caulfield12

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/B/Shaun-Babula.shtml Somehow I have my doubts we'll see Mr. Babula with the White Sox this season...but stranger things have happened!

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ May 6, 2007 -> 12:22 PM) 8 other guys in the lineup either have a future or have power (aside from Pablo Ozuna when he's in there, but he is meant to be a leadoff hitter against LHP). Darin Erstad is a .270 singles hitter and he's not going to hit 15 homers; I know he's the leadoff hitter and he doesn't need to hit for power, yadayada, but he's not getting on base at a great rate and he never will, he doesn't have the speed to steal 30 bases, and thus, he's almost never in scoring position. Offensively, he just does not bring much. However, there's a reason I've shied away from criticizing Erstad and instead Walker over the past 2-3 weeks is because Erstad is actually producing. I don't see it lasting all season, but I'll take it when it comes. He'll have streaks where he hits like this, and then he'll have streaks where he is 4-3 Erstad again. Basically, all I've come to really want through this whole charade of CFers the White Sox have put out there over the past 7 months of baseball is a real CFer. He's not as fast as he was 10 years ago, but he's had more than share of infield hits...he gets in on the 2B/SS quickly and can break up double plays, he always scores from 1st on a double and 2nd on a single. In our starting line-up, the only guys that can run even a little are Iguchi and Uribe. I guess you can include Sweeney/Mack/Ozuna, but we're still the slowest team in baseball without a healthy Pods. We don't know that BA can hit 15 homers for sure either...or get 15 stolen bases. We can just assume Sweeney will have 15 homers or 15 stolen bases his first season either. Probably not. And Erstad has been a clutch hitter, our best clutch hitter over the past 2-3 weeks.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ May 5, 2007 -> 11:50 PM) Because Liriano and Felix are injured by what makes them amazing. The greatest pitchers, IMO, the greatest sustainable pitchers will always be guys with filthy changeups and damn good fastballs with a few other plus pitches as well. Think Pedro, or Maddux. Also have to include Glavine on that list...and Smoltz has been remarkably durable, although he too has had some health-related question marks surrounding him the last five years Clemens' run for 20+ years is going to be something that's looked at in amazement 10-20 years in the future with all of these young pitchers breaking down It's also another feather in the cap of why Buehrle will be so valuable down the line. Heck, Barry Zito's curveball is so violent that it has knocked 3-4 MPH off his fastball. That's one concern going forward with Gio, but not until he's racked up 1000-1500 innings I would guess.

QUOTE(Linnwood @ May 5, 2007 -> 11:56 PM) This may or maynot work... it is Windows Media 9 codec but a Quicktime file: http://files.linnwood.org/video/Erstad.mov ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The response to manager Ozzie Guillen's message became clear in the first inning. Seconds after Darin Erstad broke up a potential double play Saturday, a beehive of teammates congratulated him. That typified the spark that was missing during a five-game losing streak that ended with a 6-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. "Right out of the gate," said Jon Garland (1-2), who pitched seven-plus innings of three-run ball. "It looked like [more energy] was definitely there." www.chicagosports.com

QUOTE(BearSox @ May 5, 2007 -> 08:59 PM) I know, but you don't want to risk him making it worse, especially right away. I think it would be best to just see how he progresses over a week or so in side throwing sessions, and when Thome comes back, then demote Gustavo. They said there was no risk of making it worse, that it was just a matter of playing with the pain and waiting for offseason surgery to correct it.

QUOTE(RME JICO @ May 5, 2007 -> 08:46 PM) What does Erstad have to do to please you guys? He's been the only bright spot in the order over the last few weeks and yet he sucks and we need someone else. If the rest of the lineup wasn't sucking so bad, he would be a non-issue. LF is more of an issue than CF. Hell if you are just looking at numbers, every other spot in in the order is more of an issue than Erstad's. He is only leading off because Pods is injured. So he has actually filled in pretty good in that situation. Erstad as leadoff hitter .333 BA .368 OBP .831 OPS Yet we're mocking him making a mistake that every player makes...? Seriously, Hudler said it has happened a number of times to him in Anaheim, he's tried the yellow Oakleys and nothing seems to work at that time of night for him in that particular stadium.

