shawnhillegas

What a great idea. .290 17 homers 68 rbi's.

Based on what we are hearing about Massett's abilities in the pen, I'd rank him higher. 1. Danks 2. Gio 3. Fields 4. Masset 5. Sweeney 6. Broadway 7. Haeger 8. Cunningham 9. Po-You Lin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 10. KMac

QUOTE(traydragen @ Dec 29, 2006 -> 08:24 AM) I think some of you guys have mentioned this but I too would be more than willing to give up one (or more) of our starters and have a mediocre season in 07 and load up on potentially can't miss prospects (I know that's a contradiction) for another run at this thing starting with 08 and beyond. The time is right if we are going to get rid of any number of our starters. How is the time right? In 2008 we wont have Dye or Buerhle and probably wont have Crede or Garland, and who knows about Iguchi. You really expect us to easily replace these guys and rebound right in 2008? How old are Jim Thome and Jose going to be in 2 years? I think the window closes this year and that it will take at least a couple of years to rebound.

Im banking on Nick Masset baby, hes going to be the deal breaker.

I dont mind the deal, but for the fact that our outfield is still god-awful in left and center. But what concerns me here are Kenny's statements that he had been scouting Danks and Masset since June; they were the crown jewels that he was intent on getting for our system. Kenny seems to have done this for a number of different prospects and every day major leaguers now, from Vazquez to Thornton, and I am wondering what others think about this strategy. I'm convinced that if you spend enough time focusing on one player, you will end up overvaluing that player, much the way that we tend to overvalue our own prospects. Is the obsession with Danks a good thing, or does it blind Kenny and prevent him from seeing far better options that may be out there, especially in the outfield?

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Dec 23, 2006 -> 09:06 PM) I think it is time for somebody to cue the Haeger fan club sig. Any members besides Pratt and me? I'm in.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 23, 2006 -> 05:59 PM) Well, the good news is that in the event we need the 6th starter, we have an enormous amount of nearly-MLB-ready starters sitting down at AAA in Floyd, Broadway, Danks, Phillips, etc. So what we might be missing in terms of an obvious #1 candidate we do make up for in depth. right, just like the arnie munoz, danny wright, etc. depth that worked so well in 2003.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Dec 23, 2006 -> 05:51 PM) Another stupid decision. It'd make more sense to place Haeger in the bullpen as the long reliever and have Sisco in Charlotte. If your quotes are correct, they plan on leaving him in the rotation to work on devleopintg his pitchers for an upcoming spot in the rotation. Okay, but wouldn't it make MORE sense to put him in the minor leagues where he can do the same thing without the inconsistent workload? Nah, just stunt the growth of another starter. I still think Sisco will start in Charlotte.

We are all so worried about the 5th starter next year, but lets face it, Jose is going on the DL next year at some time....this 5th starter problem will quickly become a 4th and 5th starter problem. We better resign Arnie Munoz fast.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 23, 2006 -> 03:18 PM) So we won't trade McCarthy for Crawford or Rocco, but we'll trade him for two pitching prospects from a terrible organization at developing pitchers? What in the world is KW planning to do with our rotation in 2008? Yes yes yes yes yes

reign it in, reign it in.

QUOTE(soxwon @ Dec 19, 2006 -> 06:19 PM) Kenny Williams has announced that the U.S. military has contacted him inquiring about purchasing the SOX loaded Guns the Floyd-Gonzalez-Aardsma-Sisco misiles. Reportedly they heard, they fly UNDER THE RADAR WHITE SOX WMD'S AIMING AT A BALLPARK NEAR YOU.... whats a misile?

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Dec 18, 2006 -> 01:08 PM) Wait, are you telling me Jerry Owens isn't considered a big time prospect? That Sean Tracey, Arnie Munoz and Casey Rogowski won't bring me big time talent in return? No, Heath Phillips is the man who brings in the big return.

