Dick Allen

QUOTE(wilmot825 @ Nov 16, 2007 -> 11:13 PM) The 2008 Batting Order and Line-up....odds of this happening? 2B- Marcus Giles LF- Miguel Cabrera DH- Jim Thome 1B- Paul Konerko RF- Jermaine Dye CF- Torii Hunter 3B- Josh Fields C- A.J. Pierzynski SS- Juan Uribe ADDRESSING THE MONEY ISSUE Trade Contreras, Garland, Podsednik, and Crede which will free up millions of dollars Sign Giles to a 1yr deal with a club option, and ask for Florida to pick up some of Miggy's contract Jerry isn't a poor owner the last time I checked. Just like when the Bulls dominated the 90s, Jerry shelled more money to them instead of the White Sox. It seems he is applying that technique to the White Sox since the World Series by spending, spending, spending. This line-up may cost millions of dollars but it will be made up 10 fold by national TV exposure and higher demand of ticket sales. (Just like the Boston Celtics have done by acquiring Garnett and Allen) First off, Florida is not going to pick up any of Cabrera's contract if they trade him. Pods will net you nothing. Crede may get you something half way decent but I think he will have to show he can play first. Trade Contreras and Garland. OK. Then who pitches? If the rotation is Buerhle, Vazquez, Danks, Floyd and Gio, you better start planning for 2009, and I'm sure season ticketholders would be even happier with their 2009 seat upgrades.

What's the big deal about a positive test? Its been known for years "the cream" was a steroid. Bonds has never said he didn't use the cream. The issue is whether Bonds knew what it was or not. He claims he didn't know. Maybe his trainer sings, but if they put him on the stand, Bonds' attorneys will shread him. It would seem Bonds wasn't all that truthful with the grand jury, but I really don't know how it will be proven unless they suddenly came up with some new evidence. I don't like Bonds, but its pretty plain to see the feds are out to get him. Couldn't the resources being used for all this be better spent?

So the Dodgers are going to give up the same prospects that Florida would want for Cabrera. The Sox will give those prospects to the Marlins for Cabrera. Crede is coming off back surgery. Cabrera is a 24 year old on a HOF path. I like Rozner. Somehow this scenerio makes zero sense, unless maybe Garland or another pitcher or 2 are headed to LA.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Nov 15, 2007 -> 05:58 PM) BTW, if Lowell goes to NY, does Boston look at Crede? Or maybe they move Youk to 3rd, go after Kong?? I really can't see any team trading for Crede before they seem him play. I also now wouldn't be surprised if he gets non-tendered if KW spends a lot of money before he has to decide. I think that would be a huge mistake.

He's opted back in.

ARod is back in pinstripes. $275 million 10 years, bonus for becoming all time home run king.

The White Sox are also raising prices and they lost 90 games.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Nov 15, 2007 -> 03:42 PM) I really do not want to beat this into the ground, but when we spend 90% of our time worrying about how a player will fit into the payroll, and 10% how they fit on the field, it seems out of whack. We really do not know how much they can spend. The payroll always feels fair, but who knows. I also think it kills the casual fans and kids from becoming avid fans. But hey, debate on. It takes armchair GMing to greater heights, and that's good. As White Sox fans, I think we are pretty used to this. Money is a big factor even though the White Sox have spent more money than most teams. One bad move makes a bigger difference for the White Sox than for other teams. Just think of Matt Clement. Many here thought he was a perfect fit for the White Sox in 2005, and supposedly the Sox made a competitive offer. If he would have accepted, chances are there wouldn't have been playoffs in 2005 let alone a title, and revenues would have been very different. This team would look a lot different just because of that one move. It does take some of the excitement out of it, but it also shows that spending the money can pay off in the long run if it brings a winner. Who would have thunk 3 years ago the White Sox could put a team on the field that lost 90 games and still drew nearly 3 million.

QUOTE(chisox2334 @ Nov 15, 2007 -> 10:05 AM) http://www.star-telegram.com/284/story/304298.html Hunter wants 7 yr deal Its crazy, but I'm reading where Riske will get 3 years, and Cordero may get 4 and $40 million +. I wonder how much Jenks will make in arbitration next year.