6 IP, 6 Hits, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K's ERA now at 1.46, unfortunately on the wrong side of a 1-0 lead Day continues his fine work, 3 K's in 2 IP Brian Anderson 2 for 3 with a double, now hitting .357 2B and an RBI

QUOTE(SoxFanForever @ May 5, 2007 -> 08:29 PM) A lot of White Sox fans want a real CF and 1 hole hitter who gets on base better than 30% of the time. Shouldn't we be expecting a lot more from Crede, AJ, Konerko, Dye, etc.? Why are fans taking their anger at KW and OG out Darin Erstad instead? It doesn't make any sense.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ May 5, 2007 -> 06:30 PM) So how come it's ok to spread the blame away from Erstad onto our other slumping players simply because Erstad had his own horrible slump? A lot of the Angels fans want to trade for Matt Holliday, Garret Atkins or Chris Duncan... And they already have Rivera (injured), Willits, Murphy, Figgins, Anderson, Vladdy and GMJ.

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ May 5, 2007 -> 02:54 PM) So I guess they don't quite have the blackouts problem fixed yet, huh?...f***ers... Ozuna might be the funniest DH in the history of the game...well, after Brian Anderson and Alex Cintron. Of course, the Angels are 12-3 at home and Garland hasn't won, so he has to win, right? Law of averages?

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ May 5, 2007 -> 02:19 PM) That is kind of my thinking. If we truly committ to blowing this thing up, there are no untouchables. Pitchers under longer and cheaper contacts should fetch quite a package. Throw in Vazquez, Jenks, Thornton and MacDougal while we're at it...Jenks is unlikely to return to his 2005 form down the stretch, but baseball people still remember how good he was then.

PRE All-Star Break 2006 520 runs scored in 88 games=5.91 Runs/Game We scored 32 more runs than Cleveland, the 2nd place team in that category AL average was 443 (we were scoring nearly one run/game higher than AL average, essentially) POST All-Star Break 2006 348 runs scored in 74 games=4.70 Runs/Game (good for 9th place in AL) We were only 42 runs from the bottom of the league, which I think was TB AL average for this period was 362 APRIL/MAY 2007 100 runs scored in 26 games=3.85 Runs/Game (good for last in the AL) But the most startling statistic of all, we are ALMOST last in runs per game for the entire American League over a 110 game span (essentially 2/3rd's of a season) since the 2006 ASB in which we've scored 448 runs in 100 games (45-55 record for the club), OR 4.48 RPG Runs Scored Since ASB 2006 8. Blue Jays, 482 9. Red Sox, 479 (injuries) 10. Royals, 476 11. Orioles, 454 12. Mariners, 450 13. WHITE SOX, 448 14. D-Rays, 445 (although they've already scored 39 more runs per game this year and will pass us by the end of tomorrow's game in all likelihood)

QUOTE(South Side Fireworks Man @ May 5, 2007 -> 01:59 PM) The Sox pitching dominated in 2005 and won a World Championship. In 2006, partly because of pitching late into October of '05 and partly because of the World Baseball Classic, the Sox pitching faltered and that coupled with the fact that Ozie insisted on playing a backup 3B/RFer in CF, the Sox missed the playoffs despite winning 90 games. This year, the pitching is dominating once again and the offense is slumping now with everyone hitting way below their normal average. If the Sox just hit to their carer norms, they're in contention. But they're still an outfielder or two away from having a great team. With their window closing and the resources they have, they should try to snag a couple of stars before the deadline to win this year. Continue to operate like a major market team next year. Or else, continue to be a small market team in a Cubs dominated town. And if JR is not willing/able to spend market value prices, sell the team to someone who can. I may not like paying close to $3.00 a gallon for gasolene, but either I do it or I don't drive. Uribe is the Sox best SS---in fact the Sox only real SS. Whom do you want them to play at SS??? Try Eric Aybar for one... You act like it's impossible to find someone better than Uribe. Or trade for Jimmy Rollins. They need a change...

