spiderman

QUOTE(Sonik22 @ Jul 28, 2006 -> 12:51 AM) The only guys i'll believe when they say something are Rosenthal and Gammons. Other than that ill wait till the deal is done. I respect both a great deal....Really, though, even though most of the rumors we hear about never happen, it's fun to hear the possibilites, and this will, for the most part, be over in few days, so strap it down, and enjoy!

Being 8.5 games out of 1st, I'm more focused on the wild card at this point. Saying that, the division race is not over yet - With 10 games vs the Tigers, obviously the White Sox have to play well to close that gap. Being very optimistic, let's say the White Sox can somehow win 7 of the remaining 10 games, that cuts the lead in 1/2 - the rest will have to made up with their other opponents. Back to the wildcard though - we have two teams, Minny and NYY, right with us - let's get into good playoff position, and then worry about the division.

QUOTE(GoRowand33 @ Jul 25, 2006 -> 10:06 PM) this is getting frustrated instead of bunting camp, ozzie needs a smartball camp to get the team back You must be really missing it....It's been gone for quite a long time now, dating back to the 2nd half of last season. When the White Sox hit HR's, they usually win. It's not happening right now because most of them are solo shots. When guys get on base again ahead of the HR's, runs will be on the board, and the White Sox will be back in the win column. QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 25, 2006 -> 10:49 PM) I think sometimes people forget how bad our offense was last year. One of the reason small ball seemed to help us win games is because it was the only way that team could score. I think sometimes people forget how bad our offense was last year. One of the reason small ball seemed to help us win games is because it was the only way that team could score. Do people not remember the pathetic swings we took against B. Backe in Game 4 of the World Series? How about how we went about 8 innings in Game 3 of the WS without a run? To add to this, I think people forget how good our pitching was last season. The offense really wasn't that good, but they didn't have to be with the pitching hold teams down. This year, the pitching has been bad, and the offense very good with the added pop. Now, everyone is slumping in the lineup at the same time, the pitching continues to be wobbly, and we're losing games right now. Once the lineup gets going again, and it will soon, the Sox will return to winning games. QUOTE(kapkomet @ Jul 26, 2006 -> 07:32 AM) EXACTLY. I was thinking the same thing when reading this thread. This team is not that different then last year. BA instead of ARow, and Javy instead of El Duque. Now the bullpen is different, but that's not the issue right now. It's the one inning brainfarts by our (starting) pitching staff and the swing for the fences mentality at the plate instead of just trying to get on base. Those are mental brainfarts, something that this team right now can't seem to overcome. In the 2nd half of last season, and into the playoffs, the White Sox were hitting HR's to win games....Nothing has changed this season. QUOTE(WCSox @ Jul 26, 2006 -> 11:18 AM) You're right. Pods, Ozuna, and Cintron are "slowish power hitters." 2 of the 3 players you mention are bench players. What was your point again ?

The White Sox were slumping before the Soriano rumors came up, and even if they were sick of answering questions about potential trades, I don't think Konerko (or any other player) is thinking about these things when he's playing. The White Sox are slumping. That's it....On top of that, they are playing good teams who are hot as hell. That's never a good combination.

From Teddy Greinstein's article in Friday's (07/28) Tribune: Extremely close? Ozzie Guillen is extremely close to his sons. U.S. Cellular Field is extremely close to the footprint of the old Comiskey Park. Chicago is extremely close to its next heat wave. But unfortunately for ESPN's Tim Kurkjian—and, perhaps, White Sox fans—"extremely close" no longer applies to the team's prospects for snagging Alfonso Soriano in a trade. Kurkjian uttered those words Monday. Now he wishes he hadn't. "I felt comfortable that the White Sox were serious players [for Soriano], even if just for a day," Kurkjian said Thursday. "But if I had to do it again, I would have worded it as serious interest, not extremely close." Kurkjian's a terrific reporter, and he has been covering baseball for 25 years. But even he hates the countdown to the July 31 trading deadline. "I don't sleep well this time of year," he said. "It's very, very uneasy." One of the challenges is figuring out which sources to trust. "There's so much misinformation out there," he said. "You get something from a general manager and then call another GM with that piece of information, and he says: 'Where did you get that? It's not even close.'" When a source told him the Sox were on the verge of landing Soriano from Washington, Kurkjian filed a television report that ESPN.com picked up. "I think what [the report] did was establish that the Sox were indeed seriously interested, which I don't think had been out there," Kurkjian said. "But clearly my source took it too far, and I did too." Kurkjian, who no longer believes the deal will be completed, fears his source might have been using him in an effort to boost Soriano's value. For example, say the Tigers and Sox are interested in Soriano. If the Tigers believe the Sox are close to landing him, they might improve their offer. That would benefit both the Nationals and the Sox. "It's a really, really bad feeling to think that someone you're dealing with is telling you something just to force another team to do something," Kurkjian said. "But it happens every day." Kurkjian quickly rebounded after the Soriano story. He broke the news that the Sox had acquired Kansas City reliever Mike MacDougal. "At least I had that right," he said.

