OK KW.....you get a B+ for this year. A nice turn around after the disasster of 07. Other than Swish, most of the offseason moves were hits (even Dotel had his moments, they dont win the division w/o him). Now what...? Obviously this team has to get younger and faster. With drug testing, the trend towards contact/speed teams is back. Baseball is starting to look like it was during the 80s.

What will be out there free agent wise? Is there anyone that fits the mold of what the Sox need (CF or middle infielder with speed)? They have some chips to work with--Dye, Thome, Konerko, and Javy would all interest several teams.

Javy has to be moved. Believe it or not, some pitching coach will think he can fix him. Just like Cooper thought he could. Get whatever you can for him. Eat some of his salary for 09 if you have to.

The conventional wisdom is to trade Thome or Konerko. But, I do not think they will get much for either. You might be able to get something for Dye. If Carlos is going to be back at full strength, Dye is expendible. I think a package like Dye and Lance Broadway would garner a lot of interest.

Swish has to go. Reading between the lines in the papers, he seems to be in Ozzie's doghouse. If he would be happy being a 4th outfielder and ocassional spot firstbaseman, fine. But, he seems to be a pouter. Send him to a NL team desperate for some pop.

Get it done Kenny....

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"YOU GOTTA BE BLEEPING ME"

Everybody says this team is old. Not really.

Danks and Floyd are young and will be a good 1-2 next year. Buehlre is gonna be 30. Still in his prime. Jenks is young. Ramirez and Quentin are your 2 best offesnive guys. They are 26 and 28. Dye is gettin up there but he'll have another good year next year. He's only 33. Last year of his deal next year. AJ is 32. He'll be back and have another decent year.

Ramirez will go to short next year. OC is gone. We need a 2nd baseman. Hopefully that guy is a lead off man (Maybe it's that kid we drafted out of Georgia). KW will try to trade Konerko. Konerko might waive his no trade if it's to a West Coast team. Swisher will go to 1st base. We'll need to find a center fielder.

So we need to get a center fielder, a 2nd baseman and a 3rd baseman. Maybe the 3rd baseman is Josh Fields. Hopefully that 2nd baseman or centerfielder that KW gets is a good lead off man.

We need to get another bullpen guy too.

By the way, I think Clayton Richard will be our 5th starter next year. I like that kid. He's got a shot. Contreras won't be back until late August or September. His injury takes a year to heal.

I say try and trade Dye, Konerko and/or Thome for some speed, better defense and a younger guy. A lead off man if you can. I know Thome and Konerko have "no trade clauses". Not sure about Dye.

Even though i dread another offseason saying this name, but, how about Brian Roberts?

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"Someone put too many farts in this engine! It's about to explode!" - Tracy Jordan

What about Getz @ 2nd?

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Paws Up

Things you don't control:
1) Thome's option kicked in making him practically un-movable so he stays. Anyway he's your lefty power which has value.
2) Someone will give Uribe a multi year deal to play 3B, so he gone.
3) OC will get overpaid, so he gone.
4) Crede will get a multi year deal, so he gone.
Things you control:
1) Junior's buy out @ $4 mil - do it! he gone
2) Toby Hall option - keep him

3) Javy will have big value on the trade market due to his strikeout numbers, but he has a limited no trade which allows for trades to east coast teams only. Best trade partners as I see it would be Milwaukee with JJ hardy or Weeks as a centerpiece or Boston (where he'd be their 4th starter) for Coco Crisp & Lugo's bad contract.
4) trade Dye to a power starved team like San diego or San Fran for a pitcher like Young or Cain (if you can get them). His market value will be less than Javy since guys like Manny, Ibanez, Burrell, Dunn & Bradley are all available as FA's

Here is your potential 2009 line up
1) CF - Coco Crisp
2) SS - Lugo
3) LF - CQ
4) DH -Thome
5) 1B- Konerko
6) C - AJ
7) 2B - Alexei
RF - Swish
9) 3B - Fields
with
Buehrle
Cain
Danks
Floyd
Richards/Contreras

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

For whatever it's worth, Cowley was on 670 this morning and what I can remember (caffiene hadn't kicked in yet) of his take was...

1. Crede, Cabrera, Griffey are gone.
2. Sox would explore moving Konerko (arizona or angels were his guess)
3. Vasquez would be back as an inning eating 4th/5th starter. He's better than a lot of teams 4th/5th.
4. Uribe will be back unless some team like Cincy offers him starting job.
5. Toby Hall will be back as inexepensive backup that the pitchers like.
6. Thome will be back with his option guaranteed, although Phillies pay about 5 of the 11 million.

I'm sure you'd like that as a Red Sox fan.

People have gone way overboard on Javy. There were times this year where he was the best pitcher on this staff. Last year he was the best pitcher on the staff.

He had a bad period when he was needed most. O.K. So he is not an ace. He is still an average to good pitcher at a reasonable salary and signed for two more years.

