a bad trade by management. I hope he does well, too.

I'm not sure I agree with this. I always think that if a guy can pick it up when the team is down, he should have picked it up when the team was even or up. Anyway, two things come to mind. First, Ozzie has to modulate himself better. He came into st fire and brimstone, and then is cool to Hunter-Burke, and then goes berserk on umps and on Showalter. The fire is good, but sometimes it seems misplaced. Second, the pitchers, more than the hitters, should adjust their philosophies. Garland and Contreras, especially, have to get over their fastball jitters, and the catchers and Cooper could help with that. Past that, you hope Rowand and Frank approach the season the same way, and I think we'll be okay.

Okay. I just think there's a way to be a bit more humble without being negative. I also have probably a dimmer view of his potential than you, so it strikes me as stranger.

I imagined -- but isn't it a little presumptuous for anyone hitting like Borchard to be using the word "tremendous" when referring to themselves? I was surprised that he didn't dismiss it entirely when it came up.

The best way to showcase Borchard is to sit him. I think the Sox already know what Borchard can do. He was quoted in the paper yesterday, still talking about the 505 foot hr. He said it was a "tremendous glimpse" of his abilities. Of course we've got the enormous panorama of strikeouts too.

Then Schueler was high too. I'm not trashing KW, a GM's allowed one boneheaded move. But the trade itself was bad in both respects, it looked bad on paper -- Ritchie hadn't had a good season in a while -- and it ended up bad in fact. At the very least, Kip Wells was much better than Ritchie in 2002. (And not even the AL bump wouldn't have made him worse than our fifth starters the past 2 years.)

I still think that YASNY's right. He traded 3 decent, young, cheap pitchers for a guy who had one good year in his whole career -- not the year before, or the year before that, but two years removed. That was a horrible lapse in judgement.

No, Reed, Ring, and Rupe were KW selections. KW's had the last 4 drafts. Meanwhile he refuses to part with Borchard, a Schueler pick. EDIT: I'm just talking about who's in charge. I know Kenny played a part in picks before he was GM.

Has the Sox defense been bad this year? I know a lot of people believe Valentin to be a poor fielder -- which I don't agree with -- and Crede has had some hiccups, but where else do we have a big problem? I hope speed doesn't take precedence over obp, our biggest area of need.

It's fair. But man it's frustrating.

No -- I don't think I'm as angry as you, but I'm disappointed. It's mostly gratuitous, doing it now.

That was REALLY good, lol!

It's okay if we like Willie and are not sold on him at the same time, right?

And Buehrle -- he kept this issue alive. Still my favorite starter.

No problem, just glad to get an opinion on this. Thanks for the info.

No, the history here is too fresh. He should get a shot somewhere, but he'd have a better opportunity elsewhere.

This makes two articles on the official Sox website about how Jose may not be w/ the team next year. I look at that as the kiss of death. Those articles are always wishy-washy. He's done w/ the Sox.