NorthSideSox72

I'd be curious what explanation folks have that took the "KW is good but should be fired" option. I don't get that one at all.

Fun. Hard choice - I'd like to have one with any of them pretty much. Well, except Giuliani, Tancredo and Hunter, who just seem like supreme assholes to me. McCain, Paul, Thompson, Richardson, Obama and Kucinich come to mind as the best choices.

QUOTE(Athomeboy_2000 @ Dec 22, 2007 -> 10:28 AM) Well, Richardson is quickly talking himself out of the Clinton administration... LINK Well, Bayh is Clinton's VP pick anyway - I'd bet on it. Though I wouldn't be surprised if Richardson had been expecting, as a backup plan, to be Hillary's SecState. Maybe he now knows that won't happen.

Everybody was Kung Fu fight-iiiiiiing...

Looking at Bureau's very handy information, as well as that from the other scouts that has been scrounged up (nice work, Soxtalk!), it sounds like he could be anything from marginal super-sub to solid starter. For the potential, sounds like 4 years $4.75M is a pretty good deal. I am looking forward to seeing him in ST, and I still think he's going to end up starting off playing part-time with Owens and Richar at CF and 2B, to get adjusted.

The Uniter at his finest. Amazing. ONE f***ING CANDIDATE they wanted him to change, and he refuses. He is worse than useless.

His WORST minor league season, he had a .906 OPS. I don't know if the Sox have a single position player above Rookie ball who put up a .900+ OPS in 2007.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 06:33 PM) I'd imagine he's the high bidder. It probably helps that they have a Spanish speaking manager. And the agent connection was probably big. Jose himself may have helped out.

Here's a little help.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 06:15 PM) Or, starting him in AAA if he doesn't prove ready in ST. IMO, you have to keep that option open when you have 3 young guys in 2 positions like we now have. I don't mind keeping it open - but given how many teams were looking at him, and what his agent was saying, I am just thinking that KW probably made it an almost-certainty that he'd be with the big club to start the season (even if on the bench). Of course, that doesn't mean you can't then send him down if you want to...

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 06:03 PM) BA has compared the Cuban league to short season A ball. I don't know how much money they gave the guy, but I hope he does well. I think it would be silly to think he'll do much in the AL in 2008. Its a huge adjustment. Not just a higher level of play but off the field as well. That 2 last sentences are a good point - longer, tougher season, all that stuff. All the more reason to start him by platooning with Owens and Richar.

Interesting - apparently Fields and Quentin are buddies.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 05:44 PM) No reason not to be optimistic, but I kinda hope Williams doesn't just pencil him in to start. I'm guessing (or maybe hoping?) that Kenny said, you'll get a look for a starting spot in ST, and worst case you'll get time at CF, 2B and/or SS off the bench to start with.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 05:45 PM) Also, don't the Sox have two other SS in the system? I know one is 16, but is the other one closer to the bigs? BTW, I love the signing...and it gives Contreras a friend again! Best case for Miranda is 2010 or 2011 to the bigs, Silverio (the 16 year old) is more like 2012 or later. And neither are anything like guarantees.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 05:39 PM) Sorry, but until finding out a bunch more about this guy, as well as seeing how much he was signed for, I don't think you can pencil Ramirez into the lineup, let alone the top of it. I would not be surprised in the least for him to spend most of the season in AAA. Not saying it was a bad move, could turn out to be a great one, but we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 05:41 PM) If he isn't ready for the big leagues, that doesn't make me mad either. Because we put him at SS for a year in AAA while he works out the kinks in that position and works with the bat, and then with a little luck we now have a SS in 09. Whether he's penciled in or not, adding anyone who could play middle infield to the higher levels of our organization makes us stronger. Bear in mind, I had thought I read that Ramirez was expecting to have a shot at starting before signing with someone. Therefore, KW must have at least promised him that shot. Maybe not a guarantee, but at least a reasonable chance. Anyone else remember seeing that somewhere?

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 05:39 PM) Sorry, but until finding out a bunch more about this guy, as well as seeing how much he was signed for, I don't think you can pencil Ramirez into the lineup, let alone the top of it. I would not be surprised in the least for him to spend most of the season in AAA. Not saying it was a bad move, could turn out to be a great one, but we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. Probably true. Like I said, I'd bet Ramirez splits time with Owens in CF and Richar at 2B to start. I guess I am just optimistic about him eventually taking over CF.

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 05:35 PM) 1. Ramirez 2. Cabrera 3. Thome 4. Pk 5. KD 6. Fields 7. AJP 8. Crede 9. Richar And optimist may have us above average everywhere except 2B. Not a horrible line-up depending on what Ramirez can do at the top. Though I think Crede still gets traded. 2 thirdbasemen and no LF? I'd guess it will be more like: Ramirez, CF Cabrera, SS Thome, DH PK, 1B JD, RF AJP, C Fields, 3B Quentin, LF Richar, 2B With Owens getting some CF time and Ramirez spelling Richar and maybe Cabrera from time to time.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 05:32 PM) Still would like to see someone else brought in to be able to play CF... I'm assuming he is slated for CF, either full time or at least an audition for it. If you bring in yet another CF, what do you do with Ramirez? 2B?

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 05:30 PM) I'm guessing he'll be in the outfield this year, which I see he plays, but no specific position. Does anyone know? If he's a SS, I'm guessing he could be athletic enough for CF. Nice thing there is, if Cabrera doesn't re-sign, Ramirez may be able to slide to SS. That flexibility is a nice side bonus to this signing.

Updated offseason checklist... --Upgrade CF: check (Ramirez) --Upgrade LF: check (Quentin) --Upgrade SS: check (Cabrera) --Upgrade bullpen: at least partial check (Linebrink) --Release Erstad: check --Release Podz: check --Release Gonzalez: check --Release Myers: check Left to do... --Trade Crede --Trade Uribe --Maybe upgrade an SP slot --Try to strengthen the farm system a bit (hopefully the two trades above will help that) So far, not bad. Still a stretch to compete, but, they're closer now. And they look a lot better than they did last season, no doubt. Let's hope KW can get 3 or 4 of that last set of items completed before ST starts.

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 05:23 PM) He's a middle infielder who can play OF? Does that mean he'll be in center? He may split time between 2B and CF with Owens and Richar - sort of a 3 players auditioning for 2 spots thing. But I think he ends up starting in CF most of the time, as long as he can handle it defensively.

Link to the BA article on him that was splashed around here a while back.

If the money is right, I am a very happy camper.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 04:06 PM) Errr...I think they would be adverse to that. Didn't work so well for them the last time. Glad someone caught that.

The agent connection pays off, apparently. Thanks JC.