Flash Tizzle

Society killed The Get Up Guy. Fans voiced the displeasure with him yelling "LETS GO WHITE SOX," and management distanced themselves from him. I would love to attend a future game and hear him screaming at opposing players.

Mariotti and Levine were really sparring with one another during the last segment. Anyone else believe it was unprofessional of Bruuuuucce to mention Mariotti's daughters on air? Rather surprised Jay held his composure. Mariotti may present himself as an arrogant jerk, but Levine is hardy personable. Their mail segment was quite possibly the most ackward ten minutes I've yet to hear on radio. Numerious pot shots were exchanged; hilarity ensued. Levine still has yet to mention any news relating to El-Duque. The Score is running circles around this goof.

Case #1: Release Sosa. Eat Sosa's 18 million dollar contract. Case #2: Sign Beltran, THEN worry about unloading Sosa. As if there wouldn't be any doubt of Hendry's intentions. Case #3: Trade Sosa/Farnsworth to Arizona for Randy Johnson since three-way discussions broke down. Case #4: Trade Sosa to White Sox for a collection of minor leaguers, Aaron Rowand. These were all examples I heard last night. Kid you not. Listen to Mike Murphy's Evening Show on 670 AM if you're seeking a laugh.

I wouldn't doubt it. They're everywhere; suggesting Sosa trades and filling the airwaves with a Beltran lovefest.

Cub fans have a monopoly on phone calls. Don't these morons have enough air-time to express their baseless fantasies on the MIke Murph Evening Show?

I wish these two would quit talking about their careers and start discussing baseball. Damn, I don't give a f*** about their paths to sports radio host.

My fault, that was a typo.

I was wondering this as well. I expect Levine to announce something which addresses his status with our club.

Mariotti is absolutely correct. How can anyone expect White Sox to pay Vazquez 13 million, yet pass offering 9 million to Clement?

"Switch mantra to pitching/defense, yet lowball Vizquel." Mariotti's argument states White Sox are missing out on persued players which fit their new philosophies. "Are you saying the only way White Sox can sign free agents is to overpay"-Levine. Does he read these boards? Damn, I know I've said this numerous occasions.

Non-Sox news: -Mariotti is distraught Yankees will target Beltran following the breakup of Johnson discussions. -Sosa for Green may be remaining option to rid Cubs of Corkilicious. Green may only waive no-trade clause if extension is reached. Sox news: -Mariotti doesn't understand why Sox management would accept Vazquez's salary. Levine says "White Sox believe Vazquez underachieved." -Levine speculates Sox may be interested in Johnson, Vazquez again.

Gammons has corrupted baseball minds across America. His wet-dream of Red Sox acquiring Sheets has diluted his ability to report factual news. Sheets is NOT a FA in 2006. And Santana? White Sox will "fall short" due to an "unexpected fluctuation in contracts."

Perhaps he'll announce White Sox interest in Hernandez--10 hours after the news was first reported on The Score.

This is a rookie mistake from Guillen. He'll learn to avoid dictating the moves of management. Reinsdorf/Williams would rather Guillen shamelessly promote Grilli than state an extra starting pitcher is needed. Guillen was supporting Koch until his eventual trade. Guillen claimed Grili "trow the ball real well" following every start. I don't place much creedence in anything he says, especially concerning Marte's talent. Williams likely sold Guillen on Marte's utter dominance, and when he struggled Guillen felt more was expected. There were other players more deserving of criticsm. I wish Guillen would question Borchord's unharnessed potential, or Crede's swing. Wait. If Garland isn't included in a trade for Vazquez, who is? Marte, by himself? I'll trust his value has yet to sink that far.

If Dodgers offer a last-minute contract which exceeds ours, I'll assume this is retribution for Sox backing out of Vazquez discussions. Could anyone else legitimately picture DePodesta doing this? Not necessarily to stick it to Williams, but due to a dwindling market and limited options remaining. Oh man, would this irritate the hell out of me. That would be twice (three if you're counting Wright) a free agent was on the brink of signing w/us, only to join an organization which offered a more attractive package.

This is based solely on New York stomaching a substantial amount of Vazquez's contract. Yes, JV for 8 million is a bargain in today's market, but it's simply unreasonable. Unless Williams assembles a decent package, which could then be forwarded to Arizona, Yankees will not pay $10million. Williams assembles a quality package for Vazquez, I guaran-damn-tee another area of this team will suffer. Why create further problems? Oh, really? Early 2004 rested upon the shoulders of Jon Garland, Danny Wright, and Scott Schoeneweis. If that isn't a prime example of three quesiton marks, I don't know what is. Let's assume sufficient funds were available to acquire Vazquez. Best case scenario; Vazquez is offered for 8mil/yr. In addition, let's assume an offer of Garland/Marte is presented to NYY. Would the Sox not be in a better position to sign Eckstein, keep prementioned players, and enter next season with their current team intact? Is Vazquez > Garland/Marte/Eckstein?

