Hot Topic's are back, but I'll have to tell Jason that the hot topic section needs to be put back up. Putting them here will work for now.

 

Question:

Esteban Loaiza was a 21 game winner for the 2003 White Sox, but failed to find any consistancy this season. Williams responded by trading him to the Yankees for an equally inconsistant pitcher in Jose Contreras. In your opinion, which pitcher would be better for the White Sox: Esteban Loaiza or Jose Contreras? Why?

Hard to say.

If E-Lo isn't listening to Oz or Coop like the rumors, I guess

Contreras.

Contreras because he has better 'stuff' than Loaiza. Some of the nastiest in the league. If he is willing to work with coaches, he could turn into a consistent ace.

Jose Contreras.

 

E-Lo's lost it. I tried so hard to never say that 2003 was a fluke, but he never gave me a reason not to. With his loss in velocity and fear of going inside, Loaiza was just not really helping the Sox out. Also his idea of thinking that he could make $8-9M a year after Freddy's contract

 

Jose Contreras has a hell of a lot of potential. I guess he's been tipping pitches, and we can easily fix that. Contreras can easily excel here with the pressure of NY gone, and now he's in a clubhouse filled with the latin influence. He'll really flourish here, and we have him locked up for a few years. I like the idea that we have 4 guys in our rotation locked up for a few years beyond 2004.

If Esteban's throwing 92-94, I take Esteban in a heartbeat.

 

If not, I take Contreras.

 

Esteban seems to be a smarter pitcher, but his stuff is s*** right now. I will take Contreras based on stuff alone.

I'll take Contreras. Loaiza has had one good year in his major league career. Also, the Sox likely had little chance of signing him for the kind of money he will attempt to command.

 

Contreras has better stuff, and he's signed for the next couple of seasons.

Contreras this year. If Estaban rest that tendenitis he has in that elbow, then I'd still take Contreras just because of his nasty stuff and when we fix that flaw in his pitching delivery (which wont be hard to fix at all) he'll be very dominent. We could get Esty back next year (for the right price and if he's willing to come back.)

right after the trade e low said that he loved the white sox, because of the players and the relationships he made... he said he would LIKE to come back BECAUSE the sox are the ones that took a chance on him in 2003

 

if he dosent get his stuff back, i wouldnt want him here for 3 mill a year!

right after the trade e low said that he loved the white sox, because of the players and the relationships he made... he said he would LIKE to come back BECAUSE the sox are the ones that took a chance on him in 2003

 

if he dosent get his stuff back, i wouldnt want him here for 3 mill a year!

I think the Esteban we had this year would be a very good #5 starter, because he wasn't terrible, but was nowhere near last year. But, he has the potential to go out and dominate any lineup, which is very good. 3 million a year? f*** yeah, I'd do it.

Loaiza said he was upset he was leaving "the best city in the world" and hinted he wouldn't mind coming back in the off-season. So if we come out with both Contreras and Loaiza I'd be happy. I'll take Contreras, he'll dominate our division so I'm hoping he'll take us to the playoffs.

Jose C. Jose C. Jose C...

I think the Esteban we had this year would be a very good #5 starter, because he wasn't terrible, but was nowhere near last year.  But, he has the potential to go out and dominate any lineup, which is very good.  3 million a year?  f*** yeah, I'd do it.

If we can get him back for $5 mill a year I do it in a heartbeat.

 

If he regains that velocity...he's an 18 win pitcher(give or take a few wins). If not, he'll still win 12-15 or so. Basically, you're taking the risk that you may get a very good, sometimes dominant starter, or that you'll get a decent starter who is a solid #4 or #5 on any staff, with the exception of the Cubs

So if we come out with both Contreras and Loaiza I'd be happy.

^yeah that, sounds real good.

I'll tell ya what. If he is getting taught a cutter that moves/bites more than what he has now from the best cutter in the game, (Mariano Rivera) then I'll be happy to welcome him back next season.

Contreras -- slightly more expensive this season, but with two more seasons locked up, at likely a cheaper price than loaiza is going to get, I'll take Contreras and his "stuff"

I'll go with Contreras. Better stuff and more upside. Loazia had his year in 2003. But everybody knew he probably wouldn't come close to matching that in 2004. And of course he didn't.

 

Seems like Contreras's problems can easily be worked out "assuming that's all it is". I don't see Loaiza having any real success in NY. If he pitches anything like he has so far, they'll boo him unmercifully.