spiderman

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 29, 2007 -> 12:44 PM) I don't think I can put into words how silly it would seem to me to be to put Mike Myers into next year's bullpen ahead of Boone Logan as our LOOGY with the way each of them has performed this year and the cost associated with both of them. They would probably tell you that Myers brings experience, and is strictly a specialst. Logan can make the team if he earns it.

I don't think the White Sox are going to overhaul their bullpen this off-season. We may see another veteran added, or maybe some more young arms acquired for competition, but it looks like we could have: Bobby Jenks Mike MacDougle - he's under contract Matt Thorton - he's under contract Mike Myers - he's been ok vs lefties, and the White Sox want some more experience in the pen next season Wassermann - most don't believe he's for real, but he'll be in the mix in camp Then we have a collection of maybe's in guys like Boone Logan, Nick Masset (who's now a starter), H.Phillips, Aardsma, Buckvich... I think, depending on Wassermann and Myers, we will have 2 or 3 spots open for competition/free agency/trades.... I can see a Garland trade where they get an experienced bullpen arm back, and then maybe some other moves where more competition is added, but I really can't see a brand new bullpen next season. I'd be satisfied if they can land a dependable setup option with experience, but it's hard to predict what these guys can do year to year, so even that's a difficult thing to acquire.

QUOTE(Mplssoxfan @ Sep 27, 2007 -> 07:27 AM) I'm not a fan, but did she make these comments during the Evening News or in another forum? It was in another forum.

Katie Couric speaking on Tuesday about Iraq: "Everyone in this room would agree that people in this country were misled in terms of the rationale of this war," said Couric, adding that it is "pretty much accepted" that the war in Iraq was a mistake. "I've never understood why [invading Iraq] was so high on the administration's agenda when terrorism was going on in Afghanistan and Pakistan and that [iraq] had no true connection with al Qaeda." Further, Couric said the Bush administration botched the war effort, calling it "accepted truths" that it erred by"disbanding the Iraq military, and leaving 100,000 Sunni men feeling marginalized and angry...[and] whether there were enough boots on the ground, the feeling that we'd be welcomed as liberators and didn't need to focus as much on security." She added "I'd feel totally comfortable saying any of that at some point, if required, on television." “The whole culture of wearing flags on our lapel and saying ‘we’ when referring to the United States and, even the ‘shock and awe’ of the initial stages, it was just too jubilant and just a little uncomfortable. And I remember feeling, when I was anchoring the ‘Today’ show, this inevitable march towards war and kind of feeling like, ‘Will anybody put the brakes on this?’ And is this really being properly challenged by the right people? And I think, at the time, anyone who questioned the administration was considered unpatriotic and it was a very difficult position to be in.”

QUOTE(Texsox @ Sep 24, 2007 -> 12:44 PM) Newt would be an interesting candidate. I think he would be about the smartest candidate in the GOP field. I think he'd be the smartest candidate in either party, but he's probably too polarizing. Given that the 3rd quarter is typically a tough fundraising period (when compared to the first two), there's no way in hell he comes close to that $30 million.

Group Points Out O'Reilly Race Comments After eating dinner at a famed Harlem restaurant recently, Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly told a radio audience he "couldn't get over the fact" that there was no difference between the black-run Sylvia's and other restaurants. "It was like going into an Italian restaurant in an all-white suburb in the sense of people were sitting there, and they were ordering and having fun," he said. "And there wasn't any kind of craziness at all." O'Reilly said his fellow patrons were tremendously respectful as he ate dinner with civil rights activist Al Sharpton. The comments were made during O'Reilly's nationally syndicated radio broadcast last week. The liberal media watchdog Media Matters for America called attention to them by distributing a transcript and audio clip on the Internet. "This is nothing more than left-wing outlets stirring up false racism accusations for ratings," said Bill Shine, senior vice president for programming at Fox News Channel. "It's sad." O'Reilly spoke during a general discussion about racial relations with Fox News analyst Juan Williams. O'Reilly said he believed black Americans were "starting to think more and more for themselves" and backing away from a race-based culture encouraged by Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. He said he treated Sharpton to dinner to thank him for appearing on his Fox News Channel show. O'Reilly pointed to the lack of difference between Sylvia's and other restaurants as a marker of racial progress. He also noted that he went to an Anita Baker concert recently where the audience was evenly mixed between blacks and whites. "The band was excellent, but they were dressed in tuxedoes, and this is what white America doesn't know, particularly people who don't have a lot of interaction with black Americans," he said. "They think the culture is dominated by Twista, Ludacris and Snoop Dogg." Williams concurred that too many people believe there's little else in black culture beyond profane rap. "That's right," O'Reilly said. "There wasn't one person in Sylvia's who was screaming, `M.F.-er, I want more iced tea." Sharpton said he was taken aback that anyone would be surprised at how blacks acted at Sylvia's and will ask O'Reilly on "The O'Reilly Factor" Wednesday to explain what he meant. Nothing O'Reilly said at the dinner was offensive, said Sharpton spokeswoman Rachel Noerdlinger. Karl Frisch, a spokesman for Media Matters, called O'Reilly's comments "ignorant and racially charged."

