Just for fun...

[SoxFan76]

First, save the "this year isn't over yet". I know it's not, and I expect the Sox to make the playoffs and succeed in the playoffs. This is just for fun. Who do you see on the 2007 White Sox? Who stays, who gets dealt, who just gets let go? And who comes in?

 

The bullpen seems pretty set. There is enough talent there to get by. Bullpens tend to be very hit or miss, and Kenny Williams has done about all he can outside of getting 6 legit closers. I see no problem there.

 

Offense. Who knows. I'd like to see a different leadoff hitter next year. Upgrades at shortstop COULD be made, but only if it's a superstar. Who's avaliable? I don't know contract situations, I'll check ESPN after lunch. I might get some spiff for this, but I wouldn't be totally upset if one of the power hitters got dealt. Kind of like a 2005 deal. Move one of Dye/Konerko/Thome for some LEGIT players. It would have to be for a big time ace in the rotation or a LEGIT leadoff hitter. I can't stress this enough, I'm not asking for one of those guys to be dealt, but if they did it would have to be for a serious player. Just an idea.

 

Starting pitching, Buehrle, Contreras and Garland aren't going anywhere for now. As for marijuana man and Vazquez, who knows. I see one of them being dealt in the off season. Who comes in here? Again, I can check ESPN after lunch, but I'd like to know who's out there, who you'd like to see, etc.

 

 

It's just for fun, but let's keep it realistic. Stuff that could actually happen.

[Gregory Pratt]

Iguchi, Thome, Konerko, Crede, Pierzynski, Anderson will be here for sure.

 

Dye could be traded, since it's not too unreasonable to suggest that this is his Career Year, but I doubt it. His contract is a steal, so we'd keep him unless overwhelmed.

 

Uribe? I expect him here barring a Tejada-type.

 

Podsednik is gone, from what I hear, although I'm not sure who would replace him. I could see him staying if we can't find a good enough replacement, but I think he'll be replaced.

 

Thornton, Jenks, Cotts -- all should remain. Our pen looks set, except that someone'll have to replace Black Mack.

 

Which brings us to the Starters. I fully expect Vazquez to be moved for Mack, or Freddy to. I'd prefer Freddy because he doesn't even have stuff anymore. He's a junkballer, and an unexceptional one at that.

 

Buehrle, Contreras, Garland, Mack, Vazquez, I think. I'd like it if we got rid of Vazquez, too, to dump money, but then we'd have to find a replacement for him, too.

[Hangar18]

I know the season isnt "over" yet, but Ive already written 2006 off and have looked to 07 already.

 

There are a number of Bullpen FA's available in the offseason that the SOX can pick off the pile to help there.

This is a Must. Also, Starting Pitching. We need some again, and Barry Zito should be pursued at all costs, even it means dealing Freddy Garcia. Zito gives us another lefty in the rotation with an altogether different look from Buerhles. We need Barry Zito in a SOX uniform, as much as we need to Keep Him Away from the Tigers/Yankees/RedSox in the offseason. Zito going to one of our rivals would be very disheartening.

 

Vazquez, I dont want him in a SOX uniform next year. Kenny can be creative and get something in return for him. Do It Kenny.........but dont make a Pittsburgh-Pirate-esque trade and give the guy away. Get equal return, if not, Vazquez to the bullpen. I honestly believe Vazquez will be very good in the BP for the SOX and he can reinvent himself, much like Kirk McCaskill did for the SOX in 93.

 

A solid outfielder/leadoff person puts the SOX right back in the forefront and again one of the teams favored to win it all

Edited July 31, 2006 by Hangar18

[Gregory Pratt]

I know the season isnt "over" yet, but Ive already written 2006 off and have looked to 07 already.

 

There are a number of Bullpen FA's available in the offseason that the SOX can pick off the pile to help there.

This is a Must. Also, Starting Pitching. We need some again, and Barry Zito should be pursued at all costs, even it means dealing Freddy Garcia. Zito gives us another lefty in the rotation with an altogether different look from Buerhles. Vazquez, I dont want him in a SOX uniform next year. Kenny can be creative and get something in return for him. Do It Kenny.........but dont make a Pittsburgh-Pirate-esque trade and give the guy away. Get equal return, if not, Vazquez to the bullpen. I honestly believe Vazquez will be very good in the BP for the SOX and he can reinvent himself, much like Kirk McCaskill did for the SOX in 93.

