caulfield12

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 12:23 PM) HE GAWN. Thank God. C'mon offense, 4 hit by pitches in a row? http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-e...p&type=lgns Brian Westbrook got paid his roster bonus TWICE. Reminds me of when KW trade for Berry and ended up with Barry accidentally in the Baldwin deal...not a highlight of his career.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 12:20 PM) Missed it, what happened? Crede had a double play ball he normally makes and it went off the tip of his glove into LCF as Uribe overran it going into the hole. Shortest double ever. Contreras looks like Charlie Hough out there right now.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 12:19 PM) NICE f***ING PLAY CREDE Man, the Sunday line-up hasn't even victimized us yet...and it's already close to being a turn off the tv and do something else afternoon.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 12:16 PM) Had a bad feeling about Molina handling the forkball. It's almost like catching a knuckler. This team is just really bad right now. I agree with Hawk, I'm thrilled we have the record that we do. Contreras' fastball looks like Jermaine Dye's swing and speed in RF.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 12:14 PM) Grady Sizemore bends us over again. These games are beyond depressing. Shouldn't we just walk him? I'm ALMOST being serious.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 12:11 PM) lol, CC f***ing knows he owns us. Anyone willing to wage their house on this one by taking the Sox? I'm not sure which is the most likely...an Erstad 4 for 4 with no pulls to 2B or a White Sox winner? Who has the most hits today, Donnie Garko or Sizemore?

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Apr 13, 2007 -> 11:13 PM) Say, what happened the last time Freddy pitched in Houston? And to add to the fun, we have Brandon McCarthy also pitching today. Unfortunately, it's Sabathia for the Tribe. Well, everyone thought we would lose Monday in Oakland and look what happened... EDIT: Garcia's start (in Philly, not Houston) has been shelved...along with quite a few games today already

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 08:08 AM) They hate good baseball in Oakland? The Marlins, A's and Twins are the biggest "negative" anomalies, the Cubs and Orioles the unexplainable. Of course, you could say the same for White Sox fans...I think Chicago show relocate to Missouri and call itself the 'Show Me' City in terms of getting out and supporting the White Sox. It took a World Series, and we'll see how long the honeymoon period lasts for JR and KW.

QUOTE(DrunkBomber @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 10:16 AM) I know its early in the season but at this point I wouldnt have a problem losing Dye and Buerhle this offseason if they are planning on remaining agressive with free agents. Also, besides the Ichiro rumors, does anybody think we still may make a run at ARod? I don't think so. KW isn't going to spend $15-20 million on a player when he already has two 3B and Uribe, who's signed to a very reasonable $5 million option for next year (granted, we all know Uribe won't hit THIS well and be patient all season long, but is A-Rod worth $12.5 million more than Uribe?) The answer is maybe. And I would agree that A-Rod would be a lot more attractive option if Uribe replicated last year and went the Angel Berroa route. The concern I have is the competitiveness of the ballclub. I don't see us winning an open bidding war, and I don't see us giving up 2-3 key pieces of our team (I'm assuming any deal would involve Crede and pitching)...didn't we learn in 2005 that you trade 7-8 really good players for 3 "high salary" players (Valentin, Ordonez, Lee) and you're usually much better off? If the White Sox are going to be an 80 win team next year, the only way adding A-Rod makes sense is if you're very certain that the pitching will come around and you will have developed a legit #1 or #2 starter. Then you have a legit chance to win 90 games and compete for the playoffs. The Rangers dumped A-Rod simply because he simply doesn't pay for his salary on a non-playoff team. Unfortunately, they replaced him with a similar player in Soriano, instead of 2-3 prospects that could have improved the team across the board, as the White Sox did coming into 2005 as they reallocated their resources. Daniels is still making dumb moves, the biggest being Eaton for Chris Young, who is an affordable quality starter for the Padres now. And they gave up a lot to rent Carlos Lee and then turn around and lose him...leading to the desperation that was the McCarthy for Danks/Masset deal.

