WHITESOXRANDY

At first glance the offseason seems bad because the Sox didn't add any "big" pieces. Also, the Sox didn't add payroll and the players they traded made more than the players they got back. Therfore, it looks like they've been cheap. I choose to believe that they aren't being cheap but didn't see any good values out there for them to spend big money. Hopefully, they are saving it for when it is needed - July trade deadline, extensions for some current players or moves after this season. I think this offseason would have to be graded in the "C" area because they improved somewhat with the backup catcher and the bullpen appears significantly improved. The starting rotation is down a bit. The lineup has remained the same. The outfield needed to be addressed and it wasn't. Some people thought an upgrade at SS was needed.

.247 2 29 18 SB 14 CS Will not finish the season with Sox

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jan 30, 2007 -> 03:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well for one, if Joe Crede ends up leaving for free agency after the 2008 season instead of being traded before then that would open the door for Josh Fields to take over 3B duties in 2009 at the age of 28. 28. 28. I would expect the Sox to trade Crede after this season and get something good for him. By next year, I think Fields should be ready to do a decent job at third.

To me it seems a near certainty that Crede will leave after 2008 for free agency. So, Fields is a natural replacement already in place. Why not send him back to Charlotte and have him improve his game all-around there at 3B ? Then, bring him up in Sept. for a callup. If he's ready, trade Crede over the winter and get the best haul you can for him. Fields will be much closer to Crede's ability a year from now if the Sox keep him at third. In a few years he might be a better hitter than Crede and maybe close defensively.

If there's any prospect that the Sox need to get as much PT as possible , it's Josh Fields. That's the whole deal behind this guy is that he's a football player that has high upside because of his limited baseball experience. If they want to count on him next year - at 3B or LF- they have to play him regularly this year. So, he has to atleast start in AAA. I would keep him at third. Crede's going to go and Fields will be his replacement. Why screw around with the kid?

I have to go on record here, unfortunately, as being pessimistic of this outfield. Anderson - love his defense in center and think that he'll be a solid offensive player eventually. Like Crede, it will take 3-4 years. He should improve modestly in 2007 but I'm still not expecting much. Pods- This guy is not even a good defensive leftfielder. If he isn't completely healthy, then he really has very little value. He was very good in 2005 because his defense was pretty solid and he had a good OBP and he stole a lot of bases. But, down the stretch and last year he was getting caught a lot and that just runs the team right out of innings. It's been proven that if a baserunner isn't successful atleast 75 % of the time, then the team would score more runs with no steal attempts. So, if he doesn't have a decent OBP and doesn't steal a lot of bases at a high success rate, then I'd rather have someone else out there. Right now, it looks like he won't be 100 % healthy for the season so I doubt very much that he will have a year like 2005. Erstad- Okay, I like his attitude. But, this guy hasn't been good in years and he isn't 100 % healthy yet. I like him as a 4th outfielder. If he gets a lot of playing time, I think the Sox outfield will be well behind the competition. At this point in their careers, if you combined Pods and Erstad into one player - you'd still have a backup.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Jan 26, 2007 -> 10:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Here's my fifth starter rankings to begin the spring, in terms of chances to win the spot: 1. Floyd 2. Haeger 3. Broadway 4. Danks 5. Sisco 6. Gio I agree with the "chances to win it" order. However, I think they'll give it to Floyd because that's the plan and then when he proves incapable then Haeger finishes the season there with decent success. I don't think that Danks is as close as some people think. I think Sisco could be awesome in the pen and I'd like to see him stay there. And, Gio probably won't be much help in the rotation before 2009.

I hear ya. You never can tell for sure because luck is involved - not only with the Sox but with their competitors. Personally, 2003 was very bitter for me because after we added Colon and with getting 21 wins out of Loaiza, I couldn't believe that we missed the playoffs and ofcourse the flubs get all the excitement when the Sox had a better team ! Damn. Still mad about it. Anyway, I felt before the 2005 season that the Sox would make the playoffs and I bet money in Vegas on it - not winning the WS. I didn't even imagine that. 2006 - I hated the Vazquez trade and still do. I thought Kenny didn't address the bullpen enough before the season yet I still thought the Sox would make the playoffs. 2007- For sure the Sox will contend. The Sox always do. They haven't had a losing season since 1999 - a fact Chicagoans don't know because the media will never promote it because it's the wrong side of town. This year should come down to the Sox and Tigers. I think if the Sox miss the playoffs again it will be pimarily due to the fact that Kenny has done little about the outfield problem. However, it is only January, so things can change for the Sox or their competition in the next few months. But, don't fret the Sox will put another winning team on the field and they will be worth watching the entire year.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Jan 24, 2007 -> 10:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I have let my feelings on this know before, but just give me a leadoff hitter than can find a way to get the f*** on base. It's really very simple. For me, especially with the type of team we have(Power at 3-4-5) 10 SB's, .380 OBP>>> 55 SB's, .335 OBP .380 OBP ? Yeah, that would be nice but with this Sox team the only chance you'd have of that would be if Thome were the leadoff hitter.

