YonderLaroche

Last year we had Dewayne Wise, BA, Dye, hurt CQ in outfield to start the season.... this year we got Rios, Pierre, hopefully healthy CQ, A Jones, Kotsay.. Opening day starters 2009/2010 projected: C AJ/AJ 1B Konerko/Konerko 2B Getz/Beckham SS Ramirez/Ramirez 3B Fields/Teahen RF Dye/Quentin CF Wise/Rios LF Injured Quentin/Pierre DH Thome/??? BENCH Anderson/A. Jones Lillibridge/Nix Betemet/Vizquel Miller/??? (Flowers) None/Kotsay SP Buehrle/Buehrle Contreras/Peavy Danks/Danks Floyd/Floyd Colon/Freddy Jenks/Jenks Linebrink/Thorton Dotel/Putz Carrasco/Torres Richard/Linebrink Macdougal/Pena Please stop b****ing.... 2010 is far superior to 2009 so far and we can still acquire a bat for DH.

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 21, 2009 -> 03:52 PM) a the 02-04 (maybe not 04, if not for the injuries it's possible we win out) sox were so odd. We had a really great middle of the lineup. We had some good pitching upfront. Usually had some nice bullpen pieces (Marte/Flash), but the odd thing was the last pieces you usually pull together for a team, the fifth starter, catcher, second base were usually so horrendous that it seemed to pull the whole team down with it. But man, if that 03 team could have made it. Ugh. But yeah, how many times did we see us score 12 runs and the next three games get only a few. Wildly inconsistent. And, I was young, I gather, but I remember being really excited for ozzie because in the beginning of 04 we had a couple of 'rally-back' games that were really non-existent under manuel. We won some late inning games, to be sure, but usually when we held on. The come back games didn't really happen. And the first half of 04 before all the injuries, and then the beginning of 05, it was just so fun watching a really energetic team again. Same with first half of 06. I haven't really felt the same of our team since, even with 08. Same here... I really liked every Sox team but after 2005 and especially 2007 (the worst sox season ever, i quit watching in july) this teams been very frustrating and I've kind of had to force myself to watch since 2007 fiasco... 2005... best Sox team I've ever watched 2006... good team, core started becoming 'stale', underachievers. 2007... Injuries, fiasco, crap season 2008... Had no expectations, CQ was awesome, very frustrating team to watch (besides CQ, ramirez,dye,buehrle).. playoffs/blackout games were awesome but knew the sox didn't have enough to beat rays. 2009... very frustrating team to watch, could have easily one division but they never got on any kind of win streak, offense sucked, defense sucked, bullpen crapped out. 2010.... I'm going out on a limb and saying this team clicks and pitching/defense/offense will carry this team into playoffs.

The Sox have the best 1-4 in baseball... good chance of being better than 5.. Buehrle/Garcia/Garland/Contreras/Hernandez - Peavy/Buehrle/Danks/Floyd/Garcia.

QUOTE (Mattchoo @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 09:45 AM) , thinking about the Sox trading for Gonzo again this morning.... (someone slap me).... I came up with this Adrian Gonzalez and Chris Young for Gavin Floyd, Tyler Flowers, Jarred Mitchell, Brent Morel, and either CJ Retherford or Jason Nix (if SD wants a player that should be playing right now) Obviously trading Gavin Floyd is not ideal, but I think he has a ton of value based on performance vs. contract. Chris Young appears to be really over paid and not even as good as Floyd in comparison. Thoughts? That's probably what it would take... or any package around danks/floyd/cq/ramirez/thorton then hudson/flowers/morel will get the sox about anyone.

LF Pierre SS Ramirez 2B Beckham RF Quentin 1B Konerko CF Rios C AJ P DH Jones/Kotsay/Teahen 3B Teahen/Nix/Vizquel

Sox interested in Mango?

