Dick Allen

Jimmy Piersall also thinks the White Sox are going all the way.

QUOTE(beck72 @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 02:48 PM) Did anyone see that ESPN has as the headline in rumors, "Vizquel headed to the White Sox? I wonder from which paper they got this from It all came from the story in the Southtown.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2005 @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 12:54 PM) That's all fine and dandy until we lose in the ALCS. Then Kenny will look like a bafoon for trading our top prospects for 3 month rentals. I'm all for trading for Burnett, but only if we can resign him. Or they can lose in the ALCS and watch the prospects they didn't want to trade turn out like Ruffcorn, Bolton, Borchard, Abbott, Ruffin, Rauch, Malone, the list goes on and on. It appears like they are going to go for it. They are trying to win the ALCS, and the WS. White Sox fans should be commending management for that, not worrying about losing some 21 year old kid who will be selling cars in 3 years anyway. I remember when people were up in arms about losing Hummel. That was 2 years ago. What's he done since. Where's he at now?

QUOTE(VAfan @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 12:39 PM) Trade for Burnett and Guardado? Who wouldn't be giddy about that until you realize both may be gone next year, along with all the prospects that would be required to secure them. I would be giddy because the White Sox would finally be going for it, not trying to play for 5 or 6 years from now. Most of the prospects the White Sox have traded have done little at the major league level. If the White Sox don't win it all, then cry about the lost prospects. Frankly, I have come to take quickman's thinking on the subject of minor leaguers. Most are far better being used as trading chips than they ever will be on a major league field.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jul 7, 2005 -> 11:11 AM) Good god, I'll puke if the Sox deal Cotts. You don't trade him, the guy is so freaking good. He's the best reliever this club has next to Politte and Hermy and he has the ability to be even better. I was reading somewhere were it was believed Arizona is scouting TB. I guess they are trying to get Baez.

I don't have my insider subscription anymore but ESPN insider has something on the White Sox possible interest in Omar Vizquel as well as Schmidt. Its info probably from the Ledewsky column in the Southtown.

Guardado was part of some great "chemistry" teams when he was with Minnesota. I really would be surprised if he became a cancer. Make him the closer and have Hermanson , Politte , Marte and Cotts handle the 7th and 8th. When Buerhle, Garland and Garcia start you would have to love the White Sox chances. You would have to love the Sox chances at least half of Contreras' and El Duque's starts. If another starter were also acquired..........Was it mentioned what it would take to acquire Guardado?

QUOTE(quickman @ Jul 6, 2005 -> 12:46 PM) Well, Dick I would welcome Billy wagner and keep the starters we have. It really moves everyone up a notch. It would be a 5 or 6 inning game and really a shutdown bullpen. We would really be untouchable, although I do not think Wagner will be coming here. In talking with Jim today, I just feel our roster moves lately are strange. basically unless there is a trade soon, Jenks is here for 7 days, and its not really a full seven day schedule. Then you have gload tearing the cover off the ball, and not being activated, Konerko to me needs time off or else he will take a 230 batting average to the allstar game but Gload still is not activated even thoughTimo is rarely used. Its just a strange and tells me something has to happen soon. I hope jenks succeeds because then we could trade viscaino. I still think a starter is needed. There is no guarantee El Duque will be healthy the second half, and his reputation as a big game pitcher while well deserved is from several years and a shoulder surgery ago. Contreras is Contreras. Who knows what kind of performance he'll turn in on a given night. I could live with 1 question mark, not 2.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jul 6, 2005 -> 12:24 PM) I don't think they'll trade bullpen depth for a position player, although I would do a Viz and Harris for Cintron swap right now. But I think KW's primary and perhaps only focus is pitching. Pitching pitching pitching. A starter. If KW can't land a Schmidt,Clemens, or Burnett type, I would look for him to add a starter and reliever. Billy Wagner may be available. Kip Wells could probably be had a reasonable price.

Depending on the cost, I would trade for him and make him the closer. I think he has been a mediocre starting pitcher his entire career, but I think he would be in the top 2 or 3 closers in baseball if placed in that position.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jul 6, 2005 -> 07:33 AM) He wanted to "go home". He got what he asked for. I agree with you for the most part. His paychecks are clearing, and he could have gone and managed wherever he wanted. He chose Tampa. The only thing I feel was unfair was he was told spending would be increasing, not decreasing. They have a $29 million payroll. If the ownership had been straight with him when they brought him on he may not have gone there. He's a good manager who is very competitive and at his wit's end with all the losing. Tampa Bay is a terrible franchise, and probably always will be until they are moved. I wonder if JR and company actually did move to Tampa back in the day if their fate would have been any better.

