witesoxfan

QUOTE(beck72 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 07:31 PM) Mack's biggest value was his OF versatility. Yet with Erstad around to play LF and CF, IMO, MAck's not as needed as Cintron, who can play 3b, SS and 2b. Ozuna also gives the sox some versatility with his IF spots and LF, and his running and RH bat for LHP. I could see Perez sticking around. Pods should prove he's healthy for some teams and get something of value. Yet Pods will be given a chance to help the sox before or if he's dealt. What good is Erstad as an insurance policy in LF and CF if he's starting/DLing? I think both of those scenarios are far, far more likely at this point in time than is him being a 4th OFer for the Sox. And besides that, the Sox still wouldn't have a 4th OFer on the roster, unless you count Ozuna, and I don't. He's merely a guy who can catch vacate LF and catch flyballs on an occasional basis. Mackowiak is a good corner OFer. The only huge problem that arises in my scenario - if Pods isn't dealt (and I doubt there's any chance of it) or out till mid-May to guarantee 100% health - is that the Sox are lacking an Ozzie style leadoff hitter. What I'd do is simply have either Hall or Perez (who plays the Ozuna role in LF or lets Thome take a breather) in the 2 hole with the other hitting behind Crede. If Perez is in LF, the lineup is easy to make out...Iguchi-Hall/Perez-Dye-Thome-Konerko-Crede-Perez/Hall-Uribe-Anderson. If Perez is DHing, there's a little bit of leeway as to who is seeing the ball better against LHP; regardless of whether it's Mackowiak or Erstad, the lineup is essentially the same (with everyone starting with Konerko moving up a spot) with Mackowiak or Erstad hitting 9th. Each scenario provides their pros and cons of course - with Thome in the lineup, the offense is more potent with a weaker defense, and with Mackowiak/Erstad in the lineup, the defense is stronger with the offense weaker. Of course, I've rabbled on for far too long because there's no chance Ozzie would ever consider such a lineup. I just don't see what Ozuna brings other than a leadoff hitter versus righties, a bit of a spark, and a little speed. It's nice to have off the bench if you have the room, but I just think he should be the 26th man/15th hitter looking in right now. Everywhere he can play defensively, the Sox have someone slightly better, and if it were to mean Iguchi has to lead off, that's what it would have to mean.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 07:17 PM) It hit 52 today, and I was totally comfortable outside in a tshirt and flipflops while I was moving snow out of drifts to make it melt quicker. 20 degrees warmer than that, pwned but then again, we have already discussed this matter

QUOTE(BearSox @ Mar 9, 2007 -> 11:26 PM) My hatred for BP is so deep that anything I read from them makes me eyes burn... that's probably not BP then but rather some type of eye disorder

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 06:13 PM) Paris would probably give the cows some new cow flu. that's hot

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 06:04 PM) Don't worry about it...you aren't welcome here good, you keep you're hybrid cars and Paris Hilton's out of South Dakota seriously, who needs Paris Hilton when there are herds of cattle everywhere?

sounds like Oneli should have made it out of the inning. Given, he should be able to pitch around the error, but it's hard to get 4 outs in an inning, especially with the air as thin as it is in Arizona. Sounds a bit like Thome has his strength back. Hopefully he sits for every other lefty and once a week during a string of righties.

what is this California you all speak about?

QUOTE(knightni @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 05:35 PM) How ironic, "wite". that is a low blow and a half. I would be ordinary with "white." I am no ordinary

I'll add another prediction, one of Cintron and Ozuna doesn't make the team and is traded for essentially anything. Mackowiak has a ton of value to the team with his multiple positions and bat off of the bench, and Perez is such a solid bat to have sub in for Thome on a semi-regular basis and perhaps even get in a little outfield (like 5-10 games at most), along with occasionally giving Konerko a day off too. Cintron is about the only thing the Sox have for a backup SS - aside from Crede and Dye of course - so that leads me to believe it could easily be Ozuna. Just a feeling, and there are arguments for keeping him above even a Perez - namely the whole sparkplug factor and leadoff hitter against lefties - but I'm not sure how big of a factor that is. The other move that could happen is Podsednik getting traded. Ozzie loves him more than Dergan, but he is seriously the outcast on this team right now. He just doesn't fit anywhere at all, and I hope his DL stint is extended well into May if he's going to remain on the team.

so if Pods starts the year on the DL, is the OF Erstad-Anderson-Dye from left to right? And if so, does that mean Perez is going to make the roster, due to Erstad's ability to play CF and Mackowiak and Ozuna being able to play LF and RF (Ozuna not so much there)? Because then when Pods comes back, who goes down? You need to send two down without having to end up with the Venezuelan torture technique in CF again.

for a second, i thought that was your list and I was about to smack you upside the mouth. And then I realized it's the prospects in alphabetical order

QUOTE(soxfan3530 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 03:57 PM) if danks deserves it i say give him a shot! I'm am part of the denks bandwagon! if [any pitcher on the roster] deserves it i say give him a shot! I am part of the [any pitcher on the roster slightly misspelled] bandwagon!

