caulfield12

Because Ozzie loves his veteran players...like Erstad and Mackowiak and Griffey and Thome. He likes young players with lots of ability, but not Anderson/Tracey/Rauch/Fields/Owens/Andy Gonzalez, lol.

I'm not saying that I like the move at all, and Pierre definitely is Johnny Damon-esque in terms of his arm, but I also don't see KW going out and bidding on many players either, like he thought about the last couple of offseasons. You look at Rowand, Pierre, Torii Hunter, Fukudome, Mathews, Jr., Dave Roberts...all of those guys turned out to be so-so acquisitions at best for their teams, AT BEST. Andruw Jones, maybe the worst signing of all. But the Dodgers actually had the farm system to support so many mistakes with veterans like Pierre, Nomar, Kent, Andruw Jones and Jason Schmidt. I mean, if the White Sox/KW made one mistake ala Cory Snyder, he would be torn apart by the fans at Sox Fest.

QUOTE (SoxFan101 @ Oct 7, 2008 -> 03:42 AM) If the Pirates trade away Nate McClouth they truly are the worse franchise in the majors. He is still cheap and was a very productive player this season, I guess one could argue to sell high but if I was running the franchise he would definitely be on the keeper board. Not to mention they already traded Bay...they have to build around SOMEONE, at some point. Or they might as well just roll up their franchise in the middle of the night.

Don't think we have the talent to get either McLouth (that the Pirates would desire) or Cano...let alone both of them. Nobody is interested in MacDougal, unless we just release him outright. We don't need to overpay for veteran loogies and we certainly don't want Snell on our team? Was this person listening/watching when he faced the Sox? Even the Pirates' announcers, usually mild-mannered, were getting really agitated/irritated with him.

Dodgers trade Juan Pierre to the White Sox for Josh Fields, and, in a Thome-like contract move to get him off their team so the youngsters can play, subsidize about 60-65% of his $45 million contract (3 years remaining on the deal). Pierre, familiar with Ozzie from their days in FLA, becomes the White Sox CFer about 5 years too late. The White Sox also sign Nomar Garciaparra to replace Uribe as their supersub and Casey Blake as their new 3B. Brad Penny undergoes a thorough mental/psychological and physical (Dr. James Andrews) evaluation and is cleared to become Don Cooper's latest project with a one year, incentive-based deal with a Mutual Option for 2010 or buy out. Luis Castillo is reunited with Juan Pierre at the head of the line-up, once again, 5 years too late...with the Mets paying $4 million of his $6.25 million contract and Boone Logan/Adam Russell sent to improve the Mets porous' bullpen. Ozzie is still a happy camper to have the veterans around him that he trusts. Brian Anderson, not so happy.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Oct 6, 2008 -> 08:35 PM) My targets would include the following, in no order: Rafael Furcal Orlando Hudson Adrian Beltre Brian Roberts Rocco Baldelli/Carl Crawford C.C. Sabathia Garrett Atkins J.J. Hardy Robinson Cano Derek Lowe Forget Sabathia and Crawford, way too expensive (in trade or contract). I'll add CoCo Crisp, Casey Blake, Chad Bradford (no runs given up in 17 post-season appearances and a former Sox farmhand) and Melky Cabrera to the list. Kevin Kouzmanoff and Melvin Mora for 3B. I don't think we can afford Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez on the same team...with our existing payroll.

QUOTE (fathom @ Oct 6, 2008 -> 08:26 PM) I don't know if he'll find a starting spot, but how about Pudge Rodriguez? I just don't think we can afford I-Rod (even as a back-up) and Uribe...maybe. I guess it depends on how much I-Rod overestimates his ability to be a starter still. His career is ending like Roberto Alomar's, very quietly. I'm jealous of the Twins, Redmond is nearly the perfect one up there.

QUOTE (DaGame2584 @ Oct 6, 2008 -> 07:24 PM) Yeah I know, what was KW thinking when he traded Lee for Pods. lol, it's the same idea. Also I would try to sign Punto to replace Uribe. Essentially Ordonez/Valentin/Carlos Lee The thing that people forget is that our payroll was so low that year, compared to what it has become since 06.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Oct 6, 2008 -> 07:22 PM) I'm torn on how to feel right now. I have been at the Cell the last 4 games, and it has been exhausting. There is a part of me that will call this season a failure, as any season without a title is a failure, but big picture, it was a very productive year that hopefully is the opening of a new "window" of White Sox Baseball. This is also my favorite time of year on the board, the dog days of winter with new rumors coming out daily, and terrible trade proposals by the hour. Toby Hall, Boone Logan, Horacio Ramiez, Mike MacDougal and Wasserman for a back-up catcher who can actually throw someone out and occasionally demonstrate some power (like Miguel Olivo/John Buck/Henry Blanco).

