chisoxfan09

Welcome to the forums cws0591. Many posts to go!!

Link: http://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/30305184672387072# Why did Fartolo disappear from the Sox' organization? I remember a couple of years back he kinda vanished in the middle of the season. I think he went MIA. Did he have a falling out with Ozzie or something? I don't remember.

It´s unfortunate he has not been able to develop his offensive as quickly as the hype had made it out to be. He can be solid but for what we paid we have not seen a return at all. Well 2 years left before the ARB kicks in so let´s hope this year he does something.

I know there are 2 sides to this coin, but is it fair for JR to say he has put his neck out to pay for a competitive team when we know that is what it takes nowadays?

I think if they are playing good fun, winning baseball the fans will show up.

Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news...ce=MLBHeadlines By Bruce Levine ESPNChicago.com Archive CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox made a splash this offseason, adding free agent slugger Adam Dunn and reliever Jesse Crain and bringing back fan favorites Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski. But White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said Saturday at SoxFest that deciding to add payroll in 2011 was a tough decision on the heels of a disappointing 2010 season on the field and in the stands. "Last year we weren't as good as we thought we could be," Reinsdorf said. "Our attendance was down. Financially we came out of it OK, but thinking about this year, we had to make a decision for the long term -- do we try to get better, or do we view this as a rebuilding year? And that's what took us a long time to make up our minds. "Finally, I just decided two days before the Adam Dunn signing, 'Let's go for it.' If we spend the money, the attendance will pick up. Once we committed to Dunn, we had to bring Paulie and had to bring A.J. back." The Sox payroll has been increased almost $15 million over last year's $110 million allotment, and Reinsdorf said it was still too early to tell if the high-profile pickups will increase revenue this season. "We've really taken a chance," Reinsdorf said. "We've really stuck our necks out. If this team bombs and we draw 2.2 million people again, we are going to lose a lot of money. We are betting that we're going to be good." An easier call for Reinsdorf was picking up the 2012 option in manager Ozzie Guillen's contract before the start of this season. "It was just the right time," Reinsdorf said. "We anticipate Ozzie's going to be here for a long time. Ozzie said he doesn't want to manage any place else. We knew we were going to pick up [the option] at the end of the year anyway. But we thought we might as well eliminate the uncertainty and pick it up now." Reinsdorf said the ups and downs in Guillen's relationship with general manager Ken Williams last season come with the territory in those positions. "There's a tension between managers and general managers because they look at things differently," Reinsdorf said. "I'll bet you that [Atlanta's management team for 20 years] John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox didn't always see eye-to-eye." Reinsdorf offered a tongue-in-cheek response when asked if Williams-Guillen will hopefully be his last management team. "At my age, that could happen anytime," Reinsdorf said, before turning serious. "You always want your guys to be the last ones. Almost everybody in the organization has been here 20-25 years, so I would hope this is the last tandem."

This. If Becks can start the year right and focus (A good ST would be a good way to start) then we should hopefully see him start to concentrate a little better to start the year.

I think the main factor towards his decision will be his performance this year and how well the Sox do overall.

Yeah, he really doesn´t seem like the hard-up money type or wanting to be in the spotlight. He has always been a great clubhouse presence so if he did come back I could even imagine he would feel a lot of loyalty to the organization. Apart from Paulie, he is the only home grown product still around from the late 90´s (Paulie didn´t come up throught the farm but it sure seems like it as long as he has been a White Sox).

Mark reminds me of Jamie Moyer, not devastating stuff but a left hander whose arm will never fall off and who could coceivably pitch year after year into his 40´s.

Link: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...ws&c_id=cws Mark does not rule out playing another 2 years but says he can walk away if that is the best situation for him and his family. He does not rule out an extension or even hints at playing somewhere lese if it comes down to being the best decision for him. Too early to speculate but one thing is for sure, he won´t command another 2/28 type contract. Or will he? How could he fit into our rotation for another 2 years considering Danks is still not signed and this is EJax´s walk year? Would it be a good investment to sign him to say either 2/18 or 2/20 as insurance? I mean you know what you are getting with Mark, good solid workhorse pitching with a few offdays. Thoughts?

I get all that, just didn't appreciate the negativity. It happens.

Boy, somebody is really urinating in your Cheerios lately. Give it a rest already.

I wonder if Humber even shows a small portion of his projected talent (When he was a prospect) they can send him up or give him a ST invite to see what Coop can do with him.

No one really knows how this will play out but I could see either the Cards (or other teams if he hits FA) offering initial contracts/extension of like 6/180 or 6/190 with some or a lot of money deferred. That would give Pujols a paycheck for quite a few years and really give him a chance to chip away at bond's home run record if he stays healthy. Still think his elbow is a cause for concern.

Pretty sure Freddie is gonna get paid by someone soon.

I really don't see the Cards trading away Pujols but hey stranger things have happened. It really boils down to what happens in the next 4 weeks and how much pressure the card's FO will feel to turn a potentially negative fan experience into something positive. And then that will probably take its twists and turns until the trade deadline if it indeed goes that way.

I was thinking the other otentially huge factor (Would like to get Ptatc's opinion on it) is that Pujols has had minor elbow surgery once or twice now. Article says it is a minor procedure: Cardinals team physician Dr. George Paletta performed what he described at the time as a "relatively minor surgical procedure" to relocate the ulnar nerve in Pujols' elbow. Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3844938 PTATC, what do you think the long term chances are for Pujols to re-injure his elbow and require more major surgery? This must weigh heavily on the minds of the Cardinals as well. And as ARod is starting to show (PK should for that matter as well) you start to decline at the age of 34-40.

I could see this being a valid point regarding Ricketts going forward but they still make a ton of money on WGN, corporate sponsors, and merchandising. And he has already started jacking up prices with tickets. But it would seem understandable that he would not let Hendry spend more money to go after Pujols. The other reason I thought about the Cubs is that it is very close to St. Louis if Pujols still wanted to live there if he left via FA.

Yeah did not see that. COT's has a potential CUBS 2012 payroll of 103 million.

Well checking COT's contract they have Fukodome, Grabow coming off the books and a club option for Carlos Silva for 2 million. The is 28 million coming between the 3 (Fuko - 14 million, Silva - 12 million minus 2 for option buyout, and Grabow 4.8 million). They may have even more money to spend depending on what they do with Big Z this year (Trade Deadline). You never know.

OK I know we all know that ESPN is rather biased and does not show the Sox luv but I thought this Twitter post from Olney was interesting from that standpoint that he mentions the Flubs as potential suitors for Pujols' services if the Cards cannot re-sign him to an extension by his deadline of Spring Training. Link: http://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/26374059717562368 We are locked in with Dunn/Konerko at 1B but thought it would start and interesting thread debate. Pujols is sure to ask for ARod money of 10/275. Let the debate begin!! ** Quick Update ** If they don't get it done would it be even possible to imagine them shopping Pujols at the trade deadline? Just sayin...

I agree it is great on paper but looking at this from a situational standpoint it will really depend how the starting rotation delivers. We have remember Soriano has been hurt and Rivera can't pitch forever either. Just saying they are a great SU/Closer combo but the Yankees have to get to the 8th inning quite a bit with the staff they have. I am not sure how that will work out.

Yeah while I think KW may have had interest I can't imagine he even went to JR knowing they had to deal with Boras for one and the price was too steep as well.

Heyman reporting Yanks will sign Soriano and indeed surrender their pick. Likely to be 3/35. No way we were ever that close to his price. Oh well the speculation was fun. Link: http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman/status/25731057428992000