nitetrain8601

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 02:04 PM) I can name a bunch of people with better tools. Facts are facts and Aaron is one of the best defensive centerfielders out there. The only one that I'd possibly say is better than Aaron (outside of Hunter and Jones) is a healthy Mike Cameron. Kotsay is pretty good but I'd say him and Aaron are so similar, but I give Aaron the heads up because he plays at a tougher park to play CF. Vernon Wells = Laughable. His laziness gets in the way. Kotsay played in the spacious Oakland OF. I'd say he's better.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 01:57 PM) I totally agree. I just laugh at people that think Anderson is going to come in and win a gold glove. People forget that Chicago (US Cell) is supposed to be one of the very hardest places to play centerfield. I've heard that numerous times from former major leaguers and its been quoted many places. CF has swirling winds and it makes it a very very tough place to play CF. A lot of people are idiots and its those that are hating on Rowands defense and thinking its easily replaceable (I'm not talking about you Balta, but its something that pisses me off and its so laughable but these people are essentially convincing other people). If you know baseball you know Aaron is one of the premiere defensive CF'ers in the game. He's not Andruw Jones and he's not Torri Hunter...he's possibly at the front of the next class though and is a top 5 defensive outfielder. I'd say he's not Mark Kotsay or Vernon Wells either. He's in line with Jeremy Reed and Jim Edmonds. I'm not saying Rowand sucks or anything, but Anderson does have better tools defensively than Rowand. A lot of people are idiots for thinking that Rowand is so damn great defensively and can't be replaced...yadda yadda yadda.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 01:34 PM) You're 100% correct.... If only Rowand had been playing shallower on these two plays Minerals Management Service?

QUOTE(Wanne @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 01:01 PM) El Duque and Crede for Hank Blalock?...and maybe throw in a Diaz. Look...I'm not looking to break this group up by any means. But there's a couple issues with Crede that stand out...a) his back...is it a lingering long term thing B) his arbitration number plus the fact Boras is his agent. c) His propensity for extended slumps. Hey...I love Joe...but it there was a way to pull this off without giving up one of your top 5. Joe kind of falls in the same mode that ARow did...his value may never be higher. I realize Texas would probably want either Garland or BMac instead of Duque. Just a thought.... Blalock's agent is Boras. Plus Blalock has digressed big time and he's a first half player.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:38 PM) This I disagree with. We'll see next year. All Rowand had was his jumps, but he also played closed to the wall so he wasn't able to get to balls hit to shallow/mid CF.

QUOTE(whitesoxmanager @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 11:01 AM) I for one absolutely love KW. He was the first GM i can remember that actually went on a warpath trying to build a WS caliber team. He succeeded. But now I think he is unchartered territory and that is to know when to slow down and not make changes until necessary. I also know that some guys can get complacent after winning and just rest on their laurels. AROW was definitely not the kind of guy to be happy unless he was winning. He is the ultimate competitor and i dont think that money is a motivating factor for him. Now is Jim Thome going to be able to replace him in the dugout? Will A CF be able to handle the parks the way that AROW did? Health? How will Thome handle pressure situations & adversity? There are way too many "ifs" going into this deal. & to me there are no "ifs" with keeping AROW unless he jumps on a motorcycle....I trust KW. He has proven himself a winner & a champion. As a SOXFAN for 30 years I just have a really bad gut feeling that I am trying to put into words. I seem to be the only one on this board that is attempting to side with keeping AROW so i look like the ugly guy. i am not going to change my mind until we reflect back on the 06 season. Aaron Rowand will not be the reason why we lost or won the World Series. Thome is known as a class act and easily accessible across the league in clubhouses. Guys love playing with him. PK and Thome share an admiration for each other as well as noted in an article. Anderson is also better than Rowand defensively. That's a fact. He also has a much stronger arm. I'd say we at least made a lateral move in CF and made an upgrade at the DH spot.

I luuuuuuuuuv Willie Harris.

It's the inability of Millen to field a semi-complete team, which will not enable the Lions to compete until he is fired and a competent GM is brought in.

QUOTE(SnB @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 08:32 PM) i didn't notice anything. Me neither. Great video. I wish they showed AJ's walkoff against the Dodgers during the highlight credits.

