Flash Tizzle

Honestly, I won't be upset if Buehrle is traded. Not that I don't believe he's a good pitcher or important to the franchise, it's just, I'm not confident we'll be in position to reach the playoffs until 2010. No one from within can replace Buehrle, yes, but I'm more confident Gonzalez can replace his production than positional prospects replacing Iguchi or Dye. Yes, even Dye and his .220 average. I will be upset if Buehrle is traded for nothing. Even considering the possibility whichever team trades for him won't resign. As has been discussed before, the various ways of collecting talent is limited with the White Sox. Williams needs to come ahead in trades. If we're offered crap for Buehrle, may as well retain him until the end of the season and take the draft picks. Whether they're for the 30 range or not.

Did Poreda fall off the earth? It'd be pure White Sox if he were injured.

I'm just going to assume to worst. This way, there's no possibility for disappointment Lineup: LF - Fields CF - Erstad RF - Sweeney 3B - Crede SS - Uribe 2B - Richar 1B - Konerko DH - Thome C - Pierzynski Starters: Contreras Vazquez Garland Danks Floyd Bench: Ozuna, Terrero, A. Gonzalez, Hall and some small, lefthanded (preferably veteran) Latino MIF with no bat. Whether he exists in the majors or not, we'll trade for someone fitting this discription in the minors. Bullpen: MacDougal, Thornton, Jenks, Boonito, Aardsma, Sisco

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Jul 6, 2007 -> 04:27 PM) I don't care how good of a player he is, I want a jersey with "Fukudome" on the back. On a side note, I hope we are scouting Japan including this guy and others. Iguchi was a nice pick for us, and inexpensive. Be nice to go the same route. Fukodome -- two players enter, one player leaves. Get on it, Brooks.

Even Buehrle is tired of this circus. It's entering the realm of absurd. Williams just needs to end it, one way or another. Having it stretch out for another week is good for no one. Should Mark or his teammates answer questions everyday concerning rumors or contract negotiations? They're terrible as it is, no more need for distractions. And no, Rowand, I will not show any patience.

Great, we'll have a moral victory to hand our hats on. "This team didn't give up." "Maybe the runs will carry over." I'm surprised no one has used the heat excuse. The tiny bits of black on the White Sox jerseys have obviously given the Twins an advantage. All sunlight across Earth is being directed right onto them.

QUOTE(PoopsThompson @ Jul 6, 2007 -> 04:17 PM) I think the theory is you want to keep prospects pitching regularly and learning, etc. That being said, I really wouldn't mind seeing some of these people like Egbert, etc up here pitching. Poopsy and Heads -- I've never been a fan of placing pitchers who have predominantly started in their careers into the bullpen. Yes, I know it is common across baseball; but in my opinion, it's impractical with this current ballclub. With our starting pitching staff featuring four starters who consistently pitch deep, the opportunity for innings will rarely present itself. Ask yourselves this, what's better for Egbert's future? Pitching out of the bullpen in Chicago, or starting in Charlotte?

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Jul 6, 2007 -> 04:07 PM) Can we now put the "there still is a chance" theme to rest. The season was over a long time ago. KW needs to start moving players and making deals. Why don't you become an Tigers fan, then? Anyone who has given up is not a fan. Period. Look at the schedule. We can EASILY make up 13 games in the division and 12 in the wildcard. There are plenty of divisional games left. We'd only need to play .750 baseball the remainder of the second half.

I'm just hoping for a grand slam, right now.

Today should be it. This is enough, already. If Buehrle is signed to an extension, I expect Garland to be moved, today nonwithstanding. I've explained this before, so no one can accuse me of being reactionary. Our farm system is almost completely void of talented positional players. Dye or Contreras won't bring anyone who has experienced sustained success in the minors. Garland should. Anyways, if Garland remains we're in the same contract problems next season as now with Buehrle. Does anyone believe we're devote 11 million to Vazquez, 14+million to Buehrle, and 12+million to Garland, considering our payroll may decrease steadily over the next several seasons. Devoting such a large sum to those three doesn't seem practical in my mind. Especially when you consider the presence of Gonzalez, Egbert, Floyd.

I notice Masset has been throwing a cut-fastball tonight. Struck Markakis out with one. Still has trouble with command. I haven't seen an AB where he's thrown two curveballs over the plate.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jul 5, 2007 -> 08:35 PM) I'm a huge fan of IFC although I haven't seen those 2 in particular. I'll keep my eyes open for them. You'll have to wait quite awhile. Magdelene Sisters will be shown again on IFC July 20th at 8:00ct. Once Were Warriors; nothing within the immediate future.

