sircaffey

Valdez wouldnt be a terrible option...He's hit through the minors and is fast. I think unless the MIF we get is a SS, Valdez will be on the bench anyways...

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/MLB_SC-RUMOR

"Cleveland Indians Updated:01/13/2005 Alex Cora, the Dodgers' regular second baseman for the past two years, has agreed in principle to play for the Indians, reports the Orange County Register. Cora, 29, who wasn't tended a contract by Los Angeles, likely will play shortstop for Cleveland at least during the first year of his two-year deal, the newspaper said." Options continue to slim down... That is from CBSSportsline.com if you are curious.

What's everyone griping about? Ray Durham back with the Sox would be huge. Ray was a lot of people's favorite player when here. I loved him, still do. He brings a face back to the Sox and should help with merchandise sales and even attendence...He is also an extremely solid 2B. People want to moan and groan about losing all this power and whatnot, and now we have a chance to bring in another 20 HR guy, who gets on base, and is fast...and you guys complain? I know he makes ~6.5 mil per year, but I think it's a good bet that we'd be getting some money. Even at $5 mil per season, Ray is a great addition. Before the off season began, there were rumors that our payroll would rise to ~$75 million. Where are we at now? ~$69 million? Well this addition puts us right on that track, if indeed those rumors were true. You keep Valdez to backup Uribe, and you have yourself an extremely solid squad. KW would have address EVERY need that we had. I'd probably faint if this were to happen... It would be interesting to see what they would do with Rowand in the batting order...drop him to 3rd, 5th, 6th? Pods Durham Thomas Konerko Rowand Piersynski Dye Uribe Crede or... Pods Durham Rowand Thomas Konerko AJ Dye Crede Uribe There are sooo many combinations you can make with that lineup. It's solid from top to bottom... GET RAY RAY!!

Somwhere poor Ben Davis is cursing, and little Jamie Burke is crying...

They have Womack

I thought about Flash, but with he wasn't lights out like Foulke or Thigpen... Bere didn't pitch enough and walked too many for my liking...I agree Colon shouldn't be there, but Fernandez should take his spot and you can't keep Jack's CY Young off the list, Wilson's '93, Loaiza's '03, and it's tough to kick Buerhle out...

I forgot about Alex, damn it...Yea he was solid in '93...How did we not win the series with the Jack, Wilson, and Alez 1-2-3 in the playoffs?! Alex's in '93 takes the place of Colon in '03 for me...

Does CJ count for catcher? We picked him up at the deadline, but he was solid as anyone... For the Sox: 135 AB, 10 HR, 36 RBI, .326 AVE, .411 OBP, 1.018 OPS If he qualifies then, I'll that over Fisk...

Rotation: 1. Jack McDowell '93 (256.2 IP, 22 W, 10 L, 10 CG, 3.37 ERA) 2. Esteban Loaiza '03 (226.1 IP, 21 W, 9 L, 1 CG, 2.90 ERA) 3. Wilson Alvarez '93 (207.2 IP, 15 W, 8 L, 1 CG, 2.95 ERA) 4. Mark Buehrle '01 (221.1 IP, 16 W, 8 L, 4 CG, 3.29 ERA) 5. Bartolo Colon '03 (242.0 IP, 15 W, 13 L, 9 CG, 3.87 ERA)*iffy* Bullpen: CL Bobby Thigpen '90 (88.2 IP, 4 W, 6 L, 57 S, 1.83 ERA) SU Keith Foulke '99 (105.1 IP, 3 W, 3 L, 9 S, 2.22 ERA) SU Damaso Marte '03 (79.2 IP, 4 W, 2 L, 11 S, 1.58 ERA) RP Roberto Harnandez '92 (71.0 IP, 7 W, 3 L, 12 S, 1.65 ERA) RP Shingo Takatsu '04 (62.1 IP, 6 W, 4 L, 19 S, 2.31 ERA) LR Jon Garland '01 (117.0 IP, 35 G, 16 GS, 6 W, 7 L, 3.69 ERA) Lineup: 2B Ray Durham '99 (.296 AVE, 8 3B, 13 HR, 60 RBI, 34 SB) CF Aaron Rowand '04 (.310 AVE, 38 2B, 24 HR, 69 RBI, 17 SB) 1B Frank Thomas '94 (.353 AVE, 34 2B, 38 HR, 101 RBI, 109 BB)****see below**** LF Albert Belle '98 (.328 AVE, 48 2B, 49 HR, 152 RBI, 81 BB) RF Magglio Ordonez '02 (.320 AVE, 47 2B, 38 HR, 135 RBI, 7 SB) 3B Robin Ventura '96 (.287 AVE, 31 2B, 34 HR, 105 RBI, 78 BB) DH Harold Baines '85 (.309 AVE, 29 2B, 22 HR, 113 RBI, 42 BB) C Carlton Fisk '85 (.237 AVE, 23 2B, 37 HR, 107 RBI, 17 SB) SS Jose Valentin '00 (.273 AVE, 37 2B, 25 HR, 92 RBI, 19 SB) There were times where I could have used players twice like Frank as DH in 2000, but I wanted to stay away from that. *'94 was the strike year. Frank put those numbers up in only 399 AB. He was on pace for more than 50 homers and disgusting all around numbers.

1. I hope he signs with the Cubs. 2. Then, his knee condition limits his play and he is on and off the DL for the length of the contract, what does he care? He got his money. I will boo him harder than Sosa in the crosstown showdown. He's totally not the person that I thought he was when he became a favorite of mine in the past 5-6 years. Oh well...Good riddance.