Sorry guys. I'm not trying to be negative and I still think the Division will come down to the Sox and Tigers. But, when it comes to the Sox outfield, this is how I see it: 1. Pods didn't make it to the majors until he was 28 and the reason was INJURIES. I like a healthy Pods offensively but I still don't like him defensively in LF but I would be ok with him if he were healthy. The problem now is that his game is all about his speed. He has a bad injury requiring groin surgery. He will not be 100 % healthy before June - if at all this season. So, his usefulness to the Sox is VERY questionable. 2. The Erstad signing. The Sox are not risking any money to speak of so that's good. But, Erstad is NOT 100% healthy either. I read a very recent interview with him where he says that he's hopeful to be ready to start the season and stay healthy. If he is healthy and stays that way, he still isn't much of a hitter- little power and low OBP. He WAS a great defensive player but with age and injuries he's probably about average now. If the Sox had 3 good OFers and Erstad was the 4th, that would be fine. 3. I like BA and I think that he'll become a solid offensive player - probably by 2009. The Sox problem: having 2 of 3 outfield spots played by Erstad/Anderson/Ozuna/Mackowiack/Pods is NOT a good thing. I'd rather have Jacque Jones in left field to be honest. Atleast he can hit and hit with power. He'd probably hit 30 dingers for the Sox and while he shouldn't be playing right, he would be fine in LF. He's healthy and has some speed. Plus, there's another guy that would want to beat the Twins.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jan 24, 2007 -> 01:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well as of right now the Nationals have a worse OF than the Sox and if Kearns gets hurt then they'll be MUCH worse. The Giants have a worse OF right now as well and if Bonds isn't re-signed or gets hurt then they'll be Much worse. I'm sure there's a few more but those 2 were the first to come to mind. I think I'd rather have, for this year, Bonds, Klesko, Dave Roberts and Randy Wynn. But, I'll give you the Nationals - wow that whole team looks bad ! They make the Royals look good.

QUOTE(ptatc @ Jan 24, 2007 -> 01:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Pasqua, Calderon and Gallagher? GOOD CALL ! That was 1989. Was 1996 worse ? Darren Lewis CF, Danny Tartabull LF and Tony Phillips RF.

I'm not gonna say it's a bad signing because the Sox aren't paying him anything to speak of. But, I don't expect Erstad to play at even an average level for an outfielder. Our outfield looks like crap right now. Firstly, Erstad, by his own admission is not 100 % and he is hopeful that he will be someday. Secondly, he has low OBP and NO power. Lastly, age and injuries have diminished his outfield play to well below Gold Glove caliber. Well, I guess I'll hope for the best until Kenny trades for a good outfielder.

I'm trying to remember back to when the Sox had only one good OFer. What happens if Dye gets injured ? We have Erstad in LF, Anderson in CF and Sweeney in RF. That would have to be the worst outfield in baseball. I think Sweeney will be a very good player - in 2009 or 2010 and probably the same for Anderson. How far back would you have to go find a worse Sox outfield than what we have now ?

The Sox will be really good in 07. The Tigers are the only team as good as the Sox in the Central. Cleveland is not that good. I like their rotation and they have some great offensive players in Sizemore, Hafner and Martinez but after that it's mediocrity/platooners and young hopefuls. Their bullpen is definitely not solid with a bunch of once good vets coming back from injury. There is every reason to believe that the Sox offense will be as good as last year. 4 of the 5 starters in the rotation are the same so how different can that be ? Yes, the 5th spot is a ? The bullpen is definitely improved and it was not good last year. If the improved bullpen offsets the weaker 5th spot then we are as good as last year. If Contreras and Buehrle return to form and the 5th spot is decent then we win the division.

Is Contreras healthy and really 35 ? Can he be consistent and dominate for a whole season like the second half of 2005 and first half of 2006 ? If he can, and he goes something like 19-7 with 3.30 ERA, then the Sox have a great chance to win again. But, if he shows his age and has nagging injuries and inconsistencies .....and goes something like 14-11 with a 4.60 ERA then well....who is the team ace ? Can the Sox win the division with a less than stellar season from Contreras ? Any predictions on how he'll do ? And, how critical is this for the Sox ?

