elrockinMT

Rest in peace Ray Berres. Great pitching coach and I sure remember the tandem of Al Lopez and Ray Berres making the Sox a contender year after year with that great pitching.

QUOTE(maggliopipe @ Feb 2, 2007 -> 08:36 PM) My first one was at old Comiskey in '87. I remember Jerry Reuss was pitching and it may have been the home opener, though I'm not sure. I know they were giving out the magnetic schedules for the season and he was probably the #1 guy in the rotation that year.... no recollection of who won or lost but my uncle and one of his buddies brought me. He brought me to a ton of games as a kid, including the original Turn Back the Clock game. 1987 was the only game I have seen in Chicago. Old Comiskey Park, and what a treat. Sox played the Brewers and the Sox Neil Allen gave up 6 runs in the first inning and got nobody out. He was released the next day. I saw Kenny Williams play in that game and he hit a homer. I also saw Harold Baines pinch hit for Carlton Fisk and he tapped out to the mound on a check swing. Sox lost 7-4.

My first game on TV was 1959, but in person was 1977 in Los Angeles when the Sox took on the California Angels in a 4 game series. I saw Bobbie Bonds of the Angels hit a homer. I remember a young Sox pitcher, who was traded the next year for Bonds, strike out 13 or 14 Angels. I think his last name was Frost, but I can't be sure on that. The last game of that series was a Sunday and I can remember the Sox were trailing in the 9th with a runner or two on and Richie Zisk was pinch hitting. He flied out to the wall in Right center for the final out. I also remember Jim Essian and Jorge Orta playing for the Sox. I took in all 4 games.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jan 31, 2007 -> 05:04 PM) We still don't have a back-up righty outfielder. That's inexcusable after last season. What do you mean fathom? can't Erstad be used in right if needed or one of the others we have now (Pods/Anderson?Sweeney)? I know Dye is just a bush league rookie for crying out loud, but he's passable.

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Jan 29, 2007 -> 09:26 PM) I was there and he said this was in no way set in stone. I think getting through ST first might be proper before worrying about the opening game starter. Heck it could be anyone at this point.I know what Ozzie is saying though.

Mark B will most likely get traded in 2007 and if not he will be a FA at the end of the year. That's my take on it from what I read. Might as well get used to the endless speculation and the righteous posturing of both sides. Inflated values is a good characterization of these contracts especially when you see people with worse records and histroy than Mark getting the money they are. Look at Jeff Weaver and the Mariners. He will get almost $9M for '07 and won 11 games last year.

Do we have the chance of getting ST games on XM satelitte radio? I only get WGN or ESPN so it seems ST TV is limited for me too. There ought to be a law agin it!

Every year at this time is a toss up. But, the good thing is until after the first game is played we are all 0-0 and tied

I don't think the Sox outfield is as bad as made out to be. Anderson is a pretty good CF'er and the rookies are not bad.

I saw the inability to throw first pitch stikes as a real problem especially for the bullpen. I think a starter can play with the zone a bit, but usually a reliever is brought in to quell some type of rally and when you can't throw strikes that can be like adding fuel to the fire sort of speak. However, on the other hand the type of pitch is important too.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Jan 16, 2007 -> 05:25 AM) So, when the f*** are we going to start playing ball again. God I hate January. I am planning on heading to Seattle for the games there May 1-2 and hopefully to Chicago this year. ST is just a month away.

I think you could ask for the stars, which is what some are paying for FA's this year, but the arbitrator can rule on any salary from the low to top range that is being proposed. Crede didn't just take anything offered. I think there is a mesasge here both from Joe and the Sox. Let's get something done for a multi-year deal.

