Flash Tizzle

What a concept. Maybe DePodesta will approve this trade, only to lose out on JD Drew. Dodgers fans will then proceed to claim he's overpaid, and not worthy of a long term investment. Off season sanity will be withheld with assurances DePodesta has other options remaining. Excuses such as "It's a long offseason," and "DP wouldn't sit on money" will be rampid. Eventually, expectations will fall and the same people who were expecting JD Drew are accepting mediocre replacements. I swear I've heard something very similar.

Ah, you quoted my post too soon.

Poor Kenny. Value of free agents has jeopardized William's grand scheme of acquiring an additional starting pitcher. Granted Milton is not worthy of a lucrative contract, which he is seeking, but this excuse of blaming the market will reoccur following the signing of remaining starters. Sign Perez. Sign Miller. Sign El f***ing Duque. Williams owes it to his players and fans to sign an additional starter; one whom immediately upgrades our rotation. Schoeneweis shouldn't have even been an option. I'll be sure to thank management when mid-season approaches, and we're left trading valuable prospects to plug a hole ignored this offseason.

ESPNews has yet to mention any news relating to Pierzynski's signing. They're usually ontop of recent signings. Word spreads quickly; if it were true, we would have heard it by now.

I agree non-tendering Schoeneweis was appropriate, but iI find it disturbing Williams considered him an option. Perez/Miller remain on the market, and we're left negotiating with this scrub? Unacceptable.

Eckstein is the quintessential model of a "grinder." Defintely wouldn't be a bad pickup if his price is right. Most noteable improvement he'd offer over Harris is his ability to hit LHP (179 ABS; .279 AVG, .345 OBP). However, Eckestein's defense (esp. range) is less than stellar. He hasn't fielded 2B since 2001, and wouldn't be expected to platoon w/Harris. Uribe's glove is better suited at SS; moving him to 2B shouldn't be an option. I'm fairly positive St. Louis Cardinals will sign Ecksetin. In addition to the likelihood he'd earn their fulltime SS position, Cardinals are an attractive option.

Orlando Cabrera inks 4yr deal with Anaheim Angels. Details

Full Circle. Perhaps the most underrated, suspenseful horror movie I've ever seen. Mystery Channel, a cable network available on Comcast, broadcasted this movie several times last week. IMDB doesn't have any VHS or DVD links available, but if you happen to come across this movie its worthy of rental. Perhaps some of the most distinguished (older ) Soxtalk members may recall this Mia Farrow flick. Holy crap was it scary. If anyone has heard of Don't Look Now (starring Donald Sutherland), it manages to surpasses this film; which oddly follows a similar premise of a parent haunted by the untimely death of their child.

I don't agree with Rotoworld. This morning I browsed through Seattle's MLB website, in addition to various Seattle newspapers, and there was no mention of a mysterious bid. Madristch/Pienero/Meche/Franklin/Moyer were unquestioned by the general consensus as the likely starting rotation. While it's certaintly not impossible Seattle is bidding for Perez, it remains unlikely they can afford Perez without trading Meche or Franklin. Their payroll is nearly maxed out. If either of these two are traded, then I'd become concerned of their position in bidding for Perez.

Certaintly doesn't appear beneficial for Philadelphia. I have to brush up on the arbitration process.

IIRC, today is the day non-tendered players are available.

This may actually benefit the Phillies. Instead of recieving a simple draft pick for compensation, Phillies could trade Polanco to another club once remaining IF FA's are signed. There may not be much leverage, since Utley is slated to start 2B, but he's still a quality player deserving of a decent package.

Imagine where we'd be this offseason if Dye were to accept another clubs contract proposal. Williams admitted various offers exceeded ours. If Dye weren't a man of his word, we'd be in deep s***.

