Guest wsc425 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 Get ready for another year of endless Expos questions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Sean McAdam Special to ESPN.com With more than a degree of pride, commissioner Bud Selig likes to remind one and all that baseball hasn't had a franchise shift in better than 30 years, a measure of its relative stability when stacked against other pro leagues. Relocations have been commonplace in both the NBA and NHL. Even the mighty NFL, absent the protection provided by an anti-trust exemption, wasn't powerful enough to stop the moving vans from taking teams to Indianapolis, Nashville, Phoenix and St. Louis. But it's time for baseball to relent and allow the Montreal Expos to be sold and move. Somewhere. Anywhere, but Montreal. Will Vladimir Guerrero, a potential free agent at the end of the year, remain with the Expos for the entire 2003 season? The Expos have been in Montreal since 1969 and except for a few seasons in the 1980s and the "what-might-have-been'' campaign of 1994 have been unable to make their mark there. As the gap grew between the haves and have-nots in the last decade, no franchise better symbolized the futility of small-market franchises than Les Expos: They routinely developed young talent, and just as routinely, eventually saw it get away, a victim of the game's two-tiered economic structure. Fan support, which has been almost non-existent in recent years, is almost incidental in the big picture; the Expos can't find an owner willing to keep the team in Montreal. Following a complicated franchise swap, MLB took control of the franchise before last season, inviting inevitable problems. No matter what the Expos did, they -- or more precisely, the remaining 29 owners -- opened themselves to charges of conflict of interest. When the Expos and GM Omar Minaya skillfully outmaneuvered other clubs for pitcher Bartolo Colon, there were cries that MLB had orchestrated the deal to help the Expos win and thus, inflate the value of the franchise. More value meant more money for everyone else when the sale was completed. When the Expos dealt Cliff Floyd to the Red Sox -- despite the best effort by the New York Yankees -- George Steinbrenner stage-whispered that MLB had steered Floyd to the Sox as a favor to Red Sox owners John Henry and Larry Lucchino, who had been united by Selig. When Minaya was ordered to cut payroll -- and thus auction off one of his two prized starting pitchers -- it was theorized that he was also told to drag his feet so as to forestall big-spending teams from overspending on other pitching free agents. Conspiracy theorists will continue to find evidence that the Expos are, by definition, operating under a different set of rules than the other 29 franchises. In an effort to broaden baseball's base and, let's face it, limit the number of times the Expos have to play before crowds of less than 8,000, Major League Baseball has scheduled 22 of their games in Puerto Rico. This, too, is patently unfair. While every other club has to play 81 games on the road, the Expos have to play 103. And what about their divisional opponents like the Mets and Phillies, who, instead of making a quick flight from the Northeast corridor to Quebec, must re-route themselves to the Caribbean? By all accounts, baseball is moving slowly in the sale process. A certain amount of caution is necessary. If you think otherwise, just look at the NHL, which, on commissioner Gary Bettman's watch, has seen two different owners taken away in handcuffs. The last thing baseball needs are over-leveraged owners or underfunded stadium projects. And, to be sure, there are potential problems with the two prime relocation choices. The Washington, D.C.-Northern Virginia area may be ready for its third try at a team, but is Major League Baseball ready for the resulting fallout from Baltimore Orioles owner and uber-litigator Peter Angelos? Angelos is primed to sue baseball for encroaching on his territory. Meanwhile, Portland's economy is in a shambles, calling into question, at least for now, the wisdom of placing a second team in the Pacific Northwest. But clearly, baseball needs to proceed with some urgency since there are more potential problems on the near horizon. As the season progresses, superstar outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, inarguably one of the half-dozen best players in the game, will be creeping toward free agency. Do the Expos deal Guerrero at the July 31 trading deadline, knowing that they can't possibly afford to retain him? Or, do they keep him, thus making the team more attractive to a deep-pocketed owner. For that matter, for whom does Minaya work? For the fans -- however few there may be -- of the long-suffering Expos? For Selig? For some unidentified owner, waiting in the wings? Does Minaya try to win this year? Does he have a long-term plan in place? There are too many questions as the Expos prepare to kick off their second season as wards of the state. It isn't so bad that they're still in Montreal; it's the fact they're still in limbo. Sean McAdam of the Providence Journal covers baseball for ESPN.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesox247 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 did i read this too fast? wut does this have to do with guerrerro to the sox? