DBAHO

I think he'll either stay in Houston which is most likely, or head to Orlando or Losa Angeles when his contract is up.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 04:54 PM) idonno some guys walk a lot of people and are still succesful pitchers, Russ Ortiz and Victor Zambrano come to mind. They're succesful but they're not in the 1st or 2nd spot in most rotations. The Zambrano trade could still be considered one of the worst in major league history, while Ortiz's contract was really insane to put it best.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 05:48 PM) Unless Garland's arm falls off, there's no way in hell they non-tender him. That's insane. He's got too much trade value to even consider just letting him walk. I know, I'm just throwin out the possibility in case he has a real bad year, and the Sox decide they can't get much in a trade for him (although looking at the market for starting pitchers this off-season, that's extremely doubtful). Contreras could be a good possibility to be moved, and then El Duque may injure his arm again, plus you've got B-Mac who could be ready by 2006. Still a lot of external factors to consider.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 05:40 PM) KW's never been afraid to pull that trigger. If JR gives him the green light to do so, he'll make a deal if possible. Let's think ahead to the trading deadline. KW's got an extra 2 to 3 million to pull the trigger on a trade, to put us over the top. Where do you see that trade coming from and what position would he target to replace. Personally I think, it could be a third baseman who hits for a good average (Joe Randa) to replace Crede if he starts out slow again, and Josh Fields isn't ready, which he most likely won't be until 2006. Maybe a closer, if Shingo doesn't have a good year, and the likes of Marte, Hermanson or Vizcaino can't impress in the role either?

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 04:50 PM) I like your thinking Wite... There are only a handful of teams that would bother claiming Grilli, and I don't know who has room. This is exactly the time of year where he would slip through without any problem. Didn't the Padres try to do the same thing with Darrell May after they traded him. I think they designated him for assignment, and nobody would claim him from wavers, because of the salary was on. Not saying it's similar to Grilli, because of the different salaries, but I'm struggling to see a team who would go after Grilli too and claim him.

If Garland has a bad season, and is non - tendered, the Sox would be wise to have a look at the starting pitchers from Japan who will be on the market hopefully.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 04:36 PM) G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB HBP K SB CS SH SF GIDP AVE OBP SLG 91 263 43 56 9 4 8 35 24 0 10 78 3 3 0 4 6 .212 .299 .368 162 497 87 104 27 6 22 104 28 0 10 181 16 9 11 9 10 .209 .261 .416 139 455 63 110 22 1 16 81 41 0 13 121 19 9 0 9 17 .242 .318 .400 65 198 30 51 13 3 7 35 14 0 3 33 6 2 2 3 7 .260 .315 .463 162 628 114 156 31 2 21 115 45 0 15 143 48 8 2 7 19 .248 .311 .404 132 495 86 129 18 2 15 78 31 0 13 87 26 9 0 7 11 .259 .316 .393 156 586 122 193 29 2 20 129 70 2 17 91 46 5 0 11 12 .329 .409 .483 151 611 108 197 38 2 19 110 40 2 9 111 20 6 0 14 18 .322 .364 .485 Here are some updated MLE's for Iguchi. These are made by a poster over at BTF. They are corrected for League(AL) and park(USCF) -- Years go from '97 at top to '04 at bottom. I know you have doubts on Iguchi Gene, and you've got every right to. But looking at those last 2 seasons, gives me more hope than not, especially after he changed his batting stance, and starting hitting the ball over all parts of the park, and not just pulling the fastball. If he does that here, I think he'll do fine, but like I've said before he'll have to make adjustments with the 2 seam fastball.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 03:11 PM) Where was the link? Someone just IM'd me it. Al Lopez's Ghost already posted that story about Abdul - Jabbar from the Sun - Times is all I'm saying.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 03:05 PM) The biggest Sox fan in the world: http://www.suntimes.com/output/rapoport/cst-spt-rap24.html Somebody get him a hat! Dude repost, look at the top of the page.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 02:59 PM) Jesus Christ. :headshake :headshake :headshake You do realize Timo had 8 assists and 4 DP's in only 615 innings last season don't you? Jeckle, your insane bias towards Garland and Harris is really getting creepy and annoying. Don't forget about the .246 batting average with the .285 OBP now!!! :banghead