First, the article doesn't even mention the White Sox. No indication our interest or involement in trade discussions. Secondly, Williams has stated Vazquez rumors were false. And before you reply "He never dismissed the possibility of Marte/Garland- Konerko was the one deemed untradeable," understand Williams speaking out on this trade (during his "under the radar" phase) immediately sqaushes any possibility of White Sox obtaining him via trade. How much sense does it make for KW to reveal his intentions, while past deals were avoided or ignored? I'd place more trust in my assessment of a dead-trade than an idea that Williams MAY trade Garland/Marte because he didn't rule it out. Williams failed to rule out possibility of trading Contreras or Cotts, doesn't necessarily mean either are departing this organizaiton. Furthermore, Vazquez does not compensate for the loss of Garland/Marte. If this deal were to occur, we're taking on money AND STILL haven't filled the 5th starters role. Why are we creating these trade scenarios in which starters are marginally replaced instead of upgraded? 34million remains on Vazquez's contract. Only scenario Williams should approve this deal if Yankees were willing to stomach 10 million. Is this feasible for either team at this point? With questions relating to their starting pitching, wouldn't Dodgers be better served keeping an 8 million dollar Vazquez? Can you expect Steinbrenner to pay 10 million of Vazquez's contract when Unit's arrival is imminent? If Yankees eat at least 10mil, coupled with Garland/Marte/Lee's departure, 5 million is available. To summarize this deal: Vazquez replaces Garland, Marte is gone, and 5 million is available. If Williams were to no absolutely nothing, Marte/Garland remain and 7 million lingers. I honestly don't understand what's so difficult about either signing Perez, or upgrading various IF positions and acquiring a cheap starter.

I haven't heard any offers such as these, but if they're true we're not signing Perez.

Something is wrong with this. The amount is still way too low. Waiting out a potentially long bidding war could leave us out of luck should Perez sign with another club. However, if Williams places his 21mil/3 yr Clement deal on the table perhaps it could be enough. I doubt it, but there's no indication of Seattle's exact bid. Browsing Mariners MLB board, not ONE member has mentioned Perez as a possible suitor for their rotation. Seattle Post Intelligencer insists further starting pitcher acquisitions won't occur unless Gill Meche is traded. Offensive signings (Beltre/Sexson) have accounted for majority of available funds. If Meche stays in Seattle, Sox could be the front-runner for Perez. Angels, considered Perez's destination following Clement's signing, have a similar dilemma with Washburn.

I recall Contreras' first White Sox start last season in Kansas City..... FSN pans over to Contreras warming in the bullpen prior to gametime. There loathing in the background lies Cooper, who's actively monitoring Jose's delivery. I'm wondering to myself how exactly he communicates with Jose, considering Cooper doesn't understand Spanish. Right then Contreras turns around and Coop has his fingers set in the splitfinger grip; instructing Jose to throw it forward while nodding his head. I couldn't help but laugh. Is this the extent of Cooper's advice? Perhaps a translator would help break the barrier. With an abundance of Latin pitchers on our club, I'd prefer a pitching coach who speaks more than one language. When Sandy Alomar understands his career is finished, White Sox sould persue him as pitching coach. I hope Cooper redefining Loaiza's career with the elbow killer (cutter) doesn't ensure his job security.

How exactly does Walker earn a bullpen spot over Hermanson? Unless he pitches stellarly during spring training, Walker's destination is Charlotte.

Since you're likely out of the Chicagoland area (Bulls are on ESPN affiliate here), can you post any new info?

If Reinsdorf offers enough money (), that attitude will change very quickly.

If last year is any indication, Chicago Cub lovin' media will ask him to describe the experience of playing in "beautiful" Wrifgley Field, participating in the heated Cardinals/Cubs rivalry, and possibly ask leading questions so Tribune can print "Mulder: 'I wouldn't mind pitching here.'" :puke :fthecubs

Knowing Williams, if he intended to unload high priced talent for prospects he'd f*** it up and assemble a champsionship ballclub.

I'm not certain of the money available outside of Mulder/Hudsons departure, but from those two certaintly the remaining SP market doesn't favor Oakland.

Of course you would be pissed. How would you feel if management conceeded next season by trading two excellent starting pitchers for prospects?

A's are definitely in trouble without Mulder and Hudson achoring their rotation. I imagine Beane extracted a good package from St. Louis, but you simply can't compensate the production of Mulder/Hudson with trades for minor league talent.