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QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Feb 19, 2010 -> 03:48 PM) Then why did Kenny meet with Matsui and talk him up, then say we couldn't afford him? Why did it come out that the Sox went after Johnson but couldn't match the Yankees? I side with the other poster who said the Sox probably offered their midseason acquisition money to Damon. But even if that is true, it still shows how crappy their plan is because going after Damon last-minute shows they have no confidence in it, especially if they were offering emergency fallback money. And BTW, Matsui can play LF probably about as well as Damon can. Neither belong out there and Damon in LF with Pierre in CF while Rios gets a day off is no freakin' picnic as it is. And then CQ lumbering around in RF. Yuck. Plus Kotsay is the backup 1B. Damon is realistically just about as versatile as Johnson or Matsui. They're all DHs who belong at DH, and the only reason we wanted Damon was because of his bat, not his so-called versatility. The speed factor is probably a major part of it too. The Sox (and everyone else) are afraid Matsui's knees will not allow him to play the OF much. Damon is more versatile because he can stil play the OF and Kotsay is the LH backup 1B so they don't need another one. So they weren't going to sign him unless they were confident he could play the field. They met with him decided he couldn't play the field and that ended it. With Johnson they weren't going to pay a DH only guy 5.5 milllion and since this was early on in the process they weren't going to sign a DH only guy at all. If they were going to do this they would have signed Thome who was going to give them a discount. This shows nothing about how crappy their plan is. It shows how crappy YOU think the plan is because you don't agree with it.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Feb 19, 2010 -> 03:29 PM) Friday is the new Sunday. If we have $6M then not only did Kenny lie about not being able to afford Matsui or Johnson, but he way overstated how broke the Sox were. And there's no f***ing way Damon was going to bring in more revenue than Mr. Japanese Baseball Hideki Matsui. KW said there is always another move to make. There was no money for Matsui or Johnson because they are strictly DH's and don't fit into the philosophy the Sox are going with this year. Damon would still have allowed them to rotate players between the DH, OF and 1B. This would not be possible with the other two. THE WHITE SOX ARE NOT GOING TO SIGN A DH ONLY PLAYER.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 19, 2010 -> 01:39 PM) this isn't a classic reality show. It's not just sticking normal people that want to be famous for 3 months into an INTERESTING situation!!!!!!!! It's more like a TV documentary. I doubt they'll be making KW and Ozzie do scavenge hunts to see who will be kicked off the show first. JR said that in order to afford Damon they need to get rid of someone. This is the only way JR could fire someone, make it thier own choice and make money, all at the same time.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Feb 19, 2010 -> 08:00 AM) It's nice to see that some people read before expressing an opinion. As for this NFL guy's post on Damon, my intuition tells me that it's a Boras plant. But I think that Boras would pay off somebody more credible than that. As I recall Damon was really good friends with some of the Patriot players from his days in Boston. Maybe he told some of them and this scout talked to them. OK, it's reaching but it's a really boring Friday here.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Feb 18, 2010 -> 02:59 PM) Given that I was only 7 years old at the time I knew very little about the 1994 team so I recently looked up the standings. The Sox were only a single game up in the division and 3.5 games up in the wild card and tied for the 3rd best record in baseball on August 10th, the 1995 World Series champion Yankees and their 6 hitters with an .800+ OPS had the best record in the AL. The way Sox fans talk about this team I just assumed they were way up in the division and held the best record in the AL. Regardless of how incredible people think that team was they were barely holding on to a playoff spot with the absolutely stacked (7 hitters with an .800+ OPS) Indians right on their ass and 2 months to go, I am now convinced that Sox fans are delusional. We always have been and always will be.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Feb 18, 2010 -> 02:05 PM) Not even a contest. The '94 team was the best I've ever witnessed. The pitching was just about as good as '93 with a VASTLY improved offense. Frank was Frank. He was the best offensive player in the world at the time. But what Julio Franco brought to the lineup, well, words really can't describe. And now I feel like going to the zoo and killing every animal I see. '94 still hurts. not to be a downer but I think Montreal had a better team that year. Pedro martinez, John Wetteland, Larry Walker, Delino DeSheilds, Moises Alou It would have been a great World series.

