bighurt

If the cubs took a shot at anyone, they'd likely miss. Their track record isn't too good. With Wood rehabbing, Miller rehabbing, Prior injury prone and Maddux pushing 100 years old, the cubs have a shot at the "simulated-game" World Series.

They may try to trade Contreras now. They implied either Garland or Contreras would get traded, depending on who's agent worked to get a deal done. At least we know how old Garland is. With Contreras, you have to cut him open and count the rings, like a tree. Can't trust Cuban birth certificates. I think they learned their lesson from the Konerko deal. It's better to lock them up earlier rather than later. You take a risk, but life's full of them.

He wanted to test the free agent market. Maybe he got an inkling and decidedto re-sign. In the past he would pitch real well except for one horrible inning per game, usually built around walks. It could backfire on us, but maybe he's just growing into a real good pitcher. He's still young, and hasn't been injured. I think it's a good deal for the White Sox. If he builds on what he did last year, 12 mil will look like peanuts three years from now.

I'm a White Sox fan, and I think Garland is going to be a real good pitcher for a long time. His problem in year's past had been one big inning (usually involving walks). He pitch lights out for 6 out of 7 innings, but that one inning would kill him. I think the "walks trending downward" thing is a sign of the future, not a fluke. He's been around a few years, but he's still young. I think you'd like him. I'm not sure why we don't hang on to him, in fact. I'd be more inclined to let Contreras leave, but I think Kenny fears that Garland is going to want to break the bank.

They are putting the pressure on the agents for Contreras and Garland. Both of them (I believe) are up for arbitration. One of them will likely be signed, one will be dealt (likely). McCarthy will get the open spot. From everything I hear in Chicago, it sounds like Garland wants to try free agency, so maybe he'll get shipped out. Mackowiak will be this year's Geoff Blum, except with a better bat. He'll be the guy that plays when they want to rest virtually anybody, so he'll probably play 120 games this year. I've heard a rumor that they may package whoever doesn't sign (Garland / Contreras) and Uribe for Tejada from Baltimore. If they pull that off, then they've got Tejada, Thome, Konerko, Dye in the same lineup, and Brian Anderson can get acclimated to major league pitching with no pressure. Just catch the ball in centerfield.

They traded away 2 pitching prospects, but not necessarily the top ones. Their starting 5 will be Buerhle, Garland, Contreras, Garcia, McCarthy (not necessarily that order). The bullpen is all back (unless they trade Marte). Contreras is the only older guy on the starting staff. So there's not a lot of room for a prospective starter to pitch on the rotation. If someone goes down, they'll put in Hernandez. Their pitching was oustanding last year, they needed to upgrade their offense, which I believe they did (Thome vs Everett). So they gave up MINOR-LEAGUE starting pitching.

The White Sox are looking at next year. Thome replaces Carl Everett, not Konerko. If Konerko does leave, then they can use Thome at first. They have 3 prospects in the outfield that they are trying to find spots for. Rowand was going to be due bigger money soon, while Anderson and the other prospects are still relatively cheap. They gave up no starting pitching, so I'm happy with the move. I've got to give Kenny Williams the benefit of the doubt, because he has a proven track record. How many people last year would have had the stones to trade Carlos Lee for Scot Podsednik, and that worked out well. How many teams wanted Contreras last year, and how many want him now ?? He got Uribe from Colorado (I think) for a bag of baseballs (a couple years ago), and how many teams would want him now ?? Got Iguchi for relative peanuts (2 mil) and that was a good move. Widger came from an unaffiliated league (read "not even associated with a major league team"), and he's been a solid player. The Giants had no need for a guy like Pierzynski, probably because they don't want hard-nosed players, but Kenny Williams did. World Series MVP Jermaine Dye was basically begging for a job, and Williams picked him up when anyone could have had him. I am inclined to give Kenny Williams the benefit of the doubt. He and his staff had done a tremendous job of giving us a chance to repeat, not giving up starting pitching, and leaving us well-positioned for the future. Hail Kenny ! ! ! ! !

I think the key for my White Sox is to get a couple runs early, so the starters don't try to get super-fine with their accuracy. That's when they leave balls over the plate. I have a feeling that Iguchi is going to have a big series.

Red Sox fans must be nappin'. See you White Sox fans tomorrow. Maybe we can get this board reworked. The name "Talksox" is OK, just need to change the colors of the borders, stick up the White Sox logo, stuff like that. Oh well, gotta leave work.

Harrelson is not one of our best. The radio guys, in particular John Rooney, are way better. However, in the world of "homers" in the booth, no one beat Jack Brickhouse for the cubs. Rooney is leaving after this year, look for him on a national stage. He's real good, and we'll miss him. Farmer's a little below average, Rooney made him sound good.

Alright, Podsednik20 and TheeSox, should we ban Manny Goes Boom ??? All in favor post AYE.

It now appears that two White Sox fans have assumed control of the Red Sox board. YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD ..................YES !

I'm just trying to stir the pot, get some people foaming at the mouth, that kind of thing. What's the point of having a message board if you can't get people worked up ??

Look, we haven't paid anybody off in baseball for over 85 years. Ok so there was that one little indiscretion in 1919, coulda happened to anybody. I know in the (un)glory years of the 70's, we would have been happy if anyone paid for our players ..... mobsters, owners, whatever.

Red Ruffing 15 is absolutely right. It was a smart play. If the ump doesn't CALL you out (not waving his arms or doing a dance.... actually CALLing you out), I suspect you're not out. If the catcher thinks strike three means an out, then he's assuming something. I tried to find something in the rules on MLB.com, but couldn't find anything that addressed whether or not the umpire has to say "you're out". I did like how Josh Paul implied that he knew the ump signaled out, even though the ump was behind him. Here's your conspiracy theory .....Graffanino was a former White Sox.......Josh Paul was a former White Sox...... any connection ???