Today's team outlook ?

[WHITESOXRANDY]

I think that it's become obvious that Kenny has a plan and just as obvious that us Sox fans don't know what it is. I must say that I am feeling better about the bullpen than I was 2 weeks ago. I thought, all along, that this was the White Sox biggest weakness and although I would have preferred a proven veteran or two to be added, I think that this could work out very well. This is the way that I see the team right now and I realize that most likely Kenny is not done yet:

 

THE BULLPEN:

 

Jenks, Thornton, MacDougal, Masset, Aardsma and Sisco. Surprisingly, I like this pen. Almost any of these guys could probably close eventually.

 

THE ROTATION:

 

Buehrle, Contreras, Garland, Vazquez and.....drumroll....my bet is Floyd or Haeger. The loser goes back to Charlotte to pitch with Danks, Gio and Broadway. That looks like great depth.

 

THE LINEUP:

 

We all know the lineup but this is where questions are raised. I'm also thrilled with Hall (no Alomar...whew).

 

1. It's very unlikely that the Sox start the season with an OF of Dye, Anderson, Pods and Tererro/Owens. I think that Sweeney should start in Charlotte. Don't the Sox have to acquire another OFer ? And, what about Dye's future ? Will they try to extend him, trade him at the deadline or let him walk away after 2007 ? Will Kenny trade pitching depth for an OFer ?

 

2. Shortstop. I really don't forsee anything happening here. It's either Uribe or Cintron depending on Uribe's legal issues and I don't care too much either way. But, in Uribe's worst case, is Pablo an adequate backup ?

 

3. What to do about Buehrle ? Trade him at the deadline and insert a rookie ? Still try to extend him or let him walk after 2007 ?

 

Thoughts ?

[SkokieSox]

I think we'll open with Buerhle, unless two of our guys really impress in ST. My guess, depending where we are at the trade deadline, and the production of the ptichers in AAA will decide Buerhle's fate. It sounds like he's going to test the market either way...

[elrockinMT]

My guess is one more starter is traded and that might be Buerhle.

[Buehrle>Wood]

I just don't see Terrero being on this roster come opening day.

 

"Masset, Aardsma and Sisco"

 

I don't know why, but I'm pretty thrilled about these guys being the back of our bullpen. Of course they've done next to nothing in the majors yet. Our 1 through 3 in the pen has a chance at being maybe the best in baseball.

[WHITESOXRANDY]

Well, I don't think that Buehrle has been traded yet because of his down year I think the offers haven't been great.

 

If he rebounds and pitches well then the offers will be good or the Sox may want to re-sign him because of it.

 

I would think that would have to wait til the end of July to trade him when hopefully someone is ready to take his place.

 

Dye, as well, I can't see trading - even in July because they are already weak in the outfield.

 

To me, the outfield is the biggest remaining issue. We need OFers. Maybe the Sox are unloading pitching salary and will continue to so that they can get a couple of big bats in the OF ?

[rowand's rowdies]

RHP Garland

LHP Buehrle

RHP Contreras

RHP Vazquez

RHP Floyd/Haegar

 

RHP Floyd/Haegar

RHP Aardsma

LHP Sisco

RHP Macdougal

LHP Thornton

RHP Jenks

(Masset, Gio, Logan, Phillips)

 

LF Posednik

2B Iguchi

DH Thome

1B Konerko

RF Dye

C Pierzinski

3B Crede

SS Cintron/Uribe

CF Anderson

 

(Mackowiak, Hall, Terrero, Sweeney, Ozuna)

 

 

Just thought everyone should see that. Garland is solid. If Vaz and Count can win 15 with an era around 4 and Buehrle can pitch like he used to, that's 4 tough starters. Someone will step up at the #5 spot. Maybe it will be a non roster invitee like Loaiza? We have much more depth than we used to when we had problems.

Our offense, still with the best 3,4,5 in baseball, could still be real good. Anderson should hit over .250 hopefully, and if Pods can turn it back to first half 2005, or even close, Iguchi will improve and our offense will be back in business.

 

This team as it is now can contend well, but I have a feeling KW is not done. He will add another OF, hopefully.

 

[jasonxctf]

i think everyone here is drinking too much eggnog. i hope i'm wrong, but this team has 3rd or 4th place written all over it.

[Reddy]

i think everyone here is drinking too much eggnog. i hope i'm wrong, but this team has 3rd or 4th place written all over it.

 

the only reason this might be true is because we're in the toughest division in baseball - in any other division i'd still rank us as the favorite to win it... we'll win over 90 games next year

[elrockinMT]

I don't see it. If it does happen however, then Dye needs to be next. You trade ANOTHER starter, than 07 is over. If that is the case, I wouldn't have that much of a problem with it, but do it right then.

 

I think it would be way too risky to trade another starter, just from a PR standpoint. It seems like the interest in baseball is at an all time high in the city of Chicago, and while some may argue, I think the battle for the top city in the team is closer than people think. The Cubs have owned the city for a while now, but the Sox are close. Shipping off another starter, especially a face like Buerhle, would really hurt the reputation of the team, and it might not be something you want to do right now.

