Everyone I know talks about how the sox need an ace. What about Buerle? He finsihed strong last year,even with his bad start. Let me know what you think about buerle starting as the ace on opening day.

 

 

 

Also if you were kw would you go out and try and get Millwood or Ponson?

It's a possibility. However, there was a very good reason KW picked up Esteban Loaiza's option, mainly because if we wouldn't be able to win with Buehrle as our ace, we will with Esteban.

Buerhle and Loaiza are one of the best 1-2 starters in the league, if not all baseball. Buerhle has won 19 games, just missing 20, and Loaiza is a solid 20 game winner now. It is what comes after those two studs that makes me worried.

im not worried about garland he is a #3-4 starter and he should do even better this year.

Buerhle and Loaiza are one of the best 1-2 starters in the league, if not all baseball. Buerhle has won 19 games, just missing 20, and Loaiza is a solid 20 game winner now. It is what comes after those two studs that makes me worried.

ONly a 1-time 20 game winner, so lets not get carrid away. We all hope, and some expect ELoz to repeat his success from 2003, but no one knows for sure if it can be done. At least Buehrle has been extremely consistent in his performance level his whole career. I feel confident in Buehrle being solid at #1/2, Jonny G being solid at #4.....otherwise...I'm kinda worried.

Also if you were kw would you go out and try and get Millwood or Ponson?

Yes, we need a Ponson here, for this reason...

 

Compare these two rotations:

 

Buehrle

Ponson

Loaiza

Garland

Wright

 

 

Buehrle

Loaiza

Garland

Wright

Cotts/Rauch

 

 

Rotation 1 gives me confidence in winning this division, as it gives us three PROVEN pitchers, one who is up-and-coming, and another who might throw a good game or two. Rotation 2 does not give me such confidence, as we have two proven pitchers, one who is up-and coming, another who might throw a good game or two, and a huge question mark in the five-hole.

 

We need ponson, as I don't think Cotts or Rauch are ready for a full season's work just yet.

I think Cotts may need a little more seasoning in AAA. If Rauch is still with us, I look for him to nail down a starters slot if we don't pick up someone else.

Can we win ALC with Buerhle as our ace? Probably not.

 

Can we win WS with Buerhle as our ace? Definately not.

 

 

I mean, common his peripherals have been slipping in the last 2 years, he has not ONE special pitch (before you point to Zito, he has a HOF curveball he can throw with different speeds and tilt and which bails him out all the time....while Maddux is just special period) and has YET to truly excel in big games against tough opponents- most of his excellence in 2001 and 2002 came when Sox were playing weak teams, while 10-15 games out of first themselves.

 

We need an ACE (with E-lo as #2 and B-mon #3) and we need a legit #4 to push Garland into the more comfortable #5 slot where Rauch and possibly Cotts will give him some competition.

I am totally comfortable with MB as our ace. However, we need more than him and Loaiza if we're going to be successful. Look for Garland to have a big year this season.

Could we win with Colon, MB, and E-Lo? NO. What has happened this offseason for anyone to think our staff got better? Losing Colon and Gordon? Anyone that thinks E-Lo is going to have another 20 win season is dreaming. If he only drops to 16-17, life is good. MB will have a better season than 2003, he may get to 20 with a little luck and some timely offense. Net gain/lose for those two is zero. Colon was the only guy in the rotation that didn't look scared the last 5 or 6 weeks of the season.

 

Being the staff ace means more than W-L record. The ace should have an aire of invincibility about him. He should want the ball. He should want to announce is presence with authority. This may be Mark's breakout year in that regard. Hopefullly his new contract will give him some confidence. UNless we catch lightening in a bottle with someone, anyone, from our system, we need a solid FA aquisition.

One word answer: No.

Buerhle and Loaiza are one of the best 1-2 starters in the league, if not all baseball. Buerhle has won 19 games, just missing 20, and Loaiza is a solid 20 game winner now. It is what comes after those two studs that makes me worried.

Not even close!

 

Pedro-Schilling

Mussina-Vazquez

Wood-Prior

Pettitte-Oswalt/Miller

Mulder-Zito/Hudson

 

I would rather have any of those duos at the top of my rotation, vs Loz and MB.

Don't think you need an ace, you need a guy to act like an ace for a few weeks.

 

Who was Anaheim's ace 2 years ago? Washburn? He ain't better than Buehrle. Sele? Appier? Ortiz? All average to above-average.

 

I don't think Florida really had an ACE last year either. Beckett didn't do what he did in the playoffs all season, and Willis was a half-season rookie wonder.

 

As cliched as it sounds, it takes a whole team, both pitching and hitting, clicking when they need to click.

Not even close!

 

Pedro-Schilling

Mussina-Vazquez

Wood-Prior

Pettitte-Oswalt/Miller

Mulder-Zito/Hudson

 

I would rather have any of those duos at the top of my rotation, vs Loz and MB.

 

I totally agree. Plus don't forget its

Pedro - Schilling - Lowe

Mussina - Vazquez - Brown

Wood - Prior - Zambrano

Pettitte- Oswalt- Miller

Mulder - Zito - Hudson (best trio)

 

Its not so much to have a one two combo any more you need at least 3 guys that can be studs.

