YASNY

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 17, 2009 -> 11:47 PM) There's rumor/s that there was a "handshake agreement" in place between KW and Gillick, that the Phillies would also pick up the tab for nearly half of the option year, but this was never publicly illuminated from what I've read. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense from the Phillies' standpoint to expose themselves to further financial losses on a "bad" contract, but I've seen this story a number of times from different posters on different boards. Maybe it has become an urban legend by now! This is a perfect example of just how little we know about about the inner workings of MLB. We try and 'scout' guys based on the internet and try to figure payroll for a team when we don't work in the payroll department. In a nutshell, when it comes right down to it we are clueless. But, it's still fun.

QUOTE (Allsox @ Jan 18, 2009 -> 03:49 AM) I'd rather take the given of BA's gold glove CF (I believe this board can agree BA at minimum is an above avg CF) than the hope of Owens' offense and suspect defense. This pitching staff puts the ball in play a TON, we need someone to chase down balls all 9 innings, not just the 9th. Besides, at least BA has some pop in that bat and isn't a Konerko on the bases either. That! ^ We have pitchers that pitch to contact. We need, no make that NEED, to have a very solid defense. Personally, I don't think we can count on much offensively from either of them. I'd have to go with BA as a starter just for the defense.

jated havy

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Jan 17, 2009 -> 02:14 PM) that was like the worst day of mylife If it was the worst day of your life due to the results of a ballgame, count your blessings.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jan 4, 2009 -> 11:34 AM) I just don't think Josh Fields can be our everyday 3Bman and play at a defensive level that we need to be winner. I'm willing to see what he can do after an off season of working with Ozzie and Cora and having his legs healthy.

QUOTE (Maury @ Jan 4, 2009 -> 01:25 AM) Defense was great. His plate presence , situational hitting, and baserunning are as bad as it gets. Fields was hurt last year and his glove is not as good but I'm sure everything else is better. We'll never know if they would have been better with out, but I'll always remember Juan's great catch in the World Series that ESPN ignores because it wasnt Jeter and his overall good defense. Beside that, he's a dumb baseball player. He can catch a ball and free swing at garbage. My opinion of Uribe is somewhat higher than yours. I guess we'll just have to let it stand there.

QUOTE (Maury @ Jan 4, 2009 -> 12:58 AM) I don't care about getting into the playoffs last year. I was just happier then hell that we sent the Twins home crying. I knew there was no chance in hell this team would beat TB. Bottom line is this team wasn't good enough to get to the world series. Not sure if they could have done it with Fields or not, but I'm just glad Uribe's gone and the Twins went home early. I agree that Uribe is no longer needed, but he wasn't as a bad as some make him out to be. He's a very solid defensive player at three positions and that's pretty rare. He had a certain amount of value while he was here.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jan 4, 2009 -> 12:51 AM) I was wishing he'd get the ax before that, I just was really unhappy with him having a starting job. Not so much with him being on the team. I said at the time that cutting Uribe would be a mistake and I'm glad they didn't. He did a very solid job replacing Crede.

QUOTE (Maury @ Jan 3, 2009 -> 11:56 PM) Wow. I don't want to see Uribe back here ever. Good defensive guy. Got to be one of the dumbest baseball players since Carlos Lee. If we had jettisoned Uribe when we did Ozuna, there is no way in hell we'd have won the division. A lot of people were wishing for Uribe to get the ax at that time.

I'm not going to put a lot of thought into analysis here because I just don't believe it will happen.

QUOTE (MO2005 @ Dec 31, 2008 -> 08:08 AM) I don't recall the Kids Can Play era was in 2007? I think that was the old guys can play era...If you read through thoroughly you would notice that I didn't make a false claim, but you made false assumption that I was talking about 2007. To my understanding the Kids Can Play era was in the early 2000's and late 90's. wite's reference to 2007 was inspired by this remark, I'm sure ...

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Dec 28, 2008 -> 12:03 AM) Those are probably some of the best uni's the team has ever had. I couldn't disagree more. Those were hideous.

Merry Christmas from western Kentucky to Soxtalkers world wide!

QUOTE (Rooftop Shots @ Dec 18, 2008 -> 08:36 AM) Man O Man! Not sure of the ages of both of you, but by the looks of our postings along with the dates that we all put on them, are all 3 of us somewhere in the top 5 of nursing home wheelchair posters on Soxtalk? Rooftop, I already have 50 in my rear view mirror.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Dec 18, 2008 -> 07:49 AM) After they became successful they claimed to only have played one or two High School dances, but I swear I know a lot more people who went to High School where they played. I know I personally saw Styx at 3 different high school venues (Richards, Stagg, St. Patrick's). However, the one Richards was the only "dance". The other two were concerts.

QUOTE (Wanne @ Dec 24, 2008 -> 01:34 AM) I honestly have no problem handing the CF position to BA. You know the D will be stellar...and if he could put up a .240 avg....and in the neighborhood of .300 OBP...I'd be thrilled. Problem is...there's really no other position for the leadoff hitter to come from right now unless Kenny pulls Roberts outta his arse. That's the dilemma. I think Anderson would hold down CF just fine and I believe Getz will nail down the 2B job, but you have to have somebody hit at the top of the order.

NSS, I have to respectfully disagree with you. Given the choice today between Kotsay, Owens and Anderson I'd put Brian and CF and hope for the best.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 11:32 AM) No fair, you probably actually did sit around a hot stove To be honest, when I was a kid my grandparents had a coal burning stove to heat the house with. So, yes I did.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 09:42 AM) I think he and his agent seriously misjudged how bad the free agent market is ATM, and the effect the economy's had on that. He may have to swallow his pride, and sign a 1 year deal and take a pay-cut, and hope things pick up next off-season. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Let me throw a few names out here. Eddie Fisher, Bob Locker, Hoyt Wilhelm, Roberto Hernandez, Bob James, Bobby Thigpen, Scott Radinsky, Goose Gossage, Terry Forster, Keith Foulke. At one time or another each of these guys has been the shut down reliever for the White Sox. I also remember each and every one of them as White Sox. In his time in a Sox uniform, Bobby Jenks has been as good or better than any of these guys while they were members of the Sox. How anyone can not see just how effective Bobby Jenks has been is beyond me. I don't care if his heater tops out at 72, the guy has been getting the job done.

I don't know if Marquez can be a decent starter or not. I'm also not going to get on here and act like I really know one way or the other. Kenny Williams is paid to make those judgement calls. Sometimes he gets them right and other times he screws the pooch. But, in general, I trust KW's judgement.

QUOTE (bighurt4life @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 02:57 AM) Hot stove action is definitely lots of fun to watch and track. Bonus points for anyone who can tell me why it's called "Hot Stove" for baseball offseason. The expression comes from the image of people sitting around a hot wood or coal burning stove in the old days, talking about baseball as they long for spring.

QUOTE (Cubano @ Dec 21, 2008 -> 10:23 AM) It is frustrating for me to watch how the Cuban government exclude Cuban exiles from participating with their country. It is frustrating for me to watch how MLB is in bed with the Cuban government to exclude Cuban players playing for other nations when the eligibility criteria is so flexible and ridiculous. MLB has always been full of ... I seriously doubt MLB had any option other than excluding Cuba completely.

When I'm looking for Sox news, I look here first. If news is breaking anywhere, it ends up on here shortly.

David, would you give us a scouting report on yourself?