= 20/20 of course..

who trades crede at that point without an adequate backup? Definitely not a guy who's looking to keep his job. Everyone throws tank penetrating stones at kenny williams the second he presses the button on that trade. I guess you can say that the sox probably knew back then that he would have priced himself out (of what the sox were willing to afford) down the line since he's a boras client, but as far as the best window to trade him, that's hard to predict going forward especially since they did well in 2006. Obviously once fields rose to league, now you have a capable option to fill in.

I'd say alot of the 'little' things like trading for carl freakin everette 3 times, and offering arb to some of the guys leaving and not recieving extra draft picks for a farm system that truly needed it as a sign of the real problem.  I also think that you use a farm to get better at the major league level and that is it. Whether it's bringing them up (which hasn't worked well recently for various reasons) or trading them away to achieve desired major league talent. I could care less how many titles charlotte wins.. its the major leagues I care about. I am frustrated by the real disconnect between ozzie and kenny with relation to which players kenny makes available and how ozzie plays them. You definitely haven't seen the last of owens. Remember Mackoviak in center while B.A. was playing very well out there defensively? Remember those singles/doubles turned into doubles/triples? Remember when even though the sox had a very good offensively output that year, ozzie decided to religiously plug the likes of mackoviak and pods in left. Instead of putting BA in center and maybe mack in left where he's decent, ozzie just kept prolonging the oppositions rallies by spitting in that defensive black hole in center. That was probably a vital reason the sox lose out on the playoffs in 2006.

If the sox sign a decent 5th starter to compete and add some innings if the kids falter, someone like lieber on a 1 year deal/or trade for one of the cubs young pitchers like angel guzman (who may be blocked), I'd consider this a successful offseason. To most of you who thinks the sox have NO CHANCE AT ALL to be competitive in 2008 or in the near term, I'd have to respectfully disagree. Mark my words, the sox will be dangerous. Sure, the moves could definitely backfire, but they could also just dominate as well.

The dumb linebrink signing aside, that bullpen will be much better. Floyd pitches very well in 2008. He'll surprise many people. If danks lowers his homer totals given up and lower his walk total, he'll do more than adequate. He's always adjusted to his league. He needs to put guys away better and control his fastball/change up. Everybody seems to be all on Gio, but as some people point out, he's not as cut out as egbert would be playing half his games at the cell. I think someone like egbert will be a garland or even a buerhle-like presence in the rotation. Solid. I can't see contreras being any worse than last year. My prediction as of today: The sox contend most of the year for the division. They end up with the wildcard battling the indians. I think the indians take a step back. They're very good in 2008 but missing the playoffs. Color me optimistic :)

I think that's one of the biggest problems the sox have is the manager himself. I'm not an ozzie basher. I just think the GM and the manager are 2 separate pages on many fronts. With the way ozzie uses his players, outside of 2005 and early 2006, I cant say he's done alot to "win" the game for the sox with his decision making. On the other hand, he's done alot of questionable things to facilitate a sox loss. The players play, but the manager controls when the players play. The ross glad era, the B.A..mack debacle, etc.. I like his no-nonsense style and he;s a colorful guy, but I would love to see some uniform direction in the decision making on how the players should be used.  It's like the bears when they throw those silly laterals to hester on offense. Whoever keeps pressing the button that play should be fired.

hahaha exactly that some funny shit

Anyone think B.A. gone somewhere? Anyone want him?
Damn, if he could just shorten that swing..
To bad mr. pull happy is his hitting instructor. I hope mr. walker isnt the common denominator of the collective offensive funk the sox were in last year.  
If so, it's an even dumber move for the GM to not find a better hitting instructor. I might have trouble picturing chris young having the same type of success he had last year with the sox.

i take on GMJr is if theyre giving me figgins or kendrick with him.  not a chance i take on sarge and a bullpen arm for konerko.  GMJr's numbers are pretty bad from what i can remember.