Baseball: What was the best move in the off-season

[KIG1]

I got a few moves that are going to help out the teams.

1. The free-agent signing of Juan Encarnacion to the Cardinals. Look how good all the new players always play for cards. Pujols is playing his best baseball with the cardinals along with Edmonds.

2. Josh Beckett going to the Red Sox. I think he will reach full potential in Bean town.

3. Alfonso Soriano to the Nats. I dont care what position he will play, he'll help the team out

[Cable]

How about Johnny Damon?

[KIG1]

How about Johnny Damon?

Yeah I guess Damon was a huge pick-up. But I don't see him doin much for the yankees

[dada]

Yall forgot to mention the resigning of Konerko. That was huge for the White Sox and also that they added a new big bat in Jim Thome.

[KIG1]

you know your right, but Thome isn't the biggest signing

Konerko was HUGE though.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Alfonso Soriano to the Nats. I dont care what position he will play, he'll help the team out

I doubt that. Going from Ameriquest to the wasteland that is the RFK his numbers will go down. Not to mention he is a butcher in the field.

[KIG1]

man that shit is overated

[Cable]

What, defense? How dare you, defense wins championships

[KIG1]

What, defense? How dare you, defense wins championships

No im talkin about the ballpark

[air gordon]

i think Thome's acquisition was the best so far

He fills the Sox need for some more pop in their lineup, especially from the left side of the plate. He'll step into the DH role, which was vacated by Everett and Big Frank's departures

And the Sox didn't sacrifice any of their starting pitching to get him. Rowand is a great clubhouse guy but his skills can be replaced. Anderson and Owens are amongst the best outfielders in the minor leagues

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Rowand is a great clubhouse guy but his skills can be replaced. Anderson and Owens are amongst the best outfielders in the minor leagues

Good luck trying to defend the title with Anderson and Podsednic as outfielders... Thank God Jermaine is still around...

[The Other Kevin]

Yeah, Podsenic was only their leadoff and starring centerfielder last year.

[air gordon]

Rowand is a great clubhouse guy but his skills can be replaced. Anderson and Owens are amongst the best outfielders in the minor leagues

Good luck trying to defend the title with Anderson and Podsednic as outfielders... Thank God Jermaine is still around...

thanks

the starting pitching is the meal ticket, (which actually got stronger with the acquisition of Javier Vasquez) lol not the outfielders.

Though I'm also glad that Dye is still around. With Thome's bat in the lineup, Dye can slide back to the 5th spot. What a great luxury it is to have a 31HR guy hitting 5th

and otherKevin- Scott Pods played left field

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

the starting pitching is the meal ticket, (which actually got stronger with the acquisition of Javier Vasquez) lol not the outfielders.

Agreed. probably the deepest rotation in baseball. The bullpen is not on the same level, though...

Scottie is fun to watch... He flies all over the place... steal bases, chases fly balls... he's got the heart... He's no Ichiro, but he'll do.


As far as Thome is concerned, he'll be huge if he can stay healthy. If he can't play 100 games, well, it's Thomas all over again.

The only problem with the Chi Sox' offseason moves is that the payroll got bloated big time. El Duque and Rowand left for the mammoth contracts of Vazquez and Thome... But hey, I'm not paying teh wages.


I actually like the Cubbies more than the Sox ( after all, theirs is the only curse still standing... ) but I appreciate both Chicago baseball teams.

[air gordon]

yep strong starting pitching. sure the bullpen isn't on the same level but it is playoff tested

Just as long as Scotty Pods is getting on base & stealing them plus providing adequate defense, the left fielder will fine

As far as the payroll, it was inevitable it was going to increase. Baseball's salary system is very flawed since there is no salary cap. The only way to hang with the top teams is to have a big market payroll like them. I'm glad that Reinsdorf gave GM Kenny Williams the ok to spend the big bucks

lol no surprise yet another guy who prefers the Cubs to the Sox. The Lovable losers they really are

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Baseball's salary system is very flawed since there is no salary cap. The only way to hang with the top teams is to have a big market payroll like them. I'm glad that Reinsdorf gave GM Kenny Williams the ok to spend the big bucks

As long as Jerry does not turn into George ( you know who... ), it's OK. And given Jerry's track record with the Bulls, I don't think that's possible.

no surprise yet another guy who prefers the Cubs to the Sox. The Lovable losers they really are

Well, true. But their starting pitching is almost equal to the Sox, if they manage to stay healthy for a change. If they had managed to pull off that 3 team deal that would have gotten them Tejada for Kerry Wood, they'd be set.

