caulfield12

QUOTE (beautox @ Jan 16, 2009 -> 01:56 AM) i agree, i think Getz has the potential to be a perennial 750+ OPS player. I think at the very least he will have a career like Grudzielanek, and has the potential for a peak longer and less assited than Giles maybe peaking at 20+ HR You realize Mark Grudzielanek has over 2000 career hits? How many major leaguers end up at that level? I don't expect Getz to have that kind of a career....I think he'll be a nice utility player (like a Craig Grebeck) and hit 10-12 homers and give up 15 or so steals with pretty regular player. But Mark was an All-Star caliber player when he came up with DeShields in the Expos organization.

Sep. 29, 2008 - 10:37 a.m. ET According to the Chicago Sun Times, the "best-case scenario" for Jose Contreras' return from a torn Achilles' tendon next season is "late July or early August." The newspaper adds that "even that was doubtful because of the severity of the injury" and speculates that he may have pitched his last game for the White Sox. ''Things are going well mentally, but it isn't something I can rush,'' Contreras said. ''I know it's something that is going to take time.'' Are there any more recent stories anywhere about Contreras' rehab/comeback?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 15, 2009 -> 01:30 AM) what move did Detroit make that makes them a better team than the Sox? They traded for a mediocre starting pitcher in Edwin Jackson, traded for a so-so catcher, and signed one of the worst offensive shortstops in the game to platoon with a utility guy at SS? And they are suddenly going to finish ahead of the Sox? Consider me confused on that part alone. If Bonderman and/or Dontrelle Willis make the 2009 AL All-Star team, then I'll start to get worried. Who is going to be their closer? Dolsi? Rodney? Zumaya, with one pitch, multiple injuries and possibly psychotic behavior?

There's no doubt that Sheets is the best pitcher left...and that close examination will show minimal difference (probably favoring Sheets) when compared to AJ Burnett's career path. There's no way he would take anything under $10 million, economy be damned. There are too many teams competing for something that's in limited supply...a legit 1-2 starter, when healthy. Nobody else on the board comes close....certainly not Garland, Wolf, Perez or Pettitte. Of those four, I would take Pettitte in a heartbeat...but he already turned down a $10 million, one year deal from the Yankees and he will either retire or go back to the Stros, who don't seem to have any money to spend, which means he'll suck up his pride and sign with NY or retire from baseball. Of all the names left out there, I think KW is looking at the following five... YADEL MARTI GARCIA MULDER PEDRO BRADEN LOOPER (he's supposed to be a sinkerballer, what his FO/GB ratio the last couple of years, would it play in USCF?)

If you're the Blue Jays and Ricciardi, why would you want Orlando Cabrera? For respectability? Unfortunately, their only hope is to deal Halladay, Rios and Vernon Wells and start over from scratch and try the Rays' approach. There's simply no realistic way for them to compete in that division...they have Snider to build around, but there's few teams that would be better off with a total rebuild. Baltimore is already sort of in the process as well, although the Blue Jays have better pitching and the much higher likelihood of being a .500 ballclub, but they're really just jockeying for draft position in 2010. Losing Burnett was the finally tipping point to limit any realistic chance of competing this season. Putting OCab at 2b and to hit #2 would help improve their offense The question is finding a suitable trading partner for Uggla AND whether a team like the Marlins is willing to pay an Orlando Hudson or Orlando Cabrera $6-9 million per season with their budgetary constraints.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Jan 15, 2009 -> 07:08 AM) I might be in a minority here, but I wouldn't mind this. We have an excess of corner OFs, no leadoff hitter, and a massive question mark at 3B. Moving Quentin to RF and Swisher to LF would also be a defensive plus. I also wouldn't mind seeing Kenny give Uribe a two-year deal if the price is right (say, $8 million) to act as sort of an infield super-sub. Defensively, he'd be a great insurance policy. Swisher??? Ummm...he's not on the team anymore. Are you talking about moving Dye to LF? The one problem with trading Konerko is that we don't have anyone to play that position, now that Swisher's gone to NY. It couldn't be Thome, realistically. That would leave either Dye, Fields, Viciedo, Allen and Tyler Flowers as the five best candidates. Probably, as of this ST, the best options (in terms of defensive experience at least) would be Viciedo and Allen, although, in the end, it would have to come down to Viciedo or Fields and multiple prayers. We already have, let's see....Ramirez, Betemit, Lillibridge and Beckham than can play 2B/SS, there's no room in this economy to give Uribe multiple years....or even $4 million for one year. I would much rather devote that $4 million to signing someone like Freddy Garcia, Braden Looper, Mark Mulder or Pedro Martinez than Juan Uribe. I love Juan, he's always going to have a place in our hearts for 04/05/08, but his usefulness to the White Sox is gone, unfortunately. The Betemit and Lillibridge deals sealed his fate.