I actually feel like the end of this slump may be near after tonight's 4-3 loss...they showed a bit of life, and even though they still aren't scoring runs without the home run, they started getting a few hits. For some strange reason, I don't feel as negative as I did last night.

The local ESPN update says, according to Bruce Levine, that a trade for Soriano could still happen if the Nationals accept a package that includes Lance Broadway.

QUOTE(CWSOX45 @ Jul 25, 2006 -> 11:33 AM) Nothing really new. Offman just reported if we were to acquire Soriano we'd trade him for more pitching help. Ofman said that we could trade him for other parts.... Ofman knows nothing more that we do - he has said over the last day that we could keep him or trade him, and that the trade could still far apart. Guess he covers all the possibilities for us.

ESPN FIRES REYNOLDS By ANDREW MARCHAND July 25, 2006 -- ESPN yesterday fired analyst Harold Reynolds from Baseball Tonight, sources told The Post. The reason was not immediately known. "We are not going to comment," ESPN VP Josh Krulewitz said. When asked how they are going to explain that Reynolds will never be on the air again, Krulewitz still declined comment. Reynolds did not return calls. Reynolds, 45, had been with ESPN 11 years. He had been a fixture on the show, which is a gathering spot for baseball fans, players and team executives. The program already is dealing with the loss of information man Peter Gammons. Gammons is recovering from a brain aneurysm that occurred at the end of last month. The show's main analysts had been Reynolds, Gammons and John Kruk. In Gammons' absence, ex-Met GM Steve Phillips has played a bigger role on the show. The program uses several analysts, including Orel Hershiser, Tino Martinez and Jeff Brantley. Last night, host Karl Ravech was joined by Kruk and Phillips. Reynolds usually is on Monday nights. Reynolds was known for a smooth style that usually was player friendly. He never found himself in too much controversy for what he said on the air. In fact, ESPN was so high on him he was expected to stay with the network through its just signed eight-year deal with MLB. Now, after yesterday, Reynolds is no longer welcome in Bristol.

QUOTE(daa84 @ Jul 25, 2006 -> 08:09 AM) i think a deal can be worked out...... kenny could try to get one more bullpen arm + prospect for garcia....then hell ship pods + the new prospect + a sox prospect (anyone other than fields and broadway) for soriano I think your solution, while makes sense, is a lot to happen in few days.... QUOTE(SoxFan562004 @ Jul 25, 2006 -> 08:16 AM) it's hard to tell with what everyone is reporting, but listening to ESPN radio this morning it seems that the teams were at least still talking, no McCarthy may ultimately be the deal breaker, but it seems like the teams were still talking. Just take what some of those talking heads on ESPN say with a grain of salt... BTW, you guys see Harold Reynolds got fired ?

QUOTE(beck72 @ Jul 25, 2006 -> 05:55 AM) Why, what's happening? Just a feeling....If we won't trade McCarthy, our best major league prospect, and won't consider Broadway or Fields, possibly our best two minor league prospects, I just don't see a deal as working out. QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Jul 25, 2006 -> 07:19 AM) Why is the Soriano to the White Sox headline still #1 on ESPN.com's front page? Its clearly been stated that McCarthy isn't going anywhere. Unless the Nats will take less, like Pods and a couple of prospects this deal isn't happening. Hasn't been updated, I'm guessing, but I'm sure it will be soon.

