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QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Feb 4, 2006 -> 08:12 AM) According to Gamestop.com, the release date for the Xbox and PS2 versions is 3/6/2006. The release date for the Xbox 360 version is 4/10/06. http://www.gamestop.com/search.asp?sortby=...y=0&find=Search Figured there would be a difference. So, it looks like I won't be playing until after the season starts. Bummer.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Feb 4, 2006 -> 07:47 AM) Unfortunately, Derek Jeter is the coverboy. :puke Here are some videos from the Xbox version: Video #1 Video #2 Video #3 More videos Uribe is in one of the videos with high socks on making a play. Konerko is in another one of the videos striking out against C.C. Fatbathia and throwing his helmet afterwards. They didn't give him a bald spot though. The Cell looks pretty awesome from the very short shot of it that they do show. I loved EA's MVP Baseball series but I can't really enjoy a baseball game without the MLB license and players. It's coming out on March 6th. Anyone else buying this game? Since it is the only baseball title an any console: yes, I will be buying this game. They must have moved up the release date, because the last time I looked, the 360 had a release date of April 8th.

QUOTE(The Critic @ Jan 5, 2006 -> 09:34 AM) ? = a HELL of a lot more than 2.75M. I don't blame the guy at all for doing it. It's a smart business move, and perfectly acceptable in the terms of his deal. I don't think there are any ulterior motives to this at all. Nor due I -- it is strictly about the money -- and I don't blame him at all either. I was saying that in combination of these business move of his plus hearing him mentioned in the Tejada sweepstakes (and taking into account injuries sustained in his career his far, freakish or not), I begin to feel that the Cubs do not hold him as highly as they once used. Now, two solid years w/o major injuries and arbitration talks later, I feel differently. I started the thread to make note that Prior made a screwd business move and in the process, the Cubs will now have to reinventory their salary and adjust for extra $$ for Prior. I have no idea or bearing of this move, his career thus far and what not, with the new intent of including Prior in trade talks. It was just unheard of, even scoffed at, to think Prior was attainable at all 12+ months ago.

QUOTE(The Critic @ Jan 5, 2006 -> 09:27 AM) The only reason Prior voided that year is to become arbitration-eligible. He stands to make a LOT more money that way. That's why he did it. Indeed. $2.75M vs ? in arbitration.

QUOTE(Al Lopez's Ghost @ Jan 5, 2006 -> 09:18 AM) I don't see why you say his days with the Cubs are nearing an end. He can't be a free agent for a couple more years, the Cubs rarely lose their own players to free agency....As long as Prior stays healthier than Kerry Woods, I think the Cubs will be very reluctant to let him go. I just personally see it as the beginning of the souring of the relationship between the Cubbie religion and their Messiah. Injuries, time and money withstanding, I just wonder outloud where Prior will be in 2+ years. Any other off-season prior (no pun intended) this one you would not even hear Prior's named whispered in any kind of rumor whatsoever.

All of this "We need pitching depth" talk, I believe, is very misguided -- especially when referencing the 2001-2004 team and its rotation. The Sox had one or two "quality" pitchers that you could count on, and had plugged the rest of the rotation with "let's hope this works out" pitchers. For example, the '01 rotation featured a strong Buehrle and (hindsight non-withstanding) a reputable David Wells. Who were the other 3? Rocky Biddle, James Baldwin and Dan Wright. *shudder*. In '02, the rotation yet again feature Buehrle, Jon Garland's first year full time in the rotation and ... Dan Wright, Todd Ritchie and Gary Glover. *puke* In '03, you see possible the strongest rotation of the 01-04 quoted era, with Buehrle, Colon, Garland Loaiza and Wright. However, looking at this rotation from the beginning of the year, it featured a solid Buehrle, a solid Colon, a thus far underachieving Jon Garland and Loaiza/Wright. Now, honestly, he here who thought Loaiza would win 21 raise your hand and then leave because we know you are lying. In '04, you see the Sox starting to bring #2-#3 type pitchers to fill out the entire rotation, with a year's end rotation of Buehrle, Garland, Garcia, Contreras and ... *shudder* ... Scott Schoeneweis. The point to this rambling thus far? The Sox with 3-4 solid and reliable pitchers in the front four of the rotation, even with an "unknown" in the 5 spot, is still light years better than the crud the Sox threw together from '01-'04. In the scenario of trading away Contreras and putting McCarthy in the 5th spot, should someone above McCarthy go down, I would feel a whole hell of a lot better w/ 3 workhorses, McCarthy and "a different 5th" then I did during the early part of this decade. Case in point: Sox + Tejada + possible good 4-man rotation w/ "unknown 5th start" is still better than the pre-WS years. And all this talk is worst case scenario should any of the workhorses of Buehrle, Garland, Garcia and Vazquez -- all perrennial 200+ innings (minus Garland of course) pitchers -- go down. I don't see all the doom and gloom of "injury possibilities" that those anti-Tejada acquisition individuals speak about.