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ May 5, 2007 -> 12:47 PM) I would expect him to net the least amount of our upcoming free agents. It's just a matter of placing him on the market and viewing the offers. Have you seen the list of potential free agent second basemen for 2008? It's between Kent (who has a club option), Castillo, and Iguchi. Judging from Kent's early season production, it's likely between Castillo and Iguchi. If no one is willing to overwhelm Williams, which is possible, then retain him for 2008 or offer arbitration and receive compensation. Soxtalk will love this. Guess who's a free agent next season? David Eckstein. He of little power, little stature, and an almost girl-like arm. He should satisfy the grinder quotient if Erstad is gone, Iguchi is dealt, and Uribe is moved to 2B. Just throwing that out there. It doesn't make any sense to wait until next offseason to start changing the complexion of this team. It has to start in June and July, and you have to give Fields, Sweeney, Anderson and Owens a chance to establish that they can be counted on OR not for the 2008 season. If we don't trade Crede in June/July or this offseason, we'll have to trade him in the middle of 2008, and we still won't know if Fields can do the job or not. Crede isn't an immediate concern. You have to first worry about Dye, Buehrle and Iguchi. Why would the White Sox have to wait until midseason 2008? We could judge Fields readiness based upon 500+ AB's in Charlotte. Or however many ABs in Charlotte and production from September forward. What I worry about is if Crede were dealt, and Fields were promoted, would Guillen play him everyday? I'm guessing Ozuna and Uribe, perhaps Mackowiak if Guillen feels like it, would share time. That's not a good situation. I agree Anderson and Sweeney, to a lesser degree Owens, should be given full playing time if a fire-sale were to occur. Fields is what I question. His placement on this ballclub isn't as crucial in the short term as others are. This mind you, isn't what I agree with; but what I figure is realistic. Fields will be considered for 2008, but it'll probably be based upon Charlotte and his late season callup. At which he'll probably split time between 3B and DH. I doubt that happens if we're in fire-sale/rebuilding mode. I hope we don't get into another Snopek/Norton disaster with Fields, if we do trade Crede. I don't think KW would call him up unless he was going to get 2/3rd's or more of the at-bats. Playing Mackowiak, Ozuna and Uribe does absolutely nothing for our future...except for "showcasing" them to other teams for possible trades. I think JR will be willing to finally go to $60 million and four years for Buehrle. Anything more than that in years or dollars per year and he walks. I also don't know how much of an attraction coming back to a rebuilding Sox team would be (for Mark) when he can go to St. Louis and really help turn around that pitching staff, if the ownership group is forced to open the money spigots again in reaction to a Cubs' or Brewers' division championship, or possibly the Astros if Clemens goes there. I think we'll also try to get Getz (an Eckstein clone), Collaro, Lucy and Andy Gonzalez some at-bats. I wouldn't be surprised if we went with Getz at 2B next year, Lucy as back-up catcher and Gonzalez in Cintron's role, whatever that is... You might also take a look at D. Day, Oneli Perez and Egbert to see what they can accomplish in September.

QUOTE(kwolf68 @ May 5, 2007 -> 11:59 AM) If I was a GM, I'd be all over our pitching. Any of our starters would be a great addition to any staff. Personally, I think Jenks is over-rated so I wouldn't really want him unless my bullpen was just horrendous. Matt Thornton is very attractive because I may could get him for cheap. I would have absolutely no interest in Uribe, Iguchi, Pods, Erstad or any of the bench guys. Dye, AJ, Konerko, and Crede would all be interesting if I needed to fill the slot. I'd go for Thome, but wouldn't give up a ton of prospects for an aging, injured player who can't play the field. Mark Buehrle would be the pitcher I'd want the most...proven, young, lefty, heady, winner, tough as nails, and a proven champion. If I could pry Mark and sign him, I'd give up at least two top prospects and another good prospect. He, in my view, is the most valuable player on this team. That being said, I DONT WANT HIM DEALT. Denny Neagle, Dan Naulty, Allan Watson, Ed Yarnell, Todd Erdos, Jay Tessmer, Jeff Juden, Mike Buddie, Tony Fossas, Darrell Einertson, Ben Ford, Craig Dingman, Randy Keisler, Jake Westbrook, Randy Choate, Jay Witasik, Mark Wholers, Sterling Hitchcock, Brian Boehringer, Adrian Hernandez, Todd Williams, Brandon Knight, Carlos Almanzar, Christian Parker, Brett Jodie, Mike Thurman, Chris Hammond, Antonio Osuna, Juan Acevedo, Jason Anderson, Al Reyes, Brandon Claussen, Jesse Orosco, Bret Prinz, Dan Miceli, Jeff Weaver, Javier Vazquez, Kevin Brown, Jose Contreras, Felix Heredia, Tanyon Sturze, Esteban Loaiza, Brad Halsey, Gabe White, Donovan Osborne, CJ Nitkowski, Juan Padilla, Jorge DePaula, Alex Graman, Sam Marsonek, Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Shawn Chacon, Al Leiter, Felix Rodriguez, Aaron Small, Buddy Groom, Allan Embree, Wayne Franklin, Darrell May, Corey Lidle, Ron Villone, TJ Beam, Sidney Ponson, Octavio Dotel, Scott Erickson, and so on. A creative fan on the Yankees board compiled a list of all the pitchers they've run in and out of town under Cashman's tenure. Geez! Those are ALL reasons you keep Mark Buehrle instead of going through the crapshoot that is FA or trades or getting prospects.