It certainly sounds like we can put the Soriano rumors to rest...

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 09:12 PM) I think Kenny will look to improve any way he can. If pitching is at a premium, and hitting is a lesser valued commodity, than you go ahead and get the bat. The object is still to score more runs than the opposition. True enough, and I don't doubt that Williams is going to try something, but if you're going to force your offense to score 5+ runs each game, to me at least, it isn't going to turn out good when you still have 20 games or so vs. the Twins/Tigers. I don't really think there's a whole lot Williams can do except what he's doing, and thats maybe looking at the impact hitters...

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 09:05 PM) I don't know if this is going to go through or not but after tonight's game, I know KW is going to do something substantial to shake up this team. What would something substantial be ? They aren't hitting at all except for solo HR's, and the pitching is spotty, certainly not on par with the Twins or Tigers. Trading for Soriano may be a shakeup, but when it comes down to it, the pitching just isn't that good this season. Maybe the offense will get going again, and hide the deficiencies, but clearly the pitching just flat out stinks.

Once again, Ozzie leaves Javier in the game too long to start the 7th... Once again, the White Sox bats are silent except for the occasional HR.... Once again, White Sox find themselves trailing to another quality ballclub....

The White Sox don't need a long man. McCarthy and Riske are both capable of going multiple innings, and McCarthy has shown he can go 2+ on occasion.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 08:23 PM) Latest is that Kenny has said he won't trade any of his starters and that includes Brandon. Talks have cooled and its believed that the Sosx are interested in Soriano, but only want to give up prospects. One persons source (Fathoms) mentioned that the deal may have broke down because of contract talks involving a no trade clause (Sox not wanting to give it). There has also been other talk the Kenny would get Soriano and than spin him off (of course if we were in fact negotiating a contract, that would dispell those talks). I have a hard time believing that McCarthy was ever involved - how could it have reached the point where it was considered close to happening if Williams had no intention of moving McCarthy ? Surely, he would have rebuffed Washington right away, correct ? This leads me to one of two conclusions - Williams dangled McCarthy out there to spark Washington's interest, and then leaked the info that a trade was close to get other competitors to step their offers OR ESPN just jumped the gun on this story.

ESPN was orginally reporting that Brandon McCarthy was involved - obviously, that turned out to wrong as Kenny Williams denied that McCarthy would be traded. Saying that, I wonder if ESPN jumped on this story without having their facts straight, and all of the other news organizations, including our 2 local sports stations just jumped on the national story. What say you ?

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 03:37 PM) His future is about as guaranteed as McDougals. How long until he's on the DL again? I have to admit, I'm very upset with Williams right now. Our already thin system has traded it's best starting pitcher. If McCarthy is traded I'll be even more angry. That's unless we're unloading Soriano to a ballclub with a pitching prospect comparable to McCarthy. I want to know if we're actually intent on developing a minor league system? Using it as bargaining chips is great and all, but having some pitchers available to replace our current rotation would have been nice as well. MacDougal's health has got to be a question. We're going to be asking him to pitch down the stretch, in probably quite a few back to back games. Trading McCarthy does upset me - yes, he's still a bit of a prospect, but he has shown the ability to get major league hitters out, and he would be in the front end of our rotation for the next several years.

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 03:35 PM) Look at how poorly he's been playing left. Do we really want Mackowiak-style defense out in CF every day? With Soriano in LF, and even the possibility of Pods in CF, from a defensive standpoint, I'm getting sick to my stomach. Please don't mention Rob Mackowiak or I may throw up.

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 03:23 PM) Lumpsden is gonna own us in a few years. So certain are you. He may have a good future, we'll see.

I can't believe the White Sox made a trade within their division! Unbelivable!

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 03:16 PM) Score is also reporting the Soriano deal isn't as close as has been reported, although it is Offman so take it FWIW. Offman just took a dig at ESPN saying 'it's not as close as another network is reporting..."

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Jul 24, 2006 -> 03:15 PM) better not be Tyler It is...

MacDougal acquired by White Sox for 2 minor leaguers...including Tyler Lumsden