iamshack

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Apr 16, 2008 -> 07:01 AM) 3 hours of Lost makes me happy I wish they would put it all into one night though...

QUOTE (kjshoe04 @ Apr 14, 2008 -> 10:46 PM) Don't forget how he was the best at reading a ball in the dirt and taking the base. I said that the Frank Thomas poll was the best ever. I stand corrected. I nearly spit my drink out last night when Hawk said BA's read of Street's ball in the dirt in the 9th was "almost Jose Valentin-like."

Anyone know anything about this Angel Villalona kid in the Giants system? He's a 6'3, 200 pound 1b prospect that is being compared to Albert Pujols.... He's only 17, and at least 2-3 years away probably, but is really supposed to have a special, special bat. Anyone know anything else about him? Thinking he could possibly be a target should KW choose to re-sign Joe and try to deal Fields...

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 01:36 PM) I thought we traded him to Oakland. Hah, that was priceless...

I honestly enjoy not hearing about the opinions of celebrities, especially regarding politics. I'm so tired of people like George Clooney or Matt Damon or Sean Penn acting as if their opinion has any more bearing on anything than anyone else's. Contrarily, their opinions should be viewed with less reverence as they often live a life that is so far from the common American experience as to be irrelevant. That being said, as for her comments in regards to Tupac or Biggie, look how far Sean Combs has come. Look how far Snoop Dog has come. I'm not sure these guys are "black leaders," but they have certainly grown up to contribute quite a bit more to society than we would have thought they would had they been murdered 13 years ago...

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 08:24 PM) I think he'll get Rowand money or more next offseason on the open market. I think he might take $1-2 million less per year to stay in Chicago if he could get the Boras folks to give up some control. A contract like Konerko's for example. And if that is the case, his contract will most likely be prohibitive to the White Sox. I don't think they'd go more than 4 years with him. Given his injuries and performance over the course of the year, I'm not sure he will get that much, although in the current baseball landscape, one can never be anywhere close to certain. I would think our best offer would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 4/$44 million with some sort of option for a fifth year. In regards to Crede/Ramirez v. Fields/Cabrera, I like the first choice at this point, although I need to see more of OC before I could really make an educated guess. His bat has come alive the past week or so, and I really am enjoying his walk rate as well. Of course, the money is a big factor as well. Given their ages and skillsets though, I think Crede would be worth the money should he have a good year v. OC should he have a good year. The good thing, however, is that we probably have decent in house replacements for both of them in Fields/Ramirez. But along with those two comes more k's and less defense and experience.

QUOTE (Brian @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 07:56 PM) 2-0 when Toby Hall starts. Nah, we lost last Friday night against Detroit when Toby started....I believe we are 2-1.

Yeah, that has been a very bright point from our pitching thus far....although we are giving up WAY to many walks...

QUOTE (lostfan @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 07:33 PM) If you've already given up on Danny Richar, then I don't think the Sox could trade for any 2B prospect that would impress you, or any 2B short of Brian Roberts for that matter. Yeah, that may indeed be the issue here....solid MI prospects are difficult to come by right now...

QUOTE (WCSox @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 06:55 PM) Why are you so intent on dealing Fields if Crede is re-signed? He'll be cheap for a long time, he has 30+ HR power, and he can play all four of the corner positions. That's the kind of guy that you want to keep around for a while. I'm intent on trading Fields if Crede is resigned because there is absolutely no need for him on this team. He is a power hitting, high strikeout, average defensive player. Since when have we been short on these guys? 2000? I understand the core of the team continues to age, including many of our power hitters such as Dye, Thome, and Konerko. However, we've just acquired both Swisher and Quentin, who will both be 25-30 HR guys here for many, many years. Konerko's power is going nowhere for a few more years, and he is signed through 2010'. And under the premise of your question, Crede would be re-signed, and he is a 25-30 HR player as well. So power is not something we are going to be lacking. Instead, we should be looking for solid all-around players with good plate discipline and above average defense.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 06:55 PM) And if Scott Boras's team is determined to take every one of his players out on the open market and not sign a deal beforehand, which is his M.O. and which is an idea that would only be reinforced by Crede having a solid season...then we're not locking Crede up unless we're the highest bidder in late November. Well, I know I am in the ultra-minority here, but I firmly believe Joe wants to stay in Chicago above all-else. I'm not saying he will be willing to take peanuts compared to what he might get on the FA market, but I think he would happily take a hometown discount, ala Mr. Buehrle. I don't see why else he would have gone out of his way to mention how much he wants to stay here at every opportunity he's been given, if it weren't to send a signal to Kenny Williams and Jerry Reinsdorf. As for what positions Josh could be moved for, say what you want about Danny Richar, but he's done nothing to convince me that he will ever be anything other than an average mlb player. I know he hasn't had a whole ton of chances to prove himself, but then again, he's never done anything at anytime in his career to suggest he will be anything other than an average mlb player. And the other young 2b you mentioned I am assuming is Ramirez. It seems quite clear to me that the organization plans to slot him either as a CF or as a replacement for OC should he depart via FA. And as for OF, I see two permanent OF's and a few spare parts. It's fairly clear that the organization does not wish to rely on BA or Owens if it isn't necessary. Once Dye's contract expires after next season, and possibly even after this season due to his age, we may have a full-time open spot in one of our OF positions. That obviously depends on what happens with both BA and Owens this year, as well as Ramirez, and especially whether OC walks or not. Finally, for a farm system as bare as ours, a final option might be to trade Fields for several well-regarded younger prospects to add depth to the system. It certainly wouldn't hurt. I just think it would be foolish to let Josh Fields dictate your course of action with Joe Crede, should he continue to play the caliber of defense he currently is, and produce offensively somewhere close to what he has done, when healthy, since late 05'.

