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QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Oct 2, 2009 -> 05:11 PM) Im surprised he doesnt have a Cy Yuck award for the worst performance of a pitcher on the team. I would give that to Linebrink Ditto

Joe Cowley-Chicago Sun-Times 100209 ... Buehrle was sitting with a plate of food in Guillen's office, having just talked Guillen into letting him pitch once more -- despite supposedly having been shut down for the season -- because he knew the Sox were shorthanded. Reporters came in to talk to Guillen, and as Buehrle got up, he grabbed the remote and flipped Guillen's TV to the Dallas Cowboys-Carolina Panthers game. Guillen could only smirk. Yes, Mark Buehrle, you receive the first 2009 ''Scowleys'' award for Biggest Set of Marbles. Here are the rest: TEAM MVP Candidates were Scott Podsednik, D.J. Carrasco, Matt Thornton and A.J. Pierzynski in a tight race, but the Scowley for Sox MVP goes to catcher Pierzynski. He's hitting .302 with 22 doubles and 13 homers, but his durability behind the plate is what really separated him from the pack. He has caught at least 1,000 innings for an eighth consecutive season. CY YOUNG Thornton. The reliever did it all for the Sox as the bridge guy and lefty specialist, and by picking up the load first for struggling Scott Linebrink and now for injured Bobby Jenks. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Chris Getz and Jayson Nix made an impact, but Beckham has ''star'' written all over him. The shortstop-turned-third baseman led American League rookies in doubles, RBI and slugging percentage and was second in homers. PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR Buehrle touched perfection July 23 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Too bad the Sox hype machine wouldn't let it go. Guess whom we'll see on the postseason media guide? BIGGEST SURPRISE No one saw Podsednik coming. His rebirth as a leadoff hitter was one thing, four years after his role on the 2005 World Series team, but his rebirth as a player who can enjoy the game he plays was just as unexpected. BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT Carlos Quentin was an MVP candidate last season, seemingly shedding the ''injury-prone'' image he developed in Arizona. But guess who was hurt most of the season and struggled? MOST IMPRESSIVE FIRST IMPRESSION Jake Peavy. The future of the Sox' rotation is here. General manager Ken Williams has the pure ace he has searched years to find. LEAST IMPRESSIVE FIRST IMPRESSION Alex Rios -- 'nuff said. JEKYLL & HYDE AWARD Jermaine Dye hit .302 with 20 homers in the first half. Since the All-Star break, he's hitting .180 with seven homers. BEST TRADE IN HINDSIGHT Peavy. WORST TRADE IN HINDSIGHT Jeff Marquez and Wilson Betemit from the New York Yankees for Nick Swisher. (Who would have thought Swisher's tired ''me, me, me'' act would play on Broadway?) Acquiring Tony Pena is a close second. WORST HANDS Betemit had it won until he was released, but MLB.com writer Scott Merkin won it with at least 12 drinks spilled in the press box. DEFINING MOMENT The road trip from hell in which the Sox lost three of four in Boston, were swept in New York and only avoided a sweep in Minnesota with a miracle comeback. QUOTE OF THE YEAR (RUNNER-UP) ''It's a bunch of [expletive] out there watching football games like a piece of [expletive] with no pride the way they play the [expletive] game, and that's embarrassing. If you don't have pride to play this game and you don't care about it, get another job because I know I'm going to be all over the stinking place when I talk about this. I'm not in a pennant race, but at least I have some pride and at least I have something to fight for, and at least I have something to show up to this ballpark and play [for]. And when you go out there and you turn your TV on and watch stupid [expletive] football when those [expletive] football players don't give a [expletive] about you, that's embarrassing.'' -- Ozzie Guillen, after the Sox blew a 5-0 lead and lost 12-5 to the Detroit Tigers last Saturday. QUOTE OF THE YEAR ''I don't need Carlos to have [expletive] fun. I need Carlos to produce.'' -- general manager Williams, on Quentin.

QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ Oct 2, 2009 -> 12:10 AM) Well then that's a good sign. If Hawk has given up on him this early, look for him to rebound next year. The Ole Hawkeroo has been around the game since dirt was held in the hand of the Almighty himself. I always take what Hawk says as gospel.

Every year the call goes out to trade half our team and let the other hal go to free agency or release them. I want stability. Spring Training comes around and every team seems to think they have solved all of their problems from the year before and for sure all teams are equal in the standings come opening day. We will probably make some trades and sign some mid to low tier free agents, but I can only think of one or two open positions other than the bullpen. Do we go with our own youngsters or try someone else? It's all wait and see.

Danks = winnah

Mark Buerhle is a winner. Youngsters can learn from this guy. I am looking forward to a rotation of Buerhle-Peavy-Danks and Floyd plus whoever next year. I think #5 will be Garcia.

QUOTE (knightni @ Oct 1, 2009 -> 02:23 AM) If Pods is back, Kotsay isn't. I think there is room for both. The question is if Wise is back IMO. Not saying Wise isn't a good sub OF'er, but that is his role for sure. If Dye isn't back then maybe Wise is? Kotsay is a lefty 1B option and fills in in RF so Pods and him are not exclusive.

