South Side Fireworks Man

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 06:18 PM) Well, if you go by either UZR or by runs saved, Adam Dunn at 1b really wasn't that much worse than Paul Konerko at 1b last year. But if you go by actually watching them play baseball, Dunn is a complete butcher in the field and Paulie is pretty decent.

QUOTE (Jake @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 05:12 PM) If we can't get Paulie, I'm down with starting Viciedo and using that 12-15 million on relievers. You could build one hell of a bullpen with the cash freed up by playing Viciedo, who I think will make a hell of a corner infielder. The only problem I have with this scenario is with Ozzie as manager I just know we'll be seeing a lot of Adam Dunn at 1B and that would be a very bad thing. That's why I am now hoping for Derrick Lee. Even Ozzie isn't stupid enough to play Dunn at 1B when he has a gold glove caliber first baseman like Lee on the team, and Lee has been one of Ozzie's favorites from their days with the Marlins.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 06:09 PM) per espn: The White Sox were believed to be offering three years and between $36 million and $39 million. But Adam Dunn's new deal was worth $14 million a year, and indications are that Konerko's camp is holding strong for at least the same, if not slightly more. If true, Sox were already willing to overpay to bring back Paulie. If he won't sign for $39M, he doesn't really want to play for the Sox. Bye, Paulie! Paging Derrick Lee.....

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 06:04 PM) There is no way the Sox offered less than $36 million over three years (no info, just speculating). And that rate, the only disrespecting is Konerko demanding more. I would love to see the Sox sign Lee and then see Konerko get a shaft if this is all true about his $15 million mandate. I am just sick of athletes clamoring that they are being disrespected with offers of $10-plus million per year. Please. That's just typical Cowley trying stir up s*** against Kenny Williams yet again. There's no way KW made Konerko an offer that "disrspected" him and there's no way Paulie felt disrespected by the offer the Sox made. Cowley's just being an asshole as usual.

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 05:52 PM) If it's not about the money, then PK needs to quit f***ing about and say that and tell the Sox he's not coming back. If it's not a money issue then what the hell else does he want?? It is kind of sounding like Paulie is using the Sox to drive up his price and get more money out of the Diamondbacks. I don't blame KW for not pissing around with this anymore. Bring on D. Lee and the bullpen arms. I don't think Paulie really wants to play for the White Sox anymore. I don't know the reason why but all the signs are there. His comments at the end of the season that the Sox could offer him more money than another team and he still might not return indicated that he was tired of playing for the Sox. One could have speculated that he didn't think the Sox would "go all in" and that was the reason, but now the Sox have brought back AJ who took a lower offer to return and then deferred half of his 2011 salary, and they also signed Dunn who deferred part of his salary. If Paulie really wanted to stay he would have jumped at any fair offer the Sox would have made. Since he's still holding out, I say move on. They can probably sign Derrick Lee along with two decent bullpen arms for what Konerko wants. Add in the two draft picks and it's a no-brainer. I really wanted Konerko back but since it's obvious that the Sox aren't his first choice, time to move on. I'm sorry to say that they're probably better off without him (if reports of him wanting $13 - 15M are accurate).

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 07:52 PM) He's been very clear that he wants to hear offers, hoping to find a place closer to home. I don't see how that's him being unfair in any way. I didn't say he's being unfair, but it's also fair that KW moves on if he doesn't get a prompt answer from Paulie. AJ took less money to be with the Sox and deferred half his 2011 salary to free up money for PK. Dunn deferred part of his salary to free up money for PK. Ozzie, KW, Reinsdorf and the White Sox fans all made it clear to Paulie that they love him and want him back. If he can't make up his mind by tomorrow or so, I say KW had better protect himself and move on to Plan B before Plan B is gone.

QUOTE (Frank_Thomas35 @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 05:56 PM) cst_sox “There’s a fine line - when do you risk losing ur Plan B and C in favor of trying 2b as patient as u can with ur Plan A.’’ KW on PK deadline 4 minutes ago KW is losing patience fast. If Paulie wants to screw around too much longer, KW should just go with Plan B. Maybe they can sign D. Lee for 2 years at half of what Paulie wants and use the rest of the money on the bullpen. I want Paulie back, but I'm wondering if he really wants to be here, considering his comments at the end of the season and his hesitance to re-sign now. I'd really be pissed if the Sox wait too long and he decides to sign elsewhere causing the Sox to miss out on their Plan B guy. s*** or get off the pot, Paulie!

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 4, 2010 -> 02:53 AM) We really don't want to see Teahen at 3B or RF, so it seems that KW has no choice but to do another Linebrink-esque deal to get him off the roster and away from the playing field. I don't want to see Teahen on the team at all. Many say his main asset is that he can "play all over" making him a super-sub. The truth is he can't really play well defensively anywhere. Sure he can put on a glove and be stationed at 3B, 2B, 1b, LF, or RF but he is a negative defender at any of those positions. But the main reason I don't want him on the team is Ozzie. Most other managers would use Teahen as a LH pinch hitter, backup 1B, and maybe once in a while at DH. I could live with that. But with Ozzie, I guarantee he will be this year's Kotsay, getting way too much playing time at the expense of Morel, and probably even Paulie, Dunn and whoever the RFer is. The fans will grow to hate him, not because of the player he is but because of the way Ozzie will over use and abuse him ala Duane Wise, Mark Kotsay, Mackowiak, Erstad, Timo, etc. Like all other GMs, KW has to put together a bench but he also has the added burden of "Ozzie proofing" the roster. Please KW, get rid of Teahen before his presence on Ozzie's squad comes back to bite us.

