6 months of proposed roster constructions and trades that would never happen outside of an xbox

to see in person. Just as soon as the place would come to life, the Rays would add on another run. Nonetheless, after predicting a sub .500 season, I’ll take it.

Oh, and Juan for ARod, tat unclutch fuck.

We need some speed!

the Sox only win of the playoffs came when they played all small ball, something that people said they couldn’t win with. They hit four dongs the whole series, three of which were the solo variety. There’s already been much said about their lack of speed and there will be plenty more. The fact is, no one wins a playoff series when your two of your starters can’t go past 4 innings.

Get me a 4 starter (with Javy being gone) and some more speed!

the sox played meaningful october baseball, i attended two of the greatest sox games of my life (tuesday and sunday), and ssh got banned from sss. i’ll take it.

After the 6-2 loss to the Rays, general manager Ken Williams stopped at Swisher’s locker, gave him a hug and said, ‘’Come back next year and start all over again.’’

Swisher stepped back and looked away.

’’It’s always easier to start all over,’’ Swisher replied.

i’m gonna try and write some stuff this offseason and post if i can make up some time…woot

It’s always sad to realize that the trophy won’t be coming back home, but I feel pretty darn happy about this year regardless.

in the offseason. basically have the same view of the season as everyone else, so won’t reiterate. my best friend used to work with the guy that runs mlb trade rumors… if i hear anything, i’ll be sure to pass it along. glad i found this site, thanks for working so hard on it cheat.

David Aardsma lives in a cave and plays plays profesional cricket, water polo, curling, handball, ping pong, and fencing under other names.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Aardsma

its so fuckin bitchin.

officially google reader’d

The White Sox don’t have a real No. 1 starter, a guy who dominates teams on his good days and consistently beats them when he’s just all right. Buehrle is a winner but not an intimidator, an ideal No. 2 starter, maybe even No. 3. Danks (12-9) and Floyd (17-8) made huge strides in 2008 but still have some growing to do if they’re going to get there./blockquote>

I realize that “No. 1 starter” is ambiguous and that often people mean “ace” in the sense of Santana or Sabathia. But I have to say:

Danks had a 3.32 ERA (5th in the AL) in 195 innings, pitching in the Cell. Maybe he didn’t get deep enough in games, but please. That’s a fantastic year. I don’t know if he can do it again, but at least he’s done it once.

And Buehrle: 3.79 ERA, 18th in the AL (better than Josh Beckett!) 214 innings (again pitching in hitter-friendly park). Maybe he’s not a “No. 1” starter but let’s not go around thinking that kind of performance is what you should expect from the third slot in the rotation. Sheesh.

i think i would be ok with signing him. as long as he doesn’t OrCa, he could give us a solid 2 years of 2B while Beckham develops

Blake will be 36 next year and will be looking for one more good contract. I don’t think anything less than 2 years 16 million gets him here, and that is way too much. I would rather see that money go elsewhere.

Hudson would come expensive as well. I’m counting on KW seeing angles that non of us do (as usual) and finding cheaper solutions than these guys.

All I asked for pre-season was a more exciting team that the bag of wet fuck that was ’07. Well I got that, PLUS bonus games. Too many highlights to recount (emergence of Che, Q for examples), but Game 163 will NEVER be forgotten.

Thx to KennyGM , Ozzie, the players. Also thanks to Cheat (or whatever name he goes by now) for providing such a great site.

The White Sox added an identity to the team. I know it sounds superficial, but I think that will help with the offseason pickups. The White Sox looked like a close knit family this year, and if I was a pro I would want to be part of that group.

For awhile I was wondering if you had the stomach to keep going and though you would flame out ala Bat-Girl. It seems once you cleaned house it renewed your dedication and enthusiasm for the site (not that your Sox passion ever waned, but your commitment to the site did), and we are all the better for it.

Thanks again for giving us (me) the forum to connect with other idiots like me. This is approximately the 3rd best thing that awaits me every day, and I appreciate your work.

As one who thought they could be competitive coming into the season they exceeded my expectations. They added some good young players and have a solid starting point. Thank you Cheat and other mods for the forum.

Now begins or shortly after the complete season the time for the truly special on SSS. Any one want to take bets on who will be the first to “know” roster construction by the end of November?

Another thing, I think this season cemented KW and Ozzie as 2 of the Top 10 in their respective professions. Thank you for not listening KW and going for it this year.

General Soreness – MVP of the 2015 World Series.

Mark it, bitches!

brings up some interesting points re: strength of schedule etc.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/season-in-review-chicago-white-sox

Is a pretty good summary of how awful their Sox coverage has been.

Great season that exceeded even my far above average (for SSS at least) expectations.

I think 3B is Fields’ to lose and should be. I think if you have a chance to have a cheap average or even slightly below average 3B (offense and defense combined) for the next 4 years you simply have to completely explore that option.

However I agree we have to improve our deffense with OC gone. I like Mark Ellis if his medical reports from his offseason surgery are good. Because of the surgery, he will likely be able to be signed short term as we await the arrival of Beckham.

I’d be OK with trading JD as long as we get value in return. I’m also Ok with leaving the outfield as Q, Swish, Dye. And leaving Paulie and Thome where they are. Then in 2010 either JD or Thome goes with Paulie moving to DH and Swish to 1B.

My greatest concern though may be whether Alexei can effectively play SS. His advanced fielding metrics have been pretty bad at 2B.

By the way, I like the idea of trading JD for Adrian Beltre, who according to at least one fielding metric saved the most runs with his glove in all of baseball. His ballpark and fielding prowess make him underated even with his big contract. He is one guy that I would push Fields aside for.