QUOTE (chunk23 @ Dec 16, 2009 -> 09:49 PM) It'd be a great deal if we could send them Linebrink for Bradley. Yeah, I'm not a fan of Bradley but I think Linebrink for Bradley and lots of cash would be a good deal. I'd hope Bradley would bust his ass and have a great season to show the Cubs how much he hates them and how dumb Hendry is. But honestly I could see him and Ozzie getting in a fist fight.

Hmm... KW wants a lefty bat but has no money left.. I see Milton Bradley + 18million for Nix and a low level prospect... wouldn't that be a hated team by non sox and some sox fans.(Milton, AJP, Ozzie, Andruw Jones, Pierre)

I don't think so... when's the last time the sox went out and got a free agent to come here that wasn't looking to 'rebuild his image' because of injury or attitude/performance problem. (Putz, Jones, Vizquel, Pods, Garcia, Colon, Dye, AJP, (alexei, iguchi, viceiedo were from out of country) Also overpay: (Dotel, Linebrink)... I think this organization has a bad rep around the MLB because of Ozzie and KW. Ozzie because he's an ass and will slam his players publicly and bench them when they don't perform. (Swisher situation, Crede, Cabrera, Magglio) and KW because of the lack of commitment on long term deals (which is a good thing) and things like the Cabrerea situation where he offered arb but told him he would sit on the bench. Therefore Cabrera lost millions in free agency and a decent contract so KW could get a draft pick..

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 16, 2009 -> 06:16 PM) They're not? A .993 OPS at Birmingham says otherwise. Luis Terreros was 1.043.. I don't think he's gonna be starting DH anywhere.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Dec 16, 2009 -> 04:22 PM) I wonder why people haven't talked about Flowers possibly being the DH? He could rotate with AJ behind the plate and get a decent amount of ABs in the DH hole. Sounds like a nice transition to me. Just go out and sign a DH next year. . . He needs more time in the minors.. atleast a year. His numbers aren't that great offensively down there yet.

It would take a package around alexei, cq, beckham + Flowers, Hudson and more to get him. I doubt KW would trade any of the three and the top guys in the minors, but you never know.. boston would have to package bucholz, ellsbury, or pedroia and some top level minor league players.

REDO.. had some from 2000 team and not enough from 2007. 10. Ryan Bukvich 09. Darin Erstad 08. Billie Koch 07. Danny Richar 06. Luis Terraro 05. Todd Ritchie 04. Wilson Betemit 03. Brent Lillibridge 02. Joe Borchard 01. Andy Gonzalez Honorable Mentions: Royce Clayton, Dewon Day, Boone Logan, Andy Sisco, Alex Cintron, Dewayne Wise, Jerry Owens, Horacio Ramirez.

QUOTE (monomach @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 10:50 PM) That's not how it works. Pierre had what was basically a career year (which is still not all that great). Obviously, these things fluctuate. Otherwise, you have to completely ignore Carlos Quentin of 2008 because by that reasoning now he sucks and should be released. A career year?? Look at his stats because every year is about the same except for a few great years in FL. CQ has only played two MLB full seasons, and he was injured last year for the most part. 2008 was on par with his healthy minor league seasons. U are a moron.

QUOTE (monomach @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 10:44 PM) You're both cherry picking one year. If we play that game, Andruw Jones should start because he'll hit 50+ homers. Gathrights never had a good season. Tavarez had a few decent seasons. Pierre has been consistent ever freaking year. who would u rather have than pierre at this point the sox could get?

QUOTE (monomach @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 10:38 PM) You'd take him over his statistical twins is what you're saying. Does he keep his uniform cleaner or something? LOL Tavarez/Gathright hit about .240 .275 OBP half the stolen bases, half the bunts, way less runs triples doubles and way more strikeouts.

