Balta1701

First, yeah I know, there's no player who can guarantee you a world series. So, just imagining that there was some way we could nearly guarantee ourselves a series, I still wouldn't trade McCarthy. Why? Because this kid looks so good that I think we'll have a better chance of being there and winning every year we have him than we would even if we traded him. Even if we were trading McCarthy to suddenly make ourselves the best team in the world, the Yankees last year proved that even if you've got the greatest people at every position, you can suddenly become unlucky. The best chance for this team is going to be to make the playoffs first, and then hope that our starting pitching and some of our bats get hot enough to carry us through the playoffs. That's what worked for Florida 2 years ago, Anaheim 3 years ago, Arizona 4 years, ago, etc. Once you're in the playoffs, the question isn't always who has the best team, it becomes who has the dominant players who are the most dominant. You can win a world series without being the best team, if you have a couple parts that suddenly work properly. McCarthy has a good shot to be 1 of those parts for years to come. What's the Billy Beane line? Give me 3 aces and I'll be a genius GM too? Right now, that's almost where we're sitting.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ May 25, 2005 -> 06:59 PM) Ask the Braves. None of their fans show up every year when they make the playoffs. You play to win it all. I have yet to see a trophy for just being "good". You get that nice trophy with flags on it for winning the game and being the best. If you don't strive for being the best or you rather have your team being a "good one" instead of a great one, you shouldn't be a player or fan. Except of course...didn't the Braves win a W.S. back in the 90's? Yeah, I know it's only 1, but from our perspective, isn't 1 more than enough?

QUOTE(AnthraxFan93 @ May 26, 2005 -> 08:41 AM) I am with you on this.. Jose been a different pitcher this season.. Copper is becomeing one hellva pitching coach. I didn't realize how much of a different pitcher he's been until I read this in my morning paper today... Right now, Contreras has the best BA against him in the American league. Guys are hitting just .203 against the count. There's a few guys in the NL with a better number than him, but for guys that have to face the DH, he's on top by quite a bit. If this guy keeps the walks down, he's unstoppable.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 25, 2005 -> 01:53 PM) I posted the exact same thing yesterday. I think for an 8th place hitter, he has enormous power potential, and he makes so many difficult plays at first look easy, I think he is underrated as far as that goes. I like him. I think the biggest problem everyone has with Crede is that he's supposed to be so much better than this. He has the ability to be so much better than this. He has the ability to hit .280 or better, and drive 30 home runs out of the park, but he just doesn't do it constantly. We saw what Crede could do when he had his technique right in the first weeks of the season, and now he's back to his old ways and everyone feels angry and mistreated. The guy should be so much better than this. He really should.

I wish I was old enough to have seen some of those guys play. Without that, it's hard to do a fair evaluation. Just on total numbers, I'll take Frank's 430 some home runs for the Sox, but I can't say for certain there's never been a better player on that team.

QUOTE(beck72 @ May 25, 2005 -> 12:13 PM) If BMac has the talent to be a #3 SP in this league, then he has the talent to pitch in the pen. These guys didn't suck [or do well] because they first pitched in the bullpen. They suck because they can't get guys out/ throw too many meatballs/ give up too many walks. If BMac has the talent most people think he does, then a stint in the bullpen won't hurt him. I disagree. If a guy is not getting in regular work as a very young kid, then a stint in the bullpen can really do some damage. How many times have you seen a guy who hasn't pitched in 7 or 8 days come out of the bullpen and suddenly start walking every hitter he faces? If a guy isn't getting in regular work against decent hitters, things can start to suffer, like the pitcher's technique. Now, if the pitcher we're talking about is someone like John Smoltz, we're talking about a guy who's been around so long that no matter what goes wrong in his pitching, he'll figure it out and fix it pretty quick. On the other hand, if you stick a rookie into that same spot, what can happen? The guy can develop a few problems with his technique, and as he's trying to fix those, things can multiply. Remember 1 thing about guys like BMac. At every single level they've pitched at, they've dominated the guys hitting against them, even on bad days. At the big league level, that will not happen. You need to be dominating in order to outduel big league hitters. If you're not...then suddenly you're being beaten for the first time in your career. Not everyone knows how to handle that. Not every pitcher will struggle with that. But a young starter can have so much value to a team that it's worth a fair amount of caution to make sure they enter the league easily.

Make BMAC the closer! The smartest comment here was the one that said BMAC cannot go 10 days without pitching. If the Sox have a hole in their bullpen such that he can get several innings in against big league hitters every few days, then there's no good reason to send him down unless he struggles in that role. If he has to go more than 3 or 4 games at a time without pitching, then it's suicide to keep him up. Given how much Viz has struggled lately, I can see a role for BMAC there, but I'd still be concerned given how many other arms our bullpen has.

