iamshack

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 12:12 PM) 1. Ballpark people, overall, except for that one guy near left field who sells beer. Everyone else is good. 2. Community relations. 3. Brooks. 4. Food. I think they're outstanding at taking care of their fans. I don't know about the ticket holders, but I have heard mainly good things. I think they've got a good relationship with the city and its people. There's one thing about KW I like -- his aggressiveness. But not his brand of aggressiveness. I like aggressiveness and determination and focus, but I think there's a big difference between what he does and what, say, John Schuerholz or Theo Epstein or Omar Minaya or Tony Reagins or Dave Dombrowski do. I don't know how to describe it, but I guess using a political metaphor I could say it's the difference between Harry Truman and George W. Bush. But I do, generally, like KW's aggressiveness. He isn't afraid. I just don't think he's good. What else? At this moment, with this administration? I don't think there's much more. I don't take pleasure in saying that. I do take pleasure in saying that I always enjoy the ballpark and I don't doubt anyone's committment. Why such a fan of Omar Minaya? He is KW, with a dollar in his pocket instead of 50 cents, and without the WS title...

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 12:00 PM) I wanted to make the point, counter to your assertions, that our depth isn't so much depth as a lot of bodies, so I understand why people would want someone else. I wasn't trying to insult or pick a fight...sorry if it came off that way. Besides your love for Ozzie, is there ANYTHING about the organization you do like?

I'd be willing to bet he doesn't end up with the Padres.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 20, 2007 -> 08:53 PM) None of them would count on any prospect list right now, as they've all had too many AB's/Innings pitched to count as a prospect for anyone. But that doesn't matter. All that matters is that you have some cheap, good, young players in your system. Would you rather we have more prospects in AA and AAA rather than some of these guys on the big league team? And secondly, a stocked farm system is nice and all, but not if you just let them all sit there and not pan out (see Angels; Dodgers). They've held onto some of their kids to a fault, and seen them crash and burn, when they could've traded them earlier for other more proven assets. Certainly our system is not going to blow anyone away with it's depth. And we don't have 7 prospects in the top 60 like some other clubs. But we do have a handful of kids that look as though they could project to solid major league players, which, in the end, is all you're looking for. The group of Danks/Fields/Gio/Egbert/DLS/Richar/Sweeney isn't anything to scoff at. Sure, there are no Jay Bruce's or Matt Kemp's at the moment- but all you are looking for is one or two guys a year to step up and step in. I have confidence some of these kids will do that.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 20, 2007 -> 02:20 PM) If we're getting Crisp AND Bowden, it's very likely DLS is in the trade, and also Gio as well. We don't need Crisp that badly.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 20, 2007 -> 10:47 AM) KW would be committing "hometown discount" suicide if he trades Buerhle before he even starts collecting on his extension. Well, Mark is compensated if he is indeed traded during this deal.

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Dec 20, 2007 -> 09:42 AM) You honestly believe the Reds are a better organization than the White Sox. I wish people would wake up and realize that some organizations have great prospects because they suck and get good draft picks every year. The Tigers got Cabrerra for two top 10 picks. I know that the Sox do not spend on the draft like they should but they are not getting top ten talent every year. Get Serious. No. Where did I state that the Reds are a "better organization" than the Sox? What I wrote was that they may have a "more positive outlook" than the White Sox right now. And this isn't necessarily because their team could be better than ours on paper, but more likely because of the league and division they play in.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 20, 2007 -> 09:41 AM) Rumors are he won't even be healthy until 2050. Wait, I mean the all-star break. I'll be surprised if he doesn't sign with the Padres. Didn't the Padres just sign a few guys off the scrap heap though? Glendon Rusch? They also have Hensley sitting there....I don't think they really have room for him unless he signs for next to nothing...

People continue to ignore the fact that he signed here with the knowledge that we were going after Hunter and MCab. Now we have neither. Just as Jermaine Dye was a little miffed, perhaps Buehrle is as well. I don't think it's ridiculous to believe he may welcome a trade to a team which has a more positive outlook than ours. It's probably not the case, but it isn't out of the realm of possibilities either.

