Have you lost faith in the White Sox?

Other than the outfield, infield, bench, starting rotation and bullpen, the Sox are ready to compete with the Angels, Red Sox, Yankees, and most importantly Indians and Tigers. It looks like we are in for another long 88 years. If rebuilding is the solution, teams like the Twins and Royals are already ahead of us. It doesn´t look good.

In their management, yes. They won't spend top dollar for free agents. That's fine if you have a farm system that develops young talent to either field or trade. Cabrera(the good one) went to Detroit because they have better young talent. KW has been here 7 years and his farm system is about to be ranked 29th by Baseball America (according to Phil Rogers). He has failed to build a farm system and all we get is tough talk. Now he'll settle for Rowand because the fans and press are burying him, even though he knows Rowand is not the answer. What a mess. I say blow it up and build it properly, like the Braves of the 90's. Shoot for 2010 instead of third or fourth place again.

This is sickening. Watching everyone in the AL get better off the NLs top players is disturbing. I have lost faith in the Sox higher ups. They're stubborn and cheap. Enough said. Kenny keeps saying he wants to "win now". HEY KENNY NEWS FLASH: HOLDING ON TO PROSPECTS IS NOT WINNING NOW!!! THATS WINNING IN THE FUTURE!!!

They low balled Hunter. Dont wanna give Rowand 5 years, even though hes younger, and offered Hunter, who is older, 5 years, and now they dont wanna part with top prospects for 2 guys who are YOUNGER than some of the prospects the tigers gave up. This blows my mind. There are only a couple moves in my mind now that the sox can make to save this offseason. Stop being stubborn and give rowand 5 years. Stop being cheap and sign Fukadoma. Yes Kenny you will have to overpay, but this is 2007, and you have to overpay at some point to get better. A $100 million payroll is what $65 million was 5 years ago. Its time to get with the times.

I hope Kenny reads this and all the other comments from pissed off sox fans. Its time for a change. Its time for an aggressive owner and GM. If the Sox dont make moves that satisfy all of us passionate sox fans out there, then it is time to boycott games until they learn that we WILL be heard.

pathetic... an offseason that SOUNDED like it was going to be really good has just been a nightmare. how long can i deal with listening to kenny talk about "not having the resources" it makes me sick to sit by and watch all this talent in positions that we need just fly past us. kenny can't justify this off season anymore. and i just read somewhere that rowand is considering kansas city... what a joke. i have been a die hard whitesox fan my entire life but i can't put up with kenny anymore... this is complete garbage

Kenny Williams has never had a good draft and has only made two good trades during his tenure. That’s it, the Garcia trade and the Carlos Lee trade. Remember Williams replaced Ron Schueler in 2000. So he was not responsible for bringing in much of the core that won the 2005 World Series including Crede, Buehrle, Garland, Rowand. Plus, he complains and acts like a spoiled child, which might explain his apparent bloated sense of self entitlement.

Looks like Kenny is expecting his sub par 07' team to magically improve during the off season. Funny thing, if anything they have probably regressed.

This is what is most disappointing to me. This comment which I read in the newspaper on Wednesday morning:

"You try to do things that make sense and you can afford." Williams said. "I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

The reminds me of the press conference where Kenny was introduced as the new G.M. At that affair he made the comment that "I can't ask the owner to spend a dollar if he only has fifty cents."

At the time I was willing to give the organization the benefit of the doubt, they hadn't done well for example in attendence.

But how can that claim be made today? After drawing between 2.5 and 2.9 million fans for the past three seasons...after winning a World Series and being in position to 'take back' their own city. After improved television and advertising deals and most importantly after Bud Selig himself gleefully proclaims that baseball is now a six billion (with a B) dollar business thanks to the new revenue streams.

Baseball is swimming in cash...yet apparently we are back to the days of 'fiscal responsibility.'

That's all well and good but do the Sox also want to return to the days of drawing 1.9 million a season too? You can't have one without the other.

Mark Liptak

I believe that our needs have completely changed from the start of the off-season. The greatest problem is not that we didn’t overpay for Hunter or that we Loss out on Cabrera it's that Cabrera and Willis both went to the Tigers!!!

