sircaffey

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:34 PM) So let me get this straight. You people who are b****ing thought that we were going to sign rowand, and he was going to be the difference between 4th place and a contending team? When did the intelligence level of this board drop off so suddenly? First off, I am ecstatic that they didn't sign Rowand. However, not signing Rowand is merely symbolic of how badly the off season has been going. We have been fed the "we're going for it" crap all off season. It's apparent now, that this "going for it" was either A) muffed or B) horribly planned (as our "solution" to CF is still out there that no one can see). 43 days till Soxfest. Bring your cameras and tape recorders.

Our problem is we have Independent League Management running a large MLB market team.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:14 PM) If anyone's on the Mitchell Report that's not named Bonds, he has the initials M.T. We better get rid of Matt Thornton then. And fast.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 12, 2007 -> 03:41 PM) Luckily, that means nothing. Unfortunately, it's Crisp/Pierre or nothing, imo. I'd rather hang onto the pitching that it would take to get Hamilton anyways. We're going to need as many options as possible when the backend of the rotation explodes.

YEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is a god. KW is probably sitting in his leather chair cursing right now, but this is his best move of the off season.

At this point, I would much rather go into the season with this failed attempt at competing. I do not want a rebuilding process to start now for one reason, and one reason only. KW is still here. Let the season play out, and then after we lose another 90 games KW will be fired. If KW is heading a rebuilding process we will not be rebuilt before 2015.

44 days until Soxfest. Figure it out Kenny.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 11:38 PM) He should have taken the deal with the Rockies, as he would put up good numbers there. San Diego is closer to Japan.

QUOTE(joeynach @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 11:46 PM) I dont think anyone doubted that hes overpayed. He 100% is. But what else was KW gonna do. Trot out Bukvich and Dewon Day again, go bring Riske back. I mean Linebrink might not be Joba Chamberlin what what are other options did we have to improve our pen. The Linebrink signing is basically a nothing signing to me. He's not going to hinder or help our chances greatly considering our current state. If anything, by signing him to such a large deal, he is keeping us from giving out a huge contract to a CF. Hopefully that's the case.

Any free agent signing from now on sets the franchise back. We aren't a free agent away from winning. Please don't sign Rowand. If you do, for the love of god, do not give him a no trade clause.

Fielder, Braun, Hardy, Gallardo, and Hart all burst onto the scene, and the window gets smaller? You know, I'd think by developing young talent that you control for a handful of years, you'd be extending your window. They shouldn't develop so much talent to keep their window open next time.

QUOTE(Chombi @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 11:12 PM) I keep seeing stuff about how Cabrera + Linebrink = Garland from a money standpoint. True. Now I was reading this at the same time so I thought I'd post it. Great article on Hardballtimes.com about why and how teams keep overpaying for relief. It's from last week. I wanted to post the part about Linebrink and the Sox but just click the link. It's easier and won't totally interfere with the thread. http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/...ddle-relievers/ Which adds even another element to the Garland trade. Not only will Cabrera be gone in a year, but there's a decent chance of Linebrink's contract becoming horrible. So if it truly was Garland for Cabrera and Linebrink (which I absolutely hate looking at it like that), could turn out to be an absolutely horrendous deal.

KW needs to be fired before this team attempts a rebuilding process. If they want to take a couple shots here the next couple years, then fine. Unfortunately for the Sox, one of the best replacements, Hahn, is not going to be waiting around forever. Do or die this season.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 11:05 PM) See my response to fathom. I don't see 2008 as a loss just yet. And besides, regarding the future, JG was going elsewhere no matter what, and I think Cabrera has a much better shot at re-signing than JG did. And this club won't have a decent internally-bred SS available until AT LEAST 2010, and that's assuming someone like Miranda or one of the teenage prodigies develop well. The only thing that resigning Cabrera signifies, is that KW is blind yet again, and attempts another ill-advised shot at competing.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:56 PM) Money wise, it was basically (as someone pointed out) Garland for Cabrera and Linebrink, addressing two major holes. Plus even if Cabrera doesn't re-sign (and I think he may, mid-season, depending on how things go), Cabrera will fetch more picks that Garland would have. Don't get me wrong, I still think the Sox have a shaky back end of the rotation. But overall, I think it was a positive trade. It may have been positive for this next year, but seeing as how nothing is coming together this offseason, the Garland trade is going to prove to be a bad trade. I just don't see how you go out and get nothing that's going to be on this team for longer than one year especially considering there are numerous teams looking for SP. Seeing as how agressive KW has been in the past with extending guys he trades for, Orlando would be signed already if he wanted to be here. Why would he sign a 3-4 year extension for a team that is headed for disaster?

