SouthSideScraper

Now for all of the Paulie haters on this site. For the record, I have not posted on this site for months as a result of some of the opinions expressed here. Not that anyone isn't entitled to their own opinion, but some of them are just plain stupid. Of course there are more good than bad but I digress. I'm sure I'll get the inevitable smartass reply that I should not post again. Expected and tasteless. I have been preaching Paulie since I joined this site and there have been supporters and many a nay-sayer. Well nay-sayers, kiss Paulie's slow moving, home run hitting, league envied ass! Big teams want him and will pay big to get him. Here's where Paulie's loyalty comes into play. And as the article said, you pointed out all of his negativities and short-comings out but now probably don't. When it comes time to re-sign or have him leave the nay-sayers will be at it again. Instead of praising him you burn him down. I can't wait to see those stat monkey's posting his OPS compared to other 1st basemen and their current salaries. A player is worth more than his stats. It's what he accomplishes for his team. In this case, leading them to a series. He deserves a big contract and more time with the Sox. More he deserves respect. He wants to stay so let him. He's done a ton for this team.....Many of you were against me wanting to wrap him up. It's all on Frank Thomas and Magglio you said. I laugh.

Yeah..... Whoops. And I thought I had a catchy, albeit cliche, topic name. Ahhhh well. Least I had a chance to gripe. I looked at the rest of the topics and didn't see that one...must've missed it.

Magglio "Cashlio" Ordonez is full of s***. For those who have not, check out the following tidbit from ESPN.com - Instead of playing his former team for the first time, Ordonez traveled back to Detroit from Montreal after seeing a hernia specialist, who could not conclude that Ordonez has a hernia. Ordonez said missing the game against the White Sox didn't add to his misery. "I just want to play against anybody," Ordonez said in Detroit's clubhouse after the game. Ordonez is scheduled to be examined by doctors in Michigan on Thursday and to visit another hernia specialist Monday in Philadelphia. He is 0-for-10 in three games after signing a $75 million, five-year contract. DOESN'T HAVE A HERNIA? NO KIDDING!! C'mon Maggs...We're not buying it. Now he's going to see other specialists. Right, like they're going to find anything. Sorry Magg's, you're knee was for s***. You denied it. Wouldn't let the Sox take a look at you. Promised that you were tip-top. Down talked the Sox for not giving you your just desserts by not offerong you the big contact that you had already turned down. Down talking them for not trusting you, after all, look at all you did for them. And now, you're knee is hurting you and you're saying that it's a phantom hernia. Hell, I got a hernia just laughing at your bulls***. I'm glad Maggs is gone. Good riddance.

That. Was. Queer.

I miss Carlos, but lets not forget the bitter rivalry between the Sox and the Brew Crew. I hated the Brewers and not much has changed with me since they went to the National league. And his little tough guy attitude when he was beaned in the preseason left a sour taste in my mouth. I appreciate all he did for our club, but now he's out. As far as I'm concerned, he's the enemy. I'll raise my glass to Podsednik.

QUOTE(soxman352000 @ Apr 10, 2005 -> 10:39 PM) Still a b**** in my book Soxman, that was poetry.

Awww, I still want to see him take a fast ball in the ribs. All the ass kissing in the world isn't going to make up for the schalacking he gave Burke. Ok, so I'm still sore about it. But since a good dose of revenge was never given to him, I'm holding on him. Until he takes a shot I'm not giving him any props.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Apr 10, 2005 -> 09:59 PM) I'm sure you guys caught this. They talked to Ozzie during Sunday night's game and they said 'Mark B. is really underrated outside of Chicago'. Ozzie replied, 'well that's because he plays for the White Sox and not your Red Sox'. Those 2 clowns seemed stunned, THAT WAS AWESOME. Nope, missed it. Damn. Sure would have liked to have caught it though.

Let's not forget the rest of the team. It takes a team to win a game and a team to lose a game. The guys who want to point a finger at any one player are sounding a lot like Chub fans blaming Bartman for their loss a couple years ago. Excuses and finger pointing are a Northside traits, lets try to keep it off of this forum. If the rest of the team would have stepped up offensively, not struck out so much and scored some runs it would have been a different ball game. Point is we just didn't do it today. Crede isn't all to blame nor is Burhle. They share it with the rest of the club.

And the damn thing says in bright bold letters...2004 salaries. Duh. Well, I still think Paulie is worth 9 million for three years.