QUOTE(rowand @ Jan 16, 2007 -> 09:09 PM) First off there is something about the MLB barganing agreement that very few (if any) fans know about. The MLB is NOT a split the baby arbitraiton system. It is an all for one or one for all system. Example: Joe Crede claims he should be payed $7 million this upcoming season. The White Sox claim he should be payed $4 million this upcoming season. The 3 arbitraitors rule using many factors including a mathmatical GDP equation and production rating system. They MUST CHOOSE either the $7 million figure or the $4 million figure. They can't determine that $5 million is fair. My thought on why Crede chose to take the $5 million figure is most likely because of the performance clauses and possibly a bonus escalator clause. Those would not be included in a arbitration deal. Also, in arbitration, you have 3 SANE people who use common sense and look at all angles to get the true value of the player to the team within the market. Most players are overpaid compared to their actual performance, so just taking the money is sometimes safer. His injury history and spot as the 4th or 5th best hitter on the team also would hurt his arbitration figure. FYI - The NHL does the "split the baby" arbitration. If Havlat wanted $10 million a year and the Hawks were offering $5 the arbitrators could give anything in between. But, this is just your take on what you think may have been the thinking of Crede? Right? Not to say you don't make a good assumption, but is there any inside info to back up your rationale? In reality a lot of things could have been the main influencing factor.

MLB Insider isn't much as far as being able to hang your hat on their so called insider rumors. I think from the latest is that Uribe will play for the Sox in '07 and all this speculation by Gammons and some others is just to stir up stuff because they have to earn their money somehow.

I am surprised at some of the negative comments. Joe Crede is an all-star and gold glove caliber thirdbaseman and was developed in the Sox system. Bad back or not Joe is one of the top thirdbasemen in baseball and continues to improve every year. He didn't sign cheap in this deal and my guess is this is setting the table for more talks on a long term deal. I hope we keep Joe and use Josh Fields in LF and/or the backup 3Bman. Let's value our own players more and appreciate them more is what I would like to see.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jan 16, 2007 -> 05:38 PM) That's pretty damn cheap. Hopefully we can work on a long-term contract with him, but I don't see that happening at all. He and his agent must of agreed to it also right? Maybe it's a signal he is willing to talk with the team about a long term deal, whatever long term measn these days. I hope KW and Booooras do just that.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jan 12, 2007 -> 04:58 AM) Dye has nothing to do with Buehrle getting 6+ years and $100M+ next offseason. THAT is why Buehrle will not be back, he's simply not worth the money. Dye is going to get some money, a good amount in fact but no where near what Buehrle will earn on the market. And after reading your topic title again, I'm pretty sure I misinterpreted what you were trying to say. Nobody in baseball is worth the inflated numbers being thrown out there to sign FA's especially pitchers. The yankmees have done it for years with no titles to show for it. You don't win pennants with one platyer it takes a team effort. I really anticipate Buerhle being traded.

Historic? A Winner? I'll tell you in October 2007 what I think.

I think BA has a great future, but talent needs to translate into the numbers people expect. I think he can do that. One year in the bigs is not the comparison you need to satrt with on a guy like BA. After all what if the NY Giants had given up on Willie Mays on his first year? QUOTE(PAUL KONERKO 14 @ Jan 7, 2007 -> 04:38 PM) Look in my sig, thats what he will do. Didn't he hit real good in the second half? After downing lots of liquor as MaggsMaggs suggested in his post I still haven't figured out your sig and I'm pretty good at Wheel of Furtune too.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 6, 2007 -> 06:31 PM) I'm plenty ready for it, I just don't like the idea of going young by losing Mark Buehrle for draft pick compensation alone when he should be worth significantly more than that in a trade. We won't lose him for a draft pick. He will be traded before that happens. I would like to see MB stay, but I don't see it happening with the way the free agent market went absolutely nuts. The Sox won't pay and instead will look to trade him for prospects.

I'll tell you my prediction at the end of the 2007 season

QUOTE(The Critic @ Dec 31, 2006 -> 06:19 PM) Some unfortunate team would live to regret that deal. I wish I could interest some of these crazy GM's in the swamp land I have for sale in Arizona. I'm ready to deal.

We have so much potential waiting in the wings now and many can help in the bullpen, if they don't make it as a starter, I just can't see why we would need Cordero. You bring in a guy like Chad and all it does is block the growth and potential of one of our youngsters.

That's one of the things I love about baseball

The Sox under KW have been interested in Weaver before. As a FA I thnk it all depends on what hios asking price is and with Boras as his agent I think it will be pretty high. Probably not a great investment, if it's too high, based on his inconsistent production. I just have to wonder, if one more of our starters doesn't get dealt for a number of high end pitching prospects, which then makes signing of a Jeff Weaver more plausible?