spiderman

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Jan 26, 2008 -> 12:40 PM) ... I remember the last time we heard this. Wasn't it about 1 year ago? They have to prove that to me....I like the fact they added some veterans who have had success, and part of Kenny's assessment is that MacDougle and Thorton will rebound to form 5 dependable options (along with Jenks, Dotel, and Linebrink). Kenny also mentioned that Boone Logan held lefties to a .230 average last season.

This morning, on White Sox Weekly, Kenny Williams says: - Joe Crede and Josh Fields won't be on the same team. He then says he won't be trading Josh Fields before backtracking and saying that you always have to leave the door open. - The key to the starting rotation is Jose Contreras. Denks and Floyd will be fine. - The bullpen will be amongst the best in the league. - Paul Konerko is not going anywhere. He has not had any trade conversations with the Angels about trading them. - 2B (Richar/Uribe, etc) is the one position that will be a training camp battle. - Kenny expects the flexibility of the roster to give Ozzie Guillen lot of different looks in the lineup, capable of going with a thumper lineup and just as easily going with more of a contact/speed lineup. - The payroll (currently) may have already exceed the revenue that they have expected to bring in. - Kenny doesn't believe in rebuilding as much as reloading. Any trades made will be to help the team win the WS. (Of course, this does leave room for Kenny to trade Crede for a minor leaguer, and for Kenny to say that he is adding pitching depth to the minors).

Kenny Williams said this morning that the White Sox are not working on a contract extension for Jenks, but are interested in working on a new deal for Cabrera.

They made a mistake in resigning Uribe to this 1 year deal, thought they could trade him, but can't because nobody wants him! Now, they are stuck with a guy making $4.5 million a year on the bench so why not see if he can beat out Richar at 2B ? I would hope that Richar would win this battle, but let spring training sort it out.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 18, 2008 -> 09:43 PM) Out of those, I believe only Masset is actually out of options. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong on Aa, but I'm fairly certain we have Sisco for 1 more year. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Nick Masset was a top prospect in the Rangers system when he came over to the White Sox in the John Denks/Brandon McCarthy deal. Is he still considered to be a top prospect, and, if so, how can he not make the team given that he is out of options ? How many more options did he have when the White Sox acquired him ?

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Jan 18, 2008 -> 08:14 PM) Im going to wait and see what KW does with the remaining offseason before i make any judgments. I could careless what any critics think. Right now we may see an upgrade at 2B. We sill may get Dotel or another reliever, we may get another starter. Whats going to happen with Crede and Uribe? THis offseason is far from over.... I think Dotel would be a nice addition, but I don't expect any major league help when Crede is eventually dealt. I think this is our team - we have a potentially very good lineup should Cabrera and Swiser live up to expectations at the top of the order and the middle of the lineup returns to the form of previous seasons. The bullpen will most likely be improved. After all, how can it be any worse than last season ? (I guess Jenks could implode, but let's hope not). Everything goes back to Contreras-Denks-Floyd in the starting rotation. That's the key - 2 of these guys have to be good.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jan 17, 2008 -> 10:46 PM) Oh, you bet your ass KW is going after one of those premier starters. Hes probably already budgeting for it. The question is, will we get one? No way unless Kenny decides to offer at least 5 years, if not more, which some other teams would because free agency makes teams stupid.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jan 17, 2008 -> 08:47 PM) So that's Crede and Uribe making a combined $9.6M this season. That's not a very good use of resources is it. Ideally, they'd both be off the 25 man roster before the first game of the season in April, but my guess is 1 (probably Uribe) will be on the bench to start the season. Agreed, and the Uribe situation continues to baffle and irritate me. Nobody wants the guy because he's not very good....except the White Sox at the time, who have to regret that decision.

This doesn't change anything - the White Sox still have 2 3B, and one, most likely Joe Crede, won't be here by the start of the season. He was going to have to sign a deal for next season at some point....

QUOTE(sircaffey @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 11:33 PM) Is Kenny ever satisfied? I'll give you that he's pretty aggressive, but I think he sees Konerko as a key, about as close to a constant as this team has under Kenny, in the middle of the lineup.

QUOTE(sircaffey @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 11:31 PM) Kenny has also been yearning for a leadoff hitter for years. I think he'd love to swap some power out for one ala Pods/Lee. I think he's satisfied though with what he has.

