dwalteroo

I agree that pitching is #1 for 2007. We absolutely need our 1-4 guys to step up and dominate, especially now that our #5 spot is questionable. However, one thing I think we need, and I know this is heresey and I'm likely to get flamed, but... Jim Thome needs to play like he played in the first half of last year. He was so unstoppable - even if he played at 80-90% of that half, that would be awesome. But the second half he just wasn't entirely there. YES, Jim Thome had an awesome season, but taken as two separate halves, you have to admit his first half was above and beyond better.

This seems a bit too ridiculous to me: "In his latest blog post at ESPN, Peter Gammons mentions that the White Sox might pursue Angels shortstop Erick Aybar if Juan Uribe's future remains unclear. Joe Crede could be the trade candidate." http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/01/white_sox_consi.html

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 10, 2007 -> 10:26 AM) Our full bench is Ozuna, Cintron, Mackowiak, Hall, Terrero/Owens/someone else we don't know about yet. That's a 5 man bench. Plus the usual 9 starters, gives 14 people. If we carry the standard 11 man pitching staff, then that takes us to 25. Maybe I'm wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if we went with 12 pitchers, and kept it with 4 bench guys. With the #5 start up for grabs, I could see it.

QUOTE(U can putitontheboarrrrd...YES @ Jan 8, 2007 -> 02:29 AM) I want to see BA everyday until the break. If he still isnt producing, platoon him with Sweeney or whoever.. but dont trade him...I just hope to god that they dont feel their better option is Mack. Concur on most counts except one - the platooning. I don't see that helping the Sox much at all (esp if it's with Mack), so unless the Sox absolutely need better numbers out of that spot, I say keep him in there until the All-Star break and trade for someone else if we get to that point. Sweeney is going to have the same growing pains so I don't know that switching them out is going to help the team much. Mack needs to stay as far away from CF as humanly possible.

QUOTE(Friend of Nordhagen @ Jan 6, 2007 -> 12:52 AM) I am an attorney. And my conclusion is that Juan Uribe is still fat. The defense rests, your honor.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 5, 2007 -> 02:36 PM) And what the heck is up with this twice-a-month visit thing anyway? Seems like the judge just wants to make a point. If he was suspect or a flight risk, they could have just held him in-country. I'm not an attorney, but this seems like a judge making it known that he's in charge. I don't think this would last unless there were really something to the case, in which instance Uribe would perhaps be in custody or out on bail and not allowed to leave the country anyways (assuming that's how it works down there).

Wild, wacky stuff: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/01/jim_parque_atte.html As a fan of second chances, good luck to him!

QUOTE(WHITESOXRANDY @ Dec 24, 2006 -> 10:53 AM) However, all these deals look good if Aardsma, Sisco, Floyd, Gio, Danks and Masset ALL turn out to be good pitchers. Is that realistic ? I love the pitching depth and the bullpen could be really good but....what if some of these guys don't pan out ? Isn't that reasonable to expect ? I guess Kenny could go out and spend some money in that event. What I don't get is how we are realistically going to sort through all our prospects vying for the fifth spot in any reasonable amount of time. What happens if the chosen #5 goes out and has two bad starts? Do we bring in the second #5? And then what if he has a bad start? I realize this may not happen but of course the #5 guy is going to be on a shorter leash than everyone else. And spring training is great but how much can we learn? I would hate to see the entire season turn into one long audition for 2008.