QUOTE(beck72 @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 07:20 AM) The sox off season moves [that solidified their bullpen and rotation for the next few yrs] to me showed that there is no huge sell off coming. With strong enough pitching--and the sox arms in AA and AAA are strong right now--the sox can contend every yr no matter what the lineup looks like. The sox are trying to insulate themselves from rebuilding by getting their pitching staff [bullpen and starters] to be in the top 5 in the AL. And having the necessary depth to absorb key injuries. Whether the pitching can do it or not remains to be seen--I think the sox staff should be in the top 5 this yr though. I like KW's proactive approach and think it will work. It wasn't predicated on what the other AL central teams were doing or on injuries. But on making the sox a stronger long term team, without weakening the team in the short term. Even though a guy like Ichiro won't make the sox younger, he could make them better over the course of the next 4, 5 yrs than a guy like Dye. Of course it's predicated on the presence of three more bonafide WS contenders in your own division. If there was not competition, the White Sox could pretty much stand pat, win every division and generate an extra $25-40 in revenues and keep increasing the payroll and talent level. The reality is that the White Sox need to be protected on the downside...that a $50-60 million dollar rotation isn't/wasn't sustainable, and the team needed to be insulated from any hits they took in attendance in 2007 and 2008 while preparing for 2008/09 and another run at it. You can call it reloading instead of rebuilding. There's certainly no reason we can't be competitive IF KW makes the right acquisitions. But I think it will take 07 and 08 before we have another team capable of competing for the World Series title again. Also, after the new CBA is signed, the White Sox, as a new "high revenue" team, will be able to monetize their new status in Chicago by going out there and getting a player like Ichiro, something they haven't really tried since the David Wells move, and that was just a one year contract, not a 3-5 year deal.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 06:48 AM) Carl Pohlad is perhaps the richest owner in baseball. He has been cheap beyond definition. The Twins payroll used to be lower than their revenue sharing check from MLB. With a new stadium supposedly close now to being in place, if he signed Santana to that contract, I'm certain the checks wouldn't bounce. While Santana is going to get something like that if he doesn't get injured before he's a free agent, I still don't think Pohlad is going to be the one to change his stripes and give it to him. I think he'll make a tactical mistake here and put his "franchise face" label on Mauer instead since he's the local boy and most beloved by the fanbase...although the heighth changes could end up making Mauer a very expensive 1B or DH 3-5 from now, as they attempt to preserve his body. Yet his being a catcher and that type of hitter is what sets him apart from everyone in the league, with the possible exception of McCann. Second, the revenue sharing in the next CBA is expected to be about 25% lower than 2002-2007, so the bigger market teams can be more aggressive in spending. Teams like the Mets, in search for a bonafide ace, will be hard to top, because they will have almost unlimited amounts to throw at Santana...and leaving the AL Central for the less competitive NL might be appealing, where he can have a sub 2.00 ERA, who knows? Finally, I think they're betting on Liriano and Garza as a "sum total" being able to replace or offset the loss of Santana...although I'm going to go ahead and disagree with that sentiment. QUOTE(beck72 @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 07:04 AM) IMO, the sox dealt for the best pitching they could for Bmac and Freddy--that still allowed the sox to win in 2007 and the next few yrs. Going for the best deal wouldn't necessarily have improved the pitching right away or in 2008. Trading Bmac could have netted the sox a Hanley Ramirez type position player propsect. But they added two pitching pieces that seem to fit both short and long term. And I could imagine a 6-9 like you mentioned. But only with an all star like Ichiro hitting #1. However, Sanchez and Josh Johnson are having health problems. It always comes down to pitching, in the end. They have the same issue the Twins have with Johan. Do they make the "Herschel Walker trade" that nets them 3-4 prospects or hold onto him (Dontrelle Willis) and wait for the ballclub to become competitive around him again? It's amazing, they (the Marlins) had Beckett, Penny, Burnett, Dempster, Braden Looper, Carl Pavano AND Nate Robertson in 2002. I didn't realize it until I looked at their roster...Jan 11,2003 - Traded by Marlins with Rob Henkel and Gary Knotts to Tigers for Jerrod Fuell and Mark Redman

