WCSox

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 26, 2010 -> 12:31 PM) It's been long enough to say I don't understand bringing up Dayan and have him sit. Weird move and dumb. He's hardly playing at all. Completely agree. Viciedo is still developing and needs at-bats.

I would do that deal if Zambrano simply had anger issues. But I don't know what he's going to be worth on the mound going forward.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 08:16 PM) Man, we are all a bunch of dirtbags Indeed. But my wife thinks that I'm discussing baseball right now, so it's all cool on my end. QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 08:19 PM) Cangelosi, I think I have you beat. 1) Married Russian model named Irina, check. Separated for 4 1/2 years but not divorced, check. Still a top 10 lifetime accomplishment for "middle class" teacher, lol. 2) I can't say that I had a serious Czech or Slovakian g/f, but I dated lots of Brno and Ostrava girls, lol. One of the most beautiful women in the world, Tereza Kolarikova...well, I just wish I was 30 and not 40, and RICH. And super good looking. Maybe then, maybe, I'd have a chance. Or if I was Brian Anderson, Gordon Beckham, Jon Garland, Paul Konerko, Mark Kotsay, Pods or LHP Williams. 3) http://s1024.photobucket.com/home/caulfield12 (I'm currently putting on a fundraising concert/fashion show/bachelor auction for Operation Smile here in China and I've been lucky enough to interview 50+ Chinese models as part of my job...one of the models even goes to Brown University and is double majoring in Biomedical Engineering and Economics/Business) 4) I am very good friends with a pseudo-porn star (she's never actually done B-G), just google Davon Kim. Not South Korean or Chinese, she's Filipina, from Cebu City. Her real name is Marienel, she's the sweetest girl in the world, but sorry guys, she's now happily married and living in the Netherlands. 5) I have had the opportunity to live/work in Colombia, the Philippines, Thailand and China twice...although I will agree with you that Eastern European/Russian/Ukrainian and then South American (Colombia, Venezuelan, Brazilian, Argentinian) women are the most beautiful in the world. 6) I once had a lap dance from Jenna Jameson for $20, lol. Can't remember the name, Spearmint Albino something strange like that out in LA. Man, you guys rock. My wife would NEVER pose for photos like that. Even if I promised to never, ever, ever show them to anybody.

QUOTE (JohnCangelosi @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 05:06 PM) I live in Eastern Europe, where it's a bit more common for an apparent old timer like me at 38 to have a 20 yr old GF. And they actually are a bit more traditional over here so they don't mind being regarded as a sex object like the women in the USA do...especially in Ukraine... So with that said, here we go, can't believe I am doing this...LOL http://www.matt-connelly.com/julia Sox fans you'll love Eastern Europe! Come on out, you can go to the clubs, get some drinks, see some beautiful women, and come home at 2AM just in time for the Sox game!!! :-) *highfive* Thanks for sharing pic #3.

I feel like I've been transported back to 2005. Man, I really hope that this is the beginning of the end of Beckham's slump. Having a productive Bacon in the 2-spot again would be huge.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 10:36 AM) Mind you that the sox have only $65 millions committed, I believe they will only offer abritration to Danks and CQ, with team option to Thorton and Castro. So the Sox do have some money to spend next season. They're going to need to fill eight positions, and will likely cut payroll if they fail to make the playoffs. Danks will get a hefty raise and the Sox will need to get an impact bat to replace PK - so you're looking at about $12M minimum for just those two.

If the Sox trade for somebody, it'll be a DH-type player with power, not a leadoff hitter. Ozzie mulled the idea of moving Teahen to leadoff right before he got hurt, but who knows if he'll be able to keep his OBP up when he returns. Realistically, Pierre's going to be there for the rest of the season. The best that we can hope for is that he gets his OBP back up to his usual .335.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 08:13 AM) Besides, I don't know why we just don't leave Beckham up. Even with his current struggles he still offers greater offensive potential at 2B than anything else we have at 2B Except for the fact that Beckham has been Andy Gonzalez-bad all year and still looks completely lost at the plate. Even Lillibridge is a better offensive option right now, and that's pretty sad. I was pushing to keep Beckham up and allow him to work through his struggles a month ago, but it's become clear that he's he's not getting any better. He needs to work under a different hitting instructor, in an environment where he doesn't give the Sox a de facto NL lineup. "Potential" is nice when you're 15 games out and have given up on the season, but that's the not the position that the Sox are in right now. Vizquel at 2B and Viciedo at 3B makes a lot more sense right now. (Unless the latter proves to be a complete butcher.)

