103 mph screwball

Too bad they chopped off the upper deck. The Sox would have drawn 3.5 million in 2006.

Very true. I'm happy if the Sox get Tejada. I'm happy if the Sox keep their pitching. I can't lose.

I hope comcast puts a lot of spring games on again this year. I loved watching Ozzie mix in the kids with the veterans.

I would bat Thome 5th. Thome has a better OBP, but I think Paully could benefit from Thome's protection in the lineup. Thome also strikes out a lot and Konerko would be better at getting a big sac fly or basehit up the middle. I don't think you can go wrong either way. I remember reading on this site somewhere that Konerko was told by KW that the Sox would go out and get him some protection in the lineup. Tejada sure would be nice batting 3rd. Figuring out where to bat Konerko, Tejada, and Thome would be a wonderful problem to have.

QUOTE(White Sox Josh @ Dec 30, 2005 -> 09:52 PM) This guy better be a die hard Sox fan. Sure didn't seem like it to me this summer Josh. I'd turn off the radio and drive home in silence rather than listen to him some times. Maybe he just came off as an ass working so late at night.

McCarthy as the long man out of the pen may be overkill. KW will need to get a starter for the long man spot if a deal goes down just in case of injury. I don't think we really know what the Sox max payroll will be next year. What the Sox say or what they tell Levine, may be a smokescreen. Or, it may be subject to change if an impact player such as Tejada is available. Or, ticket sales are going even better than expected and the Sox are in a position to bump the payroll even farther. Pods Iguchi Tejada Konerko Thome Dye AJ Crede Andersen MB FG JV BM JG That is impressive and fun to talk about.

Andytheclown said the payroll could go to 106 mil. Andytheclown, don't get your Father fired, KW likes to stay under the radar. Oh yea, and welcome to Soxtalk! There is a lot of smoke around this rumor. The fact Levine says the scrubs are the front runners and the sox want to cut payroll makes me think the Sox are really up to something. My take on Tejada quiting on his team. That's a crappy thing to do if it is in fact true. However, playing for Baltimore with sucky sosa and raffy pointing at him and blaming his "tainted B-12 shot" had to really make him frustrated. Tejada on the Sox with Ozzie could excell. My take on Iguchi batting 2nd. He may not mind it so much if he had Tejada batting behind him instead of Carl.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Dec 30, 2005 -> 11:07 AM) In an attempt to stop these threads, ESPN 1000's Bruce Levine is reporting that although Kenny Williams and company have interest in Tejada, they are in no position to add to a payroll that is already over-budget. I think he said the acquisition of Tejada would mean for roughly $8M per year. Kenny is looking to cut pay-roll, not add to it. These rumors are now over. This may be true, but with all due respect, Bruce Levine "is in no position" to have any freakin clue what KW will do next. Even if Levine has heard this directly from KW's kidney stone, it may be to get his nose out of it and stay under the radar. I'm not saying anything is gonna happen, I just am not gonna take Levine's word for it.

I'd rather have Count and Uribe. That being said, I think KW might acutually be trying to get Tejada. Even if it turns out to be a wash for the Sox talent and money wise, a Tejada trade may go a long way towards changing the "baseball culture" in Chicago. What would be better for the Sox hostile takeover of the Chicago baseball market this off season, than snatching the player the scrub fans have targeted as their savior. The talk shows would go nuts with how great the Sox are going to be and how worthless the scrubs organization is. I personally do not really give a rats ass about the scrubs. I love my team. I'm actually feeling sorry for some of the less annoying scrub fans. But if the Sox get Tejada, the scrubs would be.... what's that expression?... oh yea OWNED!!

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 28, 2005 -> 06:11 PM) I haven't seen this posted yet in this thread and I think I've read most of it, so here's a KW quote appearing in theESPN.com piece on JG: QUOTE "Our ultimate desire ... was to keep this team intact," Williams said. "It may turn out that someone overwhelms us with an offer for Jose." I translate that quote as KW saying that JC needs to sign an extension at less than market value in order to play for a winner and have fun. I think JC will decide that money isn't everything. Garland did. Bmac can be valuable out of the pen next year. Even more important, he is insurance that even if any of the Sox starters (God forbid) get injured or exhausted, the Sox STILL will have the best rotation in baseball. I can't see trading JC. He put the team on his back the 2nd half last year and was the post season ACE. I feel comfortable that KW feels the same way and this trade talk is leverage to get an extension done. Like Garland's trade talk apparently was. KW is going for another Championship. He's not going to worry about his 5th starter because he will have 6. That may seem excessive to some teams, but not to World Champions.

Fred Hubner did this past Saturday's Sox show. He was much better than North. I hope they keep Hubner there.