When you think about this logically, if the Sox moved him they would need two starters this off season. They will not find two people of equal or greater ability who would sign for equal or less money. Even if you gamble with Clayton Richard as a starter, you would be crazy to not sign a veteran 6th starter to back him up in case the plan goes horribly wrong.

I think Javy Vazquez is spanish for Jon Garland.

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

Jon Garland came up big in the postseason. Javy had 4 big starts in a row that he completely shit the bed. Not even talking about getting the loss, but not even keeping his team in the game. If the Sox are in a playoff race next season, can they rely on Javy to give them a quality start? I think the answer is a resounding no. Sure, he may throw some gems in May and June against the Indians and Mariners, but he showed that he can't take the pressure of a big game. As far as being the best pitcher on a 90 loss team, tallest midget.

Sox need to get more speed. They have to be able to go 1st to 3rd, and score from 2nd. Homers are good, but they can't depend on them. Pitching, defense, and the ability to manufacture a run when needed is what worked in '05. They need a true leadoff man and at least one other true base stealing threat. Wise and Swisher are not everyday outfielders. If they can get that true leadoff guy, I'd love to see Brian Anderson as the everyday CF. Everyone in that lineup who's name is not Carlos Quentin needs to work at bunting next spring.

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I was just reflecting the anger of the white sox nation
I do think that in order to retool the top of the line up the White Sox will have give up something of value - which might be Javy
If KW can get both a SS/2B and a CF (one of them has to be the leadoff man) on the FA market or in a trade involving either Konerko or Dye than he should keep Javy.

I'm sure that you can probably get Brain Roberts, but the Orioles will ask for either Danks or Floyd as the centerpiece.

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

You did not learn this year that every single game matters?

He had a shit September. I'd have to take a look but I think he had a great August, including an AL pitcher of the week award.

As you can see from Mustang's thoughts, there would be many other teams who will be expecting to make playoff runs next year who will be more than happy to take him off our hands. I'm not dealing unless something very good is offered.

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

1. Deprogram Jim Thome. Have him make an adjustment to hit the ball to the left side. If I have to watch him ground into another 300 outs because of the shift I may kill someone.
2. Release Toby Hall (sign Bard or Barajas)
3. Do not resign Uribe. (Getz will be Util IF)
4. Trade Jermaine Dye. It kills me to say this but something has to be done and he has the most trade value. Move Quentin to RF, Swish to left and Anderson in center. It's time for him to get 500 AB's
5. Sign a veteran 5th starter/long man (Rodrigo Lopez, Mark Hendrickson). Give Richard every chance to win the job but have a fall back just in case.
6. Move Ramirez to SS and trade for a stop gap 2B. Beckham will be ready in 2010 so a trade for a free-agent to be would be perfect. Freddy Sanchez, Jose Lopez, Clint Barmes.
7. Trade for Chone Figgins.

1. Figgins 3B
2. Sanchez 2B
3. Quentin RF
4. Thome DH
5. Konerko 1B
6. Ramirez SS
7. Swisher LF
8 AJ C
9. Anderson CF

Buehrle
Vazquez
Danks
Floyd
Richard

He was 3-3 in Aug but did have the 2 awesome starts against KC & Oak for 16 innings and 1 ER

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Paws Up

K-dub has tried to get Chone for 3 years now - why would the Angels give him up?

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

I think the Tigers are old and won't be good again next year. Plus, they have a long way to go to fix their pitching. Sox have good starting pitching for next year. It will be the best in the division again.

Indians will be tough. Twins will be there again. Royals will continue to suck.

Brandon Wood can play third. They have Kendrick at 2B, Aybar at SS and Maicer Izturiz at util. The Angels can trade for Dye, move Vlad to DH and have an OF of Matthews, Hunter and Dye. I also think they will resign Texiera. Anderson ($12.6 mil), Garland ($12 mil) K-Rod ($10 mil) and Rivera ($2 mil) are free agents. Figgins made $4.75 mil last season and is arbitration eligible this season. He is a free agent in 2010.

2008 AL Central ERA
1) White Sox 4.06
2) Twins 4.16
3) Indians 4.45
4) Royals 4.48
5) Tigers 4.90

Unless Danks & Floyd regress in '09, the Sox will contend regardless of who the CF & SS/2B are.
As Ozzie said when he asked KW for more horses "you can't win the Kentucky Derby with a bunch of donkeys", and Danks & Floyd ain't no burro's.

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

None of the guys you mention are a leadoff hitter.
Chone had a .367 OBP Kendrick had .333
The Angels can let Anderson walk and sign Ibanez or Milton Bradley in his place for similar coin without giving Chone away.

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

I was thinking Aybar could leadoff. I know he hasn't shown in the bigs but he had a couple good OBP years in the minors. Figgins is a free agent after this season so I'm hoping the Angels don't see him in their long-term plans and are willing to move him.

