The last time we worked to get Pods voted in turned out to be a pretty good year.

 

Maybe we should try that again.

We might be better served to blow it up regardless of where we are. The youngsters that will come up this year if we trade some veterans may be able to keep us at least hanging around if nobody else makes a good run.

 

Also, I'd love to trade Dye, Thome, and Dotel if we're not going to renegotiate their contracts. The reason is, I wouldn't mind seeing any of those guys back here in 2010, maybe even all of them, and if we trade them we get around the arbitration problem. If we deal off Thome and Dotel for example, instead of being forced to wait until May or June or whenever it is to sign them at a reasonable rate, we may be able to get both guys back at about $10M combined.

 

Maybe if we explain the situation to some of our veteran players that we'd like to bring them back but we can't afford to offer arb, maybe they'll still consider us over the offseason. I'd much rather deal all 3 of these guys and get a couple prospects/projects in return PLUS have a shot at signing them at a reasonable rate over the offseason than just hang on to them, get nothing in picks, and then certainly lose all 3 because we failed to offer arb. Otherwise, if there is any way to either renegotiate a contract now, or if there's any way to work out a new contract at a lesser amount before the players become FA during our negotiation window, I'd like to do that. Especially in Dotel's case.

We might be better served to blow it up regardless of where we are. The youngsters that will come up this year if we trade some veterans may be able to keep us at least hanging around if nobody else makes a good run.

 

Also, I'd love to trade Dye, Thome, and Dotel if we're not going to renegotiate their contracts. The reason is, I wouldn't mind seeing any of those guys back here in 2010, maybe even all of them, and if we trade them we get around the arbitration problem. If we deal off Thome and Dotel for example, instead of being forced to wait until May or June or whenever it is to sign them at a reasonable rate, we may be able to get both guys back at about $10M combined.

 

Maybe if we explain the situation to some of our veteran players that we'd like to bring them back but we can't afford to offer arb, maybe they'll still consider us over the offseason. I'd much rather deal all 3 of these guys and get a couple prospects/projects in return PLUS have a shot at signing them at a reasonable rate over the offseason than just hang on to them, get nothing in picks, and then certainly lose all 3 because we failed to offer arb. Otherwise, if there is any way to either renegotiate a contract now, or if there's any way to work out a new contract at a lesser amount before the players become FA during our negotiation window, I'd like to do that. Especially in Dotel's case.

 

 

We might be better served to blow it up regardless of where we are. The youngsters that will come up this year if we trade some veterans may be able to keep us at least hanging around if nobody else makes a good run.

 

Also, I'd love to trade Dye, Thome, and Dotel if we're not going to renegotiate their contracts. The reason is, I wouldn't mind seeing any of those guys back here in 2010, maybe even all of them, and if we trade them we get around the arbitration problem. If we deal off Thome and Dotel for example, instead of being forced to wait until May or June or whenever it is to sign them at a reasonable rate, we may be able to get both guys back at about $10M combined.

 

Maybe if we explain the situation to some of our veteran players that we'd like to bring them back but we can't afford to offer arb, maybe they'll still consider us over the offseason. I'd much rather deal all 3 of these guys and get a couple prospects/projects in return PLUS have a shot at signing them at a reasonable rate over the offseason than just hang on to them, get nothing in picks, and then certainly lose all 3 because we failed to offer arb. Otherwise, if there is any way to either renegotiate a contract now, or if there's any way to work out a new contract at a lesser amount before the players become FA during our negotiation window, I'd like to do that. Especially in Dotel's case.

 

 

edit: double post

 

Hmm.

If KW offers arbitration to Thome, Dye, Conteras and Dotel expect them all to accept it because of this economy. That is why if the team is out of it by the trade deadline, expect to see at least 2 out of 4 dealt with maybe even a suprise player being dealt (Jenks, Konerko etc...). KW did say "If we continue to struggle, expect there to be some pretty unpopular things being done." The one guy i never want to see leave is Buerhle and i really doubt he does.

We went 4-2 in the games at home against 1 very good team and 1 team that always plays us tough, now we're 1 game under .500 and going on the road for a while. Need to keep playing well on the road now.

The Sox are swinging the bats very well and our pitching continues to do good things. They currently have the 2nd best overall ERA in the AL. If this combo continues i expect at least a 5-2 road trip vs a Cleveland team that lost a HUGE bat over the weekend and a KC team that we tend to play very well on the road.

 

I also have a wierd feeling KW has something up his sleeve. . its been extremely quite. .

14-5 at least to contend for first.

I also have a wierd feeling KW has something up his sleeve. . its been extremely quite. .

KW is in a holding pattern until he knows more about what he can get from Quentin and what he can get from the team on the field right now that keeps showing flashes.

KW is in a holding pattern until he knows more about what he can get from Quentin and what he can get from the team on the field right now that keeps showing flashes.

It sounds like he's on the right track. .

 

It looks like CQ will return after the ASB. The dude is likely going to play the remainder of the year with plantar fasciitis and in the offseason likely get it completely taken care of via surgery. Thats very good news. Lets hope he continues to make progress.

 

If CQ does indeed come back, move him down to the 7 hole and go make a deal for Freddy Sanchez to round out our lineup.

 

Pods CF

Sanchez 2B

Dye RF

Thome DH

Konerko 1B

Ramirez SS

Quentin LF

Pierzynski C

Beckham 3B

 

Thats pretty scary. . . speed and a lot of power. .

As Yogi Berra once said it isn't over until it is over may have described the way this season could end with the sox playing 6 of their last nine games against the tigers. Of course I would rather see the sox play like crazy and be ahead of the tigers and the pennant clinched but I could certainly be exciting if the season ending with a sox win in our last series against the Tigers giving us the A.L. Central crown