As I watched Flowers hit the grand slam, I thought to myself........"the torch is being passed" The future might be bright.

Unless Flowers has an awful spring training next year, I don't see Castro being the #2 catcher in 2012. I'd love to see Viecedo and De Aza a lot more next year too.

_________________
"Why do so many people need help? Life's not that complicated. You get up, go to work, eat three meals, take one good s***, and go back to bed. What's the f***ing mystery?" - George Carlin - Complaints & Grievances

Will he be assuming resident douchebag duties as well or is he just going to be the catcher?

_________________
That's my purse! I don't know you!

If AJ were not 5/10 guy, I would say trade him. I can't see AJ accepting a trade. DeAzza has played well, but I highly doubt he can keep it going over 162 games. THere is a reason he has never stuck in the big leagues. That being said, it is pretty clear that it is the end of the line for some mainstays on the South Side. Buehrle and Quentin will likely be gone. If they can convince AJ to agree to a trade, he may be gone as well. It would not suprise me to see Danks dealt in the offseason. Maybe see if whoever takes Danks will take Rios as well. That may lessen the package you get for Danks, but if someone takes on that contact, fine by me. Pierre is also gone. I would also not be shocked to see Thorton moved. He makes decent money and you can get something for him. Your 2012 White Sox.....?
OF-Viciedo, DeAzza, Coco Crip (free agent to be, Kenny has wanted him for years)
IF-Morel, Ramirez, Beckham,Konerko
DH-Dunn
C-Flowers
SP-Peavy,Floyd,Sale,Stewert,TBA
RP-Santos, Crain, Humber.....????

_________________
"YOU GOTTA BE BLEEPING ME"

I promise you AJ will make this situation uncomfortable if he feels threatened by Flowers. He should be someone the Sox are looking to reduce payroll with during the off season.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Flowers and Viciedo definitely need to get a lot of time next year.

De Aza not so much. He is one of those guys that will be a nice role player, but if you give him a full time gig you will see that is not that good.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I agree with this. AJ always has a chip on his shoulder when he feels he is not being appreciated. That being said with the backloaded deal, I see it difficult to move him since catcher is not a valued position for a poor defensive catcher who can hit singles.

I thought the same thing when they signed him in the off season Vince. Then I saw guys like Buck and a few others getting similar contracts.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Buck is also 4 years younger with less mileage and hits double digit homers. (818 total games vs nearly 1500 for AJ). AJ has had declining power stats the last few seasons. Both are similar defensively.

Way to small of a sample size to declare the position his. He needs one more year as a backup. Flowers has looked very good and fallen apart before, which he is just now recovering from. Not saying he isn't going to be good and this isn't exciting but he needs to do this for some time longer.

Hopefully AJ realizes his career is coming to a close and he treats Flowers better than he has treated other young backups. Flowers is already talking about looking forward to serving as his backup, which might be paying lip service to AJ.

_________________
" THis poster said it's 90% that Bernstein goes national. He put a percentage on it. " - Beardown

well, the good part is that he has already gained the confidence of the pitchers and is not the mess defenisvely he was originally billed to be. You can live with a catcher hitting .240 if he can play defense and has a little pop. I think Flowers can fit that bill today. He strikes out a lot, but he also has and always has had a good eye with a high OBP.

The real key is for Morel to develop. I don't denigrate what he has done this year. He needs to draw more walks and hit for more power next year.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I think Morel will be fine. One of our favorite grinders at 3rd looked even worse behind the plate when he first started playing with the Sox (at least that is how I remember it).

_________________
" THis poster said it's 90% that Bernstein goes national. He put a percentage on it. " - Beardown

Does Flowers have a good arm? I could stand him being a .240 guy, but if he can hold runners at first with the possibility of throwing them out, it would take a lot of pressure off the pitching staff.
Whenever AJ has thrown someone out, my first reaction is that the runner probably had a bad jump and might have fallen down.

_________________
RFDC thinks I'm retarded.

De Aza = Dewayne Wise

I've wanted AJ gone for a couple of years now. He doesnt bring anything that Flowers cant bring.

My fingers are crossed on Dunn retiring.

Where does Viciedo play everyday? isnt he a DH?

Who plays RF everyday if Quentin is dealt?

Rios?

Will Beckham or Morrel hit?


Baseball in chicago looks bad for the next few years.

Why would Dunn retire?

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

An acute attack of extreme shame and guilt.

_________________
1923-1927-1928-1932-1936-1937-1938-1939
1941-1943-1947-1949-1950-1951-1952-1953
1956-1958-1961-1962-1977-1978-1996-1998
1999-2000-2009
----------
XXI - XXV - XLII - XLVI

I'm not sure if you're referring to Ventura or Crede, but they were both pretty damn bad and allowed to work out there hitting. I think it at least has a bit to do with both being solid with the leather, as is Morel.

_________________
1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

We are talking BASEBALL players here!!!!

_________________
There goes one over the fence..Tru Link Fence..Beauty, Privacy Security....Call Tru Link.
Murph's Union 76 Truck Stop....A great Thanksgiving Tradition!!!!

WOO LIFE!!!!

I think you may be wrong about that. If A.J. were told that he would be splitting time at the catcher positin with Flowers (50/50 or 60/40) I think he would want to be dealt, rather than spending the final year of his deal as a part time player who would be likely to see his value decrease as a result of accumulating very modest stats in a walk year. Better to go elsewhere so he can play most every day and position himself for 1 last contract with decent compensation.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

If he is here, Ozzie will sit him against lefties. That still probably leaves him with 65% of the at bats.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.