QUOTE (dmbjeff @ Feb 18, 2010 -> 01:19 PM) Everett was the DH because they were waiting for Big Frank to get back and he only lasted a month thus, Jurrasic got the bulk of the AB's. But the DH spot that year put up 35HR and 113rbi between the 2 that season. I seriously doubt Jones/Kotsay get to much more than half of that total. everyone knew that frank wasn't going to do much. I'm not asking how it tunred out, I'm asking if people were comfortable with it. Jones hit 17 HR in limited at bats last year. There's no questioning if he played full time he would be close to leading the team in HR's, however are people comfortable with that going into the season. It doesn't sound like most people like it.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 18, 2010 -> 12:47 PM) "How many high-OBP guys did we have in 2007 and 2009" Not many. We had a really bad OBP last year. And as has been pointed out, we had decent #s for men in scoring position, but those opportunities didn't exist. Last year we were 10th out of 14 teams in the AL in OBP. In 2008, our OBP was still pretty low, but we made up for it with more power. This year, we didn't add any more power, and it damn sure doesn't appear that we added more base runners. So, like 2007 and 2009, we are going to start the season with a huge, gaping offensive hole, watch us struggle, get 5 or so games behind and then use our minor league talent to nab a different player to fill this hole. In 2005, we were the most complete team. Though we didn't grab amazing players, each spot was filled with a competent player. In years since, it seems a sure thing to go in with a s***ty spot, and it hurts the team. We do have a high payroll, and if we don't win, it will need to be decreased. What's fascinating is that you want to trade players in the minors that for the first time look to be real MLB potential talent, whom would be cheap for 6 years, for players that would last 1 or 2 years before getting massive raises. I'm not happy about Damon being the last resort, I've b****ed about it all winter. But it is what it is, and a one year stop gap does this team a hell of a lot of good. Really? You were satisfied with Everett as being the primary DH?

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 17, 2010 -> 04:28 PM) # are trending topics @ is the person you are replying to RT means you are quoting someone elses tweet (ReTweet) Thanks, I was wondering what that was.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Feb 17, 2010 -> 04:24 PM) I'm gonna say it. I think we're going to get him, and i couldn't be happier. It was worth all this rotating DH s***, all my pontificating and all the b****ing, if we wind up with Damon. Come spring training, i might just give KW a hug. They will still rotate the DH to give players time off from the field. If they get Damon it will be Damon, Pierre, TCQ, Jones and PK as the DH. Damon fit well with the rotating DH plan. He can still play the OF and rotate through.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Feb 17, 2010 -> 12:09 PM) I mean, if the Sox really want him, why wouldn't they just pony up the extra 3-4 million bucks. I mean that is nothing in the grand scheme of things if they really want him. We have to be more than 1-2 million away from Detroits offer. Because JR knows that as soon as he does this Boras runs to the Tigers and has them up thier offer. The White Sox will be a little short of Detroit's offer at any level. You may as well make your stand at this price instead of driving it up and still being short and counting on Damon wanting to be in Chicago and not Detroit.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 16, 2010 -> 07:07 PM) From Boston to NYC to detroit burbs. Looks like a step down to me. Maybe he really likes the suburban pace, but there is also zero metropolis to venture into which is a huge minus. In Chicago at least you can drive or take the train to the city to go out or get something to eat, Detroit, no so much. But Windsor is a very close

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Feb 16, 2010 -> 05:55 PM) I wasn't factoring in salary. Obviously, it's less than realistic, but hypothetically speaking i don't think Damon mitigates any other moves being made. When a team is near their reported budget limit, the salary is the first thing you need to consider. Signing Damon would put them over their budget and would prevent anything else from happening. KW wants that flexibility so that after the team plays for awhile, he can fill whatever weaknesses pop up.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Feb 16, 2010 -> 03:52 PM) Except for the fact that it's probably his last chance to land a semi-lucrative multi-year deal (he'll be 36 in June) and it's a guaranteed $14M. If Damon were to suffer a major injury this summer (like a torn ACL), he might not be able to play again until he's 38. I don't see why he didn't take the (alleged) 2/14 offer from the Yankees. ^^^ If Damon could stand taking a trip to the Bronx every day, driving into Detroit for two years isn't the worst thing in the world. I'm sure it's because Boras advised him that he could get more. This is also why this process is being extended. Boras is trying to save face by getting a similar offer elsewhere. Lopez already dropped Boras because he made him salary promises that he couldn't keep by overvaluing him. Now Lopez is just trying to get a job.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 16, 2010 -> 01:12 PM) There's a BIG if if if in your equation. Putz. Because I'm sure not very many people feel comfortable right now with Pena, Linebrink and there's a pretty high amount of trepidation about Jenks as well. Williams? The long man. We have the POTENTIAL to be a great bullpen but more likely we'll be average. Second, it would have been impossible NOT to improve the defense, no matter what moves were made. I'm not sure that we can determine what we have with Jones in terms of his defense until Spring Training comes around and we see what his playing condition is... i agree they are if's. however, I think they are good gambles. The bullpen may not be great but i think with everything you said it will be better than last year. I also agree with your assessment of the defense and it will be an improvement over last year.