The Beast

QUOTE(spiderman @ Nov 8, 2007 -> 08:18 PM) Are the White Sox a mess ? When I look at this team, I see way too many issues/concerns and holes for this to be fixed all in one off-season, and I fear that this team is just mediocre with not much upside. - The bullpen isn't going to get the overhaul that many hope it will. I think, at most, we'll see 2 new faces from outside the organization, but most of the improvement is going to have to come from MacDougle and Thorton. - The starting rotation has Buerhle and Vazquez. After that, I have my doubts that Garland will be back, and Contreras hasn't had a lot of success, and who knows how old he is. Denks and Floyd could both be our rotation next season, and that's not going to be good for our team ERA. Can we win with at least 2 questionable starters, and 3 if you include Contreras ? - The offense is all or nothing, and is dependent on hitting HR's. They don't have a leadoff hitter, and they have several guys coming off bad years. They don't walk a lot, but they do strike out a lot. - Kenny Williams seems all too willing to throw his free agent money at T.Hunter. He's a very good player, but he's 32 years old. I'd love Hunter, but we are overpaying both in years and contract. - Juan Uribe is back. - Who's at 3B ? It's probably going to be Fields though Crede could be here for one more year. If it is Fields at 3B, does that mean Jerry Owens will be our leadoff hitter in LF ? If true, can Owens justify the faith ? - Is Paul Konerko going to be back ? He's got the big contract, but hasn't been as good either. He's been mentioned quite a few times in rumors to the Angels. - What about 2B ? Is Danny Richar the man ? I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but I also don't see a lot of hope here, more of a lot of pieces to puzzle, but nothing really fits, and it's all over the place. Where am I going wrong OR am I right ? Yes, the White Sox are in a big mess---as of right now. -I hope that they sign someone to help that pen out there, it doesn't need to be a big name or a Japanese player. It just needs to be someone who comes in here and just gets on a tare and kicks ass. I can see Aardsma coming back and being a help in the 'pen this year, I believe last year was a fluke and I hope he proves everyone else wrong in ST. Hopefully MacDougal lives up to what KW wants him to be, but I'm not too high on him like I am Aardsma. Either way, the 'pen needs two more arms. I like what I see out of Wassermann, too. -I am a bit concerned about our rotation if Buehrle and Vazquez fail and we don't add anyone this off-season, but it is only November 8th. I have a feeling the Sox will end up trading Garland at the Winter Meetings. I liked what I saw out of Broadway, I wouldn't mind if he was the No. 5 and the Sox tried to move Danks or Floyd in a package deal with some other player. If there's any way they can dump the Count, they should do it. Otherwise, I anticipate it being a challenge, but by no means a problem that cannot be fixed. -I'm not sure that it was a good move to re-sign Dye, but maybe his fat slow ass can prove me wrong. The major issue I see is that there isn't a good leadoff hitter and I don't think our OF or 2B is set yet. I'm under the assumption that Williams will bring in Graffanino or Iguchi to platoon with Richar, because I don't think Richar is the answer at 2B. I'm still on the Rowand bandwagon, but the Sox should not go and sign Hunter, that would be a bad move IMO. He's too pricey, getting older and he wants a long-term deal. Other than that, I think it'd be fine with Fields playin in LF and if Crede is healthy, then he'll take 3B. -Hey, at least the Sox didn't get Eckstein. Maybe Juan will lay off the quarter-pounders, booze and Mountain Dew and put down the World of Warcraft at some point in the off-season. -I think Konerko and Crede will be back and that we will see Fields in LF after Williams said, "We will know soon of Fields' playing status for '08." Although I didn't like that the Sox may not have pursued other options for the shortstop position and that Williams re-upped with Dye, I can't sit here and say the moves were bad. Dye could be good this year and we gave Uribe $500,000 less. Let's just sit here and see what happens in the coming weeks, because there's got to be some moves happening at the Winter Meetings.