QUOTE(soxman352000 @ Dec 28, 2005 -> 08:37 PM) I like the choice. I thought Chris did a good job when he did the SCORE Sports Wrap Up show. Welcome aboard Rongey I listened to that wrap up show on the way home from work pretty frequently. In my opinion, he came off as a smart ass and less than enthusiastic about the Sox. I hope I'm wrong, but he is my 2nd least favorite on the score behind only Mike North. I'd much rather have Lawrence Holmes.

QUOTE(bschmaranz @ Dec 20, 2005 -> 08:59 PM) Does anyone else find it hilarious that they have a Jacques and a Pierre in the outfield? Oui Oui!!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!! No get him off of the Sox weekend show and put someone there who knows more about the Sox or baseball than me.

I don't hate scrub fans as much. I pity them like cattle strolling into a slaughter house. The scubs aren't worth my energy to hate. The only reason I don't completely ignore the scrubs is so that I continue to know more about their team than they do. It helps me shut them up faster. It's good to be a fan of the World Champions isn't it? Can Patterson decline arbitration so he can get the hell out of there and try to salvage his career?

QUOTE(shawnhillegas @ Dec 14, 2005 -> 10:05 PM) man, all ive got to say is that this offseason is almost as stressfull as the postseason Stressed is ducking bullets to get your kids their next meal. This is fun and exciting to me.

Here's another happy thought. If the Sox are interested and a trade is agreed to for Tejada, the Sox will have Thome, Konerko, and Tejada locked up for damn near the rest of the decade.

Bring in some players hungry to win and mix them with the Sox core of experienced World Champions to show them how.

QUOTE(DukeNukeEm @ Dec 14, 2005 -> 09:53 PM) Yea. I figured.. but at least there seems to be something to it. I get giddy at the tought of Tejada-Konerko-Thome Makes me giddy too. Here's another one Podsednik, Crawford, Konerko, Thome I'm pumped about the Sox... in freakin December! Spring training is so far away right now. Get your tickets now folks.

2005 was magical. I will always love that team. I'll be telling my kids about them. But in my opinion it would be unlikely for the Sox to repeat or continue to be a championship caliber team with the same exact guys. Others may diagree with me and maybe they are right. The way I see it, KW is capitalizing on an exceptional season to aquire some exceptional talent. As long as he doesn't mess up the chemistry of the team, more talent should increase the odds of another World Series Victory.

QUOTE(DukeNukeEm @ Dec 14, 2005 -> 09:47 PM) wait.. is it a done deal? Pure speculation as far as I know.

KW is not gonna anounce that he has a pitcher he wants to dump. He can keep all six and it would be a deep outstanding starting staff with injury insurance. If any team wants Garland, they are gonna have to meet KW's demands or sign him in 2007.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Dec 14, 2005 -> 09:35 PM) f*** YOU KENNY WILLIAMS, f*** YOU FOR BRINGING US THAT WORLD TITLE AND f*** YOU FOR TRYING TO MAKE THIS TEAM BETTER. I CANT BELEVE YOU WOULD TRADE THE GREAT EL DUQUE, MY GAWD. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH LOL that hilarious!!

I don't want to be repetative but I posted the following in the trade winds section. I had to post it here: KW isn't dumping his championship team. He is building a dynasty. He is executing a hostile take over of the Chicago baseball market. Rowand leaving hurt. But it brought back a future hall of famer, Thome, who then was a factor in bringing back Konerko. Hernandez and Marte no longer fit. Viz was expendable. These players plus a very good prospect Young. In return he has gotten back the super utility, Sox fan, RMack and the potential #2 (hopefully after Cooper is done) Vasquez at 7.5 per with 3 years of rights. I'm sure Garland, Count, Crede, and other key players in the future will be given the opportunity to sign with the Sox at what KW feels they are worth and what the Sox can afford. He doesn't necessarily want to get rid of them. I'm sure KW understands their business decision. With this approach, he will lock up players with fair contracts. Players who want to stay with the Sox. Those that don't want to stay, he will trade for player who do want to be Sox or are locked into fair contracts. He's not letting players walk without getting something in return and at the same time he's building good team chemistry with players happy to be Sox. Freakin Brilliant if your ask me. I'm not too worried about the farm system either. How can KW keep trading away these prospects? He has an eye for diamonds in the rough. Guys like Jenks, Uribe, Owens ect. and he gets them cheap. Shingo and Iguchi have been impact players from Japan. Also do not forget that winning and building his dynasty will bring in more payroll money and the Sox will need fewer young cheap players I trust KW. He is the GM of the World Champions!!

QUOTE(iWiN4PreP @ Dec 14, 2005 -> 09:14 PM) I heard that : Garland, Uribe, 3 (?) prospects for miggy. its supposely over around chicago news? anyone hear anything like this featuring 3 prospects? or? Where did you hear 3 prospects?