Almost finished with Slumdog Millionaire. It reminds me of a cross between City of God, Born Into Brothels and Monsoon Wedding...some people take issue with the neat "flashback" accounting for the plot, but it works for me. 3 1/2 stars. By the way, I really really like The Visitor, whose star is Richard Jenkins, Frances McDormand's boss at Hardbodies in Burn After Reading. It's one of those quiet, understated but elegant movies like About Schmidt that kind of just sneak up on you and grab hold of you. Great movie. A little bit like In America mixed with About Schmidt is my description.

The 2007 team was really an underachieving mess at $25 million more. We're not really that far away...just a couple more acquisitions and we'll be able to compete for the division. The teams with the big payrolls like DET came to the same realization and cut back...Minnesota isn't adding anything, really. There's no reason a $115-125 million team is going to be significantly better than a $90-100 million team, it's just that the GM has much less margin for error. Now when you get up to $150 million plus like the Yankees or Red Sox...but even the Red Sox are being careful with their money in this market, as their revenue streams aren't unlimited like the Mets or Yankees in their new stadiums. The White Sox were incredibly efficient in 2005 at $65 million. It's possible, but realistically, that number has to be adjusted up to around $70-80 million unless you have an incredibly productive farm system, which we haven't had over the last decade (or we've used to make trades to shore up weaknesses in the 25 man roster).

QUOTE (TheBigHurt @ Jan 15, 2009 -> 12:08 AM) Far as I'm concerned, we were lucky and the stars aligned in 2005. Last year barely counts because we won a s*** division. The fact remains that the focus on this team has been shaky and the payroll as well as the players have not been maintained properly. How can you deny that when our roster is less impressive than many others and our youngest players aren't raking in the cash yet? The fact we have this high of a payroll is mind-boggling, and we all know how the organization is with things. Last time I checked, we'd won the AL Central 3 times in the last nine years. Minnesota has 4, Cleveland has 2. Detroit and KC haven't won it once in that time frame. Lucky in 2005? Well, if you call adding Iguchi, El Duque, Vizcaino, Hermanson, Pods and AJ for the price of one Lee or Ordonez lucky, well...no team that wins 99 games is lucky. That's not the way baseball works. We went 11-1 in the post-season. It wasn't even close. If you want to talk about luck or fortune, talk about the 06 Cardinals or the Marlins getting in as Wild Card teams and getting hot and having dominant pitching. Lest we forget, the 2006 team was 26 games over .500 at the All-Star Break. Was that also luck? What changed? Did we get unlucky? Well, yes...the best pitcher in baseball at that time (Contreras) went down and the pitching staff (especially the starting rotation) started to fade, and Jenks also got hurt. 99-63=2005 11-1=post-season 57-31=first half 2006 167-95...that's LUCKY??? Your what hurts? Ozzie Guillen has always done better than his statistical/Pythagorean averages would indicate...so we're either lucky, have talent or Guillen is a good manager/motivator/counselor? Which one? Didn't KW hire Ozzie? Was that luck, too? Or good judgment? What's the difference? Can't you also argue 2007 was terribly unlucky, or 2001? That goes with the "lucky" 2000 White Sox, right? Once again, I'm not understanding the logic of why it's BAD that Danks, Floyd, Ramirez and Quentin are all cheap/young/affordable? KW was "lucky" for signing Alexei to perhaps the best "bargain" contract in the history of recent baseball? What do you mean, "taking care of their players"? What players haven't the White Sox taken care of? Specific examples! The Thome contract locked in, we had no choice with that...unless we wanted to lose a grievance with the Player's Association. And he wasn't a bad deal at all for $9 million...everyone keeps forgetting the payroll number and what he actually makes aren't one and the same... So we're left with which complaints? Linebrink/Dotel? Did you see our bullpen in late 06 and all of 2007? It would have been insane NOT to make changes and spend money there, it was the only logical thing for KW to do. Contreras? Konerko? MacDougal? Those are the only contracts you can argue about. Show me one upper-echelon team in baseball that doesn't have at least one player with a "questionable" long-term/big money deal...one team that's been completely healthy the last 2 years, and one team without a player who had to be released/traded/DFA'ed/outrighted due to poor performance??? JUST NAME ONE, PLEASE. This I want to read...I will stay up waiting for your response.

