Flash Tizzle

I'm amazed anyone thought otherwise. What, because Williams promised OBP players, quality starting pitcher, and improved defense he would fulfill those promises? He should of shut his mouth following the season. Williams may have been able to escape last offseason with promises of midseason acquisitions, or convince fans our team would capture the division by default, but none of these will hold weight this year. Since the World Series began I professed a belief this offseason will be absolutely dreadful, unless proven otherwise. Thus far, everything is moving as expected. :puke

Not really. Doesn't make me feel better about our situation. Several weeks ago, when I assumed a stale offseason was forthecoming, I didn't predict how frustrated this inactivity would make me. Finals week and I'm worrying about our 2005 roster.

Best available option at the price we were offering. Name one available FA pitcher, worth 5 million per/year, capable of providing this organization with a #3 spot in the rotation.

I'm glad members are finally beginning to comprehend the patterns on this organization. Where's my fellow companion in exposing the truth, Cubkilla, when you're looking for someone to offer sarcastic comments? Here's my belief with the offseaon: The White Sox have roughly 5 million available for Free Agent acquisitions. Vizquel was offered that amount, and I'll venture to predict a base salary of that price was presented to Wright. Therefore, nearly every available pitcher capable of filling the #3 spot falls out of our range. Missing out on Wright hurts.

You can find faults in any player available on the market. If you can't, the particular player you've envisioned is likely commanding a high salary. Honestly, is there a pitcher available who is cheap, young, talented, and willing to pitch at USCF? Someone who raises no questions yet is well worth their market value? Wright may have been our best option when you factor in financial limitations (ie, Reinsdorf).

I believe it's official now. The offseason excuse "No other teams have made offseason moves" is no longer valid.

Quality post. While several of you look at this as "a blessing," the truth is the White Sox will not exceed the value of sought after players. Instead of believing this organization has the money and is waiting for the right player/price, understand the market has drastically shifted against Reinsdorf. William's 'flying under the radar' is a brilliant move. When a organization signs a player White Sox showed interest in there's no indication on how close we were to finalizing a deal, or the price offered. Missing out on Vizquel noticeably embarrassed Williams, whom was practically preparing a press conference for his arrival. In the instance of Wright, Williams can argue the Yankee factor exceeded any of their proposals. We just assume Yankees wen't far and beyond the price of other clubs. My question is how long can this excuse hold up when EVERY available FA avoids the White Sox? This is very disappointing. FA signings are perhaps the safest method of improving your team without giving up much in return.

I've just noticed that as well. This is becoming ridiculous. Williams should tell some publication they're close to signing Billy Koch and see what happens. Shouldn't Steinbrenner concern himself with the likes of Pedro Martinez, or Carlos Beltran over Wright? I'm upset, but Yankees overpaying far exceeds Seattle or Cleveland slightly overbidding. We better get used to the White Sox finishing second in contract negotiations. Since Williams was "flying under the radar" I suppose we'll never know how close the Yankees offer was to ours. PLAN D has failed. On to PLAN E, trading for Javier Vasquez.

Definitely BOO. If I ever caugh the ball, I'd write "ROIDS" with permanent marker and throw it back. It may be appropropriate to stoop myself down to the level of a drunk, bandwagon jumping Cub fan. In the upcoming generations, when Bonds historic HR is played on TV, they'll have no choice but to reference the growing steroid scandal surrounding his HR chase.

Levine sucking Kerry Wood wang. Southside "Cub fan" rips Wood for being overrated, yet he has to win more than 14 games. Dave Wills aggrees. Levine is considering backing down from his position of Kerry Wood breaking Sosa's notorious boom-box. He'd rather remain friendly with the players than maintain his journalistic integrity. :headshake Talking Baseball ends. Nothing important discussed, and as usual Cub fans fill the program with their bulls*** questions.

You copy and paste this information from Cheat's post? Just as members believe Minnesota's farm system is the league exception, so is the status of Terry Ryan. During Minnesota's terrible stretch, Cleveland was dominating the division, in addition to the accepted notion Twins were rebuilding. Meanwhile William's reign begun following the dismantling of Cleveland, and practically a paved road to the playoffs. Compare Ryan's mid 90's debacle to Tampa Bay. Would their general manager (I have no idea who he is) be fired for poor finishes every season since their conception? No, becaues they are in the same division as the Yanks/Boston. Minnesota was rebuilding in the 90's, and their general manager made no mistake otherwise. No one was threatening Clevelands position atop the ALC. Perhaps their World Series championship several years earlier put less pressure on management. We've failed to achieve a divisional championship since 2000, and seemingly the only guarantee with this club is a mediocre team. It upsets me year in year out when Williams assembles a team he believes can compete for the division, and they continue to fall short.

