South Side Fireworks Man

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 11:13 PM) http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...tesox-headlines "The thing we relied on the most last year was pitching," Williams said. "And one of the reasons why [repeating] next year will be difficult is that we pushed ourselves to the limit [on innings] with pitching last year. "I want the luxury that if we come out of spring training where if we have a guy who's not quite right, we don't have to push him. And I also want to ease McCarthy into the rotation. That will give us some insurance." Kenny Williams is the best GM in baseball. I'm glad he's running the White Sox.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 10:44 PM) If we get Tejada and mix it in our lineup it becomes even better. We get something we didnt have at all last year, a proven .300 plus hitter who has power. Just for the record, Tejada's career average is .280.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 05:44 PM) I'll continue to insist on this site no trade scenario makes sense with ANY team, for ANY circumstance, unless a quality bullpen arm (or quality pitching prospect) is included. I realize Tejada's talent--but if the deal proposed within this site were to occur, we'd still have two holes left to occupy in the bullpen. And we'd have no trade chips left to acquire bullpen help.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jan 4, 2006 -> 02:27 PM) That's the thing. Even though a lot of people seem to be against acquiring Tejada, I'm sure these are the same people who will be praising him when he's putting up 300-35-110 next season. What if he puts up his career average .280-28-90 with a .338OBP? Those are good numbers but not worth a top starting pitcher, a much better defensive SS with a BA around .260 with only 10 less home runs, and two top prospects.

QUOTE(beck72 @ Jan 3, 2006 -> 08:30 PM) It was Ozzie who told KW and convinced him to get him the right "horses" [ie speed, defense and pitching] so he could manage. Seeing how it was one of Ozzie's only public "wishes" to add speed and a #2 hitter, I am firmly convinced something will get done that addresses it. If the Sox do wind up acquiring Taveras, I'd bet Ozzie would still try Uribe in the 2 hole with Taveras batting ninth. Actually, I think that's a good idea. Still, it's not going to happen (at least I hope not) unless the Astros throw in a quality reliever and a top pitching prospect.

QUOTE(Steff @ Jan 3, 2006 -> 04:50 PM) As s***ty as he was doing he was still out there trying to get his teammates asses in gear. Raffy and Sosa killed that team with all their bulls***. Now that is a good point. The Sox may be looking for someone to take Carl Everett's place in the clubhouse. Still, Uribe + Contreras plus a prospect is too steep. I'll take the pitching and defense of Jose & Juan over the extra 10 home runs of Tejada. Plus, if Jose walks after this season, that frees up money to resign Buehrle.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jan 3, 2006 -> 04:50 PM) I bet it was close to watching Uribe. But not as good as watching Uribe plus Contreras. (Plus watching a top prospect in the minors.)

QUOTE(fathom @ Jan 3, 2006 -> 12:45 AM) I don't know about some people, but Uribe's not exactly fun to watch when he goes into his month long slumps at the plate. I like Uribe, but I can't believe some of the statements I've seen on this site about Uribe vs Tejada. I don't watch the Orioles except when they play the Sox, so I wonder how much fun it was watching Tejada after the AllStar break last year when he hit 7 home runs and had 38 RBI's.

QUOTE(chitownsportsfan @ Jan 2, 2006 -> 10:37 PM) Another thing to consider is that if Contreras has another solid season, and he rejects the Sox's arbitration offer, he will most likely be a class A free agent and net the Sox two high draft picks in 2007. No, Contreras will be an unrestricted free agent if unsigned by 11/15/06. The Sox would get no draft picks. This is because he came into the major leagues as an "international free agent" and never signed a minor league contract. Same applied to Hideki Matsui this year.

The "B12" thing is a little worrisome, especially when you consider Tejada hit only 7 home runs after the All Star break in 2005. Contrast that with Uribe who hit 7 home runs in the month of September alone. Maybe it was just a fluke, or maybe Tejada needs more "B12" shots to keep his game up.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Jan 2, 2006 -> 02:53 PM) You get 2 draft picks at the end of the year No you don't. Contreras becomes an unrestricted free agent if unsigned by 11/15/06.

I think KW should offer Jose a two year extension @$22M ($11M per).

Yeah, they're going to trade Javy Vazquez for Andruw Jones.

QUOTE(qwerty @ Dec 21, 2005 -> 12:36 PM) If podsednik is not healthy by now he has some real problems. A simple hamstring injury should not carry over to a new year. Podsednik had a strained abductor/groin injury which slowed him down last season, not a simple hamstring injury.

Do whatever it takes, within reason, to sign them both. If AJ Burnett got $55M for five years, both Jose and Jon are worth $11M per year. Give Jose a 2 year extension at $11M per, and sign Garland for 4 years/$45M. I'd rather lose position players than pitchers. Pitching won us the World Series, and Jose & Jon are two of the best in the business.

