AddisonStSox

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jan 24, 2005 -> 11:54 AM) I wonder if you were calling for the trade of A-row 2 years ago??? You're getting into this debate rather late. There is a huge difference between Rowand and Harris that any educated Sox fan will be sure to point out. With Harris, you have attitude problems and questions of desire. With Rowand, you do not. Harris has fallen out of grace with the Sox organization for a reason...something to chew on.

QUOTE(quickman @ Jan 24, 2005 -> 11:52 AM) Harris is gone, we will get a minor leaguer for him, also, I wonder if Willie thinks he will steal 60 bases now. Dumb ass. You honestly have me laughing out loud. My sentiments exactly. Clean out the locker son.

Rather than guess at Ozzie's lineup, I'll just post mine. If I had to pencil in the lineup on opening day right now, it would look something like this. LF-Podsednik 2B-Iguchi 1B-Konerko DH-Everett RF-Dye CF-Rowand C-Pierzynski SS-Uribe 3B-Crede Wow. I can't believe that. Here's to you Kenny.

If I had to describe this off-season to an objective baseball fan, I'd start by saying Kenny stepped into the proverbial pile and came out smelling like a rose. Not too long ago, the off-season started with the inability to land Omar Vizquel. Many on the board, including yours truly, was very upset with Kenny's inability to get the job done. However, it was important to note that many gave him the benefit of the doubt and praised him for sticking to his guns and avoiding a bidding war over a 35+ year old middle infielder. Next, the Soxtalk cynics were out in force over the signing of Walker. "Sox first off-season move, a washed up pitcher named Walker." Yeah, remember that? Now, here comes the moves I think many of us have forgotten about: Hermanson and Dye. Kenny in an effort to bring some power and stability to the OF brought in injury-plauged OF Jermaine Dye. Sportingnews called this, "the best bargin signing in all of baseball." Kenny also signed a crucial piece to the bullpen of 2005 in Dustin Hermanson. These two moves quickly filled two of the most noticable holes in the White Sox roster. Well, if the Kenny doubters didn't stop then, you can only imagine the reaction to trading fan-favorite and Mr. Reliable Carlos Lee. Wow. Although many of us recognized this move as a salary dump of sorts in order to free up some dough to sign a fifth starter, many saw it was a pure salary dump. It is important to note, although Kenny was unloading a huge salary, he got two very important pieces of the puzzle in return, in Podsednik and Vizcaino. A lot of posters questioned Lee's trade value and thought Kenny could have gotten more in return for Carlos Lee, but what Kenny did was bring a leadoff hitter and a first-class reliever while leaving him with enough room to sign a fifth starter. Bring in, El Duque. Here is the fifth starter. Is duribility a question? Yes. Is his ability to pitch in the big games and bring it each and every start a question? No sir. Kenny brought in a very capable fifth starter, and a guy that is head and shoulders better than anything Kenny could have trotted to the mound from the current roster. Fifth starter questions are a thing of the past. Wow. Well, Kenny addressed nearly every hole in the roster and was ready to pack it up. Nope. Enter AJ f***ing Pierzynski. Kenny signed one of the most gritty and capable catchers in all of baseball. He instantly brought in more power and stability to the Sox lineup, while bringing in a bad ass attitude. Pierzynski, an unbelievable improvement from Gentle Ben Davis. That's it. Kenny doesn't have any more moves left in him right? Wrong. Kenny, after having negotiated and nearly severed ties with Iguchi, signs him to a great, great, great deal...answering EACH AND EVERY whole in the 2004 roster. Amazing. Kenny has arguably had the best off-season in all of baseball. Thoughts? Please post all things Kenny Williams here! Enjoy.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jan 24, 2005 -> 11:02 AM) Now that Iguchi is in the fold ... Does anyone else but me see Harris being moved and a veteran IF being brought in, a guy who can play a capable SS? I'll be watching what goes on with Barry Larkin very closely. Larkin was very intrigued with possibly going to the Red Sox and changing leagues. Hey, Hey...Jim, didn't I call for this trade not too long ago as well? Harris has no value to the Sox right now. He has value to some other clubs, but not the Sox. We need to trade Wee Willie for a gritty, vet MI. I think there will be a decent market for this s***head too. I'm sure some NL teams would kill for a rangey, speedy two bagger. Oh man...signed Iguchi...maybe a trade of Willie...this is too good to be true. Pleasure overload.

Just got back from class...Ye-Ha!!! All hail Kenny on an amazing off-season. Completely stellar. Kenny has undoubtedly earned an A this off-season. And...we didn't break the bank. Kenny took the time, negotiated and got his price. Amazing.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jan 24, 2005 -> 02:35 AM) He will start in A ball or that would be my guess. I'm thinking he'll start throwing sometime during spring, maybe get in some practice games but my guess is he breaks camp and stays in extended spring training for a couple weeks as the Sox are going to be very careful with his arm. As far as his future goes, he has a chance to be an AWESOME closer, but it depends on his health just as much as it depends on his head and the chances of both working out may not be too likely, but if it does, the guy will be VERY VERY SPECIAL. I hear ya Jas. I think if he can get his act together, get off the sauce, and take care of his arm, he can be dynamite as a closer or set-up guy. I'm really excited with what he brings to the table and its going to be fun to monitor his progress in the minors.

