White Sox MIA

 

Phew. What a winter.

 

 

A billion dollars worth of free agents.

 

 

Cy Youngs changing jobs, changing teams, even unretiring.

 

 

Trades nobody saw coming.

 

 

And it isn't even over yet.

 

 

But with spring training looming just beyond Super Bowl Sunday, here's a look at the top 10 most improved teams of 2005, as selected in an informal poll of GMs, assistant GMs and scouts:

 

 

NO. 10 -- GIANTS

 

 

GM Brian Sabean knows he's running out of time to win with Barry Bonds. So he brought in the cast of "Thirtysomething" -- Omar Vizquel, Moises Alou, Mike Matheny and Armando Benitez. Unless all four -- and Barry -- contract senior-citizen-itis, the Giants are now the favorites in the NL West.

 

 

NO. 9 -- REDS

 

 

They may not be the Big Red Machine reincarnate yet. But this team is better, after acquiring Eric Milton, Ramon Ortiz, Joe Randa, Kent Mercker and Rich Aurilia -- even if the Great American Ballpark isn't exactly a perfect fit for Milton and Ortiz, two of the five active pitchers who have served up 40 gopherballs in a season.

 

 

NO. 8 -- BRAVES

 

 

GM John Schuerholz spent less money on free agents than the Mets tossed into Pedro Martinez's signing bonus -- but still found a way to retool. After stunning trades with Oakland and Milwaukee, the Braves have Tim Hudson and John Smoltz atop their rotation and Danny Kolb as their closer. But they're also depending on the volatile Raul Mondesi to replace J.D. Drew's offense, so don't hang that 14th straight NL East banner quite yet.

 

 

NO. 7 -- ANGELS

 

 

This team -- whatever its name is -- will miss Troy Percival, David Eckstein, Troy Glaus and Jose Guillen. But with Francisco Rodriguez ready to close and hot prospect Dallas McPherson taking over third base, the Angels had the freedom to bring in Orlando Cabrera, Paul Byrd, intriguing Cuban slugger Kendry Morales and maybe the biggest free-agent bargain of the winter, Steve Finley.

 

 

NO. 6 -- RED SOX

 

 

It's easy to focus on who isn't back -- primarily Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe and Cabrera. But Jason Varitek is back. Edgar Renteria upgrades the champs at short. And -- for 55 million fewer dollars than Martinez and Lowe got -- they've replaced two starting pitchers with three: Matt Clement, Wade Miller and one-time Fenway villain David Wells. So it's possible this team could be even better than those curse-busting Idiots who preceded them.

 

 

NO. 5 -- DIAMONDBACKS

 

 

They traded the Big Unit. They've won just about everybody's Overspenders of the Winter award. But the addition of Troy Glaus, Javier Vazquez, Russ Ortiz, Shawn Green, Shawn Estes and Royce Clayton can't help but make a 111-loss team better. It's just more likely to be a 2004 Tigers kind of better, not a win-the-World-Series kind of better.

 

 

NO. 4 -- YANKEES

 

 

It's still a shock the world's first $200-million baseball team didn't sign Carlos Beltran. But if all goes well, they've seriously upgraded their pitching staff with Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Mike Stanton, Felix Rodriguez and some guy named Randy Johnson. And if all doesn't go well? There's plenty more George Steinbrenner dollars where those 200 million came from.

 

 

NO. 3 -- MARINERS

 

 

They haven't had a 40-home-run man since A-Rod left town. So this winter, the Mariners signed two of them -- Adrian Beltre, coming off a 48-homer eruption for the Dodgers, and Richie Sexson, two years removed from a 45-homer season for Milwaukee. The new shortstop, Pokey Reese, completes a much-improved defensive infield. Now, if anybody can pitch, this team could boomerang from 99 losses right back to contention.

 

 

NO. 2 -- MARLINS

 

 

It's possible no free agent will have a bigger impact on one team than Carlos Delgado, whose eight 30-homer seasons are eight times as many as all lefthanded-hitting Marlins in franchise history. If Al Leiter can replace Carl Pavano and Guillermo Mota can do a decent Armando Benitez imitation, the Marlins should be the scariest beast in the NL East.

 

 

NO. 1 -- METS

 

 

For 194 million bucks, you could buy 19 million pastrami sandwiches at the Stage Deli -- or Carlos Beltran, Pedro Martinez and Kris Benson. The Mets gave their frazzled fans something to chew on with the three most staggering free-agent contracts of the winter. It might not put them in the playoffs. But at least, it put them back on New York's radar screen.

 

What a crock of s***! I expected us to be AT LEAST in the bottom 5, but to not be listed AT ALL?

 

:finger Stark

When you lose big names, you lose respect.

 

This team has to prove itself.

I have a feeling if everyone plays up to the expected levels people will be singing a different tune about the Sox....

White Sox MIA

What a crock of s***! I expected us to be AT LEAST in the bottom 5, but to not be listed AT ALL?

 

:finger Stark

 

The only ones that I'll really argue with are Cincinnatti Reds and L.A./Anaheim/Whatever Angels. They've added some ok players, but I really don't see them improving much over last year. And the Angels may have lost more than they've gained.