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:53 PM) Have to disagree on this part. I think the Cabrera trade was and still is a good move, both individually and for the greater picture. What greater picture? He'll be gone after this year.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:50 PM) No kidding....he really messed that up, especially considering Cabrera won't sign an extension. Um, excuse me, but it wasn't Garland for just Cabrera. It was Garland for Cabrera and Linebrink!!! What a crock of s***.

QUOTE(frankie5angels @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:45 PM) It doesn't matter to those teams if they are set in the outfield or not. If the guy was thought of as a can't miss type of guy who was gonna come here and be a stud, both the Red Sox and the Yankees would have made a play for him. Money is no object to them. The Red Sox and Yankees OF are stacked. Not just filled, but stacked in talent. They each have far greater needs than another OF.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:38 PM) Because they are set in the OF, and are probably saving some room on the payroll for Santana. Not to mention each team has an extra OF. Crisp and Damon/Cabrera.

QUOTE(klaus kinski @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 01:13 PM) They'll never fire him-but will promote him-just to get him out of there Whatever gets him out of player personnel decisions.

QUOTE(ptatc @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 11:45 AM) Yuck, it's not the worst option but it is hardly a good one either. Actually, I think Juan Pierre is the worst option out there (if we have to eat his entire salary). I'd rather start Owens.

"If I ever leave this job or if I ever get fired," Williams says, "I'm not coming back to the American League. I'm going to the National League. You've got a fighting chance over there." FINALLY!!!!!!!! Now start trading the vets. And Kenny, don't worry, you will get fired.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 08:34 AM) I'd replace that RP with an SP, and add on that we need to move Uribe as well. So the remaining to do list looks like: --New CF (preferably a leadoff type guy, but more importantly, someone who is good) --Trade Crede for the best prospect package he can fetch --Trade Uribe for the best prospect package he can fetch --If one is available, take a flyer on a Colon or Garcia type SP for a 1 or 2 year deal I'd like that to happen too, but it appears KW is set going into the season with both Danks and Floyd in the rotation. Colon and Garcia should be able to find starting gigs somewhere else. I think if KW is going to take a flier on someone, it'll be with a guy like Clement. I also wouldn't mind taking a flier on Jon Lieber seeing as his injury last season was in his foot and not his back, shoulder, or elbow like these other guys. Although, Jon may find a guaranteed starting gig elsewhere.

QUOTE(Chombi @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 01:35 AM) Maybin may be a bit much. An interesting name brought up tonight with a friend was Dexter Fowler. The friend is a Braves fan and also had me convinced that their farm system is still loaded, and I believe him. Anyways...Fowler. Can he play CF in the majors or is it still too early? Can he bad had for bullpen plus a prospect or two? Say Mac + Massett and Sweeney or Anderson. Idk if it's a lot but seeing as they want bullpen. Mac seems to be removed with Linebrink. Massett is a nice arm and Sweeney is a decent prospect still. Anderson I think we have given up on so maybe he'd fit and needs the change. Idk Fowler isn't that top notch prospect but he is still a top 10 OF IMO. Still young. What do you think? Fowler's a very good prospect, but he's also quite raw. He broke his hand last season which some attribute to a slightly down year. I'd love to get him as he would definitely be a long term solution in CF, but he's just 21 and a few years away from contributing. That said, he's very fast, patient at the plate, a plus defender even at 6'5", and has plus power potential. He's better than any OF prospect we have, that's for sure.

QUOTE(Chombi @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 07:39 PM) Some of the deals I have seen for Bedard are shocking. The Reds, Cardinals and Mariners both seem to have made some good offers. Three quality players on each front. If the Cards offered up Rasmus as I heard they were willing to today, I can't see how you reject it. I don't understand how a deal like this wasn't available for MB. Bedard has a higher ceiling simply on his k rate it appears but MB justs gets the job done. He does it while being in a notorious hitters park in the AL. I just struggle to understand these things sometimes. It just bothers me. I see teams like Boston refuse to give up more then one of Lester, Buchholz, and Ellsbury. Two of the 3 I see as overrated ballplayers. Meanwhile, a team like the Reds is willing to part with some extremely talented guys in the same deal. Cuetto, Votto, Bailey, Stubbs, Mesoraco, Frasier, etc. No Bruce, but some of those names are big time (Bailey is still a top notch guy though I think stock has fallen a lot). To me that is just a ton of talent for a guy like Bedard. Who is right do you think? A team like Boston, or a team like the Reds. Why can't we swing a deal like this? Is Bedard really that much better/more appealing then a MB, JV, or Bobby Jenks....Even offensively, a guy like Kong. Yes.