CaliSoxFanViaSWside

Contreras might be part of KW's plan and a reason why he's letting the kids go for the 5th spot in the rotation. He could be back pitching as early as June, though I'm sure they will procede with the usual caution. If Colon holds up ( a big IF) and a kid seizes the moment Count can be starter a reliever or trade bait if he can establish he's sound by the trade deadline.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Feb 15, 2009 -> 09:44 AM) Why do people keep adding an n to Dayan's last name? I'd love to see what would happen if Wise and Owens completely tank and BA and some other NRI tear the cover off the ball. At least now I know how to pronounce his 1st name, it's Die Ann .

QUOTE (BearSox @ Feb 15, 2009 -> 08:40 AM) None of those players are good enough or have enough potential to be worthy enough to take a risk on. Massett at least had some potential. Besides, all of those players are doubtful to even be snatched up by another team anyway. Betemit is a lock to make the roster though, IMO. It's funny how you said Betemit is a lock to make the roster. When I was writing my post that's almost word for word what I wrote. Then I thought, what if Fields and Viciendo have great springs ? So I took it out. So you're saying Owens and Nix , two of our possible starters, have no potential ? Owen's couldn't possibly stay healthy and solve the leadoff problem and put up decent numbers for 1 year ? Nix ,a guy who won the Colorado starting 2nd base job last year before being DFA'd for sucking couldn't finally figure it out ?

According to the Tribune : Options: The Sox have vowed to take the top 25 players to start the regular season, but last spring they kept Nick Masset, who was out of options, over Ehren Wassermann. Owens, Nix, infielder Wilson Betemit and outfielder Dewayne Wise are out of options and must clear waivers if they don't make the Opening Day roster. If Anderson, Viciedo , Lillibridge , and Getz all have better Springs who makes the team ? Can anyone picture the Sox putting Owens on waivers ?

Konerko. Dye and Quentin all have 100 RBI and 30+ HR Thome has 30+ HR and 90+ RBI Alexei hits .300+ 25 HR 75 RBI Getz hits .275 ,steals 15 bases AJ hits .280 10 HR Brian Anderson hits .260 15+ HR 55 RBI 10 steals MB, Danks and Floyd all have 15+ wins Colon wins 8 befor he gets injured then Contreras win's 8 when he returns. Richard is 5th starter , wins 10. Poreda is the LOOGY. Jenks saves 40. Bullpen ERA is just under 4 Beckham becomes 3rd baseman post All-star break. Viciendo gets AB's as DH against lefties and PH duties post ASB after tearing up the minors. Sox advance to ALCS and lose to the Yankees in 7 games.

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 07:02 AM) Yeah, Steve is right same place different name. I never had cable growing up, so I never watched hockey as a kid and therefore am not a Hawks fan. Not a fan of the Blues either though. I have been to a handful of games and I really only enjoy it in person. I will have to wear Sox or Bears gear to represent. During the strike a few years ago. I got some Hawks gear at great prices, hoodie, cap, t-shirts even some 3rd jersey bobbleheads.

QUOTE (LVSoxFan @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 10:09 AM) Anybody catch it in today's Sun-Times? There's a nice spread all about the Sox and Ramirez. Buy it if you see it. Here's a link that covers part of it: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/1426...eluca12.article But in a section called "Best in Chicago" (as far as who do you want in that position), the Sox took like four out of five categories from the Cubs. So who exactly is at 2nd this year? I fully expect Getz to win the job.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Feb 12, 2009 -> 10:03 AM) Raises to Arbitration eligible players and players that were due for a raise, plus to account for the fact that the economy sucks and attendance/revenues will likely be way down this year. Reinsdorf said he doesn't really expect attendance to drop much because families might be canceling more expensive things like vacations but adding less expensive things for entertainment like a trip to the ball park. He also said the payroll isn't attendance driven as much as it used to be and corporate sponsorship , which will be less this year, pays for much of the salaries in baseball now.

I think if KW made any mistakes this off season it was underestimating just how far the market for free agents would drop. If he had a chance to do it all over again knowing what he knows now Dye and his salary would be on the Reds and the Sox would have Homer Bailey and the ability to sign Abreu and possibly another free agent. All in all if Reinsdorf and his cohorts said make payroll $100mill. then KW's hands were tied from the very beginning of the off season.

I think SS is Alexei's for sure. No centerfield for him. Lillibridge can play center if he impresses as well as play backup SS and 2nd. Betemit you will see play mostly 3rd and 1st , rarely if ever 2nd and not a chance at short. I think many of us are hoping/praying Viciendo can impress enough to make the club and make major contributions though I find it unlikely. He will be the one I watch most closely this spring along with Fields, Getz. Lillibridge , Flowers, Poreda, Richards and Beckham.

