Dick Allen

For one thing, you would only be committed to Uribe for 1 year and $5 million. Eckstein would be muliple years and more money. Uribe was good enough in 2005. He's hasn't been that great since, but its not like his performance has fallen off the table. Considering he definitely will be playing for a contract, I like the chances of him outperforming a lot of SS next year, even SS named Eckstein. I hope his offseason can remain incident free, and would take my chances with him unless KW can come up with an obvious upgrade.

He is one of the worst defensive SS in the major leagues. His additional .020 points in OBP will be offset by all the extra outs he causes. He cannot throw at all.

QUOTE(greg775 @ Oct 2, 2007 -> 12:31 AM) I thought we all agreed Ozzie ball was a myth. We've been a home run or nothing team for a while now. Except of course the WS year when Pods did steal a s***load of bases. Even with all his steals in 2005, Pods only scored 80 runs. The White Sox hit 200 homers in 2005. They hit a few more than that in 2006. When they hit their 200th in 2006, they had scored almost exactly the same amount of runs they had scored in 2005. It was either right on or within 2 or 3. Ozzieball was a myth really, although they were able to execute occassionally. One thing about the 2005 team, when that team had the lead in the 5th or 6th inning the game was over. That hasn't been the case since.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Oct 2, 2007 -> 04:11 PM) Wow. Boras asking $20 mill per over 7? That's crazy. Still, that didn't say anything about arbitration, and Boras clients have done this before, with Millwood coming to mind initially. He was coming off a solid year with Philly, wanted to test the market and get a long-term deal, didn't find anything, and came back at $11 mill. He stunk, no arb from Philly, won the ERA crown with Cleveland, and then struck it rich. And if Atlanta doesn't offer him arbitration, I'd be surprised (though it would be understandable as to why they wouldn't). I can't see them not offering arbitration either. He most likely won't accept.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Oct 2, 2007 -> 12:01 PM) Sometimes I think you just woke up from a coma or were born yesterday or just moved back to Chicago after exploring the Arctic for 50 years. I suppose you find it odd that the Bears cannot seem to find a good quarterback either. I understand that Kenny should not get a lifetime pass or anything here, but he brought us the only WS in the last 90 years, as you pointed out. And yet, you are calling for his dismissal 2 seasons removed from that. I just don't understand that. I always thought you should try and reward success, especially after it has been absent for so long... He's made the playoffs 1 out of 7 years. A lot of teams have done that. I know you will say but most of those teams didn't win, but the playoffs are a crapshoot. You make it, you can win. The GMs job is to get his team into a position to win. Is Walt Jockety a genius because he put together an 83 win team that won in the playoffs, but Terry Ryan or Billy Bean stupid because their teams make the playoffs constantly but don't do anything in them? If you say yes, I disagree. Was it Jim Hendry's doing that the Cubs choked away a WS berth a couple of years ago? Was it KW's will that made a ball go right through Tony G's legs? KW has the most to play with in the AL Central division. He had a golden opportunity to capitalize on it, and make it grow even more, but his stubborness has made the team plummet to depths not seen since Larry Himes was hired to rebuild a broken franchise. BTW, I don't think I'm the only one who finds it odd the Bears cannot find a good QB. In fact, I would bet most people who watch football find it odd that this franchise lines up the crap it lines up behind center every damn week, every damn year.

Lopez can't turn a DP. He is awful defensively.

He's always been fraud. Never as innocent as he's looked through the years. You read some of the testimony and wonder why a team willing to throw millions at players that play about as well as I do, wouldn't just quietly settle this out of court to avoid even more embarrassment. I guess that's why they're the Knicks.

QUOTE(gosox41 @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 10:42 PM) I don't mean the $300 million spent this past off season. I mean the Cubs model since the mid-90's. Overpaying decent to below average talent, neglecting the farm system, and the worst part having a sucky team. Bob They did just enough to keep the alcoholics buying their beer. When the Sox won, the drunks suddenly demanded a little more than a couple of big names and a loss.

What I don't understand is why 2007 is a fluke year. The White Sox have won the WS exactly 1 time the last 90 years. Is it possible that was the fluke season?

QUOTE(gosox41 @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 10:35 PM) So we will be following the Cubs model. Bob They had the money and they knew they weren't going to have to win 95 games. It was a no brainer.

QUOTE(Markbilliards @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 10:35 PM) probably at least half the white sox have used steroids at some point in their baseball careers. Especially Razor Shines who you can see the effects of him getting off them. Razor looks like he lost about 40 lbs. this season.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 10:26 PM) Is this where we start the (useless) speculation about which other Sox players on the 2004 team were on 'roids? Oooh, I want to play: Shingo (for sure), Ben Davis, Kelly Dransfeldt, Arnie Munoz and Felix Diaz. There. Oh -- and Timo, that lil bastard. There's no question steroids was a factor getting McCarthy shipped out of town. He's ripped.