All of the Buehrle haters are going to be silenced this upcoming season as Buehrle is going to deliver a career year on the Southside.

 

My prediction: 21-7 and a 3.78 era.

 

And you talk of big games in which Buehrle hasn't performed in, which are you speaking of?

 

He didn't even pitch in the Twins series in the Metrodome that we imploded in and he WON the start he had against the Twins during the last homestand versus the Twins. (the game that Cy Paniagua almost blew for us.)

 

The guy just hit a dead arm period at the beginning of the year and still managed to get on a roll and win 14 games.

 

From the reading of the one word answer that we can't win with Buehrle as our ace, why even play the season? Might as well just hand the division to the Twins or KC. I'm sure Mark B will have something to say about that.

I am totally comfortable with MB as our ace.  However, we need more than him and Loaiza if we're going to be successful.  Look for Garland to have a big year this season.

Agreed

The first problem with the question is you are making the supposition that Buerhle is an ACE. The question should be rephrased to this can the White Sox (the word Sox should only be used by fans in Boston) win with Buerhle as the #1 starter. In the pathetic division that the White Sox play in Yes. In the superior divisions out east and west NO.

 

How many All Star appearances does Buerhle have? How many play off wins? He has a ways to go before anyone should be calling him an ACE. In balance, and since I am a baseball fan and am not blindsided by loyalty to one team, Buerhle is a mighty fine pitcher and if he lives up to the contract he just signed, may be an ACE by the end of it.

 

I've been lurking following the potential Nomar - Ordonez trade. I am impressed with the members here. Best of luck in 2004. I hope we meet in the playoffs.

QUOTE (NUKE_CLEVELAND @ Dec 19 2003, 03:48 AM)

I am totally comfortable with MB as our ace. However, we need more than him and Loaiza if we're going to be successful. Look for Garland to have a big year this season. 

 

 

Agreed

I am sorry I forgot Garland. I am a fan of Big Jon and I am hoping this is his year to shine also. We may also have a diamond or two in the waiting with our youngsters so who knows. I will also be optimistic about our chances.

I think we can win with MB as our ace and E-Lo as the second guy why not all we need is a thrid starter and we will be fine in our rotation. Our bullpen is what concerns me more then anything else and the fact that we still dont have a leadoff hitter.

Henry, with all due respect, Buerhle doesn't have to live up to a contract.

He just has to be the pitcher he was in the second half of 2003 and the rest of his brief ML career to be a top-notch major-league pitcher.

Too many people broke their ankles jumping off his bandwagon when he got off to that bad start last year. I think he and Loaiza will be just fine in 2004 - it's the 3/4/5 spots in the rotation that Sox fans have to be concerned about.

The first problem with the question is you are making the supposition that Buerhle is an ACE. The question should be rephrased to this can the White Sox (the word Sox should only be used by fans in Boston) win with Buerhle as the #1 starter. In the pathetic division that the White Sox play in Yes. In the superior divisions out east and west NO.

 

How many All Star appearances does Buerhle have? How many play off wins? He has a ways to go before anyone should be calling him an ACE. In balance, and since I am a baseball fan and am not blindsided by loyalty to one team, Buerhle is a mighty fine pitcher and if he lives up to the contract he just signed, may be an ACE by the end of it.

 

I've been lurking following the potential Nomar - Ordonez trade. I am impressed with the members here. Best of luck in 2004. I hope we meet in the playoffs.

Excuse me Wonton but:

#1. The White Sox predate the Boston Red Sox so Sox means White Sox.

#2. I guess you think Pedro and Shilling are ACES?

#3. I also hope *you* make the playoffs so we can meet. This time you'll be pulling Pedro in the first, if he manages to play. Isn't the ACE a no show in big games?

BUEHRLE IS AN ACE HE HASTO BE CONSISTANT AND HE NEEDS OTHER PITCHERS TTO BACK HIM UP.

Can't believe anyone would include Wood and Prior in this section, Wood aint s***, whats the most he's ever won? :sosasucks :sosasucks :sosasucks :sosasucks

Can't believe anyone would include Wood and Prior in this section, Wood aint s***, whats the most he's ever won? :sosasucks  :sosasucks  :sosasucks  :sosasucks

And all you have to say to counter that is follow the trend of Mark B's peripherals, and outside of last year ELo has been average or worse.

If we can get Garcia and Pavano or a comparable nontendered starter, the White Sox will be a better team than if we had spent $12mil on Colon.

 

We can probably get both Garcia and Pavano for $12 mil, or less, and they will get more wins then Colon, and they will provide more innings.

 

We do not need an ace like some teams, we have an offense that can put up 3-5 runs per night, we just need a pitcher to keep us in games.

 

The goal of the team Williams puts together should be 1 thing;

 

Have a comfortable lead in the AL central, or be very close in the race, so you can trade talent for players and not pay as much.

 

 

 

We are not going to outspend Boston or NY, but we can outmanuever them with our farm system. Midseason deadline prospects are as good as money, and the Sox have prospects they dont have money, so we wait until we can make a move.

 

 

SB