RME JICO

As long as Jim is healthy, this is going to be a great acquisition for the price we got him for. Now the Sox need to bring Paulie back into the loop and we will be looking really good for 2006.

Gio has more upside and is probably a year away from coming up. I don't know how that will translate to the NL though.

I think it gives Paulie incentive to come back, and it might add a little pressure for him to make a decision.

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 06:06 PM) The only part i dont like about it is that Gio is involved. Other than that i am a fan of this deal. Yeah, there will always be parts of the deal that will not sit well, but you always have to give to receive.

QUOTE(FlaCWS @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 05:57 PM) I'm not sure how this is a good trade at all. After winning the World Series because of PITCHING and DEFENSE we give up an above average centerfielder for a full-time DH? Did the Carlos Lee trade teach us nothing? Plus, does this mean Konerko is definitely gone? If so, we now have zero defense at 1B and a guy who strikes out a billion times. He hits a ton of HRs? So what, so did Carlos and Mags, and guess where that got us. This deal makes no sense to me after what Kenny did with this team last year. None. Carlos Lee and Magglio both were right handed batters. A left-handed masher to compliment Paulie and Dye will be lethal. Obvioulsy KW knows something that we all do not. I remember the Olivo deal and the Lee deal and thinking the same thing, WTF, but then when I saw the results on the field I saw the plan in action.

QUOTE(Allsox @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 05:48 PM) Thome's yearly OBP totals are absolutely disgusting: '94 - .359 '95 - .438 '96 - .450 '97 - .423 '98 - .413 '99 - .426 '00 - .398 '01 - .416 '02 - .445 '03 - .385 '04 - .396 The guy does strike out a ton but he does average 100 walks a yr as well. Plus, a career .281 batting avg isn't bad Rowand's OBP: 01' .385 (63 games) 02' .298 (126 games) 03' .327 (93 games) 04' .361 (140 games) 05' .329 (157 games)

QUOTE(dmbjeff @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 05:42 PM) they are paying rowand 10 mil in theory...very good point That is a great point. I never looked at it that way.

Just picture a healthy Thome playing in a Sox uni next year, and playing half of his games at the Cell!

Right now I am torn because I liked Rowand, but I can just imagine Thome in a Sox jersey opening day against the Indians. That is going to be a great day..

QUOTE(SoCalSouthSider59 @ Nov 22, 2005 -> 09:47 PM) Sure would be nice if the Sox could just keep the whole team intact, like the Angels pretty much did, after winning the 2002 Series......... Not really a good example: Angels record in 2003, the year after the WS = 77-85 (.475) Hopefully the Sox will look to make small improvements in areas where they struggled, like adding a left-handed bat or two. If the front office gets complacent, then the other teams will catch up (Indians, Twins).

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Nov 22, 2005 -> 10:42 AM) Does anybody REALLY expect crede to be here long term. Did you forget who his agent is? Exactly! The Sox are going to have a hard time on Joe's next contract. There will always be questions about his back so Mueller is an available alternative right now. He is also a switch hitter with post season experience. He knows the city (former Cub), so you never know. 2006 Lineup? Pods Pierre Dye Konerko Thome Pierzynski Iguchi Mueller Uribe

I am wondering if all this press is another mental game that KW and Ozzie are playing. Obviously Rowand had a down year with the bat, and they are trying to leverage his performance to put a fire under him for next season. Maybe to workout and fix his swing this winter so he strikeouts less, etc, etc. Very similar to how Crede's name kept coming up during the trading deadline, and then he turns it on in the 2nd half and post season. Is this even possible, or do you truely think Rowand is on the block?