Trying to judge guys MLB talent after 1 or 2 games is just insane. Santana had a terrible first game and a great 2nd game. Who knows which one will show up for his whole career. McCarthy had a good first game and a good spring training. Who can say that he won't suddenly hit his own skid that he can't get out of (God I hope not.) Any young pitcher you bring up can have a tremendous upside or a tremendous downside. If my memory serves, back in 2000 if you were to rank the Sox's pitching prospects, you'd have said 1. Kip Wells, 2. Garland, 3. Buehrle, while today I'd say that the ranking order has been totally reversed. Both McCarthy and Santana have some filthy stuff they can throw up there. Let's see how they use it before we try to rank anyone.

QUOTE(Cubs Suck23 @ May 25, 2005 -> 11:01 AM) If MLB ever lets Pete Rose in the HOF than they have to let Shoeless in as well You know...I'm going to start saying that every time I hear someone say that Pete Rose should be in the HOF.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ May 25, 2005 -> 10:29 AM) I think he means Widger behind the plate. It's been a while since AJP had a day off. I wouldnt' complain about that, i just haven't seen anywhere else on this thread where people have been saying that A.J. needed a break, only our struggling infielders.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ May 25, 2005 -> 08:54 AM) I think you're looking at both Widger and Ozuna in there for the next two games. However, I've said it before and I'm sticking to it: As Hawk said, Uribe has one of the ugliest swings in the game and we have to be happy with whatever offensive production he gives us because he'll go on tears with the best of em', but he'll also fall into some of the worst slumps in baseball. Are you saying Widger playing at 3b for Crede? I'm sorry, I just don't think that'll happen. There's too much of a phobia (often well deserved) about not leaving yourself with a backup plan at catcher in any game, given how important that position can be for a pitching staff. Playing both catchers at the same time really risks hurting 1 of them and leaving yourself without a good backup option. My suggestion would be to give Ozuna a few games at each spot, 3b and SS, and hope he can manage there while the other 2 try to get their swings back together.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ May 24, 2005 -> 03:25 PM) Chavez for Crede and Bmac would be a good deal for us even if Bmac turned into a good pitcher. If Bmac busted or didn't live up to the hype it would be an unbelieavable deal for the Sox. You're right, it would be a good deal for us even if Bmac turned into a good pitcher. But I don't expect him to turn into a good pitcher. I expect him to turn into a great pitcher. If he were to turn into a great pitcher, 35 starts a year, 15-20 wins per year, etc., then this would be a terrible deal for us.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ May 24, 2005 -> 03:21 PM) One huge difference is BMac is a pitcher. The Sox have a few OF prospects, although I bet one day they will regret trading Reed. Good starters are very expensive. BMac will be pretty affordable for several years. Right now, the only way it looks like we'll regret trading Reed is if we also trade Anderson and Sweeney. We've got Rowand under contract for a while and for cheap, we've got Pods for cheap, and we've got at least 2 more guys on the way. With that many outfielders, trading 1 of them for pitching seems like a smart move to me.

QUOTE(robinventura23 @ May 24, 2005 -> 02:58 PM) Might be just fluff. Who knows. What happens if one of our starters goes down again? Who do we rely on next? Adkins? Diaz? Munoz? :puke This is just talk. I don't think BMac's going anywhere. Exactly - McCarthy right now is our insurance policy. We're only in first place this year because we have had 5 starting pitchers all year, and BMac is the guy who can make sure that fact never changes. If this sort of trade happened, we wouldn't be trading away a prospect, we'd be trading away one of our key pieces for this year.

QUOTE(YASNY @ May 24, 2005 -> 09:55 AM) So .. would Houston eat 3 million to save 8 million? With Clemens, I think the answer is absolutely not, for 1 simple reason. Clemens doesn't cost them a dime. Last year, the Stros made a fortune by having Clemens; he brought fans to the ballpark in droves. Right now, they don't have a good team, so they won't have a pennant chase or playoff games to bring in the fans. In other words, having Clemens is about the only thing they have to sell Tickets. He is their single best draw, and the Astros wouldn't have signed him for $17 mil without knowing they'd get more than that back on their investment. If someone wants to get Clemens, that team will be picking up his salary + the 3 million and also finding a way to give Houston a few players. Otherwise, the Astros have no reason to part with him.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 24, 2005 -> 09:38 AM) But I think it was a bad post to begin your posting with. Ross Gload will never be a starting 1b, he is a bench player and fill in guy, thats it. If a guy can hit .300 and play solid defense at the major league level as a first baseman, he is better than a bench player/fill in guy. The key there, btw, is the hitting better than .300 part. Playoff teams just can't afford to have a 1b who doesn't produce any offense, even if he is solid on Defense.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ May 24, 2005 -> 09:20 AM) Keep in mind, when we get to the end of July the season is more than half over. That means a team isn't paying $18 million for Clemens but more like $7 or 8 million. Also keep in mind that there's a clause in Clemens's contract that stipulates that if he's traded from the Astros, he's owed another $3 million. So if a team wants him they're not paying 7 or 8 million, they're paying like $11 million.