QUOTE(hi8is @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 04:23 PM) good guess indeed... i have heard reports that thome already has passed his physical /me shrugs Those reports are wrong. On Comcast SportsNet, they said that Thome wanted to get to Chicago by tommorow morning to take his physical, but there's nothing but delays on the plane, so he was thinking about driving tonight so he could get here tommorow.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 03:16 PM) Cotts should most definately count as should Bobby Jenks. We went out and got Jenks and had the guts to move him to the pen. The risk paid off for us. Kenny has done a solid job. He has done a better job dealing guys that haven't panned out (as of yet) for guys that have some value. I'll give him credit, most every minor leaguer that was sent hasn't panned out. The only one I really cringed about giving up (Aside from Reed and that was well worth it) was dealing Josh Rupe in the 1st Everett deal. But Rupe is far from a sure thing. He's a solid starting pitching prospect. I don't know. I guess you can count Cotts, but not Jenks. Every team knew he would be better suited as a bullpen guy, but Anaheim wanted him to start since they already had a great bullpen.

QUOTE(qwerty @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 02:14 PM) I would prefer for our two hole hitter to have some power. I am talking a guy with good gap power and has the ability to hit 10-12 homers... in other words, a guy that is not afraid of knocking in a run. I just do not see gathright being that anytime soon. But imo as it stands gomes is their best outfielder until proven otherwise. Pierre doesn't have any power. Screw power. It's the two hole. I want someone who could move the runner over and leave the bopping to the heart of the order.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 02:24 PM) Im kind of happy we gave up pitching prospects over hitting ones. Our pitching should be tied up for a long time hopefully in Buehrle, Garland, Garcia, and B-Mac but we definitely arent 2 strong with hitting. Its kind of sad knowing Frank is all but gone now but still I think if healthy right now Thome could give us more and im all for going back to the WS. Now if we resign Konerko im going to be really happy. Gio Gonzalez has the stuff to be a front of the rotation starter just his size is what brings up ???'s.... and as far as that off the field issues...That was mostly because he wanted his brother to catch for him but the coach wouldnt allow it in his Highschool. Nah, it was his parents who wanted to get his brother more playing time, but the coach wouldn't give it to him so he didn't let Gio play either. I think Gio will end up being a #2 starter for you guys down the road. Not a cheap #2 starter, a dominant one.

f*** you all. I hope you have a horrible Thanksgiving that's paralleled to mine. I got strep throat, I can't talk for s***, I can't get off the computer because it would take me a good 10 minutes to do so since my body is soooo friggin weak right now. DIE b****ES! just playin'...but no, really, I'm literally that sick. I can't eat and I've been like this for 3 days except it's gotten even worse today. I hope you guys have a great one though.

Great great banner.

I'd definately take Gathright. He doesn't need power. He just needs to know how to bunt and use his speed.

Something tells me the Cubs will end up with Pierre.

QUOTE(knightni @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 04:40 PM) Didn't the new TB GM give Baldelli a new, larger contract recently? Have no idea. Also, what about getting Huff?

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 04:39 PM) I support this topic. /Department of Redundancy Department

QUOTE(scotty22hotty @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 04:35 PM) horrible... the sox will pay 7.5 million a year for the next 3 years for an old, injured 1b. Arow was our best OF... this trade makes no sense... Okay, the trade doesn't go through if he's injured. I don't know why people overlook that. There's a reason physicals are done. Edmonds plays the OF is older and is still productable. Thome had one year in which he was injury plagued(his elbow last year) and now he's just an old and injured guy? Uh no. And Dye was our best OF IMO. Rowand was our best starting OF defensively. Taking all things into account, Dye was better.

QUOTE(SnB @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 04:29 PM) tampa just gave crawford a contract, they're going to build around him, no way this happens. I don't know about that. First they gave him that deal under Chuck LaMarr. Also, they have an abundance of OF guys. Crawford Baldelli Gomes Gathright Young I count 5. I think they would get rid of the most expensive one.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 04:19 PM) I just got home and I really don't want to go through this whole thread to see everything. Is there any prospects involved and how much cash are we getting? I'm so happy to have Thome and I love this deal but I'm going to miss Aaron there is no doubt. Thanks for everything Arow. Rowand, Gonzalez, Haigwood for Thome and Philly pays half of his salary.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 04:07 PM) There's only 1 thing I need to give him the benefit of the doubt on with regards to this trade: Jim Thome must be healthy enough to play 130+ games these next 3 years and participate in any playoff runs we make. If he tells me Thome is healthy enough to play, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Well there's a reason why physicals are done. I'm definately going to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I love futuresox.com Keep up the great work guys.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 04:04 PM) When did we acquire Pierre, exactly? Tommorow. Oops.