Ah yes. Much better. I was waiting for a new banner with Pierzynski. He's such a badass. The red and black makes us look streamlined and ready for action. Now, let's see what skin the boys decide to go with.

QUOTE(babybearhater @ Jan 23, 2005 -> 07:37 PM) R U serious?? you were born in 1988, you still live with your parents son. Its cool that all of you are friends because you spend all of your time on here, but coming in last minute and coming up with that?? Come on. IN fact you can tell me where you live in DG, I grew up there, and we can have a discussion about it if you still feel pretty tough. Threatening a board member...and a younger one at that. How classy. You are showing how tasteful you really are. Jesus...its just like :banghead

The Pats well on their way to another Superbowl. Belichick is a genius. If they win this Superbowl, he'll be remembered as one of the finest coaches the game has ever seen. Dynasty.

If this is has already been posted, please feel free to merge/delete. Guys, you do great work; really, you do. But...I'm not feeling the new banner. Nine times out of ten, I love the banner work; I'm just not feeling this one.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Jan 23, 2005 -> 05:57 PM) He was DFA'd by Anaheim... We picked him up because he didn't clear waivers. Um...cheat, don't you mean, NHL: Coming to an arena Near you in 2007?

I'm thrilled Vick got knocked out of the playoffs, absolutely thrilled. One down...one to go. Go Steelers.

You were really fishing for a new thread weren't you greasy?

Fick :puke :puke :puke

I'm so exicted with the aqusition of Bobby Jenks; the Halos really dropped the ball on this one. Where is he going to start the year and if he makes it to the bigs, is he a reliever or a starter?

QUOTE(qwerty @ Jan 23, 2005 -> 02:56 PM) Once that thread goes up, we should already know he was signed a couple days before. Ba-Zing. Levine has been pretty brutal lately (namely, Cora to the Indians).

The best. He'll be missed.

What a rude guest. It just comes and goes as it pleases, never saying hi...simply taking and leaving. Oh well.

QUOTE(WilliamTell @ Jan 23, 2005 -> 12:39 PM) lol we do have a lot of Iguchi threads but I hope it's all worth it in the end if we sign him. I was just thinking the same thing. I'm just waiting for the...Bruce Levine Reports, Sox Sign Iguchi I think its going to happen. All signs point toward Iguchi in Black and Silver.

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Jan 23, 2005 -> 11:27 AM) No one said it was going to happen or to even believe it. That's why I included the word "RUMOR" in the subject of the thread. Aren't you the same clown that asked why the Nelson thread was in the Pale Hose forum? At least that had something to do with Sox chatter and possible Sox outcomes. This has absolutely nothing to do with the White Sox. If you are going to post a TWINS/ASTROS RUMOR, I think that merits a spot in the SportsBar. Clown. :headshake

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jan 23, 2005 -> 09:52 AM) Tadahito would have a much better arm than Willie, and his range would probably be a little bit better. Not that I'm saying Willie's bad, I probably shouldn't have used the word major, but nevertheless, it's still an upgrade. Yikes. That kind of post will get you into trouble. Everyone knows how I feel about Willie, but truth is, he has fantastic range. He has one of the weakest arms I have ever seen in the bigs...but he has fantastic range. I don't know if we can make a blanket statement about Iguchi's range as an improvement; that remains to be seen.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jan 22, 2005 -> 01:27 PM) If Iguchi signs, Harris doesn't fit. Personally I do not want a pinch runner who's tentative on the basepaths. Perfect. Again, do our opinions matter? No. Do opinions of some of the members of the Sox organization that have fingered Harris as an attitude problem matter? Yes. ...and if the attitude problem alone doesn't merit a dump; if Iguchi signs we have no need for Harris and that is more than enough for me. Feelings aside, if Iguchi is brought in, the Sox truly have no spot for him except the bench; and how is Wee Willie supposed to mature as a baseball player and reach his "supposed" full potential riding the pine?

QUOTE(Chisoxmatt @ Jan 22, 2005 -> 01:09 PM) You act like he cant get any better. Do you honestly think he will only get 25 steals next year? He will definitely improve. Another thing, you have too high expectations for him- expecting him to steal 50 bases and turn into Juan pierre or Spod. This will be his 2nd year! I don't expect Harris to be either Pierre or Podsednik, but some around here talk about Willie like he'll develop into a prolific basestealer and I just don't see that happening. ...and as I've said in the past, if Harris rights the ship, I'll be the first in line to offer my congrats.