In Buster's column today, he said an exec. told him to expect Hunter to sign a 6 year $90 million contract with Texas.

Ironically KW and JR wanted to meet with ARod without Boras in 2000 when he initially became a free agent. ARpd and Boras need either the Yankees, Mets or Red Sox bidding away to get the price up. I wouldn't be surprised if Boras is actually behind this. Since he allegedly said the Yankees couldn't talk to him unless they had $350 million on the table, Boras would look defeated if Arod agreed to take $270 million. So this way, everyone wins. ARod gets paid, either by the Yankees or someone else, and Boras doesn't get nearly what he demanded but doesn't look like he caved in.

With Cabrera, I think whether or not you give up a huge package of prospects like the Angels or Dodgers have would be dependent on signing him to an extension. You can have all the prospects you want, chances are most will be busts. Cabrera is no bust. Compare him to White Sox young players. He's younger than Floyd, younger than Fields, 2 months older than Richar, younger than Owens. He's only 2 years older than Danks. Getting him with an extension would be a coup, even if you had to get rid of 3 or 4 prospects.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 13, 2007 -> 10:17 PM) With this many CF's on the market, there's no reason to get desperate. I think there will be a backlash if the White Sox don't pick up a big name this offseason whether its through free agency or trade. KW can talk about 2007 being a fluke, but the White Sox were also below .500 the second half of 2006 mostly because of the same problems they had in 2007. This team needs a couple of major changes or chances are its more of the same and probably even worse in 2008.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Nov 13, 2007 -> 10:11 PM) Or, he finally settled in and has found "it" again. I am so freaking sick of the no pressure excuse for why Vazquez did good last season. Vazquez has been the Sox best pitcher since the final 2 months+ of 06 till now. And last time I checked, the White Sox were still in contention in the final two months of 06. Hell, he pitched one hell of a game @ Boston and owned them (but to bad the offense was pitiful and he got the L). Now, are you telling me there is no pressure at Fenway, let alone when the team is trying to make a push for the playoffs? We will see in 2008. Javy has had good seasons before, and followed them up with not so good seasons. We will see if he's "found it" or if he goes back to the mediocre guy he was the previous 3 seasons. Where was he the first 4 months of 2006? His record was below .500 on a 90 win team, his ERA was higher than the league average. Pretty mediocre. He did well in 2007, but still has to be considered a wild card.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Nov 13, 2007 -> 10:06 PM) Hunter is a money whore. Remember how much he said at the all-star game how great it would be to play in SF in the steps of Willie Mays? Just about every player is. Its amazing how many talk about everything but money, but wind up taking the highest offer. Not that I blame them, I'd probably do the same thing. Its incredible the grief ARod got when he signed with Texas. For $100 million more than anyone else was willing to pony up at the time, I'm pretty sure I would have signed that contract.

QUOTE(fathom @ Nov 13, 2007 -> 09:59 PM) With seeing all these ridiculous contracts, can I get state that the Chris Young trade really hurt this franchise. I'll shut up now and take the criticism. With what they have to pay Vazquez, that trade is going to wind up costing them over $25 million next year alone. Vazquez had a nice season, but on a team that lost 90 games so it was a waste. If he returns to his previous form, the Sox will have a guy with good "stuff" whose performance is league average or below and a CF that may or may not be as good as Young, and they will make a combined $25 million +. That kind of money saved makes you a player for Johan Santana.

Torii Hunter's quote in a Fort Worth Star Telegram today: While it would seem like a stretch for the Rangers to be able to sign Hunter, don’t wager against it. He certainly hasn’t. “I almost bet you that the Texas Rangers have a better chance than anybody,” he said.

QUOTE(quickman @ Nov 13, 2007 -> 09:40 PM) Here is some cold water, Rangers had dinner with Hunter tonight. They have more money, a history of spending the money and he lives in Texas. Lots of math says Hunter goes to Texas, but I am sure KW is counting on making an offer so he can appease sox fans by saying the Sox stepped up. Excluding bringing Konerko back, isn't Albert Belle the last really big name free agent the White Sox signed? I know they signed other free agents, particularly Dye, but weren't they all bargain priced? I don't think KW has ever signed a big time big moneyfree agent from another team. Its why I kind of figure he will wind up trying to get Rowand to accept a lowball offer, because of familiarity. Tom Hicks also doesn't have to pay the Yankees anymore.