QUOTE(knightni @ May 5, 2007 -> 11:41 AM) I think you mean gagged...or gauged, not sure which

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ May 5, 2007 -> 10:54 AM) Let's be honest here -- if the team, as currently constructed, is out of contention come the end of June, what hope do we have for 2008? Detroit, Cleveland, and Minnesota aren't going anywhere. Our window of opportunity is closing fast. And no, I don't believe that means throwing everything into this season to salvage it. Every scenario I envisioned for signing Suzuki or Rodriguez in the offseason assumed this ballclub would contend deep into the season. As of now, that's not looking very likely. We'll have trouble enough fielding a team under next season's projected payroll; let alone signing a superstar level talent. If the White Sox are seven more games out of playoff contention come the end of the June, all offers should be considered for Buehrle, Dye, and Iguchi. At the least, one of the three should be dealt for the best available package. Hopefully, one of the remaining two is worthy of Class A compensation. I've heard people on occasion talk about Dye and Crede, and how dealing them at their peak value last season may have been a good idea. And while I agree it would have been ideal, there's one problem -- no one was available from within to replace their production. No player was available on the market, either. Over the offseason is when we'll know more about the progress of several prospects. Does Fields begin to hit? Will Sweeney be given consideration as a full-time starter? Will Anderson even be with the White Sox? Can we plug these players into positions, or will we have to make a trade or FA signing to compensate? Prospects not producing hurts our present and future. Just think what those two, Fields and Sweeney, mean to the direction of this ballclub. If Fields were -- at the least -- replicating last season, we'd have a replacement for Crede; perhaps trading him after October. A successful Sweeney provides a replacement for Podsednik. Which shouldn't be difficult, unless Guillen is obsessed with the notion of a protypical leadoff hitter. Now, as far as Dye, that's another tough situation. There's no Hunter Pence in our system. The pitching, at the least, appears more stabilized. One of Garland or Contreras should be gone. One of Broadway, Haeger, Gonzalez, Egbert, Russell, or (insert acquired prospect) should have their position. Iguchi's not going to net us much in return. The problem is we have no replacement in our system, unless you want to move Uribe over to 2B and get a "real" SS. I don't want to see Cintron or Ozuna as a starter at 2B. Nor Andy Gonzalez or Pedro Lopez. So we can spend $4-5 million and get a veteran, or acquire a young prospect. It doesn't make any sense to wait until next offseason to start changing the complexion of this team. It has to start in June and July, and you have to give Fields, Sweeney, Anderson and Owens a chance to establish that they can be counted on OR not for the 2008 season. If we don't trade Crede in June/July or this offseason, we'll have to trade him in the middle of 2008, and we still won't know if Fields can do the job or not. So then do you go out and get a Herbert Perry/Erstad for one year or do you give the job to Josh and HOPE things work out? Same thing with LF/RF....why not see what Owens can do? Maybe it will save you from having to spend $6-10 million on a Juan Pierre, Dave Roberts or Gary Matthews, Jr. At least platoon Sweeney and Anderson in CF and LF to the point where they each can get 300-350 at-bats, then you make whatever adjustments are necessary in the offseason. You can never be sure about any young player, but this "stopgap" approach of Erstad and Mackowiak and Gload and Ozuna needs to end. If we can keep Buehrle, we don't have to fix much in the pitching department.

QUOTE(Linnwood @ May 5, 2007 -> 10:13 AM) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryywruiDsL4 Cintron is playing SS the next two games...you might have an entire collection of videos by the end of the weekend.