From a stats comparison, Pierre did only have 45 K's in 656 AB's which is really good. Compare that to 116 out of 578 AB's for Rowand. Other stats: SB's - Pierre 57, Rowand 16 HR's - Rowand 13, Pierre 2 3B's - Pierre 13, Rowand 5 2B's - Rowand 30, Pierre 19 SLG - Rowand .736, Pierre .680 RBI - Rowand 47, Pierre 69 AVG and OBP about the same. If this was a one for one, and the Sox want more speed, and a lefty batter, it is pretty easy to see that this would be a great move. Contracts: Pierre $5 million a year for 3 years (2005-2008) Rowand $3.25 million in 2006. He holds a player option for 2007 at $3.25 million. If he declines it, the White Sox can exercise a $5 million option. So does adding Thome and Pierre a better option than Rowand, Marte, Everett, and a prospect? I guess if they are pursuing Pierre, what does that say for Anderson?

This site has a lot of info: http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/

Paulie, Count, Pods, and now Ozzie. Nice to get some recognition. They all deserve it.

People really get wrapped around the axle on arm strength in the outfield, but it only comes into play on a very low percentage of plays. I can see the benefit of a strong arm being a deterent from running, but I think it is somewhat overrated. If a player can cover more ground, then he will actually catch more balls and make more outs with speed, while a weak arm will give up a couple of more advancing runners and sacrifices. So it normally comes down to the lesser of two evils. I can see Pods in CF, but like bschmaranz said, as long as the LF and RF have some guys that will hold runners. Rowand actually made more plays with his feet and glove than he did with his arm, so I don't think it would have that much of an impact as one would believe.

Yeah, not too surprising, but he will be missed. Blum was a trading deadline addition and was there to fill a need, but the Sox can definitely upgrade his roster spot in the off season or through the Farm system.

How do you actually download the videos from putfile.com? Both vids are great BTW.

Disgraced? Where is Raffy's 3,000th hit? It is worse that Rowand is not in it for the Defensive Player, and that Paulie is not in it for the Hitter.

FYI, ESPN actually has a decent poll about the Sox "How would you defend the title?": http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation...g?event_id=1819 Here are two interesting questions with the current vote: 5) Which position would be your primary focus in looking for an upgrade in the offseason? 51.2% Keep them all as starters 14.5% Center field (Aaron Rowand) 12.8% Shortstop (Juan Uribe) 6.2% Right field (Jermaine Dye) 5.4% Second base (Tadahito Iguchi) 4.8% Third base (Joe Crede) 2.8% Catcher (A.J. Pierzynski) 2.3% Left field (Scott Podsednik) 8) If the Sox don't re-sign Everett, which mid-range free agent hitter would be a good replacement? 23.6% Jeromy Burnitz 15.0% I'd rather have Everett back 13.2% Erubiel Durazo 12.6% Kevin Millar 12.0% Bernie Williams 7.3% Richard Hidalgo 5.7% Matt Lawton 5.3% Joe Randa 5.2% Rondell White Most of the others are pretty one sided, but interesting no less.

They actually pay this guy? How hard is it to randomly throw out names and teams, then write on why they fit? Reminds me of Dayn Perry from FoxSports, completely oblivious.

Just found this for those who have not bought the DVD yet. You can get the World Series video here for $11.96, plus 20% off today only. So a little over $9: http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemid=SON034069 Use coupon code "USATODAY" for discount.

I don't know if this has been posted, but you can get the World Series video here for $11.96, plus 20% off today only. So a little over $9: http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemid=SON034069 Use coupon code "USATODAY" for discount.

Ok, So Mark seems to be the consensus Opening Day starter, but how do you guys see the rest of the staff getting laid out? Is it: Mark, Count, then Jon at home vs Cleveland then Freddy and B-Mac at KC? That would make Freddy Garcia the #4 starter. or do you see Ozzie leaving Freddy as the #3 and Jon as #4?

The Count did pitch Game 1 of the ALDS, ALCS, and WS. I know the end of the season dictated this slightly, but Ozzie could have easily went with Mark in Game 1 of the WS, but he stayed with Count. Just wondering if he would carry that over until next season?