I might suggest that the term 'overrated' comes from someone having a solid year one year and becoming a bust the next year. Also, it depends if the person was just signed the off-season before and is not producing for the big multi-year/incentive laden contract that is given to them.

I just wanted to clarify what I did with my 25-man roster. -Kept Garland and Contreras, we would deal them at the deadline if we suck then and just ate some salary. -Signed Linebrink and sent Floyd (the loser of him and Danks) to the bullpen and signed Linebrink. -Signed Kazuo Matsui to play second base, just because I liked him on Colorado, I don't know why exactly. -Brought back Uribe since there simply was not a good option to use for the shortstop position in our organization or in the free agent market. -Bring back Mackowiak and Graffanino to fill the void on the bench. -Sign Rowand when Hunter and Williams b**** at each other and we can't close the deal. 25-man roster: Starting Pitching: Buehrle, Vazquez, Garland, Danks, Contreras Da 'Pen: Jenks, Wassermann, Broadway, Logan, Floyd, Linebrink 1b-Konerko 2b-Matsui ss-Uribe 3b-Crede lf-Fields cf-Rowand rf-Dye dh-Thome c-Pierzynski Bench: Hall, Graffanino, Mackowiak, Owens, Ozuna

25-man roster: Starting Pitching: Buehrle, Vazquez, Garland, Danks, Contreras Da 'Pen: Jenks, Wassermann, Broadway, Logan, Floyd, Linebrink 1b-Konerko 2b-Matsui ss-Uribe 3b-Crede lf-Fields cf-Rowand rf-Dye dh-Thome c-Pierzynski Bench: Hall, Graffanino, Mackowiak, Owens, Ozuna

QUOTE(max power @ Oct 29, 2007 -> 05:05 AM) Lots of downers grove people in this thread. Anyway, at least tori and rowand fill one out of 3 most pressing needs- CF, SS, RP. I would like to have either for a reasonable price, which may or may not happen. Richar likely has won the 2nd base spot and if he doesn't work out we have ozuna to take his place/platoon with him. Funny, SSI probably has ran into me at one point. I'm sure there are other Downers Grove people out there as well. As far as I know the only other one is Cubssuck because he went to my school. I hope that these positions you mention will be solidified, because I can't stand another year of piss poor baseball at USCF. QUOTE(Vance Law @ Oct 29, 2007 -> 12:53 PM) This will be interesting to see what happens with Uribe. As it's been discussed in tons of threads. There are no clear cut FA options at short. There are various hopeful trade ideas that people have brought up, which probably mean dealing Garland. There's really no easy answer and the decision needs to be made within a week and a half. Is Furcal + one of our AAA starters better than Garland + Uribe? Decline the Uribe option in order to hopefully sign him for a million or 2 cheaper (which could not be done for a period of several months per the rules I think)? AlRodr? I think that if we do anything, we will decline is option and offer a Diminished Skills clause (highly unlikely) like we did Frank Thomas or we would exercise it and tell the tub of goo to get into shape and give him incentives. I'd also make a run at ARod just so Rogers could have something to write and b.s. about.

Hey guys, So the World Series is over and the team is going to be reworked. I was curious of what you think they'll do first and then follow up with? My idea would be that they keep Uribe since Guillen has a crush on him and hopes he'll shape up and lose weight, and I hope to god that we don't have Myers or Erstad back. It is players like Erstad that make me want to vomit and stop coming out to the ballpark. (Okay, maybe not the coming to the ballpark part of it is a bit too extreme, but you get the point of it.) I am also curious as to what free agents the team will sign, given A-Rod opting out yesterday from his deal. It seems like there is a revamp need for the bullpen, a second baseman, (Do you guys think they'll just use Richar?) another stud centerfielder, and a new starter (if we deal Contreras, this would likely be someone within the minor leagues) and perhaps a shortstop if we lose Uribe. I would think that the Sox would (or should) target: Kazuo Matsui Tadahito Iguchi Yorvit Torrealba (if they cut Toby Hall) A-Rod (Maybe, maybe not. Key words: Albert Belle.) Torii Hunter Aaron Rowand Scott Linebrink Joe Beimel Joe Kennedy Also, when should we expect some sort of action to occur or at least when should we expect decisions to happen in terms of the organization's players with options?

