caulfield12

QUOTE(BearSox @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 10:48 PM) I am kinda in favor for a semi-rebuilding. Not like an overhaul like the Marlins a couple years ago, but get rid of some aging players, and replace them with young guys. I think PK will be a keeper, as well as Thome (as we wont be able to trade him anywhere most likely). Vazquez and Garland are the only 2 safe on the staff for now, IMO. This team is old, and the rest of the divison is pretty young. Royals and Indians seem to be probably the toughest opponents come 2-3 years from now. I think we can remain a semi-competitive team for the next couple of years, while we rebuild. Thome will be attractive to other AL teams, and his contract wouldn't be impossible to move, since we're only paying a little more than $9 million....with the Phillies' subsidy. I'm not sure if he still has a no trade clause to certain teams, off the top of my head. Konerko could go either way IMO. "Since the White Sox did not return to the postseason in 2006, despite a 90-win season, we would expect some level of attrition of these FSE's (full season ticket renewals). A portion of them might drop off for each of the next three years, until the fifth year following the postseason appearance, when there is no residual value remaining, and the team's revenue status is back to where it would have been had they never reached the playoffs in the first place." This gives KW until the 2010 season is over to bring another playoff team to Chicago, or we've lost all the advantages of winning the World Series. "For the White Sox, the value of reaching the postseason in 2005 is estimated to be approximately $28 million dollars, with over 60% of the benefit realized in 2006 (this does not include the value of winning the World Series). For the White Sox, an additional $18 million for winning it all can be added to their $28 million for simply making the playoffs. Chicago's glamour season of 2005 generated an estimated NPV (net present value) of $46 million in additional revenue." Gennaro, Diamond Dollars

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 10:08 PM) If they really want to build around speed and small ball you get the best in the business in contact and sign Irchiro. I would let Dye go, put Ichiro in RF. Sign Gooch. And hit them one and two. I'm not sure KW feels comfortable going beyond two years on any of those players...as Iguchi, Dye and Ichiro will all be 34 years old on Opening Day, 2008. Replacing Dye's $7+ million salary (and production) will be exceedingly difficult. However, there is something to be said for signing Ichiro, because he would be a great influence on our young outfielders and he would probably pay for his contract in marketing/"good will" and attendance benefits alone. I think OG and KW really like Iguchi but want to play out the year and see how he does as a "power hitter," as his days as a stolen base threat are long gone. Two years for $10-11 million doesn't seen entirely out of the question. The problem with any big signing (like Ichiro) would be that it really wouldn't do anything but turn a 78 win team for 2008 into a 83 win team. It makes a lot more sense to spend that kind of money to go from 86 to 91 wins and back into playoff competition. Below is the dollar value for major league franchises to get to 90 wins in a season... 1. Yankees, $4.3 million in added revenue 2. Mets, $4.2 million 3. Cubs, $3.8 million 4. Mariners, $3.8 million 5. Dodgers, $3.6 million 6. White Sox/Giants, $3.5 million 8. Phillies, $3.4 milllion 9. Cardinals, $3.3 million 10. Red Sox, $3.0 million 26. Oakland, $1.8 million 27. Cincy, $1.8 million 28. Pittsburgh, $1.7 million 29. Royals, $1.7 million 30. Twins, $1.6 million TEAMS that would generate the most additional revenue from improving from 86 to 91 wins (and making playoffs)... 1. Yankees, $18.4 million 2. Mets, $18.0 million 3. Seattle, $16.1 million 4. Cubs, $15.9 million 5. Giants, $15.2 million 6. Dodgers, $15.1 million 7. White Sox, $14.9 million 23. Braves, $9.6 million 24. D-Rays, $9.1 million 25. Marlins, $9.0 million 26. A's, $7.7 million 27. Reds, $7.5 million 28. Royals, $7.4 million 29. Pirates, $7.3 million 30. Twins, $6.8 million Source: Diamond Dollars, Vince Gennaro QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 10:27 PM) I don't think you resign Javier Vazquez to the contract he received if you are planning to drop salary by $20 million. I think KW is trying to do the best job he can to make sure he can compete every year. So if he loses JD and Buehrle this offseason, he hopes that Sweeney, Fields, and some of his young pitchers can step in to make a difference. But he spends some money on people he thinks can be relative bargains if they start to perform, and rolls the dice. If Vazquez performs for the next 3 years exactly how he has in the past few, he is probably worth his contract, but barely. But Javy also has the ability to pitch well above those numbers, and that's what Kenny is hoping for; a little luck with that money. Buehrle though seems almost certain to get a lot more than Vazquez no matter what, even if he stinks up this season, and it sure looks like he'll be paid at or above what his ceiling could be. KW is trying to find a way to keep this team winning. He has to keep this team winning...along with the Braves, A's, Twins and Marlins fans, White Sox fans since 2000 have provided the least amount of support for their team, based on their winning percentage's correlation, as the White Sox have the 7th best record in baseball since 2000 but are tied with two other franchises for 19th in attendance. Research has shown that three consecutive years of 90+ wins imprints the idea that your team is a contender on the fanbase, and we also have the 2005 WS to fall back upon to cushion the blow of rebuilding in 07 and 08 with the target date of Opening Day 2009. I think Vazquez, because of his relatively young age, might still be an attractive asset for KW to keep, if for no other reason than to prove the validity of the Young trade. He's one of our most desired pitchers/properties, despite his sub .500 career record. His first two starts have been encouraging. However, by 2009, he will have a lot of wear and tear on that seemingly "rubber" arm, and his marginal utility will be decreasing vis a vis what we could get back in a trade that would optimize our future chances to compete IMO.

