BearSox

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 10:54 PM) What's the fun in saying 'let's just wait and see' about every facet of the ballclub? That and unwavering optimism over every question mark the team has is just boring, I know I wouldn't want to read that day in and day out. Talk about a boring message board. kinda funny how I didn't mention any of that. All I am saying is don't turn your back on the whole organization. I really don't care if you hate a player, but I hate it when people make it sound like a fact when they say something sucks. Like everyone is saying Pods sucks and Erstad sucks, like it is a fact. I'll except that offer you made me kalapse. Even though I am not that optimistic, I just have faith in the team.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 10:42 PM) I am not going to be the one to turn this thread negitive(it will happen, trust me) but I would love to see what evidence there is that Erstad will post "2000-esc numbers" as you say, and Pods will post return to 05 form. I see next to nothing, scratch that, nothing to suggest Erstad can post anywhere near the numbers he put up 7 years ago. (In case anyone missed that, thats 7 years ago) Podsednik was awful last season, and before he could get into tough workouts this off-season, he went under the knife for a groin problem. That doesn't look all that promising. I have zero problem with having faith in this team, I think they have a good shot to take the Central, but at least have something to base the hope off of, not, "Hey, it could happen!" I have no evidence for Erstad, but have plenty for Pods. 1. He is said to be 100% 2. From what I have heard he has been tearing the cover off the ball (yes, it has been in minor league games though) 3. He has ran without any pain 4. The whole organization thinks he will have a great season, possibly his best ever Also, to all, I have no problem with having doubts and such. Just don't turn your back on this team and jump of the ledge before the season has even started.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 10:35 PM) Faith is what a person relies upon when there is no concrete evidence to back the claim. ...just saying what proof did we have in 05 that we would have won the world series and 99 games? none.

QUOTE(sircaffey @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 10:31 PM) So this also means that we will be seeing Terrero in CF vs. LHP and batting 2nd? My guess is that Iguchi would bat second vs. lefties.

I kinda hinted this in a previous post, but can't we wait until the season is two months over before we crucify everyone? All I have seen on this board so far is Pods sucks, Erstad sucks, Ozzie sucks, KW is an idiot, the 5th spot in the rotation is a disaster, the bullpen is a mess, Iguchi can't hit unless he is in the two whole, Perez and Anderson are gods (I guess that counts as positive though), etc. Why must we cruscify the whole team before the season started??? For all we know Pods will return to 03/05 form, and Erstad can put up 2000 esque numbers. Stranger things have happened. And what if Iguchi puts up massive power numbers being able to be a free swinger again? And what if John Danks wins ROY or Gavin Floyd becomes lights out? And maybe Nick Masset/David Aardsman/Charlie Haeger/Whoever, become good solid bullpen arms. And I bet there were more question marks about the 05 team then the 07 team. The real point of these thread is to bring some sanity and maybe some optimism to the board. I have no problem with some pessimism, but it is getting ridiculous. You know what, I am not that optimistic right now either, and I am not that positive of a person, but I have faith. Faith that the coaching staff, Ozzie, Kenny, and all of the players will bounce back this year with a great season. Have a new hunger, and shutup all the doubters. Right now the White Sox are considered to be like how they were before 05, a mediocre team, but I for one think this team can be the best team in all of baseball this year, if the ball bounces our way. Keep the faith (that is what this years slogan should have been)

What is with all the Podsednik hate? I don't like him or anything, but he wasn't 100% last year. Would I rather have Dave Roberts in LF and leading off? Hell yes. But then again, Podsednik can return to that 05 and 03 form, and hit .300, with a .350+ OBP, and steal 60 bags and have a 80% completion rate of doing so. And I can kinda understand the Erstad hate, but can we please wait until the season is two months through the season and see the results before we crucify the whole team? For all we know Pods reverts back to '05, and Erstad repeats 2000.

I'd trade him for Jorge Julio. QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 09:06 PM) In the same off-season, Williams traded the top 2 CF on the White Sox organizational depth chart. Young was the center of that deal. Williams was able to trade both Rowand and Young because of the franchises faith in Anderson. They felt like they were dealing from a position of strength. Guess not..... What makes Young better then Anderson? I personally am not a fan of Young, and at beast, IMO, he will be Mike Cameron Jr. (and there isn't anything wrong with that)

Aardsma > Cotts

Why would he be done? He is still fairly young, and could at least add depth in the minors. Also, I hope he bounces back. My question is does he still have those wicked breaking pitches? If so, and he is healthy, watch out. I think he has tons of potential still. I also think the Bullpen might be an option for him.

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Mar 19, 2007 -> 10:58 PM) Tonight on "The show" Dickerson and Carmen were saying Ozzie said Adam Russell is now being considered for the 5th spot and or the bullpen.... I'm not surprised.