Guess I was wrong...should have looked it up. That makes it very unlikely that he ends up there...Oakland seems like a better fit. With Giambi, Holliday and adding Cabrera, they might actually be able to win the AL West, although I would still pick the Angels going into the season because of their pitching.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 11:28 PM) That's gotta be a fantastic paradox, considering everyone in that movie is 225 and ripped. Although Colon would be a great actor in this role... But wasn't part of those Joe Six-Pack/washboard abs CGI-affects or digital enhancement? I mean, I know Gerard Butler is in very good shape, but c'mon.

Chow Yun Fat? Even funnier name tie-in...the "chow/buffet" line and Colon, they'll have to increase the budget handsomely. At least that will only affect us adversely for 81 games...the other teams can share in the joy of our depreciating asset who's appreciating in weight.

What I found interesting was all the "racist" humor and jokes between Farrell, Fiennes and the midget (who's been in quite a few movies I've seen, a couple of very good ones, in fact). Especially the Fiennes one about bringing an Uzi to South Central to do a drive by and kill 10...but Farrell had a line I was shocked by, about a "black retarded woman on a teeter-totter" that I had to play again to make sure I heard right. Then all the banter back and forth about a race war between the world and midgets/dwarves! The irony is that many of Colin Farrell's girlfriends have been black, maybe that's why he felt more comfortable with the humor. Yes, Michael Collins was Liam Neeson, decent movie from the past. Has anyone seen JCVD (Jean Claude Van Damme)??? Looks really hilarious. What about "When the Levee Broke" about Hurricane Katrina or Taxi to the Darkside?

Another thing about Colon, I never saw a pitcher with the White Sox who was able to elevate his fastball from 90-94 in the early innings to 95-98 (with nasty movement) in the late innings of a game. If his arm/shoulder/elbow are structurally sound, I much prefer the gamble of getting him into shape/motivated (cue more Ozzie jokes about Colon and Viciedo in ST) than the far riskier gamble/s on the likes of Smoltz, Penny, Benson, Pedro, Garcia, Pavano, etc.

