YASNY

I think Gordon can handle the role for this year. I agree with Killa.. you cannot trade him now. We need him too much.

I read "Moneyball" and don't recall seeing the Foulke/Kock trade mentioned. They did linger on the Bradford/Olivo trade quite a bit. When Ring was drafted and Beane heard about it, his reaction was "You've got to be f***ing kidding me!" Also, Beane didn't write this book and brag on himself. The author, who's name escapes now, was simply allowed to observe the inner workings of the A's, and conduct interviews. He reported what he saw and heard.

We need to win this one tonight. I'm glad loiaza's pitching.

1) Who will win the series (CHW/TB) (2 points)? SOX 2) Will Paul Konerko have an extra base hit (Y/N) (2 points)? YES 3) How many errors will the Sox make (4 points)? 2 4) Who will lead the Sox in batting average (min. 4 ABs) (4 points)? MAGGLIO 5) How many double plays will the Sox turn (5 points)? 4 6) How many times will Carlos Lee get on base (5 points)? 5 7) Which Sox reliever will have the most strikeouts (4 points)? FLASH 8) Who will throw the most pitches, Colon, Loaiza, or Garland (2 points)? COLON 9) Who will have an RBI, Carl Everett, Roberto Alomar, or both (2 points)? BOTH 10) Will Rocco Baldelli hit safely in all three games (Y/N) (2 points)? NO TIEBREAKER: How many total bases will the Sox have in the series? 47

Whether or not to trade prospects for aging veterans is always a difficult decision. Look back, Sox fans, Bill Veeck traded off Johnny Callison, Earl Battey and Norm Cash for "key" veterans. We watched those guys star for years with the Phillies, Twins and Tigers, respectively. It didn't work out that time around. So, yes, you can get bit by doing this. However, you can also end up in a perpetual state developing prospects and them losing them to free agancy when there time comes. See Montreal for an example of that scenario. The theory being put in practice here is to load up on minor league talent, keep the cream of the crop, and then use the rest as trade bait to get the ever elusive missing piece to the puzzle. This, to me, seems like a pretty sound plan. I certainly don't want to trade a World Series championship so that A-Web can win Rookie of the Year in a Sox uniform in 2006. I know the Series isn't a gaurantee, but the odds of it happening do not appear to be as long as it was before these trades were made.

4 words: Hey Heather C'mon Let's ...... damn, ran out of words.

WORLD CHAMPION WHITE SOX .... How do those 4 words sound to you?

Did Toronto not just release Batista last season? ..... Hell, if that's the case, I don't want to give up anything of value for him.

Happy Birthday, Bmr ... Just wait till you hit 40. Things really get fun then.

Ponson and/or Batista doesn't sound "mindblowing" to me. Sure they'd be nice additions, but was this what Hawk calls mindblowing?

Frank Thomas mentioned a guy I haven't thought of ... but he is deserving based on his stats. Marte.

You're welcome

Here's the link to Jeremy Reed .

Magglio

Everett

Valentin

You have to remember the Coors Field factor. Jones might be able to help the BoSox.

Call it a hunch ... and HSC planted this in my head yesterday ... but I am thinking Mike Lowell.

After he puts up about 5 more this week, he will be.

Agreed. And Willie can play, what most people call, defense. I don't know what Jimenez does, but that sure as hell isn't defense. I can get all the balls that come within 3 feet of me too. I can also run the bases about as well as Jimenez can. Willie can fly, he can play a little OF, he can play 2B pretty well, he's got some pop in his bat(as much as DJ does), he can bunt, he tries, he isn't a cancer in the clubhouse, and he plays with heart. You tell me how much of that DJ can do, aside from having pop in his bat....and I'd probably have to call you a liar. DJ is a talent, but until he plays with passion and plays hard every single play, he is only going to be a mediocre player at the big league level. Jiminez has a LONG way to go to get to "mediocre". The first thing he has to do is get his head out of his ass when he is between the white lines.

Good point ... you are right. They have played much better since EE put his foot down.

I read this thread from during Frank's at bat through the end. It is so much fun to read and feel everybody's optimism and excitement. What a wonderful, wonderful two weeks this has been! C'mon Sox ... keep it rolling!!!

That is so very true. We cannot assume anything yet. Hell, we are still in third and sitting at .500 right now. Before we started the recenet stretch, begining with 4 game Boston series, we had 16 consecutive games against upper division clubs in front of us. I effectively said at that time, that it was time for the Sox to put up or shut up. Well, we went 11-5 over that stretch, and 9-3 over the past 12. The Sox have definitely "put up". The front office has done it's part, with maybe more to come. For the first time since we started that slide in late April, things are looking promising. Now if we can just take this momentum and run with it, we may have something special happening here.

First of all, tonight's win, to me, was HUGE. We have been unable to complete a sweep. Tonight we accomplished that. The Twins have beat the hell out of us the past 2 seasons. Tonight we finished off sweeping THEM and have now taken 5 of 6 from them. We have reached the .500 mark. It always seems so hard to get there once you sink a few games below. Next, we could have quit when down 4-0 or down 6-5 in the 11th ... or after Guzman mave that game saving play on Maggs. We didn't. That shows me something that has been missing all year! I'm wondering if the timing of the trades had anything to do with us not giving up tonight. The front office showed the players that they believe in them with those trades. Did this help the players really believe in themselves, instead of just saying so? ... Could be. Will that EXTREMELY CLUTCH home run by Paulie get him going? I sure hope so. Big Frank .... you keep leading like this, the team will follow. I still believe we are going to NEED Bartolo Colon to go deep in the playoffs. I don't want to see him traded. In fact, he ran out of gas at the end of last season. I'm glad they are being careful with him. I think Danny Wright is going to a be a very solid starting pitcher, but if we can get Ponson, Wright would serve us better in the pen this year.

Read this a s a complete sentence.... You'll see what he meant.