Flash Tizzle

What an embarrassment for the "genius" Bill Belichick. I never did like him, so I'm going to savor this issue as long as possible.

Nice publicity. Although I should have been more outrageous in my posts. Maybe someone would have printed my quotes.

Great. WCIU broadcasted an interview with Williams on the timing of his extension, and he said it was to prove to everyone in their clubhouse they're not done competing. Tell-tale sign, if nothing else would suffice, that we're not rebuilding. Hell, I wonder if the extensions means we'll EVER rebuild under Guillen. As others have said, and I tend to agree, I don't believe he's a rebuilding manager.

I wouldn't mind this extension; if it were 2008 and we were witness to another White Sox season under Guillen. It just doesn't fit together. Three additional seasons added onto his current deal just seems like quite a long time to assume his stinct ("gut" decisions, seemingly favoring players, explosive personality) holds up. I just can't shake this feeling extending Guillen is, in some small way, management sticking their tongues out at everyone who had begun to seriously question Guillen's future. It isn't based upon anything tangible, other than the odd timing during this dismal season. It could and should have waited.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Sep 11, 2007 -> 04:30 PM) Yes the #1 pick is a bad thing to have... Ask yourself this question? When was the last time the #1 pick was such a foregone conclusing over a year before the draft takes place? Who was that player? I noticed the answer you posted on your blog, but I do recall people hyping Prior as the unquestionable #1 selection in late 2000. It jumps out at me because, in my more juvenile days, I was trolling the Cubs official MLB website and first became aware of him through there.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Sep 11, 2007 -> 11:51 AM) Well, Cleveland/Minny/Detroit all have some of the best rotations in baseball and no way is the Sox rotation worse than the Royals. It's just unfortunate those three teams play within the same division as us. Not enough to shrug our shoulders and say "it is what it is." We have to match those starting rotations if we want any chance of competing next season and beyond. I just don't believe it's very realistic. Atleast until DLS emerges as the ace I've already appointed him as.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Sep 11, 2007 -> 12:52 AM) UPDATED STANDINGS Tampa Bay 61-83 - GB Chicago 61-83 - GB Florida 61-83 - GB Baltimore 61-81 1.5 GB Kansas City 62-81 1.5 GB Houston 62-81 1.5 GB Pittsburgh 64-80 3 GB Washington 65-79 4 GB San Francisco 65-79 4 GB Texas 68-74 8 GB Oakland 70-75 8.5 GB Jesus. I didn't realize it was this close. A stretch of 5 wins over 7 games and we could go from 1st place to 7th or 8th.

QUOTE(greg775 @ Sep 11, 2007 -> 12:41 AM) Sad we continued to disgrace ourselves on the field. Sad we are closer to being the worst team in the league. Sad that Cub fans are happy that they won and we lost both. Sad that so many Sox fans have much in common with Cub fans these days in wanting us to lose. Difference between Cub fans rooting against the Sox and Sox fans rooting against the Sox is we have the team's best interests in mind. I, among others, believe receiving the top selection -- and perhaps Pedro Alvarez -- is more beneficial for our future than several more useless wins.

Broadway got away with a high changeup. He's lucky it isn't sailing in the bleachers.

Man, I feel sorry for Greg. He's going to wake up tomorrow in a poor mood after he finds out the White Sox lost. Win #62 means something special to him.

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 11, 2007 -> 12:05 AM) So Flash, are you as thrilled as I am that when finishing off a horrible season and eliminated from the playoffs.....the reliever getting the most experience on the Sox is almost 40 years old? It's amazing how awful every single thing about this baseball season has been. It'd actually make sense if I Guillen come upfront and said he was purposely trying to lose. Giving time to Myers and Bukvich is ridiculous this late in the season. Although I can't complain much. They're helping us lose game after game.

Lol, these fans are drowning out Hawk and DJ.

Someone hits a foul ball into the upper deck it may be twenty minutes before anyone finds it.

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 11:48 PM) You can distinctly hear each individual fan clapping/cheering I recall a game several years ago when several of my friends and I sat through a long rain delay. I had a great time. It was possibly one of the funnest games I've ever watched for the reason few people were in the crowd. It seems more personal. And you know the players can hear every word you say. Walkoff victories and close games are much more common then these experiences. Their uniqueness sets them apart.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 10:42 PM) I don't know how the Sox OBP problem would be solved with Eckstein, Richar, and Fields in the line-up. They need to get guys who can get on base, and who can catch and throw the ball. Eckstein is going to be paid a lot more than he's worth. Signing Eckstein is nothing more than an "anything but Uribe" scenario. It gives our fans the illusion improvements have been made. We really have no choice but to play Richar and Fields. They're going to allow the White Sox possible financial wiggle room to sign their next batch of grinders. I mean, not every player can be like Asdrubal Cabrera and produce immediately upon promotion. Cmon, now. Everyone knows it's rare for any player to succeed within three years of first playing in the majors.

It's looking increasingly wet and icky down at USCF. BETTER CALL THE GAME!!