"We'd have to sit down and have a discussion," said Wade. "Where we are right now, our payroll is $107 million. Last year, we finished around $98 million. We're really up against our number at 107, and it's a number, quite frankly, that the revenues don't support." Wade followed with a bit of a disclaimer: "Circumstances can change. We can see if we can create more flexibility to make it happen, but right now, the feeling is the group we've committed to at this point is the group we'll go with, with 99 percent certainty." Sounds like the GM's and owners all have the same PR agent/soundtrack this offseason. Rumors of Orlando Cabrera to the Marlins, probably to play 2B (yeah, that Ramirez kid can play a little SS). I guess that would move our pick down...although the Marlins are pretty close to the middle of the pack, I guess we'd get first round supplemental and then 2nd round. Chone Figgins agrees to arbitration on a one year deal for $5.7 million with the Angels. Still not seeing a Dye trade there, but potentially Paulie if they feel Morales isn't the answer.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 10:45 PM) You are writing off a GM that has brought two division championships, two 90 win seasons, a constantly competing team, and a World Championship to the White Sox an offseason after he brought a division title out of nowhere while also helping to replenish the minor league system. He did much of the same this year while potentially setting the team up for a big run during free agency following the season, as Contreras, Thome, and Dotel will all come off of the books, Dye could easily be traded at the break if the team really is struggling (which I do not foresee happening), and Swisher and Vazquez - who very well could have been penciled into the 2010 budget - are now off the books because of trades that have happened, and in the meantime, the Sox have probably moved up around middle of the pack as far as farm systems go within a year and a half. What's the problem with that, honestly? If the team wins 90+ games in 3 of the next 5 years and 2 division titles, what is one 82 win season? That's one "wat". Secondly, the team's payroll is really not that much lower than it was last season, and I would imagine that there are 8-10 teams and possibly more with higher payrolls than the Sox right now. It's not "ridiculously high", especially considering how ridiculous the market was over the previous 2-3 seasons. The fact that the "best players" are not making much money is much more of a good thing than it is a bad thing, because when the big contracts come off the books - notably Konerko, Thome, Dye, Contreras, Pierzynski, Buehrle, Dotel, Linebrink, and Jenks - the Sox will then be able to afford extensions for Quentin, Alexei, Danks, Floyd, and whomever else. I would also strongly consider rethinking stating that the "best players" are not making much money. The offense is nothing without all of the money that went into it, and they don't make the playoffs without the performances of Thome, Pierzynski, and Dye specifically, and Konerko, Uribe, Cabrera, and Griffey all had their moments as well. That's two "wats". Finally, I'd argue over half the league is maintained more poorly than the White Sox. If you want just one team, I'll name the Pirates and be done. If you want more, a few others and myself could probably rattle off a few more and give you some pretty damn good reasons behind all of them. The White Sox are not maintained poorly. That's the third "wat". Yes, we overpaid to get Linebrink and Dotel, but that was the market at the time and KW learned his lesson the previous year/s with the bullpen...about throwing darts at the wall in the way of former 1st rounders (Sisco/Aardsma), bringing in "crafty" veterans like Nelson or auditioning about 10 crappy lefthanders for one spot. Still, without Linebrink and Contreras last season, we're sitting home or playing golf. MacDougal, you can argue that one a long time, especially if Daniel Cortes ever becomes a stud. Not so much with Lumsden. More than any two players on the team (maybe Buehrle), Contreras and Konerko were the heart of that 2005 championship and if there was/is any sentimentality in either JR/KW, it went into those two particular signings. I think the Jose deal was made with equal parts heart and brain, because it was Jose who was probably the major difference in us winning it all. I'm never going to complain about that contract, and Jose pitched well for most of the season last year until it became obvious he was trying to pitch through injuries/pain and not telling Ozzie, Cooper and Herm about it. He's that kind of pitcher....he would never complain and he just takes his spot until you have to drag him off the field, which is literally what happened. He loves to be out on that mound when he feels good, and I hope I get to see it again in my lifetime (with the White Sox). He's the kind of player you pull for, not someone like Dunn or JD Drew that just puts up his stats every year but doesn't even seem to particularly enjoy the game.