I absolutely understand the notion that Fields comes at a far cheaper price than Crede, in terms of salary. However, simply because Fields is a player that would be making near the league minimum for a few seasons prior to his arbitration years, and Crede would most-likely be an 8-figure salaried player, that does not mean Fields cannot be traded for a similar player at another position. It seems foolish to me that because we have two solid options at one position, we are somehow locked into letting the more expensive player walk or trading him for quarters on the dollar. Why not explore scenarios whereby Fields could be traded for a similar player at a position of need, for instance second base, first base, perhaps right field, rather than assuming he has to become unblocked at third base with the trade or non-signing of Joe Crede?

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ Apr 14, 2008 -> 05:22 PM) Thanks MTV. In an interview with Blender Magazine published March 19, 2008, Keys caused a stir in the media, stating that she believes the rivalry between Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur was fueled "by the government and the media, to stop another great black leader from existing." [42] She also claimed that "Gangsta rap' was a ploy to convince black people to kill each other. `Gangsta rap' didn't exist." However, she did not reveal what she believed to be the original source of "Gangsta rap". During the interview she revealed that she wears a gold AK-47 pendant around her neck “to symbolize strength, power and killing ’em dead.” By no means am I excusing Alicia Keys for sounding like an absolute lunatic, but you seem to have a habit of discussing race at every chance you can get.

QUOTE (joejoedairy @ Apr 14, 2008 -> 11:23 PM) Ok maybe not fields, but thome shouldn't be playing anymore Thome will be fine, he just needs a day off and to get his swing back....he's never had a bad year when he was healthy.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Apr 14, 2008 -> 10:38 PM) dye is another guy who really hasnt hit in like a week Dye had two hits tonight and one on Friday night. He had one yesterday and one last Monday.... I know he hasn't exactly been tearing it up, and he did get picked off tonight and get thrown out easily at second against Detroit on Friday, so maybe that's why it seems he has not hit. But he does have 6 hits in his last 22 ab's.

QUOTE (G&T @ Apr 14, 2008 -> 08:05 PM) I love the fact that DJ pronounces "Octavio" differently every time he says it. Octovio. Octavio. Octaaaavio.

QUOTE (max power @ Apr 14, 2008 -> 07:56 PM) This bulls game is ridiculous. They have 120 points at the end of the 3rd. Who are the bulls?

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 14, 2008 -> 07:51 PM) That's just inexcusable. That seems like a balk...

One would think that facing Kenny Rogers yesterday would've prepared us a little better for this "Mr. Smith."

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 14, 2008 -> 07:33 PM) You know, reading this thread about how Bad Buehrle's doing, you'd think he'd given up like 7 or 8 runs. He's given up 2 runs through 6, and both of them are the direct result of Mike Sweeney. Well, I agree, but these aren't exactly the 27' Yankees he's facing here either....

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 14, 2008 -> 07:26 PM) Leadoff double for Sweeney after Konerko "trotted" unsuccessfully for a foul ball. Yeah, I was quite miffed by that effort by Paulie as well.

One would think they would figure out how to change their strategy by now...

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 14, 2008 -> 06:59 PM) A's lead 1-0 after the Suzuki single. Buehrle has no zip on his fastball, as it's at 84 mph and his change up is at 79 mph. The A's are just serving pitches into center. Dead arm?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 14, 2008 -> 03:53 PM) At least with Fields, the argument was made that keeping him in the minor leagues wouldn't teach him that much, because his weakness was biggest against major league fastballs, which aren't very common in the minors, while his strength is against off speed stuff, which he didn't really need to practice against. Following that logic suggests that Alexei could benefit from heading down, if he's already strong against fastballs but weak against breaking balls, as he'd have a chance to work against a bunch of them in game situations. Right, but I used the opposite logic with Fields. If you truly look at AA/AAA pitchers, they usually have fairly good fastballs. They would not have reached the level they have without it. What they often lack is a mastery or at least consistency with secondary pitches, which is why they are still at the levels they are. Using that logic, Alexei may not see a whole bunch of great breaking stuff down there (as he didn't in ST), and he would simply mash the ball (as he did in ST). That is what I see the difference being between the Fields and Ramirez situations. Not to say that Alexei wouldn't benefit more from playing against live pitching everyday- he most definitely would- but as Scenario mentioned, working on hitting major league breaking balls is not the only thing Alexei is trying to learn. Perhaps when he becomes more comfortable in this country and with the language, he will be more apt to learn more getting regular ab's in AAA.

QUOTE (scenario @ Apr 14, 2008 -> 01:31 PM) There might be some advantage to sending Ramirez down to Charlotte to get him more playing time, but I think they'll keep him around. Reason? I think the club is more concerned about his adjustment to the US than they are about him getting at-bats against AAA pitchers. The Sox major league coaches + Contreras provide a much better transition team for a non-English speaking player... especially one making such a huge cultural change. That's a really solid point...I hadn't thought about that. The other thing to consider is that if Ramirez is already a very solid fastball hitter, it may not do him a ton of good to go down...he may be better off continuing to get acclimated to the US and working on as many hitting drills as possible on the side... I can't convey enough how excited I am to see OG take this position in regards to Owens...I'm not sure if it's for the right reasons, but he is coming to the right result.