Dye is tight with Hunter. While the White Sox couldn't discuss money with Hunter, you know Dye could, and I'm sure KW knew what he's looking for financially when they met Sunday. If there's a bidding war, the price will rise. Hunter seemed to want to take his time, probably so he can play one offer off another. KW probably either wants to sign him fast or move on to plan B. It will be interesting. Personally, I would rather spend the money on Cabrera and trade for Crisp, but do the White Sox have the prospects to get that done? At least for next season, the dollars would be about the same, and there's your LF and CF.

Boras is Andrew Jones' agent.

The Tigers gave Todd Jones $7 million. Wow.

I predict Cedric Benson has a big game today. Laugh at me later.

The knock on Riske the past few years is he gets more than a little tight in pressure situations. If the White Sox would have offered him arbitration, chances are the Royals wouldn't have signed him and lost picks. The White Sox would have had to pay him, and considering they had a bad team, he probably would have been pretty good. I don't think not offering him arb was a bad thing. Who knows, maybe the 16 year old they signed becomes a star, and maybe they don't sign him if they had to pay Riske. If you have a good team, there's a pretty good chance Riske would be mediocre at best. The Indians happily pawned him off on Boston, in fact, insisted on it, and their bullpen was horrible at the time. Boston happily dumped him on the White Sox for Javier Lopez who was in Charlotte. I do agree, they would look like fools if they signed him now, they and any other team trying to win and signs him to a muli-year for good money will look like even bigger fools around May or June, but I don't think there's the slightest possibility of that happening.

The problem is going to be cost. The Phillies just re-sign JC Romero, a guy they picked up last June after Boston released him for 3 years and $12 million. That's $4 million a year, which is more than the White Sox paid their entire bullpen in 2007, and its for a guy who you may not even want 1 month into next season. Prices are only going higher.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 10, 2007 -> 01:33 PM) I have no problem with...and in fact based on the contracts we handed out and their performances last year I think we have little choice but to start the bullpen with: Jenks Wasserman Logan Thor MMac Whether we like the last 2 or not, they're under contract. And whether we think the middle 2 are adequate or not, they did their jobs last year. But, either way...that's only a 5 man pen. And our other options are guys who failed last year; Aardsma, Masset, etc. For this to be even a complete bullpen, we're missing at least 1 more right handed arm. And it's possible we'll need to find 2 of them. Of course, Floyd or Masset could wind up there by default if the team doesn't want to lose them, but even with a long guy out there, I can't see how we can get around needing to add 1 more righty setup man. Thornton has only been good 1 year. He has control issues. Maybe he's good in 2008, maybe he's bad. Logan should only face lefties MacDougal can't throw strikes. Keep him if you can't get anything for him and see what he does in the spring, but counting on him for big things would be foolish. Wasserman may be alright, he also may have an ERA around 6.00. A decent extra guy, certainly not someone you want to pencil in for 70 appearances. You could just leave the bullpen alone and hope for the best, and also hope that guys like Aaardsma, Masset, and even Sisco perform how you expected them to in 2007. The problem is, if that blows up in your face, JR would have to take out the axe. If KW makes moves and brings in guys who have a history of being good relievers, if they don't work out, he won't get blamed. You can't get rid of everybody, but 2 new guys would be nice, guys that throw strikes, and then hope one or two of the 2007 flops become serviceable, and the bullpen can be decent again. Its been beyond awful the last 2 seasons. Obviously, there is a lot of time to get things done. I think the organization would be making a huge mistake if they expect bounce-back seasons from too many guys. The team has been bad now for a season and a half. People remember 90 wins in 2006, which I suppose if you don't mind 3rd place, is nice. The other part of that was the White Sox were below .500 the second half of 2006. I don't know how long losing continues before you conclude its not a fluke.