Nope. Apparently influential members (including Hudler, IIRC) believe Wiliams job is not resting on the results of this season. 5 years without a playoff appearance in the ALC is OBVIOULSY an indication of success. First place or Last Place. This is a personal motto I've adopted. If this team falls short of the playoffs, I don't want ANY excuses to justify Williams job security. Injuries stiffled the club? Tough s***. Several players underperform? Too bad.

If you love him so much, why haven't you created an avatar with Vazquez wearing a Sox hat. Afterward creating one for Vazquez, you could create one for Martinez/Pavano/Radke/Perez. It's important to replace one for another once another organization signs them.

Four straight.... How does Willsy endure this Cub-lovin'? Must be gritting through his teeth.

If he ignores problems with patch-work, bargain bin free agents I'll lead the crucifiction of Williams.

If Renteria is signed, it will (and should) follow a SP acquisition. Number one necessity is another starter. Harris/Valdez 2B combination is far more acceptable than Grilli anchoring the 5th starters spot.

http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?sh...pic=26840&st=45 As noted here, Gammons expects Wright to be signed within the next several days. Apparently some organizations aren't willing to wait until January, as many of you Soxtalkians have suggested. I EXPECT Wright to sign here before the weekend if Williams is serious about assembling a starting rotation. If not Wright, then no one else (not named Shawn Chacon) will be within their sights. Vazquez might be a viable option, but until I notice a reliable source list White Sox as factors in RJ negotiations, I won't believe it.

Bachelors Grove: "Most Hauntled Place In Chicago." What the article fails to mention is Midlothian Police are ordered to drive by the entrance on the turnpike nightly. If an unidenitfied car is spotted, your f***ed. As I recal several years ago, a group of cultists were preparing for a ritualistic sacrifice in the graveyard when several people stumbled upon it one night. Supposedly, its what triggered the nightly searches.

Funny you should show up Heather. I drove past Bogan last weekend, returning from UIC, and wondered whether you survived. Far as the reference to bickering, it's well deserved following another year of mediocrity. Posting in 2001 must have been easier following a divisional championship.

Sure was. After I watched the documentary, I couldn't believe a parent approved the Sci-Fi channel, of all networks, video footage which portrayed the freightening disappearance of their children. The scenes shown in the documentary were created by the same people who starred in the actual Blair Witch movie.

It doesn't matter what other teams have done. Does Williams have to wait for another organization to become active to create his own moves? Will Artero Moreno signing Carlos Beltran give Williams enough courage to sign Jaret Wright? Should have absolutely no effect. Free Agent siginings should become the first priority of this club. For a man who's quick to initiate moves midyear, Williams sure becomes shy in the offseason.

If Williams said this, you'll all have the honor of listening to my complaints for another month. I can guarantee, and I'll bookmark it for proof, that if Williams sits on his ass until January Jaret Wright will already be gone. If the problems of this organization have been properly assessed, and adequate players are located within their price range, then what's the damn holdup? Who exactly dictates whether or not moves are made until that date? George Steinbrenner? Scott Boras? The "market"? Every passing day it becomes clearer and clearer the similarities between last offseason and this year.

I recall another convincing "documentary" which attempted to debunk the Blair Witch phenomenom. It honestly creeped me out, and did quite well convincing the viewer of its authenticity. History Channel has really surprised me recently with their shift in programming. Last year you wouldn't have found any shows discussing ghosts, UFO's, or conspiracy theories. I suppose the network had to break boundaries to keep up with Discovery Channel, TLC.

No more cheesier than Sun-times printing "HURT SO GOOD" on the back cover following a productive game from Frank Thomas. I swear, I've seen that atleast 5 times over the last several years. Every game he does well I expect to see it on the following morning's edition.

Absolutely. I'll be very upset if Williams passes on Wright. This organizations first priority should be to solidify the roation. Overpay if you have to. Difference between overpaying for Wright, opposed to Johnson, is a draft pick is the only compensation. Wrights health may be a concern, but I'd rather risk his arm over the Jason Grilli experiment. If Williams could then structure a trade of Konerko for a quality package (RP/2B), then our team would be set for next season. Or atleast in a better position then when the offseason first began.