29andPoplar

Masset had the same question. The party line was direct from Williams' mouth, he said he promoted only on merit and wasn't going to promote anyone, as in no one at all. Guillen then asked for a 3rd catcher which is why Lucy is here, and on merit Lucy should candidly not be here. Guillen then said he wanted two pitchers he hadn't seen who could give him innings in the case of a possible 15 inning game as you mentioned. Regier recommended Heath Phillips and Lance Broadway as the two most deserving, of those Guillen hadn't seen. Agree or otherwise, those are the reasons. Personally I think it goes one step deeper on both Masset and Aardsma. Both have some mental issues to work on and it is my opinion the Sox org. wanted to give both a mental break after bad seasons where neither came close to expectations.

For me the Gavin Floyd sucks-no he doesn't back and forth is tiresome but I do realize it is something to talk about. Several things to consider. Williams miscalculated badly on Floyd's ability to contribute in 2007 and I think everyone can agree on that. If Williams ego was so huge and he wouldn't back off his judgement on Floyd, Floyd would've been kept on the roster in April. Instead he got sent down, which is where he should have been. Now Floyd is showing flashes and they are being simultaneously praised and dismissed, not only by internet message board posters but the team's manager. To me it is better he is showing flashes than getting rocked vs. Detroit and Cleveland, despite lineups and weather conditions and so on. That happens to all pitchers during the course of a season. Who is to say he isn't being given a shot because he will be available in trade this winter? Just saying. There are probably several lower level teams who have the time and patience to carry Gavin Floyd on their roster, teams who have other assets which would appeal to the White Sox. Just because he is pitching in September doesn't necessarily mean they are penciling him in to the 2008 rotation. It seems I am always saying there may be more going on behind the scenes, there may be more than meets the eye. I will wait and see on this, just like playing wait and see on the Buehrle extension.

With their 10-3 win, Great Falls advances to play the Orem Owls (Angels system) for the Pioneer League championship. Game 1 is tomorrow (Wed.) night in Utah, game 2 and game 3 if necessary will be played at Centenne Stadium in Great Falls. Here is last night's game story - http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs...PORTS/709110314 They really seem to be playing as a team and hopefully they'll win the championship.

Another error by the Helena Brewers in the top of the 5th, a hot smash by Salvador Sanchez caused the Helena SS to rush the throw, it gets away, 2 more runs score, 9-2 Great Falls. A contingent of Great Falls fans made the 90 mile trip to Helena and have been chanting "Let's Go Sox" and "Here We Go, White Sox, Here We Go". This announcer for the Helena Brewers is doing the game by himself and by my ears is very good.

Top of the 5th in Helena, things are looking good for Great Falls, they bat around in the 4th and lead 7-2. I am listening on Helena MT radio and the Helena Brewers made 3 errors as GF added to their 3-2 lead. John Ely (pronounced EE-lie) still on the bump for Great Falls.

Floyd on the hook for the loss now.

A couple of years ago many would have said no way would they cut a deal with KC, being in the division and all. But the Sox front office has opened that avenue up with the KC front office so if there's a match up it's possible. KC may be getting out of the realm of just acquiring cheap prospects and may want guys who can contribute right now. Anyways I would agree, DeJesus is a very viable target and no I do not think Owens is a long term solution for a team that wants to compete. He has made progress but has a long way to go. You correctly identify being able to turn and burn on an inside pitch as being a definite weakness. To me, Owens is a guy you trade for a targeted bullpen arm to some team that is impressed with the 24 stolen bases. Not minimizing Jerry's contributions by any means, just stating my views.

2007 3rd round pick John Ely will go for Great Falls tonight as they try to win deciding game three of the Pioneer League northern division playoffs.

Adding another thought on the farm system philosophy. Let's look at two guys, Jimmy Gallagher in Great Falls and Ryan Sweeney. Their experience level differs but interestingly they are both 22. Ryan has battled inconsistency and health issues and has not had the real breakout year in the minors. When he was called up he was overmatched. Granted he is just 22. Personally I believe they are showcasing him in the Arizona Fall League and that Ryan is a guy they will be willing to trade. Gallagher had an outstanding debut in Great Falls. Now does that mean he has the same prospect "status" as Ryan Sweeney, probably no or at least not yet. But just as Sweeney did, Gallagher is showing he has raw talent. He is also a left handed bat. So this is the point. Looking from a broad perspective, the Sox signed Dye for two years and I believe in large measure because they did not feel Sweeney could take his place in 2008. The Sox may feel he's at the peak of his value in terms of being a can't miss prospect. If they judge Gallagher as a guy who in two years could be knocking on the door then maybe the Sox will say to themselves "this is the time to move Sweeney". Just using this as an example, nothing more.

To the first paragraph, this is a misnomer. The farm system should be judged in its entirety because many times when you have blue chip talent (better stated: what you believe is blue chip talent) in rookie ball it allows you to trade some prospect further along in the food chain to get help now. They have a few marketable players higher up than Great Falls and Bristol and yes, those players could be traded to get some other player who can help starting in 2008 and into 2009 and 2010 etc. The trick is identifying which players to trade. Do you trade a Tyler Lumsden who many thought would be a sure fire #3 starter but looks like he won't make it, or do you trade a Chris Young who many thought would make it and he is indeed making it. To the second paragraph, yes they did it before and yes they will probably do it again. They have expanded and intensified efforts in the Domincan and Latin America and you are starting to see a few talented players coming into the system. Fautino De Los Santos, Juan Moreno and even a guy like Anderson Gomes had a very strong finish. Does this mean they will all make it, no. It means you have young players in the farm system who, at least for now, are marketable. Any or all can be moved if the deal is right. The deal would have to be exceptionally right for De Los Santos and Moreno but again, any can be traded.