For an organization handcuffed with payroll limitations, why the hell would Reinsdorf shoulder Vazquez's salary? NY eating an extremely reasonable amount of 10 million still leaves White Sox paying Vazquez 8mil/yr. We don't have these funds lying around. Teams witholding an extra 10+ million don't lowball arbitration eligble players (Schoeneweis/Davis) to save $500,000. If Vazquez killed this deal by refusing an LA trade, his stock steadilly fall From quotes posted in the Daily Southtown, Yankee's President Randy Levine openly questioned DePodesta for unprofessionaly backing out of the deal. Doesn't appear as if Steinbrenner has JV pegged as official scapegoat; yet. Garland/prospect is the most i'd offer for Vazquez. Not reasonable, but our rotation is complete. Sox lose nothing if trade discussions fall through. In any trade talks concerning Vazquez, there should be absolutely no scenario in which Marte is included. Sox desperately need a strong bullpen with potential health risk Orlando Hernandez joining the rotation. Statements such as "bullpen absorbs loss of Marte" are no longer reasonable. If Perez were signed in place of El Duque, yes, maybe Marte's departure would be less damaging. Not as our rotations currently stands.

Both starting rotations and bullpens eerily match up. Santana/Radke/Mays/Lohse/Silva slightly offsets Garcia/Buehrle/Contreras/Garland/Hernandez. Bullpen is equally matched. Crain/Balfor/Romero/Rincon/Nathan is on par with Politte/Hermanson/Vizcaino/Marte/Shingo. Unless either team unpexpectantly falters, this division could be reminiscent of 2003's dogfight in September. With different results, of course.

George Offman (not certain if this is how you spell his name) claims Hernandez and Contreras are good friends. Both are Cuban defectors; which means instant connection. Sort of like Ozzie with Latin ballplayers.

I agree. No more false assurances of Grilli/Diaz rising above expectations. Sox management wins. I've finally heralded a cheap signing due to the dwindling market. Odalis Perez negotiations may have put us in this position. I'd prefer Williams signs Perez, but my main concern is our involvement in a potential bidding war could leave us with no one if Perez signs elsewhere, and remaining SP's/IF are signed.

George Offman broke this story ten minutes ago. Apparently, El Duque is flying in tomorrow for a physical. If he passes, official announcement will likely follow. While he's certaintly not my first option, I applaud management for finding a suitable SP replacement outside our organization. EDIT: If various incentives are reached, deal could reach 12 million. ----- EDIT by aboz56: Report: El Duque Close To Signing With Sox Complete Chicago Tribune Coverage of El Duque to the Sox The Miami Herald reported on Wednesday that Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez has agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal to join the South Siders, pending a physical. Hernandez already has been a part of the White Sox organization, if only for a period of a couple of hours

Haven't Sox fans been writing letters and threatening cancellation of season tickets for 20+ years? Somehow, I believe Reinsdorf would be less than willing to budge if a similar situation were to occur, again.

His sole purpose is catching Contreras and justifying the Garcia deal. :puke

No baseball mind could have conjured up a trade scenario in which Lee is swapped for Podsednick/Vizcaino; leaving 6 million to spend. These transcations in which money is the key are impossible to predict. At this point, money is available for Williams to spend, and I wouldn't expect a mystery trade. If so, we're giving up an abundance of talent in return. I should elaborate, because my initial post has already been quoted, that Williams will likely spend some of the 6 million. My concern is whether he properly addresses our starting pitching dilemma; opposed to signing Schoeneweis as a 5th starter. Which appeared to be the case if he had been tendered.

I feel your frustration, Kemosabe. Actually, I felt it several months ago. When this offseason began, I never put much faith into this organization properly filling various roster holes. When Cubkilla or Anthrax anticipated a uneventful offseason, many here insulted them or regurgitated cliches. No one want's to hear gloom and doom, but rather a positive assessment of players we'll never consider. Even now, someone is typing a response which says "there's still two months until Spring Training. PLENTY of time to acquire a pitcher." Just learn to expect the worse and you'll be better braced for disappointment. Some may wonder why some Sox fans are conditioned to be pessimistic. It's because of offseasons such as these; where our troubles (5th starter) are widely known, yet little is done to address this problems. Example: 6 million is available from the Carlos Lee deal. While it's entirely possible AJ Pierzynski remains an realistic option, what exactly leads me to believe they'll sign him? Of course it makes sense, but so does Odalis Perez. Sensible decisions have no place in the Reinsdorfian Era of cheapness. Some may say "it's unlikely Williams will sit on 6 million," but I wouldn't be so sure. If Williams truly has this money available, at this juncture in the offseason with a dwindling market available, he'll do whatever it takes to sign his players.