witesoxfan

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2007 @ Feb 14, 2007 -> 12:27 AM) Wite and Javy sitting in a tree... I would probably make out with him (while sober)

QUOTE(spiderman @ Feb 13, 2007 -> 08:19 PM) Mark Buerhle actually had a solid first half, and was better than Vazquez, but was horrible in the 2nd half, and also outperformed by Vazquez. Anyway you want to slice it, Buehrle is normally a workhorse, and Guillen trusts him to go deep into games. Vazquez can be dominate, but he's not consistent from inning to inning or game to game. For whatever reason, you seem to have the opinion that Vazquez is about to break out and have a big season, and I don't believe he'll be any better than what he's done in the past 3 season's - great in certain games, but overall ERA in the mid/upper 4's. If you think Buehrle will have another bad season, then I understand your argument better, but this is what this board is all about - good discussion, and different opinions. No, I'm honestly just curious as to why you'd think Ozzie would handle Vazquez any different when it's quite apparent that he hasn't and would seemingly have no intentions to. I'm also not sure why everyone lumps Vazquez in with the #5 starter - who has a shot to be one of the worst starting pitchers in the major leagues numbers wise, regardless of who it is - when he was arguably just as good as every other starter in the rotation last year. That's really all. I do think Vazquez will have a good year for the Sox (as in being a top 2 starter for the Sox), but I'm admittedly one of Vazquez's biggest homers (and yes, I used the word homer). However, my expectations are simply a 4.20-4.60 ERA with good peripherals, 210 IP, and about 13-15 wins - which in turn means I expect him to exceed expectations. I don't find that to be too unrealistic.

QUOTE(lord chas @ Feb 13, 2007 -> 03:44 PM) if the bears were to win this would of been the year in a terrible NFC. the nfc north cant get any worse and the bears schedule looks brutal so 10 to 11 wins might be as good as it gets next year. their window of opportunity might have already closed. If the NFC North can't get any worse, let me ask...do you see any possible way the Bears don't win the division next year? The Vikings don't have a QB, Favre is older than hell, and the Lions have never been able to put together a good season with the players Millen puts on the field. Unless the Bears are raped by injuries - ie they lose either Benson/Jones, Grossman, 2 lineman, and like 4 starters on defense (which is possible, but not even close to likely) - then the Vikings or Packers have a shot, and that's about it.

QUOTE(spiderman @ Feb 13, 2007 -> 04:07 PM) Based on last season, you're probably right, but how many times did we see Ozzie leave Vazquez in the game a bit too long ? I think with what Ozzie feels is a stronger bullpen, he's not going to let Vazquez lose a game, instead he'll the bullpen win the game. With the top 3 starters, I think Ozzie will let them pitch into the 7th inning+ regularly, and because of that, the bullpen will be rested for days when we Vazquez or the 5th starter struggle. K, I'm not arguing this anymore because it's obvious you don't understand that Vazquez was better than Buehrle last yaer.

QUOTE(spiderman @ Feb 13, 2007 -> 08:28 AM) No doubt...but I think Guillen is more likely to allow Contreras, Garland and Buerhle to work through their problems, and you can't go to the bullpen in the 5th inning every game. Vazquez completed 6 innings or more in a start 24 times (75%) and pitched into the 6th inning in 30 starts (alot%). I think Ozzie's likely to allow him past the 5th inning, don't you think? And Floyd/Haeger/Danks/whoeverthef*** will likely put up atleast 150 innings, which is perfectly acceptable out of a 5th starter (so long as the ERA is not in the 7.50 range). The bullpen will be used sparingly again because that's the way Ozzie manages.

Joel Zumaya likes Guitar Hero.

If it hasn't been mentioned yet, it probably will... Cintron finds his cowboy apparel in elbow Not big news, but it is newsworthy.

QUOTE(T R U @ Feb 13, 2007 -> 03:08 AM) I have never really liked the Red Hot Chili Peppers.. they got a couple songs that I listen to, but as an overall im not really a big fan.. I am way into Avenged Sevenfold, its about the only thing I listen to and im not kidding.. my entire ipod is all A7X and most CD's I make are 80% A7X.. I have been listening to the same A7X CD in my car for like 5 months now I dont think I will ever get tired of them.. I love their stuff so much well thats a little weird and please update your siggypie

facebook > myspace easily and it's easier to creep on underage girls

I don't see any way that it's not a dogfight between the Yankees and Red Sox, personally. And I still think the Red Sox are best if they put Papelbon back in at closer mainly because they have the rotation depth to afford it, and if that is the case, the rest of the bullpen would pretty much just fall into place. Toronto is a sleeper, especially if Frank stays healthy, but I can't predict them to finish higher than 3rd.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Feb 12, 2007 -> 10:35 PM) Well about a month ago I put together a list of thirdbasemen who you could argue are equal to or better than Crede, I came up with about 16 names so middle of the pack sounds about right to me. Oddly enough if Joe Crede played for the Phillies he'd be the worst 3B in their division. mon-ey

QUOTE(zygoat @ Feb 12, 2007 -> 09:31 PM) kenny rogers will not have the year he did last eyar, and verlander's arm will be tired by his 3rd start. It should be very interesting uhh, why?

