Balta1701

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 05:25 PM) If your talking trade...Mark Texiera should top the list. Problem is the Sox sure as hell aren't going to give the Rangers the pitching they covet. I can guarantee one thing, El Duque is the only starting pitcher the Sox have on the block. Barring injuries next years rotation (99.9% sure) will be Jose, Buehrle, Garland, Freddy, Bmac I agree with you that the rotation will be that, but I'm not sure I'm thrilled about it, for this reason: Jose Contreras in 2006 as far as I know will be in the final year of his contract. Depending on how you count the money the Yankees sent us, he's being paid something like $6-$7 million. Right now, he looks like #1 starter material, after a nearly Cy Young worthy 2nd half. If he puts up those exact same numbers in 2006, there isn't a chance in Hell we'll be able to resign him. Not without spending an absolute fortune. On the other hand, if he can't put up numbers like he did in the 2nd half...well, we probably won't want him anyway at that point. Contreras's value is almost at its peak right now...the only way it could go higher is if he comes out and continues dominating in the first few months next year. If we could sign him to some sort of an extension it might be a good idea...but here's the question...do you want to let him walk at the end of 06 when right now he could be dealt for an all-star caliber player? I don't know if I have a good answer myself. Btw, does anyone know what Buehrle's contract status at the end of 06 is?

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 04:35 PM) I was thinking the opposite. With still obvious lingering back probelms, me thinks his trade value is much less than his actual value. I said this earlier in this thread...right now, Hermanson's back means his trade value is basically zero, despite how great his season was this year. However, every single year, teams come out and discover their relief pitching has fallen apart. Think Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, Braves this year. Those teams rapidly become willing to overpay for relief pitching, since finding 1 or 2 guys could save their season. If Hermanson comes out with a healthy and solid April/May...then he's a very very valuable piece that can be dealt for good value. In the offseason...there's no reason to deal him. I actually think that in many cases, you'll get more value out of a reliever trading him in season than you will during the offseason, for this reason. Going into last season, the Yankees had no idea Stanton would fall apart, the Red Sox didn't have a clue that Embree and Foulke couldn't replicate their previous seasons, and the Bravos thought they had something in temrs of a closer. Now this isn't an iron-clad rule (see the Braves trade last winter), but I think it's a good one.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 04:42 PM) Not in any companies I have worked for in the past 20 years. Lean is the mode of business. What will happen is middle earners will be squeezed. The top execs will get their piece of the pie but the level or two above minimum will stagnate until the effects of the minimum wage is absorbed. Which is, by the way, an absolute cry out for reform of the way corporate governance is handled in this country.

He hit that ball real hard.

It really does say something important, I think, when you note that not one of the world champions won a silver slugger award.

It's also probably worth pointing out that Theo in Boston is doing basically exactly what Jordan did after the shot in 98...he's leaving that city on top. Theo would have, in Boston, been in charge of a team with a payroll approaching $150 million and expectations to beat the Yankees in the ALCS every single year. He took that team and managed to push it over the top, winning a title and forever etching his name in Red Sox lore. What would happen from then on? He's bound to make mistakes. Look at the Yankees, they're spending $200 million and they can't get it right. If they go a few years without winning, the same town that worshipped him will suddenly be calling for his head. I think getting out of there now is probably the best thing he can do. Now what happens to his place in history if he takes a similar contract from someone like the Dodgers, the Phillies, or hell, even the Devil Rays, and pushes them up towards the top?

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 03:57 PM) In 2004, after July, the Dodgers went 54-33. After August, they went 33-26. So, yeah, if playing .560 ball is slumping, then I certainly agree. You know, I think you're right. I was just going off of memory and didn't look it up...the 1 thing I can tell you is that the Giants really narrowed the gap in that division after that trade, but I guess our season this year should have taught me not to judge too much based on that. I still stand by my statement that the Dodgers gave up too much. Especially when one fo the things they actually wanted to get back was Hee Seop Choi.

QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 03:43 PM) I was thinking, with the impact of guys like Tadhito Iguchi, Ichiro Suzuki, and Hideki Matsui, and Shingo Takatsu for 1 year, who will be this year's big Japanese signing? I remember reading about a certain OF slugger and a starter/reliever or 2. Anyone have any info on Japanese imports for this season? We've at least discussed one of them over at ATH

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 10:49 AM) Mark Prior is not overrated. He just has a serious problem with staying healthy, he has unbelievable stuff and if he can ever put it together with a full season he'll win a cy young. A year ago, I'd have agreed with you. Prior had a decent year last year while healthy, but a big part of me is starting to wonder if he can ever be the pitcher he was in 03 again, before the injuries started breaking him down. He's been real inconsistent since then, even while healthy. I can remember sitting down for one Sunday night game and watching him simply unable to perform against the Cardinals, and this was while supposedly healthy. He just seems to be very inconsistent right now. I dunno, it could be due to the injuries. But I think there's got to be something else going on with him...either he's got injuries that just aren't healing at all, like the Ankle from 04, or something's wrong in his head. He gets hit too hard for as good as his pitches were in 03.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 03:26 PM) This isn't a Korean comic, but I think it's pretty funny. I still find this one more entertaining.