 

I'm not saying it wouldn't be a smart move, because if done right, you could wash out 07, and be stacked for 08-13, but your risking losing ALOT of fans in the process, something that wouldn't be smart.

 

 

I think KW needs to try and sign Jermaine for at least another 3 years. I also don't think '07 is a washout as we still have an excellent staff and will be in there right up to the end and hopefully win it all again. It is very possible another starter leaves via the trade route, but of course that isn't a given. But, no one thought BMac was anything but untouchable. Crede is another one I think KW needs to concentrate on signing for several more years and look at Fields for LF. He may play that position at Charlotte in '07 to learn the ins and outs of OF play.

[Baines3]

My guess is for Floyd to be the 5th starter while Haeger goes to Charlotte for more work, or for Haeger to come in out of the pen.

[thedoctor]

i'd like to see a guy like pineiro brought in to compete for the fifth spot. couldn't hurt.

[sircaffey]

i'd like to see a guy like pineiro brought in to compete for the fifth spot. couldn't hurt.

 

I would almost count on a veteran SP being brought in. I'd love to bring in Pineiro cheaply. Not necessarily to win the job, but insurance never hurt. Let's face it, I think we'll see 3 pitchers make a start in the 5th spot this season. Hopefully one steps up.

[Jordan4life_2007]

I would almost count on a veteran SP being brought in. I'd love to bring in Pineiro cheaply. Not necessarily to win the job, but insurance never hurt. Let's face it, I think we'll see 3 pitchers make a start in the 5th spot this season. Hopefully one steps up.

 

I'm not so sure. Kenny said one of the reasons they felt Brandon was expendable is because they felt they already had guys that could give them similiar production. Then again, it's hard to take anything Kenny says at face value.

[beck72]

With the pitching set, KW will probably look to improve the lineup. Specifically the CF. Baldelli makes the most sense. Though it would likely require involve a team like the Marlins, and getting a SP from them with major league experience [like Nolasco].

[striker]

Despite trading Garcia and McCarthy, our 1-4 starters are 4 of the most talented pitchers in the majors. I hope the Sox hang onto Buehrle and let him play out his contract. Look for him to have a HUGE year (contract year). I may seem very optimistic, but look for Podsednik and Anderson to have alot better years than last year.

 

I think this team is going to be better than everyone thinks. If we get just a little bit better years from our starting rotation, bullpen, Anderson and Podsednik then we are back to a World Series contender.

 

I like the youth movement because it makes our team look ALOT better in '08, '09 and beyond which was looking old and expensive after '06.

[My Dixie Normus]

I am glad you like the bullpen. I think you are going to be seeing a lot of it. Face it, Buehrle is a pitcher who relies on his control. He doesn't blow anyone away with speed. And there were some stretches last year he wasn't doing that; stretches like the one from the all-star game to the end of the season. If Kenny could have sold him, he would have. The problem is that there were not as many GMs in the league as enthusiastic about Mark Buehrle as you might suspect.

 

What I don't get is that if you are going to deal McCarthy, why not do it last year when you could have gotten a guy that might have won you the pennant. I had to sit and listen to how McCarthy was untouchable last season. How he was the next ace of the staff. I tell ya what, from where I was sitting, he didn't look like the next Cy Young to me.

[bigruss]

I am glad you like the bullpen. I think you are going to be seeing a lot of it. Face it, Buehrle is a pitcher who relies on his control. He doesn't blow anyone away with speed. And there were some stretches last year he wasn't doing that; stretches like the one from the all-star game to the end of the season. If Kenny could have sold him, he would have. The problem is that there were not as many GMs in the league as enthusiastic about Mark Buehrle as you might suspect.

 

What I don't get is that if you are going to deal McCarthy, why not do it last year when you could have gotten a guy that might have won you the pennant. I had to sit and listen to how McCarthy was untouchable last season. How he was the next ace of the staff. I tell ya what, from where I was sitting, he didn't look like the next Cy Young to me.

 

and if u went thru with that trade for soriano, u would be arguing how the sox let go of a guy with a good future for half a season of another guy, plus u only got 2 picks in return for him and who knows, maybe you he wouldnt have helped that much anyways, i would much rather have BMac than Soriano (from that trade atleast) and i have faith in KW to bring another championship contending team to the field this year

[greg775]

Random thoughts on the Sox outlook ...

 

I say it's Cintron time. Dump Uribe.

We need another outfielder. Could he be one of our minor leaguers Oz

likes so much?

 

The bottom line is nobody knows if we are going to continue the mediocre to lousy play

of the second half or get some good starting pitching, great defense and clutch hitting

like we did the year before.

I think it's a stretch to say our starters are 1-4 some of the best in baseball.

Not after last year.

Vazzy was not great. Mark was horrible the second half except for some gutty outings

late in which he was hit hard but still managed to keep us in the games.

Jose is now a question mark because of health.

Jon is pretty much a stud.

We still could use another lefthanded starter and have two of our five be lefties.

If Mark B pitches as he did the second half of the season, we're cooked.

We can't overcome that.

[tonyho7476]

I say it's Cintron time. Dump Uribe.

We need another outfielder.

 

I kind of agree with you. I like Cintron as the full time SS.