QUOTE(maggsmaggs @ Dec 20, 2007 -> 08:05 AM) Unfortunately, because Prior wants multiple years with guarenteed money, the Sox are not going to be in the race. He still is a valuable pitching commodity because he was one of the five best pitchers in baseball only three years ago. And he is only 27, someone will bid $3+ million on the guy--and it won't be the Sox. Prior does NOT want multiple years. He wants one year. He doesn't even want an option.

QUOTE(sircaffey @ Dec 19, 2007 -> 10:01 PM) You misread what I said. I said they also have below average pitches. Floyd's fastball and curve are not below average. His other pitches are. Well pretty much every pitcher in baseball outside of perhaps the top 5 in each league have "a" or "some" below average pitches. That isn't saying a whole lot...

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Dec 19, 2007 -> 09:08 PM) Try this ... Actually, I am heading off to the

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 19, 2007 -> 08:57 PM) Yeah, we are trading Buehrle.... God forbid we have a little fun around here lately...

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 19, 2007 -> 09:01 PM) For Prior, the question may well not be how much people will sign him for, but who will offer him a 1 year deal instead of 2 Right. But I would think someone would give him $4-5 million for a year.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 19, 2007 -> 08:49 PM) I honestly don't know why other teams aren't going after Roberts if the Orioles are only asking for this type of package. I'm sure all of baseball thinks of Roberts as a juicer (even prior to the Mitchell report), but he still put up superb numbers last year. Well, there are only a few teams with a need there. The Rockies. Us? But then again, the Cubs don't even really have a need there...

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Dec 19, 2007 -> 08:48 PM) ... among other thinks they must be high on. Well let's not lose sight of the fact that McPhail knows their system fairly well

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 19, 2007 -> 08:46 PM) That would be a fantastic trade for the Cubs. For some reason they seem to be quite high on Gallagher.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 19, 2007 -> 08:33 PM) Wait until you know who makes a blockbuster trade for Roberts/Bedard. Well I've heard the Cubs should have a deal done for Roberts possibly tomorrow for Murton/Patterson/Gallagher, but I hadn't heard that the Bedard talks have gotten very far...

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 19, 2007 -> 08:25 PM) Buehrle for Hamilton, Votto, and Cueto....count me in! I'd take that in a millisecond. I think that is what was offered to the Orioles and they rejected it.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Dec 19, 2007 -> 08:15 PM) Call me stupid, but I'd rather keep Javy over Buehrle... I'd tend to agree with you...

If not Buehrle, why Javy?

QUOTE(wsgdf_2 @ Dec 19, 2007 -> 08:08 PM) Yeah, and he reportedly takes "long walks" with Kevin Towers, so what does that say about where he wants to be? Might mean nothing. Does he have a wide stance? Hah, that's my quote! But honestly, many people still think San Diego is his first choice, but if he were to sign there, he woud have to take less, especially since the Padres just signed another reclamation project last week....

QUOTE(hogan873 @ Dec 19, 2007 -> 07:39 PM) I didn't see the link between Prior and the White Sox. The Sox are not mentioned as potential suitors. However, I do think it would be a great signing. Low risk and a potential high return. Look again. The hottest free-agent starting pitcher on the market is a guy who has one win in the past 27 months and probably won't throw a pitch before Mother's Day. That's Mark Prior, a fellow being chased by nearly a dozen teams. And here they are, according to the best info we've been able to piece together: Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox and Mariners in the AL. Mets, Cardinals, Padres, Astros, Giants, Reds and Nationals in the NL.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Dec 19, 2007 -> 07:30 PM) call me crazy, but I'd gladly trade Buehrle for a good package. His velocity drop in the final couple of months really worries me. I know he was never a fireballer but he used to able to be in the 89-90 range. In the final two months, he was barely able to hit 87 and consistently hit in the 85-86 range. If we got offered Votto and plus some (that's not crap), I'd do that trade in a heartbeat. Oh, you could get quite a bit for him now, with that contract- even with the escalator that would kick in. Silva just signed for 4/$44 million. Mark's contract would come to 4/$60- quite a bargain considering the differences between the two. The links says we are looking at Cueto and Votto. Cueto has moved ahead of Homer Bailey in prospect status in most circles.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 19, 2007 -> 07:27 PM) Mark Buehrle has a full no trade clause for the year 2008. Yes he does. Doesn't mean he wouldn't approve a trade to get out of here though. Who knows what his feelings are now?