Pos Players Avg OBP Slg OPS
1 Cabrera (128 G), Swisher (29 G) . .274 .339 .372 .711
2 Pierzynski (83 G), Cabrera (32 G) . .258 .301 .393 .694
3 Quentin (93 G), Thome (37 G), Dye (33 G) .265 .366 .512 .878
4 Dye (78 G), Konerko (48 G), Thome (35 G) .263 .346 .501 .846
5 Thome (67 G), Dye (34 G), Konerko (32 G) .281 .359 .548 .907
6 Konerko (41 G), Pierzynski (30 G), Crede (28 G) .233 .313 .384 .697
7 Swisher (56 G), Ramirez (40 G), Crede (20 G) .249 .328 .445 .773
8 Crede (41 G), Ramirez (31 G), Swisher (27 G) .268 .323 .491 .814
9 Uribe (70 G), Hall (28 G), Ramirez (26 G) .270 .311 .391 .703
  
                                                                                               Total .263 .332 .448 .780

Over the last six seasons I’ve attended 8-10 games a year and seen them lose exactly once before last night. It’s a lot more fun walking down those endless ramps with Sweet Home Chicago playing and a win under the belt. C’est la vie.

We’ll get ’em next year!

“We are a better team than they are,” Lackey said. “The last two days, we shouldn’t have given up anything. They scored three runs on a pop fly that was called a hit, which was a joke. They scored on a broken-bat ground ball and a fly ball that anywhere else in America is an out, and he’s fist-pumping on second base like he did something great.”

LA Times

I agree with you Joe on how the Sox need to get faster and younger. However, they shouldn’t get rid of them without some value back. Trade Javy, OC, and Thome to Padres for Peavy. If he’s healthy, he will be good. Secondly, trade Crede and Griffey to Angels for Figgins. He’s fast and still young. Trade PK and Uribe to Arizona for Hudson. That would be a good offseason. Plus, the Sox could take chance on Fukudome, now that Cubs are done with them, he could play Center, who knows, he could be better in AL, like Josh Hamilton.

Posted by: Jason | Oct 6, 2008 7:46:24 PM

They play like a slow team but they found that Danks,Floyd & Lincoln looked solid for the future …if we can somehow trade for R.Oslwalt or Peay + find out what do with Crede will be in good shape…Keep Dye!

Posted by: sportbandit | Oct 6, 2008 9:11:21 PM

Do we really think his career 655 OPS is the answer?

I like BA as 4th outfielder – he can defend all 3 positions well and this year has had a little bit of pop in his bat when pinch hitting.

He can’t get on base to save his life, which is the last thing this offense needs more of. BA in CF on a regular basis would be a disaster.

WOW, THAT’S GREAT THAT HE’S GOING TO BE READY AFTER THIS SERIES PROVIDED THE SOX ACTUALLY WIN THIS SERIES. SO WHAT GOOD IS HE TO THE TEAM AND FANS NOW? HOW BOUT HE TEACHES ALL TEAMMATES AND ALL FANS HOW TO BREAK YOUR WRIST WHILE GOING POSTAL AND HOLDING A BAT?

LOVE YOU QUENTIN, AND KNOW YOUR A GREAT ASSET TO THIS TEAM ONCE YOU LEARNT THAT LOUISVILLE SLUGGERS ARE STRONGER THAN YOUR WRIST OR ANYOTHER PART OF YOUR BODY.
Posted by: KEVIN JACOBSON | Oct 6, 2008 6:28:23 PM

But Dye would have to be moved for a solid middle infielder or a solid starter. Build the team around an average offense and good pitching and defense.

I thought this thread would be more of a “sign the guest book at the wake” type of thing. Instead it quickly turned into “ok, I buried my wife… now where’s that blond I saw earlier?” sentiment.

Too funny..

I’m trying to get an idea of which free agent pitchers will be available. I suppose know whether they are in the “A” or “B” pool would help.

Rays/White Sox

Hey, the White Sox hit two home runs and scored… two runs. For the series, they scored six of their 13 runs on homers, a near-perfect match for their in-season mark. In the four games, they had 22 singles, four doubles, and 10 walks. That’s not enough, not nearly enough. They got two good starts, and they needed more. The very simple formula that helped them win the Central broke down for a week.

The reaction to a team that relies on home runs the way that the Sox do is to say that they need to play more small ball, show the ability to manufacture runs, add speed, all the usual clichés. The Sox don’t necessarily need that. They do, however, need to diversify, and by that, I mean find any other offensive skill. Hit some singles, doubles, triples, draw some walks, steal some bases. The Sox are one-dimensional, and not in the good way that gets criticized by people who don’t understand that teams can score a lot of runs without channeling the 1909 Detroit Tigers, like, say, the early Billy Beane A’s. These White Sox don’t pair home runs with walks. They don’t pair them with anything, and they haven’t for some time. They have to diversify.

Knowing how baseball works, though, I’ll make this prediction: The White Sox will score fewer runs next season, have a lower EqA, use more small-ball tactics, and be praised for having a better offense.

The Rays just played better baseball. They didn’t do any one thing particularly well—although their bullpen was just a little ridiculous: 11 2/3 innings, 13 strikeouts, two walks, one run allowed. For four games, J.P. Howell and Grant Balfour looked for all the world like Norm Charlton and Rob Dibble at their 1990 peak. Dominating the Sox of a different color will be a more challenging task, but right now, this bullpen is as dangerous as that of the Angels’ team the Red Sox just dispatched, and perhaps more threatening for the presence of two good southpaws.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=8174