Jean Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren (think the Ivan Drago look) would look pretty intimidating coming out of the pen. I've heard they're available. Conditioning and work ethic have never been questions/concerns with Jose. I think he might actually make it back, and have a lot of life (93-96 MPH) left in that arm with a full year to rest it.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 11:06 PM) Well last year he was apparently ready to go for more, but it was the wealth of pitching BoSox already have in the rotation that forced him out. And then apparently he let himself get fined b/c he lost enthusiasm about being with their team. That part's troubling. He went back to the Dominican towards the end of the season (without permission) for an undisclosed "family matter" and was pouting at that time because he was told he would be either a reliever or spot starter...he did have a sub 4.00 ERA last season, and he still has a healthy ego (and appetite!). So he was put on the suspended list. I don't know, tough decision for the Red Sox, they weren't going to be able to put Wakefield in the pen for obvious reasons, so Colon was the obvious one to be moved out. A nice luxury almost no team had last year, to bench a starter with an ERA under 4.

Ummmmm....that's the WHOLE idea of being a GM, Quentin/Floyd/Danks/Ramirez are cost effective...probably the best value for their contracts (particularly the Ramirez deal) in the major leagues today. What egregious contracts do we still have on our books? We've shed Griffey, Jr., Crede, Uribe, Cabrera, Vazquez and Swisher already. We're still going to get our money from the Phils on Thome, and that deal, it's not like we could sit him out to avoid the contract locking in for next year, we would have been torn to shreds by the MLBPA. Konerko? Contreras? MacDougal? There are tons of teams out there who and who've made very iffy pick-ups and had to EAT salaries in the last couple of years. I'm not sure what you are complaining about...what teams, besides the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Braves and Indians have been relatively aggressive this off-season? MINN...Monroe, Lamb, Livan Hernandez (and he blocked Liriano) DET...Sheffield and Willis are weighing so heavily on that team they might have to deal Ordonez and they could only sign Adam Everett KC...they couldn't get rid of Jose Guillen's contract right now if they ate 50-75% of it...players like David DeJesus and Mark Teahen are really overpriced (based on their OPS) for a small market team...I'm sure we'll be talking about the Farnsworth deal for months too this season CLE...no veteran players stick out (maybe Jason Michaels?), but they've had lots of struggles with the likes of Andy Marte and Josh Barfield Viciedo is a younger future impact slugger who could be a bargain (although in this market, less of one) if he has an impact in 2010, 11 or 12. That signing doesn't look quite so smart in hindsight, but nobody knew exactly what was going to happen. It still might turn out to be a great signing. We're trying to re-establish some value/s for Fields, Owens, Anderson, Lillibridge and Getz. What GM doesn't want to "buy low/sell high"? Flowers, Viciedo, Beckham and Poreda all have a chance to be special players. The likes of Allen, Danks and Shelby aren't far behind them. KW did what he set out to do, and maybe he's still not done tinkering...get production from 4/5 in the rotation without having to spend $10+ to do it. Between Colon, Contreras, Marquez, Richard, Broadway, Egbert, DJ Carasco and Poreda, I think we'll be okay. The other thing to keep in mind with some of these veterans (Smoltz, Freddy Garcia, Pavano, Penny, Pedro, etc.) is that there has never been a question about Colon's arm strength...if we can somehow get him and Viciedo in much better condition, we could have outstanding players on our hands. I'm even hopeful that a year off will really rejuvenate Jose's arm too, if he can manage to repeat or avoid another Achilles' injury. Depends on how hard he's worked this offseason...he doesn't strike me as a quitter. In other words, we have the two of the best pitchers in baseball from as recently as 3-4 seasons ago on Colon and Contreras. I think at least one of them still has something left and will surprise us. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Yadel Marti with the White Sox if his visa issues are cleared up.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 04:02 PM) According to TheScore, Colon is in Chicago right now. Freddy is going to pick in the next few days between a few teams: White Sox, Mets, Yankees and Rangers. I predict Colon signs here. Freddy signs with the Mets. The Mets just signed Redding...well, maybe they'll also take Garcia, but I think they're in the best position (still) to give Oliver Perez what he wants of all the teams. The Yankees? Well, maybe if they aren't convinced that Hughes and Kennedy are ever going to amount to anything...although I'm sure Garcia would be signing only a one-year deal with mostly incentives with them. Rangers? Well, if you're a pitcher that EVER dreams of getting a long term contract again, that's probably not the first place you'd head. Kevin Millwood had one good "comeback" season down there, but it would be a nightmare pitching for that team with that infield defense...although we all know how Freddy likes to get "lathered up" in sweat in the dog days of August. MARTI GARCIA COLON CONTRERAS I'll take 2/4 and call it an offseaon...just fix CF/leadoff and we'll be sitting prett(ier).

