Princess Dye

Point blank is we dont know what the team's going to look like. If your point is as simple as --as we stand right now we're a bad offense-- then yes we'd all agree. But you are saying that we're probably going to make no additional moves. There's just zero evidence to back that up. It is your hunch. We even have KW saying he foresees a move happening later in the offseason for a DH. Thats more than he usually says, even

I would think if people were honest with themselves, they're upset about this less b/c it's Vizquel but more because our initial free agent splash isnt a big one. Were this an additional move announced in conjunction with a trade for Adrian Gonzalez for spects, i'm sure everyone would be loving it. Like Orlando Pace being a great signing right after the Cutler trade. Had Pace been the only move of the offseason...i wonder what the response wouldve been.

Also I'm not ready to write off Kotsay as being non-starter quality. He might not give us the power, but he has hit righties well (even when he was w/ Boston) and can play the field better than Pods and Dye.

As a frame of reference, if Peña can get you Brandon Allen for LF, imagine what Hudson/Flowers could do. Right now may be the last time to move them while there's an element of mystery to each. More in the case of Flowers.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Nov 23, 2009 -> 12:59 PM) "who cares" next to Alex Rios's name isn't lazy? In his defense it was 'who knows' -- and it's about right in that we dont know what we'll get. I would be totally fine with the 2008 numbers....Gladly will take those doubles.

If we need a source of optimism... consider that the DH/corner OF positions are easiest to fill with what we need. Power. Have two prospects that we can use in a deal to fill that. We can likely do something with Jenks if more $ is needed. If you can replace Dye and Thome's power somehow (can probably bring back Thome super cheap), then look at all the additional HRs we've added.... Teahan over Getz, Rios over BA/Wise Defense is improved over last opening day. The staff is great, and the pen (as most pens) will depend on someone having a bounceback year, etc.

I like the thought of bringing in OV for late game defense...but who does he go in for? OV to 2b and Becks to 3b?

QUOTE (chisox2334 @ Nov 23, 2009 -> 11:16 AM) a poster on southsidesox.com met Jake peavy over the weekend and was told from peavy that the w sox are trying to get A. gonzo. The article is up there with pictures of him and jake peavy over the weekend. I wonder if what he saw at the bar was a beer-fueled apparition. kind of like beer goggles but they make you see staff aces instead of more attractive women

Some people believe the postgame should be purely therapeutic during a loss. I for one prefer when the callers' feet are still held to the fire. At least have a reasoned thought. Problem is people imbibe during the game and then get worked up enough to call in and talk loudly about what players had a particularly bad game. As if the world needed that contribution. Not that I want to bring back Prohibition or anything

(SEMI-SPOILER...) There are just so many predictable movies out there. ESPECIALLY when it comes to sports movies...they're usually giving the viewer what they want. So I liked what this one does.

I'm in the camp saying that I'd lke to know what else that $1M could have gone towards. Nonetheless, we dont know for sure that JR is unwilling to spend. So just like Rios, you cant knock it til you see the final product they have for us. And, much like that move, you cant argue with a move aimed at shaving some brutality off our 2010 late inning defense.

To make it as an above-average 1b in MLB...Allen is going to have to be sooo good. We might regret grabbing Peña but we wont see this as a colossal mistake unless something really crazy happens with Allen. We probably shouldnt revisit this for awhile it's like waiting for a comet

When I was an usher there I had to dance on the dugout in the 7th Fortunately they have pros now

When the cars drive out onto the outfield in between innings at USCF, i start thinking i'm on a different planet and start wishing i was as well I was at Wrigley once when a mom in the row behind me dropped her baby into my row. I assume this was a mother.

I have this feeling KW wants to turn the leadoff keys over to Beckham. Anyone of consequence you'd bring in costs you money. Bringing back Pods costs you a power position, costs you defense (unless he's DH). The way I see this offseason.......if we dont bring back Thome, we will likely make up for his power from last year with the Rios and Teahan acquisitions. 35 dingers from those two incoming....they replace the powerless Getz/BA I'm kind of intrigued by Thome and Kotsay being here though. That way you're making up for Dye's power as well. Kotsay improves the OF defense. We'd kill righties....... Factor in a full year of Beckham XBHs and CQ power (we hope). The pursuit of AGon tells us that KW is ready to go back to bashing HRs

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 19, 2009 -> 02:38 PM) Trading for Peavy and picking up Rios and then not goign for it all this year...that strikes me as a poor plan. This rotation...you get into the playoffs and you could have 4 straight guys pitch CG Shutouts. We've got the fancy rotation, let's ride it before people get hurt or before they hit FA. You are probably right that this is their plan.....if so then a trade of prospects is all but assured. If not then we're looking at a big Pods/Thome/Flowers/Kotsay stew.