QUOTE(WHITESOXRANDY @ Dec 18, 2006 -> 12:06 PM) I'm thinking that Floyd and Broadway won't get it done. What if we add Owens ? Would Toronto take that ? Then , the Sox could trade Pods for bullpen help. I'd love that. I dont think that will come close. Buster Olney suggested that Rios has more value than Vernon Wells in a trade because hes cheap and locked in for 4 more years. He's probably right. I cant imagine that the Blue Jays would take anything less than Garland or McCarthy, especially since the Angels have Ervin Santana to dangle out there, even though the Angels do have their 50 million dollar man patrolling CF. You would be crazy to trade Rios for anything less than a real major league starter or a big, big prospect.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Dec 18, 2006 -> 10:57 AM) I personally feel that Rios is the type of player you have to overpay for... 20 homers, 90 rbi, and 20 stolen bases is not far fetched for him... he's young and very talented, and could develop even more power... to the tune of 30 homers. id deal garland for him and a spect. So what is going to happen when we go into the season with Gavin Floyd as our fifth starter and then Jose goes down with another injury in June?

Alright, now who is going to be the first person to propose the Alex Rios for Heath Phillips deal?

QUOTE(beck72 @ Dec 16, 2006 -> 08:38 AM) Here's a question--would you be willing to part with a package starting with top arms like Lance Broadway and Boone Logan [and a 'throw in' such as Tracey or Heath Phillips, and probably a position player prospect such as a C or SS] for Baldelli? Normally, I'd say no, with Broadway close to helping the sox. Yet getting Baldelli would allow the sox to make two additional moves that could get the sox prospects to replace the ones they trade--Pods could be moved, as well as Anderson. Anderson would be moved very early, say to the Marlins having an arm to replace Lance in AA/ on the cusp of AAA in a guy like Jose Garcia. Pods might and could stick around, depending on how Sweeney does in Spring, and how Baldelli looks in the leadoff spot. Pods could be moved come spring if another team has an injury to their leadoff guy. The key IMO would be getting a SP prospect in return for Anderson, to replace Lance. "top arms" like broadway and booooone? only in the white sox farm system could those be considered top arms. and we dont have any position player prospects at catcher or ss. donny lucy? robert valido? i dont think those guys will draw much, if any, interest. again, the rays have turned down some substantial deals for rocco.

Who is generally considered the better prospect, Mike Pelfrey or Phillip Humber?

How will these people make their 2 dollars a day without soxtalk?

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 13, 2006 -> 10:20 AM) This proposed trade is hillarious. However, the scary thing is that people are actually saying that KW wouldn't do this. Kendrick and Wood are two of the top 5 hitting prospects in the minors, and Kendrick is ready to compete in the majors right now. There's not a chance in hell the Angels trade either of those guys....but if you were able to get them for the 3 guys mentioned, I'll gladly drive Garland, Iguchi, and Uribe to the airport. there are countless such trades the white sox COULD do. young prospects 2-3 years away from being major league ready, but when does it end, at what point do you stop because you realize you have lost all chance of winning this year? wood is NOT ready now and he probably wont be productive until 2008. Kendrick is a major leaguer now, but you would be sacrificing this season for sure. i would not do this trade unless i thought brandon wood could play ss this year, and he cant. and i do not want to go into the season with a 5th starter named gavin floyd and a backup plan named heath phillips.

First off all, the Title of this thread makes no sense. Second of all, no.

QUOTE(smalls2598 @ Dec 10, 2006 -> 12:26 PM) so right now i'm re-watching Game 3 of the 2005 ALDS on the Sox DVD set...just got to the "El Duke inning". what a moment. EDIT: and who can ever forget this amazing comment from Berman when the game was over: "Congratulations to the Chicago White Sox. And congratulations to the Boston Red Sox as well". come on. Remember the Graffanino error? His comment was "OH NO!!!"....well Chris, that depends on who you are rooting for.