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ May 5, 2007 -> 09:36 AM) Phase 1: Just start releasing the following Vets that are not hitting: Citron & Mackowiak. Not like anybody will want them. Pahse 2: Fire Sale on Offense. Everybody is available for the right price. Iguchi, Dye, and a healthy Pods are priced to sell. Since the pitching is not a problem I hold on to them, even Buehrle. Triple A hitter can at least match the current offensive Anoxeria Ball. Blast Away! I doubt KW and JR will eat $5 million in contracts this early in the season, especially when we have nobody in AA and AAA that can do any better than Cintron or Mack. Their track records show that they'll hit eventually, it's just that we don't have much time to wait. They're fine as bench players, but they're not everyday players by any stretch of the imagination. Then there's the question of who do you replace them with? Legit prospects don't come up and sit on the bench....well, except for BA. Sure, we could get rid of Cintron for Andy Gonzalez or Pedro Lopez, but we're not going to get any offense from either of those two. It would be the equivalent of Molina being added to another bench spot.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ May 5, 2007 -> 09:18 AM) The fences are not moving back. Not only would it involve major construction, but the Sox already took our more than enough seats back in 04. There is just no room for them to be moved back. Not going to happen. Then you can move home plate back and push back the distance a little down the lines especially...345, like original Comiskey Park.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ May 5, 2007 -> 07:52 AM) Crede had a big year last year and was a key element to the championship. That was long after most of this board, myself included, gave up on him. Anderson is a question mark, but to blame Walker for his troubles would be ridiculous. Uribe is what he is. He's a guy who is going to swing hard. You can only hope he becomes more selective, but a gap to gap hitter is something he never will be no matter who you have as a hitting coach. Ozzie wanted to move Iguchi down in the order so he would hit more home runs. Mackowiak had the highest batting average of his career last year with Greg Walker the hitting coach. Cintron had a typical year for him last year. This year its a different story for both of them so far, but Mack is notoriously streaky and Cintron's surgery appears to have had a negative effect on his ability thus far. If you moved back the fences (like Detroit's original dimensions), Uribe, AJ, Cintron, Sweeney, Mackowiak, Iguchi and Anderson would have to concentrate more on putting the ball in play and less on homers. Yeah, the White Sox had faith in Crede and Rowand, but, after a World Series, there's just not as much patience with White Sox fans, especially with the Cubs seemingly competitive because of the money they went out and invested in their team. KW didn't do anything at the break last year (except MacDougal) and he didn't obviously improve our line-up for 2007, except for the bullpen. I don't even know if that's possible to move back the fences again, without doing major reconstruction of the bleachers, bullpen, Bullpen Sports Bar, picnic area and/or losing lots of seats....

QUOTE(beck72 @ May 5, 2007 -> 07:40 AM) If counseling is too extreme a suggestion, I'd suggest you take up another hobby besides the sox . Let's not get too crazy about the poor play. Either the sox start hitting or they'll be trading players come July. But we do have a few months in between I can't even stand watching the games, so I can at least look forward to having a different composition to our line-up. Let's face it, we've been this malaise or slump for 100 games now (45-55). Something has to be done to shake things up, as staying the course didn't work. In fact, I wonder how many die-hard White Sox fans have watched every inning of every game from last Saturday on? It's not as difficult as 2005 (August/September) to tune them out, because there was such great drama at that time seeing if Contreras and McCarthy could hold off the Indians. Many posters are making similar comments, like they can't even get excited about going to a game. My friend in LA gave away his tickets for last night's game, and he's usually very optimistic about the Sox. IMO, it's better for them to demonstrate they don't have it, instead of being "in-between" in June and July and leaving KW lots of questions as to whether he's a buyer or seller. It sucks, but I think it's reality. Everyone sensed it in the second half last year, how is this season any different, except for the fact we have to chase down 3 teams instead of holding Minnesota off? Heck, we will have to chase down the Yankees, Blue Jays and A's too for the WC.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ May 5, 2007 -> 07:24 AM) People have to get off the misconception that Greg Walker has his players swinging for the fences. Besides AJ, who swings for the fences that really had not until getting with Walker? AJ is 240 pounds. As guys like that get older they tend to become guys who will swing for the fences more, besides you get paid at a much better rate when you put the ball into the seats. Bringing in another hitting coach is not going to make the White Sox predominantly gap hitters. If the personnel doesn't change the offense and its approach will stay the same. The offense will not remain this weak the entire season. You can only hope they don't put themselves in a hole they cannot get out of before they breakout. The White Sox offense was terrible until the end of May in 1983 but then they picked it up. Carlton Fisk was hitting worse than Konerko is right now and he almost was the MVP that season. I think the biggest question marks are around Crede and Brian Anderson, but what is the offensive philosphy of Uribe, or Iguchi, for that matter? Mackowiak and Cintron? Thome and Konerko are not going to change, obviously, nor is Jermaine Dye. Maybe Tadahito is confused with all these line-up shifts and whether the Sox want him to hit for power or sacrifice himself for the team, like in 2005.