Seems like a lock that Orlando Hudson will be the Sox starting 2nd baseman next year. Kenny always gets locked in on certain guys he wants and ends up finding a way to get them. I think depending on what he decides to do with Swisher and Brian Anderson, he might make a run to sign Rocco Baldelli too.

I still think Kenny should shop Jenks. I believe he's arbitration eligible this season, and I think it's a good time to "sell" on his stock. Don't know if Thornton has what it takes to close, but Jenks velocity was down this season, you're going to have to pay him a lot of money in arbitration, and I think Milwaukee and the Mets (assuming they don't sign K-Rod) would be able to entice you with something (perhaps a CF?).

I think next year's lineup looks like this:

3B Figgins
2B Hudson
LF Quentin
DH Thome
RF Dye
1B Konerko
SS Rameriez
C AJ
CF Anderson

You mean like Hunter, Rowand, Fukodome...
Trades yes - kenny get's them done.
Free agents no - Other than Linebrink can't think of another top tier FA he's landed. (and no, Alexei wasn't a top tier FA, he was a prospect)

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

Trading Jenks may be the dumbest idea I have seen so far. There are about 5 good closers in the game and you have one, you dont give him up and roll the dice on Thorton.

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"YOU GOTTA BE BLEEPING ME"

Yeah, thats moronic. Maybe Jenks can't hit 100 on the gun anymore, but he has much better command of his breaking stuff now than he did in '05. Jenks is an all star type close, and unless you are going to get a Grady Sizemore or Evan Longoria type back for him, you do not even entertain the idea of trading him.

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We've all heard so much about Brian Anderson being the best defensive centerfielder on this roster, but his bat has been very limited. I want to see more of B.A. in center next season, along with Jerry Owens in a platoon situation. Both of those guys have a good glove & speed to boot. The infield will look a lot different next season I believe. Joe Crede, Orlando Cabrera & Juan Uribe will all be gone, and most believe Alexei Ramirez will shift from second base to shortstop. While I think #10 should remain at second, I believe Alexei's glove, speed & bat could remain on the South side for a very long time. The scoop is that the Sox want the Angels' Chone Figgins to play third, but I'm not so sure he'll get #9 in silver & black, as I believe that number has long since been retired in honor of Minnie Minoso. The Sox are also said to be very interested in Orlando Hudson from the D'Backs to become the everyday second baseman next year. Then again, I want to see more of Chris Getz, and he could very well be groomed for Alexei's current position next year. The real problem? The ineffective Javy Vazquez & Mike MacDougal plus the injured Jose Contreras are owed about $12 million in '09. I don't think you can get a 6 pack of Miller Lite for any of those disappointing pitchers.

I'm with GD on this one. I think a lot of teams would LOVE to have Vasquez. He picked a bad time to struggle but if the Sox didn't put themselves in that predicament he never would have started game 1. They couldn't take care of business during a 10 game road trip or the final homestand against Cleveland and it cost them dearly. They were spent after those 2 games on Monday and Tuesday and have no one to blame but themselves. I see Kenny addressing the lineup and doing very little with the pitching staff this offseason.

I understand, there was lots of blame to pass around during the final 2 weeks of September. Javy not only shit in the bed in the playoffs, he also shit the bed in NY, Minne, and against the Tribe. They win his start against the Twins or Indians, Sox probably clinch on Sunday and don't need game 163. I'm not even talking about him going out and throwing an 8 inning gem. He couldn't even keep his team in the game. Got blown out 4 starts in a row in September. He did have some good games during the season, but so far he is small game Javy, and pitched just as such 4 big starts in a row. I do not think he can be trusted in a big game should the Sox find themselves in a playoff chase in '09.

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Konerko, Dye and Thome.

I'm absolutly certain 1 or 2 of these guys will be traded. All 3 have "no trade" clause but KW will send them some where they will agree to. Kenny will get something good back. He'll get a fast lead off man.

They all have value. A few teams will want one of these guys. Thome and Dye were 30/90 guys. Konerko proved he can still play in the final 2 months of the season.

The best scenerio would be trading Thome and moving Dye to DH.

KW will try to trade Swisher if he can but you won't get much back for him.

Javy Vazquez can't be trusted! He & his fat salary in 2009, Frank, need to be moved in the offseason! There's also talk Clayton Richard could be penciled in for the #5 spot in the starting rotation when the Sox head to Arizona for Spring Training. Meanwhile, on Comcast SportsNet last night, FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal mentioned something about Jermaine Dye possibly having trade value...

3 little words The Flyin Hawaiin!

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

He's the only option on the current roster. Someone has to replace Contreras to start the year no matter what.

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Paws Up

Wait until you see what some of these guys sign for this off season before you call Javy's 2yr/$23 mil contract 'fat'. He has made at least 32 starts the last 8 seasons and pitched at least 200 innings in 7 of 8 (198 in '02). He's a valuable pitcher and I'd like to see him stay.