AddisonStSox

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Jan 6, 2005 -> 02:27 PM) :rolly It's quite simple what I stated. Let me break it down very....slowly.. for complete comprehension. All of the public interest in Iguchi, whether it's figures detailing our contract or articles discussing our interest, goes against Williams "flying under radar" mentality. Not that he has to publically state his intentions of signing Iguchi, for example, but interest in AJ is unquestionable. In the past, Williams has stated publically (believe me or not, because I cannot locate the link) in which he expresses dismay with AJ's agent releasing contract proposals. IMO, release of contract information is in stark contrast with Williams policy. Perhaps Kenny believes the public perception of our involvement may incline another organization to act. The release of contract information in the cases of both Iguchi and AJP have not come out of the Sox camp. AJP Information- AJP's agent Iguchi Information- Japanese Newspapers Thanks for playing. :headshake

QUOTE(3E8 @ Jan 6, 2005 -> 02:22 PM) Sounds to me like Iguchi wants AT VERY LEAST 2.3 million per year, which is what he was making in Japan. I'm not so sure this amount would be enough to lure him to the States, though. Good call. I would think he wouldn't leave the comfort of home for his current salary. In the States, he is a small fish in a big pond. In Japan, he is a superstar on the rise. I think this additonal $1M his agent is asking for will get the deal completed in a hurry. Its one mil Kenny, pull the trigger.

QUOTE(beck72 @ Jan 6, 2005 -> 02:14 PM) Ass wipe, someone was offended. Let it go. You bringing this s*** up again shows you to be a classless clown Classless clown? Um...I would have to award that to the guy that responds to a racial slur with a racial slur. Define irony.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Jan 6, 2005 -> 12:06 PM) Which may be correct, but I don't appreciate these negotiating tactics. Williams is acting as if we're the only suitors bidding for Iguchi. Publically, we are, but I'm bracing myself for another mystery club stealing Iguchi from our grasp. Our interest sure is a noticeable shift from Williams self appointed "flying under the radar" position. Personally, I find it's ridiculous to observe Mets and Boras debating millions/years, while White Sox are fretting over $600,000. I don't wish to be educated on the nuances of negotiations; just pay the amount to improve our ballclub. I'm so sick and tired of these posts. So, which is it? Do you want Kenny to inform the public on each and every move he makes? or do you want Kenny to fly entirely under the radar and ignore any comments made by other clubs? I don't get it. Kenny is operating as if the Sox are the only team pursuing Iguchi? How is that any different from any of his other "radar" tactics? If he were to go out and say he was in a bidding war with another team, then, everybody would jump off a cliff because we couldn't win a bidding war. But, if Kenny acts as if we are the only ones interested in a player, or shows any form of mild interest, everyone yells "radar." Right now, Kenny is negotiating with both AJP and Iguchi. He has gone public with one (possibily two) of his offers and has shown the Sox faithful that he is very serious about these two players. What more can we ask of him?

I think negotiations are pretty par for the course right now. Don't anybody get too worked up over articles like these. The Sox have officialy offered $2m...ok...that doesn't mean we won't make the jump up to $3M. Now, onto the jap second baseman. I haven't been shown anything to believe negotiations have ended/slowed down. I think Kenny has just as good a shot at both AJP and Iguchi now as ever. ...and for the goof that went ballistic over the "racial slur"...gimme a f***ing break.

QUOTE(SoxFan562004 @ Jan 5, 2005 -> 12:21 PM) Sorry if this has been posted, but since I last heard WSCR just quoting the NY Post article they are now saying the Sox are saying they are still talking to Iguchi's agent, AJ's as well AJ is supposed to be signed by week's end, so I'm assuming something is in the works. Hopefully its simply a matter of numbers at this point; for some strange reason, I really have the feeling that Kenny will be annoucing the signing of AJP this week. As for Iguchi, the last time I heard a report on a formal contract offer, the Sox were negotiating around that third year. If Kenny signs one of these guys I'll be thrilled. If he signs both, I'll go crazy. We could have one of the most solid teams in the AL, barring any injury.

Alright, who's going? I'm headed out to my lake house today to hit the slopes at the mighty Wilmont Mountain. Do we have any die-hard skiiers in the house? This is trip #1 of the season for me, so I can't wait. Ye-ha!