QUOTE(spiderman @ Feb 12, 2007 -> 09:27 PM) Do you think that's Sicso will spend the 07 season being converted to a starter ? I'm not sure, but if we have an ineffective or, unproven at least, 5th starter in Floyd, and a 4th starter who can get blown up at any time, I wouldn't be shocked if they went to 12 pitchers. Early in the season, though, with the off-days, it may not be necessary to use 12 pitchers, but once they start playing 6 or 7 days a week, it wouldn't be shocking to me. and a 3rd starter whose ERA was in the 6.50 range at the end of May, and a 2nd starter who was the worst starter in baseball in the second half of last year, and a 1st starter who is 62. The rotation is questionable up and down.

QUOTE(spiderman @ Feb 12, 2007 -> 07:59 PM) Whose roster spot does Perez take ? Could this mean that the White Sox don't go with 12 pitchers ? there was never a chance the Sox went with 12 pitchers

QUOTE(knightni @ Feb 12, 2007 -> 07:46 PM) Contact 73, gap 54. sounds about right

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Feb 12, 2007 -> 03:29 PM) I agree. The thing about Sweeney is that he already has the swing to play in the majors, he also is just a notch below Anderson defensively, which says alot about how much he has come around. BA has to change his swing a bit, and it is still very long and not very fluid. Sweeney just llooked so much better at the plater. I also echo this with Fields. Josh looked like he already knew the MLB strike zone. Sweeney had the swing to play in the majors like the day he was drafted. His swing has always been a thing of beauty. I'm referring more to the fact that it looked like he was hitting bowling balls, because the balls just never really jumped off his bat. He's a good hitter, but he's a singles hitter at this point, and a singles hitter isn't incredibly productive if he's hitting .270, let alone the possibility of it being worse than that. He just didn't look ready to start to me at all, and that's really all that matters, because acting as a 4th OFer would just be detrimental to his growth.

I was kinda reaching with the McCarthy-Vazquez comparison, but I'm still looking forward to seeing what Vazquez does in fact do in his second year in the AL in a row. I think it's going to be good, but I obviously can't guarantee that. I've already talked about how my expectations for him are an ERA in the low to mid 4's, but I think he will exceed those and surprise. However, I'm also one of Vazquez's biggest supporters (perhaps even a homer), so that should really come as no surprise. The second part is simply a matter of opinion. I'm going to take stuff almost every time over a guy that is wearing down, especially when considering contract status as well. I'm just sick of arguing about this and I'm getting a bit bitter about how long this offseason has been. Way too friggin long for a 90 win team, that's for sure.

Best.Penalty.Evar. short but awesome Muffins - weird but awesome

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Feb 12, 2007 -> 02:32 PM) We'll always have the bottom of the 9th in game 2 of the ALCS. If he just steals bases in those times, he can stay. Right now though, I'm trying to figure out the bench. Erstad Mackowiak Hall Cintron Ozuna Perez plus the 9 starters, and an 11 man staff - that's 26. Are they assuming Pods is going to be gone a while? Ozuna released? Cintron traded? Perez acting simply as insurance? Pods traded? (pleeeeeeease be #4) Because if it is #4, I'd be content with Mackowiak and Erstad out in LF with Perez playing about 20-30 games out there too. (it's probly not #4, but a guy can hope)

Thoughts and prayers towards Oswego It's really quite pathetic when a 23 year old is not only dumb enough to drive drunk, but to do so with 8 teens in a sedan. How dumb can one person get?

This is about the only player in the White Sox organization that has actually played OF that would probably play a worse LF than Pods. I'm just assuming right now, which is probably a mistake, but he's 37 (38 in September) and he blew out his achilles once upon a time. The only reason he's played 71.1 innings in the OF over the past 3 years is to get his bat in the lineup, because that's how valuable managers feel he is against LHP. I don't blame said managers, but you really shouldn't even expect more than 5 games out of him in the OF, otherwise he could get hurt in no time. Regardless of that, this is an outstanding signing. The Sox may actually have a pretty damn good offense this year, and they might be able to actually hit both lefties and righties. So, does this make the Sox bench the best in (AL/MLB) going into the year again this year? Cuz I kinda think it does. The only real huge weakness on the bench is that there isn't a super speed guy who can steal a base (Ozuna has the speed, but lacks the stealing), but that plays such a small role that it's not worth digging for it.