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 04:04 AM) I think Bavasi would be very interested in Phillips actually. Look at the SP he's targeted over the past couple of seasons, mainly Jarrod Washburn and Horacio Razmirez. Phillips fits that mould, and could be succesful at Safeco possibly. It's something really worth considering. Jim Parque too That's not the point though. As poor of a GM as he is, he understands (to an extent, I assume) guys who have no value to a club, and guys who do. As of right now, the Mariners have jacks*** for a 4th OFer and have quite a few potential SP types. Therefore, I don't think they give up Reed without getting a quality player or two back in return.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 02:53 AM) Ha I'd thought you'd be on board. And I think it's definitely worth considering if the price is right. And the price would be a Sean Tracey type of reliever, who's not going to make it with us, a Heath Phillips type of SP, or even Jerry Owens, but I think Reed has more potential in the long run than Owens. Reed could still make it as a starting OF, while Owens is probably going to be nothing more than a 4th OF. And considering we'd be dealing with Bill Bavasi here, anything is possible. the price would probably be someone who can be a starting pitcher within the next couple years or one that has high upside; you're looking at probably Haeger, Sisco, or at the very best price, Aardsma and Phillips/Tracey. If Reed is dealt for less, I'd be extremely surprised. Regardless of how poorly he's performed, he's always had talent offensively, and he's a plus defender. This isn't a situation like there is in Milwaukee where they have about 6-7 guys who can play the OF when virtually none of them have options.

QUOTE(LVSoxFan @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 01:32 PM) All right, what about this one? This is a 1968. definitely this one

didn't know where to put it, so I figure here. Dick Vitale picked UNC to win it all. In other news, it snowed in February, there aren't a lot of people in the Dakotas, manure is s***, and Dick Vitale is loud.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 02:10 PM) If Prior is let go by the Cubs after this season because of injury/bad preformance, I would gladly take him. I have always been a big fan of his, and I think he can become a very good pitcher still. If he is not offered arbitration after next season and becomes a free agent, I would give him an incentive laden deal to compete for a job, especially if Buehrle leaves. And if the Cubs decide to trade him it would only take a mid-level prospect to probably get him. Basically either we would have gotten a huge steal, or we just release/DFA him. It would be one of those high rewards, low risk things. Also, his velocity did increase by a 2-3 mph from his last outing this spring. I wouldn't be surprised to see him hitting in the low 90's by the time the season starts, and if everything goes well, in the mid 90's half-way through the season. It's going to cost way more than a mid-level prospect for Mark Prior. As s***ty as he's been, the Cubs have invested a ton of time into him, he still has promise, and he's still a starting pitcher. Joel Pineiro got a $4 million deal coming off a horrendous season to be brought in as a closer; Randy Wolf got a 1-year, $8 million deal and he didn't pitch last year; Jason Marquis got 3 years and $21 million for putting up the worst ERA f***ing ever last year (proven fact, I swear). You think you'd be able to get him for anything less than a 3 year deal or $8 mill for a year? I guaran-goddamn-tee that there is some crazy team out there that would be willing to guarantee him 3 years or $8 million for one year. So, not only would you not just be able to release him, but you have to depend upon him to stay healthy for a full year and hope and pray that he can be a solid #4. That's f'ing crazy, and something KW and JR have not shown a willingness to do.

I'm continuing the Kenny Mayne love. He went on for about 5 minutes talking about how Shelley Smith disappears for great lengths of time following college teams even as they have lost in the tournament into stores in case they need coupons. would have died laughing if my roomie were not sleeping

