You're Kenny Williams

[WCSox]

My point is not that range is more important than a good arm. Are you agreeing and saying that Swisher's arm stinks?

 

Compared to other CFs like Damon and Juan Pierre? No.

 

If you think that Swisher's arm isn't strong enough to play CF, you're in need of some perspective.

 

Mark McGwire played 1st his entire career. Thome hasn't played 1st on a regular basis since '05.

 

You're missing my point. McGwire wasn't any more athletic than Thome (a former 3B), but was able to play there until he retired. There's no reason why Thome couldn't play there at an acceptable level. Unless, of course, Ozzie doesn't want him straining a muscle, which is my point.

 

BTW, Thome played 1B regularly from '96-'05. I'm pretty sure that he remembers how to scoop a bad throw out of the dirt.

 

[DaTank]

Unless, of course, Ozzie doesn't want him straining a muscle, which is my point.

 

This is my point as well. Why would anyone want to throw a 37 year old slugger who has been injured a few times in the past in the field if it isn't necessary?

[WCSox]

This is my point as well. Why would anyone want to throw a 37 year old slugger who has been injured a few times in the past in the field if it isn't necessary?

 

My point is that it's not Thome's age, but his propensity for hamstring, calf, and ribcage injuries that's keeping him from playing 1B. Age hasn't stopped older players like Griffey and Bonds from playing the more physically-taxing corner OF positions.

 

[Balta1701]

My point is that it's not Thome's age, but his propensity for hamstring, calf, and ribcage injuries that's keeping him from playing 1B. Age hasn't stopped older players like Griffey and Bonds from playing the more physically-taxing corner OF positions.

It's just best as a rule never to use Mr. tetrahydrogestrinone as an example for anything, because you always run in to the trouble of there being other reasons for why he was able to perform like he did. Certain injections have been known to help people recover much more rapidly from the type of nagging injuries that might sideline a normal, even younger person.

[gosox41]

Let's say, for the sake of the argument, that Ken Griffey Jr. is just phenomenal for the rest of this season. What do you do with Konerko? What do you do with Swisher? What about Griffey? Who do you trade? Do you let Griffey walk? I know Griffey has only played one game, but if he can keep it up we can have a ton to deal with in the off season. I was just thinking about this earlier and I'm curious about what you would do if you were in this situation.

 

 

KW is limited to what he can do this offseason if you think about it. If I were KW I'd do anything in my power to get rid of the old, past their prime, slow , injury prone power hitters to create a team that can actually beat Minnesota.

 

 

 

[C_LEE45]

09 Dream

 

 

Furcal SS

 

 

and how about FINALLY GETTING an ACE in C.C Sabathia

[Kalapse]

09 Dream

 

 

Furcal SS

 

 

and how about FINALLY GETTING an ACE in C.C Sabathia

Never going to happen. Williams and Reinsdorf are not going to give 7-8 years to a starter, seeing as how it has NEVER worked out.

[YASNY]

Never going to happen. Williams and Reinsdorf are not going to give 7-8 years to a starter, seeing as how it's NEVER worked out.

 

And they shouldn't.

[witesoxfan]

Never going to happen. Williams and Reinsdorf are not going to give 7-8 years to a starter, seeing as how it has NEVER worked out.

 

I'll say it sort of worked one time with Mussina; 6 year deal, made it through the entire deal pitching anywhere from slightly below league average to a top 10 pitcher in the league and always threw more than 164 innings.

 

But yeah, I'm not about to sign Sabathia, seeing as how that gut that hangs over his belt is probably going to land him with a sore back sooner than later.

[almagest]

KW is limited to what he can do this offseason if you think about it. If I were KW I'd do anything in my power to get rid of the old, past their prime, slow , injury prone power hitters to create a team that can actually beat Minnesota.

Like who? Who are we going to replace the 60+ homers and ~200 RBIs we'd get from, say, Thome and Dye, or the mid-.800 OPS we'd get from a career-average Konerko with? What Terry Tiffees and Nick Puntos do you recommend we get?

[witesoxfan]

And don't try and beat Minnesota with their own game. It'll never work. The only thing this offense should try and do is diversify the lineup a bit more...add a player at 2B/SS who hits for average and can bunt and steal a base whenever. Add a player at 3B who can play very good defense and will put the ball into play on a regular basis. Hudson/Furcal and Beltre would all be good options.

[Metz]

Tell KW to go to the northside and get Mark DeRosa, then are middle infield is set!!

 

I wish DeRosa's contract was up this season, but its not, I think he is a very nice player to have on your team. If i had to pick a cub player to like he would be it, followed by Reed Johnson. Have to give credit where deserved for that pickup

[Kalapse]

I'll say it sort of worked one time with Mussina; 6 year deal, made it through the entire deal pitching anywhere from slightly below league average to a top 10 pitcher in the league and always threw more than 164 innings.

 

But yeah, I'm not about to sign Sabathia, seeing as how that gut that hangs over his belt is probably going to land him with a sore back sooner than later.

Eh. Mussina had 1 amazing season, 2 very good seasons, 1 just above average and 2 below average seasons. When I give a pitcher $88.5M I expect him to pitch like a $14.75M pitcher for close to the life of the deal. He pitched like a ~$90M pitcher for about half the deal. Not really what I'm looking for.

[Kalapse]

Like who? Who are we going to replace the 60+ homers and ~200 RBIs we'd get from, say, Thome and Dye, or the mid-.800 OPS we'd get from a career-average Konerko with? What Terry Tiffees and Nick Puntos do you recommend we get?

Jason Tyner? He's already playing for Charlotte, he'd be a nice replacement for Thome next year. Bring some much needed hard-nosed, passionate grindertude to this team.