QUOTE (whitesox91403 @ Dec 31, 2004 -> 04:06 PM) 7 IP and 2 ER. I would say that's an oustanding game for an ace or any pitcher. The offense has to help you there. Your point is way off. No **** his point is off....

QUOTE (KittleWalk83 @ Dec 31, 2004 -> 03:32 PM) Here I'll type very slowly so somebody as slow as yourself can understand. MB has never been in that situation before. We don't know for sure if he can handle that situation. We could go back and forth and say Yes he can or No he can't. BUT until and unless MB gets into a pennant race we won't know. Now I'll type that again, so even you can understand. Here I'll type very slowly so somebody as slow as yourself can understand. MB has never been in that situation before. We don't know for sure if he can handle that situation. We could go back and forth and say Yes he can or No he can't. BUT until and unless MB gets into a pennant race we won't know. And if you think Freddy pitched well in 2002 you're a fool. He was part of the reason for the Mariners choking the division and WC away. And please name me the dozen of pitchers who stepped up? Apparently you keep avoiding the question...What relevance does that have? Can't you say that about ANY major league in some situation or another? Are you trying to say that we can't count on Mark down the stretch? You're point sucks... I'll type very slowly for you...I said 2000, when the M's were the WC winners...I didn't say 2002...Read...

What the hell is your point exactly? So we shouldn't rely on Mark pitching well just because he's never been in that situation? There are plenty of very good pitchers that never been in the situation that you talk about and to think that they will crumble in that situation is ludicrous... What from Mark's past? Hmm...How about his dominance of a team that has owned the Sox in the past 3-4 years? Every game we play against the Twins is big. Take for instance the game with the Twins and the Hunter/Burke incident. You don't think that that game had a lot of pressure? When the Sox play the Twins, those are pressure games. Winning 11 of 17 starts (in the past 3 years) against a team that has kicked our ass in recent history, shows you that Mark is capable of pitching in the big game. Nice example by the way, a pitcher from the 80's. For every one you show that crumbled I could show at least a dozen that either pitched the same or stepped it up... So what if we don't know. You could say that about EVERY SINGLE MAJOR LEAGUER in some situation or another...We don't know how Barry Bonds will react in game 7 2 outs tie game...blah blah blah...we don't know how Aaron Rowand will do when we need a bunt down in the 9th come September's playoff race...But I want these guys in those situations, as every Sox fan should want Mark in that situation...Freddy pitched well for Seattle in 2000's WC race, but just because Freddy has been there means very very little to me...I still want Mark having the ball in that situation over Freddy, no doubt...

I'm just curious, but what relevance does this argument have? Yes so Buehrle hasn't been in a pennant race. Does that make him bad? Buehrle is one of the better pitchers in the league. There are plenty of good pitchers out there that you can say this exact same thing to. So you don't know what he is going to do come September when/if we are 1 game ahead/behind, because he's never been in that situation. But what in Mark's history makes you even think that he wouldn't step up in that situation? I see nothing. Does anyone else see anything? You don't think that some of those games in July and August against the Twins that Mark has pitched in before had playoff/pennant race pressure? You'd be nuts not to think that. I highly doubt Buehrle would crumble come the last 2-3 weeks of the season, especially when the Sox usually finish up against the lower teams in the AL Central... EDIT: Mark is 11-6 against rival Minn in the last 3 years...

I guess that's what a 6 era does...

Frickin Torre...god I hate that man...Buehrle maan...At least Francona will be the manager this year. It's Buehrle's time...

I would not have Uribe batting 2nd. He doesn't get on base enough, and his power could be used more in the middle of the lineup...But I do agree that I dont want to see Iguchi in the 2nd spot as well...my projected lineup if both were signed is as follows: Pods Rowand Thomas Konerko Dye Pierzynski Uribe Crede Iguchi Me gusta...

Uh...I'm not a Twins fan duffis...I am smart enough to know that Cliff Politte is not part of the top setup duo in the majors...That's just ridiculous. And how can you doubt Santana? Which part of his short career resembles anything of Estaban's career?

First off Vizcaino is better than Politte...Hermanson too... Secondly, don't ever mention Johan Santana in the same sentence as Esteban Loaiza...Santana is a young stud with electric stuff, and has done it before. Esteban is a journeyman who came from out of nowhere...I can't believe someone even suggested that.

We might actually be able to win a game in Oakland this year...hip-hip hooray...

Why do you people keep mentioning Lowe? You'd rather spend 6-7 million on Lowe than 8-9 on Clement? That's ludicrous...Lowe sucks and if we throw 6+ million at him, I shall be pissed...

Im all for this trade under 2 circumstances: 1. We get a lefty to take Marte's spot (Chris Hammond I believe is still out there) 2. The other PTBL prospect is not (BMAC, Honel, Young or Anderson) Other than that, all for it...

What are you talking about? You think I meant Randy would have won 26 games? That stat, which is fact compared to your "Garland is worth 12-15 wins" opinion, was meant to get you to realize that Randy is a horse and despite being on the worst team with one of the worst offenses, he put up 16 wins. HE won games by himself. The offense did not win the games. A lot of times with Garland, the offense wins the games. That was not the case last year with RJ. He pitched himself to 16 wins. On the Yanks, Angels, or Red Sox, he would have easily won 22 games...He was THAT good...

Then I guess RJ should be considered a 22 game winner.... Oh wait he's already done that and more (24 wins in 2002)