103 mph screwball

Merkin addresses Young and Figgins rumors at whitesox.com Hot Stove heating up for South Siders

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ Jan 13, 2009 -> 08:34 AM) we aren't getting abreu or figgins, seriously this isn't going to happen If you say that about every rumor, you would be right most of the time. Every once in a while, a rumor actually happens and that is why I love to think of hot stove scenarios.

Dye >>> Figgins. Dye for Figgins sucks. I'm sure the Sox will either get cash or a prospect or two. Now if you look at the big picture and how a trade could improve the Sox (the way KW would) Figgins + prospect + saved cash spent on Abreu > Dye Figgins 3b Abreu LF TCQ RF Thome DH Konerko 1b Missile SS AJ C Getz/Lilli/Nix winner of 2b job Anderson/Lilli CF OR Figgins + prospect + saved cash towards Michael Young > Dye + (Fields + prospects to trade for Young) Figgins 3b Young SS TCQ LF Thome DH Konerko 1b Missile 2b AJ C Viciedo RF Anderson/Lilli CF OR Figgins + Prospect + saved cash towards Garland/Free agent starter > Dye I still think somehow the Sox need a lead off man and at least one more starting pitcher

Very happy Soxtalk is back. I was worried that some big KW move would go down and I'd miss out on our analysis. Anybody heard any good hot stove rumors?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 5, 2009 -> 06:16 PM) I'm going to go ahead and call BS on this report. That's why you are Mr. Pessimism! Nothing KW has said leads me to believe he will sign him. So I think it is very possible.

MLB Hot Stove discussed this rumor and they understood it as Floyd plus and infielder and by the body language of the analyst, he thought that was as ridiculous as Soxtalk does. He thought it was very iffy due to asking price. I think KW may be driving up the price the northside would have to pay. Other Sox related stuff I can remember... Griffey to Seattle or Tampa Bay with 3 other mystery teams. AL central preview mentioned the Sox would rely on TCQ and the missile to step up. Then talked about losing Griffey, OC, Swish,JV, and Crede. One analyst pointed out that KW has shown the ability to be a team in transition and add youth and speed where he felt the game was heading.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jan 5, 2009 -> 01:55 PM) Could he get a job if he knows the Governor or Mayor? And has the right amount of money? I have this thing and it's bleeping golden. If somebody wants this White Sox vendor job, I'm not going to just give it away.

Herm Schneider could help Pedro, and I really like the idea of giving him a shot with a depressed contract plus a lot of incentives. Lyon could compete for closer it KW has a plan to trade Jenks. Otherwise, another quality reliever never hurts. There is a mystery team in the mix for Lowe. I didn't mention it here because I realize like the rest of Soxtalk that he will be expensive and KW SAYS he is reducing payroll not to mention Boras. However, on Hot Stove on MLB Fri or Sat mentioned a mystery team for Lowe. The analyst speculated that the Brewers were that team. The Sox could be a mystery team since KW is under the radar or it could be a Boras ploy. KW would value Lowe's sinker. What if the Sox do spend some money and the cry poor stuff was KW's way of staying out of rumors. Garland and Sheets are still available. It would give KW the flexibility to trade a pitcher or put the Marquez/CR/AP guys in the 6th starter roll or in the pen. Danks MB Floyd Pedro/JC Lowe/Garland/Sheets/Bailey? Marquez/CR/AP

QUOTE (sayitaintso @ Jan 3, 2009 -> 03:52 AM) When I saw this rumor on here, it made me throw up in my mouth. Not me! I'm happy to see some hot stove rumors to think about and discuss. It's been dead here since the Dye/Bailey rumor fizzled. If Jones comes to the Sox it would be a KW buy low situation with LA picking up MOST of his contract.

I'm with ya. (hitting refresh on the browser)

QUOTE (Jimbo's Drinker @ Dec 17, 2008 -> 02:03 PM) Directv channel? I searched the internets and could not find that answer. I found predictions that it will be in the low 200's by the NFL network.

QUOTE (Sox It To Em @ Dec 5, 2008 -> 01:52 PM) I too hope they play classic games. I'd love to see some no-hitters of the past. More info about the MLB Network. As long as this doesn't become all about the Yanks and Sawks, I think I'm going to love this channel. MLB Network programing and info

QUOTE (chisox2334 @ Dec 16, 2008 -> 10:46 AM) http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/artic...sp&c_id=cws Putting pressure on the score keeper pays off

Sox must get a legitimate leadoff hitter and at least one more starting pitcher. If it is not Furcal, then Willy T will be the next in line. I know some do not think of him as a legit leadoff hitter, but I'm willing to bet KW will.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Dec 15, 2008 -> 04:16 PM) I'm going to bet it's not Furcal. One site said that the A's are offering a 4 year deal. I would go near him for that length of a deal and his injury history. Unless Furcal's agent leaked that A's rumor to try to get KW to go to 4 years.

