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QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Jan 19, 2012 -> 03:15 PM) At some point I really think KW will sell low on Floyd and sign Jackson. I am not sure why or what to think of this but that is what I think will happen. I wouldn't mind Jackson being back, but not under the scenario you are thinking about. I think E Jax has priced himself way too high and there is NO reason to let Floyd go without a major return.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 18, 2012 -> 03:56 PM) I have little problem paying $1 million for a veteran on the bench if that's the way the Sox decide to go. $2-3 million I start getting iffy. It is athought for sure and unless I am missing something we are a bit short at a backup 3B kind of guy

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 18, 2012 -> 07:48 PM) SIGN ALL THE CUBANS No it's: Contrate a todos los jugadores de béisbol de persona independiente cubanos

Interesting to note that the story says the Sox have a hole in their bullpen now that Santos gone. I still am a bit perplexed about that deal. Maybe it will work out for us though.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 17, 2012 -> 11:14 PM) JonHeymanCBS Jon Heyman carlos quentin settled for a bit over $7M We coud have afforded that

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 17, 2012 -> 10:26 PM) The guy really needs to talk to Jose Contreras about what could happen by going to the wrong team. Agreed

QUOTE (103 mph screwball @ Jan 17, 2012 -> 03:58 PM) I don't get why Morel would be a surprise to Soxtalk. I'm not nearly as knowledgeable as many of you when it comes to the farm system, but we saw this with Morel. He was projected to be a good hitter. He would start off at a level and suck. He would make an adjustment in the middle of the year and hit well. He would get promoted, suck, adjust, and be a good hitter again. He has figured it out and I'm very enthusiastic about Morel. Add the fact he may be even more comfortable with Ventura's new leadership who happens to be an ex-3B, this could be fun to watch. Add this guy as a sleeper along with Beckham in your fantasy league. How much hands on time will the new manager have with Morel though? I think Morel came along very well after the early shakes of being a newbie in the bigs. It seemed to be a bit before he settled down and produced with the bat. Beckham did the same thing and then took a step back. I hope this is just the learning curve for both Gordon and Brett as we have a couple real good homegrown players there and hopefully we don't give up on them too soon

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jan 17, 2012 -> 10:21 PM) @scotgregor On his own, Dayan Viciedo has talked with fellow Cubans Yoennis Cespedes and Jorge Soler, trying to sell them on signing with #WhiteSox. Loyalty to the Sox is a nice thing to see. Bottom line IMO will be the lure of the big Yankee dollar

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 17, 2012 -> 09:21 PM) If we don't get a solid overpay for him, there's little to no reason to move him. The novel thing to do is keep him and build up our starting staff. It seems everyone we have in the system now is pegged for relief. Pitching is the name of the game

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 17, 2012 -> 09:13 PM) scottmerkin Scott Merkin Viciedo has done a little recruiting with both the Cespedes and Soler camps I would be simply amazed if the Sox got into a bidding war

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Jan 17, 2012 -> 04:54 AM) There's a problem in American management whereby people are promoted until they exceed their capabilities, then are stuck in a position at which they do not excel, leading to incompetence at every level. I agree with the people who think we should avoid that problem with Lillibridge and keep him in a spot where he excels: the bench. Additionally, I don't think there should be an open competition with Beckham because Beckham is still significantly younger, offers a much greater potential reward and played GG-caliber defense last season. Unless Lilli shows he can play that level of defense on top of his bat (which has probably peaked) it doesn't make sense to bench Beckham. Particularly not in a year that, by all accounts, is meant for development and the long-term good of the club. Don't think I could have said it any better. Lilli is a fantastic role player and Beckham is the 2Bman

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 16, 2012 -> 10:18 PM) We can argue to death over why we've missed those Octobers though. If we had just drafted slightly better over that time period, if we had 1 extra bullet to fire, or we had 1 fewer trade blow up on us, that number could change hugely. Let's at least put it this way...for a team with the system where it has been the last 6+ years, the Sox have been incredibly successful. A minor imporvement to the system or a minor improvement to the trades that have been made, or even a minor improvement to our luck might well have put this team in the playoffs more than that. And that's not even saying anything about the manager for that time period. The manager had something to do with success too. My thought is this: Tony Larusa is in line to be the new Sox GM, or at the least he will be in a position of front office authority.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 15, 2012 -> 07:48 PM) The inner squabbles seem to have been going on for at least 2-3 years and getting worse each year. At least from the point that Oney had to get fired, that's when the public face of it sure became obvious, and it started really seeming to affect the play of the team at that point. I do agree that the Oney issue seemed to be the turning point

He is asking a lot of money, if he continues thinking about $50M to sign. I thought $10M was a lot for Viciedo who spent most of the last three years in the minors. Alexei was a steal considering. But, there might be a real upside to Cespedes if the signing bonus price is more reasonable. The foreign born players asking prices are enormous IMO and just too much. Look at the Darvish kid from Japan. The Rangers paid big dollars just to get the negotiating rights.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jan 15, 2012 -> 03:47 AM) You would think Cowley dissed Soxtalk with the hatred here for him. I paid little attention to the inner squabbles. There sure are some strong feelings by our members though. I liked Ozzie Guillen. I was upset that Jake Peavy didn't perform. But, I never thought Peavy was a quitter. He battled and wanted to win. I think Ozzie did too. The team no doubt was in disaray in 2011. Some people just didn't perform and I think it is now obvious KW and his followers didn't want Ozzie and his followers back and did what they did to isolate the other camp. It sure looks like a battle between two groups developed and a House (Team) divided cannot stand. Change had to happen. But, hope springs eternal in the baseball off season and if 2012 is better we will hopefully forget all this and move on. If we lose and have no sense of direction than I think Tony Larrusa is our next GM.