It makes sense only from a Lee/Pods sense, depending on KW does with the money saved. If it was Figgins and reliable 5th starter=Konerko, then maybe. Or solidifying 2B, 3B and CF. Like the Garza/Bartlett for Delmon Young deal...same idea.

QUOTE (Frankensteiner @ Oct 6, 2008 -> 07:08 PM) I guess it depends on your perspective and expectations. I fully expected this team to be very competetive in this division, and I thought the division would be much better overall. So I don't see winning the AL Central as some odds defying accomplishment. I mean this was a team with a $120 M payroll and a veteran core of players. I would hope they'd be able to compete in this sad sack AL Central. It was a good season. They won the division, but it was the 2nd worst division in baseball. They were also regularly outplayed by other good teams and we could make an argument that there were two other AL teams that were better than the White Sox who didn't make the playoffs (Toronto and the Yanks). It was nice to find some young players but this team is still very old and getting older. I'm not really seeing how it's going to get better next season. Apparently you didn't notice last season, because there were few reasons to be optimistic heading into this season? Jerry Owens? Andy Gonzalez? Fields? Wasserman? We won't be favored to win the division going into next season, probably 2nd or 3rd (unless we pull off something crazy like getting A-Rod and Ichiro simultaneously)...Cleveland, if they get a couple of more pitchers and shore up their bullpen, should be strong all season long, especially if Sabathia miraculously ended up there again (odds of that are approximately 2-3% with Dolan). I would prefer to see the positives rather than dwell on the negatives. It was a very enjoyable season...the glass is half full.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Oct 6, 2008 -> 07:06 PM) Great points. This team made some huge strides this season. After 2007 I was one of those people who thought there was no choice but to rebuild. Thankfully Kenny made some great moves to get this thing back on track. His only bad move was Swisher, but in hindsight he looks smart so far by selling high on Gio and DLS. I just wish he'd done it for a better player, but oh well. The other moves have more than made up for that one bad deal, and I'm hopeful that Swisher still brings us a solid player over the offseason. One last thing: please Kenny, for the love of God, make Thome put down a f***ing bunt every once in a while when he's being given almost the entire left side of the infield. All he has to do is show he can get the damn thing down and if he does it a few times then teams will reconsider the shift. He could raise his batting average 30 points by just doing that. It's not like there are no home run hitters behind him. If the Sox don't care about taking the free baserunner and actually prefer the typical Thome groundout into the shift or strikeout, then please get him the f*** off this team. Please. I can't take this s*** anymore. Dear Ozzie: 1) Please work with the outfielders on throwing to the cutoff men properly. Let's use some better judgment about when to thrown home and when to eat the ball. 2) BA, if you're around, please learn to tighten up your swing and hit to the opposite field or go up the middle instead of that long/looping Borchard/Crede/Fields swing. Also, knowing how to bunt wouldn't be such a bad idea, either. 3) Uribe, if you are back, that blonde soul patch is ridiculous. AJ, please let your hair go back to a normal color. You look like a coked out Billy Idol wanna be from "Less than Zero." Or one of the vampire gang from "The Lost Boys." ENOUGH! 4) Gavin and Jenks and all relievers. Learn from Buehrle and Danks how to hold runners on...don't let the opposition run wild. It's demoralizing. 5) Clayton Richard, you were the Michigan QB, you should be able to pick up a ball and throw it to first base routinely or throw to first base on pick-offs. Please spend your off-season working specifically on this area. 2)

I would love to see the Angels knock off the Red Sox, to see the match-up of the two most balanced teams in baseball and two managers completely familiar with each other strategically...either way, it will be fun. I will be rooting hard for the Rays no matter who they are playing. In the NL, would like to see the Dodgers, just for the sheer symmetry of Ramirez facing Bay and the Boston fans again...to see their reaction...and to see Torre bring a team not named the Yankees into Boston with very little or no pressure to win the World Series against the Red Sox. Lots of interesting possible scenarios.

