GREEDY

I have no problem signing any or all of the aging/damaged/veteran starting pitchers that are still available. My only request is that (insert vet name here) must out-perform (insert young arm here) in Spring Training. And I do mean out-perform, if it is close I would rather see the kid get the gig. The problem is that it won't shake out like this. No way in hell with Ozzie at the helm. If KW signs someone like Colon, Livan or Pedro, the only way they don't take the ball in April is if they are downright awful this spring, or if Herb Schneider accidentally mistakes a digit on a throwing hand, for a chicken fry. If adding a mid level to top tier starter is out of the question for '09, I would just assume have Richard, Marquez, Poreda, Broadway and even Carrasco (I bet you a churro he is in the mix) battle in ST for the rotation spots. If the Sox are indeed in the hunt at the break, and the kids are not getting the job done, it shouldn't be too hard to bring in a pitcher like Randy Wolf on the cheap.

Can you say C-O-L-L-U-S-I-O-N ? These signings are hillarious. 2.5 Million for Mark Kotsay: No Soup For You. 1.5 Million Guaranteed for proven closer, Takashi Saito: No Egg Drop Soup For You. 2.25 Million for #5 starter Tim Redding (didn't this gig to pay like 3/26 twelve months ago?): No Soup For You. 5.25 Million for Jason Giambi, a MAJOR pay cut for a guy who went 32/96/.876 last year: No Soup For You. Jerry Hariston Jr: You just had your best season ever w/ a .384 OBP, we will reward you with 2 Million: No Soup For You. Dan Johnson, who in his last full season posted a .349 OBP and 18 HR, in a pitcher's park: 1.2 Million: IN JAPAN. DAMN! To try and put it into perspective for you kiddos: Just last season KW gave Juan Uribe a one year contract. Juan was coming off a terrible defensive year, and a whopping .284 OBP. Uribe didn't get the minimum, nor did he receive 1 Million, or 2 big ones, Juan and his three children also named Juan, received $4,500,000.00! Less than 10 months ago! I wonder if the owners are flexing in an effort to try and force the Players Association into approving a ceiling, in exchange for a floor (which seemingly would help the salary of veterans like those mentioned above) in 2010? And I am not talking Extreme Home Makeover! While I am not suprised to finally see the "Market Correction" that KW has predicted since I was like twelve, this certaintly seems like more than a correction. Outside of the super, duper, mega stars, it seems like salaries are down at least 50% from where they were last year. If you doubt me, take the length of these deals into consideration. Hell, Chrysler sales are only down 46%, and I just saw "PT Cruiser" was added to the endangered species list. The '09 offseason is kind of like that time where you and the wifey sat down and had a serious talk over breakfast about "no more spending for awhile, we're broke". Then wouldn't you know it, on the way to work you see a sweet '79 Trans Am for sale, that was just like the one you had when you were a kid. In fact the driver's door is rusted out just like your old one. And it is dirt cheap, like this might be worth a divorce cheap, like there is never gonna be an opportunity like this ever again... but you can't pull the trigger, at least not on the same damn day that you had a talk about "no more spending".

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jan 10, 2009 -> 07:48 PM) Yeah, but how many rumors has KW, or any GM for that matter, not deny? A smart GM is never gonna admit anything. Ozzie has a Venezuelan mancrush on Michael Young. Why? I have no freaking idea. His defense sucks like a fat kid on a Capri Sun. There is not a single everyday shortstop that is worse defensively. Check that, DeRack JeeTAH might be worse, but at least he bent Pre-Glitter Mariah Carey over his ottoman. While Young is a perennial All-Star his offensive numbers do not impress either. .317 OBP away from Rangers Ballpark from a guy with limited power? Michael Young better thank his lucky stars that he ended up in Texas, if his ass wound up in Safeco, he would have been selling insurance five years ago. Really. Seriously. He blows. Grindy? Yes. Worth $80,000,000 in this market? Uh-Uh Girlfriend.