 

A solid outfielder/leadoff person puts the SOX right back in the forefront and again one of the teams favored to win it all

 

I don't think we can afford Zito.

[Hangar18]

I don't think we can afford Zito.

 

 

I dont think the SOX can afford to NOT sign Zito. Everyone forgets, the Tigers have money to spend, and the taste of success is addictive. The Tigers are going to get better next season, the SOX better know this.

[Gregory Pratt]

I dont think the SOX can afford to NOT sign Zito. Everyone forgets, the Tigers have money to spend, and the taste of success is addictive. The Tigers are going to get better next season, the SOX better know this.

 

Zito isn't going to Detroit.

[Felix]

I dont think the SOX can afford to NOT sign Zito. Everyone forgets, the Tigers have money to spend, and the taste of success is addictive. The Tigers are going to get better next season, the SOX better know this.

Zito will be in New York, or another team that overpays tremendously. If the Tigers want to be that team, then please, let them be stuck with a giant contract for a pitcher whose reputation is bigger than what he provides.

[kevo880]

I don't think we can afford Zito.

I'm with you, he's going to be the top FA in the off season and we already have like the highest paid rotation in the majors. (didn't look it up but its for sure in the top 5) With that high of salaries for the pitchers you would expect them to perform...do you think kenny's just going to keep doing the same thing and just keep building the team salary higher and higher.

I also realize you said to trade Freddy, but i would much rather trade Vaz. He has given up at least 5 runs in his last 9 starts or something like that and hasn't gotten to the 6th inning since mid may... Garcia at least gives us some quality outings.

[Gregory Pratt]

I'm with you, he's going to be the top FA in the off season and we already have like the highest paid rotation in the majors. (didn't look it up but its for sure in the top 5) With that high of salaries for the pitchers you would expect them to perform...do you think kenny's just going to keep doing the same thing and just keep building the team salary higher and higher.

I also realize you said to trade Freddy, but i would much rather trade Vaz. He has given up at least 5 runs in his last 9 starts or something like that and hasn't gotten to the 6th inning since mid may... Garcia at least gives us some quality outings.

 

Freddy is getting fatter, losing velocity, and smoking too much marijuana. His offspeed stufff isn't sharp, and you can't live with the offspeed forever.

 

F--- that.

[kevo880]

Freddy is getting fatter, losing velocity, and smoking too much marijuana. His offspeed stufff isn't sharp, and you can't live with the offspeed forever.

 

F--- that.

 

He's pitching better than Vaz still. I'm guessing your some old dude that sees him as a pothead so you hold that against him and want him gone.

[Gregory Pratt]

He's pitching better than Vaz still. I'm guessing your some old dude that sees him as a pothead so you hold that against him and want him gone.

 

I guess I don't like him cause I'm old and uncool.

 

I don't know how much he smokes but I wouldn't be surprised if it's had a factor in him getting fatter, in his velocity going down, in everything that's happened to him. He went from leading the league in ERA in 2001 to being this. You think he's pitching better than Vazquez? He's got a better ERA, and more wins, but I'd take Javier over Freddy any day.

 

I dread their starts, however: Freddy's because I expect him to give up a ton of homeruns and to show why his BAA is so high.

Vazquez because I expect his meltdown to come.

[Wedge]

out of curiousity, does Haeger fit into our 2007 rotation plans at all? If so, dumping Vazquez and Freddy might be a reality.

 

My other concern about 2007 is Contreras's age finally catching up to him.

[Gregory Pratt]

out of curiousity, does Haeger fit into our 2007 rotation plans at all? If so, dumping Vazquez and Freddy might be a reality.

 

My other concern about 2007 is Contreras's age finally catching up to him.

 

How old is Contreras, really?

 

And, I don't think Haeger fits into 2007.

[Felix]

How old is Contreras, really?

My guess is ~43.

[Jake]

out of curiousity, does Haeger fit into our 2007 rotation plans at all? If so, dumping Vazquez and Freddy might be a reality.

