Flash Tizzle

It's amazing how low our expectations for this club have sunk. Cheering Chacon as a low-risk, high reward option is hardly the method of assembling a championship ballclub. One month ago, If I had suggested Shawn Chacon as an acquisition, 95% of the members on this site would have shunned the proposal. Keep searching Williams.

I'm confident there's no stealth, FA action remaining for Williams. When you factor in seperate proposals to Wright/Vizquel (I'll assume Wright was offered around 5 million) both are roughly the same price. Dye (4mil) + Hermanson (2.5mil) may fulfill payroll limitations imposed by Reinsdorf. If Williams indeed entered this offseason with roughly 7 million to spend, he did well addressing two needs of this club.

I'd support signing Renteria if the figure were between 8-9 million per year. It's unneccessary to exceed this amount when Uribe is capable of adequately filling SS For myself, I was pushing for a whatever-it-takes campaign to solidify the rotation. Overpaying for Jaret Wright, opposed to our SS position, was justifiable because our remaining starter (Grilli) is MUCH worse. We'd significantly improve with a free agent SP opposed to signing Renteria for a similar amount.

Here's the quote you're referring to: --Williams said that in searching for a fifth starter this season, the Sox are "in different shape than we have been because we have confidence Jason Grilli is going to give us more than what we've gotten out of the 5 spot the last couple years." I would love to know one person (besides Williams) who is confident in Jason Grilli. This quote was actually quite predictable in the wake of New York signing Jaret Wright. While some of you undoubtedly believe Williams is not showing his intentions, in an attempt to assure general managers he's not desperate, I believe there is no cryptic meaning in this statement. Any move Williams creates for a starting pitcher will likely include Garland, which still leaves Grilli sucking it up. After last season, I thought this organization learned its lesson with the 5th starter. Reinsdorf admitted himself the position was directly responsible for our failures! Grilli is our fifth starter in 2005. :puke

s***, when I noticed you replied to this thread I was expecting much worse.

Personally, I wasn't ripping Williams for failing to sign Wright. I felt strongly Williams should have signed him since he may be the best option within our price range. Five million sounds more appropriate for Wright, but obvioulsy the market is unkind to Reinsdorf's philosophy. Signing Jaret Wright for 8 million, while indeed overpaying, would have guaranteed a complete starting rotation. Any price above this amount would be better served towards Perez. Reflect back to last season and the emotional stress players felt when the tilt-a-whirl 5th starters spot came around. Not only were Diaz, Munoz, Wright, Cotts, Rauch, Grilli downright terrible, but the offense coincidentally failed to show up. Paying an extra few million to relieve this trend would have been worth it, IMO. If another starter is not signed through FA, then obviously trades remain the final option. Williams decideds to trade for a front line starter, not only will a signifcant package be included, but we'll be achieveing the same goal which could have been reached through FA. Overpay with money, or overpay with prospects/positional players. Which one would you prefer?

I love how several people are acting as if their valuable time is in jeopardy reading through the thread. Even if Jaret Wright were signed, there's no need to shift through 19 pages. I personally would like to apologize if my comments ruined anyones browsing experience on Soxtalk. Perhaps when several of you are finished eating your caviar, playing croquet with the governor, or feverishly analzying your stock portfolios you may wish to browse the numerous other threads which offer intellectual stimulation.

What, are they mentioning information on updates? Because if Mike Murphy if speculating Dye's arrival to the southside I'll refuse to believe it.

I don't recall one acquisition (besides Garcia) which was accurately predicted. Whether its Bartolo Colon, David Wells, Juan Uribe, Roberto Alomar, Carl Everett there wasn't proir speculation of their arrival here. KW stating his intentions ofworking "under the radar" shrouds more mystery on this offseason. Even for Garcia, the popular consensus was Rauch/Majewski/B Prospect would landed him. (Search through old threads) No one believed Olivo would be included. I wouldn't have been surprised if Williams would have traded Lee in place of Konerko (including Garland/Andersen) in exchange for RJ. If he would have accepted a trade here, that is.

Yeah, and I'm not tired of members putting together their fantasy lineups? I deal with optimists everyday quite fine. It's unavoidable; some people are simply under the illusion Reinsdorf will spend 11 million on FA's. I'm sick of the optimism. Although I reserve my comments for threads discussing the topic. Not to mention by beliefs are unpopular among the majority, and are more likely to be ridiculed. That's alright, let's post a thread talking about the likelihood of signing a Boras client. Or how our rotation would look with Carl Pavano anchoring the top spot.

Word spreads across the league relating to this organization. Reinsdorf and Williams have not exactly established great relationships with past/current players. (Foulke, Thomas) It's quite obvious the Cubs are the more attractive venue to play. Reputation spreads of the Wrigleyville atmosphere, and (recent) devotion from Tribune management to assemble a winning ballclub. Reinsdorf, however, has the White Flag trade and Obviously winning consistently will make a particular team more attractive for free agents. But above all other factors, money will decide the destination of free agents. Detroit had no problems signing IROD, Urbina following their dismal season.