Runner on with no outs bunt play Probability of Score = 2 x avg risp Runner on with no outs = Probability of Score= (chance of xbh + chance of advancing runner - GIDP) x 2 + chance of xbh x 1) Ok this needs some work I think. I actually think this can be calculated by someone smarter than me. Let's get John Dowon on it.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 13, 2008 -> 07:21 PM) But then why does the first team to score first in baseball win a huge majority of the games, even if that first inning run is only ONE run? All you need to do is look back to 2005 and 2006 (first three-four months) to understand why...whether it's with "small ball/execution/fundamentals/stolen bases" or by pounding the opponent into submission with the big boppers. You need balance, and we haven't had enough of it recently. I agree 100% and I really think scoring a run in the first inning helps our pitcher. I've argued this in another tread a while ago, but I thought I'd chime in again in support of small ball. The Sox need to be able to manufacture a run during three types of games. In April when the big boppers are cold and hitting .190 to get the team off to a good start, when the Sox a playing another teams ace (or a pitcher they have never faced before that they make seem like an ace), in Sept/Oct for must win games. Even with a stolen base guy leading off and a bat handler batting second, the Sox still have enough lumber in the lineup to crush the ball into the stands all summer long. One more game in April last year when TCQ was the only guy hitting would have avoided the one game playoff last year. However, this is a topic that Soxtalk may have to agree to disagree.

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 13, 2008 -> 03:21 PM) How about a moratorium on CR/AP jokes? They've become very Buzz Killington-esque. Sorry I can not comply with that. CR/AP is too descriptive until proven otherwise. I will try to keep it to a minimum for your sake.

I've grown to like DJ. He is much better when he is not in the shadow of Hawk. I think I'd prefer that he be the play by play man with Farmer providing his analysis on the side. DJ only lacks a good homerun call. I really like UH-OHH. It's like an inside Sox thing. Anyone else listening would be like, uh-oh what? We of course would be pumping our fists and putting one on the board. Glad to have DJ back. It didn't seem right for him to lose his job, but Steve Stone is one of the best.

QUOTE (Markbilliards @ Dec 13, 2008 -> 01:58 PM) I don't think there was ever really an issue, he just said at a Christian Athlete conference one time that there are certain things that some guys on the team do that he doesn't really agree with. Then the quote was taken way out of context by the media at yahoo. I don't agree with my coworkers when they smoke weed or get blowjobs for money, but that doesn't mean we don't get along great most of the time at work. Fields also has striked the good graces of Guillen this offseason by calling him and asking if he could workout near ozzie in Florida to rehab. I hope you are right. The word I heard that might have made KW nervous was quit. If Fields thought of quitting, that might make him too risky for KW. I admire his religious convictions and wish him well. Maybe he could take over for Paully next year with Paully moving to DH. Viciedo looks to be some tough competition for him.

QUOTE (jenks45monster @ Dec 13, 2008 -> 12:58 PM) Are you forgetting about Fields or just not including him in our plans? Just wondering. I see Fields getting traded. He strikes out too much and his defense is suspect. He has also had some sort of clubhouse issue. I could be wrong and he seems like a nice guy who could hit a lot of homeruns. Just my gut feeling as a student of KW.

QUOTE (jenks45monster @ Dec 13, 2008 -> 12:36 PM) If Furcal is signed, Taveras won't be. If Taveras is signed, Furcal won't be. If Furcal is signed, Alexei would move to CF with Getz/Lillibridge filling in until Beckham comes up. If Taveras is signed, the infield will stay the same. I guess my point is: Kenny is NOT stupid enough to block Gordon Beckham by signing both Taveras AND Furcal. Taveras would only be a one year deal with an option. Beckham can play 3rd. DH will be open after next year and Viciedo could play first or DH. It could be done. Taveras can be had relatively cheaply so get him. Furcal will be much more expensive If they can get Furcal, I would hope they would. If they can not get Furcal then, they will have a potential leadoff hitter in Taveras who can steal 68 bases.

QUOTE (Al Lopez's Ghost @ Dec 13, 2008 -> 11:18 AM) Supposed to be on at 12:30. I'm sure he will say a lot of things to upset a lot of people and very little of it will be true.

The Sox can not start the year without a legit leadoff hitter and at least one more starting pitcher. So, if they got Willy Taveras to play CF and Daniel Cabrera would address those needs and make it less of a priority to trade Dye for a pitcher. Burke would be better than Corky. That said, it would still be nice to add Furcal to leadoff and or trade Dye for Bailey and sign Abreu. But adding Taveras and Cabrera and Taveras would put the Sox in a better bargaining position IMO. Pipe dream master plan lineup Furcal SS Abreu RF TCQ LF Thome DH Konerko 1b Alexei 2b AJ C Fields/Benemit or Viciedo 3b Taveras CF Blazing speed and lethal power MB Danks Floyd Cabrera Bailey with Count, Marquez, CR/AP potentially there to fill in for anyone who does not live up to expectations, fill in for injury, or bolster the pen. Bench Benemit 1b,3b Anderson OF Getz IF Armstrong/Burke/Corky/Stewart C

QUOTE (b-Rye @ Dec 11, 2008 -> 08:33 PM) screw abreu.. sign manny ramirez You could almost sign Furcal and Abreu for the price of Manny being Manny.