 

I think SOMEONE can be effective from our system, along with McCarthy, be it Haeger, Phillips, or even Broadway (a longshot)

[shawnhillegas]

Its going to cost 60 million to sign Zito. No way. If your name isnt Liriano, Santana or Halladay I wouldnt even think about it.

[ZoomSlowik]

I don't expect too many major changes.

 

In terms of the lineup, the only change I see is bringing in a replacement for Pods. He's going to get more expensive and he just isn't worth it. I have no idea where our replacement will come from, Kenny will probably have to get creative with a trade. It'd be pretty hard to get a major upgrade elsewhere (well, outside of maybe center, but Anderson is fine).

 

As for starting pitching, Freddy is probably going to get dealt in the off-season. He's starting to slide and only has one year left. I don't like his chances of getting back to his old self. I don't see us giving up on Vazquez just yet. McCarthy gets the open spot in the rotation. I really don't see us signing a FA. Our payroll is already pretty high, and 4 of our other 5 starters are going to be making around $10 mil.

 

The bullpen appears to be pretty much set. The only move there might be adding a Politte or Hermanson-like cheap reliever for middle relief.

[Wedge]

I don't expect too many major changes.

 

In terms of the lineup, the only change I see is bringing in a replacement for Pods. He's going to get more expensive and he just isn't worth it. I have no idea where our replacement will come from, Kenny will probably have to get creative with a trade. It'd be pretty hard to get a major upgrade elsewhere (well, outside of maybe center, but Anderson is fine).

 

As for starting pitching, Freddy is probably going to get dealt in the off-season. He's starting to slide and only has one year left. I don't like his chances of getting back to his old self. I don't see us giving up on Vazquez just yet. McCarthy gets the open spot in the rotation. I really don't see us signing a FA. Our payroll is already pretty high, and 4 of our other 5 starters are going to be making around $10 mil.

 

The bullpen appears to be pretty much set. The only move there might be adding a Politte or Hermanson-like cheap reliever for middle relief.

 

In terms of replacing Pods, how do you feel about Mack starting everyday and playing LF and leading off?

[Hangar18]

In terms of replacing Pods, how do you feel about Mack starting everyday and playing LF and leading off?

 

 

I dont like that idea. That might work in the NL, not here though unfortuneately

[ZoomSlowik]

In terms of replacing Pods, how do you feel about Mack starting everyday and playing LF and leading off?

 

No way. Mack is not an everday player on a good team, and leading off only makes it worse.

[Jake]

No way. Mack is not an everday player on a good team, and leading off only makes it worse.

 

I actually wouldn't even mind seeing Sweeney get a chance to start in left. He can lead off, even though he isn't a leadoff hitter. Hell, even BA can lead off if needed. So let's beat the spiff out of Pods, put him on the DL, and see if Sweeney can beat the hell out of major league pitching just like ST.

 

Even though this is the '07 thread, I wouldn't mind trying this right now. It seems like a no-brainer if Pods really did get hurt.

Edited July 31, 2006 by Jake

[Gregory Pratt]

My guess is ~43.

 

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsy roll pop?

[dasox24]

For those who don't think we could afford Zito, I think we could if we got rid of both Freddy and Javier, like the original poster said. I don't have their salaries in front of me, but wouldn't getting rid of those 2 knock off like 22 million from our payroll. There's no way Zito would cost more than 15 mil, and with the other 7 mil, we could spend it on a reliever or two.

[Hatchetman]

we have to start developing some youth so this decent team of ours doesn't all get old at once. i'd put sweeney in left to begin with. bmac plus another new guy in the rotation. we can't say oh this year was an aberration.

Edited July 31, 2006 by Hatchetman

[SoxFan76]

we have to start developing some youth so this decent team of ours doesn't all get old at once. i'd put sweeney in left to begin with. bmac plus another new guy in the rotation. we can't say oh this year was an aberration.

 

I wouldn't mind Corey Pattersion v. 2006 leading off for the 2007 White Sox.

 

And I don't care if McCarthy's in the rotation, as long as he's the 5th starter. Unlike most Sox fans, I realize that Brandon isn't a lock to become some Baseball Savior. I don't believe he has "ace" stuff. Unfortunately, rookie pitchers are like backup quarterbacks. Everyone wants the backup.