FlaCWS

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Dec 8, 2005 -> 10:15 PM) Blum is on the Padres Oops, my bad. I totally forgot. In any event, I personally wouldn't have given up on Marte.

I'm not sure I get the trade. I know Marte struggled, but you can never have enough hard-throwing lefties. On the other hand, we already have three utility guys (Ozuna, Harris and Blum). What did we gain?

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 05:19 PM) Are you really arguing that we don't need offense, that pitching and defense are enough? How many games are we gonna win if we play only that side of the game? Absolutely not. But Thome is on the downside of his career and strikes out way too much for my taste. On top of that he is below-average defensively. If this was 3-4 years ago, maybe. Also, how does this affect payroll? I'd rather see them spend money to keep Konerko or wrap up Buehrle or Garland long-term. If those things don't happen because we spent money on Thome, that will suck.

I'm not sure how this is a good trade at all. After winning the World Series because of PITCHING and DEFENSE we give up an above average centerfielder for a full-time DH? Did the Carlos Lee trade teach us nothing? Plus, does this mean Konerko is definitely gone? If so, we now have zero defense at 1B and a guy who strikes out a billion times. He hits a ton of HRs? So what, so did Carlos and Mags, and guess where that got us. This deal makes no sense to me after what Kenny did with this team last year. None.

I absolutely agree with the general tone of this thread. If there's one thing the 2005 Sox proved it's that a champion is about team and not individual stars. I love Konerko, I think he's a huge part of this team and I hope he stays. But think back to what people were saying when Kenny let Carlos Lee and Magglio go last year. What Kenny did was turn those two guys into about 4 or 5 guys - all of whom contributed to this championship. If Paulie is dead-set on getting his $15 mil - or whatever number - then tip your cap, let him walk and use that money on 2 or 3 guys. Winning championships is about pitching, defense and intangibles. Compare the rosters of the 2005 White Sox and 2005 Yankees and it's easy to figure out. Speaking of the Yankees, they won multiple championships with Tino Martinez at 1B and Scott Brosius at 3B. They've won zero with Giambi and A-Rod at those positions.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Nov 4, 2005 -> 03:48 PM) Piazza can hardly hit, he can't run, he can't play any defense behind the plate, he can't throw, he wouldn't want to be a backup and he would still make a few million next year. He's just about done. I said backup catcher and everyday DH. I also said relatively cheap, and if we lose Frank and Paul we'll have to find some source of right-handed power. I guarantee Piazza will be someone's everyday DH in '06. But, again, it's now a moot point. Sorry I brought it up.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Nov 4, 2005 -> 03:45 PM) The Widge >>> Piazza Defensively... no question. But Piazza still has a couple of years left in that Hall of Fame bat. I forgot to mention Konerko too. If we lose Carl, Frank and Paul, that's a lot of power. Piazza could come relatively cheap too. He's 36 years old (or thereabouts). But it's a moot point now.

There goes my plan to sign Piazza as our backup catcher and everyday DH. :-) I like Widger a lot, but I thought Piazza would make a lot of sense, especially with Everett gone and (possibly, but hopefully not) Frank too.

Guys, thanks for the help. I really appreciate it! I think I'll probably stick to the lots for security reasons, as someone mentioned. By the way, how much do the lots cost? I'm guessing $20.

I'm thinking about going to the Black Hawks game Sunday night. It would be my first time to the United Center and I'm wondering if anyone has advice on where to park (does it matter, one lot versus another?) Someone told me it's a bad neighborhood and to get out of there immediately after the game. I've heard the same about the Cell but had a good experience when I went there. Also, this is probably a dumb question, but will I have a problem walking up to the box office on game day and getting one of the cheap seats? I assume the games don't sell out... Thanks for any advice!

QUOTE(FlaCWS @ Oct 23, 2005 -> 09:22 PM) Unless we can figure out Lidge - which will not be easy - our bullpen better have a few innings in them. El Duque should start warming up now. This is what all that rest was for. Thank you Scotty for making me look stupid... YES!!! PS - How classic was that replay of Rowand's reaction... "No... no.... no way...... YESSS!!!"

