WCSox

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 01:21 PM) "Damn why did I turn down that contract?" What's "Juan Gone" up to these days anyway?

Lookin' good. They get amazing fan support for a city of only 350,000.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 01:25 PM) That'll show you how important OBP was to this team. Hopefully it'll be more important this year. They leaned quite heavily on their pitching last season and, luckily, got away with it.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 01:19 PM) One of the worst among contenders, not one of the worst in baseball. The Sox were 11th in the AL (24th overall) in OBP (.322) last year. That's wretched. Good thing they had some power.

QUOTE(G&T @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 01:12 PM) It's only 370 into the gaps which is smaller than the Cell. That's true. But if you're a righty and either pull it or drive it to center you're screwed. It's not a bad park for lefties, though. IIRC, it's something like 330 down the right-field line and 365 to RCF. Not bad.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 01:03 PM) $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Yep.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 12:58 PM) Its going to be hard for these tough Right handers to be soxkillers anymore. Thome absolutley mashes RHP. Reason #1521 that I like Thome over Frank.

QUOTE(G&T @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 12:54 PM) Great defense saved his ass. That park isn't that big anymore except to center. Garcia was good, not great, but he pitched out of any jams against a team that's hitting well so I'm happy. They brought in left-center significantly, but it's still 345 down the line. Why I-Rod and Maggs wanted to play there is beyond me. Anyway, thanks. It's difficult to tell how hard the Tigers were hitting Garcia through Farmer.

Glad to hear that Freddy's hitting the low/mid '90s again. Didn't get to watch it on TV, but it sounded like Comerica's spacious dimensions saved Garcia's ass a couple of times. Is that accurate or was Farmer exaggerating a bit? I like Ozzie's use of B-Mac and Jenks in a must-win. Also nice to see Paulie have a nice day at the plate. The only downside was that Pods was wretched. Winning two in a row and beating a Sox-killer (Bonderman) were huge. Great job!

Nice to hear that Freddy's throwing with a bit more zip. Sounds like he's still getting hit kind of hard, though.

QUOTE(ChWRoCk2 @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 10:49 AM) hed prolly hit better if he tried to stop hittin the long ball which it appears he goes up to the plate to do That's another reason why it was probably best to part ways with him last winter.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 10:01 AM) If you consider me calling out a horribly ridiculous and improbable trade proposition a compliment, then have a go at it. In fact, let me know when the Joe Crede and Paul Konerko for Rolen and Pujols trade is in the works. "Horribly ridiculous", my ass. Weaver isn't in the same league as Garcia.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 9, 2006 -> 07:08 PM) He's always been a fat guy and always will be. From the older pictures I've seen of him, he was significantly smaller in the minors. That said, I'm not terribly concerned about his weight, either.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 08:18 AM) Maybe I will lower my statement so it doesnt go so far over your head this time: The trade was xbox-caliber meaning it was one sided and retarded. Case closed. Since you can't offer an argument more convincing than that crap, I'll take your statement as a compliment.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Apr 9, 2006 -> 07:20 PM) Hahaha are you kidding me. I love the xbox trade idea, polite and Freddy for Shields and Weaver. You're right. Having six starting pitchers and only three reliable relievers (one of whom is a starter) is the way to go! I hope that Politte picks it up and Hermanson gets healthy in the next month or so. Otherwise, we may be in trouble.

Pods listens to Trick Daddy?

He looks good in that picture, but didn't look much slimmer on the mound today IMO. I can't imagine that he lost more than 5 or 10 lbs. since spring training. If he throws strikes, gets command of his breaking pitch, and hits the upper 90s on the gun like he did today, he can look like Jabba the Hut for all I care.

What is it with these spammers for Talkchisox.com?

QUOTE(Timoperezrulez @ Apr 9, 2006 -> 02:57 PM) He is kind of starting to worry me, he looks lost at the plate right now, in order to win he has to get on base. Hawk and Dj kept mentioning how this is like is spring training, if that is so then why isent he in triple A or something? I really hope he gets on track soon. They won't send him to Triple A unless it's a DL-related rehab stint. I wouldn't favor taking Pods out of the lineup simply because I like his defense in LF. Ozuna is a liability in the outfield. Mackowiak plays a decent RF, but I'm not sure how he is in left.

Phenominal pitching by Buehrle in a must-win. Great defense and timely hitting from Crede and Dye. And it was just a matter of time before Thome got enough height on one to send it out of the yard.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Apr 9, 2006 -> 01:49 PM) I think its funny how people are calling for Weaver to be on this team. Why would you downgrade the pitching staff, and trade for a guy who isnt as good as your 6th SP (BMAC). Hilarious. The idea is to strengthen the bullpen at the expense of our #5 starter. Weaver was just an example of a #4 or #5 that could be involved. It's probably too early to be talking about this anyway.

QUOTE(Jimbo's Drinker @ Apr 9, 2006 -> 12:25 PM) Pods does something rihgt, but Graf was safe hell ill take it. ^^^ It's about damn time we get a break.

QUOTE(JimH @ Apr 9, 2006 -> 11:58 AM) They drafted Weaver once and had extremely acrimonious negotiations. The White Sox are big advocates of locking up their pitching and they wouldn't trade for a guy like Weaver who they'd have little chance of locking up long term. Crede is still arb. eligible, big difference. Neither Reinsdorf or KW have much, if anything, to do with Boras. Dennis Gilbert handled the Crede arbitration deal this offseason. Not sure why the Angels would part with Shields either. Not to mention the White Sox are looking to add talent, vs. peddling it. I'm aware of the Sox's history with Weaver. But since McCarthy is expected to move into the #5 spot next year, there'd be no need to re-sign Weaver after this season. Getting rid of the $9 million or so that Garcia will be owed next year would also be a plus. God bless Freddy for what he did for the Sox last year, but I don't see him as a long-term prospect for the Sox, especially considering his salary. Agreed that getting Shields from the Angels might be difficult. If Clemens decides to hang up his spikes, a trade with bullpen-rich Houston might be a better alternative.

QUOTE(JimH @ Apr 9, 2006 -> 06:02 AM) 2nd part, agree. 1st part, no chance, Weaver is a Boras client. I'm not saying that we'd keep Weaver around after his current contract expired, so there'd be no need for JR and KW to negotiate with Boras. Isn't Crede a Boras client as well?

Wow, talk about some bruised egos. I guess that'll happen when one's team hasn't made the playoffs for the past 20 years and is in such bad shape financially that they can't afford to compete. "Overrated" indeed.