GreatScott82

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 17, 2009 -> 09:49 PM) So Kal, how is our full year payroll projected to be at this point, with the inclusions of Peavy and Rios? With the additions of Rios and Peavy and arbatration for guys like Danks, Jenks and CQ the Sox total commited payroll will be around ~90 million W/O Rios, Peavy, Danks, CQ and Jenks the payroll would be: 45 million 45 million + 15 million (Peavy) + 9.7 million (Rios) + ~7 million (Jenks)+ ~5.5 million (Danks) + ~7 million (CQ) + 1 million (Carrasco) = ~90 million. I'm guessing Reiny wants to be around 100-105 million in payroll. He knows KW is building for a strong run in 2010 so 105 million is not out of the question. This will give KW about 10-15 million to spend on free agency. However, lets not count out trades. Jenks may be a strong trade candidate this winter.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 19, 2009 -> 03:26 PM) If Jose can beat Greinke, maybe Snell can beat Verlander???? Go Mariners! This was a must win! Just when everyone writes him off he always somehow throws a a game like this to give us hope. . rather that hope is false or not, its too early to tell but a win is a win. Go Mariners!

QUOTE (b-Rye @ Aug 18, 2009 -> 10:26 PM) Tonights the 22nd one of the season. versus how many 1 run wins? I'm curious on that one.

I know there are a lot of Freddy haters on this board but i was at the game last night, and he didn't look too bad. He made a few mistakes that costed him the game but he showed me that he still has a decent arsenal and that he can compete. He is a much better option than Contreras IMO. Tonights game will be huge for Contreras as he now has literally no room for error. He absolutely needs to pitch well tonight or Freddy will likely take his spot the rest of the way.

16-15 since the ASB isn't too bad when you look at our schedule and saw we played vs teams like the Yankees, Angels, Rays, Tigers and Twins. The thing i don't like seeing is that we are under .500 vs the AL Central and 15-14 vs KC and Cleveland combined! Honestly our defense has probably lost us 5+ games this year. Our starting pitching has been solid, our offense is solid, our pen has been shaky but most pens are iffy this time of year, its our horrible defense thats going to make or break us.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 17, 2009 -> 07:38 PM) Yup. And I believe 2011 is Linebrink and Buehrle...although hopefully MB is extended once more if he wants to keep going. Then 2012 is Peavy, unless we pick up his option. It's a good progression of rolling through people, which is sorta how you want it. Yeppo. We are set up pretty nicely. Raises to Quentin and Danks really isn't going to effect us that much. KW will have about 10-12 million to spend on free agency and i think Figgins is the guy he'll be courting this winter.

A win is a win. Going to tommorows game. Can't wait to see how Freddy will pitch.

QUOTE (gatnom @ Aug 17, 2009 -> 04:26 PM) I can't see this team actually having enough money for Figgins let alone having enough to fill in the other holes. What other holes? I really think this team can fill everything else internally. Hudson may be ready for next season. The infield is set, the outfield would be set with the aquisition of Figgins and Thome would be brought back cheap for 1 year.

QUOTE (Lemon_44 @ Aug 14, 2009 -> 07:01 AM) i agree. I don't see any way THome is not back next year unless his contract demands are outrageous and i can't see that being the case. Ozzie,and all his teammates, love the guy, he's going for 600 HR, and he's lefthanded. As much as i'd like Blalock to be brought in, i think Thome is on the team and Dye may be the odd man out. Replace Dye's contract with Figgins and having an OF of Figgins, Rios, and CQ would be acceptable. Pods could be brought back as a #4 OF. I agree with everything except for the Pods brought back as a 4th OF. He will likely land a starting OF spot somewhere after the season he is having. Hopefully it is not with us. I love him offensively but defensively he is too much of a liability. Dye is going to want some pretty good cash and he is likely seeking a 3 year deal. Since we already have a lineup stacked with Right handed hitters, i just don't see him as a fit next year. Thome is going to want a 1 year deal for like $5 million plus incentives. Yeah he'll miss his seasonal 15-30 games/ year, but his OBP is still high at .380 and he is on pace for another 30 HR season. At this rate, Thome will hit his 600th HR around late August of next year. That would be great for marketing as well. Pending some trades, the Sox will have about $10-12 million to spend on free agents. I personally would love Figgins. Yea he is getting a bit older but he could steal bases (37/50) he could still get on base .401 OBP, and he is better defensively than Pods. So yeah i would spend that Dye money on Figgins.