QUOTE(caulfield12 @ May 5, 2007 -> 06:35 AM) Of course, based on needs...what teams would be the best "fits" for the following players? PERCEIVED VALUE of White Sox players to other teams...just hypothetical, to start a discussion 1) Buehrle...not even close right now 2) Jenks...may be overrated, but teams get super-desperate for bullpen help in June/July and overpay 2A) Garland (don't think it will happen until offseason or into the 08 season) 4) Dye 5) Vazquez (if Buehrle and Garland go, why keep him?) 6) Contreras 7) Crede 8) Thornton 9) AJ 10) Uribe 12) Erstad 13) Pods 14) Mackowiak 15) Cintron I'm going to keep a tab on deals offered by fans of other teams. So far: Harden for Dye and I can't even remember (Buehrle or Garland?) Crede and Buehrle for Willits, Aybar and Saunders/Santana Brandon Inge for Joe Crede Milledge for Contreras Dye for McPherson and Saunders Erstad for Rondell White (love that one, lol!) RP Jordan Tate and Craig Monroe for Pods (I think we have a winner, although Monroe would fit in TOO well with the Sox HR/K philosphy) Neifi Perez for Cintron (gotta love their gumption to suggest that one) At least two people have said they'd want Erstad...a few would like Pods and everybody seems to be interested in Crede because they haven't seen him play all year long like we have apparently

QUOTE(Texsox @ May 5, 2007 -> 07:10 AM) I stand by my statement that changing coaches in mid season is risky and a final act of desperation by a team. Perhaps it is desperation time. I'm guessing that come Monday, it will be all right, but if not, Walker may be having a very unhappy meeting with K-Dub and Oz. But the problem goes well beyond Walker, the organization for the past couple decades has preached long ball. Which has me amazed we've done that without at least one poster boy for steroids. Players coming into the organization have to notice what gets rewarded on the 25 man roster. But bringing in someone new, and if he starts wholesales changes, we could be throwing in the towel quickly. If all it takes is a tweak, Walker is the guy to do it. If we need a sledge hammer and time, start waving the flag and have Spring Training II only when the results count for real. I think the best way to be competitive is to build around our pitching staff and move the fences back to their original dimensions or beyond...the only sluggers we'll still have on the team for next year would be Konerko and Thome, and Thome's contract expires after the 08 season. Let's be realistic...players like Sweeney and Anderson are gap hitters. If you take away the idea they have to hit 15-20 homers and just be "players" (which they would have to be in Tigers Stadium), then you might see some results instead of everyone (including Josh Fields) adopting the "lift and pull" approach. QUOTE(Dick Allen @ May 5, 2007 -> 07:02 AM) The White Sox led major league baseball in batting average with RISP last year. Well over .300. Not bad considering Walker was the hitting coach. Watching last night's game, the players seem less than enthused to be out on the field. I know Grinderstad was supposed to bring that extra intesity, but I really don't see it. Maybe they are resigned to the fact that they aren't very good right now, but they must keep battling. To be fair, if Walker must be fired, so should Cooper and so should Ozzie. Joey Cora too. And who do you get to replace Guillen in mid-season? Bobby Valentine? Buck Showalter? Cito Gaston? Seriously, Jerry Manuel was given three full seasons before the knives came out, and he wasted a great team in the second half of 2003 that had the ability to win the World Series. This White Sox team is obviously not as good as the 03 team. I think Ozzie and KW would relish the challenge of rebuilding this team from essentially the ground up. They've delivered one World Series to Chicago...and everyone who watched intently in August and September knew this club was dead man walking. If anything, I would rather fire KW than Guillen, but neither one is going to happen...heck, I doubt they're even discussing a Walker firing at this point. KW does not do things to pacify the fans. I see him being stubborn and arguing until the end that Walker's methods are sound.