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wsc425 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 Just trying to get some discussion in posts...its getting ugly in here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDF Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 did i read this too fast? wut does this have to do with guerrerro to the sox? i hate to agree with you, i know he is trying to put forth info and i am just as guilty, but i wish if the sox are involve or anything, he should say so if not, don't. something like should the sox pursue vlad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wsc425 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 yes, the sox should acquire vlad for LF. boy its a ghost town in here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesox247 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 should the sox pursue vlad? hells no..i would absolutely LOVE to get him..speed, power, average, defense, everything you could ask for...but we got maggs in right, though we could move him to left or something...and he would cost a HELL of a ton to keep...but of course no prob for the yankees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDF Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 yes, the sox should acquire vlad for LF. boy its a ghost town in here. if he is available, how much do you think it would cost to get him.......................... but it might be worth it. ummm but i still would like to get tejas(sp) from oak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baggio202 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 yes, the sox should acquire vlad for LF. boy its a ghost town in here. umm sorry..vlad gets right field...maggs to left....hsc will have to move to left field to see maggs hieny if this happened Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hotsoxchick1 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 they dont have a good bar in LF though.... so i would say let that vladdy go.........maggs aint moving for no one.........espically as an inconvience to me....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesox247 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 yes, the sox should acquire vlad for LF. boy its a ghost town in here. if he is available, how much do you think it would cost to get him.......................... but it might be worth it. ummm but i still would like to get tejas(sp) from oak. tejas? whoz this guy? never heard of him...i tried to look him up but couldnt find him...u got any stats of him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 yes, the sox should acquire vlad for LF. boy its a ghost town in here. if he is available, how much do you think it would cost to get him.......................... but it might be worth it. ummm but i still would like to get tejas(sp) from oak. tejas? whoz this guy? never heard of him...i tried to look him up but couldnt find him...u got any stats of him? He means Tejada. Vladdy is amazing, but Tejada may be the better pickup on the Sox. We could definately use help at short, probably more so then the outfield. Of course Vlad is a stud. Enough of me dreaming though...IT AIN"T GOING TO HAPPEN. The Sox have enough guys to resign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesox247 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 o tejada...my bad..but didnt he say sp? anyways..comon now..we got no chance w/ tejada..hes the mvp for gods sake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac9001 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 Either way if the Sox's trade for Tejada or Vlad, we'd only lose them to FA and in the process we'd give up a lot while gaining nothing in the long term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedPinStripes Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 yes, the sox should acquire vlad for LF. boy its a ghost town in here. umm sorry..vlad gets right field...maggs to left....hsc will have to move to left field to see maggs hieny if this happened They already have a right fielder in place of Maggs, but they're going to make him play CF. Borchard is no CF imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hotsoxchick1 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 OUCH... dissin on both my boys there rps.......i would say that borchard can do a mighty fine cf.. he has the arm and speed out there for it thats for sure.........and why the hell is everyone down on magglio lately.. you all want to trade him and now your pushing him out of rf.. geez us leave the poor kid alone.. hes fine where hes at............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 OUCH... dissin on both my boys there rps.......i would say that borchard can do a mighty fine cf.. he has the arm and speed out there for it thats for sure.........and why the hell is everyone down on magglio lately.. you all want to trade him and now your pushing him out of rf.. geez us leave the poor kid alone.. hes fine where hes at............ I ain't down on him one bit. Bottom line is that he's going to eventually be a leftfielder with Borchard eventually sliding into Right to make room for Jeremy Reed/Anthony Webster, both of whom are very good defensive centerfielders. Maggs is amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 HSC....there are fewer than 5 days left before ST starts....I wouldn't be surprised if we start talking about trading Maggs for a hot dog vendor in Yankee Stadium before ST starts. Nothing big happening until ST....so we are bored as hell....February sucks....but March is cool and so is April and May and every month after that till October....and then football season is going on....so January and February are the two slowest months of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 I think there is one more big thing coming and thats the Rogers signing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 I think there is one more big thing coming and thats the Rogers signing. I wouldn't say that is big....we're signing, at best, a #4 starter....and I'd prefer to keep Rauch in the rotation and let him mature this year....but oh well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 I think there is one more big thing coming and thats the Rogers signing. I wouldn't say that is big....we're signing, at best, a #4 starter....and I'd prefer to keep Rauch in the rotation and let him mature this year....but oh well. The thing is, I keep reading that Loiza was the likely #5. I'll take Rogers any day of the week over Loiza. I am a huge Rauch supporter though. The way I see it, were destined to have injuries and I think its awesome knowing that Rauch is right there when they do happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulokis Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 I think there is one more big thing coming and thats the Rogers signing. I wouldn't say that is big....we're signing, at best, a #4 starter....and I'd prefer to keep Rauch in the rotation and let him mature this year....but oh well. The thing is, I keep reading that Loiza was the likely #5. I'll take Rogers any day of the week over Loiza. I am a huge Rauch supporter though. The way I see it, were destined to have injuries and I think its awesome knowing that Rauch is right there when they do happen. I dont like Loaiza as a 5th starter if we dont get K. Rogers. i think its better to give Rauch the opportunity to grow the same as John Lackey for the Angels(was he a rookie last year?). Besides, Rauch was great during his starts on the last month of the season last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubKilla Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 I think there is one more big thing coming and thats the Rogers signing. I wouldn't say that is big....we're signing, at best, a #4 starter....and I'd prefer to keep Rauch in the rotation and let him mature this year....but oh well. Move Wright to the pen as a long reliever and let Rauch have the 5th spot. Keep Glover for a month or two at the beginning of the season in case Rauch can't handle the 5 spot. If that's the case, minors again for Rauch, Wright back to the rotation, and Glover is again you're long reliever. If Rauch can handle it (and I think he will), deal Glover and keep Wright as our long reliever or spot starter in case of injury. At least that's what I'd do..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 Killa...what you're saying is.... Buehrle Colon Garland Rogers Rauch Koch Marte Gordon White Wunsch Wright Glover I don't know what to say....I guess I don't agree. I feel that if we get Rogers, than Rauch is in the minors getting innings in and we just go with the bullpen above with Wright in the rotation. After this year, we use Rauch in the rotation....no questions asked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 I think there is one more big thing coming and thats the Rogers signing. I wouldn't say that is big....we're signing, at best, a #4 starter....and I'd prefer to keep Rauch in the rotation and let him mature this year....but oh well. The thing is, I keep reading that Loiza was the likely #5. I'll take Rogers any day of the week over Loiza. I am a huge Rauch supporter though. The way I see it, were destined to have injuries and I think its awesome knowing that Rauch is right there when they do happen. I dont like Loaiza as a 5th starter if we dont get K. Rogers. i think its better to give Rauch the opportunity to grow the same as John Lackey for the Angels(was he a rookie last year?). Besides, Rauch was great during his starts on the last month of the season last year. Lacky was a rookie who came up after the first month and a half or so. I am thinking we aught to do the same with Rauch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 I like Wright way too much to put him in the bullpen. I think Wright is a better pitcher then Rogers, so if we were to do that we'd be downgrading. I really think Wright and Garland will win between 15-17 with Colon and Buerhle fighting for 20 or more if they are healthy. Then we'll have Rogers, and eventually I'm thinking Rauch. I like how someone mentioned Lackey of the Angels. He came in after a month or so, I'm thinking Rauch could do the same. Were going to win the series people!!!! I know one thing, if our season is an exact replica of the Angels last year, I'm going to be so happy, but were all going to be going nuts when they start off like 6-14 or whatever it was they did. LETS GO WHITE SOX!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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