YASNY

Thank You!!!! And as I said, Contreras is one more very important reason to keep Garland around. You guys say Garland is a head case, but you want Contreras to be number 4? This guy is 35 years old. C'mon .... that's crazy.

"Freddie, you've been traded to White Sox, but as part of the deal you have to leave 4 mph of your fastball behind so we can distribute it to some our other pitchers."

Boston has a ton of tough choices to make with just their own players, then when you throw in trying to keep the Yanks from Pavano or whatever, they may focus elsewhere.

Wouldn't that much get us Varitek? I think I'd rather have him. LaDuca is no bum, but JV knows the AL.

Two noteworthy items ... the salary expectations mentioned regarding Pavano. At that money, go get him Sox. The other mentions the Sox as a possible suiter for Benitez. Sun-Sentinel link

I consider it an honor to have been nominated. Thanks guys. I will cast my votes for two other quality candidates, and good luck to all nominees. Regarding HSC, I don't think a banned poster should ever be considered for the HOF. Think Joe Jackson and Pete Rose here, for example.

Good line.

I knew you'd throw those ERA's at me, and yes, it's a good point. However, the point I was trying to make here is ... well, I listed 3 of the top veteran aces in the major leagues and they all took 6 to 7 years and a mininum age of 29 years to learn how to become consistant winners in majors. I'm not saying Garland can be an ace starter, but he has the talent to be very good and once he gets the maturity these 3 had, he'll be a very solid starting pitcher. So, yes, I feel that paying Garland 3 or 4 million as a fifth starter is totally worth the gamble. And to add a bit more, I'm not sold that Jose Contreras can or will hold down the 4th starter slot, in which case haveing Garland still with us would be crucial.

As much as AJ was hated bu Sox players and fans is the number one reason I have for acquiring him. He's a thorn in the side of the opposition and gets into their heads. Let's get his butt over here.

I forgot about him being FA eligible.

Gload's numbers in the first half weren't as good because his opportunities were very limited. He gradually increased his opportunities by producing when he got them.

If Everett is the answer, I don't want to hear the question. :headshake

I wonder if we could pry anymore from the Giants by adding Davis to the deal.

Dear Shingo Takatsu, The single biggest reason you were greeted so warmly by White Sox fans and the city of Chicago is because you were not Billy Koch. Sincerely, A Chicago White Sox Fan

Ok. That says it all.

Don't write off Jason Grilli yet. Just call it a hunch, but I have a feeling this guy will be pretty good.

Do we? Why is that?

Ben Davis has a lot to prove. In fact, I am doubtful he'll really get a shot at doing so. His catcher's ERA is pretty high, iirc. I think the Sox will look to upgrade the position this offseason.

Everett, even in shape, is probably not worth th4 $4M we'll have to pay him. He doesn't really fit in on this team anywhere. Hopefully, things break our way and we get an opportunity to trade him in ST.

I agree. Grilli is worth keeping around, imo.

Yes it has Josh. In fact, I get sick of all posts that have the words hate, sucks, blows, good riddance, etc. There have been only two Sox players I've ever felt that way about and those are Clayton and Navarro. They were both just vermin and I totally despised them both. But you really have to be a total piece of s*** for me to express sentiments like that.

Lee does have the skills that seem to fit better with what the Sox are trying to accomplish. I really think both players will be involved in trade talks and which ever one matches up best in a trade will be sent and the other one pulled off the block.

Have you looked at Kevin Brown's first few full seasons in the big leagues. He had 3 Garlandesque years, broke out in year 4 with 21 wins, then three more like JG. It wasn't until Brown's eighth full season that he learned how to become a consistant winner, at age 30. At the end of the 1996 season, at age 29, Curt Schilling's career record was 48-52 though he made his debut in 1988. Randy Johnson was 39-38 at the end of his 6th season, age 29. So here we got Garland at 45-51 at age 24. Hell yes Jon Garland is worth 3-4 million a year as a number 5 starter. It has taken a lot of damn good pitchers several years to learn how to become a consistant winner. Garland is that type of pitcher. If we go into next season with Garland expected to be our number 5 starter and he does have that elusive breakout year, where does that put us? In the playoffs. I'd rather have a pitcher in that slot that has a chance to break out than a guy the has peaked and is on his way downhill or than what we've seen at number the past two seasons. Honestly, I can't believe people want to give up on this guy.

The fans should support this. It would show the NHL that the real thing isn't needed. LOL

They should let Buehrle pitch one more inning, scoreless hopefully, then pat him on the ass and say "Goob job, come ready to pitch in March."