29andPoplar

They're two pitchers with radically different styles, I don't see what the problem is. His point was Zambrano is a high mileage armed power pitcher who might not hold up for 5 yrs.

Seems like a lot on this board are just aching to get Sweeney in the starting lineup. Unfortunately he has a lot to learn and prove at AAA, let alone MLB. Ryan Sweeney won't be pushing Jermaine Dye out of RF in 2008. Sweeney will be an insurance policy or if he shows growth by leaps and bounds between now and 3/31/08 he might be a 4th OF next year. They want to contend and they have more payroll room than most of this board realizes.

Would not be a surprise for several reasons. 1. Myers has always been on Williams' radar, for several years now. 2. He is from the suburban area and still maintains a home here as far as I know. 3. Not a bad idea to see if this guy has anything left in the tank. He's been awful against lefties this year but over the years he's been pretty good at his role. 4. If they think he's got something left and can sign him for '08 it gives them more flexibility.

Could very well be. First thing he needs to do is get healthy, the wrist thing doesn't sound promising.

Fathom, they won't, they are aiming considerably higher.

Agree, one thing I would say though is Thome will be back in '08 but they'll get him some help, i.e. someone who can spell him.

There's more to it. If you look at the White Sox 40 man roster, some of the pitchers you name are on it. Those are the guys with a chance to be called up in September. Masset and Sisco. The other guys you name like Broadway and Gonzalez and Egbert. If they don't have to be placed on the 40 man, therefore starting their arbitration eligibility and service time clock, they won't be. If they'd have to be placed on the 40 man after the season anyways (because otherwise they'd be exposed to the Rule 5 draft in Dec.) then the White Sox might purchase their contracts and you'd see them in September. I don't believe any of these three are in that situation. This is why Boras always tries to get a major league deal for his clients coming out of the draft. That means the player is guaranteed to be placed at a minimum on the 40 man roster in X period of time, usually within a year. That starts a players service time, arbitration clock, and accomplishes what Boras wants, which is getting his clients to free agency as fast as possible. As for 9/1 or shortly thereafter promotions, I can see them adding the guys you've seen before like Sisco Masset and Aardsma. Maybe they will purchase this Jason Bourgeois' contract and add him if they like him enough.

Baseball America's database now lists 11th round pick OF Jordan Kendall as signed by the White Sox. 10th round pick Brian Guinn shows as unsigned.

There are two shortstops on the team. One of them has to play. How exactly does that translate into Guillen not believing in OBP and selective hitting? Hint, it doesn't. Erstad is treated like Rod Carew. Oh ok. Your conclusion really should be this, the GM needs to acquire better players.

There is a difference between the hitter's performances and what the manager's beliefs are. Big difference. I'm sure you heard or read Guillen harping on Uribe's escapades at the plate all year. If people can't tell the difference between how a player performs and what the manager wants, it's hopeless.

Completely incorrect. He has spoken many times to the press this year about the need for better at bats, there have been lots of articles in the papers and on the White Sox site. Further, I have heard him personally in Tucson, dozens and dozens of times, talk about being selective at the plate. I really don't know where these misconceptions come from.

Good question and I think you will start seeing more emphasis on this at the draft. They took a few guys this year who can handle the bat. Less Tom Collaro's and more guys who are smarter hitters.

A comment on Owens in view of yesterday's pregame meeting with Williams. I know there is a lot of love for him on this board. Which is fine, some will like certain players and others less so. Anyways Williams has a meeting and tells the young players specifically to focus on having good at bats. Owens, in the leadoff spot, proceeds to go 0-6 with several bad at bats. Of course it is unfair to look at one game and make an overall judgement. But for me I have watched this guy long enough to say he isn't that good and this is not a guy you want as a starting OF on a team going for a division title. He is clearly dominated by decent fastballs and taking a walk appears to be a foreign concept. Now I know leadoff hitters don't grow on trees but I would hope the White Sox do better than Owens.

Well on the surface it may seem logical but unfortunately it doesn't exactly work that way. His rehab is being coordinated by Boras Corp. and they are not known for full disclosure and free and easy communication.

Tony, agree. I believe strongly he's aiming higher.