QUOTE(SEALgep @ Oct 24, 2007 -> 08:35 AM) I'm still happy with the trade... So am I. I really despised the Vazquez trade, then again, I thought Brian Anderson was good then. Boy, was that a joke!

QUOTE(WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Oct 14, 2007 -> 01:10 AM) They won't really let you criticize the team over there. If you do they call you a "dark cloud." According to the people at WSI Ozzie and Kenny can do no wrong. That's what they did to me, and I was banned promptly after I told the mod he was a corrupt bastard. I've always liked it here much better because you can say pretty much anything in terms of the team.

Just looking at some names; I kind of just put them in different groups. Group A: Jack Egbert, Donny Lucy, Ryan Sweeney, Lance Broadway, Gavin Floyd, Heath Phillips, Adam Russell Group B: Robert Valido, Dewon Day, Brian Anderson, David Aardsma, Ryan Bukvich, Nick Masset, Andrew Sisco I'm not much for minor leagues, but out of these guys, who do we expect to be back on (or in contention for) the White Sox 25-man roster? Are we still under the belief that Richar will start next year? What are your guys' thoughts on the bullpen next year? What kind of moves do you expect Williams to do this off-season? I was sort of out of the loop at the end of the year (I moved to Charleston, IL for college at EIU) so if someone could fill me in on some of our September callups, it would be great. P.S.-How do I change my name from Beastly to something else? It's a bit old, and I'm not the moron I once was.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Oct 8, 2007 -> 09:07 AM) I'd love to see Pudge as a bench coach, but he seems to have no interest in coming back into baseball. Not only does he not have any interest of coming back into baseball, I'm sure he wouldn't want to come back here after how we treated him when we released him.

Cintron does not have a 5 million dollar option, that is Uribe. Or maybe I'm the one who is confused.

QUOTE(DrunkBomber @ Aug 29, 2007 -> 09:18 PM) Out of curiosity why are you against underage drinking? It wasnt the most important thing but I think going out and having a good time is one of the experiences that college should offer. I feel I can have fun without the use of alcohol and I am meeting people in my classes fine, so there's no big deal. I enjoy staying in a bit or playing intramurals and going on my run. I am pretty simple as a person, and I just don't see the need to go dance and drink alcohol. There's plenty of other things to do on this campus. But that is just me.

My roommate is alright. He watches a lot of the OC and he doesn't go out much. This is good because I am against underaged drinking and such and there's a lot of that on campus at EIU. Not to say if you go out it means underaged drinking but that is the usual thought of going out on a weekend evening, or so it seems. We hang out and play World of Warcraft and such. He does leave the room and work out so I'm not always around him, which is good. Overall, our floor has good guys and if there is a party, it's at a respectful hour and time. He and I are both going home this Labor Day weekend so he can see his friends and so I can see my girlfriend.

Is there any way that Uribe could be bought out and come back with something like Frank Thomas had, that diminished skills clause? I mean, I know he wouldn't want a paycut, but who wants a guy with numbers like he does? His weight is obviously taking away from his talent. I'd take Uribe back in a heart beat over Vizquel, Eckstein or Izturis. One guy I'd like the most out of anyone is Tony Graffanino, but I'm sure he wouldn't come back here after how we treated him. A-Rod is just a pipe dream at best, IMO. It doesn't really matter to me that Hunter will be 32. Yes, perhaps he could be past his prime, but his numbers don't lie, and neither does his defensive ability. It's not like we have to sign him until the end of his career, either. I'd obviously like Rowand back over an acquisition of Hunter. Rowand will be 30, so that works for me if he comes back, too. What relievers do you think they'll sign and will they trade for a starting pitcher? Will the Sox deal JC?