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 01:15 PM) To the first paragraph, this is a misnomer. The farm system should be judged in its entirety because many times when you have blue chip talent (better stated: what you believe is blue chip talent) in rookie ball it allows you to trade some prospect further along in the food chain to get help now. They have a few marketable players higher up than Great Falls and Bristol and yes, those players could be traded to get some other player who can help starting in 2008 and into 2009 and 2010 etc. The trick is identifying which players to trade. Do you trade a Tyler Lumsden who many thought would be a sure fire #3 starter but looks like he won't make it, or do you trade a Chris Young who many thought would make it and he is indeed making it. I'll admit right now I was one of those posters absolutely furious when Lumsden was dealt. It wasn't just the fact he was (at the time) one of our few SP prospects with any potential, but he was traded to a divisional opponent for the walking injury Mike MacDougal. And to further illustrate your point about knowing which players to trade, Daniel Cortes was an additional piece in the deal. He's doing quite well for himself, although the amount of flyballs surrendered is a little worrisome. It'll be interesting to follow him next season.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 10:13 AM) 1. 20 players won't be back. From the current 25, I can name 7 players highly unlikely to return: Cintron, Uribe, Bukvich, Podsednik, MMac/Thornton (one of the two), Garland, Gonzalez. Then you can pretty much figure that one or two others will go in trades, that aren't what people thought - could be Contreras, Hall, heck anyone else really is possible. That is 9+ guys right there. Somehow didn't consider Podsednik when compiling my list. He'll obviously be somewhere else in 2008. I wouldn't label MacDougal or Thornton's departures as likely. Neither would I be confident that more than one starting pitcher (or additional positional player) is playing for another team come April . Konerko and Thome are the only feasible offensive trade candidates entering the offseason. And while dealing Konerko is an idea Williams should explore, it all depends upon other offensive additions and -- most importantly -- his value on the trade market. Cintron, Uribe, Bukvich, Podsednik, Gonzalez, one SP are the names I'm sticking by. I didn't forget them. I just didn't need to consider it since I'm looking towards the offseason. There's the issue -- what constitutes a "major" upgrade to SS, CF, and a reliever spot in your mind? I'd consider major as Tejada replacing Uribe, Hunter/Jones replacing Grindy/Owens, and perhaps trading for a proven reliever. That's potentially a whole lot of money thrown about, with the likelihood several of Gonzalez/Egbert/DeLosSantos are gone. I don't believe that's going to happen. Neither should it. And they'll need their pitching depth to remain intact if Garland and/or Contreras are to be traded. I know you weren't suggesting it blatantly, but I believe for legitimate position player prospects we'll either have to deal our SP prospects or strike gold with dealing Garland, Konerko, etc. We should be worried about assembling talent, not trading off what we believe is depth than later on having to compensate for it. As if the Young situation has taught us nothing. Who's to say the wrong player isn't traded and what we're left with is inconsistency and/or injury problems? We're in no position to do this right now, where the direction of this franchise is heading down. Production in rookie ball doesn't help our 2008 ballclub. That is the issue here. Sure, there may be several potential blue-chip prospects in Great Falls and Bristol, but that's several years away. And until production continues in the higher levels against better competition I'm not going to change my position towards this team's farm system. Yes, since I'm not going to believe they'll outbid even the limited teams seeking a proven OF until proven otherwise. I'm sure they'll do everything they can to give everyone the impression 2008 isn't a rebulding season. That's what worries me. To what extent will they go? Will they feel DLS or Carter don't help us within the immediate future and, therefore, are expendable? They traded Young to "win-now." Why wouldn't they do it again? Even if you're willing to adopt the "wait and see" approach, you have to recognize that for the White Sox to turn themselves around, we'll need to hit with EVERY offseason deal. Every trade much benefit us, and every FA signing much produce to their potential. I'll be much more critical of Williams if he receives crap in any trade scenario than I will if he overpays for Hunter. Even if he's serious about 2008, he has to realize -- if 2007 wasn't proof enough -- that talent needs to be injected into this organization. Cheap, productive talent.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 10, 2007 -> 08:11 AM) I'd wager against that. Let's say for argument sakes that 20/25 of those players on the active roster (before September 1st) return. I'd consider that a significant amount. Now, let's put it together -- perhaps we'll have a new SS and CF, UTL MIF, a bullpen arm, and maybe one additional SP if Garland or Contreras is traded. This is fairly accurate, wouldn't you say? I don't believe such changes would be enough to compete for a playoff birth. It's going to be quite funny to listen to management try and convince Sox fans they're going to contend next season. That's why I believe Williams is only digging himself further into the ground. He would be better off rebuilding with the few players who hold value rather than giving everyone the impression this team will compete, then when they don't, having to look ridiculous. Atleast we'd expect hardships with a rebuilding effort. What will the excuse be in 2008 if it's similar to this season? Reading articles which suggest David Eckstein is our number 1 offseason target is ridiculous. So is overpaying for Torii Hunter or Aaron Rowand. We're in a real bind. Only way we're getting talent is trading SP prospects, which is not the way to go with an organization void of many high ceiling players.

QUOTE(elrockinMT @ Sep 9, 2007 -> 11:44 AM) Next year will be different that's what is so great about baseball How if it wont? You can't guarantee otherwise, considering nearly the entire roster will be back.

Any updates on Brown's "strained knee?" It'd really be a shame if he were to be injured (again......again).

And that's a White Sox loser. Tampa won. We're within one game.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Sep 9, 2007 -> 03:10 PM) Thank you Alex Cintron. It was his fault for prolonging both innings, but really, Garland become rattled after Cintron's errors. Even if the runs didn't score we'd still have a 1-1 game with our bullpen matching up against Minnesota's.

I can't just let this game go by without a thread. Even if it's Santana pitching, and we're currently losing 4-1 in the 7th, there needs to be space devoted to our failures. Currently, Tampa is leading Toronto and Baltimore is tied with Boston. This could be a very good day for us.

We're losing 5-2 in the 4th. FOX has been screwing around with the picture nearly all day. I don't know if anyone else has had this problem.