KW is preparing for a serious run in 2010. That being said, if the Sox win the division in 2009- its nothing but a bonus. KW already addressed the defensive situation by aqcuirering Rios. So far i like what im seeing out of him out there. The infield needs to improve their defensive play. One thing we have to remember is- Getz, Ramirez and Beckham are all playing their respective positions for the first time at the MLB level. I can't remeber that every happening before as a Sox fan. So there is definitley room for improvement there. Next year our rotation could arguably be the best in baseball with a full season of Peavy. With a few moves in the offseason KW has set himself up to have a pretty awesome team next year. As far as this year goes, we were predicted to be on the bottom of the division. Instead were in the thick of things- Gordon Beckham has made his arrival, KW gets Rios for nothing, Podsednik returns and is super rejuvinated, and we get a Cy Young pitcher in Jake Peavy. Yeah- i'd say things have turned around pretty quickly. If CQ could get some rest here and there, i'd say we have a great chance of winning the division this year. And hey, if Freddy Garcia could give us a few good outings- i'm going to like our chances even more. If we come up just short- i won't be too sad because i know in 2010- we are going to be one of the best in baseball.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 05:41 PM) For the record, I was for and championed Pods getting his number back from Josh Fields (when you all thought Josh was a big part of our future), but I am not for Freddy getting his number from Gavin. That being said, what number does he get? 33? 43? 24? 1? 00? I think Freddy is going to sport 33. Gavin has earned #34.

Should have won this game. Plain and simple. I think Ozzie blew this one. He took Danks out waaayy too soon. Then he puts Jenks in the 9th when he could have easily used Thorton.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 05:26 PM) I sure hope we don't waste this chance to gain on the Tigers...not to mention the Twins too. seems like we've been 2.5 games back for ever. hope we dont blow another chance to sweep.

QUOTE (WSoxMatt @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 05:20 PM) That ball hit off the 17 for LAA, Pods wasnt going to catch that even if he were all the way back, he is too short If only Rios was in LF today. The only way Pods catches that ball is if he uses the wall to leap up higher. Lets win this one in the 9th. Hell of a performance from Danks.

lets do this!

QUOTE (son of a rude @ Aug 14, 2009 -> 01:59 PM) He did it all wrong It must go five seven five He sucks at haikus lol oh well i teach science not english.

Wagner would be an incredible addition to our pen. And down the stretch, we are going to need all the help down there as possible.

Freddy Garcia is one of my all-time favorite Sox players. It will be a pretty nice story if he could help contribute to our success down the stretch. Could tonights game be Contreras' last? I'm guessing if he lays another egg he's out of the rotation.

Freddy Garcia seems to be doing a pretty impressive job down in triple-a. per dailyherald sounds like sweaty freddy will be back! Tuesday, August 18th Freddy is back!! Kind of sounds like a nightmare on elm st. film.

Jakey-Jakey first made a mistakey He came to his senses A good rotation is now stellar.

Im loving his radio call. .

If the starting pitching performs like it did the last few days, we will make the playoffs. Last night was just one of those freakish games where no team could buy a run. I could definitley see the Sox scoring 6-8 runs on friday night. Our next 9 games are against below .500 teams. We NEED to take advantage of these games. 3 @ Oakland: Hopefully we'll win 2. But this place has been a nightmare for us for whatever reason. 3 vs KC: A sweep would do wonders. We are playing better at home of late. I say we'll win 2. 3 vs Baltamore: Another opportunity for a sweep. But we'll likely win 2 here. Anything less than 6-3 would be a dissappointment.

QUOTE (son of a rude @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 05:57 PM) I don't see why the Rays would let go of Crawford. They have a team option for around 10 million for him. If for some reason they don't take that option, he will get a buttload of cash from some other team. He is having a career year. The Rays are going to take that option and likely trade him this winter. The question is, how much will you be willing to give up for 1 year of a great player?

I love what KW has done this year. Its kind of like Deja-Vu right back to 2004. We were in a tight division race with Minny- KW goes out and aqcuires Contreras, Garcia and Everett. We just missed the playoffs- but KW finished putting together his puzzle that winter. Fast forward to 2009. The Sox are in a pretty tight race with Detroit, KW goes out and brings in Jake Peavy and Alex Rios. Now I hope we don't fall short, but if we do- you know damn well KW will finish putting his puzzle together this winter. With the additions of Peavy and Rios, we are that close to heading back to the promiseland. . . My favorite KW move was aqcuirering Freddy Garcia back in 2004. I knew right then and there we would be tough to beat. I have a gut feeling the Peavy deal will be just as good. The 2010 plan is begins. . . NOW!!!