NorthSideSox72

QUOTE(AnthraxFan93 @ Nov 30, 2005 -> 02:30 PM) He is earning more respect everyday from me.. People just think of the 3-4-5.. DYE Paulie Thome.. Can anyother team be able to match that? I still don't get why people think Dye hits 3rd and Thome 5th, considering how much better a hitter Thome is. But no matter the order, the heart of our lineup is looking damn good right now.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Nov 30, 2005 -> 02:28 PM) If Hermy doesn't play next year, we're on the hook for his $3M. He won't be traded, way too much of an injury risk. If he has surgery, insurance pays a big chunk of his salary.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Nov 30, 2005 -> 02:25 PM) That still allows us some payroll flexibility if needed. Plus it sounds like we will move Marte (2.5M), and Hermy will likely go the surgery route and miss the year or get traded (3M), so that's more money opened up as well.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Nov 30, 2005 -> 02:20 PM) http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...y2005/index.jsp Thank you sir.

I still don't see this mentioned on whitesox.com or mlb.com (I must be having browser issues or something). Anyone have a direct link to the story on chisox' website?

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Nov 30, 2005 -> 01:19 PM) My source says Pailue has re signed with the Sox, announcement soon. Let's see if hes'e right. Tease. Still, I hope you're source is right.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Nov 30, 2005 -> 11:26 AM) We just won the World Series. Im not satisfied going into the season with our two hole hitter never playing a game in AAA. Sorry. Understood. I guess I look at this as a business thing. Needs of the business trump ideal personnel plans. The Sox need a 2-hole hitter, need a CF, and want to unclog that logjam. Owens can solve all of those, and for 330k/year. The downfall is that he is very raw, as you note (though he has been hitting .400+ in a winter league with AAA+ players). The ideal plan would be to wait another year. But given the choice of an expensive guy like Pierre, versus a young, cheap guy who looks like he has a good shot at being better (and is cheaper, and would have an also-talented Anderson behind him), I'll take Owens. I like taking those kinds of chances. And in terms of bang for the buck, I think it's the smart move.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Nov 29, 2005 -> 09:41 PM) There are so many things that play into this whole off-season. You have the whole Konerko saga happening, Thome in at 1b/DH, a void in CF, the need/want of a #2 hole hitter, and the log jam of Anderson/Young/Owens/Sweeney. Of the 5 things you mention here, the last three (CF, 2-hole, logjam) are all solved with one move. That move's name is Owens.

QUOTE(3E8 @ Nov 29, 2005 -> 07:07 PM) Overbay has averaged a better WARP than Konerko the past two seasons. All while making less than 500k each year. I think he's anything but overrated. OK, I'll bite. WARP?

It would be great to move Marte and replace him with Myers. But I sure as heck hope we aren't going for Pierre. He'd be a total waste of money at his salary level. We have a handful of guys ready to move into the OF for cheap, who will likely be bigger contributors (Anderson, Owens, Young).

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Nov 29, 2005 -> 03:05 PM) The Score is reporting that the Angels have offered Konerko 5 years, $65 million. LA Times said 5/60. Roto previously said 4/50. These people just don't know. Like I said, I'll lean on KW's words until we hear something real.

I'll throw my hat in the ring... PLAN A: Thome at DH, re-sign PK for 1B if PK can't be resigned, then... PLAN B: Thome at 1B, re-sign Frank for DH (if and only if he can demonstrate that he will be healthy by ST) if Frank is not healthy, then... PLAN C: Thome at DH, sign Nomar for conversion to 1B and to hit in 2-hole (also works: if Crede's back acts up, DH Crede and put Nomar at DH, Thome at 1B) if Nomar not possible, then... PLAN D: Thome at 1B, get any bat that is better than Carl for DH (various possibilities here depending on player's defensive position) if no player better than Carl available, then... PLAN E: Thome at DH, Gload at 1B

I have seen stories from all sorts of media pundits about where PK is going. They are all conflicting, and there is no telling who might be right. Bottom line for me: KW still says, repeatedly, that he thinks PK will likely come back. I doubt he'd say that if there was anything less than a good chance, lest he make himself look like an idiot. And I'll take words from KW over any media folks any time. Therefore, I'm still betting he's coming back. Better than a 50-50 chance, I believe.