QUOTE(kevo880 @ Mar 19, 2007 -> 10:53 PM) I know he was a 4th rounder in i want to say the 2004 draft, but it could have been the '05 draft. you had it right the first time... 04 draft. But I am not sure which round.

yay?

When I saw the title of this thread, I immediately thought of the one simpsons clip where Homer is in church, is falling asleep during the homily or something, and then as he falls asleep, he bangs his head against the pew and scream dammit. Ah, the good old simpsons.

06 splits... http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/stats/indi...&statType=1 career stats... http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/stats/indi...&statType=1 He also plays above average D, is young, and is a very good base stealer. I would gladly take him over some of the guys we have. also, my guess would be that Freddy Sanchez would be batting second, and Wilson more towards the bottom of the order.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Mar 19, 2007 -> 09:49 PM) I SAW 2 THAT WERE WORSE, SWEAR, THERE ARE 2 OF THEM WORSE Pittsburgh probably will go with Duffy-Wilson, and even though Duffy can actually steal a base, he is horrendously bad about getting on base. And Wilson is like worse than Erstad offensively. but shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit DeJesus is actually good, sry, Sox are #29 best Actually Duffy is really good and I am expecting a big year out of him. He was de-railed during the first half of last season due to injury. In 05, and the second half of last year, I think he has an overall average over 300 and OBP over 350. Let me look it up real quick.

oh yeah, my dark horse is Ryan Bukvich

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 19, 2007 -> 09:40 PM) Not sure if it includes today, but his ERA this spring is 9.45. That's almost bad enough for him to join the starting rotation. He had a bad first few games, but I have been impressed with him the past two outings. Usually ST numbers are inflated anyway, and the best way to judge a player is by progression not stats. Oh, and that homer he gave up was to the almighty Ross Gload, who doesn't Ross Gload hit homers off of?

not unless Pods and Erstad kick ass this year... show some optimism people!

I don't know about you guys, but Adam Russel has quickly raised on my list. right now my updated top 10 would look something like this... 1. John Danks 2. Ryan Sweeney 3. Josh Fields 4. Gio Gonzalez 5. Adam Russel 6. Lance Broadway 7. Charlie Haeger 8. Kyle McCulloch 9. Aaron Cunningham 10. Chris Carter

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 19, 2007 -> 09:36 PM) In other words...Owens is batting 3rd. So long JD! I have no idea why I wrote that would screw us against righties... I meant lefties, obviously

I highly doubt it, as Pods, Erstad, and Owens are all lefties, and that would pretty much screw us vs. lefty pitchers.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 19, 2007 -> 09:31 PM) I believe Aardsma gave up another run today. I think he's done absolutely nothing to earn that last bullpen spot, and I think it may well go to Charlie. He did give up a run, but that happens. I thought he looked pretty good today and I liked what I saw from him on saturday.

My guess would be... CP. Jenks SU. MacDougal SU. Thornton MRP. Masset MRP. Logan MRP. Aardsma

I have actually been very high on Floyd and I think he can become that stud that the Phillies drafted 4th overall. From all I have read, it seems like the Phillies pretty much ruined him by trying to change all of his mechanics and such, and just not letting him pitch. He is only 24. Plus, he has great stuff. I also like Danks, but I think he needs another half-year in AAA to work out the kinks and become a bit more MLB ready. And surprisingly, I also like Haeger. But I am a bit uneasy about having him as a starter. I'd like him in the pen, but right now, IMO, it seems like it will be Masset and Aardsma the other two righties.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 19, 2007 -> 08:34 PM) So, from what I read the knock on Russell is that his fastball has basically no movement and his breaking pitches arent exactly MLB quality. From what I have seen this spring he has been experiementing with different arm angles. Today he struck out I believe Emil Brown on a contreras-like fastball breaking in to RH batters. I like what this giant kid brings to the table. I think whoever wrote that's opinion will change very shortly. From the two starts I have seen him pitch, he has good movement on his fastball, and is by far the best one in the organizations. And he has nasty breaking stuff, and those arm angles only help him. At first I thought of him as a bullpen guy, but after these two past starts, I think he can be a stud pitcher at the top of the rotation, he sure does have the stuff. QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 19, 2007 -> 08:34 PM) Also in the game today I was more impressed with Gio that I have been in quite some time. His control is obviously not there yet, but its a definite possiblilty that he can be a top of the line guy in the majors. His fastball does stay up at a good velocity. He has the ability to run the fastball in on righties and away from lefties. He also has a couple of good breaking pitches. I think in 2 years this guy is firmly planted as the #2 guy in the rotation. I agree, Gio looked really good. Also, I noticed he has some big legs, which I didn't notice before. I have been high on Gio for a while, and I think he is going to be a stud.