QUOTE(SouthSideScraper @ Mar 15, 2005 -> 02:03 AM) Whoops. I was looking at the espn.com salaries for the ball club. I guess that's what he made last year. I agree that Paulie isn't worth more than 9million. I don't think that he'll ask for more in order to stick around, but ball players get funny when it comes to cash. I hope he stays, and doesn't get to big for his britches. And as for BMac. I hope he's as good as we're all hoping. Lord knows we could use him. I'm not down talking him, I'm just saying lets see how the hitters handle him during the season. Here's what I was seeing- PLAYER SALARY (US$) 1. Jermaine Dye 11,666,667 2. Jose Contreras 9,000,000 3. Paul Konerko 8,000,000 4. Freddy Garcia 6,875,000 5. Frank Thomas 6,000,000 etc.... My bad.

Whoops. I was looking at the espn.com salaries for the ball club. I guess that's what he made last year. I agree that Paulie isn't worth more than 9million. I don't think that he'll ask for more in order to stick around, but ball players get funny when it comes to cash. I hope he stays, and doesn't get to big for his britches. And as for BMac. I hope he's as good as we're all hoping. Lord knows we could use him. I'm not down talking him, I'm just saying lets see how the hitters handle him during the season.

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Mar 14, 2005 -> 09:47 PM) Playing for a contender usually is enough to change a player's mind. As I have done in this thread KW can easily sell Vazquez on the future potential of the White Sox. Koney fans are ignoring his road numbers. They are awful. He hit 239 on the road last year & his career #'s are not much better. Add to that the fact he is clearly a 1-dim player & it makes no sense to commit 8-9M/yr over 4 yrs to Koney. Based on the off-season deals it makes no sense for Koney to accept anything less than a 4-5yr deal. I agree out of loyalty to Koney the Sox should at least offer him a 3yr deal. Even if they overpay a little on it. [ Funny, We have the same guy naysaying Paulie but praising BMac. There's something wrong with that picture. Fine, Paulie has some work to do on his road games. But he's proven to be good and should be expected to do better, and in fact can. BMac has pitched one preseason game and you're already giving him a starting position in '07. Come on. Horse before the cart. And another thing...If Dye is getting paid over 11million, then Paulie isn't over paid at 9million. We wouldn't be overpaying him, we'd be giving a solid middle hitter and good fielder what he's worth to the club. Slow yes, but last year he didn't get into any slumps and just plugged along, nor did he have any glaring errors. If you're Looking into the future to say that BMac is going to be a great pitcher in '07 off one preseason game, then there is no arguing that Pauly is worth his salt and should be offered a three year deal.

QUOTE(WSFAN35 @ Jan 30, 2005 -> 10:56 AM) Players say that, and then when it comes time to cash in, they sing a different tune. Don't respond to a post without reading it correctly first, and don't call someone a prick for pointing out that you misread it. First you said that Millar wouldn't come to the White Sox. Now your saying that he won't fit because of his lack of power numbers, but you said if Konerko's asking too much it'll be Gload in at first. I don't know how that works out. With Millar, you sacrifice some home runs, but your saving money for another hole. Besides, Millar's RBI numbers are skewed because he had some major RBI producers in front of him. It occurs to me, you called me a fool. I was merely retorting. Prick. And besides. Millar is out. Give it a rest chief.

I'm not flat wrong. I was talking about the trend that started in 2001. I was using 2000 as a point of reference. How many times do I need to post his numbers. This is not a one time occurance if he has had two seperate injuries that led to him ending a season prematurely and causing him to have an off year the following season. If it takes the rest of one year or most of the following year for him to heal, then we're not going to see the Frank we know and love until either sometime in September, or next season. He doesn't bounce back. Look....I have nothing against Frank Thomas. Nothing, I'm just trying to justify spending the kind of money he's going to want if he has a ad year this year. Both season ending injuries led to off years. If 2005 follows this trend, do the Sox really want to spend the money on him or do they want to look at what else they can get? There are some true blue Frank Thomas fans on this thread. Jeeze. And lets not bring Fisk into this. Him and Riensdorf hated each other. That is a whole other ball of wax.

QUOTE(Punch and Judy Garland @ Jan 30, 2005 -> 01:21 AM) Why do you think that all of the sudden Frank isn't goign to hit? I mean, I guess it's possible but I don't see any evidence that would lead me to believe that. Franks is not really that old, and has plenty of good baseball left in him. After the Sox embarassing treatment of Carlton Fisk, I think the Sox will be better with Frank. I do wish that KW would get off his case a little bit this year. Frank has been portrayed as a much worse guy/athlete than he really is. The evidence is that since 2000, after he has been injured, he comes back to less than stellar numbers. Well, numbers that would be considered stellar by Thomas' standards.... He has been injured three times, and each season after he has needed a season to recover to come back to his usual numbers. I'm saying that this last season and now his questionable return for the beginning of the season are against him. He's 37 years old and NOT juiced. How much longer do you think he has? I'm not questioning his ability nor his numbers. I'm questioning his ability to stay healthy and produce consistently from here on in and the cost of it all. Where does loyalty and past production and furture production and health even out? If can't get back to his numbers this season and stay healthy, then I think it's time for a change in the DH spot.