Good. Bullpen is assembled. Williams escapes my criticism for one evening. Next on the agenda: OF, SS, SP,

Honestly, I like this move. The bullpen help available on the FA market was slim, and a reliable RH reliever was desperately needed. I pray Williams will continue searching for a suitable starter to complete the rotation.

Talk about an unwarranted personal attack. YASNY, including the reference of losing Dye is simply a observation of past FA's (Wright/Vizquel) signing with other clubs following reports both were close to signing with the White sox, Mods, take note I'm attempting to resolve this issue in a civil manner. No need to close this thread. Obvioulsy one of us can hold our temper. You may strongly hold your beliefs in regards to Williams inactivity this offseason, but I do as well. If you feel burdoned with reading my posts bashing Williams; avoid them. Because I'll assure you of one thing: until a move is created to improve this ballclub, the complaining will only continue.

Let's be realistic here. I don't understand how some of you were supportive of signing Lieber, yet completely dismissive of Jaret Wright recieveing a similar amount. Both have had prior injuries problems, both had good seasons. KW won't steal Lieber from underneath the Phillies because he will not pay him 22 million+ over 3 years. If any of you are under the assumption JR has money stashed away and is awaiting the perfect moment to spend it you're sorely mistaken.

No. I'd offer a competitive contract with the Yankees. Something I guarantee Williams didn't do. Above 8 million/yr is ridiculous. Might as well sign Perez for that amount. I honestly don't know what else to say on this issue. I can't create an imaginary bidding war between myself and George Steinbrenner.

Pure White Sox. Outbid your competitors on a oft-injured player with the potential of replacing Magglio's production. We'll probably be "close" to signing him until SanFranciso or Texas offers Dye a last second contract. /someone was bound to say it

I would have offered a contract competitive to the Yankees. You can link Cheat's thread on his value, or cite injury woes, but for the money available to Williams he was the best option. A solid 1-5 is a luxury only a select teams have. Where else, exactly, will our money go this offseaon if not on the one area which has continually dashed our divisional hopes? Any 2 for 1, 3 for 1 trades will likely remove strengths from the offense to replace holes ignored from Free Agency. It just seems so unneccessary to configure these trades of Konerko/Garland for Vazquez when more could be accomplished by signing a FA pitcher, then trading Konerko for other pieces. Assure your fans of atleast one less question mark with this club. Or do you expect Garland to reach his potential and follow Hawk's preseason prediction of 18 wins? If I were that damn confident I'd fully accept Jason Grilli, or Shawn Chacon. What's left from here? Another year of 5th starter debacles? As I said in the previous post, the fifth starter is simply an albatross on the entire club. If paying an extra 2 million per year for a SP relieves that uneasiness I'd accept it. Again, I understand the organizations unwillingness to enter bidding wars. I simply believe William's job just became increasingly more difficult after this evening. General Managers will smell his desperation and rip him off.

The problem is Williams is equally as clueless. Of course, he'll do SOMETHING, but to what degree his moves assist this team is worthy of debate. Surely missing out on three sought after FA's does not assure me of much hope. Here's my concern: KW enters the winter meetings desperate to create an offseaon splash and accepts a ridiculous trade for a starting pitcher. Signing Jaret Wright would have made everything so much easier. The rotation is complete, and Konerko is now available for trade; opposed to including him in a package for Vazquez, other starting pitcher. Our fifth starter debacle last season was not only due to the s***tiness of the pitcher, but the lack of confidence which plagued the offense. Every person on that team knew they'd have to score 8 runs to win a game under the 5th starter. Signing Wright and solidifying the rotation is a tremendous emotional boost. I will not accept Garland/Konerko for Vazquez as proof of improvement because we haven't substantially improved. Above all other logic there's still another starting spot left WIDE open for some journeyman. It's correct to assume New York overpayed, but if overpaying for Wright meant our rotation is finally complete I'd happily expect it. It didn't, and I have no influence in decisions. All I can do is sit back and watch Williams remind us of all the moves he made last offseason.

I don't believe any rumors are made up. He'll place legitimate offers for FA's, and when the invitable moment arrives (when another team outbids us) he can truthfully claim 'efforts' in signing the particular player. Vizquel was an embarassment for the organization, and he's dictating all his moves around it. It's easier for fans to accept the White Sox missing out on a player when nearly the entire city is unaware. Maybe Jaret was just as close to signing with the Sox as Vizquel was. We'll never know, and that's how KW would prefer it to be.

What's hilarious about the last 5 (s***, probably 12) pages is the Kenny Williams supporters/eternal optimists have abandoned their messiah. The insults are simply overwhelming to counter. EDIT: DBaho broke the streak.

Either Giambi, or the Colorado pitcher released for solicitating a prostitute. White Sox organization specializes in bargain hunting, trash rumaging, and searching for the next Esteban Loaiza.

I don't know where you've been the last month, but this s*** is hilarious.

Esteban Loaiza has my bet as official KW retread of 2005.