QUOTE(beck72 @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 06:02 AM) Is all this due to the fact that Dye, Thome, Pk, AJ, Iguchi, Erstad are not even hitting their weight, though it's 10 games into the season?! All these guys should get to their career avg's barring injury. They just have too long a track record not to. Your larger point about the position players getting old is very legit though. Yet the sox rotation and bullpen, and prospects near ready [AA and above], are very close to the other AL Central teams [santana will get a record deal and the Twins won't be the ones to give it to him]. And is bound to get even better. The sox should keep adding pitching until they have the best and deepest system in baseball. Right now, most teams are an injury or two away from missing the playoffs. The sox have solidified both their rotation and bullpen from an arm going down. Unless the sox are like 10 games out from a playoff spot come the trade deadline, Kw won't move guys. The sox can get picks for both Dye and MB and can take some high end, high upside position player talent with those. The sox have gone after pitching for years and need to focus on getting a few 5 tool players. IMO, it's very reasonable that the sox could sign Ichiro [even though he'll be 34, he plays much youinger and should for the next 4, 5 yrs with his SB's, high avg, and OBP]. With him on board, they could add guys like Sweeney and Fields into the lineup. With Pk and Thome still in the middle, the Sox lineup wouldn't look that much different than those from the other AL central teams. IMO, this offseason was just the first stage of rebuilding. With the arms in AA and AAA doing well, it looks like KW's vision of contending each and every yr with the pitching should hold. And remember that arms can be used for landing position players too. A huge sell off won't be coming. If Ponson and Ortiz keep performing, the Twins might still win it all...even with Bartlett starting the year off the same way he did in 06, Morneau is not. They were confident enough in their prospects that they put JD Durbin (former top prospect) through waivers finally, where he's on his fourth team in two weeks thanks the waiver claim process. They have Garza who they project as a #2, Baker (could be anywhere from #1 through Scott Lohse) and Slowey, who's a notorious control pitcher (think Guerrier) who may or may not make it in the majors, but who the impeccable Twins' scouting staff is very high on. And that's just AAA. In terms of five tool players, we've never done a very good job drafting athletes...hopefully Fields will turn out fine. With Borchard, Daryll Boston, Kenny Williams, Jimmy Hurst, Anthony Webster (no power)...well, our track record, especially with outfielders, has been a disaster. The two notes of success in this area have been Mike Cameron (who many compare CY to, minus the arm) and Ray Durham in the last 10-15 years. And I don't consider Ordonez or Lee to be great athletes...although they each are/were pretty darn good players, which is more important. But Cunningham, Carter and B. Allen fall into this "best athlete available" philosophy, even Anderson Gomes for that matter. QUOTE(beck72 @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 06:48 AM) Re-signing Iguchi has probably been the plan all along with no viable backup plan for 2B. Whether that would help sign Ichiro is a different story, depending on if they get along. Ichiro probably wants to go a perennial playoff contender. If the sox make the playoffs this yr, that would be one of the best selling points. Yet both Dye and Mark should be elsewhere because they both should get offers of more yrs and more money from another team. If the sox should "overpay" for anyone, it should be for a top of the order guy like Ichiro. That would allow the sox to ease guys like Sweeney and Fields into the bottom of the lineup. The main thing is I don't think the sox will be blowing up the club like Caufield states. Whatever moves are made will be for the sox to still be competitive. with strong pitching, they'll compete for the playoffs yr in and yr out. I was probably being a little overdramatic just to make a point...and you can work your way backwards to something more reasonable and realistic, and of course KW wants to (has to, for White Sox fans only support a winner) put a competitive team out on the field, but I think in his heart of hearts he knows the odds are very much against him these next couple of seasons. We've already gotten two breaks with Liriano and Rogers. I wouldn't count on anymore, and we lost Hall ourselves, who was the one "big" acquisition of the offseason, along with Danks/Masset. But you can see the approach KW is taking supports my general theory...that he's anticipating another pretty large turnover of roster to get the ballclub he really wants assembled for a 3-5 year run together as a group, like Cleveland and Minnesota have done, and Detroit with their starting pitching and veteran line-up. I agree, the leadoff position might end up being the most important move of all....and whether it's a veteran like Ichiro or a prospect in High A, AA or AAA will tell us a lot about the direction of this ballclub. (Yes, I know, someone will mention Owens and I will say that's about a 10-15% chance at this point...but we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out).