QUOTE(Hideaway Lights @ Feb 12, 2007 -> 08:29 AM) Regarding Garcia, I would've been a lot more comfortable with Garcia than Vazquez as a 4th starter. It you're asking me if I'd rather have Garcia, who has the better mental makeup but worse physical makeup or Vazquez, who has everything physically but is a headcase, I will take Garcia every time. Gavin Floyd has been rocked at every point in his major league career thus far. Garcia is a World Champion who has pitched complete games deep in the playoffs. And yet we essentially traded them for each other? Is that a joke? Yeah, the Sox didn't get some pitcher named Gio Gonzalez, who isn't the #4 prospect in the organization or anything. Come the hell on dude, you can't say "yet we essentially traded (Garcia and Floyd) for each other" and then forget about the second best minor league pitcher in the White Sox organization who just so happened to be acquired in that trade. That's ridiculous. Add to the fact that Garcia was gone after this year, especially in the current market for starting pitchers (and he would have been gone, seeing as how he has diminishing skills and his new contract would be after his prime years) whereas Vazquez is probably going to be a league average starter - or somehwere in the whereabouts - and is under White Sox control through 2008. It just doesn't make sense at all, neither in terms of baseball nor business sense. There is an adjustment period, sure...does the adjustment period take all year? Because if so, you are being contradictoral in letting McCarthy off the hook while tearing Vazquez a new asshole. Vazquez has not pitched in the same league in back to back years since 2002-2003 - how in the hell is a guy supposed to adjust to the league if he's given 6 months to figure them out? Basically, either you have no reason to back McCarthy, or you have to give Vazquez a chance to prove himself. Does it seriously make sense to give McCarthy time to adjust to relieving (which probably takes less work and time) while throwing Vazquez to the wolves because he got rocked in 2 months of the year? Think about it for a second It was the initial overreaction about why the f*** KW was trading McCarthy, then the stepping back period, looking at what he had acquired, and realizing McCarthy hasn't proven s*** as a pitcher - reliever or starter - in the MLB, and that he did get back a pretty solid package in return. He's not a bum, but he's not likely to be Cy Young or a #2 EVER in his career. Why would he do it THIS year? If a guy brings a World Series to a city that hasn't had one in 88 years, he's going to be loved, and sometimes people will forgive him for questionable moves because they have paid off in the past. Whether it's right or wrong can't be determined for a while - like, you know, until the players themselves start playing. Really? I had no idea you felt that way. Seeing as how the talent level on the team has only improved, I don't know HOW you could feel that way, but atleast you've cleared it up. QUOTE(Hideaway Lights @ Feb 12, 2007 -> 09:48 AM) I don't see what evidence there is that this headcase can keep it together for an entire season. 4 good months, great peripherals, great stuff, second year in the league - I'm a broken record that's not about to turn off.

baseball is upon us once again, for SHE has returned it's just too bad willie is no longer with us

QUOTE(Soxfest @ Feb 12, 2007 -> 12:54 AM) Sox raise ticket prices $3.00 and b**** about FA salaries, with the fire sale for cheap pitching and players they are not gonna try to resign they have a TON of money to spend starting next winter! JR will keep it in his pocket instead of putting back into product is my prediction. ur just a hater

QUOTE(Hideaway Lights @ Feb 12, 2007 -> 01:42 AM) I would have kept McCarthy and Garcia and kept the entire team intact for one more run in 2007, and traded Vazquez for anything I could get from him in the NL. What they got for Garcia is pretty much the laughingstock of this offseason, and what they got for McCarthy is fine but the reasons why they traded him (if they intended on contending in 2007) are totally baffling. So you were willing to gamble on Garcia's 88 MPH superheater and McCarthy's insane home run rate and mediocre ERA out of the pen, and just hoped and prayed that it worked? It didn't work last year, and there were very few indications - if any at all - of them bouncing back and having good years. Garcia's splitter looked cool and it helped him throw back to back 1 hitters, but how are you to know that is going to be back next year and he'll be able to maintain success and consistency with it for the entire season? And I really don't think you can depend upon McCarthy moreso than Gavin Floyd. McCarthy may give you a better ERA, but there are severe durability issues from a pitcher who has 180 IP expectations out of him when threw 80+ innings out of the pen last year. In that regard, Floyd is a better option. It's really just a matter of whether he can keep his ERA in the 5.00 range or not. I just don't see how seeing if one more ride would have been a better option, or how the Sox would have been that much better off with Garcia and McCarthy over Vazquez and Floyd or whoever. (and for what it's worth, KW hasn't been the laughingstock of an offseason since Todd Ritchie was around. Bill Bavasi takes the cake, what with his Soriano for Ramirez and his Jose Vidro acquisition. Him sending Bazardo off to Detroit is the cherry on top)