Chisoxfn

Thank you Mike. I don't understand the sudden love for Mark Johnson. I have watched many games and he is nothing special behind the plate. He doesn't have a great arm, and he's only decent at blocking the balls. I know Paul is worse, but how much worse, not that much to me. Plus, Paul can bunt, and handle a bat pretty well himself. Still, I'd love to see them bring in a veteran backstup for 500 k or so.

Jose will be gone because the Sox will look to move Jimenez to short, if he produces this upcoming season, like I know he will. Then the options will be Harris or Hummel at 2nd, but the Sox will definately look for a backup plan in the infield. Maybe that plan will be Jose, I sure hope not, because I'd love to bring in a better, more effecient defensive shortstop. I'd love Matsui next year, but that ain't going to happen unless the Sox really draw this year.

Koch is only 27 and has a nasty fastball and a good secondary pitch. I can't remember if its the slider or a curve, but its a pretty good one. Upside wise, Koch has quite a bit since this will only be his 5th year at the major league level. Of course Foulke is great himself, but Koch has the better arm, not that it means much because Foulke has been amazing for the Sox. Me, I like the deal as long as it isn't a great minor leaguer.

Hey Jason..... think that Aaron Harang has anything to do with this? remember there were earlier talks about a deal involving him Nope, becuase i don't really buy much into the earlier talks. This is for Koch, not Harang. Plus, they can't afford to give up any starters right now.

I say bring on Joe, let Maggs play, then lock up Lee for 2 to 3 more years where he can play in left on ocassions as well as DH. He's a pretty solid player and their ain't many dh's that aren't that good out their. Plus, the Sox will likely be finding a new infielder after next season as Valentin will be gone, so that is already one questionmark, and they may not have Rowand in center with someone else replacing him, which would be the second question mark, and then Borchard would be in the outfield as a 3rd questionmark, and I'd hate to see a 4th as the DH.

Huh, Kelly 5 plus mill? You mean 500k... Ya I am with you on that, I forgot about that and realized some of it must go to him, I say 4 mill a year. Remember, they loose 4.5 mill when Manos leaves and then Carlos goes free, but I do think if Frank isn't here we have to lock Carlos back up, but for a cheaper price.

Thats the spirit. :metal

Turduken sounds good to me, but my turkey was damn good.

Interesting...I miss out on these tidbits way out in California

I know one thing, this move would make sense not only shorterm but longterm and could be a sign of an improvement out of KW. He looks to be seeing the big picture now. He see's he'll save enough money so he can add that starter JR wouldn't let him get, and then he also ensures that he will have a closer for 3 more years, instead of just one. Seems good so far, but theirs got to be a catch...Please don't let their be a catch

Well Yes and No. He only makes 6.5 mill which is way less then Maddux or Clemens, but if the Sox were to get him I'd want them to lock him long term which would cost Maddux money. So I guess it depends on how you see it, short term or long term. Also, I forgot to mention some of that money saved will definately go to Buerhle.

I'm shocked Michelle. The one thing I love is the fact that he throws 97 to 98 with a solid secondary pitch. When you throw that hard, you can ocassionaly get threw an off night.

Nowhere in their does it say Byrd or Daal isn't an option and I'll take one of them happily. I think Thomas goes, the Sox get money from that. Then they sign Byrd or Daal as well as an outfielder, say Hollandsworth who will compete with Liefer in left, and play ocassionaly for Rowand in center, while Lee splits Left and dh.

Cool. Ya, the Sox reupped with Miles so he'll be in the organization for at least another year. This move makes a lot of sense on the Sox part as long as they don't give up a prospect. I love the idea of knowing we'll have a closer past this season cause I don't think Marte should close, I love havign a lefty setup man to go with a quality righty set up man, and I don't think any of the guys in the minors are ready to take over the duties of closer. Plus you can never have too many arms in the pen, and Koch will immediately come in and add an extra dimmension of heat to the bullpen.

Did Schu get mad because Evans wasn't hired? I always figured Schu felt KW was a good man for the job. I know everyone did talk about Evans getting the job for the longest time and then out of the blue KW was hired.

Well if they did indeed offer Daal 2 mill a year and now they are going to end up saving somewhere around 3 mill if they move Foulke. My math says that leaves 5 mill if they wanted to land a free agent starter or if they dealt Lee and his 4 mill deal that would be 9 mill. To me this means we either get Colon, Byrd(if JR wants to spend all of that 5 he saves) or Daal(If he wants to do it the cheap way)

Alright. I just figured he made 10 mill last year and that was about what his contract called for. Your the one with the figures though,

The only thing I can think is either he thinks Koch is going to have a down year or he sees that Foulke hasn't lost it. Either way I got confidence in both and this isn't going to be a bad trade for either teams. To me it would give the Sox enough money where they can pull in a front line starter, even if Frank comes back.

I'm hoping its a nobody. Maybe at most a Mike Porzio, cause in all honesty he doesn't fit into the Sox plans with so many lefties already at the AA level or higher. I don't want to see any of our younger more promising players going anywhere. The one thing this move does do is free up salary as Foulke makes like 6 mill compared to the 2.35 Koch made last year. Koch is eligible for arbitration this year, and will be eligible for the next 3 years. I think that means he don't become a free agent for another 3 years, meaning the Sox will have exclusive rights to him. I'd offer him say 3 yr 12 mill and see if he takes it long term. THe Sox save a couple million this year and have a closer for the future since Koch is only 27. He was 11-4 last year with 44 saves in 50 opportunities with a 3.27 era. He whiffed 93 in 93 innings. In 2001, which was his worse season, he went 2-5 with a 4.80 era. The good news is the year before that he was 9-3 with a 2.63 era and 33 saves. The guy's a-ok in my books. I like Keith a lot, but Koch is a much more typical closer and I know many complained about Keith losing it. Hey Michelle, you got an insider on this, cause you've got me excited.

not sure how i feel about that..koch had a very good yer last year while foulke struggled..but they both could revert back to '01 form where foulke was the better pitcher...thats probably what would happen with our luck....un like others..im not ready to give up on MJ yet...i still think he could develop into a pretty decent catcher I'll deal MJ in a heartbeat. I'm just thinking about Miguel Olivo. Better defensively and at the very worse he'd be just as good as MJ offensively.

I don't think he really had any deferred money up until this point. OTher then maybe a couple million.

Man oh man, I'll be so pumped if the Sox made that move. Billy Koch was plain filthy last year. The guy isn't just a one inning closer either(Kind of like Foulke) and man can Koch throw the gas. That would be an excellent pickup in my opinion, plus isn't Koch a bit younger and signed longer term?

No offense to Harold, but I don't really want him having any type of important front office job. He's a great guy and all, but I know I don't want him as a coach, and I definately don't want him as a gm. The first thing he'd do would be to sign himself.

I definately agree with you about that. They aught to have a huge ceremony, the only thing, I wonder how he'd take it, if he isn't retired. I mean, wouldn't it be a retirement ceremony.

Test