QUOTE(iWiN4PreP @ Dec 10, 2006 -> 10:35 AM) I dont see why we just try to trade the mets javier vazquez... I never really liked vazquez last year, and garland seems a bit more valuable. Mets seem to like javier, why dont we just go down that road? I think its all about return. If the Astros are willing to offer Hirsh, then the Mets need to be willing to deal Pelfrey or Humber if they want to make a deal with the Sox. I would consider the difference between Garland and Vazquez to be minimal, whichever deal brings the most back is the deal I'd take. I still think theres a shot the O's are willing to part with Daniel Cabrera too. I know hes a little bit older but hes one intimidating, hardthrowing dude.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Dec 9, 2006 -> 02:53 PM) Ace-quality pitchers do not always come from first round draft choices. I believe Mark was a 38th round draft pick. As you mentioned, Santana was a rule-5 pick. Chris Carpenter was a journeyman. The point is, that aces or frontline starters come from all sorts of sources. While it is advantageous to be able to draft earlier in the draft, it doesn't mean that those guys are going to become aces. The White Sox have begun drafting "safe" pitchers over the last few years. Not hard throwers, but guys that have a very good chance of becoming middle or back end starters. Broadway and McCulloch are examples of that. There is value in having several guys develop into middle rotation guys, as opposed to 1 of every 8 or 10 power arms turn into front rotation guys. As you might see, a middle rotation guy like Jon might end up netting us a front rotation prospect, possibly 2. Garcia just netted us a few guys that can step in. There are several ways this can be done. An ace need not only come through round 1 or 100 million dollar contracts. I agree, but why do the White Sox have such trouble drafting hard throwers with tons of upside (Wyatt Allen, Nick Lemon, Dan Wright)? Our "safe" picks seem to be panning out better, which is why I dont think we will stray from that strategy in future years.

While I was intially ambivalent about the Garcia trade and the prospect of trading Jon Garland, after reading those two ridiculous articles in the Tribune (one by Rogers and one by Morrissey) I decided that the only logical thing to do was to support these deals to the fullest. But seriously, here's my thinking... If the White Sox were to let all of their current starters walk rather than pay out the current market rate for another contract, or even if they were to sign Buerhle and let the others go, they would find themselves in a particularly bad position given their likely draft status and the current free agent climate. Specifically, the Sox have no legitimate way of acquiring a potential #1 starter unless it is via trading for young prospects. I believe it's been over a decade since the Sox had a 1st round draft pick higher than 15th, and its quite clear that the Sox will not be able to compete with the Yankees, Red Sox and Cubs when Santana and Zambrano hit the market. The Sox are drafting #3 starters when they drafted Broadway and McCullough, and by turning the rotation over without acquiring young pitching via trades, the next cycle in the White Sox rotation would consist of mediocre talent (Phillips, Broadway, etc.); the Sox cant consistently acquire better talent via the draft when they are picking so low. And for those spots that aren't filled via our farm system, we would be forced to pay outrageous sums for more #3 and #4 starters. In the long run, we would likely be paying three below average or average starters what we are paying our starting five now, and we would have the last two spots filled by our own system, which is not stacked with talent. In other words, our system can't produce #1 starters (consistently) via the draft and we aren't going to sign any Aces either, so if we want to have a rotation with a strong upside, we must take chances. Yes, I know the Twins got lucky with Garza, Santana and Liriano, but that hasn't happened for us, and hoping that it will is foolish. The rotation turnover is coming whether you like it or not, and when it does, Broadway, Haeger, and McCullough may be the answer, but there is a strong likelihood they are not all going to succeed. Nor is the answer to sign Gil Meche or Jason Marquis, nor will it be to re-sign Jose until he's 42. Quite simply, our only chance for a top-notch rotation comes through the acquisition of young players from other systems until we either get better draft picks, or until we decide we will pay 180 million dollars for Johan Santana. And I don't know about you, but I think that if Hirsh does put up a sub-3 ERA and hes making 350,000 dollars, he is more valuable than Santana 10 times over, because he allows you to spend that money elsewhere. And finally, I havent even discussed the Sox lack of depth in position players in the farm. Money spent on Andruw Jones is probably better spent than it is on a pitcher just because the risk of injury is so much smaller. Young, cheap pitching allows you to invest in more surefire offensive targets.