Hawks win 3-1 over Thrashers. Haby played great especially in the 3rd period when the Hawks were dominated in faceoffs, shots on goal and scoring chances. Thrashers 6 on 4 after a Sharp hooking penalty with 77 seconds left. Bolland with the empty netter to ice it. 5th win on the road trip out of 7 games. One more to go, friday in St. Louis.

Wiz and Buff healthy scratches. Not surprised at Buff. Wiz maybe because Aaron Johnson hadn't played in a while.

Hawks over Thrashers 2-1 at the end of the 2nd period. Goals by Sharp and Toews both on the PP. Kovalchuk PP goal for Thrashers and scored another on a rebound of a breakaway shot he took at the very end of the period but time had expired.

I hardly ever stray from Soxtalk. Nice to see a Blackhawks thread. I go way back to the Mikita /Hull years when I was a youngster. I've had the MLB package on DirecTV for like 5 years now and this is the 1st year I decided to get NHL Center Ice. I was concerned about the Hawks offense after losing Lang but it's so great to see guys like Versteeg, Bolland , Ladd making major contributions. Also great seeing Havlat having a very strong season especially stepping up since Kane hasn't been 100% for the last month. Slightly disappointed in the contributions from Byfuglien and the defensive efforts of Kane. Absolutely love Burish and would even suggest Byfuglien be dropped to the 4th line and Burish be promoted. Edit: I would also like to add that Keith is the Hawks MVP.

QUOTE (shipps @ Feb 9, 2009 -> 09:05 AM) His music is amazing. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea...iendID=98450415 I thought you were kidding at first but I checked it out and it's not bad , he's a talented guy.

QUOTE (MO2005 @ Feb 10, 2009 -> 09:37 AM) Will he be invited to spring you think? According to the article in the link I listed he will be the 19th non roster spring training invitee.

QUOTE (easyw @ Feb 9, 2009 -> 12:03 AM) I know this sounds insane, but I've been told by someone close to the matter that the Sox are close to signing Ben Broussard. This move makes zero sense to me, but since I heard it, I figured I'd put it out there. Good call . Sox signed Broussard to a minor league deal. http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune....eague-deal.html

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Feb 9, 2009 -> 03:51 PM) Hopefully if we sign Alexei to an extension that it'll make it easier to convince Dayan to sign an extension as well. I think keeping both Alexei and Dayan in order to keep both of them will be key. Getting a little ahead of ourselves aren't we ? We should know when spring games start if this kid has any promise.

Many players are signing minor league deals at this point so why not ?

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Feb 8, 2009 -> 10:53 AM) If Abreu rejected the 8 million that the Sox supposedly offered, he must be kicking himself right now Speaking of kicking himself maybe in hindsight if the Reds had offered a package for Dye KW should have taken it. Maybe the Sox could have had any combination of Abreu , Hudson and/or a pitcher for what they're going to pay Dye this year.

I haven't seen anyone mention it on Soxtalk but when we signed Colon I think most of us assumed his arm was healthy after putting up decent numbers with Boston and in the minors. The reality is he had elbow surgery to clean out bone chips on his pitching arm and will start his spring traing later than most. It wasn't just his back that was injured.

I feel bad for the kid. He's an obvious Mariners fan who wants his lousy team to be better. The internet is a big place filled with crap just like the rest of the world. No need to treat him badly because he's not an expert on baseball yet. If Bleacher Reports wants to give space to young sports fans to play GM I say great. He got flamed as if he was a crack addict seducing someones sister. It amazes me how fast people are to show how smart they are by reveling in someone else's ignorance.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Feb 3, 2009 -> 09:24 PM) It looks to me like Dye + $3M = Bailey. So the Sox would be pitching in a little cash to help pay for Dye's salary. So his logic is the Sox clear $8M in payroll and add a young, incredibly cheap, high upside starter because in these economic times that $8M gets you quite a bit on the open market (Abreu) and young, cheap players are at a premium. Knowing Balta thats what I thought he meant but I wasn't the only one confused judging by the comment after his. The uproar here if Dye was traded for Bailey and we threw in $3 mill. cash. would be tremendous. But like I said in an earlier post in this thread the Sox would do just about anything at this point to rid themselves of Dye's salary but I really don't think there are any takers.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Feb 3, 2009 -> 09:18 PM) There are a lotta good free agents out there still. Do you guys think that in a normal economy we'd be sitting pretty right now? We'd have added Garland and Hudson and maybe Rodriguez to be back up catcher? We'd have maybe added a few pitchers? Is it the economy, stupid that has held us back? I mean I'm interested in trying out Getz, etc., but shouldn't we have picked up Garland, Hudson (maybe even Durham), Byrd, Kerry Wood, etc? It's always something with the Sox that prevents them from signing anything but reclamation projects. Can't really say I blame them. It's worked out well. Bargain hunting has turned up a few diamonds in the rough.