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 31, 2007 -> 09:45 PM) http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...-home-headlines No Sweeney because of too many outfielders. This is just comical right now. I guess we can't take away time from Erstad's spot-starts. This might be the least impressive list of call-ups any team will have. Shouldn't Sweeney have to earn the spot ? I understand that Erstad and Podsednik aren't part of next year's plan, but what has Sweeney done to deserve that opportunity ? With all the talk of signing a CF, and Fields most likely playing LF (and Dye in RF), Owens in at least one OF reserve, I don't necessarily see how's earned a spot unless he begins to play better, and there's only one left.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 2, 2007 -> 03:57 PM) All but 2 years of his career, Aaron Rowand has not been better than a #8 or so hitter in the AL. Then I'd question signing him to that sort of contract if you didn't think he'd be able to bat higher in the order. Can't our money be spent better than on a #8 hitter ?

QUOTE(BearSox @ Sep 1, 2007 -> 11:19 PM) I guess I am ready to see a team like this next year: 1. Eckstein, SS 2. Fields, LF 3. Thome, DH 4. Konerko, 1B 5. Dye, RF 6. Pierzynski, C 7. Crede, 3B 8. Rowand, CF 9. Richar, SS BENCH: Jerry Owens & Andy Gonzalez - "dynamic bench duo!"; Lucy - C; Pablo Ozuna - INF; Alex Cintron - INF ROTATION: Buehrle, Vazquez, Garland, Danks, Egbert/Floyd/Gio/Broadway BULLPEN: Jenks, MacDougal, Thornton, Linebrink, Logan, Broadway/Floyd/Sisco/Aardsma ------ I don't want to see a team like that, but I am prepared to. If the White Sox were to sign Rowand for $9-$10 million a season for 3-4 years, I don't think he' dbe batting 8th.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Sep 1, 2007 -> 08:27 PM) I love how the White Sox didn't even try and make Byrd work. They've cashed it in, and it really makes the opposing pitcher's job much easier.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 31, 2007 -> 09:45 PM) http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...-home-headlines No Sweeney because of too many outfielders. This is just comical right now. I guess we can't take away time from Erstad's spot-starts. This might be the least impressive list of call-ups any team will have. With Owens in CF, Dye locked up in RF, and Fields now in LF, where is he going to play ? Plus, he has had a below average season.

Is he going to be added to the bullpen as a long man in case one of the starters struggle ? I don't understand this move.

If they can get him on a 1 year deal with a vesting option (meaning he meets certain performance levels) for a 2nd year, I could live with it.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 27, 2007 -> 10:06 AM) Yeah but, why bother? I mean, unless they are trying to show of Gonzalez for a trade (which seems doubtful), I don't see why he is there over these other guys. To me, the time to make moves and send a message is a few days ago. Gonzalez can play 3B, none of the others can. Also with Fields in LF, Owens in CF, and Dye in RF, it's unlikely that Sweeney would play much anyways. On top of that, he isn't playing particularly well either.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Aug 26, 2007 -> 05:16 PM) Personally I always liked the guy. I still think he would be better than most of the broadcasters we have in the booth now. But I do remember the "homer" slam always being applied to Dave as well. Anyone who has that job is going to hear that complaint. Fans expect these guys to go off after every game, and they overlook constructive criticism.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 26, 2007 -> 01:39 PM) Fields in LF almost guarantees no Owens in CF next year. I like this move....well done Sox. Not sure about this yet. All the speculation still seems to surround a free agent signing in CF, which obviously would make Owens a reserve if that happens. Somewhere, Williams needs to add players who can get on base. With Fields likely holding down LF now, Dye in RF, Crede (hopefully at 3B), Richar at 2B, Konerko at 1B, Thome DHing, and AJ behind the plate, CF and SS are the only two positions that Kenny has left to find guys who can hit at top of the order, and the SS options aren't very good. Kenny had better have something up his sleeve here.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Aug 26, 2007 -> 11:40 AM) Wait.....if Fields is in LF the rest of the season, I better not see Andy f***ing Gonzalez at third every goddamn game. Why does it matter at this point ? Gonzalez isn't a long-term answer there, he'd only be keeping the spot warm for Crede, and Fields appears to be our LF answer for next season.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Aug 26, 2007 -> 11:12 AM) Just throwing this out there... over a full season he'd be on pace for 200+ K's. Fields still has a way to go at the plate. He has tremendous power, but he strikes out way too much, and is only in the upper .230's, lower .240's. Hopefully, he can cut down on those strikeouts, and get his batting average up some.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Aug 26, 2007 -> 10:59 AM) According to the Score Fields will be in LF for the rest of the season. What I don't understand is why it takes management so long to make these decisions. They knew Crede was expected back next season since the surgery, and that Fields would have to play LF if Crede is still on the 2008 roster (which I would expect to be the case given his diminished trade value, and managable salary) so I have to wonder why it took them so long to make this move IF this is there expected course of action for next season.

