GreatScott82

What teams are still looking for a starting catcher? I heard Florida had some interest in him. But yea i'd give him 2 million to be AJs backup/ pinch hitter/ late inning defensive replacement- the dude still has a cannon for an arm. The problem is, will he accept such a role?

Hey Steve... i love it when you analyze! I couldn't agree more. At the time it didn't look like a really good deal, but now that we all can see it as a financial stand point- it makes perfect sense. Kenny is being extremely smart. He is keeping this team competitive and developing young talent while shedding payroll at the same time. After this season the team will gain ~$33-$45 million in salary departures (pending on what they do with Dye's option). The only 3 players of significance that will be arbitration eligable are CQ, Danks and Floyd. I could see Danks and Floyd getting Jenks type money, while CQ will likely get 7-8 million pending on his 2009 results. Regardless, KW will be in a great possition in the next 2 offseasons to make a splash in the free agent market...

QUOTE (fathom @ Mar 1, 2009 -> 04:34 PM) Give it time...it will happen sooner rather than later. I talked to my cousin who was at the game yesterday, and they couldn't believe how awful Lillibridge looks. yea and i know its early, but Getz really hasn't looked that impressive.... Nix and Beckham have looked solid so far....

Would i be considered too impatient by saying I want Beckham to start the season as our every 2b? He is such a natural hitter- what a beautiful thing!

i wish you were here- Incubus Voodo Child- Jimmi Hendrix Cochise- Audioslave

I want Poreda as our 5th starter, or he should start down in triple-a. Richard would dominate in our pen... Let Marquez and Poreda battle it out for the 5th spot this spring. If Contreras is ready, let them both start down in triple-a.

I have to give Contreras credit... he lost 30 lbs, and is already throwing the ball. If he can start pitching by May and be ready to come up after the ASB, that would be a HUGE boost for the rotation. Especially since Colon is a giant (no pun-intended) question mark and that 5th starter spot is still unknown at this time.

Viciedo will come up in July and hit about 15 HRs. He will show all Sox fans that he indeed is 'the next big thing'. Danks will have a sensational season winning 17 games and posting a 3.85 ERA. Owens will have a nice spring and make the team as our every day CF/leadoff man. But by May he will once again find his way on the DL and Lillybridge will take his spot and do a nice job. Getz will have a decent rookie campaign. He will bat about .260, 25 SB and 50 RBI. Fields will prove us all wrong with his defensive play, and will knock out 30 HR. However, his average will be below .240 and his strike out rate will be scary.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Feb 10, 2009 -> 03:03 AM) Cabrera was hardly 'dead weight' last year. He may not have been the most likeable guy, but he was a big part of the division championship. Swisher, not so much. yep, he stepped up to be a decent leadoff hitter when we didnt have the 'traditional leadoff man' at the top. That is what worries me about this team... who will be the untraditional leadoff hitter this year? Getz, Lillybridge? Owens? These guys havent even had a full year of MLB experience.

Lets not forget all the big hits last year in April and May before his back quit on him again. Crede will be missed and will always be a Sox legend.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Feb 3, 2009 -> 08:56 PM) Really curious who this mysterious pitcher is. And I know this has essentially been the slowest moving offseason ever, but why now? I'm thinking its the Bailey/Abreu combo platter weve all been talking about. I could see KW trying to get a guy like Weaver from the Angels for Dye as well.... Kind of odd that ESPN reported this rumor. Usually if it gets to them, it has some sort of legitmacy behind it.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 3, 2009 -> 08:51 PM) With the way the market has fallen off for corner OF's, if we could get Bailey for Dye + $3 million, I'd probably do that deal. Abreu+Bailey and 3.5 million for Dye? Yea i'd do that also. It would keep us competitive this year, while adding even more depth to our pitching staff.

Well according to both Chicago radio shows, if the Sox were to sign Abreu, a Dye trade would have to happen first. I just dont see this happening... I also don't see the Angels dealing Figgins. Who would there leadoff hitter be then? If these 2 options exist, you would have to pull the trigger. Figgins/Abreu outwieghs Dye's production IMO. We already have pleanty of power... Figgins/Abreu would add a little bit of OBP and SB productivity to our lineup.

soooo much can change during spring training. but as of right now here is what i project: Lillybridge CF (has an amazing ST) Pierzynski C (like Fathom said, KW loves AJ hitting second) Quentin LF Dye RF Thome DH Ramirez SS Konerko 1B Fields 3B Getz 2B Bench: Betemit 3B, 1B, Wise OF, Anderson OF, ?? C, Nix INF Rotation: Buerhle Danks Floyd Poreda (has an amazing ST...) Colon Bullpen: Jenks, Thorton, Dotel, Linebrink, Richard, Wasserman Spring training battles to watch: 2B: I think it will be really close between Getz and Lillybridge. 3B: Many people are pretty much assuming Fields wins the 3B position with all of his offseason work with Cora, but it shall be interesting to see how this Viciedo guy does in Spring training to challange him. 5th starter spot: Poreda vs Richard vs Marquez vs Broadway- KW seems really high on Marquez but i see him more as in insurance policy to Colon. Broadway hasn't really devloped into what we thought he could become. I think its really down to Richard and Poreda and the loser goes to the bullpen... it will be fun to watch. CF: This is by far the biggest question mark on our team. Does Ozzie let Anderson have 1 more crack at it? We all know his defensive capabilities, but can he finally hit on a consistent basis? Does Owens finally stay healthy enough to be that speedy guy we have missed since Pods? Does Wise have the spring training of his life to become our leadoff hitter? Can Lillybridge adjust to centerfield in time for the regular season?