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Feb 16, 2010 -> 11:39 AM) It's not semantics, it's fact. (Almost) Every trade that's ever been made has been made with the idea of improving the team towards the future. A lot of teams make deals down the stretch, and a lot of teams make huge deals to insure the future of a team. KW doesn't get a free pass for having made the Peavy and Rios moves, he get's a thank you from the fanbase and then the mandate to improve the team around these pieces. Two moves, big or small, does not an offseason make. it is semantics because what is the difference if he makes the team better in July or if he makes the team better in November. The only answer is the time frame. Those moves make the team better. KW is not getting a free pass on where the team is still weak. Hitting. He should get credit for improving the team's pitching and defense. if you still want to talk timeframes he still improved the team's pitching in the offseason with Putz and improved the bench and defense with Jones, and Vizquel. Hitting is still the team's weakness. With the budget the sox have it is near impossible to have an outstanding team in all three areas of pitching, defense and hitting. KW chose to go with a very good pitching staff, an average but improved defense and the weakness in the area of hitting. If I had to choose which order to spend the money i would do the same. Since the sox knew they were going to be weakest in hitting they are going with a "create a run" theory on offense instead of power. Will it work? I have no idea and it is a weakness. But given the choice I personally would focus on pitching as well.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Feb 16, 2010 -> 10:58 AM) We're paying Mark Kotsay as much money as the Twins are paying Jim Thome. A guy that would have solved these problems, and rid me of my concerns. 1.5 million bucks, that's all that it would have cost. That's chump change in the pocket of Mr. Reinsdorf. If 1.5 million bucks proves to be the difference between us winning the divison, and us failing to do so. I am going to be furious. We need this Damon signing like crazy. Your point of saying Peavy and Rios pick ups don't count for the offseason is just semantics. They were acquired late in the season and make this team better than last year's team. So, they weren't technically acquired after all teams stopped playing games. They still help to make this team better than last year's team. Especially in the areas of pitching and defense which is the focus this year. the Thome arguement is getting old. The only thing he brings is power. His strikeouts killed scoring opportunities and his high number of walks didn't alow for consistent scoring opportunities because it took three hits for him to score. The DH only arguement is valid. But Thome wasn't the answer. The "Reinsdorf's money" has also been rehashed many times. There is a budget whether you like it or not. They cannot go over budget now and have no flexibility for injuries at the trading deadline. If an injury occurs there isn't alot of help in the minors. KW needs a little flexibility in case a player other than an OF gets hurt because this is the only place Damon could help. Damon's salary may be in the budget but maybe not. There are other factors to look at other than the immediate concern.

QUOTE (SI1020 @ Feb 15, 2010 -> 10:22 PM) Sorry but I would have to disagree. I have no doubt that many players in the past used "greenies" and other similar pick me ups. The problem with amphetamines is although they can give an energy boost over the short term, in the long haul they have devastating affects in the manner opposite of what they're intended to do. One of the saddest sites of my long ago youth was a burnt out speed freak. Gaunt, pale, paranoid and unhealthy. The strength and stamina long gone. Greenies will not help you bulk up, increase your skull size. Anyone taking them gets a short term edge at best. Comparing greenies to steroids is like comparing a popgun to a bazooka. I understand what you're saying and it's true as far the steriods. However, once the end of July hits and players especially older players begin to wear down the "leaded" coffee begins to really flow. Baseball is really an endurance game and as Yogi Berra would say 90% of the game is half mental. Look at players who really wore down at the end of the season such as Dye. This is becoming more commonplace due to the lack of greenies. Of course, the banning of steroids is making a huge difference but only for a select group of players. The greenies is making a difference in everyone's performance. The game is becoming a younger players game again.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Feb 15, 2010 -> 09:42 PM) How do we know they are negotiating with Boras? Heyman is a good reporter but we don't know that he was right on this. More likely Boras was leaking that to get the Tigers to bid against themselves. ANd it seems to be working if 2 yr/14 mil is true. More likely KW gave Boras an offer and said take it or leave it. This latest report is Boras trying to get the Tigers to up thier offer to either get the Tigers to bid against themselves or see if KW blinks.