EvilJester99

Maybe the Sox will benefit from the Mariners misfortunes soon though. If they Fire sale or whatever. The Sox may be able to get Garcia a bit easier. Heres to hoping.

Congrats Aboz.... Don't let the power corrupt ya though lol.

More columns by Paul Ladewski Lefty Mulder would be right fit for Sox Thursday, May 13, 2004 Here it is mid-May, and the White Sox are off to an 18-13 start. Began Wednesday tied for first place in the AL Central Division. Best record in town. Not bad for a team with a puny $60 million payroll, huh? Yeah, not bad. But not good enough, either. The Sox need to think bigger, try harder, do better. Pedal to the metal? No, they need to go pedal through the floorboard before the July 31 trade deadline. And nobody knows it more than Ken Williams, their general manager. Face it. If the Sox are to become a major player in the high-stakes game known as Major League Baseball, there has to be a sizable increase in season-ticket sales in the months ahead. Sure, the higher-ups were tickled green to see nearly 9,000 walk-ups on hand for Tuesday night's series opener against the Baltimore Orioles, but those people can't be counted on night after night, season after season. No, the Sox need a greater commitment from their fans, and the only way to get it is to give them a playoff team in return. "We have to go for it all, and anybody who knows me understands that we will," K-Will said on a rainy Wednesday at The Cell. "I hear people say that such and such move can't be made. My response to that is, 'Why can't it be made?' That doesn't mean it will get done, but you can try like heck to make it happen." Hello, operator? The Oakland Athletics please. If the Sox have an apparent need at this point, it's a horse to anchor the rotation. On a given day, Esteban Loaiza or Mark Buehrle each has shown he can be The Guy, but the fact remains they have all of two postseason appearances between them. Fast-forward to October. Would you feel comfortable with Loaiza vs. Pedro Martinez and Buehrle vs. Curt Schilling in the first two games against the Boston Red Sox? Or Loaiza vs. Kevin Brown and Buehrle vs. Mike Mussina against the New York Yankee$? If any team has quality starters to offer, it's the A's. General manager Billy Beane, ol' Mr. Moneyball himself, has been reluctant to part with Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito in the past, but times are different now. The departure of shortstop Miguel Tejada left an XL-size hole in their lineup, and if the third-place A's don't fill it soon, then "Moneyball" will have a sequel. "Moneybull," they'll call it. Think the A's would maim to get Magglio Ordonez in their lineup? Think the Sox would be disappointed to have a playoff-hardened pitcher such as Mulder at the front end of their rotation? Forget Randy Johnson and the $33 million he will be paid this year and next. And never mind Freddy Garcia, who ain't what he used to be. A native of South Holland, where he starred at Thornwood High School, the 26-year-old Mulder would be a more effective, less costly fit here. He has a $4.45 million salary and is signed through next season. When I spoke with Mulder at the All-Star Game last summer, he sounded like a guy whose head was in the Bay Area but whose heart was still on the South Side, where he and his buddies spent many a night at The Cell. "I had a great time here whether I sat in the bleachers or got tickets behind the dugout from friends," Mulder said at the time. "Actually, my most enjoyable times where in left field. There are great seats out there. There really are." Mulder is no stranger to the playoffs, where he has a 2-2 record and 2.25 ERA to show for four games. Better yet, he is left-handed, which is no small consideration in the Central race. The Minnesota Twins are toast against southpaws. Add Mulder to Buehrle and Scott Schoeneweis, and the Sox could throw three of them in a given series. Modern-day Branch Rickey that he is, Beane dissed Williams in "Moneyball," but the words didn't prevent trade talks between the two after the fact. "We acquired Jon Adkins, Neal Cotts and Miguel Olivo from them," Williams reminded. "Why wouldn't I talk with them?" If the Sox agree to pay a chunk of the salary difference — Ordonez will be paid $14 million this season — the deal is a doable one. As good as Ordonez may be, it doesn't make dollars or sense for the Sox to make a five-year, $70 million commitment to him. Pure and simple, he doesn't attract enough fans to the ballpark to merit superstar money. Keep Ordonez and they probably lose him if — when? — another team blows him away with an offer like the Anaheim Angels did to Bartolo Colon last winter. Would the 30-year-old Ordonez be missed here? Of course. Ohh-eee-ohh Maaag-lio rates as one of the most consistent all-around hitters in the game. Still, I'm not so sure Ordonez is as irreplaceable as some people think. Even without him, the Sox still have five potential 20-home run hitters. Who's to say that Carlos Lee can't put up Ordonez-like numbers in the No. 3 hole — and steal 20-plus bases to boot? Oh, and after Williams acquires Mulder or a reasonable facsimile, then he can pry center fielder Carlos Beltran away from the Kansas City Royals. "I won't rule out anything," Williams said. "If our fans can dream it, then I can dream it." Bet Ken Williams dreams a lot these days.

I would be totally excited if the Sox could find a way to get Mulder. Holy s*** that would be awesome. It also doesn't hurt he is a Chicago area guy.

I am hoping KW goes for Freddie Garcia...how many times do they have to sign an aging player and then find out he isn't the player he once was and now are stuck with him?? No more old and overpaid players.

Question I have now is...How stupid does Billy Beane look now?? Wasn't Billy bragging on how he fleeced KW in that trade and that Olivo wouldn't amount to jack?? Well I got news for ya. Olivo is awesome.

I would think the Sox may try to shop C Lee for Garcia. Seattle is in need of a big hitter.

I was 17 and flipped my moms car. I was driving like a dumbass and ended up with the right side of the car going up an enbankment and car flipped over totally the car. Luckily I was unhurt but the car was f***ed.

Happy BDay

Think they would take Danny Wright and Jon Rauch?? LoL

I heard on the score this morning that the Sox may be looking at Tom Glavine. I am sure the Sox can get the Mets to pay some of his salary in a deal. Isn't Glavine near 90 years old though?? Sheesh.

Geez can't depend on Seattle for anything.

I sure hope so...the Sox will need him. Plus I have him on my Fantasy team. hehe

s*** Seattle letting Minny right back in this f***ing game... geez.

4 hit night for Big Willie... dayum

How about leaving Timo starting from now on. He is doing pretty well. Sit AR.

I was begining to wonder if Ozzie was ever going to use Adkins again. Havent seen him a while.

Kruk has man boobs.... he needs a Bro or Manzier. They are all a bunch of morons on that show. If it isnt Red Sox, Yankmees or Scrubs they dont wanna talk about it.

Big Hurt!!!!!! 3 run shot.... awesome.. this offense is waking up. Bout damn time....

Good I would rather see Diaz face Baltimore more so than face the Twins.

I agree with Nuke here..... "Do onto others as they do onto you". I say the best thing that could happen is lay that area to waste, but since that will never happen then they need to find those bastards and kill them.

This subject has been talked to death. Cotts has been a starter for his total career and has only been in the pen for a few months. I am sure it wouldn't take long for him to be "stretched out" enough to be effective. Also Wunsch, if I am not mistaken he was one of the better relievers last season. I believe he was second against lefties and 3rd against righties. .

Myself I would rather see Cotts get his shot at being the #5 and bring Wunsch back to the pen.

I am kind of surprised they are leaving Wunsch in Charlotte. With the money they are paying him, I figured they were trading him for sure.

I was watching the game with a couple of buds and they pointed it out as well.