AddisonStSox

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 29, 2005 -> 10:22 AM) The olympics are a bad idea? I'd be curious to hear more about that. Are you quite sure of all the Olympics in Chicago would entail?

Per WhiteSox.com's Notes Article: Link In best Ken Harrelson voice: I looove Kenny Williams. Those worried about Williams making too many changes to a championship roster can now rest a little easier; these reamining roster positions look to be filled from within the organization. As I was predicting/hoping for, not only will Joe Borchard be given every opportunity to compete for a fourth outfielder's roster spot, the left-handed vacancy created by Damaso Marte's departure will sure enough be filled via a competition of sorts in ST. Although I haven't heard Williams and co. comment on Reynoso, I think that's the guy they've fingered as taking that spot. They seem to be awfully high on him and although they say he'll be competing with Munoz and some Minor League free agents, I think he'll be the guy. Also, anyone else get notion Ross Gload fell out of favor with this organization? If I had to guess: Fourth OF: Borchard Long-Man: McCarthy LHRP: Reynoso Thoughts?

F the Olympics and F a second NFL franchise; both are absolutely horrible ideas for the city of Chicago. Keep both as far away from my city as possible. ...a second NFL franchise in this city is absolutely laughable.

I'll just go on record with my official stance on the issue right now: Keep Jose Contreras for the entire 2006 season and give it an honest go with all six starting pitchers on the roster. If given the option of signing either Garland or Contreras to an extension, I, too, would have inked Garland. I just get the feeling that Williams and Hahn laid it out in front of both Contreras and Garland and said we are looking to lock up either one or both of you--in so many words--to extensions this off-season and if we're unable to, we have to look to the future and look to the best interests of the ball club; it would appear Garland came around and now Contreras is on the outside looking in. What it comes down to is this: if the Sox are looking for a repeat World Championship, a roster with all six starting pitchers--one in which McCarthy once again fills a sixth/spot-starter/long-man role--gives us the best chance. Inking the younger of the two pitchers allows the Sox to keep both Garland and Contreras in 2006 without putting the starting rotation of the future in jeopardy. Williams was all about cost certainty and he got it. Keep Contreras. Keep McCarthy in the bullpen until needed for a spot-start--he's developed, this will not hurt any further development. Keep Garland. Once again, Williams finds himself in the cat-bird's seat. I thought it was nearly impossible to do given the current state of the starting pitcher's market and the contractual status of both Garland and Contreras, but, he's done it once again. Essentially, you've swapped the 58-year-old El Duque with Javier Vazquez...incredible.

I'll just quit on this note, the one certainty this signing does grant is the ability to give it another go in 2006 with all six pitchers on the roster without hurting the club in the long-term. Now that Garland is locked up at what Williams, Hahn, and co. figure to be market-price, they can keep Contreras during his walk year--a year known for increased effort/production--and have McCarthy as that sixth/spot-starter once again in 2006. If I were the Sox and I was worried that McCarthy wouldn't be happy with another year in Charlotte or a long-man type role with the ML club, I'd say tough s*** and, "listen, at least one of these starters is projected to need some time on the shelf given all the innings pitched in 2005, this World Baseball who-ha, etc. and you will be given a handful of starts in 2006 with a vacated spot just waiting for you in 2007."

QUOTE(WCSox @ Dec 28, 2005 -> 02:57 PM) Unfortunately, the "younger demographic" doesn't watch news as much as adults. That's why Fox is destroying MSNBC in the ratings. IIRC, the 4 AM (ET) re-airing of O'Reilly was out-drawing the primetime airing of Countdown something like 40% of the time last month. Liberal news commentary doesn't draw ratings. Air America's rating vs. those of Rush, Hannity, etc. clearly show that. If MSNBC wants ratings, they're going to have to feature more conservatives. That would include featuring Scarbrough. Was it MSNBC or CNBC that picked up Tucker Carlson recently? He could be an asset to them as well. This: we are in perfect agreement with.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Dec 28, 2005 -> 04:57 PM) Why? We're going to have McCarthy for the next five-six years at a minimal salary, and the Sox are going to need that somewhere on the team -- good production for little price. We're not the Yankees just yet -- we can't afford to be paying each guy in the rotation eight figures... you just can't do that. Your Kip Wells comparison, BTW, sucks. B-Mac reached the big leauges a full years sooner than Wells, averaged about a full three more K's/9 than Wells in the minors, walked two less guys than Wells per nine, and had an ERA a half a run lower than Wells'. Apples and oranges, really... Hey! Keith! You take your logic and you get the F outta here!

QUOTE(WCSox @ Dec 28, 2005 -> 04:48 PM) Sure, but he's only piched 67 major-league innings. I'm pleased with the results thus far, but I think it's premature to say that he's "proven" anything. Remember when Kip Wells first came up in September of '99 and went 4-1/4.04? That turned into 6-9/6.02 the following year. If the Sox decided to trade any of their starting pitchers, McCarthy should be the one to go. And unless they could get someone like Tejada in the deal, I wouldn't be terribly happy about it. This just floors me. The White Sox are X amount of dollars over budget. The White Sox are known to want to get the payroll somewhere around Y. Well, one logical course of action suggests the trading of the youngest, cheapest and most controlled (contractually) of the starters and presumably some prospects for someone with one of the higher contracts in all of baseball. Yes. We're getting closer.