[almagest]

Jason Tyner? He's already playing for Charlotte, he'd be a nice replacement for Thome next year. Bring some much needed hard-nosed, passionate grindertude to this team.

I forgot about that. The signing of the year, right there. All we need to do is sign Lew Ford and we're well above a grindosity factor of 12.

 

[WCSox]

Like who? Who are we going to replace the 60+ homers and ~200 RBIs we'd get from, say, Thome and Dye, or the mid-.800 OPS we'd get from a career-average Konerko with? What Terry Tiffees and Nick Puntos do you recommend we get?

 

You're not. But that's the whole point. What the Sox have been trying for the past 2 1/2 years has been met with mixed results. But more importantly, it's garnered them zero playoff appearances. If they fail to make the playoffs again this year, Kenny needs to seriously consider moving one or more of those aging sluggers (if possible) and starting over again. I kind of doubt he'll do that this winter(partially because Paulie and Thome can reject trades). But if they're playing .500 ball next June, it'll be time to hold a firesale and stock up on prospects.

 

[nitetrain8601]

You're not. But that's the whole point. What the Sox have been trying for the past 2 1/2 years has been met with mixed results. But more importantly, it's garnered them zero playoff appearances. If they fail to make the playoffs again this year, Kenny needs to seriously consider moving one or more of those aging sluggers (if possible) and starting over again. I kind of doubt he'll do that this winter(partially because Paulie and Thome can reject trades). But if they're playing .500 ball next June, it'll be time to hold a firesale and stock up on prospects.

 

If we fail this year, it's not because we slug our way into wins. It's because our 2nd half pitching has let us down.

 

[almagest]

You're not. But that's the whole point. What the Sox have been trying for the past 2 1/2 years has been met with mixed results. But more importantly, it's garnered them zero playoff appearances. If they fail to make the playoffs again this year, Kenny needs to seriously consider moving one or more of those aging sluggers (if possible) and starting over again. I kind of doubt he'll do that this winter(partially because Paulie and Thome can reject trades). But if they're playing .500 ball next June, it'll be time to hold a firesale and stock up on prospects.

We hit over 200 home runs in 2005 and won it all. The makeup of that offense wasn't much different than the past 2.5 years, and it won't be the offense that keeps us out of the postseason this year.

[WCSox]

We hit over 200 home runs in 2005 and won it all. The makeup of that offense wasn't much different than the past 2.5 years,

 

The makeup of the '05 offense consisted of two productive sluggers (Konerko and Dye), a number of other players with some power and below-average OBP, and a leadoff hitter who stole a ton of bases over the first four months of the season. That's a lot different than the offenses that we've had over the past 2.5 years. There were a whopping TWO players with an OBP of .350 or higher and only TWO players with a BA of .280 or higher in '05. When Pods leads your team in hitting, you know that you've got problems. Thank God their pitching and defense was spectacular.

 

and it won't be the offense that keeps us out of the postseason this year.

 

It won't be the offense that gets us to the postseason this year, either. We could trade for Manny right now and it still wouldn't overcome our bad pitching and defense.

 

Edited August 6, 2008 by WCSox

[BearSox]

I have a question, if we buyout Griffey's final year, can we still offer him arb. and receive comp. if he signs else where. If so, we could be looking at anywhere between 4-6 extra draft picks next year. Of course we won't be using all of them as I fully expect us to sign 1 or 2 type a or b FA's.

 

I see us making a run at the O-Dog, however, I think he will stay in Arizona. Arizona has traded away all their 2B prospects, so that leads me to believe they will do everything in their power to keep him.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing us bring back Garland to a 3 year contract worth anywhere between 30-40 million.

[Kalapse]

I have a question, if we buyout Griffey's final year, can we still offer him arb. and receive comp. if he signs else where. If so, we could be looking at anywhere between 4-6 extra draft picks next year. Of course we won't be using all of them as I fully expect us to sign 1 or 2 type a or b FA's.

 

I see us making a run at the O-Dog, however, I think he will stay in Arizona. Arizona has traded away all their 2B prospects, so that leads me to believe they will do everything in their power to keep him.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing us bring back Garland to a 3 year contract worth anywhere between 30-40 million.

Yes. 2 if he's a type A and 1 sandwich if he's a type B.

 

And you don't lose a draft pick for signing a type B free agent, the old team just gets a sandwich pick.

 

Right now the Sox are looking at possibly 7-8 picks if everything goes right (which it won't.)

 

2 for Cabrera

2 for Thome (vesting option not withstanding)

1-2 for Griffey

1 for Crede (assuming he holds his Type B rating)

1 for Uribe (assuming he doesn't accept arb and somehow holds his Type B rating)

[BearSox]

I forgot that type B free agents only get their team a supp. pick... and do really think Uribe is in the top 40% of all 2B, 3B, and SS?

[southsider2k5]

Like who? Who are we going to replace the 60+ homers and ~200 RBIs we'd get from, say, Thome and Dye, or the mid-.800 OPS we'd get from a career-average Konerko with? What Terry Tiffees and Nick Puntos do you recommend we get?

 

Who did we replace Carlos Lee and Magglio Ordonez with in 2005?

[RockRaines]

Who did we replace Carlos Lee and Magglio Ordonez with in 2005?

Jermaine Dye for Maggs.

[DBAHO]

Jermaine Dye for Maggs.

Yeah, basically you can find a player out there in FA such as a Dye who didn't put up great numbers in Oakland for health and ballpark reasons, who when they come to the Sox will have an increase in their offensive numbers.

 

One of the best signings KW's ever made really.