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 12:10 AM) One noticeable problem to this approach -- you make no mention of our team's proximity to a playoff position (whether it be the division or wildcard). Sure, Williams may understand the team won't compete down the stretch; but not much will be done if they're within 5 games of a playoff position. Add in Williams wouldn't have made the deal if he or his coaching staff weren't confident in Brian Anderson. Thus the deals for Garcia and McCarthy. The disparity in age and talent between us and divisional opponents is why I, among others, stress that Williams needs to make deals which give him the best possible package. Not just concentrating on project pitchers with past failures, missing velocity, and limited minor league success. You know who I'm referring to. I have no problem if Williams and Guillen assemble a future team around their fantasies. Just remember, even "small ball" teams such as Florida and Minnesota have Miguel Cabrera, Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer. Let the organization develop someone on-par with any of those names before talking about small ball. How can you be so certain about any of those players leaving? I'm willing to believe Shapiro maintains Sabathia and Hafner. And while many people assume Santana is as good as gone, he could easily accept a backloaded deal. Perhaps 17 million for 3 years, 23 million for the last 4 -- which en total becomes 143mil/7yrs. About 20 million per year. Hardly unreasonable. No team should pass on an opportunity to have Santana and Liriano in one rotation. If they're out of contention, it's probable that all of the names you mention -- except Vazquez, MacDougal and Konerko -- are on the block. Although now we'd in the tricky situation of midseason deals, which have hardly been rampant throughout baseball the last two seasons. Teams just aren't willing to give up much for half-year rentals. So, you can already remove Buehrle, Dye, Iguchi. Too much inconsistency among those names. Can you imagine a lineup where 6-9 is Fields, Uribe, Sweeney, Anderson. /puke. We'll be overwhelmed by strikeouts and low averages. I doubt Guillen would tolerate it without going to his next pet player, whether that be Greg Counsel or Eric Byrnes. Two world renowned grinders. I completely agree with you here. Well, aside from Floyd having a chance to be a frontline starter. Russell and Gonzalez certaintly possess the "stuff" of a #2. Egbert may be a #3 if he continues his ways. If there's one area of our organization where I don't have any doubt they'll succeed, it's finding a #4/#5 starter. We're going to experience a rough season within the next several years. I'm almost certain of that. The time separation between Russell/Gonzalez/Egbert/etc. succeeding and the current core of veterans leaving will determine our fate. There's one other point you made in a later post which I agree with, as well: This is a problem many here fail to grasp. Look at the potential top three starters of divisional opponents: Cleveland: Sabathia/Miller/Sowers Detroit: Verlander/Bonderman/Miller Minnesota: Liriano/Santana/Garza Cleveland's is the weakest and I'd still take it over ours, which I can only imagine will be Russell/Danks/Gonzalez if everything goes well. Those three perform and Vazquez is long gone. Include him in the place of any of the aforementioned prospects and not much changes. Hell, Kansas City may have a decent rotation in a few years as well. Although that really depends upon this year's draft choice. The problem with the proximity to the playoff position argument is the presence of 3 more very solid teams....and the likelihood they'll cannibalize each other throughout the season, with the winning record closer to 91-93 instead of 94-96 games. I do think KW still really likes BA, but he gave Ozzie a half-season (hence, the cheap deal for Erstad) to win doing it his way (a mi manera). I mentioned BA as part of the future White Sox team, he almost has to be. It seems most like Thome and Konerko will still be around through 08/09...and it would be the hardest trade of all to sell to the fanbase (moving Paulie), after giving the ball to JR and taking less money to sign here instead of BALT or Anaheim. If a team can retain Dye or Buehrle (assuming they can get them to agree to an extension and not go the FA route), then we can have a similar Reed/Morse/Olivo midseason deal...we just need to pick the right pieces to receive in return. I don't really like our taking the draft picks, because we've done such a bad job with those picks throughout the years, and you're putting your eggs in baskets that mature in 3-5 years, unless you land a Garza late in the first round/sandwich/supplemental. Not sure enough about Egbert to make a call like that...knowing the Sox, you hope #4 and expect #5! My guess on the Royals' rotation of the near future...in no particular order Hochevar Greinke Lumsden DeLaRosa (maybe!) Hudson If you look at the core of Minnesota (Mauer/Morneau/Cuddyer/Liriano/Santana/Nathan), they only have one veteran in Hunter, not counting Rondell White. And the ability to spend more money with the new stadium anticipated, although I will believe it when I see it...a lot comes down to Liriano returning to form. Cleveland, they have Peralta, Marte (not sure about him yet), Martinez, Barfield, Garko, Hafner, Martinez, Sizemore...luckily they will lose veterans Michaels, Blake, Gerut fizzled, Nixon, Delucci...they're obviously the main threat. I think DET, as mentioned, is the lowest threat, because I'm not 100% sold on Inge, Monroe/Thames and Granderson...although I really like Curtis. Their everyday line-up is closest to that of the White Sox, but they have two bonafide (and signed long-term) aces in Verlander/Bonderman and a projected future ace in Miller (trumps Danks), not to mention the equivalent of Garland or Buehrle in Robertson. Rogers and Maroth are the only question marks...and their bullpen isn't as good, with Mesa, Ledezma replacing the nearly untouchable Walker, Rodney struggling...Jones aging. But they still have the X Factor in Zumaya, perhaps the most valuable reliever in baseball.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 10:48 PM) I am kinda in favor for a semi-rebuilding. Not like an overhaul like the Marlins a couple years ago, but get rid of some aging players, and replace them with young guys. I think PK will be a keeper, as well as Thome (as we wont be able to trade him anywhere most likely). Vazquez and Garland are the only 2 safe on the staff for now, IMO. This team is old, and the rest of the divison is pretty young. Royals and Indians seem to be probably the toughest opponents come 2-3 years from now. I think we can remain a semi-competitive team for the next couple of years, while we rebuild. Thome will be attractive to other AL teams, and his contract wouldn't be impossible to move, since we're only paying a little more than $9 million....with the Phillies' subsidy. I'm not sure if he still has a no trade clause to certain teams, off the top of my head. Konerko could go either way IMO. "Since the White Sox did not return to the postseason in 2006, despite a 90-win season, we would expect some level of attrition of these FSE's (full season ticket renewals). A portion of them might drop off for each of the next three years, until the fifth year following the postseason appearance, when there is no residual value remaining, and the team's revenue status is back to where it would have been had they never reached the playoffs in the first place." This gives KW until the 2010 season is over to bring another playoff team to Chicago, or we've lost all the advantages of winning the World Series. "For the White Sox, the value of reaching the postseason in 2005 is estimated to be approximately $28 million dollars, with over 60% of the benefit realized in 2006 (this does not include the value of winning the World Series). For the White Sox, an additional $18 million for winning it all can be added to their $28 million for simply making the playoffs. Chicago's glamour season of 2005 generated an estimated NPV (net present value) of $46 million in additional revenue." Gennaro, Diamond Dollars