QUOTE(TheDybber @ Jul 5, 2005 -> 03:23 PM) You mean like K-Rod didn't help the Angels? The Sox don't have a K-Rod in the minors. Face it, so far when the Sox needed pitching help they have turned to BMac who seemed to get progressively worse every start, and Kevin Walker who has as much business wearing a White Sox uniform as I do. That's not promising. Maybe the pitching staff will continue to perform at its current level. It probably wouldn't be wise to assume this. The White Sox are going to need to add to their pitching depth THIS season, and from the looks of it, that help is not going to come from Charlotte or Birmingham. KW is going to have to go out and get it, and its going to cost him some prospects. Maybe a couple of these guys that are dealt will turn out to be good players eventually. But they can't help this year. Most people aren't too upset with Carlos Lee not being here, and look at what he's doing. Chances are small the guys the White Sox give up will ever put up the numbers Carlos Lee puts up.

Baj wasn't too impressive in the stint with the White Sox last year. But then again, neither has any pitcher they have brought up the past couple of years. I am really getting concerned with the scouting department. Who have they drafted the last 5 years that you really can confidently say is going to be an above average major leaguer? Anderson seems the logical answer , but he is striking out at an alarming rate. Sweeney has had mixed results . I'm a fan of BMac, but he is a AAA pitcher at best right now.

From what I can tell about all this trade talk, the White Sox are going to be giving up minor leaguers. Why, after seeing how every White Sox prospect performs at the major league level when called upon, would any GM want anything to do with White Sox minor leaguers?

That rain delay was BS. It didn't even rain the first hour of the delay, and then it drizzled a little. It was raining harder during the game than it ever did during the delay. BMac needs the rest of the year in Charlotte. Kevin Walker needs to become a bucketboy. Tampa Bay gets BMac and Walker the same game and still can't win. No wonder Sweet Lou wants out.

What about Kevin Walker? Maybe they could have him start installing the green seats. He has to be removed from the roster immediately.

Nomo's ERA is almost 9.00 on the road. BMac should have some runs to work with tonight.

QUOTE(C_LEE45 @ Jul 4, 2005 -> 02:00 PM) i say if were going to give top notch prospects we should go after Roy Oswalt!!! You could give Houston the top 4 prospects in the White Sox system, it will not be enough to get Roy Oswalt. Houston signed him to a 2 year extension this off-season, and I believe he is arbitration eligible after that meaning they control him this season + 2 more.

QUOTE(SEALgep @ Jul 4, 2005 -> 11:11 AM) Why? If we were able to use Crede to get Oswalt, Randa would serve his purpose. First off, Houston has a good 3rd baseman, they won't want Crede. Secondly, the package suggested for Roy Oswalt is nowhere near what would be required to acquire him. Crede isn't going anywhere.

QUOTE(Wedge @ Jul 4, 2005 -> 10:33 AM) Oswalt would likely come at a cost similar to Garcia from last year: a young MLB (Crede), and two solid prospects (Anderson and somebody else). I think that'd be a pretty good deal, actually, if we had somebody who could play 3B in Crede's absense. It would be a lot more than that.

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Jul 4, 2005 -> 10:06 AM) I would love to see the Sox go after Oswalt...he is a total stud but I don't know if Houston is even selling. His price tag would be huge. It wouldn't just be prospects if he were available.

QUOTE(chi-guy2 @ Jul 4, 2005 -> 09:57 AM) i never thought about putting borchard in the trade, maybe bonds could give him some juice to bolster his stats and then they would have an all steroid outfield, they would probably rather have anderson Anderson has almost caught up to Borchard in the strike out department. I don't think he's as major league ready as some do.

Personally I would like the Sox to acquire Andy Pettite. But I think Schmidt, if healthy, would be a very solid acquisition. When SF traded for him in 2001 at the deadline, he was 6-6 with a 4.61 ERA with the Pirates. He finished 7-1 with a 3.39 ERA with SF and has been lights out until this season. I don't think there is truth to this rumored trade with Schmidt. I trust Coppock, and have no doubt he didn't make up his story. I think the people he talked to might be a little out of the loop as to what's really happening. They probably are aware at what the general plan is, but probably are speculating on the specifics.

QUOTE(elrockinMT @ Jul 4, 2005 -> 08:45 AM) A quality lefty reliever like Billy Wagner makes more sense, but only at the right price. We have an excellent team right now and trading away our young talewnt isn't the way to go. KC did that a couple years ago and have went downhill since. Who did KC trade away? Their early season success in 2003 was a mirage. They fell back in the second half that year, then signed some often broken down free agents who continued to be hurt for 2004. They didn't have much pitching. The White Sox have good pitching and are trying to acquire more. If Billy Wagner is available, he's going to cost top prospects as well.

QUOTE(maggsmaggs @ Jul 3, 2005 -> 08:44 PM) Must have been afraid to ask, the conversation would have gone like this: Chet-My sources have told me jason Schmidt to the Sox, have you heard anything? Ken-NO. Dead air and awkward silence. He or his producer most likely asked him before he went on. Since he probably hadn't heard anything Coppock didn't bring it up. I have no doubt Coppock did talk to a member of the White Sox BOD and was given this information. That doesn't make it true.