Upcoming classes for me at Uni in March; MMH299 - Business Communication MAA203 - Accounting Concepts and Systems MLC203 - Corporations Law MLC301 - Principles of Income Tax Law

The Seibu Lions may post him anyways. This was from an article in Japan a couple of days ago;

QUOTE(qwerty @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 02:36 PM) This are the main guys in the next couple years. Matkusuka is not eligible until 2007 i believe. If you have see it else where that he is next year let me know. I know he signed a 1 year deal with his team in Japan for this season, and from what I've heard next year teams in the MLB can bid on him, but I'm not sure if that's 100%. I'll have to find out.

QUOTE(Molto @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 02:22 PM) I'd like to keep Harris on the team, simply because I don't think Iguchi is any more proven than him. So if Iguchi struggles, at least we have Harris. So, for the start of the season, with Thomas out, go with 11 pitchers and keep Harris, Valdez, Gload, Perez and Burke on the bench. When Thomas returns, the verdict should be out on both Iguchi and Harris. You can then decide if you want to keep Perez or Harris on the roster. Keep Harris as a backup 2B/CF. Davis will be the backup catcher, Burke will most likely start the year in Charlotte.

Right now the Sox have room for 2 infielders on the bench. Harris can be one of these, and can play some CF if we need him to, or we can sign a Barry Larkin, trade for Tony G. or give Wilson Valdez the job.

I tried this on Flash and got it spinning 360.

QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 02:00 PM) More then we gave Iguchi I know that... Valentin signed a 1 year deal to play 3B for the Dodgers @ 3.5 million.

Iguchi will definitely have an adjustment period for a few months before we see the best of him. He'll probably really struggle early against the 2 seam fastball, like the 2 Matsui's did in their 1st season. I know some people think that Harris is cheaper, younger and therefore a better option, and Iguchi may only put up the same stats as Willie. But there's a couple of things here which I think will be more important in the long - run. It gives us a greater access to the market in Japan, and maybe it would be a good idea for the Sox to try and play a game or two in Japan at the start of the season like the Yankees do. And more importantly, hopefully it'll give us a much better chance at signing Daisuke Matzusuka next off-season.

QUOTE(The Critic @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 02:30 AM) Sorry to be a stick in the mud, but I'm going to wait for official confirmation before I pencil him into the 2 slot in the lineup and second base. I hope it's true, I REALLY hope it's true, but I'll wait for KW to announce it. I was going to try to write that in a style mocking that original translation, but I can't even write that confusingly.....only SS2k5 can.... At least the article is definitely from a legiminate source. I'll guess we'll just have to wait for KW though since we know the likes of Bruce aren't really going to add anything of value to the subject.

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 02:27 AM) His shoulder surgery was in 2000 but I agree with your sentiment. My bad, I'm getting that mixed up with the shoulder flareup that hampered him in 2002, basically destroying that season and his stats.

He still has to undertake a physical though. Hopefully nothing will come up with that shoulder, that he had surgery on back in 2002.

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 02:21 AM) CHECK IT OUT GUYS!!! "Baseball: Iguchi reaches agreement to join White Sox" http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050124/kyodo/d87qer781.html This sums it up for me;

I don't drink coffee, although I really should start, I need the energy in the morning, lately I haven't beeng etting up til midday - 1, although this will change when I go back to Uni, but I'm finding myself dead for a few hours after I get up anyways.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 02:15 AM) all I got from that article is that the spheres are better in chicago??? Even though it's in broken english, it looks like this shows that a physical took place and the contract's been agreed on;

QUOTE(S720 @ Jan 25, 2005 -> 02:08 AM) DBAHO, It supposes to be a HUGH COMPLIMENT. Personally, even without the Iguchi's signing, Kenny has done a wonderful job. What I meant "Flying Under The Radar" was because not a single Chicago reporter has news of this signing when we forum posters have already known. It's ironic that later on today, the news will come out via Bruce Levine or Offman! I know, I wasn't having a go at you personally. I'm just saying people had double standards when it came to that term, only a month ago people wanted KW fired, and now he's done a great job, and made the moves that he's had to make. And yes we've broken it first here, well a White Sox related site anyways, there's no mention on WSI.