I think it's all because of 2005. I wasn't upset, Upton's just a very talented player, and he showed why the last two games. This year, the palpable relief wasn't making the playoffs, it was somehow, improbably, beating the Twins in the fashion that they did when logic and past history argued against it. When AJ's ball was caught by Gross at the top of the fence, I had the feeling it was going to be a long day. That's the kind of ball that goes out June through August, pretty easily...of course, the wind was blowing in a little as well. I wanted to mention how good a job Clayton Richard did the two times he was asked to keep the White Sox within striking distance. I'm leaving this season having a positive feeling about Ken Griffey, Jr., wouldn't have imagined that a month ago. Props to Dewayne Wise for rising up from obscurity to become almost a "folk hero" over the final five weeks. Danks has become a star...our equivalent of Cliff Lee. Gavin Floyd is a very good 3rd starter, and matches up with anyone in our division. Alexei and Quentin are amazing and it's easy to get excited about following their careers the next half-decade. At no point in this series did I feel that I could make an argument with myself that we were the better team. I think they even out-homered us this series, or it was very close to even. I think we're about 3-4 correct acquisitions away from being a 95+ win team again...of course, the wrong moves, a couple of key injuries and we're back to .500 like the Indians. With all the money to Jenks (arbitration), Dotel, Thornton and Linebrink, I don't think KW will spend much money in this area. I think 90% of the concentration and focus will be turned toward improving the speed/defense/contact/patience/fundamentals of our ballclub at 3B, 2B and CF. That and adding a "cheap" FA (not named LIvan Hernandez) as insurance for Richard/Broadway/Carrasco/Ramirez/Poreda. Maybe Sisco will amaze everyone and have a breakthrough in ST! Or MacDougal...Logan, I guess he's about done with the Sox as I'm concerned.

Griffey won't be around. The bigger question is whether or not Brian Anderson and Fields will be, along with Swisher and Vazquez.

Thought I would put this back on the first page...I'm sure those who feel inclined (maybe not tonight...give it a day or two) will chime in with their thoughts as KW approaches the off-season with the goal of somehow getting us back into the playoffs next year without blowing the budget or giving away Aaron Poreda.

Greg Walker isn't going anywhere, forget about it. It's Ozzie's call, it won't happen coming off a playoff appearance.

QUOTE (Sox It To Em @ Oct 6, 2008 -> 04:33 PM) Ugh, nice play by Upton. 1 out. He's killing us. Upton just has a lot of athletic talent and ability that nobody on our team has but Ramirez and Cabrera when he was younger.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Oct 6, 2008 -> 04:30 PM) Next season our offense woes will be a thing of the past. We will add good things, especially Quentin back in the lineup. Then hopefully Rafael Furcal at SS and Casey Blake at 3rd. So that is adding a .800 OPS 3rd baseman, a near 1.000 OPS LF and a top-notch leadoff hitter. KW is probably the sickest person watching this s***, I am confident they will go out and get an impact player somewhere and then hopefully a Alexei-type pickup also. I'm not counting on finding another Alexei Ramirez and Quentin in the same off-season, that happens about once every 25 years. However, I do expect improvements in the htting/offensive approach...unfortunately, I think Walker will still be around. That might not have been the case had the White Sox missed the playoffs, losing on Sunday to complete the Indians' sweep. Think how much different that off-season would feel than this?

Our left-handers haven't done very well against Carlos Pena the last two days. But it is what it is...better than having Horacio Ramirez or Boone Logan out there. At this point...I almost wouldn't mind seeing Vazquez out there, lol. Just to see if he could actually be productive for this team down the stretch.

QUOTE (rangercal @ Oct 6, 2008 -> 04:23 PM) It's mind boggling that our heart of the order hitters miss 88mph 2 seamers by a foot. The offense is just pressing...in the first inning or so, they were waiting for the curveball and hitting the ball pretty well. Now, down 3-4 runs, they are all trying to get too aggressive and hit 3 run homers with nobody on. It's the problem with a power-oriented line-up, we don't have enough singles and doubles hitters to get on and set the table. The entire line-up starts to echo itself and even the "small ball" guys think they are HR hitters.

Griffey has been one of the hitters who came to play this post-season. Cut him some slack...the guy's almost 39 years old. We can't expect THAT much out of him at this point.

One run at a time...we can do this. A few people are giving up too easily...they haven't watched this Sox team come back AND give away huge leads this season apparently. Anything is possible playing in our bandbox.

Actually, Sonnanstine's fastball is slow enough that it's below the "hitting speed" and it is quite difficult to hit because the average MLB fastball now is 89-91 MPH. They've seen this guy 3 three times this season and had decent success...it's just difficult to hit homers as the pitching improves and the weather cools in September and October.

QUOTE (FranktheTank35 @ Oct 6, 2008 -> 04:12 PM) No, I didn't expect another ring. But I can't tell you how many times I watched these games and just got so frustrated. I think we could have done so much better. But losing Quentin, and Contreras was frustrating. Nick Swisher sucking was frustrating. Kong and Thome batting sub .250 was frustrating. Joe Crede finally hitting again, but playing the worst D of his career was frustrating (and then he got hurt). Having to watch Juan Uribe play half the year was frustrating. Just my opinion I guess. If you can't recognize how much more talented (that's what happens when you have so many high first rounders over the years) and quick and efficient the Rays are, then I don't know what to say... Yeah, Gavin picked a bad day to lose his command, but he's had a great season, overall. It's almost like you can't find anything to cheer about or be optimistic about. Frustrating yes, but trying be a Cubs' fan.