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QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 27, 2006 -> 10:31 PM) Gagne is still in the low 90's according to the LATimes by the way, like 1 pitch at 94, and the rest at 92 or below. I still say that Pods having a bit of a growing tweak is exactly what we should expect right now, since he's basically just startin ST, and he's probably going as much all out as he can be right now. This could be the case. However, the complicating factor is that he had surgery in the off season. The sports hernia has a direct relationship with the groin/adductor muscles. That's why an important quote for Herm was "it could be scar tissue from the surgery." It is in the same area and hopefully it is just stengthening or the scar tissue problem. The sports hernia surgeries do not always work well enough on guys who rely on speed. A good example is Kendrell Bell when he was a linebacker for the Steelers. He relied on speed for rushing the QB. He has not been the same player since that surgery.

QUOTE(JimH @ Mar 26, 2006 -> 09:05 PM) It sounds like they want to make decisions after tomorrow's game so hopefully we'll find out soon. Hahn was on the radio this morning and said the bullpen situation is always fluid, they will always look to improve. So a last minute pick up wouldn't surprise me. I like the idea of having a grizzled veteran in the pen, always have. I have no problem optioning Logan out even though IMO he deserves to be on the team but hey, life isn't fair sometimes. They appear to want Thornton in the innings eater role and that's ok. If it's a choice between, say, Javier Lopez and Jeff Nelson ... I go with Nelson because Politte is pretty good on LH hitters. It will be interesting to see where Nelson lands. The White Sox would hardly be the only team thinking about him. I agree. KW and Coop have said they wanted Thornton for a couple of years. Thornton is here and will be here so the bullpen is: Jenks Cotts Politte McCarthy Thornton and a choice of Lopez, Logan or Nelson if they go with 11 pitchers my bet is they want a LOOGY and logan appears better to handle that.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 04:44 PM) It just seems so painful for Hermanson to pitch. I can't see how his back's going to get any better, as it's been like 8 months since his back started to bother him. I think the back problem really hurts his follow-through, which prevents him from getting any movement on his splitter and flattens out his slider. This is correct. the back problem will not allow for full trunk flexion. This does not allow him to finish off his pitches. He will lose velocity and usually leave pitches up in the zone. If he can learn to compensate by flexing more at the hip instead of his spine he may be able to work through it.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 24, 2006 -> 04:25 PM) If Hermanson's back troubles persist and he's ineffective pitching, he should atleast consider beginning the season on the 15 day disabled list. Honestly, after watching him this spring I believe he's done. If devoting the ENTIRE offseason to rest your back doesn't provide comfort, then what difference will a short period make? I recall last season Hermanson said his aches were so severe he had trouble picking up his own daugher. This is a problem. If he returns from any desonated DL trip and continues to falter, what happens next? Someone will have to make a difficult decision--whether it's Hermanson or the Sox. Don't need backless pitchers on our roster. Rest has absolutely nothing to do with this back problem. He has an instability caused by a disc problem. It's a matter of trying to keep the back in a good mechanical position to minimize the excess motion. The more motion that occurs the more inflammation will appear. This is the reason for the epidural injections. It's like putting a crap load of ibuprofen in a localized area to decrease the inflammation. He will have the problem until he has surgery. The key is to manage the problem through rehab and meds. Hermie (the trainer) is one of the best at managing this type of thing. Give them a chance.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Mar 16, 2006 -> 11:14 AM) I could be wrong, but this doesn't sound like a disc injury: "...Hermanson felt better thanks to the epidural, which was given to control the pitcher's back pain caused by loose ligaments. The injury is called a one percent instability and only affects Hermanson when he pitches." That's just a way of talking around it. The instability is caused by the disc shrinking in height so the vertabrae above and below the disc move too much or cause instability. The ligaments are loose because the distance between the two vertebrae has decreased due to the decreased disc height. Either way it will be the disc which causes the problem and it will nedd to be addressed if he is to continue pitching long term.

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Mar 16, 2006 -> 06:18 AM) Yeah, there is no way the Sox are going to rely on Hermie. If 4+ months of rest doesn't alleviate the problem, then more rest is not going to do it for him either. The best option would be to go ahead and fix the problem with surgery and come back at 100%. It's not the rest that is supposed to help but the strengthening and control exercises to keep the disc under control. This will keep the disc off the nerve and decrease the pain. Since the rehab didn't work there are going to do the epidurals which is like throwing a crap load of anti-inflammatories in a localized spot and hope the injection calms the inflammation down. My guess would be surgery. The surgery would not end his career but rehab would probably be 2-3 months, then with time to get the arm in shape he wouldn't be ready at the earliest until the mid-August. The epidurals may take care of it but I doubt it would on a long term basis.