I have no issues with Rongey. Maybe he doesn't rant like some would prefer, but I have heard many post game shows where he offers constructive criticism of the team.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Aug 25, 2007 -> 04:25 AM) Well, you are the one advocating bringing back Crede; what is he going to produce next year? You can't depend on him to stay healthy past May, you can't depend on his defense remaining anywhere near gold glove caliber after back surgery, and he never was a very good offensive player to begin with. I would guess, absolute best case scenario, you're looking at .270/.310/.490 from Crede at 3B with (slightly) worse defense than before surgery. Worst case, he's done before June, and $4-5 mill is absolutely wasted. With Hunter, I see worst case scenario being about a .750 OPS with good defense in CF with potentially a season ending leg injury in early August, but he's been quite healthy since 2005 and I'm not sure I'd even look at that, with best case being great defense and an .825-.850 OPS with good speed added to the lineup in place of Joe Crede's slowass. I also don't see the holes in the pitching staff as easily replaceable; if you want to sign a reliever nowadays, it costs $3 mill a year, and a league average starter costs $8-10 mill. Personally, I'd rather take a chance with Egbert, Gio, Floyd, or Haeger than spend that kind of money on mediocrity. I would much rather have Joe Credie for 1 year at 5 million or so than possibly give T.Hunter a 5 or 6 year deal. The decision to have Joe Crede play 3B next season depends entirely on his health - if Williams can't get beyond potential health issues and get reports indicating that he will hold up for 140 games, then I would leave Fields at 3B. Even without insurances from doctors, it still may be wiser to gamble on Crede for 1 year at reasonable money vs a long-term deal for a guy in his 30's already. I am much more focused on finding top of the order hitters as well - Hunter would make the team better next season offensively, but I don't know that we need another middle of the order hitter as much as guys who can get on base for those guys. Pitching is my other chief concern - this just doesn't look good. I do trust Garland to rebound next season, but will he even be here if they are talking about spending money on a CF ? The bottom of the rotation is a mess. Denks/Contreras/Floyd, etc don't provide much confidence, and the bullpen sucks.

Any idea what time the gate opens tomorrow for the White Sox / Red Sox, 2:55 PM Start ? Thanks in advance!

QUOTE(BearSox @ Aug 25, 2007 -> 01:08 AM) Your point being...? Isn't it obvious ? Do you really want to give Tori Hunter a 4 or 5 year deal worth at least $12 million a season, probably more OR would you rather give Crede 1 year at $5 million for 2008, and then see where you stand after next season ? Besides, I'm looking at this pitching staff, and seeing lots of holes. Is signing either Rowand, a fan favorite, but most likely overachieving this season OR Hunter, who is getting older, but still very good, for a long-term deal something we might regret later , especially if that is our main off-season move? You tell me, since you have the answers.

Doesn't signing T.Hunter/A.Rowand mean that Joe Crede won't be offered a contract for next season ? Correct me if I'm mistaken, but if they sign one of these guys to play CF, wouldn't Owens move to LF, and Fields would stay at 3B for next season ?

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 17, 2007 -> 11:47 PM) I'd have no problem with Erstad as the last, or next to last, guy on the bench. However, our manager is so s***ty, he won't be able to use him correctly. I pray that Erstad won't be brought back. He can still be a solid reserve, but Guillen would find excuses to turn him into an everyday player.