Article on the White Sox site: http://whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?y...sp&c_id=cws Interesting comments, many of them. One, he wants everyone to know he's evaluating players on how good their at bats are. He is preaching OBP. Not a surprise to anyone who's been around him or talked to him at length. He's not getting much info on Crede's back situation. Doesn't mention the Boras camp by name but it's obvious. Fields will stay at 3B. He will not call up players in Sept. just for the sake of calling them up, and those who don't need to be added to the 40 man yet won't be added. Good stuff.

Got it, thanks for the translation ...

Some fans handle the pressure of a pennant race better than others. They are one game out with roughly 45 games to go. Hardly a time for panic.

Not sure what this post means, but I never said nor would I ever even insinuate the Twins have a lousy farm system.

They will look around at every good SS that may be available. That includes Tejada, Furcal and possibly a few more.

The big issue for me by end of day tomorrow is 10th round pick Brian Guinn, the SS out of the Bay area. He obviously wants over slot money to sign and it doesn't look like it will happen, according to internet chatter anyways. Maybe they'll get something done at the last minute because this is a kid they have close ties with. Williams and Guinn's dad knew each other growing up, the dad was a major league player and knew Alan Regier and Dave Wilder, and worked with Williams a number of years ago on some inner city baseball projects in the Bay area. Not to mention they brought Brian in to work out at U.S. Cellular before the draft. Oh, and that little matter of desperately needing a good SS prospect in the system. Not to say Guinn is a sure fire guy but he profiles as staying at SS and appears to have really good tools. There are certain teams who are very serious about not going over slot recommendations, count the White Sox as one. The Twins are another.

Here's a great article from Baseball America touching upon some related topics. http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=196

You are correct or should I say I agree with you, in terms of recent history. Many years ago, Tallon was really good, enthusiastic, insightful and so on. He got really bored and it showed in his on air performance. Gardiner grew into his role and the little I've heard of both of them on the Wolves broadcast, yes they are good as is their chemistry. Foley got launched for many of the same reasons. Talking behind people's backs from the top on down (quite possibly warranted but still unprofessional), loose lips in the taverns, thinking he had a job for life and a few other things. He came to Peter Wirtz with a soft offer from the Colorado Rockies (an offer that never materialized) and said this is what I want or I'm gone. The buzz I heard from one of the sr. ticket guys down there is Peter called his dad (Mr. Wirtz) and was disappointed and angry about it. Mr. Wirtz told Peter to withdraw the Blackhawk offer and part ways with Foley. Further my understanding is Foley didn't get the hush money all the other launched Blackhawk employees get to not yap as to why they got launched (Bob Murdoch, Billy Reay, Orval Tessier, the trainer Skip Thayer, Mike Smith, the list goes on and on). Foley is a pretty smart guy in one sense though, he knows the broadcasting fraternity is pretty tight and badmouthing an owner is a huge no-no. Not that Wirtz doesn't deserve tons of badmouthing but that's another story. I like Pat Foley as an announcer, a great deal. As a person, no.

Wow, pessimistic. You do realize things can change greatly from one year to the next, right? Everyone said Detroit was set up for a run of several years, their pitching has taken a big nose dive. Cleveland has looked very ordinary, as have the Twins. Yes the White Sox are horrible this year but that doesn't mean they're going into a cave until 2010. Players will be available, Sox have young pitching to trade and perhaps established pitching to trade. Other teams want that, the FA market for starting pitching is shaping up as woefully weak. The farm director is in his first year on the job (Regier), he spent a lot of time in the Atlanta organization so I suspect he knows what he's doing. They shook up scouting and will do some thing to strengthen player development this winter. Lower level farm teams like Great Falls and Kannapolis are playing much better baseball this year. There is no compelling reason to say this team is poised to win a division in 2008 but there's no compelling evidence they'll be awful either. Wait it out, lots can happen. Many here were crying that Buehrle was a goner, he's reupped and is still here. I don't get this crystal ball doom and gloom stuff, especially from a long time fan who knows baseball teams' fortunes can turn in one offseason.

Who knows. I'm not all that interested in all the peripheral stuff anyways like who autographs, golf outings, and so on. I wanted to comment because I had to sit next to a few disappointed kids/parents after certain guys weren't available, 2 times. Regardless I doubt the White Sox include such clauses because Reinsdorf in particular insists on as much fan friendliness as possible.