RME JICO

This week will be the test for SI. If they put the NCAA National Championship game or Texas on the front cover, then you know they are full of s***. The Sox won the WS on Wednesday, and the title game actually ended on Thursday morning EST, so it actually ended later than the Sox win. Also, the Red Sox had back to back issues in 2004, one in the WS, and one after their win.

QUOTE(Tadahito Iguchi @ Jan 5, 2006 -> 02:51 AM) Never got a chance to pick one up. Was there ever one to pick up/ It is an ESPN magazine, what do you think?

QUOTE(newvideo @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 05:39 PM) I just wanted you guys to be the first to know that A&E Home Video and Major League Baseball have a White Sox World Series 7 DVD Box Set releasing this spring. It features all four complete unedited games of the world series victories over the Astros (similar to the one put out last year for Boston). Plus the clinching ALDS game 3 verses the Red Sox, ALCS game 5 verses the Angels. Other material included will be stats, player interviews and post game celebrations. Didn't the Boston package include the entire ALCS and the WS? That is 11 games, so it sucks that we are only going to get 6 games. So no 14-2 pounding of BOS in Game 1, or the comeback in Game 2 (Gooch HR), or back to back to back to back CG's vs Anaheim? I would have paid the extra money for all 12 games.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jan 5, 2006 -> 09:55 AM) I just still wouldn't put too much stock in it. The same almost goes for the regular season, with the position Indy's been in the past few years. Yes, we beat NE pretty convincingly this regular season, but I'm still not very comfortable in another potential matchup with them. These games are the ones that really matter. As long as Indy gets up early on any opponent, they will be hard to beat. That is when the DEF steps up and attacks. I think they scored a TD first in almost all of their wins, and the other team scored a TD first in their losses. So that seems like the key.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jan 5, 2006 -> 09:44 AM) You were also putting stock into a meaningless, preseason game (kind of redundant). If you put stock into preseason, the Colts would have the first pick in the NFL draft. No, you missed the point. That is only if the 1st Units played the entire game for every preseason game, which they did not. However, the 1st Units played one half in the Bears/Colts game and the halftime score was 14-7 Bears. At least we got to see the teams actually match up on the field, regardless if it counted or not. In that matchup, the only live action, the Bears won.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jan 5, 2006 -> 09:32 AM) Indy's starting offense hasn't even played a quarter's worth of football since the Chargers game. Of course they're not going to look as good as they did earlier in the year. Thats my point, right now the Bears would win. If the Colts get sharp, they can't be beat, but if they are rusty like they are now, and the Bears D pressures Manning like SD and JAX did, then it is a new game. Indy also seems to play teams at the right time. They played NE before they got hot. They played PIT the first week after Big Ben returns from injury, and they played JAX without Leftwich. In the CIN game, it seemed like the last team to score a TD was going to win. The Bears have had so close games too, but they were winning with Kyle Orton.

I would say if they played right now, the Bears would have the edge. The Colts haven't played a meaningful game in a month, and the 1st team offense has not looked as good as they did earlier in the year. Also, the Bears beat the Colts in the pre season and the Bears 1st team units were better than the Colts. Now I know everyone says the pre season doesn't count, and I know that, but the first half of that game was a nice preview with the 1st units in, and the Bears won. Now the Bears Defense is better than they were then, and are fully healthy again. I remember watching the IND-JAX game, and Manning looked like he was very anxious. Then I saw the same thing in the SD loss where Manning was getting pressure all day long. The Bears Defense is better than both SD and JAX, so I would expect the same type of pressure. So the game will be decided on the other side of the ball (CHI O vs IND D). If it was a Kyle Orton Offense, then Indy wins easily, but I feel that Grossman makes it a close game. Indy's D is good, but it is pretty easy when you have that Offense on the other side of the ball. Indy's Offense makes their Defense better. Now if Indy plays a great game next week, then it shifts to them, but they haven't really showed that much in quite awhile.

