DaTank

Wouldn't the fact that (from as long as I can remember) the Cubs haven't played host to a Japanese player have some part in who signs Fuku? I mean the Sox had Shingo and Iguchi in recent years.

QUOTE(CarlosMartinez @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 09:22 AM) I don't remember seeing him quoted as guarenteeing playoffs. He said they are building a championship team, the Tigers made moves to contend with them. The Royals and Cleveland did the same things with their additions. Has the season started, are the Sox 10 games out of first already? No, there are still plenty of moves to be made, they didn't trade away what little minor league they have left to get Miggy and they didn't spend a ridiculous amount of cash to get Tori Hunter. The Marlins have won a couple of World Series without signing the best free agents around or making blockbuster trades and so did the Sox a couple years ago. I'm like everyone else, it would have been nice to grab a headlining star this offseason, but it hasn't happened and may not happen. What has a team of high dollar All-Stars done recently, ask the Yanks, Cubs, or Dodgers. I never said he was quoted on making the playoffs. I'm saying if he expects to contend with Detroit and Cleveland then I expect the playoffs. He is sitting high on the fact that he hasnt done many things with a huge impact. And the Cubs may be high dollar with only a few All-Stars. And the Yanks have made the playoffs for over 10? straight years. My point is that he shouldn't be saying that he expects Detroit to contend with us like we have just won the WS again or something. And as of now they might as well be 10 games out of first. The Tigers didn't make moves to contend with us they made moves to contend with Cleveland.

QUOTE(CarlosMartinez @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 09:05 AM) What are you guys expecting Kenny to say, "We totally laid an egg this offseason. We suck, get your money back on the season tickets you've all bought!" I understand he's coming on a bit strong suggesting their a championship contender and now the Tigers can contend with them by the moves they made, but that's his job. I'd rather have a GM talking up his guys and what they've done than a stiff who sits around and complains about the set of guys he has. And why the surprise with what he says, Kenny has been a very proud, confident guy since the day he took over as GM. It's not in his job to be a hypocrite. If he says that then i expect the playoffs this year.

KW is off of his damn rocker! Article in the Sun-Times quotes him about the Cabrera - Willis to the Tigers saying "'All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us,'' Williams insisted. "We certainly are not going to shy away from the challenge, especially knowing that no matter what your roster looks like on paper, it takes well-rounded teams in major-league baseball to compete for a championship. ''And what we have started this season, I am proud of. Where we're headed is right toward being a well-rounded baseball team in all facets of the game.'' This is a load of bull. He is proud of not signing Hunter and not trading for M Cab? They are in a position to contend with Detroit? And their lineup of Mags, Granderson, Pudge, M Cab, Sheffield, Jaque Jones, and their amazing starters and bullpen? http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/wh...oxint06.article

QUOTE(NCsoxfan @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 08:07 AM) Let's think about this for a moment. Did KW act too quickly in trading Garland and signing Linebrink? It seems like he now only has half of his plan completed. Would he of traded Garland for an established player if he knew he would wiff on Torii and Miggy? My guess is no. If he knew these events were to unfold, would the Sox have made a decision to rebuild? Does anyone else think KW is half way into a plan that is not feasible anymore? I think KW did act too fast. First and formost any team outside of the NL East could have traded for M Cab and Willis if they wanted to. Secondly he waits until the Winter Meetings are almost over to finally get concerned. Now he will probally be at plan 1Z if Fukudome gets signed elsewhere and Rowand doesn't accept his offer. But he is cheap. His plan was to get a reliever which he did, and upgrade at shortstop, which he also did. But didn't upgrade in the outfield, or with a leadoff hitter all while losing a reliable starting pitcher in Garland. This is just stupid to me. More and more FA's are getting signed everyday and he is making deals to upgrade his bench instead of the starting lineup. Also Dye and Buehrle resigned because they were told of his "plan". If you could call it that. I don't know if it's just me but I don't think he is going full throtle trying to get the guys he wanted to get in the first place. Fire him for a GM that cares about the teams standings. This year we might have a team that wins 75 games with a salary of over 100 mil. It's nonsense to pay players that much to not play well.

QUOTE(Chombi @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 11:40 PM) Yes they were young. They still were putting up big numbers. It's not like they were 21 years old when they were dealt or let go. Maggs had a few mvp like seasons. Frank being injured those years hurt this team a lot so they could've potentially won or done damage. Fact remains, they didnt and things needed to be changed. Attitudes and everything. And sorry I don't buy the grinder bs. Rowand is a good player. His effort doens't make him better. I think 90% of this board hates Eckstein and he is the exact player for your "grinder" ways. It's useless and impossible to judge. A bunch of Rick Vaughn's only wins you titles in movies. Do we really have to keep going on about this? You have your opinoin and I have mine. I think it's useless to argue over this when its not even reality.

QUOTE(Chombi @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 10:48 PM) Maggs took 3 years to get to this point. The Tigers took the gamble because they could. They got him cuz no one else wanted to take the risk at that price. Rowand is not that good. Incredible year this year. Don't argue it but he looks something like a contract year guy. Lets pay him Beltre money and enjoy his 18-25 homers next season. Yea Lee is a great hitter and I would love to have him, but not at the expense of the 05 season. The 05 season which Pods was a huge contributor too. Lee is also one of the worst defensive OF's in baseball. I was at a game one time where he was literally tossing his glove in the air like a seven old teeball player. You are thinking small time. Those 3 were together and couldn't win. We won in 05 because of what a couple of those guys did for us. Money free from Maggs and Lee's trade for Pods and Luis. This is not as big of a deal as it appears. I do wish we could still have Lee or a healthy Maggs but it's out of the question and not worth the conversation. Well, they couldn't win together because they were young for the most part and a ton more unexperienced then they are now. And I'm only thinking WHAT IF. As how good the players are right now the Sox would be talked about way more as a contender. And Rowand I mean come on he goes by the Grinder Rules. He's a hardass and a leader and that is something that the Sox could use right about now. Not to mention that he has proven to be one of the best defensive outfielders in the league next to Hunter and Jones.