QUOTE (bschmaranz @ Feb 1, 2009 -> 02:57 PM) From MLBTradeRumors.com They picked that from a Perrotto article over at baseball prospectus. It's a blurp obviously but it is interesting. If I-Rod would accept a backup role, i would take him in a heart beat. This may be a possibility because he is on the downside of his career. He is one of Ozzie's best friends ( i know Ozzie has like 100 best friends). That could be a selling point, KW could also make a case for him being a part time DH when Thome needs a day off. Plus with all the lefty-righty matchups, im sure he will have his fair share of pinch hit oppurtunities. If he finds a starting job somewhere, i would then look into Henry Blanco.

That is pretty remarkable that the Sox are only commited to 36 million next year... im guessing that will go up to about 50 million when Quentin, Floyd and Danks get there arbitration money. The Sox are in amazing shape next year financially. The more and more i hear Kenny praise Lillybridge, the more i want to see him play. Is it possible for him to be our every day CF? If the dude can steal 40-50 bases i would much rather see him out there than Owens. I'm not going to lie, it will definitley be fun to see what young player emerges out of nowhere next year.... that seems to be latest trend in the Sox organization the past 2 seasons... Im picking Lillybridge as my suprise player of 2009... rather if its 2B or CF this guy seems to have the tools we have been looking for.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 04:02 PM) According to TheScore, Colon is in Chicago right now. Freddy is going to pick in the next few days between a few teams: White Sox, Mets, Yankees and Rangers. I predict Colon signs here. Freddy signs with the Mets. Damn im good!

yea i am also shocked by the lack of free agent movement. It goes to show you that teams are being very careful how they spend their money.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jan 19, 2009 -> 03:12 PM) that can by a LOT of Big Macs... Doesnt he get McDonalds for free for doing those commercials a couple years ago? Bobby has earned this pay more than anybody... 2 Division championships, 1 League championship and 1 World Series Championship to go along with his 117 Saves in 133 save oppurtunities an impressive 88% career save percentage.

I was all about Owens last year. But the dude cant stay healthy... Im back on the Anderson bandwagon. He is our best defensive outfielder. Having him out there will probably save us many runs this year. If he can just hit .250 i'll be more than pleased... The only issue we have right now is who the hell is our leadoff hitter? Its asking an aweful lot for Getz to jump right in as a leadoff hitter...

Its all about pitching... Starters If Danks and Floyd continue to improve we will be in great shape. Buerhle is Buerhle. A lot will depend if Colon stays healthy. And then when Contreras comes back if he can stay healthy or not. Will Marquez be a decent enough 5th starter? I would like it if Marquez and Poreda start off the year in triple-a.... but i garuntee you we will see them in our rotation at some point during the year. A signing of Freddy would be smart. It seems as if all he is looking for is a minor league deal with a chance to make a big league rotation at some point during the year.... Why wouldn't we look into that? The bullpen I think we still have the making of a strong bullpen. Jenks has really developed into a true closer in this league of the past 2 seasons. Dotel and Linebrink if healthy can be very solid setup men. Thorton is a stud. I think Clayton Richard will be an excellent long reliever/ 6th-7th inning guy for us in 2009. IMO he will be a HUGE reason for our sucess in 2009. I can see Wasserman being effective as well. It will also be interesting to see how the MacDougal situation turns out... the guy has flat out nasty stuff. He just needs to control his pitches... As far as everything else goes... Im pretty sure KW isn't quite done putting the starting lineup together. I know he said over a month ago that he would focus on the outfield situation next. Well since then, he has made zero moves addressing the OF. Im guessing he will make one more stab at getting a CF... I think the infield is set with Getz, Ramirez and Fields.

You could never have enough pitching. You figure both will be hurt at some point during the year... so letting Marquez and Poreda get started down in triple-a to get warmed up cant be a bad thing.

Anyone who makes 'projected' standings this early in january is a nimrod.

QUOTE (103 mph screwball @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 07:53 PM) I still think another veteran may come. Marquez will earn confidence in the pen like Floyd and be ready to step in for whoever gets injured first Buerhle Danks Floyd Colon Garcia/Pedro/Garland Jenks Linebrink Dotel Thornton Marquez Richard Nunez Poreda develops in the minors Or this sets up the upcoming Floyd for Roberts trade I just dont see the Sox getting another veteran starting pitcher now that Colon is back with us. I expect KW to let Marquez, Poreda and Richard battle it out in ST for that final starting spot. I think Marquez will win it. Poreda will start down in triple A. And Richard is going to solidify our bullpen.

This move cant hurt anything.... Obviously Colon won't be the same guy he was back in 2003. But i like the fact that he won 4 of 7 last year before hurting is back by 'swinging his bat crazy' in an AB vs Cole Hamels. He came back to start on September 13th and was starting in that game. So he left on bad terms with the Bo Sox but the key word was he was ready to pitch and he was healthy. The Red Sox just wanted to put him in the bullpen and he wanted nothing to do with it... If we are getting a healthy Colon, we can definitley get 10-12 wins out of the guy. (El-duque of 2005). And if he's hurt at some point during the year, you bring up Poreda. Buerhle, Floyd, Danks, Colon, Marquez. Not bad. Im really interested to see how this Marquez fella pitches. I think Poreda will start the year down in triple-a. At some point in 2009- HE WILL make his MLB debut... Clayton Richard will go to the bullpen IMO. He's a GREAT long reliever/ spot starter.