And someone please tell me how Willis being included in the deal was the deal breaker for Kenny? What is he smoking?????!!? I'll take 1 proven All-Star over all of our POTENTIAL talent any day... and a young All-Star at that!!!!!!!! THAT WE NOW HAVE TO FACE ALL SEASON!!!!!!

The only Way out now is to:

1. Sign Fukudome AND Rowand (even though I would try damn hard to convince TB to put Crawford back on the block in lieu of Rowand) and we have the damn money with all the misses and Uribe leaving and the Fields/Crede situation.

2. Trade any mix of the following prospects (3-4 max) for Dan Haren!!!
(N. Masset, L. Broadway, G. Floyd, A. Sisco, B. Logan, C. Haeger, A. Russell or B. Anderson)

GET OFF YOUR A$$ KENNY!!!!! LINEBRINK BETTER BE THE 5TH BEST ADDITION TO OUR CLUB.... NOT SITTING THERE FRONT AND CENTER AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH CABRERA!!!!!!

If you want to bark with the big dogs, you have to get of the porch.

and why the hell not take willis... we could use a starter after trading garland... and into the al central cellar we fall... GO ROYALS!!!

I have not lost faith in the Sox. The Tigers gave up 6 prospects for Willis and Cabrera and the Sox already have a depleted farm system. Losing Hunter was a blow, but the opportunity to counter offer wasn't even there. Everyone claims that Hunter is a good character guy, but did everyone forget that he was going to wait after Thanksgiving to make his decision? Rowand is a fan fave, but he's not worth the money he's looking for. If the bullpen can become solid, I believe the Sox can still contend. Figure they blew 20 or so games last year, thats a 40 game turn around. We still need a leadoff hitter.

the deal breaker was that we didn't have enough young talent...sheeesh

When the Sox get a big time GM they will get back to the top...KW is small time.....

None of this is William's fault. He has good ideas, but Jerry wants to keep the dough in his own pocket. Nothing new here.

The Sox after last years fiasco are not a attractive placed for type A free agents. Williams cannot pull trigger even if he wanted to he has no bullets. A depleated, weak farm system and a limited bankroll means shopping for discounts and the blue light was not on.

Am I disappointed that the Sox didn't get "the really good Cabera"? Yes, but lets face it the Tigers had better prospects to offer the Marlins. Which is an indictment on the Sox farm system. If it is all about who the Sox can bring in during the off season then the Sox are in bigger trouble than we realize. Teams like the Tigers are in a position to add high quality players to their roster because they have a quality players in their farm system to offer in compensation. The Sox need to build their farm system if they want to be contenders again.

I love that the Blacksox are garbage. Does anyone remember two years ago when the Redsox did whatever it took to get rid of Cabrera? And now he's your best offseason acquisition! HAHAHAHA, I love the Williams/Guillen duo. I used to hate how they talked so much, but now I love it cause they keep eating their words!!! I love life HAHAHAHAHAHA GO CUBS

As a Sox fan I am upset at recent events. I remember Williams and Reinsdorf saying that the only way they can compete in the market is if we as fans show up at the park first. The "Cell" posted record attendance the last 3-years. But they have not spent the cash.
But as I think about what has happened, we as fans should not be surprised. This is in part on how the Reinsdorf runs the team. Here are my observations:

1. Scouting/Drafting.
It is common knowledge that the Sox will not pay above the MLB suggested "Slot" for draft picks. Look back at the last 5-years. The Sox had chances at some of the best picks because they had fallen in the draft. They have passed. So you see picks such as Ray Liotta, Casey Rigoski or Don Lucy. Plus, the minor league department has had there hands tied because Reinsdorf's edict of not dealing with anyone that is rep/advised by Scott Boras. You also need to note that the Sox are also unwilling to pay top dollar for amateur international talent. Every time a big name International talent has been available, the Sox have always passed.

2. Free Agent signing's.
Here you must go back 10-years to Albert Belle as the last "Big Name" free agent the Sox had signed. But by doing this, Reinsdorf angered his friend and MLB commissioner Bud Selig. Since then, the Sox's have been unwilling to meet the contract demands of marquee free agents. And, again Kenny is not allowed to sign any of Scott Boras rep'ed players.