I think Edwin Jackson is a good pitcher and would welcome his return to the Sox, but not at the hgh price he is asking. Plus I agree it is unlikely the Sox talk with Boras. But, I also don't agree with trading Floyd. I don't care what people think the return might be. All I can say is I am underwhelmed so far with the minor league players we have gotten in return for trades made and see it simply as a disguised salary dump. I am confused as to what KW thinks he is doing and don't know if we compete or rebuild in 2012 and 2013. If pitching is the name of the game we need to keep Floyd and maybe add a Jackson to go with youth. Guys like Jackson and Floyd aren't "old" in any sense. But, do we have money to sign Jackson. Probably not and for sure not at what Boras wants

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 13, 2012 -> 03:59 PM) Frank still having kids apparently... TheBigHurt_35 Frank Thomas She's Here !!!! Ashleigh Kate Thomas!!! Doesn't he know what is causing that?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 11, 2012 -> 07:51 PM) Yep. There will be job openings for sure. The Sox have shown they aren't shy about moving the kids they believe in. they leave on a fast plane don't they

Can we give KW a pass for 2012? Can we afford too? My thought is we have no choice (obviosuly) and hopfelly he gets things under control and we compete.

The reasons I don't see this happening is: Soriano is a right handed batter and on the Sox that addition makes for a poor balance of lefty and righty hitters. He hit better than Dunn, but you hope Dunn recovers in 2012 Adding Soriano only makes the OF situation more crowded plus I don't see Soriano as a very good defender Alfonso is owed around $54M still and Dunn is close to that, but maybe a year less in money? There wouldn't be any salary dump I am sure regardless of what you might think of a trade.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 05:36 PM) Is no one else already worried that we'll only get a "project" prospect and a throw-in? Let's not half-ass this rebuild. Stick to it or don't, no in-between s***. Amazing. We agree again!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 02:49 PM) I still lean towards moving Dunn the second he becomes moveable without eating his deal. By the deadline this year, he'll be nearly 2 years older than he was when he signed his deal, and he'll no longer be on a team that was built to compete this season. If you can move him at that point without eating the $35 million he has remaining, maybe to Torotno or Seattle or someone who needs a LH bat/DH, you have to do it. Even if it makes anyone unhappy about getting rid of a big name, producing player as a salary dump. Clear that $14 million and the next offseason becomes quite a bit easier. This is what I would agree is the right decision also. If Dunn starts to produce some team that couldn't afford a Fielder or a Pujols contract might be willing to fork out $14M a year to Adam Dunn thinking they had a HR and RBI man that could help their team and they saw themselves as a contender. He might be better off in the NL though?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 4, 2012 -> 10:17 PM) It would be absolutely insane right now to look at signing Carlos Quentin long term. I wouldn't sign him for 3/$21. I assume you are baseing it on his injuries? That's a tough stance. I should have added that I can certainly understand the injury concern if that is your position. (not trying to put words in your mouth) It's just that injuries are part of the game and CQ sustained them with hard nosed and all out play.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jan 4, 2012 -> 10:59 PM) CQ fetched a low return because SD ate the whole contract, that's how it works. KW has to cut payroll, so he has no choice but to get total salary relief. It's stupid to assume that KW chose a crappy return over a better return. He's been shopping him for months, I have no doubt that this was about all that could be had if the Sox wanted to not pay ANY of the contract. This has NOTHING to do with sabermetrics. OK. That is a valid way to look at it. But, I am not saying he chose a worse return. I am not sure, nor can anyone say I guess, what he might have got in Feb or March, or if he shouldn't have looked at signing CQ like he did John Danks. Those were options too. Maybe they know more about these prospects then meets the eye. It must have been a salary dump #1 and return #2?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 4, 2012 -> 07:31 PM) I see, so your intangibles argument went out the window when someone pointed out that CQ's intangibles weren't enough to win the division the last 3 years. No, I think it's because folks don't seem to read all of what I am saying or make an effort in some cases to look at both sides of the situation. They then do what they accuse me and other posters here of doing and try and justify it with name calling and slights. Believe it or not I know baseball and have been involved in the game for a lot of years. I try hard not to slight others when i post, but I have my opinion and I voice it. I accept that others may not agree and that's fine. I don't really think this board is set up in a way to be a battle ground of competing opinions. I am not in this to win the argument. I simply state my opinion. The ole Milkman is right when he posts "It's like arguing with a wall." As well it should be because it shouldn't have to be a winning argument. That's one of the only times I will agree with Milk. Carlos Quentin is gone, Mark Buerhle and Frasor are gone. Nothing can be done to change that. I look at our return for CQ and my question is was it enough? Was it the type of transaction Kenny Williams said he would make only if the retuirn was major league ready? I don't think it was and thus the next assumption would be if the trade was in reality a salary dump. Why was it a salary dump? Because of bad decisions by the GM. Now he has to dig himself out of the hole. Can it be done with the return we are getting. That is an unknown. Maybe what some folks need to do is take a step back when responding and edit their posts. It is really getting out of hand with name calling, etc. Again I have my opinions and take on things and others have theirs. Let's be civil please. I know I have answered beyond what you have posted in reply to my statement, but I think it is necessary to write. By the way I don't think you -Balta- have been unprofessional when reponding just as I hope I have not been.