QUOTE (coco1997 @ Oct 1, 2009 -> 07:15 AM) I've watched this kid play all season and I love what I see. Considering what an inept organization Pittsburgh is when it comes to trading away good talent, I'd say a package of Fields+Lillibridge+Wise should do the trick. Your thoughts? Pirates have traded away some real good young talent for sure, but I think we would be dreaming on this one. Plus what are we loking at in our own system? Shelby-Danks etc

We have winners on this team and I am still trying to figure out who KW thinks are "quitters"

QUOTE (League @ Sep 30, 2009 -> 11:00 PM) Wes Whisler. Justin Cassell. Kyle McCulloch, any of the young guys that could be added and pitched would be better than burls. He needs to be shut down. I was surprised no one was brought up for a little sip of that proverbial cup of coffee.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Sep 30, 2009 -> 10:59 PM) Just think if this team was actually in it at this point - there'd be no one to play! My point in the post on why are we using Buerhle

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Sep 30, 2009 -> 10:37 PM) We're going to regret throwing out Buehrle for another game if his last start is any indication. He was obviously laboring through the game, with only a modest 81-83mph fastball and a high 70's looping curveball to show for his effort. I know what you are saying, but what if we were in this race and maybe looking at post season and Buerhle was already finished? He has the off season to recover and I think he wanted to pitch anyway. As ineffective as he has been, or maybe inconsistent is a better word, Buerhle is still a competitor

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Sep 30, 2009 -> 08:40 PM) Fighting to Win! Offesne looking great as we face Cy Carmona with his 6 1/2 ERA

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Sep 30, 2009 -> 08:38 PM) So the second runs scores because Lillibridge has a brain cramp and doesn't throw out Laporta at 3rd and throws it across the diamond. Next play is a Sac fly. It's another in a long line of Sox defensive misplays/mishaps this season. We gave them a run becasue of the defense

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Sep 30, 2009 -> 06:32 AM) Juan Uribe is hitting .297 I miss Juan Uribe

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Sep 29, 2009 -> 02:02 AM) Javy makes $11 million. That's all you need to know if you really think they still would have picked up Peavy. How many times were we told that money is not the issue when deciding to pick up that winning piece or not? I am not saying money wasn't an issue or wouldn't have been mind you, but they might have gotten rid of someone else to make room in the budget

QUOTE (tommy @ Sep 29, 2009 -> 10:20 PM) There is an article on the official website, the youngsters will be seeing most of the playing time from now on. Not sure why everyone is surprised, I doubt it has anything to do with the 'college football incident' Josh Fields is no youngster to the Sox. But, if tbey want to play him that isn't an issue except Ozzie mentioned putting the best pitchers and I am assuming hitters out there against the Tigers this coming weekend, if the games mean something. When it was metnioned that Fields had a flaw in his swing I was going to agree and say that it was missing the ball with his bat or vice versa He showed promise for half aseason awhile back and folks were praising him as the next Babe Ruth

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 29, 2009 -> 03:49 AM) Beckham is really starting to look like a good fielder at third. He should be there for a long time. Can Lexi improve enough to be next to him at ss for the next 10 years? If you listen to Ozzie the infield of Getz at 2B, Ramirez at SS and Beckham at 3B will be our future for a long time. Jon Danks picthed a mahvelus game last night.

Danks with a complete game. That is a great way to maybe end the season for him. That is unless he throws once more versus the Tigers

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 28, 2009 -> 10:29 PM) Rude, you are assuming he'd have woken up in a Sox uniform and played some ball for us. He wouldn't have. It was a bad fit. He was a total out machine in Chicago, do you not agree? He struggled at the end of the year for sure, but others on this team have struggled also. Swisher had a high on-base pct and you need folks on base ahead of the big hitters

QUOTE (striker62704 @ Sep 28, 2009 -> 10:39 PM) If you look at it from the perspective of the batting lineup and not the fielding lineup, we are missing a solid #3 of #4 hitter. Those two spots killed us (IMO) this year. If I agreed, and I am not saying I do, the issue with trying to acquire that #43 or #4 hitter would mean money or lots of our young talent. Plus they have to fit in somewhere in the line up.

Agree with all this stuff. Greg is a troll who talks just as bad about highly-talented players who aren't performing as he does about no-talents who aren't performing. By his posts it is hard to come away feeling like he can differentiate between the two types of players, and therefore it is hard to believe he understands what he is watching. I don't know if Greg was amused by this comment or insulted, but I see no reason for this name calling

What is open on this team as far as posiiton players? 3B-Beckham 2B-Getz SS-Ramirez 1B- PK C- AJP LF-CQ CF-Rios RF- I hope Dye returns DH-Pods 1b/RF Kotsay infield-Nix C-Flowers infield ? 12 pitchers The need is more glaring in the bullpen

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2009 -> 06:29 PM) All I have to say is look at the numbers from Juans first year with the Sox to his second, and third and forth. Some might blame Walker A change of scenery sure has helped Juan. I still maintain he is a very good glove man though.

QUOTE (almagest @ Sep 28, 2009 -> 05:27 PM) Peavy's skills haven't diminished. Rios is having an off-year, just like Swisher did last year. Thomas was continually hurt and we were looking for a left-handed power bat. Thome was sent to LA as a favor to him, to give him a chance at a world series ring. None of us know what Swisher was like in the clubhouse, but it's pretty apparent that the organization didn't feel he was a good fit. Few (if any) of our highly-touted prospects have done anything since leaving the White Sox. Uribe was bad with us. His offense was putrid, and his defense was declining. I'm glad he's having his best season since 2004 with the Giants, but he was done here. I'm not sure I understand your point, to be honest. I think you are to quick to pull the trigger and criticize. I never said anything about Peavy. I like the deal for him as expensive as it was in young pitching talent. He is a proven winner. Uribe was not declining with the glove and I don't see how you can say that at all based o 2008 and before. You made the point I was making with saying "none of us knew what Swisher was like". Trades are complicated and don't always work out. Now what was your point?