[KIG1]

You also gotta look at another big acusition of Delgado to the Mets. He played good in florida and will provide more power to the mets who didn't really have a great power hitter in thier line-up last year. Delgado+Beltran will make a good 3-4 hitting combo.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Delgado+Beltran will make a good 3-4 hitting combo.

True. Floyd id in there as well. But Beltran must play better than he did in 05 to justify that contract of his. Mets are way thinner in the rotation though, with Benson and Seo gone.

[air gordon]

Well, true. But their starting pitching is almost equal to the Sox, if they manage to stay healthy for a change. If they had managed to pull off that 3 team deal that would have gotten them Tejada for Kerry Wood, they'd be set

.

LOL Dwever- That's a BIG IF. The only reliable stud is Zambrano.

Wood and Prior have yet to have a full season injury free. Actually as of now, Wood is a $10 million reliever

Maddux is fading and Joe nobody 1 & 2 fill out the 4th and 5th spots of the rotation.

there's always an excuse coming from the North Side

As long as Jerry does not turn into George ( you know who... ), it's OK. And given Jerry's track record with the Bulls, I don't think that's possible.

lol is that a shot at Reinsdorf? Get your facts straight. don't mistaken Reinsdorf the owner of the Sox with Reinsdorf the owner of the Bulls. take a look at his track record in baseball.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

don't mistaken Reinsdorf the owner of the Sox with Reinsdorf the owner of the Bulls. take a look at his track record in baseball.

As long as he sees the same face in the mirror everyday, he's the same man.

Oh, and I hope you do not consider becoming a Steinbrenner a good thing for the team or the sport.

[air gordon]

I'll just take that response as you have no clue that Reinsdorf has different approaches in owning the Bulls and Sox

I would have no problem with Reisndorf becoming Steinbrenner. Fight fire with fire lol

It seems that you were implying Reinsdorf isn't willing to spend the money. But whatever, if i'm going to get another Michael Jackson's man in the mirror response, I'll just pass

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Whatever works for him, I guess...

Oh, and becoming a Steinbrenner involves overpaying for aged veterans and amassing a ton of bombers in your squad, not caring about defense, contact hitting etc.

Ia m not imllyingm i am saying that no sane man in this world can spend the money George does. For crying out loud, the Yankees are the most recognizable franchise in all of sports, they do reasonably good every year and still they are on the red every year.

[KIG1]

steinbrener doesnt sign consistent players

jared wright
tony womack
Carl Pavano
Jeff Weaver

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

steinbrener doesnt sign consistent players

jared wright
tony womack
Carl Pavano
Jeff Weaver

Pavano, 10 mil per... That's what is ruining sports...

Randy Jouhnson give a 45 million dollar contract at teh age of 40... Jason Giambi earning 17 mil per.. this is just atrocious.

[air gordon]

Whatever works for him, I guess...

Oh, and becoming a Steinbrenner involves overpaying for aged veterans and amassing a ton of bombers in your squad, not caring about defense, contact hitting etc.

Ia m not imllyingm i am saying that no sane man in this world can spend the money George does. For crying out loud, the Yankees are the most recognizable franchise in all of sports, they do reasonably good every year and still they are on the red every year.

k glad that's cleared up now

I don't think Reinsdorf will ever venture into Steinbrenner territory but he has given the OK to Kenny Williams to take some risks on vets in the past few years. Some good, some bad:
signed Orlando Hernandez
traded Esteban Loiza for Jose Contreras
traded for Carl Everett and Roberto Alomar 2yrs in a row
traded Foulke for Billy friggin' Koch!
traded RBI machine Carlos Lee for Scotty Pods