QUOTE(beck72 @ Jan 5, 2005 -> 11:53 AM) Harris is not best suited for the #2 spot. #9 this yr, leadoff maybe someday. But with a SLG under his OBP, he'd never sniff the #2 spot. The #2 guy has to have some pop in his bat. Ugh'. Give it to f***ing Iguchi. Uribe ain't a two hitter either, watch the ugly hacks this guy takes. Rowand, #2 spot!? Please. Aaron is not a two hitter. Aaron needs to bat down in the order, anywhere from 3-6. If Aaron is put in the #2 spot to start the year, I'll be really disapointed. Podsednik leads off the game with a bloop single into RF. Podsednik steals second on a 2-2 slider. Iguchi sac bunts Podsednik over to third (One out). Paulie/Aaron/Frank hits a deep fly to RF, Podsednik tags up, 1-0 Sox. Thats what I want to see in 2005; much like the Marlins of 2002-2004.

Truthfully, we don't have a true #2 hitter on this team. Rowand-Power/Doubles hitter. Although he had a nice avg. and obp last season, Aaron is better suited to hit fifth or sixth. He doesn't hit behind the runner and he can't lay down a bunt. Uribe-Nope. Juan is far too inconsistant to hit in the two slot. Although he'll be red-hot for a week or two at a time, he slumps with the worst of em'. He takes nasty hacks and swings from the heels. Harris-Its a shame this bastard can't play everyday. Harris is the Sox best suited for the two hole, but unfortunately, he can't hit consistently or lay down a bunt. Besides, once he gets on base, he refuses to use his god-given speed and steal a base. 11 stolen bases? Ouch. I suppose Iguchi would be the proper choice for the two hole. He sounds like a 20HR/20SB guy and according to reports, can lay down a bunt. Give him a shot in ST, and if he can cut it, its his spot to lose.

Not a snowball's chance in hell Beltran signs with the Cubs. Both the Astros and the Mets are going to dwarf that offer. The Mets have just offered an introductory offer of 7 years, $100M. Can't get em' all Hendry. :fthecubs :sosasucks

My thoughts... The NY Post may have included this blurb just because the Yankees have shown interest in Iguchi at some point. If they got reports that King George and Co. no longer wanted Iguchi (per the signing of Womack), they probably felt responsible for informing the fans where Iguchi may be headed. I would bet, us here at Soxtalk know just as much about Iguchi signing with the Sox as the Post does. As for the Nen interest? Meh. Two targets: AJP, Iguchi...make it happen Kenny.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jan 4, 2005 -> 06:30 PM) Peanuts is looking into putting it on draught. Somebody wrote them a letter with the suggestion. I'm trying to figure out who else would be in play for AJP. Dodgers are getting that young catcher from NYY via the Dbacks, I don't think any of the smaller market teams will pony up, nor do I think he'd be as interested. He's used to playing with contending teams. As for infield, Cairo, Cora, Iguchi still out there. I'm hoping for two, you know what I'm sayin'. Well, I have yet to read what other teams have shown interest or, more importantly, offered contracts. For all we know, we might be in an AJP race against ourself. I haven't read the names of ANY one team in specific that has shown interest besides the Sox. I'm really thinking we have the best shot at AJP. Hopefully Kenny can get it done this week. As for the middle infield, I'm expecting Alex Cora. Cora would be a great fit to platoon beside s***-head and the you know Kenny is going to give him a long, hard look because of the brother-discount. Cora in Black and Silver is a great possibility, in my opinion, better than Iguchi.

Bring it on!!! Ye-ha bring it on!!! I'm skiing the mighty slopes of Wilmont Mountain tomorrow! The more, the merrier.

QUOTE(redandwhite @ Jan 4, 2005 -> 04:55 PM) I don't care how overblown it is. There is no reason for Timo to be making what hes making nor is there any reason for him to even be in the major leagues. As has been said, he would be lucky to tag along with any team, no less a team that will be vying for a World Series crown. Again, I don't mind him on this team but if it means signing Pierzynski, I am quite upset. So all I ask for is your opinion on why you "completely disagree." Wait a minute Red... so you're telling me his "clutch" factor isn't enough to justify a roster spot? Jeesh, you're really missing the point here. He's clutch, he plays average defense and he has a fun name, what other reasons do we need to justify paying $1M for a 2nd or 3rd OF off the bench.

Ugh'. OF: Podsednik, Rowand, Dye, Escobar, Everett, Gload, Burke, Perez IF: Crede, Uribe, Harris, Konerko...um...Valdez? Big Frank? Who starts if someone goes down in the infield? Say Uribe tears his ACL, who are you going to field at shortstop? Valdez? Ok. Then you have an infield of Crede, Valdez, Willie f***ing Harris, and Paulie? Ouch. We need help in the infield. We do not need help in the outfield. Perez is expendable. I'd love to see him traded for an arm or a middle infielder. However, while he is a member of the Sox, I'll root just as hard for him as always.