I'm probably in the minority here, but if we're not going to go all out this year, then lets keep our money instead of giving multiyear deals for middling talent. Say we have 7M to spend this offseason. If you could spend all of that on Nick Johnson, great. But I dont think it's possible. So wait til AJ and Paulie come off the books and then really go for it......dont cut into those future funds now if you dont have to. Also I'm just flat out a Kotsay fan. Looking at his #s against right handed hitting.......even when he was with Boston ....he still has always been able to do that. This wont be terribly popular but you can improve defense by making him an outfielder and putting either Quentin or Pods at DH. Also Flowers can get DH ABs this way.

It really sucks to get something wrong AND be called champ

Ozzie could finally get his third catcher later this year..... they could call up Flowers and then stretch the versatility of several of their guys. Flowers could be a part time DH this way. Lillibridge can play all over. Nix has played OF...Retherford has played all over the place Alexei can move around to different positions in an emergency. And it should be interesting if they ever stick Beckham at 3rd against certain lefties. My guess would be Nix plays 3rd in those situations though......and I dont know if i like it

Great post bmags. Reporters/newspapers are concerned with the scoop. Here we want to learn more about our team's thought process. Even if this sounded hard to accomplish, we were at least glad to know the kind of player they want and the potential method of acquiring. Reporters need to do enough to inform, we need to have enough to be able to carry on day long conversation.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 18, 2009 -> 10:39 PM) And really Soxnet isn't "new". There were some issues that made it disappear for a while, but essentially it has been getting stuff right since at least 2002, which is more than I can say for some... Has lasted perhaps four times as long as Monsters In the Morning? Though that may be a little more costly to produce

Thought it was great.

I must agree that it's kind of weird to call something "preliminary discussions" -- when we all figure that each of these trades just kind of starts the same way -- with a conversational phone call. It either goes somewhere or it doesnt. If it's shot down immediately, that too was a preliminary discussion. But 'preliminary' means it's headed somewhere... so it has a little bit of a loaded tone to it. Now, if someone has a problem with SoxNet's wording...that presupposes the person putting out the rumor has any idea of how far along it is. If they have to know that each time, then nothing will ever be put out there. Kind of a double edged sword. Whether to report or not. I think most of us fall on the side of wanting all the rumors that have any validity whatsoever. My life is boring enough .....i come here for news of any liminary, be it pre or post or middle!

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 18, 2009 -> 06:35 PM) In game 163, Joe Mauer, who had locked up the AL batting title, bunted against John Danks because he couldn't hit him. Mark Buehrle has thrown two no-hitters, has pitched in the postseason, and has pitched well in the postseason. Floyd is the #4 starting pitcher. It doesn't matter if they "strike fear" - if you put lion on the mound, it's going to strike fear in the opponent. What I want on the mound in the playoffs is a guy that is going to pitch well and give the team a chance to win. These are some pretty small sample sizes. I dont want to rag on our guys, but it sounds like you're calling John Danks a dominant pitcher. I mean, you cant argue that with Halladay in for Floyd...it's a gigantic difference in what an opposing playoff opponent has to face. Yes it costs more $$. That is the reason why.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 18, 2009 -> 06:29 PM) You can also consider a restaurant. Say said restaurant has 4 very good cooks and 1 cook who is learning/old, but can hold their own. Say your serving staff is full of under-qualified employees and is lacking employees. Is the kitchen going to get that much better if you the best cook in town? Probably not. Is the serving staff going to get that much better if you add the best server in town? You bet your ass. It's simply following the Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns. In a seven game series that restaurant would be outstanding though. Wait wah I think in our heart of hearts we know that Mark/Floyd/Danks isnt striking fear into another team come playoff time. Solid but I think we'd still be the underdog against whatever other divisional champ we'd face.