I don't want to lose Thomas. Not at all. I want him to retire a White Sock. He has been a great hitter and has more left in him, but he's going to want good money and he may not be worth it in the end.....Let's not get stuck in a spot with him like the Chubs are with Sosa. I don't want to be stuck in a large contract with a has been ball player.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Jan 30, 2005 -> 12:39 AM) FA's who post >.900 OPS get 10M or more.... anyone who thinks that frank is not worth that is misguided and just plain wrong. I think the most important stat you left off is the fact that most of those players have only been around half the time Thomas has, not to mention even worth comparing to Thomas....you're comparing a career with newer players. Some who have a chance to be better and some who will never even come close. I'm not dissagreeing with anyone that Thomas isn't a good ball player, but every ball player loses it. This is the last year on his contract. He has shown that he can't get back in the saddle after a season ending injury until the following season. Do you really think that the White Sox will want to have Thomas back if he doesn't produce this season? Let's just give him a deal because of what he has for us in the past? I could put any number of ball players stats down and make them look good. But when you're talking about coughing up a good sized chunk o' change for a ball player who is aging and injury prone, you have to start thinking about said players future. The only people who are misguided are those who think that a rookie in 1990 is going to play as well as he has in 2005 and beyond after he has been on again off again with injuries for the past four seasons. I love those 40+ homer seasons, but despise the 18-20something seasons in between. Just because a player has great numbers doesn't mean they last - Someone has a quote on this forum that goes something like... "Stats are like bikini's, they show most it, but not all of it."

QUOTE(Punch and Judy Garland @ Jan 29, 2005 -> 11:10 PM) I think Frank can still hit at a high level. I think, as is, he is a better hitter than Paul. This is not just out of sentimentality either. As for defense, we have to play a DH every game. Ask Texas how much it sucks to not have a great hitting DH. I agree that Frank can still hit at a high level, but as history shows, Thomas needs a season to get back into the game. As I stated in an earlier post... In 2000 he hit 43 dingers, then due to injury hit only 4 in 2001. In 2002 he had 28 dingers and in 2003 he was back in the saddle with 42. Then comes 2004 with only 18. Half the season played due to injury. Maybe he comes back this season and hits 25 homers with 80 RBI's...Then he get's back into the swing in 2006? I'm not sure that his past production is worth waiting that long. He needs to get back on his feet quicker than that...But again, he not getting any younger. I like Thomas, I really do..... I can do with out his cry baby antics to the media when it comes time to discuss his contract, but I like him for what he has accomplished. However, if he needs two seasons to comeback after an injury, then we can pick someone else up or use who we have to fill the spot. Gload can play first base easily enough, and that leaves Konerko and Everett to fill in at DH. I think the DH should be outlawed, but that's for another post - Point is, Thomas is at the end of his tenure as the 'hot hitter' for the Sox. He's getting older and is injury prone, and we have some younger guys who can easily fill the void. Do the Sox really want to keep him for the kind of money he wants? I don't know, but it doesn't seem likely to me.

QUOTE(Punch and Judy Garland @ Jan 29, 2005 -> 08:37 PM) I would disagree with oyu on this. I'd much rather have the Hurt than Konerko. Frank is one of the bet hitters to ever play the game, still can hit at a high level, and deserves to finish his career where it started. Nonesense. It's not what you did for me yesterday, but what you do for me today. The last couple of seasons have been injury prone for Thomas, and he isn't the spring chicken he used to be. I have nothing but respect for what he has done for the club and he is argueably the best hitter of the 90's, but my loyaty isn't in the 90's. Konerko is younger and prooved that he can fill Thomas' ugly shoes...(remember those ugly black and white striped numbers?) I agree that Thomas is still a big danger at the plate and can put up some serious numbers, and I agree that he still has time in him to do so, but alas we are at the start of yet another season where he will be coming back from a short season ended by injury. In 2000 he hit 43 dingers, then due to injury hit only 4 in 2001. In 2002 he had 28 dingers and in 2003 he was back in the saddle with 42. Then comes 2004 with only 18. He played half a season. Now what are we to expect? He can hit, but if he keeps getting injured, then all we can expect is more of the same. I would prefer to keep Konerko. Thomas does deserve the loyalty to finish his career here, but not at the expense of losing Konerko.