QUOTE (bschmaranz @ Dec 2, 2010 -> 10:28 PM) WOW, Christmas came early. Welcome back AJ! Great news! Now let's re-sign Paulie, get a closer and a RFer and we're good to go!

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 2, 2010 -> 08:43 PM) A.J. in 2008 - 504 AB .300 BA 13 HR 49 RBI .728 OPS 30 CS runners 23% R.C. in 2008 - 504 AB .219 BA 23 HR 81 RBI .699 OPS 33 CS runners 30 % (prorated to equal AB) A.J. in 2009 - 474 AB .270 BA 9 HR 56 RBI .688 OPS 27 CS runners 26% R.C. in 2009 - 474 AB .278 BA 33 HR 107 RBI .832 OPS 37 CS runners 28% (prorated to equal AB) Now post their actual numbers. You know, there's a reason why Castro never gets those ABs.

I'd take Konerko over Lee but I'd take Lee + Pierzynski over just Konerko if it came down to that.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Dec 2, 2010 -> 07:56 PM) Is Olivo still out there? Haha, I love that guy. I do too but apparently his own team's pitchers don't feel that way about him.

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 2, 2010 -> 07:47 PM) Honestly, Castro was better than AJ the last few years.Honestly, no. That is ridiculous. Maybe not the absolute worst thing, but still pretty darn bad.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Dec 2, 2010 -> 05:39 PM) KW says they have room for both Dunn and Konerko, and that would be the ideal fit. - Cowley Hopefully there's also room for AJ, then they're set.

If Paulie isn't so sure he would sign with the Sox even if they offered him more money than another team, which is what he said, why would he consider playing for the Cubs, unless the Cubs absolutely blew every other offer out of the water with some ridiculous contract? If Paulie winds up signing with the Cubs for anything close to what the DBacks, Angels, White Sox, Red Sox etc. would likely be willing to pay him, I'll lose all respect for the man.

QUOTE (joeynach @ Nov 26, 2010 -> 06:36 PM) Sign Orlando Hudson to play 2B, he consistently posts a line of about .280/.350/.420 and averages about 60 RBI from the top of the order. Let him play 2B and use Beckham either in a trade for Rasmus or move him back to 3rd. He would cost about $5M, and you can still afford to resign Konerko and/or go after Dunn. Pierre Hudson Rios Konerko/Dunn Rasmus CQ Alexi Catro/AJ Morel/Vizquel Not bad.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Nov 26, 2010 -> 05:36 PM) Now if you talk about a FA signing that would help us let's talk about Uribe. Sign Uribe to play 2B, then include Beckham in a trade with the Cardinals that includes Colby Rasmus.

QUOTE (spiderman @ Nov 25, 2010 -> 10:23 AM) I'm not sure that they are any better, probably about the same. Dunn is always good for his 30+ HR's (maybe 40 again) so I like that as a DH, Lee is coming off a subpar season, but that could be who he is now at this point of his career. I really think they need to add a veteran catcher, if it isn't AJ. Your scenario isn't bad, I just don't know if the team is any better. I don't see that team contending with no catcher and Quentin in RF. If they brought in Dunn to DH, Lee to play 1B and brought back AJ, maybe they'd have a shot. If the money isn't there, I'd rather they go with Viciedo at 1B over Lee and re-sign AJ instead of sacrificing AJ for Derrick Lee.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 23, 2010 -> 04:18 PM) What options do we have when someone else offers AJ $7/year. That's why I would have liked the Sox to offer him arbitration. But since the Sox brass thought otherwise, they better be able to either re-sign him or get someone better to take his place. Tyler Flowers is not an acceptable option. The Sox won't get anyone as good as AJ for any cheaper what AJ would cost them anyway. The Sox made their decision, now the onus is on them to get a good catcher. I hope it's AJ.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 23, 2010 -> 04:06 PM) Sounds about right to me. I want no part of AJ at around $7 million. I would be interested at around half of that. As long as we don't go into the season with Flowers or Castro as the starting catcher. AJ at $5M per year for a couple of years would be fine by me. Or maybe more like $4.5M per year for two years with a team option for a third year with a $1M buy out.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Nov 17, 2010 -> 06:00 PM) There is no reason Dunn couldn't play 1st decently enough. I respectfully disagree. Dunn is not very good at 1B at all from what I've seen.

QUOTE (balfanman @ Nov 4, 2010 -> 03:15 PM) I would only want V Mart on this team as a primary dh, part time 1st baseman, and 3rd string, emergency catcher only. That would be great. I'd love to see the Sox sign Martinez to be the starting DH and re-sign AJ to be the starting Catcher with Castro as the primary backup. Having Martinez as a third string catcher gives the Sox a lot of real versatility with being able to pinch hit and/or pinch run for the catcher more freely. I wouldn't want to see the Sox even consider bringing Martinez in to be the starting catcher however. And I hope Flowers is not on the 25 man roster when they break camp.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Oct 30, 2010 -> 05:22 PM) Look in your crystal ball and predict Tank's future, especially next year. I personally think he's KW's boy and will be our backup 1B and half a DH combo. I think his bat is ready but where do you fall in all of this? More seasoning in AAA? I see it the same way you do.

Uribe was probably all around the best SS, the best 2B and best 3B the Sox have had in a very long time. At least up until the last four months of 2010 when Alexei really stepped it up at SS anyway.

QUOTE (fathom @ Oct 28, 2010 -> 04:20 PM) I'll be honest, I root for Uribe to succeed more than I did for Thome when they went elsewhere. Same here.