Independent film channel is a new favorite of mine after viewing several interesting movies the last several days. Among them are two standouts -- "Once Were Warriors" and "The Magdelan Sisters" (Nora Jane Noone ). I don't know if anyone has heard of either, but if you're in Blockbuster or Hollywood Video and happen to see these titles, they're worth the money.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jul 5, 2007 -> 12:12 AM) Damn. Dude just took a big chunk out of Mark's trade value with those comments. The Sox are going to have to yield here and deal with Jon Garland wanting his NTC when it comes up. Because Mark isn't blinking and the Sox really have no other play here. This will be done soon. How can Buehrle's agent not say Buehrle will negotiate a contract extension for whatever team he's (potentially) traded to? This is apparently him and Buehrle's way of influencing a decision from management: either sign Buehrle under their conditions, or prepare to trade him for a less than ideal package. We'd almost be better to hold onto him under such conditions. If Buehrle is signed, I still expect Garland to be traded and I don't care what anyone says regarding their combined importance for the future. The same contract issue will probably be rehashed next season with Garland, and I know personally I'd be willing to trade Garland, accept a generous package, then look forwards the future with a rotation featuring Buehrle, Vazquez, Floyd, Danks, whomever. Reasonably, how else are we going to build a competitive team from within if not for trading someone with value? Someone may say, "Garland is exactly that type of player to build with," but I regard pitching as our true strength in the system. If trading him allows other positions, such as catcher or SS, to be filled I'll support it. We're not going to be in contention for a division title in 2008. Likely 2009 as well. It's my opinion that two of Buehlre/Garland/Vazquez/Contreras should be dealt by next season. Contreras, obviously, but aside from that it's between Garland and Vazquez. Many people may prefer Javier, but I don't believe we'll trade him this soon after signing an extension.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jul 4, 2007 -> 09:28 PM) I'll bet he wont. We have over a month remaining to sign him. I'm not worried, yet. Although it would be ridiculous to draft Grffith out of the second round and not consider signing him. Haven't we argued this issue millions of times concerning the need to inject talent into the organization? As I recall, it was the selection of Griffith which made numerous members overlook the passing of Porcello. Even if he doesn't do one thing in the majors, that's no different than previous second round choices other than the likeliholod Griffith has more upside.

QUOTE(Brian @ Jul 4, 2007 -> 09:40 PM) I doubt they will panic or rush to make a decision just because we are tired of hearing and worrying about it. The deadline is probably July 31st. I'm tired of hearing about it because deadlines are continually imposed. One last Friday, which passed, now today. It doesn't take this long to decide whether or not either side will budge from a NTC. Does anyone really need 27 extra days? Just make the damn decision already, Williams.

I better hear news regarding a trade or signing of Buehrle within the next 15 minutes.

YAY, THEY DIDN'T GIVE UP!

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 4, 2007 -> 09:16 PM) The turning point of this season was blowing that game on Monday. Monday? I believe the 'turning point' -- or the moment the majority of Soxtalk knew 2007 wasn't our year -- was the final game of the Cubs series. Our pitiful stretch of games against the supposedly weak National League concluded with a sweep. And while it was over far before that in my mind, that was the turning point for many more on the fence.

Let it happen, already.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 4, 2007 -> 09:04 PM) Good to see Dye still in the game down 6 and having just batted. It's not enought that Dye's value has sunk offensively, why not leave him out and expose his defensive woes as well?

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 4, 2007 -> 08:47 PM) It's fine, after hearing just glowing reports about Pedro Alvarez at the Team USA game today, I have no problem with the Sox losing. You're not a real fan, then.

QUOTE(diegotony06 @ Jul 4, 2007 -> 08:22 PM) I am so anxious to see how KW is gonna possibly improve this team next year. What possibly canhe do?? Nobody is gonna give you s*** for JC. Do you trade JV?? JG?? MB?? I mean how the hell are we gonna get some young talent into this Org.?? I just don't see many of our players having any kind of trade value, except for JG, MB, and possibly JV. Dye isn't worth a damn. Thome?? Aside from the draft, this is why I continually mention that our international scouting must improve. Quickly. Otherwise, Williams better receive stellar packages for any player traded; Dye or not. Improbable as it may be, it's just what he has to do to improve the collection of talent within the system. I'm not giving him any sympathy. People may not want to hear it, but realistically, one of Buehrle or Garland has to be traded. Otherwise, better identify raw talent in the lower levels of another ballclub. Thome may be another option, but the problem is finding his replacement. Atleast the pitching within the system has some hope of achieving success. The problem I've identified with Williams is he's more willing to trade someone a year too late rather than a year too early. And yes, I understand we've been in contention and certain players you couldn't expect a dropoff (such as Dye). I sincerely hope he understands the competitors within the division are more talented, and more likely to contend for a championship 08 and byeond. This belief I've held of dealing now rather than later is why I've been a proponent of dealing Jenks. We're not in a good position these next several seasons to compete. Somehow, someway, things need to improve. People with value will need to be dealt unless Williams comes up with a few shrewd moves.

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Jul 4, 2007 -> 07:58 PM) Well lets see, now the Mets will give us a big bowl of dog snot for Contrares. Great. That's down only from a game expired New York subway tokens. Atleast we'll have Crede and Dye to trade. Oh....

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jul 4, 2007 -> 07:28 PM) The Buehrle situation while incredibley frusterating doesn't need to be rushed. Trading JC should have been down like a month ago though, he's killing his trade value. When it's filtered through the media that deadlines are established, then after broken, it becomes a bit tiring. When it's filtered through the media that Buehrle is close to signing, then isn't, and a NTC is an obstacle then it just gets to a point where I want it to end. Recently Wednesday (today) was set as the deadline. It better be. I don't know to keep hearing about new extensions. Another problem here is delaying the signing/trading of Buehrle just prolongs the frustration with this dead season. Nothing seems to have gone our way. Everything is a circus and drawn out.