Dick Allen

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Jan 26, 2006 -> 06:25 PM) That's not my argument. I think Contreras can be a stud next season but I also think it's possible that he isn't very good. My argument is that I don't won't to lose him after 2006 and get nothing in return. If we actually received draft picks for losing him to free agency, I wouldn't mind as much. But Contreras has the same contract as Hideki Matsui did. There's no compensation if we lose him to free agency. And if he goes somewhere else, the money the organization has put aside to sign him will be available for other players, whether in trade or free agents, and there are some pretty good looking free agents next season.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Jan 26, 2006 -> 06:21 PM) Frank Thomas has been injury-plagued and has only played in 108 games (345 AB's) over the past 2 seasons. Losing him isn't a big blow because he hasn't contributed much due to injuries. Letting a quality starter go after one season and getting nothing in return would hurt much more. You are not getting nothing in return. You get his 2006 season. If it leads you to the world championship, it is better than getting any organizations top 5 prospects. What if Konerko would have signed with the Angels? Would that have meant the Sox should have traded him last winter? Give me a break.

So basically the argument is that Contreras won't be any good in 2006. I disagree, and will remind people that pitching wins. The gamble would be trading a guy who was your best pitcher the second half of a season you won the WS and was the starting pitcher for the first game in each postseason series for a prospect who probably wouldn't even be on your major league team in 2006. From July on he was better than Buerhle, better than Garland, better than Garcia and better than Vazquez. Considering the $95 million investment JR has in this year's team, trading Contreras for a prospect is insane.

Why is it that a lot of people on this board say the White Sox can't afford to let Contreras go for nothing? You get his services in 2006. The other thread had post after post calling Frank Thomas the greatest player in team history. He was let go for nothing, how come it wasn't necessary to trade him last offseason?

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jan 26, 2006 -> 05:16 PM) No way will I miss that game. There's a pretty good chance Frank will.

If the White Sox truly believed Frank Thomas could be counted on make it through an entire season healthy, he still would be here. They gave up a popular player and some decent prospects for a guy who is also a health risk for his replacement. Considering his new contract, which has incentives on plate appearances and not being on the DL, and no incentives on performance, the A's, while being probably a little more optimistic about Frank's health than the White Sox, still have a great concern about it.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jan 26, 2006 -> 07:06 AM) That's unfortunately probably the sad reality. Which personally I don't think is the right strategy. We could only have JC for 1 more season. Milledge could be a superstar on this team for 10+. Sometimes you have to look at more then just the present season. EDIT: It's kind of like the Coco Crisp for Andy Marte trade. A little short - term pain, for a gain in the long - term that should outweigh it. Milledge may or may not be a star. His numbers thus far are no better than Jeremy Reed's before he was dealt to Seattle with a couple of others for what could have been 3 months of Freddie Garcia. It appears a lot of people have already written off Reed as a potential star. I still think he's going to be a very good hitter, and he plays surprisingly exceptional defense. Contreras showed last season that he's a #1 pitcher. You don't give those guys up for prospects when you are in position to win the WS. The White Sox are in a different position than they have been in the past. The have a legitimate shot of winning it all again, and there is no guarantee Contreras is gone after this season anyway.

Milledge for Contreras doesn't help the White Sox in 2006, plus remember KW saying he wants pitching back if he deals Contreras.

QUOTE(q\/\/3r+y @ Jan 25, 2006 -> 04:21 PM) This is why people go bankrupt. Woods seems like a smart guy but it is still ridiculous. Tiger makes over $70 million a year in endorsements. Supposedly his retirement account with the PGA will be worth over $300 million when he turns 60. They are estimating his net worth will eventually top $5 billion. Spending $38 million on a home is nothing to him.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jan 25, 2006 -> 04:19 PM) Look at the size of his damn guest house. Jesus. I saw pics of his other house in FLA and his views were amazing, I can only imagine this one. As long as he's hanging out with his wife, he has an unbelievable view wherever he is at.

Frank is basically homerun or bust right now. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think he can last a whole season. The White Sox did what they had to do, and obviously Frank doesn't think he's done. It would be a shame if he injured his ankle/foot again and it caused him problems the rest of his life. Its good for him that he goes to a solid team, the real shame would have been if he tried to hang on with a team like TB.