QUOTE(WSFAN35 @ Jan 29, 2005 -> 08:07 PM) I thought I made them pretty clear when I said Millar was available at the end of the year, Prick. Why wouldn't Millar come to Chicago if we offered him more than Boston? Well, forgive my mis-reading. I love the mudslinging on this forum....especially the stuff handed out by a 21yr old kid. Ah well. Name calling aside..... Millar is out.....18hr's and 74 RBI's isn't what I'd like in a replacement at first....I don't think the Sox will either. .297 BA is good, but I'd like more run production. And we're going to need some kind of power production on the team....Especially if Thomas doesn't get back into swing. Then there's Crede who needs to cowboy up as well. Dye remains to be seen. Point is we know Konerko can. And if Paulie takes a paycut to stick with, then fantastic. It only prooves that he's stand-up....or that he knows his future is tentative due to his hip and wants to make sure he has a home. Either way, I love the guy and hope he sticks around for a while.

Ah. Well, clarify your comments. Prick. Besides. Fat chance. MIllar isn't coming to Chicago. If it isn't Konerko, it'll be Gload. I like Gload as a bench guy, but not a replacement for Paulie.

Millar already signed with the Red Sox. We have seen Konerko's faults, none worse than his speed. But again, I bging up Edgar Martinez. He was a station to station runner, but still knocked the hell out of the ball. I'm not saying that Paulie is Edgar Martinez, but in the end, that's where he'll be. DH. And I think he'll do well there. However, he is still a good fielder so let's not cut him down too much. We need him for at least another three or four years. After that, who's to say. Point is, their are a lot of young guys on the team who will need some lkeadership....True we have a pretty cool coaching staff, but they're going to need someone on their side. Konerko will give them that. Ckubhouse leadership notwithstanding, the guy produces. SOmeone had stated that when Thomas is hot, it trickles to the rest of the team....Konerko had the same effect. SO did Lee and Magglio. Truth is, when a player is kicking ass, it motivates everyone else to produce as well. No one wants to see a player do such hard work for nothing. Konerko is good for over 30 homers and 100 RBI's. SOme players never reach those numbers in a 20yr career. Those kind of numbers don't hurt a team, they help. And I'm not just talking homers. We need guys who can get on base. Imagine Paulies RBI's if the guys in front of him could get on base. This is going to be a great year for him if our lead off guys do their job. We're lokking at a potentially great season. Not just individually, but as a team. Konerko is a key piece to the Play-Off puzzle. Lets make sure he gets there with us and not against us. Lets hold on to him for the next three or four years and get the good years of his career. He's only 28 or 29. He's young yet and finally came into his own. He'll level off with pay....He knows he's not Barry Bonds, so he's not going to be asking for Barry Bonds money. But he can play and produce and that makes him worth while.

Whoops, did I say 15-20.....25-30 sounds better. I had two thoughts going at once. No one owuld take that much of a pay cut for any reason. I say Konerko is a good man...not a stupid one.

I see a lot of talk about Thomas needing to produce. This is true, but now that Konerko has reached the 40 homer level, Thomas isn;t the only feared hitter in the club. But Konerko and Thomas aside, I agree 100% that it has to be Crede on offense and Contreras on defense. We know that when Thomas and Konerko get hot, that it seems to affect everyone, but Crede has great potential. If he could find his swing, then that's when the fireworks start. If he hadn't dragged ass last season, it could have been an entirely different team. At times last season, Konerko was carrying the team. That's just unacceptable. No one player should be counted on. Having added all of the new talent this year, we have excellent chances, but we also need to worry about the old talent. Crede fills the spot at third quite nicely. Hell, the best since Robin Ventura, but he needs to concentrate on his hitting this spring. Contreras on the other hand is one hell of a thrower, if he can find his spot and control his speed. The man can pitch lights out. If he gains better control, he;ll dominate. He can throw as hard as anyone. Actually, I don't want to say any one pitcher for defense. We need our starting rotation to be strong and consistent. I can't see pointing th finger at any one player. If our starters can get the job done, we won't have to rely on the bullpen for so much. Last year we seemd to ask for some miracles sometimes. The point is to look at your weaknesses and not your strenghts. We know that Thomas (if healthy) and Konerko will do well. We know that we have good pitchers on both the starting rotation and in the bullpen, but what we need to focus on is making sure that the guys who aren't keeping up to par do well. To bring out the old quote....a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link.