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 11:59 PM) I'll throw in a better name. Franklin Morales. It is right around Tizz's range considering he is Latin and all. He does throw hard and is left-handed but very, very raw and only 21 but his potential is ungodly. He's from the Rockies (of all teams) organization. Here's his stats and just alittle info. I refuse to do alot of research tonight but you get my concept. QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 12:14 AM) I would approve such a move contingent upon the statistics and scouting reports. Three years away from the big leagues fits in well with several veterans (Contreras/Garland) having left or about to. Basically, anything that is immediately shunned across baseball as a terrible move by the opposing team should be the only condition for Williams trading Buehrle. I've actually heard of Franklin Morales and would love to acquire him. The point, as I see it, is finding a pitcher whom you know we'd hardly have a chance of drafting with two compensation picks. I'd love nothing more than waking up tomorrow to find out Williams traded Buehrle for Tim Linecum. Even if he is relatively raw and several years away from the majors. I understand what you both are saying, and Morales does have fascinating potential. But my problem with such a pitcher is not only command problems at such a low level, but also potential mechanics problems. I just can't help but to think of Francisco Liriano and how quickly his elbow blew out because of his poor mechanics. It's wrong to group every talented lefty into that same group, but it's not without merit. Again, stuff that raw is always beyond intriguing, but it's a crapshoot, and that's my problem with that type of pitcher being a huge part of a deal. If I personally am going to make a deal like that, I'll either overpay for a prospect of that quality who is close to the majors and who does have good mechanics (and even in that scenario, you are bit in the ass sometimes, with Prior instantly coming to mind), I'll get other prospects included within that package, similar to what the Twins did in the biggest heist in the past 25 years (though almost certainly not to that level), or I'll trade stopgaps and never-will-be's for kids with incredibly raw stuff, which is exactly what KW did this offseason with Sisco and Lujan (and to a certain extent, Masset and Rasner). I just don't think it's justifiable to trade a proven commodity - regardless of whether said commodity could be a 1 or 5 in any given year - for a single raw piece. I'm not sure whether you are actually suggesting that Flash, but while I agree and have agreed with your take on adding very high upside arms to the system, it's just not sane to add one raw arm for one proven arm, regardless of upside of said arm. At that point, I figure you are better taking the compensatory picks rather than taking said pitcher. I'm not opposed at all to dealing Buehrle, and while you don't have to rob that other team in a trade, you can't have a return like the Garcia deal (and I'm a relative fan of the Garcia deal too, but it's easy to see that KW didn't get market value for him...he would not have been able to get much more, but one added arm would have atleast helped save grace). You must get atleast market value for Buehrle, and at this point in time, that's a top 5 prospect and a top 10 prospect. Given, I may be misinterpreting what you're saying, so if I am, slap me.

QUOTE(bmags @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 11:13 PM) the first half of last season was so much fun, i didn't feel much pressure from a WS, the only pressure came from trying to win the central with 2 great teams competing against us. I agree, and it didn't appear as though the Sox had much pressure on them either. One of the best offenses in the majors (probably the best), top 5 pitching staff (until like mid-June anyways), and everything was clicking. The pressure didn't get turned up until the pitching started falling apart and Podsednik decided he needed to start looking at strike 3 all day long.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 11:31 PM) No, I wouldn't be shocked. If our coaching staff is concerned with Buehrle they may feel trading him now is most beneficial to our ballclub. However, it can't be ignored the staggering amount of expectations and/or critcism such a move would place upon management, coaching staff, scouts, Danks/Floyd etc. If a starter is dealt, it can't be for anything other than a legitimate #1/#2 SP prospect. I don't care if it's Buehrle's walk year; Williams can't possible justify trade him at this juncture unless a return package undoubtedly favors us. No "fair deals" or Gavin Floyd projects. It has to be a sure fire, top of the rotation talent. so let me throw it back at you...say a team is willing to give up a guy like Nick Adenhart (the caliber player, not the name - I'm not gonna do a ton of research on this) who does have that talent but has not pitched at the AA level yet...do you still make that move, knowing he may be 3 years away from cracking the bigs, and 4-5 years away from being a top of the rotation starter?

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 09:53 PM) The 2006 Chicago White Sox argue that point. no they don't. The 2006 Chicago White Sox pitching staff's ERA was about a full run higher than the 2005 staff.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 08:47 PM) Where are those damn parameters!? they are coming soon

QUOTE(scenario @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 08:01 PM) Career fielding stats from ESPN show that Pods is a better fielder than Mackowiak at all outfield positions. Better fielding percentage. Better range factor. Better zone factor. Pods http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stat...ontext=fielding Mackowiak http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stat...ontext=fielding So hate Pods if you want to hate Pods but not because Mack is a better fielder because it's simply not true. Podsednik isn't the 70 SB threat he used to be. I'm also sure without having looked that Podsednik's numbers defensively last year were well below his career averages, and that is generally something that does not regress or progress to the means, especially when said player is coming off of groin surgery.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 02:39 PM) I have seen him play about 10 innings on TV this season so far, thank you very much so, in those 10 innings, how many times have you seen him bunt? and how f'ing important is bunting anyways? Not really that important, so that's a moot point. Timo Perez is a good bunter, maybe the Sox should trade for him again...?