This seems to be a normal move. Prior never had the opportunity to do this based off certain requirements in his first contract. In 2005 he met the requirements to void the next year of his contract (2006). That is why they write those things into contracts. Otherwise what is the point of putting voidable years into contracts. Normally the team asks for some performance requirement like innings pitched, etc, and if the player meets that team requirement, he can void a portion of his contract. He would have done it last year but he came up short on the requirement. I don't see this as too big of a deal. The only thing I would question is the timing of the announcement.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 11:13 PM) http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...tesox-headlines So you're saying there's a chance.

Darren Dreifort is available. Here are his salaries from his last contract: LA Dodgers (5 yr deal) 2001 $9,400,000 - 94 IP 2002 $9,400,000 - DNP 2003 $12,400,000 - 60 IP 2004 $12,400,000 - 50 IP 2005 $13,400,000 - DNP 9 wins total as a SP. $279,411 per inning pitched $6,100,000 per win What a deal. He was drafted one spot after A-Rod in 1993. That contract might be one of the worst in history.

I scrubbed the FA list for serviceble RPs who could fill the Viz / Innings eater role. Here are some candidates: Scott Sullivan - 34 737.1 IP, 281 BB, 622 K, 3.98 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, .244 BAA Felix Rodriguez - 33 557.0 IP, 267 BB, 497 K, 3.51 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, .238 BAA Ramiro Mendoza - 33 797.0 IP, 181 BB, 463 K, 4.30 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, .283 BAA Alan Embree - 35 567.1 IP, 217 BB, 518 K, 4.68 ERA , 1.33 WHIP, .252 BAA Dan Miceli - 35 668.2 IP, 290 BB, 614 K, 4.51 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, .257 BAA Jeff Nelson - 39 782.0 IP, 423 BB, 827 K, 3.41 ERA , 1.35 WHIP, .223 BAA Paul Quantrill - 37 1255.2 IP, 336 BB, 725 K, 3.83 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, .292 BAA Jay Powell - 33 542.1 IP, 272 BB, 423 K, 4.17 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, .261 BAA Shingo Takatsu - 37 98.2 IP, 40 BB, 88 K, 3.38 ERA¸1.23 WHIP, .221 BAA Julian Taveras - 32 1081.1 IP, 413 BB, 626 K, 4.33 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, .281 BAA Jason Christiansen - 36 434.0 IP, 217 BB, 384 K, 4.29 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, .249 BAA Antonio Alfonseca - 33 547.1 IP, 216 BB, 371 K, 3.95 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, .279 BAA A few of those don't seem so bad and would be an upgrade over Viz if the price is right. A couple of guys had down years in 2005, so they could come cheap. Any word on Sullivan, I remember he had a short stint with the Sox, but I can't recall much about him. His career stats look pretty good. Rodriguez looks like he has a lot of potential as well.

QUOTE(VAfan @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 09:12 PM) If the Sox were in Boston's shoes, without a major league SS on the roster, I might feel differently. But Uribe at 25 is not only better defensively than Tejada (9.3 win shares v. 6.1 win shares), but his bat has the potential to be 80% of Tejada's, as this baseball reference comparison shows. http://baseball-reference.com/friv/scomp.c...=age&compage=25 Juan Uribe 2001-2005 5 594 2138 286 561 113 30 63 280 125 408 .262 .305 .432 32 21 82 932 Miguel Tejada 1997-2001 5 612 2286 368 587 119 11 95 367 196 393 .257 .324 .443 32 18 99 I posted this earlier: Strikingly similar stats at age 25, and they both are from the same hometown. Strike up the Twilight Zone theme song.

QUOTE(SoxFan562004 @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 06:40 PM) Did he find a new drug to beat the steroid test? He never took steroids, just like Palmiero, Sosa, Bonds, and McGwire.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 07:20 PM) Dude, don't you remember? It's a GIDP in the clutch. I.e. game 5 against the Angels, where ARod single-handedly killed a rally that could have won the game. He is completely clutch-intolerant!

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 08:38 PM) Sarcasm, brother. Oh, and you may have tempered the Beane disciples with your numerous taunts and accusations of mediocrity. That is meant as sarcasm as well, but I may be wrong..... It was sarcasm on top of sarcasm on top of sarcasm. Like meat on top of meat on top of meat!