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 10:08 PM) If they really want to build around speed and small ball you get the best in the business in contact and sign Irchiro. I would let Dye go, put Ichiro in RF. Sign Gooch. And hit them one and two. I'm not sure KW feels comfortable going beyond two years on any of those players...as Iguchi, Dye and Ichiro will all be 34 years old on Opening Day, 2008. Replacing Dye's $7+ million salary (and production) will be exceedingly difficult. However, there is something to be said for signing Ichiro, because he would be a great influence on our young outfielders and he would probably pay for his contract in marketing/"good will" and attendance benefits alone. I think OG and KW really like Iguchi but want to play out the year and see how he does as a "power hitter," as his days as a stolen base threat are long gone. Two years for $10-11 million doesn't seen entirely out of the question. The problem with any big signing (like Ichiro) would be that it really wouldn't do anything but turn a 78 win team for 2008 into a 83 win team. It makes a lot more sense to spend that kind of money to go from 86 to 91 wins and back into playoff competition. Below is the dollar value for major league franchises to get to 90 wins in a season... 1. Yankees, $4.3 million in added revenue 2. Mets, $4.2 million 3. Cubs, $3.8 million 4. Mariners, $3.8 million 5. Dodgers, $3.6 million 6. White Sox/Giants, $3.5 million 8. Phillies, $3.4 milllion 9. Cardinals, $3.3 million 10. Red Sox, $3.0 million 26. Oakland, $1.8 million 27. Cincy, $1.8 million 28. Pittsburgh, $1.7 million 29. Royals, $1.7 million 30. Twins, $1.6 million TEAMS that would generate the most additional revenue from improving from 86 to 91 wins (and making playoffs)... 1. Yankees, $18.4 million 2. Mets, $18.0 million 3. Seattle, $16.1 million 4. Cubs, $15.9 million 5. Giants, $15.2 million 6. Dodgers, $15.1 million 7. White Sox, $14.9 million 23. Braves, $9.6 million 24. D-Rays, $9.1 million 25. Marlins, $9.0 million 26. A's, $7.7 million 27. Reds, $7.5 million 28. Royals, $7.4 million 29. Pirates, $7.3 million 30. Twins, $6.8 million Source: Diamond Dollars, Vince Gennaro QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 10:27 PM) I don't think you resign Javier Vazquez to the contract he received if you are planning to drop salary by $20 million. I think KW is trying to do the best job he can to make sure he can compete every year. So if he loses JD and Buehrle this offseason, he hopes that Sweeney, Fields, and some of his young pitchers can step in to make a difference. But he spends some money on people he thinks can be relative bargains if they start to perform, and rolls the dice. If Vazquez performs for the next 3 years exactly how he has in the past few, he is probably worth his contract, but barely. But Javy also has the ability to pitch well above those numbers, and that's what Kenny is hoping for; a little luck with that money. Buehrle though seems almost certain to get a lot more than Vazquez no matter what, even if he stinks up this season, and it sure looks like he'll be paid at or above what his ceiling could be. KW is trying to find a way to keep this team winning. He has to keep this team winning...along with the Braves, A's, Twins and Marlins fans, White Sox fans since 2000 have provided the least amount of support for their team, based on their winning percentage's correlation, as the White Sox have the 7th best record in baseball since 2000 but are tied with two other franchises for 19th in attendance. Research has shown that three consecutive years of 90+ wins imprints the idea that your team is a contender on the fanbase, and we also have the 2005 WS to fall back upon to cushion the blow of rebuilding in 07 and 08 with the target date of Opening Day 2009. I think Vazquez, because of his relatively young age, might still be an attractive asset for KW to keep, if for no other reason than to prove the validity of the Young trade. He's one of our most desired pitchers/properties, despite his sub .500 career record. His first two starts have been encouraging. However, by 2009, he will have a lot of wear and tear on that seemingly "rubber" arm, and his marginal utility will be decreasing vis a vis what we could get back in a trade that would optimize our future chances to compete IMO.