QUOTE(Felix @ Mar 19, 2008 -> 06:47 PM) http://www.hardballtimes.com/thtstats/main...p;Submit=Submit Ellis OBP 06 .319 07 .336 Juanny OBP 06 .257 07 .284 I would also venture to say that Ellis is a better defensive SECOND BASEMAN than Uribe. Seemingly the only thing old Juanny has on Mark is power, but this is just pure speculation... I also like Ellis to hit as many or more HOMERS at the Cell than Uribe. Mark Ellis is a big time upgrade at 2nd over Uribe.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 12:07 PM) The better question would be a guy like Carlos Quentin, who maybe isn't going to have a spot in the everyday lineup this season. Of course, I'd rather deal Jerry Owens, Uribe, Richar and one of our pitchers that doesn't make the team yet is out of options and than give Quentin/Anderson the job in CF. I say this because you don't need Jerry Owens if you acquire Brian Roberts (since he is the leadoff hitter and speed guy Ozzie wants). Actually the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of acquiring Brian Roberts (the only question is whether. Honestly, I wouldn't be that bummed and while I like Richar's skill-set there is no question Roberts is a better player and given that the Sox are competing they still wouldn't really be giving up on there young players. They'd be clearing salary in Juan, opening up a bench spot for Borgois and solidifying the top of the order. They also would be opening up CF for two guys with a much higher ceiling than Owens (Quentin/Anderson). A wild guess and some thoughts. Danny Richar, Juan Uribe, Matt Thornton, Gavin Floyd, Charlie Haegar for Brian Roberts. The Sox have both Quentin and Anderson to dangle infront of the O's, but the Orioles have three solid young outfielders. I am pretty sure McPhail would also want to dump Jay Payton on whomever gets Roberts. It is too bad the O's don't have an veteran starter to spare. This deal would almost have to include either Danks or Floyd (unless Fields is included), and this would force KW to make another deal to bring in another starter. While I like Thornton I think either he or Logan will be dealt sometime this season.

QUOTE(BobDylan @ Mar 12, 2008 -> 05:46 AM) Carlos Lee? I guess he wasn't above average in the field, but he was average enough. The ass in me kind of wants Carlos Quentin to suck balls because I don't understand the love here. A short clip of statistical averageness and there's a cream fest for him. I mean, yeah, I hope he's Babe Ruth out there... but... The only everday left fielders that Lee is better than defensively are Manny and Adam Dunn. I honestly thought his OBP was worse back in the day but when I checked it it was pretty decent, on average around .340. The "cream fest" for Quentin is because in 2005 he was the #1 prospect in baseball and he is/was projected to be a five tool player. He wasn't just highly rated because of a 97mph fastball or 40 hr power; his all around talent made him as "can't miss" as they come. In 2007 the WSox didn't have a single five tool position player on the roster. I went to seven games and through the sixth game Jim Thome was the ONLY WSox player to draw a walk. Dye, PK, Crede, RobMack, AJ, Uribe ALL are free swingers with relatively low OBP. It was a breath of fresh air when KW dealt for Quentin IMHO. I will say though that regardless of the D'backs situation in the OF, if Carlos Quentin was anywhere close to the CQ of '05 it would have cost KW much more than Carter. That alone scares me into believing that Quentin is by no means a sure thing to even play in '08.

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Mar 11, 2008 -> 04:08 PM) Darin Erstad really f***ed this team up. Amen.

QUOTE(knightni @ Mar 11, 2008 -> 02:35 AM) Wellll... they are Baltimore after all. If the Cubs are including Gallagher, it will be hard for KW to top that. He is a MLB ready starter that is most likely as valuable as Danks. I love Carlos Quentin, he will be the first LF for the Sox in more than a decade that has pop, can get on base and is above average in the field. BUT With all of that being said Brian Roberts is an extremely talented player. He is an offensive monster: his OBP is fantastic, he has a little power and not only is he fast but he is a great base runner. Also, his addition at the top of the order will force Ozzie to keep Jerry Owens out of CF. Anderson in CF takes the Sox from having the WORST oufield defense to being average and maybe even above average defensively. If Quentin/Richar are enough I would have to say this should be a no brainer for KW.