Chicagosports.com has put up a bundle of articles on Ozzie, some of which I can only assume will show up in the print edition at some point. Here's the banner one: They also have: Ask Ozzie Ozzie Quotes Ozzie Stories

On BBTN last night...during the highlights of both A.J. and Paulie's long balls, they were saying that both of them deserved all-star slots. Harold Reynolds has pushed Paulie for the AS team a couple of times. Personally...I say that if MB and JG aren't on that team...I don't watch the game.

QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ May 19, 2005 -> 05:54 AM) Yeah, a nice 3 year deal sounds good to me. Lets keep this guy. NO mattter what, I believe we have this guy next year, due to arbitration. Can anyone confirm that? Yes, A.J. still has 1 arbitration eligible year. Happily, because the Giants seem to have been mysteriously unhappy with his performance, they cut him while he still had some arbitration-eligibility remaining. So basically, no matter what, he's here in 06 as well. A.J.'s been one of those little ingredients that it seems we've been missing since maybe even Fisk's retirement. How many guys have we gone through since then? Anyone else remember Brook Fordyce? A.J. keeps this up for a few more months...and he'll have more than earned one of them Reinsdorf 3 year extensions. Keep him behind the plate...keep some consistency in the way our catchers call games, let BMac & Gonzales develop with a good catcher, and this team will be pitching well for a long, long time.

QUOTE(1549 @ May 16, 2005 -> 07:14 PM) I'm bored...why not? At my dad's suggestion I downloaded the song "Return of the Native" by Fever Tree. It is pretty awesome. I've been listening to a lot of Piebald, Jimmy Eat World, and Ben Folds lately. Top 10 songs on my play list right now: Ben Folds: Army Ben Folds Five: Brick Ben Folds: There's Always someone cooler than you Jimmy Eat World: Sweetness Jimmy Eat World: Get it Faster Not much new stuff, but mostly songs that I am getting into again I gotta admire a BFF fan...saw them about 4 times before they broke up, amazing shows. Can I reccomend you check out their first, self-titled album, if you haven't done so already? Some of their best songs are on there: Philosophy being the best one. There's some other jewels on there: Underground, Jackson Cannery, Best Imitation of Myself, etc. Whatever and Ever Amen has a few jewels on it too.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ May 18, 2005 -> 11:03 AM) I think it should open a big can of wormsfor the Administration since as we have all been told, a nation that harbors terrorists is as bad as the terrorists themselves. I say 'should' because in reality it won't officially phase the Administration, just like none of their hypocrasy ever phases them. I heard on the radio this morning that the guy was actually preparing to leave and earlier offered to leave so he would not put the US in a compromized position. It will be interesting to see what we do with him now. I'll be impressed if the U.S. does the right thing and either extradites or jails the guy, but I sincerely doubt it. The Cuban vote in Florida is far, far too important to the Republican party for them to risk losing it in a PR fiasco. Especially with Jeb still the sitting governor down there. Say what you want about Castro...the guy blew up a plane. You should not be able to do that without going to jail. He should be treated no different from one of the Lockerbie guys.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ May 18, 2005 -> 10:41 PM) There is some guy named Frank Thomas Yeah..... When Buehrle wins game 300 for the Sox...then he'll rank up there with Frank in my book. Nothing against Mark, love the guy...but Frank Came up at almost the exact time I became a Sox Fan...and he's been here ever since. If Reinsdorf lets him leave....man will I be furious. I want that scoreboard at the Cell exploding with the # 500 on it for that man.

QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ May 18, 2005 -> 12:42 PM) Something's up...I'm feelin' a little uneasy... Yeah...Paulie needed to get 1 more hit beyond that 2 for 3 to start the game. Now you can feel at ease.

And AJ leaves the park for 4 days in a row. You think he's going to like hitting in the Cell?