Williams can only work with what he is giving, and it is quite apparent, Jerry is unwilling to give him tools he needs in order to compete in todays baseball landscape. As Reinsdorf thinks small minded, the Sox will be a small market organization

I have been experiencing some glitches on my other computer so forgive me if I post more than once. My heart is broken over this deal. I teared up last night when I saw it. Its compounded by the deals Hendry pulled off last year, and by what others in the AL are doing. I feel like someone kicked me in the gut. My loyalty to Kenny has been shaken a little. I still trust him, but just like Paxson - every big named free agent is getting away and it doesnt sit well with me at all.

I'm perplexed and very disappointed...like most Sox fans. We don't get Hunter or Cabrera...and Williams won't agree on terms to acquire Rowand. Surely Rowand is worth as much... if not more than Hunter...he is younger...as good defensively and hit over 300. He is also received well by teammates and fans. Snap him up before we lose out again!

The Sox are almost too depressing to follow. Kenny took over a playoff team in 2001, and has made the playoffs ONCE in 7 years. Yes, that one time was a World Series-winning season, but clearly that season was the exception, and the other 6 seasons are the rule. Kenny makes bold statements and a lot of moves, but they generally add up to zip.

Ozzie's a mediocre manageer at best. How many times did he say last spring that the Sox were going to drill, drill, drill on fundamentals, including bunting, and the Sox were once again a terrible fundamental baseball team.

I love the Sox dearly, but it's getting to the point where I can't watch this trainwreck. And knowing Reinsdorf's history, it's almost impossible to be a bad enough GM for Jerry to make a move. Loyalty means everything to Jerry (which is admirable), but if his real estate sales people performed as poorly as his sports management people, they'd be fired.

As Selig has been telling anyone who will listen, baseball has made record, windfall profits in the last three years. Was it 7 billion? Attendance has also been in record numbers. The Sox have filled the ballpark that last three years. Their merchandise has sold in record numbers the past few years. So why can't the Sox spend the money on top free agents? Sure 90 million sounds crazy to pay Tori Hunter. But baseball is making money hands over fist. That is the market for players. And if Reinsdorf doesn't like it, then sell the damn team. The Sox will not get another penny from me. Not at the ballpark, or Sox hats and shirts. I'm done.

Have I lost faith? Its hard to have any faith after a division rival that already had a better lineup than the Sox got a whole lot better. The thing that bothered me the most is that I knew this was going to happen but I still wanted to believe Kenny Williams. Typical White Sox bull crap, always trying to low ball players, "asking for home town discounts", and if and when they do sign a somewhat "big" free agent, its always someone with injury problems or somone passed theyre prime. overpay for Torii Hunter? Yes, the whole in center field is as big as Lake Michigan, now theyre going to ask Rowand (who they traded) to take a "home town dicount." I would take Dontrelle Willis over Jose Contreras any day. This is one Sox fan who was at U.S. Cellular numerous times last year that will be staying away from stink that is Kenny Williams and Jerry Reinsdorf bull sh!t.

Take a breath guys. The first pitch hasn't even been thrown yet. They should sign Rowand, get another good relief pitcher, and play. They're going to be better than you think.

Ken Williams just seems to have trouble closing any big deal where he faces competition of late. Its bad enough that he hasn't produced this year, but is worse in that he hasn't produced after seeting us up with promises of great things to come. Do what you have to to get Aaron Rowand back in center. At least you can salvage something.

After watching a horrific season, the thing that bothers me the most is that the White Sox still haven't improved in the pitching staff. Although they have improved the short-stop position they're leaving too much pressure on a young pitchers. I did not believe that it was necessary to bring Torii Hunter but it wouldn't have been a bad idea. If Dontrelle Willis was the deal breaker then yes they should taken him in order to get Miguel. It would have improved the pitching staff and at the same time would have improved the third baseman position. I am not disappointed at the sox right now because there is still time to regroup the team and bring the right chemistry for a World Series.