QUOTE(SouthsideBlitz @ Mar 13, 2006 -> 05:00 PM) I would prefer Cy Young Winner Actually, I would prefer World Champ to all of them.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 1, 2006 -> 11:04 AM) Sorry, I had doub le posted and for some reason my posts was deleted and the thread remained. The best local Hot Dog stand near me, Chicago Dogs, added real gyros to the menu. I noticed they offer cheese, but I can't remember adding cheese before. Is that a new Chicago thing? Feta cheese, a white crumble type of greek cheese is very common on gyros.

What is the over/under on the number of years into the 5 year contract that he either: a: is on the DL b: Texas is unhappy with him and trades him (see A-Rod, Hampton or Renteria)? My guess is in the third year

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 22, 2005 -> 02:07 PM) Actually, even with YES, the Yankees did indeed finish FY 04 in the red. Forbes published it in their annual list. About a third of all MLB teams did, in fact. But again, this team is run by a group of very budget-conscious investors. This has not changed. Which part of the group whcih owns the Yankees was in the red? The problem with the Yankees is they are like the Cubs and owned by a large corporation now. When King George sold the team to the corporation and installed himself as the CEO the money gets lost. Just like the Cubs and the Tribune Co. Don't think for a second that the Cubs inability to sign some big FA this year isn't tied to the Trib Co. financial problems. And Vias versa don't think for a second that the teams don't hide revenue in the companies.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Dec 22, 2005 -> 01:58 PM) Don't the Yankees do it every year? No the Yankees have an 80 mil. dollar per year head start on everyone due to the YES network programming. The Yankees don't go into the red, they just have more revenue than everyone due to the population size, media contracts and attendance.

QUOTE(Cerbaho-WG @ Dec 22, 2005 -> 01:55 PM) Oh I forgot, teams have never overextended their budgets for small periods of time where they thought they could win championships. I mean, come on, sports franchises have never had economic losses, right? Right? Give me a break. reinsdorf has always siad "the investors run this team to break even and win. They will not lose money on this venture. That is where the budget comes from. They may over or underestimate a little. But JR did not make his money in real estate by poor financial speculation. Thus, they will not go into the red to field a team. This has been the policy since they bought the team in the 80's.

QUOTE(JimH @ Dec 22, 2005 -> 01:46 PM) First question: perhaps. At the risk of offending you, mine make sense though. Second question: to my knowledge they set a number, that has been corroborated by other posters here who are more in the know. We always hear about midseason flexibility because KW and Hahn leave room just in case. But they work off a number. The media is telling us they are well over that number. KW said it was time for the two guys to "get serious" about extensions or he would "move ahead" with other plans. What does that tell you? Third part: You do realize saying a player will be brought to spring training is totally different than paying them through the season, don't you? For the record, to borrow your phrase, I would love the White Sox to be 6 deep in starting pitching. However, I have been around long enough to realize they operate on a budget and run the finances as a zero sum game. You, on the other hand, seem unwilling or incapable of accepting that reality. Jim, it's useless, he won't accept reality. Everyone who has been following the Sox transactions and activity knows JG is gone. He probably still thinks trading CLee was all about getting Pods et al. and nothing to do with spreading the budget around.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 22, 2005 -> 12:03 PM) I know that the biggest fear I have, as well as RockRaines, is that KW is so set on trading Garland, that he might take a lesser offer just to get rid of him. If KW is just set on getting relievers, then we're not going to get full value for Garland. We won't get full value anyway, whatever that is. Everyone knows he is leaving after next year. Everyone knows KW is trying to get something for him before he leaves. Before everyone jumps on the "look what we gave for Freddy." Morse suspended for roids again. Reed on the trading block and Olivo non-tendered. How much was there? Also, had a track record of very good seasons. Garland has a track record of 1 and what many people thought was a head case not living up to his potential. I would be the first one to try to keep him but the circumstances prohibit that. I trust KW will take the best offer he gets and there is nothing more he can do.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Dec 22, 2005 -> 11:55 AM) Last season the best starter for the full season was Jon Garland...hands down. I love Buehrle, but he really hit a funk at one point and Contreras was amazing in the 2nd half but had a so-so 1st half (maybe even worse than so-so). Get your heads out of your asses and realize this. We will be trading our best pitcher of last year whose entering his prime and instead go with a guy in Vazquez who has great stuff but has b****ed and moaned the last two places he has gone while not living up to his potential. I'm sorry, I hate this move and I wish the Sox would take its chances on Garland. Worse case we get draft picks. I liked this team better before we made the Vazquez deal cause the Vazquez deal meant he was going to replace Garland in the rotation. However, financially I understand some things. But we are defending world series champs, keep the god damn pitching staff in tact or upgrade it, but don't give up our best starter from last year unless your getting a s***LOAD in return. Ken Williams will get hammered by me if he doesn't make some good moves. I don't buy into this Jon only will play on the west coast either. He's being smart, but no one is going to tell me if you didn't offer him up a 5/60 deal he wouldn't at least think long and hard. I'm not saying do it, but maybe you throw it his way near the middle of the season and move someone else. Garland has been steady and really turned a corner next year. I'll be shocked if he isn't amongst the NL's best next year (if he does go to the NL). All of your points are valid except: 1. The White Sox will not offer a pitcher more than 4 years. Some other sucker will. Look at all of the contracts signed for more than four years and they all have injury issues or they were young and were inconsitent and not worth the money. There may have been one or two that have worked out but the odds are against it. 2. Garland does not want to be here. From So Cal. his future bride is from Hawaii and wants to stay in So. Cal. Call it "Curtis Conway" syndrome. In order for him to stay we would really have to overpay. Something the Sox won't (and shouldn't) do. Especially for a pitcher who has one really good year.