QUOTE(Wong & Owens @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 03:10 PM) No atheist I know is any more money-hungry or hell bent on controlling the world than any one else out there. When the world is mine, your death shall be quick and painless.

"My 7 words you can't say on TV bit was completely different from your 7 words you can't say on TV bit. Well excuuuuse me! (hangs up phone) Give him 10 grand." "Steve Martin on the line" "Ten Grand" Congrats sonny.

QUOTE(Steff @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 02:52 PM) Baltimore is in love with Ryan, and vice versa. That doesn't mean the Yankees won't try to overpay him.

QUOTE(whitesoxmanager @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 02:39 PM) you guessed it. this is the correct answer. i just read it and the translation is spot on. they mention names on everybody except the ashamed one. i am guessing that they are intending it to be lee man soo. #46 is Cotts.

QUOTE(Athomeboy_2000 @ Oct 29, 2005 -> 07:19 PM) Actually, it's called "Base Attack" I assume it's from when Area 54 is attacked, not sure though. Actually, since I have that soundtrack, I can tell you it's from the scene where the fighters from El Toro (led by Will Smith) launch an attack on the ship sitting over LA and are completely obliterated...this is followed by an attack on El Toro, and Will Smith being chased through the high desert by oen of the mini ships.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 01:45 PM) If all 3 teams offer the exact same $ figure, I think it comes down to Chicago and Anaheim (Anaheim trains in Tempe, a little closer to his home and during the season Anaheim is a lot closer to his home, don't really know how much of an effect that has). If we're assessing all the variables, we might as well also note that Konerko played for Scoscia while coming up through the Dodgers organization.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 01:47 PM) I think it depends on what other player movements take place. I think the Sox are going to look at a #3 hitter, in addition to getting either Konerko resigned or going after a replacement hitter for Pauly. If they can get a big name done, they won't resign Frank. If no one else wants to come here, then I think KW gives Frank another chance. If we do resign Konerko, and hold onto all of the arbitration guys...I don't see us having much flexibility in terms of finding a real quality #3 hole hitter in the FA Market. At least not without us pushing $100 m in the payroll, and I just can't conceive of that happening. I would say it does remain possible that KW could find a way to do a blockbuster deal involving some of our pitching talent to fill that 3 hole with someone young or cheap, but Thomas, with some of the young outfielders backing him up, almost looks to me like the most affordable option.

QUOTE(hammerhead johnson @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 01:21 PM) Before the season started, I had the Giants down as a 6-10 or 7-9 caliber team, mostly because Manning was still so raw. As you know, an incompetent QB can singlehandedly f*** over an entire team. You knew that Manning would be good, but not damn near all-pro caliber in only his second year. IN 1998, the Colts went 3-13 with a rookie QB. In 1999, the Colts went 13-3. Granted, the Colts also drafted James in 1999, but still, that 2nd year turnaround shouldn't be a huge shock.

The Bills came a few defensive stops away from beating the Pats last night, without Takeo Spikes in the lineup and with Holcumb starting at QB. If the Colts can't beat the Pats this year, then it's entirely within Manning's head. That's the onlyr emaining excuse.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 01:27 PM) Once again if Frank is brought back with his health concerns I highly doubt that Kenny relies on Anderson or Borch to be a fulltime dh if something happened to big Frank. We'll see but I'm just saying it wouldn't surprise me to see Carl kept as a bench player and the backup plan to Frank just in case for a very reduced salary. I'm sorry, but even a very reduced salary for Carl just is still going to wind up being like 5-10 times what Anderson or Borchard would make for the same role. And with at least Anderson being a better defensive replacement, I just can't see that making business sense.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 01:16 PM) Balta, why can't I save that picture in your sig? It just won't open after I save it. Beats the heck out of me, I just stole it off of a website and used them to host it. That might have something to do with it. Here's Yahoo Sports.

QUOTE(SoxFanForever @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 01:22 PM) Garland has 159 Career starts with 64 wins. Wood has 174 Career starts with 70 wins. I still don't believe Garland gets $8 mil in arbitration. No, but he may very well get that if we do the smart thing and sign him a 3 year deal instead of risking arbitration and losing him.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 01:22 PM) Well, if Frank is brought back Kenny is going to have a backup plan as well, it might not be Carl but it wouldn't surprise me if it was. I think we have plenty of backup plans available as minor leaguers, whether it be Joe Borchard, Brian Anderson, or one of the speedy guys.

QUOTE(Wedge @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 01:13 PM) Thanks for the link and the info. Given that, I'd be really leary of signing Guardado as much more than an option out of the bullpen. Given that he wants to earn more than $4.5 million or so (shooting for the $6 million range)....let the BoSox or the Yankees grab him. One of those 2 teams will pay him the cash - they're both in desperate need of bullpen help after last season. And just like so many of their other FA Signees...he will be overpaid by them, and his arm will snap in half sometime around June.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 01:16 PM) Is there anyone on here who believes that Carl Everett will be a White Sox next year? It depends on which portion of the season you're talking about. April/May...not a chance. Trading deadline time...on the other hand....