RME JICO

There also aren't that many teams looking to pick up Paulie for either financial reasons or not being a team need, so weighing options shouldn't be that complex. I have to believe that every team that has interest in him has already made an offer so they too can look in other directions if it doesn't pan out for them. These Winter meetings should be very interesting.

Even if he has a better year than last year and does it for several years, it is hard to justify a 5 year contract for a 30 yr old reliever who has one year as a closer under his belt for $47 Million no less. Me likey KW!

QUOTE(AirScott @ Nov 26, 2005 -> 01:46 PM) don't know if anyone's said this here already, but I think Mueller pretty much refuses to bat anywhere but 8th, anyway, he says he feels most comfortable there. That is really odd. I can see if you were batting leadoff or cleanup, but 8th? How do you get comfortable with the 8th spot, and is it that much different than the 6th or 7th spot? He will bat where the manager feels he needs to bat.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2236893 That is the biggest contract ever given to a reliever (5 years @ $47 Million). Mariano Rivera had a 4 yr, $39.99 Million deal in 2001 which was the previous high. I know teams have to do what they need to do, but this guy had one decent year and now he receives the biggest contract ever for a reliever. This is a perfect example of what not to do. This guy pitched 70 innings last year, so if he averages around the same amount of innings for the entire contract, that would be $134,000 per inning pitched! Ouch! Thank you Bobby Jenks!

Just doesn't look right: Aaron I wish you the best in Philly and I am hoping that the Sox can pick you back up as a FA in 2007. You will be a great example for their ballclub as you were for the Sox.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 09:25 PM) Put me in the Jim Thome fanclub. You are in! Also, the picture was sarcasm.

Was this them: http://www.pcgamingtech.net/images/lee.jpg I know it is rude to bother celebs, but I would have said something along the lines of "Look there is Scott Podsednik" and pointed over his shoulder to see his reaction.

Another promising perspective: Speaking in reference to Howard and the prospects (remember Jerome Walton): The rest is here: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews...ts/13257650.htm

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 09:01 PM) And our precious Haigwood and GIO would be of zero help in that regard, unless they have a hidden talent of getting on base at a crazy clip and hitting 30-40 bombs. I heard Haigwood was a monster in T-Ball! Seriously though, you are right. All these moves are based off of timing. KW's main consideration is building another winner in 2006 by shoring up the few areas that needed addressing from last year. So he uses the organization's wealth of prospects and OFers and attacks the weaknesses by adding a Lefty with power for move #1.

QUOTE(3E8 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 08:20 PM) You can feel strong competition from one other party. I said limited not weak. Yes, I am sure the Sox are happy they don't have to face Thome again, he is now on our side. Here is a quick rundown of most of the current players and what organizations they came thru to get to the Sox: 1B - Konerko (Dodgers/Reds) 2B - Iguchi (Japan) SS - Uribe (Rockies) 3B - Crede C - Pierzinski (Twins/Giants) LF - Podsednik (Rangers/Mariners/Brewers) CF - Anderson RF - Dye (Braves/Royals/A's) SUB - Harris (Orioles) SUB - Widger (Mariners/Expos/Yanks/Cards) SUB - Perez (Mets) SUB - Ozuna (Cards/Marlins/Rockies) SP - Buerhle SP - Garcia (Astros/Mariners) SP - Garland (Cubs) SP - Contreras (Yankees) SP - McCarthy RP - Jenks (Angels) RP - Cotts (A's) RP - Politte (Cards, Phils, Blue Jays) RP - Hermanson (Pads, Expos, Cards, Sawks, Cards, Giants) RP - Hernandez (Yankees) RP - Vizcaino (A's/Brewers) RP - Marte (Mariners/Pirates) So 4 players out of this bunch came up thru the organization, and the rest were acquired from another team (from 2005 you can add Everett and Blum).

QUOTE(3E8 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 08:09 PM) I'm still upset about this trade and the only reason I believe KW gave up as much as he did is because he felt strong competition in the market for Thome. There was very limited competition since Thome had a No-Trade clause and he said that the only 2 teams he would go to would be the Sox or the Indians.

It is hard to question KW's move after what he has done over the last few years. There are obviously things we do not know. He is the master at getting undervalued players for overvalued players. I remember the Pods deal was also largely questioned and look how that turned out. The Freddy Garcia deal was another one - the Sox gave up Olivo, Morse, and Reed, and look how that turned out for both sides. Also, don't forget the Phillies are paying $22 Million over the next 3 years. That is not chump change by no means. Granted, right off the bat it is hard to see why the Sox are giving up their starting CF, and 2 LH pitching prospects for a player the Phils deemed expendable with the emergence of Howard. You have to also look at the residual effects of this trade. This trade with the buyouts of Frank and Carl frees up cash to resign Paulie. The Rowand move allows the Sox OF prospects to get some big league time. Just take your pick there, the Sox are loaded at OF in the minors with Brian Anderson getting the first crack. So the only questionable move are the 2 prospects, and right now thats all they are. The Sox have actually done a better job of picking up other teams pitching talent compared to grooming their own thru the farm system. Even by losing the Haigwood and Gio, the Sox still have Liotta, Haeger, and Broadway, so the system in not completely depleted of pitching prospects.