QUOTE(South Side Fireworks Man @ Dec 21, 2005 -> 08:35 PM) Podsednik had a strained abductor/groin injury which slowed him down last season, not a simple hamstring injury. Actually, he had an adductor muscle strain. The adductor magnus specifically. Part of it acts similar to the hamstring during extension of the hip. It is the muscle that he uses to "push off" when moving laterally to steal a base. And Yes, he is healthy and will be fine for the beginning of the season. As far as his leg is concerned that is.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 21, 2005 -> 10:51 AM) Miller had another surgery. He's such a health risk that teams can't count on him to be in their rotation. Didn't read all of the pages but the problem was he didn't have surgery and elected to rehab instead. I stated before last season when many posters wanted him for the rotation that it wouldn't work. It didn't. He has gotten smart and had surgery this time. He should miss a good portion of the season.

The article does a good job showing what Randle El is like. I worked with him in high school and he was a great kids then. By the way his best sport may have been baseball. If he comes here he would be the best centerfielder in town. The family values didn't rub off on Marcus however, who just got busted for beating up another student up at Wisconsin where he plays wide receiver.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Dec 20, 2005 -> 12:09 PM) royce ring was delt for robbie alomar right? yikes, there's a not so good kenny move. id consider it better if it was the first time alomar came to the sox, but i dont remember. Yes, but Ring hasn't really panned out, so it's somewhat of a wash.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Dec 20, 2005 -> 02:40 AM) idonno we traded for Garland right when he was elgible to be traded so Id consider him a sox prospect. SP:Mark Buehrle SP:Jon Garland SP:Kip Wells SP:Brandon McCarthy SP:Josh Fogg C:Josh Paul?/Mark Johnson 1B:Carlos Lee 2B:Ray Durham SS:Michael Morse 3B:Joe Crede LF:Aaron Rowand CF:Mike Cameron RF:Magglio Ordonez DH:Frank Thomas bullpen:Scott Eyre, Anthony Webster, Fabio Castro, Wickman, Howry(I know Giants drafted him but how early did we trade for him?), Frankie Francisco, Roger Ring?, Matt Ginter? Not so sure about the bullpen guys but heck that team isnt so bad. I put Carlos Lee at 1B because assuming we never brought in f/a's or anything thats where he would play. 1. Webster is a CF 2. It's Royce Ring

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 09:27 PM) Trade for Alvarez. O/w I think that's right. We got Alvarez along with Sosa and Scott Fletcher from Texas for HAROLD and Freddie Manrique

I agree with the Mike Cameron Comparison. High HR, high steals along with high strikeouts and low average. Since OH can't pitch out of the pen as I've said and Viz was a good but not great in middle relief. Adding Young to the deal was acceptable. especially with Anderson in CF, I like Sweeney as a better overall hitter.

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 04:54 PM) Speaking of Hill, how about Marc Hill. Or from the VERY OBSCURE ... Kelly Paris. Donnie Hill. Ken Landreaux from the Dodgers was called him "amphibious" bcause he would take infield alternating which hand he would throw the ball with.

QUOTE(Mplssoxfan @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 01:42 PM) Best hockey player to pitch in the Majors, and a super nice guy to boot. Tom Glavine would give him a run for his money.

QUOTE(knightni @ Dec 15, 2005 -> 03:09 AM) Ron Blomburg Danny Goodwin Bill Almon Floyd Bannister Harold Baines Tim Belcher Shawn Abner Other than being White Sox players at one time or another, what else do they have in common? The Sox drafted him in the first round twice. May have even been the number 1 pick