QUOTE(Sanjay2000 @ Jan 4, 2005 -> 01:50 PM) What is with all the Timo bashing? He was one of our best hitters with runners in scoring position last year and with games on the line, he consistently has the best at-bats out of any one on the team. You guys mentioned the Anaheim game when he hit the triple off of Rodriguez, but what about the Florida game in which he hit the game tying homer off of Armando Benitez, a 7 million dollar closer, in the ninth inning to tie a game that we eventually went on to win. HE CONSISTENTLY HAS EXCELLENT AT BATS AGAINST SOME OF THE BEST PITCHERS IN BASEBALL. Timo brings something to the table that other bench guys cannot, not only in his clutch hitting, but in his bat control. He can hit the ball exactly where he WANTS to hit the ball and can move runners along as well. Is Timo worth 1 million dollars? Maybe he is slightly overpriced...but Neifi Perez of the Chicago Cubs is also making a million dollars so there are other similarly priced contracts out there. I am sure if Kenny Williams tried to trade Timo right now, there would be some teams surely displaying interest in him. With a bench of Timo, Everett, Gload, and Burke, the White Sox have one of the deepest benches in the league to go along with an excellent bullpen and a much improved pitching staff. Timo is an essential part of this. Many of us feel Timo's contract/presence will hurt the club in the long run. We have an outfield of Podsednik, Rowand, Dye. We have Escobar, Gload, and Borchard off the bench and we have Anderson and Sweeny only a few years away. Why have Timo? Why? Was: "C'mon Timo, C'mon Timo, C'mon Timo" fun? Yes. If we miss out on either AJP or Iguchi because of this guy's contract will Timo backers continue to sing his prasies? I dunno. He'll produce for your ballclub, but we have other needs.

Well, if the market drives up the price on one of these guys, who would you all rather see Kenny overpay/sign to a good contract? Personally, I think AJP is the guy to pull out all the stops for. Yes, he has an attitude problem. Who cares!? This will be his first year in our clubhouse and it will be a new beginning. Ozzie runs a tight ship and I have a feeling AJP will be a fan favorite in two months time. This guy comes to play everyday. He really is a hard-nosed grinder. More importantly, he'll probably provide more offense than Iguchi. If Kenny had to gamble on a guy that has been with three clubs in three years or a thirty year old Japanese second basemen, I say gamble on AJP. Would I love to see both guys in Black and Silver? Yes. Will it happen? Meh. Lets hope Shingo's words mean a lot in terms of recruiting Iguchi and signing him to a resonable contract. If Kenny signs both of these guys, he gets an A on this off-season. Hands down. No questions asked.

The game against Houston sealed his fate. You give the ball to Jones for 10 carries, about 55 rushing yards, he fumbles, and then you give him about 7 touches for the rest of the game? What!? Although Shea isn't the sole reason why the Bears offense failed so miserably this season, he had to go. The Bears can't risk a second year with a guy the players/fans/coaching staff have no faith in. Good move by the Bears brass. Now, go get me Norm Chow.

Talk to me during spring training.

Damn you Baby Boomers!!! By the time I'm ready to recieve Social Security the well is going to be dry. I'll let Chuck take this one...

Dan Pasqua Jose Canseco Chris Singleton Todd Ritchie George Bell

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Jan 4, 2005 -> 12:01 PM) Just because a player wants something doesn't mean the Sox should just lay down and give it to them. I don't recall anyone saying that. My memory fails me in my old age. Just an update on negotiations.

QUOTE(A.J. @ Jan 3, 2005 -> 09:05 PM) The episode with the "cubans" was good. Wow. What happened with this guy? Talk about sour grapes.

Before we start slitting our collective wrists, it is important to note Levine said AJP is currently "mulling" over the Sox offer. I think the negotiations are pretty par for the course right now and I wouldn't read too deeply into these things. Maybe the Sox offer is the best/only one AJP has received, I don't know.

ESPN Radio 1000's Bruce Levine reports... -AJP wants a $3M per year deal; the Sox offer is less than $3M. -30 year old Japanesse 2B Iguchi is looking for a three year contract; the Sox have not offered him a third year at this point. Wow. Typical Sox practices. At this point, I'm hoping Kenny can snag at least one of those guys.