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Dec 28, 2005 -> 03:46 PM) With respect to the Garland camp which players on the White Sox have the best opportunity for endorsements both locally & nationally? Is it unreasonable to suggest that Jon can make between $5-6M a yr in endorsments by staying with the CWS over the next 3 yrs? The White Sox would like nothing better than to strike a dagger in the heart of Cubbydom by promoting Garland as the poster child for the team. You have to be s***ting me, right? The only endorsment I was even aware of by a member of the White Sox last year was a Nike promotion with Pierzynski. You're telling me Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jon Garland is going to make up to $6M in endorsments? Make Garland the poster boy for this team and strike a dagger in the Tribune Co.? I can't be reading this right.

I still can't quite grasp this signing from the Garland Camp's point of view. Even if Jon were to have another 12-14 win season, the chances of him signing a contract over two-three years would be a near certainty. He would have hit the market at what would seem a much more desirable 26 or 27 years of age rather than the standard 29 mark and would have been rewarded as such. Hrmph. /shrug

QUOTE(WCSox @ Dec 28, 2005 -> 02:42 PM) Seriously. He really has nothing to lose. He knew the situation at MSNBC was in when he took the position and I think his run at CNN began hinting at the direction he was looking to take the channel. Obviously, it didn't work out for him at CNN--and the ratings will show as much--but, MSNBC is doing all the right things. As a member of this newly-targeted, younger demographic, MSNBC is far more appealing either Fox or CNN.

I actually spoke with the head of MSNBC, Rick Kaplan, quite a bit over the past few months and they really think they have the nucleus in place to be considered the country's premier cable news channel. I tend to agree with him. I'm finding myself watching MSNBC and only MSNBC recently and I really enjoy the network and all their talking heads. It'll be interesting to say the least.

We'd be foolish to even conjecture as to what Williams, Hahn, and Hemond have in store for the remainder of this off-season. I'm considering not making another post until opening day.

Anyone else forget about Jim Friggin' Thome? He's going to be a blast. I can't wait to watch him put on the Silver and Black and watch him over the course of an entire season. Also, the White Sox's off-season is far from over. It's awfully difficult to grade something that isn't completed in its entirety.

QUOTE(Mplssoxfan @ Dec 27, 2005 -> 03:06 PM) Maybe this guy needs a date! Props on the reference, and even more props for finding his picture. That movie is brilliant...and stop calling me "surely."

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Dec 27, 2005 -> 03:12 PM) What is Brokeback Mountain even about? Two gay cowboys eating pudding.

According to both easports.com and gamestop.com, shipping will start as early as Jan. 17, 2006. I'll be placing a pre-order for $29.99, will you?

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 27, 2005 -> 02:03 PM) If Anderson, Sweeney, and Owens are anywhere near as good as the Sox think they will be, Rowand can come back as a reserve. Obviously, things happen over the course of a season or 2 or 3. I wouldn't read too much into the conversation JR had with him. It appears he is just thanking him for his service, and basically saying stranger things have happened than his returning some day. Basically telling Rowand it was nothing he did that got him traded, they just thought Thome was a bigger need. I'd say that sounds pretty accurate. Now, I don't know if this is common procedure or not, but, from what I've heard, the organization went out of their way to tell Aaron that he's not only welcomed back, but, they might try to acquire him sooner rather than later. Again, this could all just be positive spin for a guy going through a pretty rough time, both in the game of baseball and out. I just liked hearing the door was open. If Everett and Alomar are any indication of Kenny bringing back players he feels strongly for, there is no reason to believe Rowand's name won't be brought up given the right situation.

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Dec 27, 2005 -> 10:28 AM) but the question worth answering is this: Are you willing to eat your hat over it? I have no idea whether or not the deal will get done; however, if the deal is made, I believe the Cubs would be getting the best of said deal.

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Dec 27, 2005 -> 10:06 AM) Michael Ogulnik and Bryan Dolgin are reporting that Jim Hendry has made a "definitive" offer of Prior, Patterson, and Rich Hill for Bedard and Tejada. Ogulnik has been reporting that since he heard of the rumor, he bleeds cubbie blue. I've heard the same report, and, let me just go on record as saying the Cubs would be coming up aces in this deal.

Quite a bit. Favorite was the Bose SoundDock System.

Well, we hooked up with a family member very close to Aaron and the Rowand Camp over Christmas and he said a friend/source of his close to Aaron has said the White Sox expressed interest to re-acquire Aaron in the future via trade, possibly as early as this season's trade-deadline given the situations of both the Sox and the Phillies. Also, everything Aaron said to the media regarding his relationship with the White Sox is right on. He has no ill will towards Williams or the organization and although he was really depressed by the whole situation, he understands it's a business and hopes to come back one day. So, this is certainly not anything Earth-shattering, but, I figured we'd have enough folks interested and this might give the Aaron fans something to hold on to. Happy Holidays, all.

Win, lose, or draw, we get to sit back, relax and watch our Bears on Christmas Day. This is just the best. My Prediction: Pain.

Merry Christmas, Soxtalk! What a year. As the Cubs fans in their Cubs footy-pajamas ran down the stairs, opened up their gifts, and realized there would be no World Championship swag under the tree for many, many years to come, my Christmas joy increased tenfold. Merry Christmas, indeed.

Ron Turner is an exceptional play-caller. After getting acclimated to the NFL game, once again, I'm quite confident he has all the tools necessary to be a successful coordinator at the professional level. Give Turner a quarterback...a real quarterback...and then judge.