Uh...the Twins have Matt Garza and he's going to be pretty darn good. As for 2007, I'd rank them like this: The Tigers have a slight edge over the Sox and Twins...then Cleveland. Contreras is such a ? for the Sox that it really makes a difference in ranking their rotation. If he is dominant for most of the year then the Sox are on top. If he is very inconsistent then their rotation takes a hit without having a real ace.

I think that people should look at it this way: How valuable is a CFer that plays great D and has some good offense ? You can judge by hard it has been for Kenny to find one or how much he would have to give up to trade for Baldelli or the contracts given out to Mathews and Pierre ! Why not give BA a chance beyond one season ? He always hit in the minors and imagine how valuable this guy will be if he hits like that in the majors ? I would give him atleast one more year. What if he hits .260 with 15 homers this year and after that averages .275 with 20 homers a year ? Isn't that pretty darn good for a top notch defensive CFer ? I think that's reasonable to expect of him . And, besides if Dye is gone after this year, don't we need to hold onto him. We need 3 quality 2-way outfielders.

Well, I don't think that Buehrle has been traded yet because of his down year I think the offers haven't been great. If he rebounds and pitches well then the offers will be good or the Sox may want to re-sign him because of it. I would think that would have to wait til the end of July to trade him when hopefully someone is ready to take his place. Dye, as well, I can't see trading - even in July because they are already weak in the outfield. To me, the outfield is the biggest remaining issue. We need OFers. Maybe the Sox are unloading pitching salary and will continue to so that they can get a couple of big bats in the OF ?

I think the Garcia deal stinks unless Floyd somehow becomes good. I doubt it. I say that Haeger beats him out for the 5h spot. However, all these deals look good if Aardsma, Sisco, Floyd, Gio, Danks and Masset ALL turn out to be good pitchers. Is that realistic ? I love the pitching depth and the bullpen could be really good but....what if some of these guys don't pan out ? Isn't that reasonable to expect ? I guess Kenny could go out and spend some money in that event. I'm waiting to see what he does about the outfield. That should be interesting.

I think that it's become obvious that Kenny has a plan and just as obvious that us Sox fans don't know what it is. I must say that I am feeling better about the bullpen than I was 2 weeks ago. I thought, all along, that this was the White Sox biggest weakness and although I would have preferred a proven veteran or two to be added, I think that this could work out very well. This is the way that I see the team right now and I realize that most likely Kenny is not done yet: THE BULLPEN: Jenks, Thornton, MacDougal, Masset, Aardsma and Sisco. Surprisingly, I like this pen. Almost any of these guys could probably close eventually. THE ROTATION: Buehrle, Contreras, Garland, Vazquez and.....drumroll....my bet is Floyd or Haeger. The loser goes back to Charlotte to pitch with Danks, Gio and Broadway. That looks like great depth. THE LINEUP: We all know the lineup but this is where questions are raised. I'm also thrilled with Hall (no Alomar...whew). 1. It's very unlikely that the Sox start the season with an OF of Dye, Anderson, Pods and Tererro/Owens. I think that Sweeney should start in Charlotte. Don't the Sox have to acquire another OFer ? And, what about Dye's future ? Will they try to extend him, trade him at the deadline or let him walk away after 2007 ? Will Kenny trade pitching depth for an OFer ? 2. Shortstop. I really don't forsee anything happening here. It's either Uribe or Cintron depending on Uribe's legal issues and I don't care too much either way. But, in Uribe's worst case, is Pablo an adequate backup ? 3. What to do about Buehrle ? Trade him at the deadline and insert a rookie ? Still try to extend him or let him walk after 2007 ? Thoughts ?

Firstly, McCarthy is unequivocably in the rotation for 2007. He is likely to have one of the best seasons of any Sox starting pitcher. Last year he might have done as well as Vazquez as the 5th starter. Secondly, Thornton is still developing as a reliever and if he gets better it could help make the Sox bullpen really dominant. That would be huge for the Sox. Trying to turn him into a starter would be a big project with low probability of success. But, mainly it looks like he is close to becoming a top notch relief pitcher so the Sox won't mess with that. Besides, if the Sox really need another starting pitcher right now, I would think that Haeger, Floyd, Sisco, Broadway and Gio would all be better bets than Thornton. Probably Heath Phillips too.

QUOTE(soxwon @ Dec 19, 2006 -> 06:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> its showing how strong and awesome our bullpen is, these kids we traded for have guns for arms. We have WMD's, our kids are weapons of mass destruction. VERY very cool. Might as well drink the cool aid while you can.

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'd love to see us sign Pineiro for our pen. But, I think he'll get a sizeable offer to be in someone's rotation. I know that he's been bad the last couple of years but a few years back, I thought he had some of the best stuff in the league. If there's a guy that's worth giving Coop the chance to fix it's Pineiro !