I was reading the Artest timeline on espn.com. The funniest one was that he applied for a part-time job at a Circuit City before his rookie year with the Bulls. The Bulls put a stop to it before he was to start. Maybe he should make Circuit City a career now.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Jan 24, 2006 -> 06:42 PM) Tim Thomas b****ed and he hasn't seen a minute of playing time since. It's no surprise to me that the Kings backed out of this trade after Artest opened his stupid mouth. They would have been crazy to complete the trade. It could have ruined their franchise.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Jan 24, 2006 -> 06:37 PM) What team is going to trade for a player that says he doesn't want to play for them? He stopped the trade from happening with his comments. If he said nothing, he would be with the Kings right? Teams will trade for someone who says he doesn't want to be there. But there is no way in hell a team should take a chance with Artest if he says he doesn't want to be there.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Jan 24, 2006 -> 06:32 PM) Apparently, this is what happened. "The dj asked who he would play for, Ron said "he would play for the raptors or any team in the hood." That's pretty stupid because it would go against him not wanting to go to Sac if you read it one way, but knowing Ron's history, I look at it again and it reads, "I want to go to a big city or a city with nothing but ghetto's because I want to get myself in trouble again." I know Phil Jackson wants Artest, and Kobe and Odom have been not getting along very well lately supposedly. I still don't like the idea of this guy being able to dictate where he's going to play. The organization that is paying him has to do whats best for it and its fans. If and when he plays again, its only a matter of time before Artest embarrasses himself, his team and his sport again. They should tell him to go home, and never come back.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Jan 24, 2006 -> 06:21 PM) And Jim Gray also said that Artest doesn't have that much power and he would have to go whereever he was traded to. It was the Kings not liking the fact that Artest told people he wasn't interested in the Kings. It wasn't a matter of Artest turning it down, it was a case of the Kings turning it down after they heard that Artest would probably be disgruntled there. Artest has a lot of power. His f***ed up head will keep him out of any city he really doesn't want to be in. You almost have to be as crazy as him to trade for him to begin with, but if he doesn't want to be there it will be an embarrassment to the NBA. Right now, I think Stern has to step in for the sake of the league and tell Artest to go wash cars for a living. If he is allowed to pick where he wants to play, the NBA will be nothing but a joke.

The Kings would be gambling enough just to pick Artest up, but could you imagine the headache he would be if he didn't want to be there in the first place? Personally, I think Artest should be banned from the NBA until he gets help and a professional will say he can handle everything that goes with being an NBA player. Maybe this will increase the chances of Peja winding up on the Bulls in a couple of years. Hasn't that been the rumor for a while now?

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jan 24, 2006 -> 03:35 PM) This is the second time I've seen you use the term "above average" while referring to David Wells. What, exactly, is above average? A mid-4's ERA? Wells' ERA was 4.45 last year. That is average, at best. Wells is a big fat slob, who is a bit of an asshole, but the guy wins games, and has for awhile except for 2001. I don't think saying he is above average is stretching the truth at all.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Jan 24, 2006 -> 04:34 PM) I never saw a report that Riske would be involved in the trade. I thought it was just supposed to be Crisp for Marte and Mota which would be a fine trade in my opinion. If it's Crisp and Riske for Marte and Mota, it's a bad trade. He sometimes has his problems, but I really like Riske. Anyone know Foulke's status for 2006? If he came back healthy, at least Boston would have a good bullpen to go with Ortiz and Manny. I don't Schilling will be able to get back to where he was, but Beckett will be great when he isn't sitting out with blisters. I think the Red Sox will be better than a lot of people think.

QUOTE(SnB @ Jan 23, 2006 -> 03:58 PM) are you on canadian dollars by any chance? ? If I knew how to put it in a post I would show you what I get, and its $68 everytime. My computer must get better deals than yours.

QUOTE(Steve Bartman's my idol @ Jan 23, 2006 -> 03:57 PM) Some of you talk like the Whitesox are a "Not-for-Profit" corporation. That is just plain stupid. Well then, if they are trying to maximize profits, why would they take on Abreu's contract? Seems to me adding that much to the payroll won't pay off unless they won it all again, and no matter what kind of talent you have on the roster, you need more than a couple of breaks to win it all.

QUOTE(Steve Bartman's my idol @ Jan 23, 2006 -> 03:05 PM) One word...LEVERAGE! The Sox can always borrow against future value to make up for any deficits!!! I take it you're in debt up to your neck?

QUOTE(SnB @ Jan 23, 2006 -> 03:36 PM) i don't see a 68 dollar one, i see a 72 dollar one? because if there are rooms at the hyatt, that'd be perfect hotwire.com. Chicago 1/27-1/29. Downtown. The 4 star at the top for $68 at Mag Mile/Wacker Drive is either the Hyatt or River North Westin. Its a 99.9% chance its the Hyatt. The Westin never gets that low.

I would prefer the Sox to not trade for Abreu and remain at least somewhat financially flexible during the season if holes need to be filled. Picking up Abreu's contract not only busts the budget, but pretty much would paralyze KW if he wanted to make an in-season move that would be taking on money.

If anyone still needs rooms at the Hyatt, they are going for $68 a night on hotwire.com.