It's Hard Not to Be Optimistic

[BearSox]

I prefer to be optimistc about our chances. But, every other game or so we still have the naysayers calling for wholesale trades involving Sox veterans and asking for second tier prospects in return just to dump salary. I think they forget all we have to do is finish 1st in OUR division to get into the playoffs.

 

some of them can make the point we don't have a team good enough to compete with the Yankees or Red Sox, and I'd agree with that. If we want to be World Series contenders, we're gonna have to improve this team some how.

[Steve9347]

SCOTT PODSEDNIK

[YASNY]

some of them can make the point we don't have a team good enough to compete with the Yankees or Red Sox, and I'd agree with that. If we want to be World Series contenders, we're gonna have to improve this team some how.

 

We don't have to compete with the Yankees or Red Sox for a 162 games, just a 5 or 7 game series if we make it. I'll take my chances.

[elrockinMT]

some of them can make the point we don't have a team good enough to compete with the Yankees or Red Sox, and I'd agree with that. If we want to be World Series contenders, we're gonna have to improve this team some how.

 

 

If you are playing good ball and winning, even if it's the AL Central, you can beat anyone in a short series, or in a specific time period, which hopefull will be October.

[caulfield12]

I prefer to be optimistc about our chances. But, every other game or so we still have the naysayers calling for wholesale trades involving Sox veterans and asking for second tier prospects in return just to dump salary. I think they forget all we have to do is finish 1st in OUR division to get into the playoffs.

 

 

In 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008, I would agree that we really went for it (as much as possible) to win those seasons, although if you'll recall, the big moves those seasons were adding Blum and Griffey, Jr. Injuries killed us in 2001, 2004 and 2007, and chemistry/clubhouse issues were the biggest issue in 2002 with Lofton/Jimenez/Lee/Ordonez/Thomas.

 

This might turn out to be another 2004, when injuries/youth/inexperience derail our chances, but we add a few pieces to the puzzle (like Garcia and Contreras back then) and position ourselves for this year and beyond, like the Peavy trade theoretically would have done.

 

We do have the pitching to compete (2nd in the AL), which is a lot easier as a starting point than adding higher OPS hitters. The problem is that 1B/DH/LF types are pretty easy to find or acquire, it's finding someone for CF and 2B/3B that has proven to be a huge challenge for KW, particularly CF.

 

It seems for the moment we're set with Beckham at either 3B or 2B...the only question is do we replace a rookie (Getz) who seems to be playing better recently or a CF platoon that will be forever limited (but perhaps the harder of the two positions to find someone)?

 

Hopefully Konerko/Thome/AJ/Dye will remember 2006 when KW asked them if the team needed additional reinforcements and they said no...this year, it's quite obvious where the needs are.