Apparently the Cleveland Plain Dealer feels jilted QUOTE Given his choice, Jim Thome would have preferred to be playing for the Indians next year. The Indians considered it before Philadelphia traded Thome to the White Sox. Here's what the Phillies asked for when they met with the Indians at the general managers meetings in early November: outfielder Coco Crisp, top pitching prospect Charles Lofgren and another prospect. -- Cleveland Plain Dealer -- Cleveland Plain Sore Losers

We have no need to spend that kind of money on the need for speed. We have speedy OF options in our own system - at least one of Anderson, Owens and Young will likely be better than Pierre in the near future. And Owens, and possibly Anderson or Young, could hit in the 2-hole.

FYI, from Scott Reifert's Sox Pride blog... A DVD of the entire Sox season, which will also include behind-the-scenes sound and extra features like our ballpark opening video, commercials and Comcast's coverage of the parade and rally, is due out in early December. So keep both in mind as Xmas gifts for all your Sox fans. So it looks like the Sox were indeed able to work out copyright issues with the music, etc., on the opening reels. Yet another X-Mas must have!

Timo made $1M last year, and would stand to make more this year. I really think that's too much for a backup outfielder who didn't perform all that well. Any of Anderson, Owens and Borchard would be roughly $300k each. As I've been saying for a few weeks, let Owens and Anderson duke it out for CF. I also really like the idea people have mentioned here of sending the loser of that battle to AAA to get lots of at-bats, and putting Borch in as the 4th OF. Anderson/Owens won't be hurt by a year in AAA, whereas Borchard is out of options. Release Timo. Ozuna becomes your 5th option in OF.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Nov 26, 2005 -> 01:57 AM) It's not a direct quote from Kenny but Dave van Dyck is saying that Kenny said those guys would be the two options for center field. Which now means that KW and Ozzie have both mentioned Owens' name, as well as Anderson's. Seems pretty clear to me what they are thinking for CF in 2006.

Thome will be our best hitter, unless he's not on the field because of an injury. And lefty/righty isn't everything - as pointed out here, PK hits righties better anyway. Style of hitting and specific skills are more important. Also, let's not forget that Ozzie wants a new 2-hole hitter, as well as a CF. Therefore... Pods Owens Thome Konerko Dye Pierzynski Iguchi Crede Uribe I like it!

QUOTE(knightni @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 07:15 PM) Ichiro. Or that guy. That would be... incredible.

QUOTE(JimH @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 07:13 PM) Jason ... put your thinking cap on .... Who else fits besides Pierre? Somebody with speed, can handle the bat, and can function in the #2 hole. Maybe the guy hitting .400+ in winter league, who is fast as heck, and who Ozzie specifically said he wanted to see up soon?

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 06:32 PM) Not really, spring training doesn't mean all that much and Owens is still way to raw to be in the major leagues. Give him a year in Charlotte then we'll see what happens in 07. Probably. But Owens was insane in his AA season, he's hitting .400+ in a winter league, and Guillen specifically mentioned him in an interview earlier this month when discussing people he'd love to see on the team soon. Interesting that he did that, given his request for a #2 hitter, and the now-open OF spot. I'd be willing to wager he gets an invite to ST, to compete for a slot.

QUOTE(White Sox Josh @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 06:35 PM) Thome is a better defensive 1B than Konerko. People forget that Thome, when healthy is good with the glove. I disagree... (FPCT/RF/ZR career at 1B) Thome: .994 9.30 .823 Konerko: .995 9.48 .826 PK looks better to me, though they are very close (and both very good, and both improved in recent years). Konerko hasn't had back problems like Thome has. I'll take PK at 1B and Thome at DH.

FYI, if you look at the article on whitesox.com, it talks about sending Haigwood and Gio in no uncertain terms. Just states it as fact.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 06:20 PM) Anderson has good speed, but right now he swings and misses a ton. If he had to work to drive the ball to the opposite field it might even help him, but he's not going to fill in as a 2 hole hitter. Then I am going to stretch and say something I did a few weeks ago - put Anderson and Owens (who I think is potentially an ideal 2-hole guy in the future) in a head-to-head for the starting CF job in spring training. Let them duke it out. Whoever loses, make them the 4th OF. I know, I know, Owens may not be ready. So if he loses, he loses. But I think it's worth giving him a shot.