witesoxfan

No it doesn't. Ever heard of Matt LeCroy? Hit something like .300 15 50 or so this year? Not sure what the exact numbers are, but he had some damn good numbers in limited games. He's not a great defensive catcher by any means, and does not have a good arm behind the plate. He gets the job done though. And he's got 30-40 homer potential and could be a damn good hitter. Sign a backup for him that can actually play some defense and throw a few guys out(ala Mark Johnson), and you have yourself a decent catching duo. If that is the case, and I don't see why it WOULDN'T be(because Mauer was only like in high A ball or AA ball this year....way too early to bring him up IMO), the Sox should use that to their advantage. Just get all kinds of fast people that can get on base on a regular basis(sign Luis Castillo, however much it costs us, use Harris in CF, make the Konerko/Lee and Valentin trade for Perez and Izturis, have Olivo become more active on the bases), have two at the top and two at the bottom of the lineup, and have them, when they get on base against the Twins, run, run, and run somemore. With LeCroy's weak arm, we expose this, and manufacture all kinds of runs. If we are safe 75% or more at 2nd, we win. We get into their pitcher's head, he starts losing focus on the hitter, makes one mistake....2-run homer. If they go with Mauer(which again, could be and probably would be very dumb), this may not occur as easily. I believe Mauer has a little better arm then LeCroy. In essence, I'm saying that the Sox should get faster and should steal the s*** out of the bases this year.

Something tells me this year could be ugly. Cito said he would only manage the team if they were given a legit chance of competing. I'm still not sure if we went with Ozzie because JR's a cheap piece of s*** or because Cito turned down the deal, learning what the team plans to do next year, and Ozzie accepted the job because he wanted to become manager of the White Sox, regardless.

Angels and Orioles are two other places he could go.

Yes to all. And Caps Lock Day was a couple weeks ago.

I know. I just tried to throw a little comic relief on the fire. Didn't work, huh? Actually though, I think the Twins won the division because they actually have a half-decent coaching staff in Minnesota. When Jerry Manuel was your manager, you were not going to do s***. I mean, if the coach doesn't give a s***, why should the players? It's not that the Sox don't give a s***...because I think they do. You saw that in the 12-game stretch in June against the Cubs and Twins. I just don't think they played hard enough as long as they could have. When you try to hit the 5-run homer, you're not going to win many games, whether or not you give a s***. And that's what they were doing. And if that wasn't caught and changed, I lay blame on ONE man....and that man is no longer working for the White Sox organization, so I don't give a s*** now. Let's hope Ozzie can figure s*** out.

Didn't Elo lose 1-0 THREE times, twice to Detroit and once to Baltimore? And I know he lost a 2-1 game once or twice and lost 3-1 or 3-2 to the DRays too. This f***ing team, if it ain't one thing, it's another. 2000, 01, and 02, our offense is f***ing killer but we can't get a pitching staff. 2003 rolls around and our pitching is stellar, but now we can't find any offense(unless our 220 homers count....which they don't). If someone can figure this team out, let me know.

Wait a second. Go the way of the Twins? You mean you want us to get rid of our two best relievers and our best hitter? I hope not. And then maybe trade one of our top starters too? I sure hope not. Let's not go the way of the Twins, and instead go the way of the White Sox. That is, let KW f*** something up and then say it was a baseball move or that he didn't know that his shoulder was torn up.

I don't understand either. I actually see two good years and two solid years....but nothing spectacular, and definately not worth more then $4-5 mill, let alone the $10 he's going to get next year.