We are talking philosophy, not hindsight. Their philosophy going into 2008 is they are not going to rebuild. Nothing is promised. Reinsdorf said they will do everything they can to contend, he did not say he promises they will contend or promises they will win the division, because he can't. What baseball executives say they will do and what their moves show they want to accomplish is totally different than what results might be. It's sports and things happen, several of their moves turned out to be wrong. Their philosophy was to contend and it is still to contend, not rebuild. They all said they will tell us when they will rebuild and I have no reason not to believe them.

No matter how many times you post that they should, they are not going to rebuild in 2008. Wouldn't it be better to wait it out and see what they do and what they can accomplish. Baseball works funny sometimes. Look at Detroit, not to pick on them specifically but many people were saying they will have a dynasty due to their pitching. Bonderman is on his way to see an elbow doctor today. Don't believe all the articles is all I can say.

The bank account has nothing to do with it. I'm talking knowing about baseball here, and knowing what goes on in the clubhouse. He (Reinsdorf) definitely has a leg up on anyone here in both departments.

101, Yes I would say he (Reinsdorf) does and says things some fans disagree with. The older I get and the more I watch the game and the more I understand all the peripheral things though, the more I realize he is usually spot on.

Actually what this speaks to is the situation with the Sox bench. I am convinced they will pursue more speed for the bench and guy(s) who are very good defensively. If you attempt to build your team around pitching you'd better have stellar defense. Cintron doesn't offer much of anything, he has little speed, is not a selective nor particularly dangerous hitter, and we are seeing his defense. Not to trash him because he has had an awful year off the field, but it is what it is.

Great Falls White Sox won tonight, beating the Helena Brewers 5-1 in Helena and tying their Pioneer League playoff series at one game apiece. The deciding Game Three will be played tomorrow night in Helena. Juan Moreno pitched 6 strong innings for Great Falls, allowing 5 hits and one earned run. Leroy Hunt closed it out with a 3 inning save. Jim Gallagher was the hitting star going 3-5 with a HR.

That is, of course, one way to look at it. The other is, maybe he might know a little bit more about what's going on than any of us.

Tonight Great Falls is in Helena trying to stave off elimination in the best of three Pioneer League series. Currently they are winning 4-1 in the 5th inning with Juan Moreno on the mound. Jim Gallagher has two hits thus far, including a HR. Last night Aaron Poreda pitched very well, giving up only a couple of hits but the Great Falls bats went silent and they lost 2-0 at home.

No it won't.

Interesting comment by Reinsdorf in this article. http://whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?y...sp&c_id=cws

I agree on Tanner in '72 and Torborg in '90. I am not sure how you can possibly say Guillen manages totally by the book. Countless times this year he's let Logan and Thornton face righthanded hitters and when he's criticized himself, he says it's because he does too many things on "hunches" or by his gut. And he lives with the results too. What he primarily needs is better talent so the results end up being better. Thanks though for expressing your opinions without getting into name calling like the other guy.

Well I will make one last post on this and if you want the last word, go ahead. You have made about a dozen subjective statements (opinion based) in this thread and continue to question why not many understand. You have stated: - people who disagree with you "obviously have no comprehensive skills" (as you judge comprehension) - Hall being at 1B for that game in spring "made no sense" even though it's been explained to you multiple times as to the rationale. You can disagree with that rationale, again, that's your opinion. - "Ozzie has done so much to hurt this team this year it's sad", as if a subjective statement like that isn't open for debate. Many others have given countless examples of numerous good things he's done, and/or explained that other factors may have been involved in decisions, factors a "casual fan" wouldn't know about. - "I could care less about other people's denial and ignorance" (as you define denial and ignorance) - "anyone watching can clearly see he (Guillen) is atrocious", another highly subjective statement. - "anyone with a brain can see Ozzie can't manage his way out of a paper bag", when again, many others have given numerous examples of the good things he has done. - "I know damn well what I'm talking about", another highly subjective (and highly debateable) statement - if people don't agree with you you think they "know nothing about baseball or are in complete and utter denial" Great, ok. So in your world, if people don't agree with you on your OPINIONS, they are: Lacking comprehension skills, in denial, ignorant, lacking a brain, know nothing about baseball, and oh yes another mention of being in denial, this time complete and utter denial. Further, a moderator suggested you look up the difference between fact and opinion, which to me sounds like a hint. I felt it might be a public service to post this so everyone here knows where you're coming from in the future. As Steff says above, I will agree to disagree with your opinions.

By the way I am sorry about your fine city losing the AAA team.

You still don't know the difference between fact and opinion. "ozzie has done so much to hurt this team this year alone it's sad" would be your opinion and maybe others opinion but it is not a fact. It's subjective which means it's open to debate. Stating a batting average or a pitchers won/loss record is fact but your statement is opinion. I believe your last statement to be fact, but actually it's just my well founded opinion. But that's ok, believe what you want.

No 1963 but conspiracy theorists seem to turn up everywhere with their idiotic notions, even on White Sox message boards I guess.