Unless we can figure out Lidge - which will not be easy - our bullpen better have a few innings in them. El Duque should start warming up now. This is what all that rest was for.

It will not be easy to sleep tonight.

What an awful job by AJ. If you're up there swinging at the first pitch you have to make it count. Terrible terrible job with only one inning before Lidge. By the way, maybe it only seems this way... but do all of Carl's hits come with the bases empty?

Stay safe... I'm over on the east coast, near Lauderdale, and I fully anticipate losing power at some point. Hopefully I'll have it back in time for the game, but if I don't, and that's the worst problem we have, I can live with it.

QUOTE(DukeNukeEm @ Oct 23, 2005 -> 10:13 AM) ESPN cannot cut in on Fox's postgame coverage. OK, my bad, I did not know this. I guess I was mostly bothered by the way they said "but this is a college football Saturday..." Now, for another topic, please tell me it's not going to rain tonight in Chicago. I don't want to take any chances on a Monday game when my power will probably go out from the hurricane.

I'll drop the subject after this, since we should be talking about the win... but there is no excuse for leading with a Georgia game. The producers at ESPN should be compiling those highlights as the game goes along. This is 2005, and they have no excuse. It's the friggin World Series... OK, now back to baseball....

Since I live in South Florida, Fox cut right to Hurricane coverage after the game ended. No postgame (which is ridiculous since I can see hurricane news on 50 other channels). So I had to wait for Sportscenter, which just started about 3 mins ago. As the opening music faded out, the host said, "Game 1 of the World Series is in the books. We'll have the highlights and postgame comments coming up later... but today IS a college football saturday..." And they proceeded to show highlights of GEORGIA! Are you freakin kidding me??? This shouldn't bother me after a game 1 victory, but ESPN is clueless.

My only concern is this: Minute Maid is very similar to the Cell, and we've been much better all season when playing on the road in a bigger ballpark. Busch would've been a better fit for us. I still think we are a slightly better team than Houston, but I'm definitely more concerned about them than I would've been about the Cardinals. But hey, that's why they play the games. Bring it on.

I also thought McCarthy should've been on the roster instead of Vizcaino. Everyone was making it out to be McCarthy vs. El Duque and I was clueless as to why Vizcaino got a free pass.

Keith Olbermann just did a spot on his MSNBC show about the Sox reaching the World Series, and he had Dennis Deyoung (former lead singer of Styx) on as his "celebrity White Sox fan" guest. The one funny thing Deyoung said is that all these media outlets have been calling him since he's one of the few celebrity Sox fans out there. He named Mayor Daley, Richard Roper and Jesse Jackson as the only others he knows of. Oh, and he closed the interview by saying "Domo Eregato Mr. Roboto"... what a shmo. PS - For you young guys, that is a line from a Styx song (a really bad one). :-)

I would not give up one of our starters for Manny, and I wouldn't break the bank for Konerko (although I would give him a fair offer). Bottom line is that we've proven that pitching and defense wins. The Astros are proving it too, just one season after letting Carlos Beltran walk. If we want a big bat so badly, how's this for an idea... Mike Piazza. I believe he's a FA and he could come here and be the everyday DH and backup catcher. Sure, he's injury-prone, but as a DH he won't be as vulnerable. Plus he's a little older than Manny and Konerko and would come much cheaper. I think this is a no-brainer, assuming Piazza doesn't over-value himself.

I'm normally as anti-McCarver as anyone, but Lou Piniella is so bad that it makes me actually want to hear more of McCarver. Unfortunately we can't have two play-by-play guys so Joe Buck would shut up once in a while (pssst, Joe... you're NOT a comedian). I wish we got the team that's doing the Houston-St. Louis series.

For the mother f**king life of me I cannot understand what our hitters are thinking up there. Every at-bat they are taking pitches right down the middle and getting behind. These ABs are over before they start. It's so frustrating to watch this.

This game is reminding me of mid September. We are squandering so many opportunities you just get that bad feeling that it will haunt us eventually. Pods, Crede, Dye and Everett are automatic outs tonight. It's unreal.