QUOTE(sircaffey @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 11:08 PM) Pauly becomes a 10/5 player in a few months. If we don't trade him before this season, we likely won't trade him period. I think Kenny is too vested in this upcoming season to trade one of his big run producers. Remember, Kenny has already addressed the top of the lineup now with Cabrera and Swisher so he's probably pretty excited with the top 5 in that lineup.

Konerko isn't going to be traded. Just the fact that it's being rumored so frequently makes me doubt any of this.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 9, 2008 -> 12:25 PM) Where did you hear that? Anything we can look at? And welcome to the board! I think I heard Steve Stone say that.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 8, 2008 -> 09:30 PM) NBC and the AP have called it for Clinton. Chris Matthews can't be happy about this.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 8, 2008 -> 09:23 PM) That's what I've been thinking. Seems to me he is more aligned with Obama, but who knows. They are both about change, but Obama tends to be less specific and extremely positive in the speeches I've seen, and Edwards tends to be more specific, and extremely angry in his speeches that I've heard.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 8, 2008 -> 09:13 PM) As bad as Giuliani is about 9/11 this and 9/11 that... both Edwards' are just as bad about working in that damn mill. Laughing at Edwards acting like he just won when he's waving, and hugging, smiling all the way up to the podium while playing 'this country is lost to folks like me and you'.... Huckabee gave a victory speech as well....must be something about finishing a distant 3rd.

QUOTE(Athomeboy_2000 @ Jan 8, 2008 -> 08:55 PM) Some people feel that Obama supporters may not have turned out because he was tracking so far ahead in the polls Fox News Data says: Hillary is winning in: Union workers, women, older voters (over 40), seniors, and lower income Obama is wining in: Men, younger people (under 30 by 23 points), the change theme (55-29), Independents 41-34

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 8, 2008 -> 08:53 PM) I don't take anything from that. After 2000 they're not going to call a close one until they're certain, and this is clearly close. It's too close of a race, the exit polling is probably not indicating anything that can be determined, and the people crunching the numbers know what areas haven't reported yet, and which way the polling is expected to go there. A lot to take into account, and like you said, they'd rather wait it out, then make the mistake of giving incorrect information.

54% in. Hillary maintaining a 2 point lead, per Fox News.

FOX News says that a lot of the college age populations has not been reported yet so Hillary's campaign is holding their breath right now. Fox says that these college areas though aren't large populations, or enough to make the difference. Hillary has gotten a big return in downscale areas.

Boers and Bernstein, correct ? Did they ask him if he was on HGH/Steriods during his 35 HR season before getting off last season (down to 22 HR) ??? That's what they were speculating for a minute or two yesterday as well as comparing him to a slightly better version of Aaron Rowand.

One point I strongly disagree with in his column is that the Chris Young trade was a bad trade for the White Sox. Vazquez is our #2 starter, and is coming off a very solid season. We expect him to continue at that level of productivity. Yes, Young hits HR's, and he probably will end up being a good player, but I don't regret that trade for a 2nd. I only wish the White Sox would find a way to add another veteran starting pitcher before the season begins.