QUOTE(KevHead0881 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 05:45 PM) Well, the trade is official! Trib: Thome trade a done deal Although, on an interesting note, nowhere in the article does it mention Gio as being part of the deal. It just says a player to be named later. Is it still expected to be Gio? Am I missing something here? In the article on MLB.com it says: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article...t=.jsp&c_id=mlb

This seems to be a high risk high reward deal. Obviously a lot will have to do with Thome's production, but the other aspect of the trade is with the prospects Gonzalez and Haigwood. It is somewhat surprising to see both of them in the same deal, both lefties, both with very good ratings. Rowand is available for FA status after 2006, so he very well could end up back in a Sox uni for 2007.

$4.5 Million is a lot for a long-reliever, but with the Sox financial situation, unless they get a great offer, I think they will keep him. The Sox rotation will be one of the best in the Bigs next year and when you add El Duque in the pen with the others, the pitching staff will easily be one of the best from top to bottom (please trade Marte).

Yep, Already posted in this thread: http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?sh...ic=42765&st=495

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 08:17 AM) You want to know how stupid those numbers look? I think they just took an average of his 2004 numbers along with his 2005 numbers. AVG .274 + .207 = .481 .481 / 2 = .2405 Round up .2405 and you get .241 If that's how they actually came up with his 2006 projected numbers, it's pretty lame if you ask me. Good catch, that is hilarious. His numbers were down all year because he was playing hurt, then decided to get the surgery when the pain was too intense. I personally wouldn't consider any of the stats he had from last season. His 2004 numbers would be a better projection: 42 HR, 105 RBI, 104BB, 144K, .274 AVG, .396 OBP, .581 SLG Then you add the Cell factor and I am sure some of those numbers will change slightly: 45 HR, 111 RBI, 106BB, 147K, .272 AVG, .395 OBP, .583 SLG

Some interesting bits from this article: http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/whitesox.asp?id=125348 So Anderson it is. Looks like KW did that. Really cool to see mutual respect. I also like the fact that Thome has already offered to fly to AZ to help with Paulie.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 11:26 PM) Yeah, sure. Should be something like, "How to write horrible and biased articles like an Expert" or "How to make completely wrong predictions everytime, guaranteed"

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 11:20 PM) So here's the question...how will Thome respond when no one believes in his team and everyone picks against him before the season? Just add another chip on his shoulder. This boob Perry also said Konerko was one of his Top 5 FAs that are not worth it. So obviously when the Sox lock Konerko in, he will also say that it was a bad deal for the Sox, hilarious.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 11:15 PM) Dayn Perry is a f***ing douche. That hasn't changed. He's got his head so far up his ass he can already see the turkey and potatoes he had for dinner. Yeah, I know he is, but man, he has no clue. Pods for Thome? Thomas instead. So I guess the Sox are going to wait and see if Frank is healthy in a couple of months, miss all the FA's and then we have Timo at DH. I can guarantee if Thome went back to the Indians he would be saying that they would be a lock for the WS. Oh damn, he already projected the Sox NOT to even make the playoffs: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5050632

Yeah, that would be sweet. I also like the Hard Hat Day in the Right Field stands.

FoxSports Dayn Perry, with a horrible column about the trade: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5111062 This guy is so biased against the Sox it is ridiculous. Every single playoff series he picked against the Sox. I thought ESPN was bad, but this guy is right there with ESPN. I cannot believe they pay him. I know everyone has an opinion, but he is trying to compare Thome and Thomas in regards to injuries, even though they had completely different injuries. He never once mentioned who Thome was replacing (Everett), and says that the Sox should have moved Pods instead of Rowand.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2005 @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 03:09 PM) And you're not a Yankees fan? No way, born and raised on the South Side, lifetime Sox fan. Unfortunately, not many Army installations to choose from in the Chi-town area.

QUOTE(Beastly @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 07:03 PM) Has JR set a budget? How can we be certain they don't have the money? What I mean is the Phils agreed to pay X amount per year ($22 Million overall), so the Sox don't actually get that money, the Phillies just continue to pay that portion of Thome's contract. The number that comes out even per year is if they pay $6.5 million per year and also cover the $2.5 million bonus Thome is due this year. That would total the $22 million exactly. I can be WAY off, like they front or back load the deal, but it should be fairly close to the numbers above.