Part II I think KW is keeping as much money as he can from 05/06/07 and planning to pare down the payroll dramatically for 08 into the $75-80 million range (anticipating a 25-33% loss of operating revenue), "saving his bullets" so to speak to add some key veterans like he did in 2005 around a young and maturing core of players. By 2009, we should be back up near $100-105 million in payroll, if the "right" Free Agents are out there. With Santana, Liriano, Garza, Slowey, Baker, Bonser...Sabathia, Lee, Westbrook, Sowers....Verlander, Bonderman, Robertson, Andrew Milller, Maroth...the bar is set for the next 2-3 years and the arms race is on. Right now, we're way behind.

I think KW knows the writing is on the wall with this team and will dramatically shift course from June, 2007, through the start of the next regular season. In my opinion, he legitimately believed last year's White Sox team had a great chance to repeat, or he wouldn't have made the Chris Young for Vazquez deal. I now think that he believes the White Sox pitching staff has been passed by the Tigers (definitely) and is threatening to be passed by the Indians and Twins. We are the oldest team in the division, and it's definitely starting to show...we're sprouting leaks and bolts are coming out before our very eyes. KW and OG wanted to give this team one last go-around for the players (like Thome, Pods, Erstad) as well as the fans, who would not have supported a full-scale rebuilding project coming into this season, not after winning 90 last year. It's also my opinion that KW and OG want a team based on speed, athleticism, fundamentals, pitching and defense. Despite the "small ball" moniker, we were not this team in 2005...not to the extent Ozzie would like. KW knows the Indians will lose Sabathia and Hafner after 08, the Twins will probably lose Santana and that Guillen/I-Rod/Rogers/Ordonez/Sheffield will have peaked and declined in DET...so we're now in a race to build the best team for 2009 in the shortest time while also remaining competitive. What I also think this means is that the White Sox will be very aggressive in trading Buehrle, Crede and Dye, and also listening to overtures for AJ, Iguchi, Thome, Konerko, Contreras, Garland, Vazquez, MacDougal and Thornton. It doesn't mean all these players will be gone by 2008 Opening Day, obviously...but I'm not going to be surprised by anything that happens. KW will build around Fields (24), Uribe (28), Sweeney (22) and Brian Anderson (25). I think this is definitely going to happen if he can't keep Garland and Buehrle...as it would make little sense to rebuild the rotation around Contreras and Vazquez for the future. In the meantime, he will stockpile every possible arm to compete with the AL Central for the next 3-5 years. Floyd, Gio and Adam Russell all have a chance to be frontline starters. I think they might move Masset back to starting as well if he can add an effective third pitch. The Sox cross their fingers that either Haeger, Broadway or McCullough (one of the three) will become a dependable fifth starter as well. Of the 12 players I named, almost all of them have decent/favorable contracts and could/should be desireable commodities on the open market over the next 12-18 months. I don't like typing this, but I feel it's inevitable...and I will forever be thankful we won it all in 05.

1. Yankees, 679 wins, #1 attendance (EVEN) 2. Oakland, 664 wins, #22 attendance (-18) 3. St. Louis, 658 wins, #4 attendance (+1) 4. Atlanta, 650 wins, #12 attendance (-8) 5. Boston, 634 wins, #10 attendance 6. San Francisco, 624 wins, #2 attendance (+4) 7. WHITE SOX, 617 wins, #19 attendance (-12) 8. Minnesota, 609 wins, #24 attendance (-16) Anaheim, 609 wins, #8 attendance (+1) 10. Seattle, 603 wins, #5 attendance (+5) 11. Dodgers, #3 attendance (+8) 12. Astros #7 attendance, (+5) 13. Phillies, #17 attendance (-4) 14. Indians, #18 attendance (-4) 15. Marlins, #29 attendance (-14) 16. Mets #11 attendance, (+5) 17. Diamondbacks, #13 attendance (+4) 18. Blue Jays, #24 attendance (-6) 19. Padres, #15 attendance, (+4) 20. CUBS, 539 wins, #6 attendance (+14) 21. Rangers #16 attendance (+5) 22. Reds, #19 attendance (+3) 23. Expos/Nationals, #27 attendance (-4) 24. Rockies, #14 attendance (+10) 25. Orioles, #9 attendance (+16) 26. Brewers, #19 attendance (+7) 27. Pirates, #26 attendance (+1) 28. Tigers, #23 attendance (+5) 29. D-Rays, 464 wins, #30 attendance (-1) 30. Royals, 463 wins, #28 attendance (+2) The teams in italics are those who are underperforming, based on connecting winning percentage directly to attendance. Those in bold are overperforming, with higher attendance than on-field performance.

QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:52 PM) Missed most of the game. I'm guessing it was a bad one? I know we lost (are about to), but did they look absent again? We're one more baserunner away from the tying run at the plate. Although I'm not counting on it happening.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:50 PM) Well my prediction sucked there.. You might want to leave after Planet Terror, unless you have the hots for Rosario Dawson or Vanessa Ferlito.

QUOTE(TheOcho @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:47 PM) 2- run homer time. Peanut butter jelly time for Bad Bobby Jenks. Can't have his full name back until he averages 95 with FB.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:46 PM) Uribe might be the only one to give us a lift. Iguchi, you swing like the rusty gate from To Kill A Mockingbird!!! PH Boo Radley.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:42 PM) SCREW YOU She's hawt. her character from that movie needs to be in Part 3, Let Anderson and Logan Play She could have a menage a trois scene with the girl from the Waterboy and "Hard" Art Kusyner

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:40 PM) Can we have Oliver Miller leadoff? I actually talked trash with Nolan at a game in Colombia, South America last year when he was coaching the Panamanian National team. I think he just switched to the north, now he's coaching the Mexican team.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:39 PM) Hawk is verbally cheating on Yaz and Jim Rice with Dick Williams. At 300 pm, they have Wild Things 2: When the White Sox Bore Us to Death Starring Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel. Maybe I'll let Denise Richards cameo, but no Neve Campbell.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:37 PM) Sisco should have never made this team over Logan. I would rather have Dewon Day at this point. Heck, Todd Day and Lee Mayberry couldn't do much worse if they were in the line-up.

QUOTE(TheOcho @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:37 PM) Are they expecting heavy or just flurries? http://www.weather.com/outlook/homeandgard...&begDay=105 Hour by hour forecast for tomorrow, there's no way they're playing. Just look at the national map right now for weather.com

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:34 PM) Kason Gabbard, Julian Tavarez, Runnynose Hernandez, some Royals dude who shut us down, and then went on the DL. The list is the Joe Mays craptacular pitcher performance list of low and away. Adam Bernero

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:33 PM) Our offense was great that day in Wrigley. I always remember the game after the Crede walkoff homer vs Indians as one of the worst games I ever saw the Sox play. Is there a law against Sisco throwing in the 90's again?

QUOTE(max power @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:30 PM) At least we won't give up any runs in the bottom of the ninth Can anyone think of a worse White Sox game in recent memory? I'm thinking the game Bedard totally shut us down last year...but at least we were shut down by a pitcher by very good stuff. Maybe Buehrle's start at Wrigley?

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:28 PM) As I said before, Dye should just be left off the roster until the weather warms up. He is just as useless as he was to start the season in 2005. Time for the patented, close, but no cigar, late inning White Sox rally to make it appear close in the box score.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:25 PM) Kinda funny that Hawk said Bettancourt is the same as Rincon. They both had bad luck with over-the-counter meds that happened to give them positive 'roids tests. Can we give some to Jenks? By the way, good job, Blue Jays bullpen. Thanks in advance for your assistance, or lack thereof.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:21 PM) He's not making any excuses, actually. Rather, he's ignoring everything on the field and talking about Cleveland playing in Miller Park. Several instances today he's criticized the team; particularly Uribe these last few days. That Masset line just got really ugly. So is his "missing" fastball, and our "MIA" defense.

QUOTE(SoxGovernment @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:17 PM) b**** b**** b**** b**** I think Ozzie basically said, I'm going with the veterans no matter what...if they're not getting the job done, it's June/July and the Sox are fading out of the race, then you see wholesale changes for more athletic players like Lastings Milledge.

QUOTE(shoota @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:14 PM) So if Anderson were in CF, the score would still be 2-0 instead of 4-0, because the ball Erstad couldn't reach would have been the third out of the inning if BA were playing. I doubt it. Although I'm not sure why Erstad, now 0 for his last 19, isn't being pinch hit for...

QUOTE(BearSox @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:09 PM) I kinda hope we suck and have a fire sell... maybe the we could get a new hitting coach, and some YOUTH and SPEED, and maybe some LINE DRIVE SWINGS This might be the flattest White Sox game in recent history. Wow. Everything is going wrong, besides the fine effort by Danks.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 01:57 PM) Hell, might as well trade him. Ozzie's obviously not a fan of his, and we saw how that ended for McCarthy and Tracey. And Rauch. I was eviscerated earlier this week when suggesting a change in batting coaches, but another week of this, if the pitching continues to be strong, and you'll start hearing murmurs.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 01:54 PM) Anderson isn't going to pinch hit... I'd rather see Greg Walker (the god of hitting) up there. Ozuna and Cintron would be ideal. If Randy Johnson from 1994 was pitching, would Ozzie actually consider pinch-hitting for Pods? EDIT: Thank God for Chad Durbin. You know you're bad when the pitching starved Royals don't want you.