"I'm numba one, get on the floor, b****!"

QUOTE(Texsox @ Aug 19, 2007 -> 11:45 PM) Besides lining up like lemmings at the campus bookstore, what are other venues? Between my son and I we are looking at a sweet $1,000 next week in text books. EIU, my university, rents books to the students. My bill for books is a whopping...$152.00!

QUOTE(WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Aug 22, 2007 -> 04:59 PM) You actually like having all those breaks between classes? Yeah it is actually kind of nice. I mean, I do have to get up early, but it leaves time for lunch, naps, WoW and socializing as well as getting all of my homework done early so I can do whatever I want.

I've got Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes at 9:00, 11:00 and 3:00. All 50 minute periods. I have classes on Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00-9:40, 1:30-2:45 and 3:00-4:15. So it's not that bad at all.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Aug 21, 2007 -> 05:35 AM) All the cool kids in college do. I play World of Warcraft, does that make me cool?

QUOTE(Jimbo's Drinker @ Aug 20, 2007 -> 03:53 PM) stop posting and go drink...college boy I don't drink, though.

I just got through my first few classes today and things are looking good. My economics teacher is hilarious, the english cirriculum here is solid, and the non-western arts course is going to be very informative. My roommate and I have gotten along so far, and we're hoping guys come over and watch the Bears game tonight on the new TV we have. The move in was very easy and coming back from a convention that same weekend of moving in was quite easy. It looks like things are looking better around here.

I've got... -Principles of Macroeconomics -Composition and Language -Nonwestern Fine Arts -Broadcast Announcing -Environmental Life Science -A non credit math course. oh well. On Monday, Wednesday, Friday my first class starts at 9:00 and my last class ends at 3:50. On Tuesdays and Thursdays my first class starts at 8:00 and my last class goes till 4:15. So it's not that bad.

QUOTE(WhiteSoxFan1 @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 12:57 PM) I understand where hes going but thats not the case. I know shes interested (or was) I just dont know how much. I was told from people that talked to her that she wanted me to make a move, which I did. I honestly think shes playing hard to get, OR shes undecided if she wants a relationship. Then, be a dork, play dumb, and out of the blue, ask her how she feels if you have a chance to on a date.

Is anyone else disgusted by the article and suggestion that Brian Anderson is still in the White Sox plans? He doesn't seem to be progressing very well with the injuries reported earlier on. There is no way I'd give him a chance on our roster before Andy Gonzalez, who also, to me, is trash. Personally I think the Sox will make a splash or two this off-season, although, I do not see them going after a Linebrink, who will command a bunch of money in the off-season. I can see them pursuing an OF such as Rowand or Hunter. I do not forsee them bring back Uribe, but I do not see them going after someone like Eckstein or Rodriguez. I think that Richar is going to be our guy in the future at 2b, and the outfield could be Fields/Rowand/Sweeney, which wouldn't be all that bad. I'm not sure that Crede will be ready by ST, though, so maybe they'll need another outfielder to fill that void. I do see Ozuna coming back next year. As for the rotation, if they could find a way to package JC out of here, I'd say they take it. A rotation built around Buehrle/Garland/Vazquez/Danks/Floyd looks perfectly fine. I'm thinking the Sox will stay in the organization to get their bullpen set, though it could be a surprise to sign a Kennedy, a Beimel, or a Pineiro. Though this could just be wishful thinking for hearing this news, it's good to know there might not be a s*** ballclub next year.

QUOTE(knightni @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 03:38 AM) You're trying too hard and pushing things. She was at the party to meet people and have fun, not to be assaulted by your tongue and harassed via text message. If she wants to see you again, she'll find you. Knightni brings up a few good points, all of which are in "Real Men Don't Apologize" by Jim Belushi. Did anyone ever read this book?