chitownsportsfan

Frank hit another HR tonight! Congrats to the Big Hurt in his quest for 500. Moments ago, he lined out to the SS--looks like the Frank we came to love at the plate is in full effect. Too bad health had to drive him away from the Sox's plans this year. Still, I wish him the best, and commend KW for making the tough decision to let the franchise's all-time player walk away in the best interests of the team.

What about that catcher from Japan the Mariners got: Jinjo or something. He's started off very hot. This opens up a whole new argument about Japanese (or other foreign players) eligibility. I say let 'em have it: rookie is rookie.

Yea, I don't understand Lee making the list as high as he did. He had one great season where he managed to raise his average over 59 points higher than his career average. Let me repeat that: 59 points! He is never going to repeat 2005--never. He'll likely be the same 120 OPS+ hitter he's always been. Maybe it's his defense at 1B? Although 1B defense isn't that important. I don't know, just trying to rationalize the unreasonable..

Silver is a Tiggers fan? Your guess is as good as mine. Kong shouldn't have made the list--although he's critical on the Sox, he's nearing the end of his career, and although a good hitter, isn't "great' for a 1B making what he's now making.

Right, kinda like a "top 50 players by value over the rest of their career". One thing I think they overlook is Buehrle's sparkling healthy and inning eating ability. His ability to pitch 200+ innings of above average LHP year after year without a hint of arm trouble makes him quite unique--and valuable.

How about a "diminished skills" clause?

I see that BP has now teamed up with ESPN--this is first sign of the apocaylpse. They list their "50 most valuable"--but MB is nowhere to be found. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...e=silver/060418 Pretty large oversight if you ask me. Dave at USSMARINER had MB as his 10th most valuable this offseason. http://ussmariner.com/?p=2788 Pull no punches, sharpen your knives--discuss your hatred for BP and why MB should have made the list. As a sabermetric follower, I still can't stand them.

100 wins? No way. I still have lots of concerns: the bullpen Scott Pods' dumb baserunning Jon Garland the lineup outside of Kong, Gooch, Dye, and Thome Wow, still haven't even played 10%. The season is something I love about baseball, it's everyday, and yet it's so long that it's spread out over spring, summer, and fall.

Hey, I disagree! as does everyone with half a brain. Vasquez pitched well, he was over 100 pitches, and the bullpen needed some work. Nothing to complain about.

Buehrle is going to get his, and I bet he's looking for his last big contract--which means 4 years isn't going to get it done. I see the contract being 5 years 65 million at the least. 5 years 70 million seems about right. I'd try and backload it, so that salary inflation doesn't make a 5th year at 16-18 million look so bad. With the contracts signed by mediocre pitching this offseason, I expect Mark's value to be very, very high.

OMG Ozzie that racist Venezulean f*ck! LOL, does Ozzie have a joke writer? That is pretty funny.

I really like how Ozzie keeps everyone loose. I'm sure everyone that has played any level of baseball and struggled at the plate knows that it's always helpful to have your manager express some humor/confidence in you.

Empirically, the Sox have proved they are a great organization as far as avoiding arm trouble with their pitchers. I'm not worried at all about BMAC.

Wow, the Mets at 5-1 is what makes Vegas a very profitable enterprise. You'd have to be a) a homer Mets fan, or B) a complete 'tard to take those odds right now. Good post, thanks for the info--I'll continue to ignore the mainstream media's "power rankings" unless posted here.

Does he get votes? You're kidding right? Surely you jest? Thomas is a HOFER no matter what he does this season, or even last season for that matter. His run in the 90's--without a whiff of 'roids suspicion--is one of the greatest offensive production runs ever. By modern definitions of success like OBP and OPS--he is way over the necessary barriers to get into the hall. He was a monster at the plate, and average defensively--although I always laughed at his throwing motion. Thomas will go down as one of the greatest hitters of all time.

Hehe, you must have missed the part about this article being two years old?

I'm much more concerned with his falling BA and OBP. I don't think this is really anything that says either way whether he did 'roids or didn't. Personally I think roid usage isn't the worst thing in the world, but it certainly takes away from the integrity of the game. If he did 'roids fine--it sure didn't help him hit many balls out during his time in SF--when he was batting over .300 but hitting very few homers.

Man, looking at that list doesn't really inspire a lot of confidence in the farm system right now. Liotta the number 2 in the whole system--eh, meh, eh, meh. Things would look a heckuva lot better with Chris Young at number 1. But, good job with the article guys--even if you didn't have alot to work with!

Wow, I tried to listen to the radio feed for last nights game--simply terrrible. I couldn't even listen after a few minutes. Farmer was talking when Singleton was talking, and vice versa, tons of awkward silences--stupid asides from Singleton. And frequently Chris would go off on some stupid tangent after a dumb leading question from Farmer--and the would miss the play by play just because Chris couldn't shutup when pitches were being thrown. This is the worst radio tandem I have ever heard. It's a joke, and an embarassment that the World Champs get this.

See, I don't buy that argument: he's 31 years old this year! Sure, he's a "rookie" in MLB, but the guy has already passed his historical prime for hitters, and while I see him improving upon his .279 by 5 or so points, I don't see him hitting over .300. As for the "giving himself up" argument--I won't every buy that--and it's a major reason I was way against moving Gooch down in the hopes that he suddenly hits 20 dongs because he isn't "giving himself up". How often does Gooch bat with a runner on--33% of the time--how often is he "giving himself up" at the plate--10% of the time? Factor in the increased pressure on the defense with a runner on, increased pressure on the pitcher, and I think it mostly evens out. Anyways, that's just my two thoughts. I'm glad that this hasn't gotten into personal attack time yet--a tribute to everyone involved for sure.

He hit .337 over two seasons in the Japanese league--great. I don't think the level of competition over there is anything near MLB--despite what Valentine says. Like I said, If Gooch proves me wrong, I'll gladly eat crow. I jsut don't expect him to hit over .300 here in MLB.

Uh, I think that 13 games in--it's a little to early to say that Gooch is now a .348 hitter SOLELY because Pods isn't getting on base. I'll go on record as saying that this is a silly post and that Iguchi will finish the season batting under .300--no matter what the leadoff hitter does in front of him. Gooch is a good player, just not a .300 hitter--nothing in his career stats suggests anything to the contrary. And heck if Gooch hits .300 this year, I'll gladly eat some crow in September. However, it still won't have anything to do with "not giving himself up" for the leadoff hitter.

Yeh! A Scottie Pods "sparkplug" reference--you'd think White Sox beat writers would have brainstormed for hours over the offseason trying to think up other metaphors for Pods. I guess "tinderbox" just doesn't ring as true in an era of combustion. I'm glad to see this lineup again--it's been too long. Contreras dominates: 7IP, 7K, 2BB, 5H. Sox up big by the 8th when Count is at 100 pitches and Thornton comes in for the last interesting two.

Wow bmags--wtf did I ever do to you man? Heads is pretty well represented in all his posts as willing to give BA a shot--that's why I was surprised. Needless personal attacks are also made everday on this board--it's unfortunate.

I can't believe nobody picked up that sarcasm from heads. And Putting it in green just doesn't make it sarcasm anymore IMO. The best sarcasm always gets mistaken for earnesty--which is why it's so funny. Sarcasm 101 for Soxtalk? Maybe I'll try and write a guide up and submit it so everyone is on the same page, hahaha.