Chicago Tribune Link - Phil Rogers Column Sox's future takes another hit Swisher deal improves club for now, but not enough to justify its cost Is Jerry Reinsdorf selling the White Sox after 2008? Is Ken Williams planning to do his job only one more year and then move on? Or do those two guys peer into their crystal balls and see enough pitching lined up behind Mark Buehrle, Javier Vazquez and Bobby Jenks to put the Sox in the same league as the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians? The answer to the last of those questions must be yes. Otherwise you really have to wonder what has happened to the once-responsible managers of the 2005 World Series champions. And I don't see how you can put the Sox into the same conversation with the Tigers and Indians, the two powerhouses from the American League Central. Nothing against Nick Swisher, but on first examination I really don't like the deal that brought the dangerous 27-year-old switch-hitter to Chicago for three promising youngsters. I hate it, actually. The players going to Oakland in the Swisher trade are Gio Gonzalez, 22, and Fautino de los Santos, 21, the two most highly regarded pitchers in a thin farm system, and outfielder Ryan Sweeney, 22, who entered 2007 rated the organization's top prospect by Baseball America. That same publication was about to go to press with its 2008 rankings, which would have had Gonzalez No. 1, de los Santos No. 2 and Sweeney No. 6. That's a ton of talent to give up for one proven hitter, even if he is signed through 2011 at a reasonable salary. But that has been Williams' modus operandus as general manager, especially since 2005—using prospects to acquire veterans in the hope of getting another bite at the apple. That strategy blew up in his face when he sent center fielder Chris Young to Arizona for Vazquez, and this trade could make that one pale in its long-term cost. It's the kind of trade you make only if you have A) a deep farm system and B) a reasonably good chance to reach the playoffs in the near future. The White Sox have neither. A year ago, with the same nucleus of Paul Konerko, Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome, the Sox scored 693 runs, which ranked last in the AL. They allowed 839, more than all but three other teams. They finished 24 games behind Cleveland and 16 behind Detroit. It defies logic to believe they somehow will improve enough to make up those differences, especially with the Tigers adding Miguel Cabrera, Edgar Renteria and Dontrelle Willis. And Minnesota may yet concede, but with Johan Santana and Joe Nathan still on the roster, the Twins cannot be overlooked either. Williams made longtime scouting director Duane Shaffer a scapegoat for the farm system's failings in recent years, firing him midway through 2007. But the work of Shaffer and his scouts had a whole lot to do with that '05 championship, and Williams' willingness to deal prospects contributed to down years for the system in '06 and '07. A month ago, Williams traded Class A first baseman Chris Carter to Arizona for outfielder Carlos Quentin. Carter had been regarded as the organization's top young hitter before he was dealt away. That distinction previously had gone to outfielder Aaron Cunningham, whom Williams traded to Arizona for second baseman Danny Richar midway through last season. Perhaps Richar and Quentin will prove to be worth the gambles. But after their early tastes of the big leagues (138 games for Quentin and 56 for Richar), they are both .230 hitters. With Gonzalez, de los Santos, Sweeney, Carter and Cunningham gone, the Sox may not have anyone who will rank among the game's top 50 prospects when those lists are compiled. If they do, it will be Cuban Alexei Ramirez, whose signing—which was a great move—might not become official until mid-January because he's having trouble entering the country for a physical. Gonzalez, who has now been in three White Sox trades, and de los Santos are both potential No. 2 starters, if not aces. I've been intrigued with Gonzalez since watching him work for Philadelphia in the spring of 2006, and I loved what I saw from de los Santos in the Futures Game in July. Gonzalez led all minor-leaguers with 185 strikeouts in 150 innings a year ago, repeating Double A, and de los Santos held Class A hitters to a .163 average while striking out 11.3 per nine innings. They're both the type of young pitcher you just don't give up—not unless you're getting a stud pitcher such as Santana or Dan Haren back. It has been almost four years since Sweeney elicited Harold Baines comparisons from Roland Hemond in spring training. But with a change of scenery, and perhaps a break from over-coaching by an undistinguished group of minor-league hitting instructors, he could blossom into a hitter like the popular Swisher, who averaged 26 homers and 82 RBIs in his three full seasons in Oakland. Along with shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels for Jon Garland, Swisher is a significant upgrade for the 2008 starting lineup. The Sox won't finish last in the league with those guys replacing Juan Uribe and Scott Podsednik/Darin Erstad. Unless Williams has found a way to deal Konerko—and I wouldn't unhinge this team further by dealing Konerko, still the most stable lineup part—he will play Swisher in center or left (with some platoon involving Jerry Owens and Quentin filling the other position). The versatile Ramirez becomes something of a super utility man in 2008 before settling into center, short or second in '09, depending on Cabrera re-signing and the play of Owens and Richar. Swisher easily could hit 30-plus homers based in Chicago, benefiting from a move to U.S. Cellular Field the way A.J. Pierzynski did in 2005. His high on-base percentage (.381 in '07, .361 career) gives Ozzie Guillen the potential to stack his lineup with Cabrera and Swisher as the 1-2 guys to take pressure off the speedy Owens and Richar. Swisher makes the Sox better, no doubt about that. But Williams paid too high a price to get him. The next five years will show how much too high it was.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 3, 2008 -> 01:42 PM) Is he running on the GOP ticket? The long hair and tats say no. Ha Ha! I was checking in here to see the conversation, and just typed what I heard. My bad.