Part II I think KW is keeping as much money as he can from 05/06/07 and planning to pare down the payroll dramatically for 08 into the $75-80 million range (anticipating a 25-33% loss of operating revenue), "saving his bullets" so to speak to add some key veterans like he did in 2005 around a young and maturing core of players. By 2009, we should be back up near $100-105 million in payroll, if the "right" Free Agents are out there. With Santana, Liriano, Garza, Slowey, Baker, Bonser...Sabathia, Lee, Westbrook, Sowers....Verlander, Bonderman, Robertson, Andrew Milller, Maroth...the bar is set for the next 2-3 years and the arms race is on. Right now, we're way behind.

I think KW knows the writing is on the wall with this team and will dramatically shift course from June, 2007, through the start of the next regular season. In my opinion, he legitimately believed last year's White Sox team had a great chance to repeat, or he wouldn't have made the Chris Young for Vazquez deal. I now think that he believes the White Sox pitching staff has been passed by the Tigers (definitely) and is threatening to be passed by the Indians and Twins. We are the oldest team in the division, and it's definitely starting to show...we're sprouting leaks and bolts are coming out before our very eyes. KW and OG wanted to give this team one last go-around for the players (like Thome, Pods, Erstad) as well as the fans, who would not have supported a full-scale rebuilding project coming into this season, not after winning 90 last year. It's also my opinion that KW and OG want a team based on speed, athleticism, fundamentals, pitching and defense. Despite the "small ball" moniker, we were not this team in 2005...not to the extent Ozzie would like. KW knows the Indians will lose Sabathia and Hafner after 08, the Twins will probably lose Santana and that Guillen/I-Rod/Rogers/Ordonez/Sheffield will have peaked and declined in DET...so we're now in a race to build the best team for 2009 in the shortest time while also remaining competitive. What I also think this means is that the White Sox will be very aggressive in trading Buehrle, Crede and Dye, and also listening to overtures for AJ, Iguchi, Thome, Konerko, Contreras, Garland, Vazquez, MacDougal and Thornton. It doesn't mean all these players will be gone by 2008 Opening Day, obviously...but I'm not going to be surprised by anything that happens. KW will build around Fields (24), Uribe (28), Sweeney (22) and Brian Anderson (25). I think this is definitely going to happen if he can't keep Garland and Buehrle...as it would make little sense to rebuild the rotation around Contreras and Vazquez for the future. In the meantime, he will stockpile every possible arm to compete with the AL Central for the next 3-5 years. Floyd, Gio and Adam Russell all have a chance to be frontline starters. I think they might move Masset back to starting as well if he can add an effective third pitch. The Sox cross their fingers that either Haeger, Broadway or McCullough (one of the three) will become a dependable fifth starter as well. Of the 12 players I named, almost all of them have decent/favorable contracts and could/should be desireable commodities on the open market over the next 12-18 months. I don't like typing this, but I feel it's inevitable...and I will forever be thankful we won it all in 05.

