Flash Tizzle

I'll shamelessly copy a reply of mine from today which addresses this issue. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As of right now, remaining FA's are teetering on a delicate balance; waiting for one event (likely Clement signing) before remaining clubs, prices are established Hopefully Williams has created various scenarios or plans. He cannot afford to wait everything out. Perez will command atleast 7 million; perhaps the Sox will join the bidding. However, by the time Perez has selected his club, Piercynski or Polanco could be off the market. No Perez, no catcher upgrade, and limited second base options leave us desperate and scavagaing for bargains. What's the safer option? As of right now, I believe if Clement chooses another team besides the Sox, Williams will pass on Perez. He will work to snatch up Piercynski, whom is possibly the best catching option on the market. I don't know, maybe A.J's agent will wait for other clubs to enter bidding wars, but perhaps chasing A.J/Polanco is the safer option. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My honest assessment: Clement or bargain bin 5th starter/assortment of IF upgrades.

If Sox are tied with Twins July 30th after spending 6 million, then I'd hate to imagine our position in the standings without any FA signings. I simply feel 6 million (or whatever the figure) spent upgrading C,2B,or SP would benefit this club.

Christ, someone on ESPN news feels this Randy Johnson trade is "far from over," and perhaps Randy Johnson has "changed his mind because of Arizona's moves."

I will not accept this organization sitting on money. I have no influence on their decisions, and the most I could do is pout like a b****, but there are far too many areas of our team which 6 million could benefit. Williams doesn't trade Carlos Lee for Podsednik/Vizcaino to hold up money for NEXT July. About acquiring Sheets: How if we're not in contention, or Brewers are? You can't reassure yourself of anything which may occur seven months from now.

I'm wondering how the hell Dodgers bullpen will survive this move. Mota traded last summer because Brozaban was emerging as a suitable replacement. Now that he's traded, who sets up Gagne? Edwin Jackson? Maybe there's another stud pitching prospect I'm unaware of.

-LA gets Vazquez, Navarro, (missed last player) -NY gets Johnson -AZ gets Brazobahn, Penny, Green. No mention of possibly salary implications.

No, you wont. We need a reliable starter to fill the 5th starters position. Preferably someone outside this organization. I agree AJ is a necessity, but I question how it may effect our clubhouse.

Good. Now that Williams missed out on Johnson I'm free to criticize him again. Hey Santo, has any player you supported signed with this team?

Any news on other players, money transfered in this trade?

Atleast two people weren't effected by the violent decapitation of Sub Zero.

Look no further than current generations, many of which post on this board. I'm 19 years old: 1993 (perhaps 94') was the release of Mortal Kombat. A violent video game which pitted two opponents against each other. Objective? Fight until till the death. Violence mounts when the winner has the ability of performing a gruesome fatality on their opponent. I was 8-9 years old, and can attest to my own proper development. GTA may be more realistic, and depict far more interacting scenarios than Mortal Kombat, but a young child should still be aware these games are not real. Unless young children are joining drug cartells and hijacking cars I find no fault in their distribution. There are no noticeable benefits to playing video games, Chisox. They're simply used for entertainment value. Stimulating the mind, reinacting events which shouldn't occur in real life. Whether Madden 2004 or GTA is the video game of choice, the purpose of these games are to place yourself in an unique environment in which control rests on your decisions. Movies follow a similar format. No one views horror movies because they're studying the stalking methods of Jason Vorhees. It's an escape from reality. If I was a parent, I'd be more concerned with the realism in which Hollywood deaths are portrayed.

How about parents do some damn parenting of their children and regulate rentals themselves? If it isn't violent movies, or inappropriate content on TV, people are always complaining about trivial bulls***. Past generations, including my own, grew up playing ultra-violent video games such as Doom and Mortal Kombat. Only people effected by the violence portrayed in these games are those dumb enough to reinact them in real-life. Some dumbass in rural Kansas sets his brother on fire because 'Beavis and Butthead did it' is obviously suffering some emotional imbalance. Unfortunately, its usually the acts of a few which influence nationwide reform. Feminist Nazi organizations, usually uniting mothers, ruins the lives of others because of their own indiscretions. It won't be long until every violent video game, movie, magazine, book, TV show is blocked because of its "influence" on young children. Governor Blago should worry about the state budget instead of what young children are renting. Now I understand 5 year old children shouldn't be playing GTA: San Andreas, but a 10 year old is responsible enough to realize a video game is NOT reality. Tell them not to rent it, and they'll only find other methods of obtaining the game.

Atleast we can finally end these ridiculous Randy Johnson trade discussions. As of right now, the following options remain: -Overpay for Clement/Perez -Sign cheap 5th starter and assemble various IF pieces -Overwhelm club with talent/prospects in trade -Hold onto money until July.