Grinders! That's it. I couldn't remember. Thank you

After reading what I have read in the past 20 minutes, that's about who's on my wish list too. I don't think if I had it the way I wanted that Maggs would be patrolling RF, but I could definately see an OF of like Lee, Cameron, Rowand/Sanders/Reed/Borchard, etc. I think if the Sox are really serious about contending next year, they just forget the Jon Garland project in turning him into a good consistent pitcher and get a guy who will eat you innings....ala Sidney Ponson. You trade Konerko and Jose for Perez and Izturis(gets rid of two problems in LA, adds two very good players for us and gets rid of 2 ugly salaries) along with a few sweeteners here and there(maybe we give them Rauch and/or Diaz, etc), and you clear $13 mill out. Trade Maggs for Percival(with a few sweeteners), and you save another $7.5 mill, because that's what Percy makes this year. You then have $20.5 mill to spend elsewhere, and that is very beneficial. Maybe make an offer of $5-7 mill for Cameron(we'll say he takes $6 mill), though IMO he's worth more around $3-5 mill. Bring in Ponson for $5-8 mill a year(we'll say he takes $7 mill), which strengthens your rotation. At that point, your rotation is set, and it looks a little like this: Elo Buehrle Ponson Perez Garland With the $7.5 mill you have left, you get a 2Bman, and whether it be Robbie or Vina or whoever....maybe Kennedy is included in the Percy trade, I don't know. Just as an example, I'll say we resign Robby for $2.5 mill a year, which leaves us with $5 mill to spend on anything. You then sign a guy like Brad Fullmer or David Ortiz, possibly resign with Daubach or heck, maybe you wanna wing it and try out Ross Gload....who the hell knows. However, with 1B, you can put almost anyone there, maybe even Frank Thomas....who knows. I'll say you sign Brad Fullmer for $1.5 mill. The lineup is set and looks something like this Alomar 2B Rowand RF Lee LF Fullmer 1B Thomas DH Cameron CF Crede 3B Olivo C Izturis SS Not a great lineup, in fact, not a good lineup at all....but you do add a few Ozzie-type guys(I can't exactly remember the word KW used, but it was something like scratchers or fighters or something like that). With that lineup, you have 5 guys tops who can provide you with power, though Thomas and Cameron will both probably strike out about 275 times combined, Cameron with 150-160 or so, and Thomas with 115-125. If we got lucky, Rowand busts out and jacks about 15-25....somewhere in that neighborhood. As for the pen, you have 3 givens - Percy, Marte, and Wunsch. We hope to trade Koch to the Mets, and just hope to get Royce Ring back, and maybe another reliever too. Gets rid of another $6.5 mill or so(which brings us to about $11.5 mill available) and strengthens the farm system just a little. With that $11.5 mill, you try to sign Hawkins for about $5 mill(a lot, but is well worth it), and you try to sign someone like Chad Fox for $1-$2 mill, and then you use a minor leaguer(say Diaz, because he didn't get traded to LA), and your bullpen is set. Percival, Marte, Hawkins, Wunsch, Fox, Diaz....and maybe another pitcher. Something like that. With the bench, you have about $5 mill left. Resign Graffy for $2 mill, either resign Sandy for $500,000, or if he retires, give it to either Burke or Rivera. Harris will make about $400,000, and then maybe someone like Darren Bragg or Singleton or Shinjo, etc, or you use Ross Gload as a 1B/OF type. With the last spot, you go with the best cheap bat available....maybe someone like Matt Stairs. If I had a plan, it would be something like that.

The only way we have a chance in hell of getting Cameron is if we not only overpay for him, but KW apologizes for the way this organization treated him like s*** when trading him.

This has nothing to do with East Coast bias. IIRC, Halladay won more games then Elo, and did more in September then Elo did. Halladay also threw the first 10-inning shutout in a long time. It is not everyday that you see a 10-inning shutout. He had more complete games, he threw more innings, and he was flat out a better pitcher. Now had Pedro finished 2nd and Elo 3rd, then I would be pissed. Nonetheless, congrats on a great season Elo! Do it again next year!

Wait a second Aren't you still doing that?

So soon do we forget his complete dominance down the stretch when we really needed it. It's not his fault that everybody on the offense tried to hit a 5-run homer every time they went to the plate. If Colon can pitch well for 4 or 5 months of the year(3.50-4.00 ERA or so) and then become so dominant that he is nearly unhittable, he is worth $12 mill a year.