The Cubs' Messiah exercises a voiding option for his contract, so instead of a $2.75M base salary, Prior will now be eligible for arbitration. Now we know the reason the Cubs didn't turn the other cheek when Baltimore asked for Prior. It appears as if the days of the Messiah on the northside are quickly coming to an end. EDIT Apologies if this was mentioned deep inside a 50+ page thread and I missed it. The ESPN article makes mention that Prior's agent told the Cubs of this decision in late November, but it appeared that the media has just now gotten ahold of the information.

The latest from www.mlbtraderumors.com (take w/ grain of salt) states the the Red Sox and Orioles have made an initial agreement in the Tejada sweepstakes. "The word is the Tejada-Ramirez/Clement trade has been agreed to in principle by the two teams blocked only at this time with last minute complications caused by Manny." Complications? Manny? Nawww....

QUOTE(knightni @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 06:07 AM) I don't know how much offense that Houston would want to give up. It was their downfall in the WS. I'd assume that they'd want a spect OF with Contreras since they have no power in the OF except Berkman (possibly Lane). Maybe Sweeney or Owens? They could move Berkman back to CF after he gets healthy and open up a corner spot for another power guy. Borchard?

Lets add the Dodgers to the mix too. Baltimore can get Manny, Casey Rogowski and Dustin Hermanson; Boston can get Garland, Corey Patterson and Eric Bedard; the Cubs can get Tejada and Odalis Perez; the Sox can get Billingsley, Broxton, Miller and Jonathan Papelbon and the Dodgers can get Prior, Penn and, hell, I dunno, Joe Borchard.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Dec 24, 2005 -> 10:56 AM) I see Phil Rogers is still playing MVP Baseball on his Xbox. It sure makes it easier to play with 'Fair Trades" marked OFF. Ha.

He said he was happy to be on the Sox of White and he thinks the Cooper of Don can help him win veinte games next year, whatever that means. Anyone else banking on Cooper 'assisting' Vazquez in winning 20 games?

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Dec 22, 2005 -> 08:37 AM) I was thinking of another NL team that could use some pitching...I am not sure as to what they may have to offer in return is the Giants....weren't the Sox tied to rumors about Pedro Feliz at one point last season?? Any deal w/ the Giants absolutely needs to be hinged around Cain and Merkin.

QUOTE(beck72 @ Dec 18, 2005 -> 08:58 PM) Izturis would be an expensive UTL man, making $3.1 mill this yr and $4.15 in '07. The sox seem set with Mack and Ozuna for the IF. Better to just stick with the dodgers prospects Yeah, some combination of Chad Billingsley, Greg Miller and Joel Guzman in return for Garland would look nice.

Wilkerson posted .248/.351/.405 across the board in '05, along w/ 11 HRs; however, the previous year he posted a .255/.374/.498 campaign with 32 HRs. Classic buy low, sell high KW acquisition.

Brad Wilkerson available? He'd probably fit in better in the #2 slot and CF than Pierre would...

The Nationals could use more/better SP and they have a ton of OFs (CF especially). Make one of those "benefits both teams" trades and send El Duque and mid-tier prospect to the Nationals for Brad Wilkerson and put him in the #2 slot and in CF.

QUOTE(Felix @ Nov 19, 2005 -> 09:58 AM) http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=43376 And Blalock is a third baseman, not first (although he might switch if traded to the Marlins and they trade Delgado) Direct that to the author of the article, as he is the one who referenced Blalock as a 1B.

The Marlins and Rangers are close to completing a trade that would send Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to Texas for first baseman Hank Blalock and a top pitching prospect, two baseball sources said Friday night. Palm Beach Post report

I've got an 'ESPN Question' too and I'll tag it off of your post: Is anyone else annoyed w/ ESPNs "assessment" that this is the first postseason series the White Sox have won since 1917? Did the Sox not win a 'postseason series' to get the World Series in 1919? Did the Sox not win a 'postseason series' to get to the World Series in 1959?

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2005 @ Oct 5, 2005 -> 04:18 AM) Yup. That's why I'm not about to get too excited. Game 2 is a must. I don't see why everyone keeps referring to Boston coming back in series last year or in 2003. This team simply does not have the same pitching it had when they made such comebacks as those mentioned. There is no Pedro to lean on anymore...

Demaso Marte is starting??

Not that this is a shopping list for the White Sox, but here are some big-named players that have successfully cleared waivers: Pedro Martinez, Carlos Beltran, Ken Griffey, Jr, Jorge Posada Full list of NY players to have cleared waivers.

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Aug 13, 2005 -> 01:16 AM) I think that it would be difficult to negotiate with bora$$, but why would we give crede a long term contract ? Read an earlier post that suggested it.

Not to be a downer, but in regards to Crede and a long-term contract: Wouldn't that be difficult with Bora$$ as his agent?