Expecting Odalis Perez for any price under 7 million is naive. Following Clements signing attention will shift towards Perez. Another bidding war ultimately begins, and another team will overpay for his services. We'll see how everyone feels about overpaying for Clement/Perez mid-year when Vazquez is serving up HR's every start and retread 5th starter is pitching with a 5.00ERA. Only forseable benefit of ignoring Clement/Perez discussions is to upgrade the lineup. AJ, Polanco, 5th starter would earn my approval. However, Sox must act quickly if bidding falls through for either starting pitcher. I believe it's a very simple option: overpay with money, or overpay with talent/prospects. Decide to acquire Johnson? You're forsaking a considerable portion of your future for two years. Decide to sign Clement? You're overpaying for a #3 starter whom endured a sharp dropoff second half of last season. I'd rather have Perez over Clement, but if Clement were to be signed for 10 million (which I still can't believe the Sox are offering) I'll accept it. Personally, even for Randy Johnson, trading several key role players and prospects upsets me. It may be the nature of our organization to avoid paying high salaries to FA's and forsake our farm system, but for once the White Sox are offering the money and we're complaining of overpaying.

f*** that. We're upgrading Vazquez over Garland, in addition to losing Andersen/additional prospect, only to have enough money to land a non-tendered FA SP? It's not the exchange of talent that's worrisome, but the reality we've only slightly improved.

Honestly, It doesn't matter to me whether or not Sox overpay. Not my money, and frankly I'd rather overpay with cash than talent/prospects. If dishing 10 million for Matt Clement ensures our rotation is complete, I'll accept it. I'd prefer White Sox sign Odalis Perez, but if starting figures place him at 7 million, his price will substantially increase following Clement's signing.

Perhaps I'm looking too far into KW's "under the radar mentality," but maybe this situation right now is the perfect scenario for acquiring Perez. Sox list their bid for Clement as 3yr, 22/23 milllion; a price they know will be topped by competing clubs. While organizations are waiting for word Thursday or Friday, Williams swoops in and steals Perez.

Besides the comment relating to his daughters "D" cups, how ridiculous is it for Alpha Simpson to proclaim his daughter an upcoming moviestar? Cameron Diaz may be a good comparison, but for all the wrong reasons. This reminds me of a movie I watched several days ago concerning Jay Leno and David Letterman battling for Johnny Carsons latenight timeslot. Leno had this megab****, Boras-esque agent who successfully structured a deal for Jay to succeed Carson, but irritated every executive along the way. Leno fired her, and if Jessica is serious about persuing an acting career she'll follow a similar path.

Is that porn star Mariah Carey in your avatar, signature?

Surprised police aren't filing any charges related to the racially motivated slurs. This incident leads me to reflect back on the dysfunctional afternoons riding home on the school bus. Jumping over bus seats, forcing the younger kids to sit at the front, throwing papers out the window, giving substitute drivers wrong directions to skip stops of certain people Perhaps POTUSChris can recall days spent on good ol' Bus #6.

Brash, but it does address my position rather well. Sad how Reinsdorf would rather allow Williams to overpay with talent/prospects than spend any additional money. Trading valuable pieces of our club for Johnson would not assure me of any increase in payroll. We're simply speculating this. It just seems so damn simple. Sign a FA; rotation is complete. DONE. Now there remains C,2B questions, but the same concerns would exist with any Johnson addition. Main difference is signing a FA starting pitcher allows the White to keep Marte, Andersen, Garland, whomever else is included. I'd love to have Johnson, but I'm not thrilled about any of the trade scenarios presented in this thread. While he is dominant, I have a hard time ignoring his age. We're dreaming the dream of an organization with large financial flexibility, or depth in the minor league system. Sox have neither.

I applaud Scott Merkin for quickly writing a rebuttal to address Cowley's article. Damage control is working more effecient than ever for the White Sox. Here's to Lee's good fortunes in Milwaukee. :fthecubs

Damn, I can't believe nine members voted for Option 1. Its unsettling how willing people are to forsake Rowand/Marte/Andersen/Garland for Unit.

But why should Marte be available? Why not hold onto him? A strong bullpen, coupled with a SP acquisition, will remove any question relating to our pitching staff. This Johnson talk is becoming absurb. Some of you are honestly considering Marte expendable because of ONE medicore (to his standards) year in which he was still a good pitcher. He's not overrated, nor does Vizcaino or Hermanson make him expendable. I feel as I'm in one of those horror movies where everyone is oblivious to the trouble (trading for Johnson) which lay ahead.

Jason, the figure I included in my post was in response to hi8is' proposal of Reinsdorf giving Williams an additional 12 million, after the trade. Here is what I specifically commented on: Ultimately, trading for Johnson upgrades our staff, yet depletes our OF/RP/minor league system AND leaves absolutely no financial flexibility to fill remaining holes.