lbier49

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 9, 2006 -> 11:55 PM) If Jon Garland, Mark Buehrle, and Jose Conteras never wind up winning a Cy Young award amongst them, I will simply be shocked. I was blatantly wrong this year, maybe because of the long playoff run last year, maybe because of poor coaching, maybe something else, but I thought 1 of those 3 was going to win the Cy this year before this season started. I think one of those guys has a real good chance of winning one of those tropies next year as well...if they find a way to heal up in the offseason. On paper, right now, this is still the top rotation in the league in 2007, even if the key guys only do their career average numbers, and no one has a career year in 2007 Dont look now, but Buerhle may be a large liablility. Whether it is mechanics or betwenn the ears, Beurhle spends too many innings throwing little more than batting practice to the opposition. I suggest if we elect to sign Buerhle, we do so with a reasonable guarantee of no more than 2K and the remainder subject to achieving numbers commensurate with big money. Take a look at Frank Thomas if you want to see what such a contract looks and can work like. Anyone that beleives Buerhle has earned his salary this year and is worth as much or more next year has no respect for $$$. Let's hope KW has learned something positive from the Frank Thomas situation. java script:emoticon(':gosox1:', 'smid_15') azchisoxfan

Im neither giving up on Ozzie or blaming him for the Pitching and infrequent hitting woes. What I am wondering iis if Buerhle is finished as a quality starter. Seems when he loses it and that has been too frequently this year, his pitches become little more than BP material. Again tonite, grooved after grooved pitches. Too too many belt high and centrally located. The Chisox do not need to spend 8 million on such mediocrity. I hope KW shows some imagination and offers a contract over weighted in incentives. If he doesn't understand how that works, he should talk to the GM out in Oakland and model it after Thomas' contract. lb java script:emoticon(':gosox1:', 'smid_15')

As I see it, it is now a 4 horse race for the Central Division and Wild Card positions in the post seasons. The overall leader remains the Tigers, but their youth and limited experience certainly appears to be taking its toll, expecially on the road. I think they will have the worst record of the Central Division contendors from here on out, but 5 1/2 games is a good head strart. Look for the Central Divison to be settled in the last week of the season. And expect it to be a 3 team dog fight. Chisox have the slimmest of leads over the Twins. If we can get any sort of reasonable return to '05 form from the Starting Pitchers, it would be easy to say we would be a lock. However with the exception of Garland of late, only a fool would expect such a return to form. When the offense comes to play, this team is as good as any. Led by yet unheralded, '05 WS MVP Dye, it is deep and powerful. I am very hopeful that the Chisox will be among the two teams standing whether it be as Division Champz or Best of the Rest Wildcard. The Twins must be respected. A bit thin and inexperienced pitching wise, they have come on gang busters with their small ball offense. If Lariano is healthy, I expect they will be in the hunt 'til the final week and would not be surprised to see them in the Playoffs. Boston appears to be a likely team out. Wounded deeply by their Massacre in BeanTown by the hated Yankees they could well be playing for next year shortly. Go Sox.java script:emoticon(':gosox1:', 'smid_15') larry

java script:emoticon(':gosox3:', 'smid_17') Now I was a real believer in McCarthy, but the teams use or more correctly misuse of him this year, has been a tragedy. He is a mediocre middle reliever at best and with too few stretches of work, he seems not to be in condition to step in as a starter. And IMHO as well as others, he was among the elite young prospective starters coming into this year, but the brass went with an unnecessary trade for Vasquez and certainly damaged this asset. lb