Dallas blows. I don't care what their record is. When they play real teams(ala Tampa Bay), they get killed. You can even ask Parcells yourself. If you asked him if the Cowboys were good, and he gave you and honest answer, he'd probably say no. He'd say they are improving and in improving they're winning a few games, but that they are not good. And anyone who watched that game today could tell you that too. This was more very poor coaching by the Bills then it was a well played game by Dallas.

Really? I think the main question from most people would be 'Does it look nice?" I don't know why JR continually does this. I can understand renovating the stadium some, but don't do it too incredibly much. It is, by far, the nicest stadium in Chicago(Wrigley Field can't touch USCF). It's just that we can not market the team at all. I think winning cures all. Get some very smart men up in the front office, some very smart men in the dugout, and spend your money WISELY. I'm sick of this $10 mill over 2 years s*** to a guy like Koch or $8 mill a year over 3 years to a guy like Konerko. If we can get Konerko for $5 mill a year, I'm a little happier about it, but holy s***, you spend that much money on one or two guys, and you're screwed. Thanks for the update cw.

Goddamn pieces of s*** lost to the most overrated team in the NFL. Hey Kevin Gilbride, pack your bags assclown. I hope Gregg Williams joins you too. :fyou

Don't forget Everyday Eddie But your right the Twins will get weaker. Still, they are the champs. I'm sick of the Sox thinking they are the favorites every year. As far as I'm concerned the Twins have showed, earned and proven that they are the Division Champs and the team to beat in the division and until someone dethrones them, they should be. Everyone else should be working their way up to beat them. I do have a lot of confidence for next season cause this team doesn't have many holes. hell, if we don't win it next year look for this team to be broken up, if they can't do anything with this talent, let's start all over. Agreed. I can't stand this s*** much longer

That can be said about any team. "The (enter team name) are crap when they've got no inside presence and they don't play good D." Get the idea?

That was my initial thought right away too. I think one year, every team that can should just go with throwbacks, and we as fans enter the time machine. Take us back to the 80s, I say!

This f***ing organization, I swear, every time you think they are starting to turn the corner and become smart, they just turn around and go act like assclowns again. I'm not fond of the Guillen hiring....I personally don't think the players will listen to him and we'll end up worse then we were last year. I mean, do you honestly think that Frank Thomas, who was damn close to becoming a baseball immortal when Ozzie played with the White Sox, is going to listen to him? I personally do not think so. I think he'll lose this team from the get-go, and we'll struggle to win 70 games. The only couple players I think will play better because of Ozzie are Carlos and then the young guys(like Harris, Olivo, Rowand, Garland, Wright, etc). I just don't think Frank will listen to Ozzie at all, and it is going to cause chaos. You know though, I'm OK with that move. Then they go out and pick up Valentin's option for $5 mill next year. Can someone explain to me the value of a SS with a career average of .246 who averages 25 errors a year who is something like a career .150 hitter right-handed? Thanks. What the f*** is wrong with the White Sox? :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead

I'd take Urbina, so long as he doesn't come into a game where Sosa comes up with the tying run on base in the bottom of the 9th. Man that was ugly.

I don't think so. We won't see another 21-9 2.90 season again....but next year I think it is safe to expect those above numbers slightly worse(maybe 15-10 with 3.50-4.00 ERA) and more innings, and more quality innings down the stretch(or in other words, we won't see another 7 inng outing where he gives up 5 runs, or a less then 4-inning outing where he gives up 6, both to the team that is right on our ass) He threw something like 215 innings this year....so I don't see why 225-235 isn't possible.

That is horrible news. Man, that kid looked like a damn good player too. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Cincinatti Reds organization and all of Stenson's family and friends. RIP

Lack of control? I don't think so. He threw it right over the heart of the plate several times this year. I think it was more or less no balls on the fastball. You can get a 92 or 93 MPH fastball by some AAAers....but that ball won't land for 5-10 minutes if you try to blow it past a major league hitter.