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 22, 2010 -> 10:57 AM) I think you see this far too narrowly. Yes, Teahen fills a gap. But he also improves the infield NOW, which is key. And he's also a bet that KW is willing to make, that he MIGHT turn into the player his potential seemed to dictate. If he does, then you have a good problem. If not, Morel and maybe Viciedo are behind him. Basically, KW did what he always seems to do - gave himself options. The other aspect is that if Morel does come to the Sox while Teahen is here, Teahen has the versatility to be a utility guy for the IF and OF. So either way Teahen is a good type of player to have both now and for the next few years.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Feb 15, 2010 -> 01:12 PM) Welcome aboard! As ye be a Tiger fan, this'd be your colors. Anyway, yes, Prior and Wood blew out their arms, but neither had near the workload he had last year. He pitched a Buehrlesque amount of innings last year, but he's a different type of pitcher. Buehrle is built to be a workhorse, since he doesn't throw hard at all. Verlander tops 100 more than anyone else, and he pitched a lot of innings. I should rephrase what I said earlier, he won't pitch as badly as he did in 2008, but he won't pitch as well as he did last year. I'd peg him for something like 3.75 ERA, 16 wins. I wouldn't be shocked if he did better though. This has no bearing on the workload. When MB throws 90, he is working just as hard as Verlander when he throws 100. If two people are sprinting in a race just because one guy lost doesn't mean he wasn't working as hard he just isn't as fast. Just because he can't throw as hard doesn't mean he isn't working just as hard if not harder. Now if you want to compare mechanics and which motion is more efficient that's a different discussion. The workload in the previous can have a major effect. This is where you need to worry about a drop off. Some handle it better than others.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 14, 2010 -> 07:34 PM) See Kevin Orie, Bobby Hill, Gary Scott, Jerome Walton, Dwight Smith, Shawon Dunston, Rich Hill, Angel Guzman, etc. Some of those guys turned out to be "decent" major leaguers like Dunston, but nothing close to their hype. As for Viciedo, we'd all rather see him at 3B because of his arm strength, but if his range/mobility are lacking, he has to be moved to 1B/DH or corner outfield. We've already invested the signing bonus into him, so let's just be patient and wait things out instead of jumping off the bandwagon. Alexei Ramirez was 26 and a "seasoned" veteran when he came to us, those comparisons of Viciedo making an instant impact (he got more money than Ramirez, who basically was a ROY type player) because they were both Cuban (not to mention our success with Contreras in 05/06) led us to see this signing with rose-colored glasses. Many of us were guilty of thinking he could make an impact as early as 2009, while others were being a lot more realistic. And the expectations for Ramirez when he came to us were very low, kind of a super-sub/utility guy in the mold of Ramon Santiago or Jose Oquendo with a "plus" arm but reed-like physique who would struggle to hold down the last spot on the roster or be in AAA. By the way, Keith Law is an a s s. I'm going to get tired of reading that we have the worst farm system in baseball when it's the opinion of ONE writer. I think that 18-24 is a lot more indicative of the actual level of talent in our system. The only difference from this year to last year is Gordon Beckham being removed from the list. That doesn't account for falling 10 spots when we had a very solid draft last year. Mitchell and Flowers, theoretically, have the ability to be All-Stars at their positions. Hudson is seen by many as one of the top 25-40 prospects in baseball, while some don't even rank him in the Top 100. Then you have Viciedo and Jordan Danks, both of those guys have God-given natural ability that can't be coached or taught. Neither of them may make a HUGE impact, but you can't begin to compare the state of our minor league system with 2-3 years ago when it was Josh Fields, Jerry Owens, Ehren Wasserman and Angel/Andy Gonzalez at the tops of the depth chart. And Trayce Thompson has as much upside (and downside) as any prospect in the low minors today. Sure there are doubts about Morel or Viciedo or CJ Retherford, but we're not close to being the worst farm system in baseball...no matter what Keith Law's personal vendetta against the Sox and/or KW happens to be. I don't think you can count Walton and Smith as part of the Cubs overhype machiene as Walton won rookie of the year and Smith was second. However, neither turned out to have much of a career.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Feb 14, 2010 -> 06:13 PM) A.J. Pierzynski = the Polish Prince, Dennis the Menace (my personal fav. for him) Dennis the menace will always be George Brett. As big a Sox fan that I am He is one of my all time favorites. "Million dollar" Floyd Bannister

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 14, 2010 -> 04:46 PM) I understand. The main problem I have with projections is that they generally hate pitchers that pitch to contact. It has been proven that pitchers can do just fine with pitching to contact. It's just unpredictable, and thus can't be factored in. Take Buehrle for instance...he's the absolute definition of a guy that pitches to contact, but he has fantastic command of his stuff, and has only had one terrible year in his entire career, and yet, year after year, projections predict he'll end up with an ERA in the 4.50 range. Another significant problem with most projection schemes is that use standard deviations and standard error of measures to predict regressions. These stats depend on there being a normal population bellcurve for the stats. We are dealing with the top persentile of baseball players not a normal population. So the predicting of "regression to the norm" or part of the way is not a valid statistical assumption.

How about Maggie Lawson from psych?