I'm done on this... but I'd take him over Pods, Willie Tavarez, CoCo Crisp, or any other crap leadoff guy we've tried to get.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 10:30 PM) Wow, just wow. So the 25 points of OBP, .100 points of ISO, Reyes' 2 seasons with an OPS in the mid .800's (how many players have his speed and XBH combo?) and the fact that he's only 27 and still played to his full potential means next to nothing? The FLD% was a cute touch, Pierre's a good LF with the worst arm in the game and Reyes is an above average defensive SS, another huge plus in Reyes' corner. So in your world .283/.331/.353/.685 and a .317 wOBA is roughly the same as a .279/.358/.475/.833, .366 wOBA season? Holy crap. In 2008 Reyes was worth 26.1 runs above average. Pierre in 2007? -6.7 I said Reyes is claimed to be the best leadoff guy in the game.. His numbers are clearly better, and he's the better player.. Pierre can and will be a good enough leadoff guy for a near .300avg, 100runs scored, 60+ rbi, and will help the 2,3,4 hitters... something we haven't had all season since 05.

QUOTE (monomach @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 10:22 PM) Those stats show that Reyes is miles beyond Pierre, actually. I'm not sure where you get "not by much." That's a .685 OPS vs a .833 OPS. That's like saying Pujols is better than Konerko, but not by much. I'm just saying he's a good leadoff man that will make things happen. He's outperformed the '05 Pods his whole career and we won a world series with pods that year. He will make things happen and that will help the 2,3,4,5 hitters...

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 09:58 PM) He's in the bottom 9% of all qualified hitters in BB% over the past 3 seasons. Isn't that kind of a big deal for the guy who will get the most PA on your team and hit in front of RBI men? When you're looking for a leadoff hitter the first thing you look for is a high walk rate and to go along with that; a guy who can take some pitches and work the count, not only does Pierre not do either well, he's very bad at each. Juan Pierre VS Jose Reyes (MLBS best leadoff man)... I'm going to use Pierres stats in 07 where he had his last full year and Reyes stats from 08 on his last full season. PIERRE REYES AVG .293 .297 Runs 96 113 RBI 41 68 2B 24 37 3B 8 19 SB 64/15 56/15 BB 33 66 SO 37 82 OBP .331 .358 SAC B 20 5 FLD % .987 .974 Reyes is clearly the better, but not by much. I'm tired of people whining about this... the Sox are paying 3mil for a legit leadoff hitter who can hit .300 and swipe 60 bases.... he don't strike out, can steal a base, and throw the pitcher off when on base for the 2,3,4 hitters.. and he can bunt. he's consistant his whole career, rested the past 2 years, and never had a major injury. A stolen base is more valuable than a walk when your stealing over 60... there's a huge difference with a runner in scoring position and no one out and a slow guy on first with nobody out (last year ex thome, dye, pk, cq, pods getting picked off)

we dont need him. danks, floyd will cost enough money in the next few years.

Except the dodgers benched Pierre and Jones when they had them???

It looks very good on paper, but I see a Linebrink meltdown 2nd half (after dominating with 2.00 era til July, then picks up 5 losses in a row when Ozzie refuses to find a new setup guy), Randy Williams will get a full season of suckage, Thorton will dominate, Jenks DL stint, Putz takes over closer role, Pena does good, Carlos Torres takes over for Carrasco and puts up better #'s.....

You guys are freaking out about KWs comments on the rotating DH... he's not gonna go out and say "I'm about to trade some more prospects for a bat" or I'm trying to sign (JD, THOME, VLAD, ETC) to fill the DH. Trust me Vizquel will never start a game at DH, if he does Ozzie has officially went nuts or wants to lose and get fired. I'm sure he wants Jones and Kotsay getting ABs but CQ, PK, Pierre, Rios will get days off and I imagine (as history shows) one will get injured or a may have a major slump... also both are dangerous pinch hitters and give us a deep, veteran bench. Vizquel will be used as a late inning defensive replacement for Ramirez/Teahen and get a few starts here and there.

Darin Erstad or Garrett Anderson.