WCSox

QUOTE (Pumpkin Escobar @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 11:25 AM) That whole scenario is your hindsight is 20/20. Had we known in 2005 that Thomas would stay healthy in 06' and put up similar numbers to Thome - then obviously keeping Rowand and Frank would look to have served us better on paper. Had you also told us it would take another 3+ years to find a centerfielder, then yes, we probably wouldn't have made those deals. Some see Kenny Williams using the 05' World Series to remove a "bad seed" in Thomas and being able to get away with it. Others feel he truly did what he felt was best for the organization so I can't fault him for the deal. Thome played well for us over the years. Obviously not having another ring and only one trip to the playoffs during his tenure here isn't what was the plan from the day the deal was made. To say it was a stupid move at the time is wrong and to put any blame on Thome is wrong. However, in hindsight. Things may have been better served with keeping Rowand and Frank. Assuming Frank would've produced as he did in 06' and then us being able to have replaced him after that. Unfortunately, that is not how things work. Considering that the entire team tanked in 2007, that Frank was worthless after 2007, and that Rowand would've left as a free agent after 2007, keeping Rowand and Frank would've only benefitted the Sox in 2006. I think that a Thome/Anderson in 2006 and 2008 would've worked better in hindsight. If we had Frank instead of Thome last year, I don't think that we win the division.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 06:20 AM) I'd love to see Peavy pitch sometime next week. There's no reason to let all of his hard work be for naught. Except for the fact that the bone bruise on his pitching elbow is causing him serious discomfort.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 08:29 AM) Oh, you're so much better of a fan than the rest of us. To be a true fan, must we watch every game and still think we're in it until we're mathematically eliminated? I'll be watching either way, even though I know we're out of it. I won't be watching (or listening) at all, but the fact that I'm posting here kind of suggests that I'm not exactly a fair-weather fan.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 10:05 AM) If anything, the problem with a team that is full of lumber jacks is consistency. You can see it now, when Konerko, Dye, and Thome aren't hitting, we totally suck. Those guys are basically our offense and when they don't produce, we don't score. I don't care how well we pitch. If we don't score and Buehrle gives up 2 runs, we're gonna lose. Although power will always be a part of the White Sox and this team needs power to win at home, an offense that focuses more on run-production can't hurt. Mostly because contact hitters are less likely to slump than power hitters and can remain more consistent. The problem with this team is that it just dies in certain stretches simply because most of the power hitters slump. It's almost contagious. Yep. Didn't Dye and Thome both slump down the stretch in 2006? I'm all for power, but it needs to be balanced with good fundamental run-manufacturing. This team needs to learn how to bunt and hit the ball the other way again.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 10:04 AM) Great post. We aren't going to win squat again until our pitching and defense is consistent to great. Our starting pitching is about as good going into next season (with a healthy Peavy) as one could reasonably expect. The bullpen, on the other hand, needs a ton of help. Kenny is going to have to spend here before he spends on offense. Also completely agree about our defense.

QUOTE (quickman @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 09:52 AM) Folks this maybe more of a tribute to Jim thome than anything else. Maybe the sox want to give him a last shot at winning the world series. He might have this time and maybe next year and thats it. Maybe the sox are giving one the best gentleman in baseball a shot at being on a world series team. If so I think its great. Word of this might not come out for years to come. I'd say that's exactly what they're doing. And, for all we know, Kenny's generosity may result in Thome signing a one-year deal with us this winter.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 09:02 AM) Chances Thome is back next season? I'd probably give him a 40% chance, which is high considering that half of the AL will be interested in him.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 08:57 AM) And this myth that the Sox won with speed that year really needs to end. True, but the Sox were more effective offensively during the first half of the season, when Pods was healthy. He was a difference-maker. The Sox were also MUCH more effective at bunting and moving runners along via productive outs in general. This latter point is a lost art that has cost them since.

QUOTE (Pumpkin Escobar @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:51 PM) No doubt we'd look bad regardless but it is tough to argue that we have a good perception from Cuban ballplayers and a good relationship with one of the biggest agents who represents those players. Having done something to Contreras would've harmed that relationship I feel and wouldnt have been worth the risk. With so many American ballplayers - we'd have looked bad but I don't see it as hurtful. Just my two cents. We can agree to disagree. Meh, maybe not. Your point about this organization having an exceptional relationship with a limited pool of Cuban ballplayers is a good one. In addition, Jose tends to be overly-sensitive and he'd probably slam the organization if Kenny outright cut him. I don't think that it factored into the decision-making, but I can agree that the ramifications of such a move would have been worse.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 06:18 AM) Hopefully April 2010 Yeah, no kidding. This would be a good time to shut Quentin down as well.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:38 PM) I could see AJ doing some DH'ing and Flowers getting to know the staff a little in September I agree. JD would be another who should get reps at DH. Quentin should be shut down to get that surgery on his foot.

QUOTE (Pumpkin Escobar @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:35 PM) They did the right thing in keeping him aboard but had he not been one of our Cuban players - I am not so sure we wouldn't have seen him demoted or DFA'd. I don't think that his nationality had anything to do with it. If the Sox DFA'd a veteran American or Canadian player at the end of August, they'd look equally bad.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:33 PM) for an NL team Thome is a pinch hitter, for a NL team with some of those terrible lineups, Jose can actually contribute a lot more I'll bet that he gets some starts at 1B. He'll only be playing there for a month or two.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:29 PM) me personally, i go w/ the Mets. And John Edwards. Yuck.

QUOTE (jamesdiego @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:26 PM) Contreras has given ALOT to this organization, glad they were able to find him another place to play. To cut him would of made us look very bad, glad you're not the GM. Stop with the rational thinking already. This is Soxtalk. We're supposed to let our emotions control our actions.

QUOTE (GO CHI SOX! @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:25 PM) We got pitcher Brandon Hynick from Rockies for Contreras I was thinking a fungo bat and a bag of Big League Chew.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:24 PM) yep. Put down the bottle, son.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:22 PM) Starting Freddy doesn't make sense if we're rebuilding though. Last I checked, we're looking for a #5 for next season and Freddy is literally family. This would be a good opportunity to see what he can do, in the event that Hudson isn't ready in April.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:21 PM) ew, you like the cardinals... Which NL team should I root for? The Cubs?

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:20 PM) is there any word on if these are PTBNL or straight waiver? I've heard nothing. I can't imagine that Kenny got anything outside of the salary dump.

QUOTE (b-Rye @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:19 PM) I'll be rooting for the Dodgers again in the playoffs.. and not for taking the cubs out. Yeah, I may actually root against the Cardinals in the NL for the first time in years. That'll be strange...

QUOTE (b-Rye @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:12 PM) CONTRERAS TO ROCKIES!!! Somebody actually wanted Jose?

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:11 PM) So what do you actually gain by releasing either? Other than, you know, showing you have no class as an organization. You get to placate a bunch of angry and immature posters at Soxtalk.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:06 PM) Anyone who advocates releasing either one has zero clue about baseball or how business is done, or about showing any damn class/respect as an organization. ^^^ There's a big difference between trading a future HOFer to a contender and kicking somebody off of the team out of anger.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 09:01 PM) I just hope it's not the Red Sox, even though it probably is. I couldn't even root for them if Thome is on their team, it would be more a case of "at least Thome got his ring" after the fact. Me neither. I can't stand the Red Sox and their obnoxious fans.