QUOTE(drowninginflame @ Dec 16, 2005 -> 01:46 PM) I'd rather have crede and tejada I'd rather have Uribe and Chone Figgins. I wonder if the Angels would be interested in a trade involving Garland and Figgins? Figgins could start in CF for the Sox but also play 3B, 2B and a little SS. With him and Mackowiak on the team Ozzie would have a lot of flexibility and they could even carry 12 pitchers or a third catcher if so desired.

There is NO WAY Tampa is going to trade Crawford for Fields, Tracy & Anderson. They have no need for Anderson, Fields is unproven and too far away, and Tracey is not a top tier prospect.

LOL!!! I hope this trade goes through! The Cubs were rumored to have their eye on Bradley and they're also rumored to be after Zito. The Dodgers beat them out of Furcal, now they'd be trading Bradley not to the Cubs, but for Zito another player the Cubs covet! Gotta love it!!!

QUOTE(Antonio Osuna @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 09:58 PM) Mackowiak doesn't play the Cubs every day, folks, so his numbers aren't anywhere as good as Mueller's. (And even if he did, he wouldn't here in the AL, so it'd be moot). In fact, I seem to recall Daddy Mack's numbers being similar to Crede's at one point last year when we were talking about trading for him. He ended up batting in the .270's I believe. He'd be a good guy to have as a backup to Crede as well as a fourth or fifth outfielder. Since he can play so many positions, it may even allow the Sox to keep a spot open for Frank, if Frank wants to be a bench player, that is.

QUOTE(KWs OK for Me @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 09:51 PM) And a Chicago guy to boot, he's not a FA though right? Mackowiak's not a free agent, but it was rumored the Sox were after him at the trade deadline last season, just before they acquired Blum. Maybe the Sox can trade for him at the winter meetings next week. I don't know what the Pirates needs are, but KW will probably inquire about Mackowiak, I suspect.

Rob Mackowiak would be a nice pick-up for the Sox. He can play 3B, all outfield positions and a little 2b as well. Probably can play 1B also. A LH hitter with some pop and decent speed, good baserunning skill.

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Nov 29, 2005 -> 08:06 PM) I can see it now. Your 2006 defending world champion Chicago WHite Sox: Stating Lineup: 1. Pods LF 2. Pierre CF 3. Dye RF 4. Konerko 1B 5. Thome DH 6. Iguchi 2B 7. Pierzynski C 8. Crede 3B 9. Uribe SS Rotation: 1. Buerhle 2. Contreras 3. Garland 4. Garcia 5. McCarthy Bullpen: Jenks CL Hermy Set up/ CL Pollite R Set up Cotts L Set up Myers L Middle El-duque R middle/ spot starter Vizcaino R long relief 2006 Version of GROUP 4: Harris INF Anderson OF Widger C Perez OF Ozuna INF Lets win it again!! You've got one player too many on that roster. Omit Timo and it's good.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 21, 2005 -> 07:27 PM) I dream of Scott Podsednik leading off a game with a single. Then Juan Pierre trying to bunt him over and in the process getting a INF single while he's at it. To cap it off, with no outs, they cause the pitcher so much stress after a double steal and Thome/Dye/Thomas drive them both in with one or two outs. I dream of Pods on first and Pierre at the plate. Ozzie calls the old run & bunt play. Pods breaks for second, the SS moves over to cover, Pierre bunts down the 3B line, the third baseman runs in to field the bunt, nobody is covering third and Pods keeps running and makes third base. The play at first is very close.... Picture that scenario leading off games for the 2006 Sox. The rest of the lineup is same as last year with the exception of Tadahito batting fifth instead of Carl.

QUOTE(rowandschick33 @ Nov 20, 2005 -> 10:06 PM) THANK U!! just b/c we might get pierre doesnt mean we hafta get rid of arow I agree. Having Pierre's speed and Aaron's defense in the lineup at the cost of power from the Dh position seems to have Ozzie written all over it. And saving big bucks on the DH position by not paying a Delgado/Thome/Helton/Giles has JR written all over it. The plan is unconventional to say the least, but thinking outside the box has KW written all over it. BTW, WELCOME TO SOX TALK!

QUOTE(fathom @ Nov 20, 2005 -> 10:06 PM) For every clutch hit by Everett, there were also one or two other ABs with RISP where he struck out on a curve in the dirt. He's the last guy I'm worried about replacing on the Sox, to be honest. Didn't Carl lead the Sox in BA with RISP? I know he did for most of the season anyway. He also was leading the AL in driving in go-ahead runs for much of the season. But anyway, if Carl's production can easily be replaced by Iguchi in the #5 spot, then maybe Ozzie is planning on batting Pierre #2, and Iguchi #5 while keeping Aarons defense in CF. This is a cheaper option than spending big bucks on a DH, and allows for Frank to remain in the picture should it become necessary. If the Pierre/Pods at DH scenario is not working out and Frank appears healthy by June/July, KW can move one of the OF's at the trade deadline.