Let them gloat. We gloat when they are wrong. They actually were pretty good with the standings this year. Picking that well is like pimpin'. It ain't easy.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 10:22 PM) That doesn't make me any less disappointed by it. Actually, I'm kind of glad it was a guy who sucked. I'm under the impression that the percentage of White Sox who have used steroids is about the same as the percentage for every other team. I would/will be very dissappointed if it comes out it was one or more of the core guys who I have cheered for. I suppose I'm just taking the naive approach .

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 10:15 PM) If Kenny was implementing anything it would have to be Paulie. Dye and Thome have protection and Buehrle/Vaz aren't gonna go anywhere. Jenks has value but no major salary so he won't be going. I do think the Sox could move Paulie, free up payroll all while adding a few real solid young players (that could turn into great players) but you obviously risk taking some PR heat as Paulie is one of the faces of the franchise. However, it should also be noted that I've never heard the Sox question Paulie "fitting" in as he's really liked by Ozzie/Kenny (but if they got blown away I think they'd do the deal). KW also has to be careful, because if he trades someone who took a "hometown discount" to play for the Sox, he's going to have a hard time signing someone to something like that again without a ton of no trade protection. He better make sure its the deal of the century. What puzzles me is why the White Sox refuse to give blanket no trade protection, but have no problem trading for someone who has it.

He had them delivered to USCF. It wouldn't surprise me if he was far from the only White Sox using them.

Could this be proof that steroids aren't "performance enhancing"? Because if his performance was enhanced while on the White Sox, it would be scary to think what he'd do straight.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 01:41 PM) That has much more to do with health than it does his ability. If he's healthy, he's still going to be one of the best power hitters in the game. Exactly. When he feels OK he is just as good as he has ever been. When he's hurting, he doesn't provide much.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 01:13 PM) But here's the problem; what's the other option? To go out and spend $5 million a year over 4 years on a Linebrink or something else likie that? Pretty much every one of the available bullpen guys not named "Mariano" is going to be a "rebound" bullpen type at the best, because there's really no one on the market who's had a great season and put up a solid, consistent career. Any philosophy is going to be extremely dangerous. Every philosophy carries a high risk of failure. The job right now is to minimize that risk. It could still happen even if you make the correct decisions 100% of the time, because there may just not be solutions available. The best option is to develop them yourself, but obviously the Sox didn't have what they thought they had. Signing free agents can work out. Hermanson and Politte worked out for the Sox, even if it was for one season each. Gordon was great with the Sox for a season.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 11:54 AM) 2 points. Just because Boras requests $30 million a year doesn't mean that even the Cubs will be stupid enough to offer that. And Garland + Contreras + Uribe is about $26 million next year. Danks, Floyd, a rookie, Buehle and Vazquez isn't a rotation you can bank on winning. The White Sox have to make up more than 20 games in the standings. ARod may be the best baseball player who ever lived, but he can't do that all by himself. Getting ARod and dumping a couple of pitchers would be the exact opposite of a the move KW was lauded for on this board, the CLee move. Why weaken yourselves on the mound for a few more homeruns and put that kind of financial commitment to one player, tying your hands for the duration of his contract?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 10:56 AM) Did you really just compare this team with that texas team? 72-90 will do that. My point is, bringing in ARod doesn't make the White Sox contenders all by itself. This team was lucky it didn't finish behind KC. Buy the KW propaganda about perfect storm BS, its coming from the same mouth that said last season was playoff fatigue and he wanted to keep the core intact because they won 90 and in his words "couldn't play any worse." That and his $30 million a year price tag would certainly mean a lot of current salary would have to go.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Oct 1, 2007 -> 10:28 AM) Why wouldnt 40+hr and 120+ RBI making this team a contender? He didnt say the favorite. Didn't he hit 50 with Texas? Didn't make them a contender. The pitching is still the key.

What about Razor Shines? Looks like he will go. Razor lost a lot of weight this season.

Since KW has taken the reigns the only teams in the AL to make fewer playoff appearances are Balt., KC, Tor., TB, and Tex. The Tigers and Mariners have both made the same amount. Maybe its unfair to say he took over a 94 win team so he should do better, but its not like he had to overlook a total rebuild. He did win with a lot of inherited pieces. The leash should be short. Very short.

I read somewhere this morning where Pods is telling teammates he wants to move on. Lets see, you are stealing money instead of bases, fans still treat you like a rockstar and you're not happy. Good luck next year Pods, look forward to your stint with the Long Island Ducks in 2009.