1. Yankees, 679 wins, #1 attendance (EVEN) 2. Oakland, 664 wins, #22 attendance (-18) 3. St. Louis, 658 wins, #4 attendance (+1) 4. Atlanta, 650 wins, #12 attendance (-8) 5. Boston, 634 wins, #10 attendance 6. San Francisco, 624 wins, #2 attendance (+4) 7. WHITE SOX, 617 wins, #19 attendance (-12) 8. Minnesota, 609 wins, #24 attendance (-16) Anaheim, 609 wins, #8 attendance (+1) 10. Seattle, 603 wins, #5 attendance (+5) 11. Dodgers, #3 attendance (+8) 12. Astros #7 attendance, (+5) 13. Phillies, #17 attendance (-4) 14. Indians, #18 attendance (-4) 15. Marlins, #29 attendance (-14) 16. Mets #11 attendance, (+5) 17. Diamondbacks, #13 attendance (+4) 18. Blue Jays, #24 attendance (-6) 19. Padres, #15 attendance, (+4) 20. CUBS, 539 wins, #6 attendance (+14) 21. Rangers #16 attendance (+5) 22. Reds, #19 attendance (+3) 23. Expos/Nationals, #27 attendance (-4) 24. Rockies, #14 attendance (+10) 25. Orioles, #9 attendance (+16) 26. Brewers, #19 attendance (+7) 27. Pirates, #26 attendance (+1) 28. Tigers, #23 attendance (+5) 29. D-Rays, 464 wins, #30 attendance (-1) 30. Royals, 463 wins, #28 attendance (+2) The teams in italics are those who are underperforming, based on connecting winning percentage directly to attendance. Those in bold are overperforming, with higher attendance than on-field performance.

QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:52 PM) Missed most of the game. I'm guessing it was a bad one? I know we lost (are about to), but did they look absent again? We're one more baserunner away from the tying run at the plate. Although I'm not counting on it happening.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:50 PM) Well my prediction sucked there.. You might want to leave after Planet Terror, unless you have the hots for Rosario Dawson or Vanessa Ferlito.

QUOTE(TheOcho @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:47 PM) 2- run homer time. Peanut butter jelly time for Bad Bobby Jenks. Can't have his full name back until he averages 95 with FB.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:46 PM) Uribe might be the only one to give us a lift. Iguchi, you swing like the rusty gate from To Kill A Mockingbird!!! PH Boo Radley.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:42 PM) SCREW YOU She's hawt. her character from that movie needs to be in Part 3, Let Anderson and Logan Play She could have a menage a trois scene with the girl from the Waterboy and "Hard" Art Kusyner

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:40 PM) Can we have Oliver Miller leadoff? I actually talked trash with Nolan at a game in Colombia, South America last year when he was coaching the Panamanian National team. I think he just switched to the north, now he's coaching the Mexican team.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 14, 2007 -> 02:39 PM) Hawk is verbally cheating on Yaz and Jim Rice with Dick Williams. At 300 pm, they have Wild Things 2: When the White Sox Bore Us to Death Starring Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel. Maybe I'll let Denise Richards cameo, but no Neve Campbell.