After his plan of Hunter and M Cab both failed what will K Will do this so far disappointing offseason? And Ozzie saying they're pursuing Andruw Jones and Kenny saying they are not. Nobody's even on the same damn page.

QUOTE(Chombi @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 09:42 PM) I dont think that OF would've won us titles. I would love to have a couple of those pieces now because of our situation but I think the Lee deal was huge for that one season. Maggs maybe he would've been nice to have but I don't blame us for fearing his injury and his insane agent. It took Maggs a few years to get back to this point don't forget. Rowand? Please. He is a good role player but I think having Lee and a healthy Maggs around Sweeney would make people happy. Rowand has always been amazing defensively. And broke out as a top hitter last season. That outfield with the rest of the team we have now would have been amazing. First off because Mags would have been 2nd in MVP voting for us and not our rival. And i don't blame us for fearing his risk of injury but injuries don't stop that many top tier players down. And with the type of hitter Lee has become...I can only imagine though.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 09:37 PM) The cubs will get Fukodome, and the Indians will get bay. Someone else will get Jones and Rowand. We will get Burke/Crisp or Owens as our CF. This is interesting ...because it's true. The Winter Meetings arent even over yet and there are already so many doubters of next year. Including me. We might even do as bad as last year...

Can you imagine if we hadnt traded our old outfield away which consisted of Carlos Lee (for the oh so awesome Scotty Pods) Mags (Lost as a free agent because of dumb arguments) and Rowand (traded for Thome) How many WS titles do you think we could have won by now with that insane outfield?...Or at least pennants...

QUOTE(JDsDirtySox @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 08:44 PM) I agree that the Tigers are going to be good... but I chuckled at the expense of Jacque a little bit. Well i know...but I mean he used to be extremely good when he was with the Twins a few year back.

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 08:43 PM) SLightly OT, signing Fukudome or Rowand still does not give us a leadoff hitter. Unless Richar or OC is batting lead off. I hear Fukudome can leadoff...dont know if its true though. Some people are comparing him as a mix between Ichiro and Hideki Matsui.

The Tigers have to be the new favorite to win the WS next season. Theyre so stacked now its not even funny. a monster outfield of Granderson Ordonez (who we should have) and Jaque Jones Added Cabrera at 3rd Added Willis as a starter Pudge as their backstop An above average pen and not to mention resigning of Kenny Rodgers

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 08:38 PM) lol

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 08:34 PM) Ok, so the CUbs don't have s***. But at least if the White Sox could create a buzz (lol) for Cabrera, The cubs can pretend to be contenders for a pitcher they really could use. How can we get Cabrera if he was traded to Detroit with Willis already?

QUOTE(max power @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 08:18 PM) Oh really? Did he do a good job? I bought tickets to go see it and then had a death in the family. I still have the tickets too, best my money could buy. Im not sure how he did in the WBC but i know he won the Japanese Central League MVP in 2006.

QUOTE(max power @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 08:06 PM) The royals, ughh, why? http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/arti...jsp&c_id=kc Why does everyone think Fukudome can play center? I've never read that anywhere but here. Well, we know he can play center because thats where he started for Japan in the WBC.

QUOTE(bschmaranz @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 10:35 AM) He played in 161 games last year so I think that issue is long gone. It'll probably cost a hell of a lot of talent to bring him in unfortunately. No earlier I read of a Cliff Lee and Franklin Gutierrez for Rios.

Will Kenny Williams make a run for this young, talented corner outfielder, who can be had as a cheaper alternative if the free agent option fall through?

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Dec 3, 2007 -> 11:09 PM) Ozzie Guillen hates young players. He doesn't hate young players named Miguel Cabrera.

QUOTE(max power @ Dec 3, 2007 -> 11:08 PM) I'd make that deal just to have someone with such a cool name. LOL

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Dec 3, 2007 -> 11:02 PM) Its going to be Crede dealt, no doubt about it... Fields proved last year that he is capable or replacing Crede. I just hope we don't get a "Chris Burke" type of player for Crede... what Crede did in 2005 and in 2006 before his back injury he was damn good... and with a healthy back he can be even better. How about involve Crede in a super package for Bedard?!? I doubt that would happen but Bedard pretty much has made it clear that he doesn't want to be there, and Crede's agent BorASS wouldn't even talk to KW about an extension. I think a package with Crede for Bedard is out of the question. The O's are reportedly asking for more then the suitors for Santana.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 3, 2007 -> 10:53 PM) I'm not so sure Astros would do Scott for Crede. I wonder if they would do Burke and Scott for Crede and Sweeney? I've read that that wanted to package Burke and Scott together in a speculated deal with the Rockies a few days back.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Dec 3, 2007 -> 10:51 PM) On the other side, the Astros would definitely have interest in Crede. I just don't think Crede for Burke is fair value (Sox would need something else, imo). Burke and Luke Scott for Crede?