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 08:03 PM) I've read Moneyball. Where's the chapter about their playoff series victory, again? I may have missed it. Since he's a genius, and obviously his methods have produced a World Series champion, we shouldn't touch Tejada. WWBD should be a braclet worn on the wrist of every GM. Beane has produced a WS Champion? When was that and in what league? The answer is never, unless you count Fantasy Baseball. Beane is way overrated, just like he was as a player/prospect. Granted he has made some nice player moves, but he has never won a World Series. Actually the A's have never even been to an ALCS under Beane. They have lost 4 ALDS. That is some consistent mediocrity. The A's have also gotten worse every year for the last 4 years. So I don't see why this guy gets so much credit. He lets Tejada get away and then the guy explodes. I guess he missed that one.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 06:37 PM) If the pitching falters, we ain't winnin s***. No matter who we add for 06, this team will go as the pitching goes. I know KW knows that. Yeah, but you can't win if you don't score. The best teams have balance, and the Sox would have that with the addition of Tejada. An explosive lineup with a top notch rotation.

QUOTE(ChWRoCk2 @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 06:11 PM) You cant compare them at a certain age, Uribes numbers didnt get better the next year and Tejada continues to improve, besides he was with Oakland that year, and you cant say that they have the greatest hitting team out there. I would get rid of Uribe in a heartbeat, Tejada had a 971 fielding % this past year compared to Uribes 977, thats not a big dropoff, and if were losing Contreras who was a good pitcher towards the end of the season, and adding Mccarthy into the mix who is still young he is going to need lots of run support, Tejada can provide that. Yes you can compare them at the same age, and those comparisons are normally better. I am not saying that Uribe is better, but it is interesting to see how close their stats stack up against each other at the same age. That was the only year that happened though, and Tejada has raked since then and Uribe has been just average. Give us Ray and some cash.

QUOTE(Adam G @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 06:06 PM) We still wouldnt have a #2 hitter. Ozzie wants to move Iguchi down in the order and Tejada swings at everything, so he wouldnt be good there either. It'd be nice if Anderson showed enough ability to move the runner over consistently, but it'll probably be Gooch again if we pick up Tejada. Tejada swings at everything? 83 K's in 654 ABs? You must be thinking of someone else, like Richie Sexson.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 06:01 PM) I mean, if we would add Tejada, does anyone see us being in nearly as many one run games??? Maybe one run innings, or one run per inning. I would say one run games would be cut in half. We also have to remember that Thome is already here.

I didn't know this, but Uribe and Tejada are both from the same hometown Bani, Dominican Republic. Here are their stats at 25 which are very similar: Tejada - 622 AB, 31 HR, 113 RBI, .267 AVG, .326 OBP, .476 SLG Uribe - 502 AB, 23 HR, 74 RBI, .283 AVG, .327 OBP, .506 SLG Is Uribe just a few years away, or was 2004 his ceiling?

If the trade goes down, where would Tejada bat in the order? 3rd? Pods Gooch Tejada Konerko Thome Dye AJ Crede Anderson

Welcome aboard Mack! Glad to have you on the South Side!

QUOTE(palehose23 @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 05:34 PM) vs. White Sox Pitching Good point. It is hard to imagine a team matching what the Sox can offer, so based off how easy KW is to predict, there is a good chance this will happen in some shape or form. BAL is not going to win next year, so keeping a disgruntled Tejada is not going to make things any better. There best bet is for 2007. So what better way to prepare for 2007 by adding a player that they do not need to re-sign in 2007 (Count) unless they want to, they drop a huge contract in Tejada and replace it with Uribe's, and they add a few prospects who could be ready to contribute by 2007 or 2008.

If BAL gives up someone like Chris Ray and some cash, I say go for it. Contreras had one great half to include post season. He can easily revert back to his old inconsistent self. However, you know exactly what you are going to get out of Tejada, and I assume he would be even better on a championship team batting around Thome, Konerko, and Dye. Adding Tejada to the mix would make this lineup even more lethal.