WCSox

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 12, 2010 -> 10:14 AM) From 2005 to 2006 the team ERA went up something like a run. That was the problem then. Exactly. And last year, our bullpen was terrible and our veterans couldn't hit down the stretch. Obviously, having Anderson/Mackowiak and Wise in CF would be a minus to any team. However, the aforementioned teams were talented enough to absorb one bad bat in the lineup. Highly-paid veterans not producing were the real problem in '06, '07, and '09.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 12, 2010 -> 08:29 AM) In terms of coming back to bite us though...we spent a ton of money on Vazquez, CF was a killer hole for 3+ years (Dewayne Wise as leadoff) that we gave up other guys trying to fill...and now we spent a ton of money to get the CF slot filled. The Sox also had McCarthy at least available in 2006. You can argue either way, Vazquez was at least decent for the Sox in the 2008 season and he was also traded for a guy or two who could be seriously useful in the future...but you have to at least put that one on the list for the ramifications. In 2006, 2007, and 2009, CF was the least of our problems. In terms of money, I agree that we got the short end of the stick. (Though getting Rios in the end may have been a blessing in disguise.)

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 12, 2010 -> 08:03 AM) Chris Young for Javy Vazquez. Not sure that I agree with this. This is the first year that Young has posted an OPS+ anywhere near 100, and we needed a starting pitcher a lot more than a CF back in 2006.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Aug 10, 2010 -> 11:00 PM) Having Edwin Jackson makes this quite tolerable. He's acting exactly like a 5th starter should now; keeps ya in the game most nights, but gets shelled sometimes. I think 1st half Freddy was the anomaly, and I suppose this is ok. From what was said on The Club, the front office shares the same sentiment. And this is why I was fine with them foregoing a bat at the deadline and making an effort to replace Peavy instead.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 10, 2010 -> 07:48 AM) I feel the same way. It's a good feeling to know that all 5 of our starters have the ability to shut down an offense. I have my doubts about Jackson, but it's very difficult to argue with his last two starts. At the very least, he's a short-term upgrade over Hudson. Having a quality #5 is especially important when you're in a tight division race.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 9, 2010 -> 02:07 PM) I don't think we were either, and I think part of the reason KW is pissed at Rizzo is that he felt like Rizzo was being totally unreasonable. It's interesting that Keith Law reported that Rizzo reneged on Kenny. Might Kenny and friends have have leaked that story to make Rizzo look like an ass?

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Aug 8, 2010 -> 08:26 AM) I personally believe from watching Jenks is that there is some type of physical ailment and at times there may be one between the ears also, but I wouldn't read too much into his not being in the game on saturday. I think physical issues because he just doesn't seem to be smooth or able to fully open it up at times It wouldn't surprise me at all if something was physically wrong with him. But then why isn't he on the DL? I haven't watched as many games as the average person here but, from what I could gather in my small sample size of viewing, his problem has been not being able to throw his offspeed pitches for strikes. And I don't see what that has to do with a bad back.

So Bobby has a bad back, but the problem is that he's giving up too many runs? Uh, OK. Ozzie is a really poor liar.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 7, 2010 -> 08:47 PM) Quotes of interest: On Bob: “Bobby’s got a bad back,” Guillen said. “The way Bobby’s been throwing, we’ve got options out there. We have to wait to put Bobby back in the closer rotation.” Didn't he suddenly get shelved due to injury after a coincidental streak of sucktitude back in June?

It should be interesting to see how this plays out. Ozzie's obviously very loyal to "his guys," but it's very difficult to justify closing out games with a declining Bobby when you have a former dominant closer who is currently nails in the 7th inning role. In fact, given the organization's criticism of Bobby's fitness this winter, I'd be willing to bet that Putz was specifically brought in as a Plan B.

Swisher high-fiving a life-sized poster of himself in the dugout gives one a pretty good idea of the type of teammate he is. Hopefully he learned something in Chicago and acts like less of a douche in New York now.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 6, 2010 -> 10:54 AM) If we wait until next month we may be 3 or 4 games back. This is true. I'm just trying to be realistic with regard to Ozzie's excessive loyalty towards veterans.

Man, thank God for Putz. He very well may get "promoted" back to the closer role next month.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Aug 5, 2010 -> 02:35 PM) Only a team like the Royals or Astros would offer Freddy a lot of money for his wins. Everybody else will give him what he truly deserves...5th starter's money. I wouldn't be surprised if a team like the Angels signed him. Everybody needs decent back-of-the-rotation pitching, and history has shown that they'll over-pay (within reason) for it.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Aug 5, 2010 -> 09:52 AM) That makes sense. So we just roll the Dice on Peav. I guess with a front 4 of Jackson, Danks, Floyd, Buehrle, you can let Peavy work it out in the 5 spot. I just worry that his arm blows up again. Cross that bridge when we get there eh? We're stuck with Peavy and already have almost $70M already committed to payroll next year, with something like 6 or 7 positions to fill. So giving an aging junkballer like Freddy a 2/6 deal is pretty much out of the question. If Peavy isn't ready to go next year, somebody from the minor league system will probably take the #5 spot.

Freddy won't be back next year. He's going to get a (well-deserved) handsome contract somewhere else.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 02:36 PM) though are saying even with that, ozzie's still somewhat right...especially on the PED thing. As much as I dislike PED use, if I grew up in poverty in South America, I'd be first in line to trash my health and reputation to set my family up with millions.

Saw the Peavy episode yesterday, and apparently the Edwin Jackson episode is next. Hopefully this will shed some insight on their mindset a few days ago.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 09:29 AM) It's just because he's on the Twins, our hated rival, and he's pitching as well as he has since his early NL career. Just a couple of seasons ago, he was one of the biggest jokes and worst contracts in baseball, he's quietly redeemed himself a bit from that low point. It's amazing how health and quality pitching go hand-in-hand.

Something tells me that D1 gets moved before he hits FA.

The Sox go out of their way to avoid going through the arbitration process these days. I imagine that they'll agree to a one-year deal in the $7-8M range this winter.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 31, 2010 -> 11:40 AM) I could live with Viciedo and Jones as our DH's the rest of the way. The problem is...we're not putting Kotsay out to pasture without a LH bat. It's just not happening. Even then, he'll still get his at bats. Sadly, this is true. Rotating Viciedo and Teahen at 3B/DH would make more sense, but we all know that's not going to happen. I still think that we have enough offense to win. Beckham and Pierre have improved dramatically, and Vizquel has been a pleasant surprise. Even if/when the latter falls off, they'll still be alright. If Teahen goes into the tank offensively, Viciedo has proven to be a legit option. We could obviously improve at DH, but I think that Kenny was right conceptually to get a back-of-the-rotation starter instead. I think that he could've done better than Jackson but, for right now, he's a (modest) improvement over Hudson. The #5 starter doesn't become irrelevant until you've actually made the playoffs, and we're still fighting like hell to get there.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 31, 2010 -> 01:58 PM) Wow, that's hard to take seriously after the 8 million dollar addition to next year's payroll that took place yesterday. No kidding. That said, Kenny may very well deal Danks this winter.

QUOTE (scenario @ Jul 31, 2010 -> 12:37 PM) Torres would be the 5 if we dealt Jackson. Harrell was only called up because Torres pitched the night before. My bad.

QUOTE (Real @ Jul 31, 2010 -> 12:33 PM) i don't really want to give up on jackson since Coop says he has always liked him Not to mention that we'd be relying on Harrell as our #5 in a tight division race. Moving Jackson at this point would be a mistake, IMO.