 

And while I think the Sox have improved greatly, eight of the teams listed here have improved at least as much as we have. But time will tell, I guess.

The only ones that I'll really argue with are Cincinnatti Reds and L.A./Anaheim/Whatever Angels.  They've added some ok players, but I really don't see them improving much over last year.

 

And I'll call myself out now before somebody else does...I do realize that this same statement could be made for the White Sox by critics like Stark.

 

When have we EVER gotten any respect from ESPN? Who cares what they think.

 

We all know it's a Yankees/Red Sox/Cubs lovefest.

We lost Maggs and Lee, and Frank is a question mark. That's a lot of negative on that side of the scale. 5 of the 9 starters are gone from a year ago. They are replaced by a guy from Japan, guys coming off less than career years, and a guy trying to shake a clubhouse cancer tag.

 

Where is the love?

This team lost it's flash, therefore I highly doubt the sox get any love from any of the experts but who gives a s*** they'll be proven wrong.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Philly Stark is another one of those clueless East Coast writers who dove in headfirst to the gallon of Red Sox-Yankees koolaid. Though I do admit, I am surprised he didn't put his beloved Phillies on that list.

I wouldn't worry about it too much.  Philly Stark is another one of those clueless East Coast writers who dove in headfirst to the gallon of Red Sox-Yankees koolaid.  Though I do admit, I am surprised he didn't put his beloved Phillies on that list.

 

 

I think the Phillies will surprise this year. That NL east will be really interesting (the most improved division in MLB)

What a crock of s***! I expected us to be AT LEAST in the bottom 5, but to not be listed AT ALL?

 

:finger Stark

 

 

Nice to see ya again...ya haven't been here in a while. I've missed your sig.

 

I'm stunned the Sox didn't crack the top 10. It seems Kenny has done the most to improve his team this off-season.

 

Oh well. I like being low-profile.

This is one of those lists that is out there that you feel is out there to piss you off.

 

The Sox had a better offseason then the Giants...I feel that very much so...and I could argue that as well. They had a better offseason then Anaheim...Anaheim's "best signing" in Finley could prove to be a bust...the guy is like 40, his range is declining, and he will likely lose a little bat speed, even considering he had his best season ever last year.

 

There are so many points to argue there...so little time

 

So, I will give a big, general...who cares?

I don't mind the Sox not being on there. Maybe this year the Sox will be better on the field than on paper.

I didn't expect the sox to be on the list, but I don't think the Red Sox or Angels improved. How can you lose Pedro and your best starting postseaon pitcher and improve. Especially, when you replace them with a .500 pitcher, an injured pitcher, and an over the hill arm. The east coast bias will never end. It's why I can't ever watch baseball tonight.

stark doesnt know much anyway. he and those east coast guys call the red sox the sox, so they barely recognize that the sox exist anyway.

 

When have we EVER gotten any respect from ESPN?  Who cares what they think.

 

We all know it's a Yankees/Red Sox/Cubs lovefest.

You can add the Angels to the fest lately too.

Screw him. The Mets? They are IMHO the dumbest, and one of the most badly run franchises in MLB.

Good. I prefer that the Sox keep the KW mentality of being "Under the Radar", no one will give them any attention, and they'll (hopefully) come out of nowhere and surprise the "experts".

Those were the biggest mover & shakers in terms of overall $ spent, so I'm not surprised. Keep in mind Stark is only looking at the winter signings.

He's not considering that the Sox have a multi-year rotation in Buehrle, Garcia, Hernandez, & Contreras. It's probable that Garland will remain as well.

haha yeah the Mets are pretty stupid. They'll finish 4th in their division.

But with spring training looming just beyond Super Bowl Sunday, here's a look at the top 10 most improved teams of 2005, as selected in an informal poll of GMs, assistant GMs and scouts:

 

This wasn't Jayson Stark's opinion of things.

This wasn't Jayson Stark's opinion of things.

 

 

I just noticed that. My bad.

Good. I prefer that the Sox keep the KW mentality of being "Under the Radar", no one will give them any attention, and they'll (hopefully) come out of nowhere and surprise the "experts".

 

And I hope all of this stuff gives the Sox a chip on their shoulder. I hope everyone of these articles ends up on a bulletin board in the clubhouse, and they use it to go out and whip some ass.

And I hope all of this stuff gives the Sox a chip on their shoulder.  I hope everyone of these articles ends up on a bulletin board in the clubhouse, and they use it to go out and whip some ass.

 

 

Bulletin board material:

 

2001 AL Central Final Standings

2002 AL Central Final Standings

2003 AL Central Final Standings

2004 AL Central Final Standings

 

That should take care of any needed bulletin board material.

Stark lives in Philly.

 

He's a big NL guy.

 

that explains this dogs***.

 

No way Eric Milton, Joe Randa, Rich Aurilia and Ramon Ortiz are more meaningful than Pierzynski, Dye, El Duque, Pods, Iguchi, Vizcaino and Hermanson.

 

Look for Harold Reynolds to step forward and give the Sox some love.