QUOTE (goblue5699 @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 07:06 PM) Nix had an .802 OPS against lefties last season, as a strictly platoon player at 2B he's a solid player. That being said I have no problem with the White Sox optioning him because he is pretty terrible as a utility guy. This is true. He had the opportunity to fill that role and dropped the ball big-time. Sadly, I'd still take him over Beckham right now.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 04:15 PM) Fine, you dont have to agree. I see Nix with 412 career AB hitting .200/.291/.347 and Lillibridge with 200 career AB hitting .185/.264/.281. Nothing in either of those slash lines says that one is so much better that you have to keep him over the opposite player. Lillibridge is cheaper and more versatile. Sorry Jayson, see ya When Nix actually had regular at-bats last year, he put up an 84 OPS+ with a semi-respectable .408 SLG. That's miles better than what Lillibridge has done in the previous two years (OPS+ of 21 and 51, respectively). Nix is erratic, but he hits with power and is capable of impersonating a ML starter every once in a while. Their salary differences are minimal. Agreed that Nix is worthless on the left side of the infield, but he's decent at 2B. In the Sox's current situation, sending Beckham down and starting Nix at 2B, with Vizquel and Viciedo rotating at 3B and Lillibridge being the utility guy, would've made a lot more sense.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 03:52 PM) Lillibridge is a better defender than Nix at multiple positions, and their bats equal out in the suck department. Nix had opportunities, and did nothing with them. Disagree

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 02:43 PM) If we keep the payroll up near $100 mil, that clears us from $12 million to $15 million + available, which makes things easier but not perfect, because we're still suffering from lack of a DH, 1b, and closer, all of which can be expensive, on top of needing more setup men. I'd do that Konerko deal also, but then we have to figure out the closer's spot, and we're not offering Jenks arbitration. I can't remember the last time that the Sox pursued an experienced MLB closer through FA. I imagine that it'll be either Thornton or Santos next year. It's too bad that Kenny didn't get Putz to sign a team option for 2011. He's been looking like the dominant 2007 Putz.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 02:33 PM) I see what you're saying. But Prince is going to get his. And if the Brewers trade him, they'll get an insane package. The potential weight issues won't mean much. What's Fielder, 26 now? I agree that his next contract will be pretty nice. He still has a number of elite years left in him.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 02:25 PM) Sure didn't stop the Phillies from locking up G.Q. model Ryan Howard for the next 50 years and 347437474 billion dollars. Howard lost about 20 lbs, after going vegetarian and working with a personal trainer a couple of years ago. He's actually in pretty decent shape now. And he did this specifically to avoid ending up like Prince Fielder's dad.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 02:20 PM) Any particular reason you're completely ignoring the fact one guy is almost 5 years younger than the other? That would seem like a pretty big deal to me. It's also a big deal that the younger guy is borderline-obese and is unlikely to be an elite hitter when he's Dunn's age.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 02:12 PM) Why can't Coop fix him? The Force is strong with Linebrink, and he's immune to Coop's Jedi Mind Trick.

QUOTE (T R U @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 02:12 PM) With Berkman being down a little now and the Astros being so bad, and their history of poor trades.. I think that we could get Berkman without one of those three.. I wouldn't even deal Morel for Berkman. He's been awful this year.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 02:08 PM) I'm not sure I'd want to give up Morel either...but then I'm scared about n ext year a lot. That's a legit point of concern, for sure. I checked your math on having about $12M to fill 8 positions next year and it's pretty much correct. Then again, if the Sox continue to play well and draw (31,000 on a Thurs afternoon game today), JR may hold the payroll at $100M for another year, allowing us to re-up PK for something in the 2/15 range and fill 3B with Viciedo. I'm not sure that Morel would even be ready next year.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 02:00 PM) How so? Lillibridge and Viciedo are up right now. Teahen will also be back in a couple weeks. If Beckham is sent down Viciedo becomes your every day 3B for at least a little while. Because Nix is better than Lillibridge and, from what I've heard, Viciedo isn't exactly Brooks Robinson at 3B.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 02:05 PM) I could totally see the DBacks demanding one of those 3. I could as well, but Kenny could always counter with Morel and a couple of middle-tier 'specs.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 01:58 PM) Get Berkman for the DH spot, drop Kotsay or Jones. Its time. Berkman's been bad this year, and his splits are showing a decline in peformance. If we're out to get a better left-handed bat who won't cost Hudson/Flowers/Viciedo, I'd rather have LaRoche.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 12:25 PM) Nix has talent. He's a really good defensive 2B and given the correct at bats, can be a pretty decent hitter. You don't want to just give that away, especially not to the Indians. IMO, the bigger problem is giving him up with Beckham on the verge of being sent down and Teahen on the DL. They DFA'd him too early.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 01:45 PM) I am so hard for this team, right now. If this insane turnaround wasn't great enough, we have six more games against the Cubs and Royals before facing the "real" teams again. We actually have a legit chance to be in FIRST PLACE by the end of the month.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 01:21 PM) He's forced us to use Jenks in 2 blowouts within almost a week of each other, I'd say that's hurting the team. Good point.

One other thing to consider with regard to Linebrink is that he and Peavy are close. Not that that should matter, but keeping one's superstar players happy is a reality of professional sports. And when there are no realistic options to unload his salary and with Thornton, Putz, Jenks, and Santos all throwing the ball well, that's one more (minor) reason to not DFA Linebrink. Unless the bullpen implodes between now and September 1, Linebrink taking up a roster spot shouldn't be that big of a deal.