I guess I'm tired of the Pitt/Clooney "cutesy/clever" movies. The Coen Brothers are sometimes too smart for their own good (although still not in league of M. Night Shymalan)...they're writing for Hollywood and other writers, not "flyover country." Frances McDormand was the heart of that movie. I almost wanted it to go back to Michael Collins, with Clooney and Swinton reminding me of a much better movie. I gave Vicky Cristina Barcelona an exta 1/4th star for Scarlett Johannsen and Penelope Cruz making out, lol. Actually, the actress Rebecca Hall (she was also in The Prestige) was my favorite...Patricia Clarkson is always good, too. I was annoyed by two things....the over narration (intrusion of the voice) and J. Bardem constantly reminding Penelope Cruz to speak in English. He must have said that about 10 times! Once was enough...maybe because I was watching an on-line version with Chinese subtitles and my Spanish is getting a bit rusty. Never been a big C. Farrell fan. Brendan Gleeson is really underrated, and I thought Ralph Fiennes totally stole the movie with his comedic lines and delivery (much more fun than the overbearing The Constant Gardener, which was actually a much better book). In Bruges was definitely a "dark" comedy, with some serious themes...but it kept my interest, and the scenery was so different. The French actress (blonde hair) was cute, too...she's a keeper, I think. The next Julie Delpy, perhaps.

80-84 wins if almost everything goes right and nothing major goes wrong, which is totally improbable.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 03:40 PM) Buh? Flowers is at least a year or two away, Miller is a disaster, and Armstrong is a lefty who doesn't hit lefties well (just like AJ). The only viable options for AJ's backup, IMO, are Lucy (if, miraculously, he's healthy), or Stewart (and even he is no gem). I'd also guess that Armstrong will be traded before Opening Day. Armstrong showed enough a bat in the AFL that he could end up on the roster. They're only looking to sit AJ once a week anyway, so it's not really a strict platoon in the traditional sense, more of a Sunday spot and the day games after night games...Armstrong or Stewart would be fine for that, IMO. Toby Hall definitely wasn't worth $2+ million.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 03:47 PM) If you could get a half a season out of both of them, it would be sweet. Of course, you would have to reserve a spot in the buffett line in front of them for Ramirez. Well, Colon basically walked out on the Red Sox and threw a hissy fit because they wanted him to go to the pen and be a spot starter. He's supposedly WAY overweight...and he was notorious for only exerting himself when the White Sox offense gave him an opprtunity to get the "W." Maybe his desperation to get back into baseball will end up in a more "team-oriented" attitude than he exhibited last time. Let's hope. Among Colon, Garcia and Contreras, hopefully they can combine to give us ONE full season of starting out of the 4th spot.

Scot Gregor snagged a funny quote from from irritated White Sox GM Ken Williams on this winter's Jermaine Dye trade rumors: "Can't even imagine what the rumor is. I'm tired of responding to every blogger's idea." This offseason, Dye has been mentioned in rumors by venerable journalists Hal McCoy, Jayson Stark, Danny Knobler, Ken Rosenthal, Jon Heyman, Bruce Levine, and Joe Cowley. mlbtraderumors.com