I think that Kenny Williams underestimated the market this year. Torii Hunter was severely overpaid for and I can somewhat understand that in a weak free agent market but the Cabrera deal to the Tigers hurts and I can see the Tigers upping the ante on Cabrera to keep him out of the Sox hands. Of course the centerfielder in question that the Sox were supposed to pick up Coco Crisp, would seem unlikely especially if Jacoby Ellsbury goes to Minnesota in the Santana deal.

What bugs me more about Williams is his sheer arrogance that he has in respect to his master plan.

Should they have overpaid for Tori Hunter? First of all, who says the Angels overpaid? If someone is willing to pay Tori Hunter $15 million or Tom Cruise $30 million to do a movie who cares? If someone is ready, willng and able to pay that price then that is their market value. Are the White Sox making money? Yes. Is the value of their franchise increasing? Yes. Why shouldn't they have a $150 million payroll in the 3rd largest market in the US? If they can't figure out how to make more money in this market with that player budget then that's because they are bad businessmen. Just wait until a guy like Cuban gets a hold of the Cubs and their brand. They'll have a $200 million payroll and they'll make money.

The White Sox have been cutting corners and their big moves are extending fading players like Dye, Vazquez and Contreras. With the additions the Tigers made and the additions NY, Boston and LA are making I don't see a playoff run for the next 3 years. Time to retool this franchise and get real bad and build up the farm system. I'd rather have 2 - 3 bad years and look forward to rebuilding hopefully with new ownership and a new GM along the lines of a Theo Epstein. If you read the recent SI story about the Red Sox organization and how they have a system in place from scouting to drafting to rookie ball to the majors where everyone is on the same page, you'll see how far behind the White Sox are.

The on and off-season failures of the Sox will continue to doom this team until they fix their farm system issues. This buy-off-the shelf approach won't cut if for an organization that traditionally has not been on the same planet as the Red Sox, Yankees and Angels.

Oh by the way, the development of a successful farm system is on the shoulders of the general manager. If he can't get it done, ba-buy Kenny!

I'm amazed at how Kenny keeps spinning his wheels while other GMs make the deals. The Garland for Cabrera deal, while gaining us a SS, still set us back a quality pitcher. Clearly other teams (the Marlins in particular) don't view our much vaunted young arms as being worth a darn, becuase if they did, we probably could have pulled off this type of deal already. Given the rapidly aging core players we have, to sell the farm for Cabrera and Willis would have been justified, as it would have provided immediate returns and a shot at the pennant in '08. This team is in such disarray.

And can someone at the ST please answer my question regarding why Mariotti doesn't allow for feedback from readers like Rosenbloom does? If he's going to continue to wage his personal attacks against WS brass and their announcer, he should grow a pair and allow readers the opportunity to offer a counterpoint. He is truly a coward.

unreal...DET gets better, but i don't buy that they auto win next year...how many years have the YANKS done this and they flop...BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY all talk on Torii, all talk on Rowand, all talk on leadoff hitter, all talk on getting pitching and what DOES KENNY DO..................ABSOLUTELY NOTHING !!!!!!!!!! I CAN AGREE WITH THE WAIT ON CREDE...BUT WE NEED OF AND PITCHING....WHY KEEP trading IF....why sign Uribe and trade for Cabrera...the mediocre one? I WANT THE TRADE REVERSED FROM 2 YEARS AGO...SEND THOME BACK AND BRING BACK ROWAND. KENNY SHOULD NEVER HAVE MESSED WITH THE SOX AFTER WINNING the world series...BUT HE DID AND NOW WE ARE AT BEST MEDIOCRE. Kenny says he's going to sign this one and that one for weeks and just now says, if he doesn't have 50 cents he won't pay a dollar...tries to talk all smart when we all know he's all talk and no action and the sox will be the same in '08 SUCKY!
Sox Fan Sally

It's bad enough that we have to watch them perform so bad, but we also have to listen to the announcer, which makes the experience even more unpleasant. Why they keep Kenny H on board amazes me. I can offer him a suggestion or two for that 'can of corn'.
The Sox are for sure heading down that long road of losing, back to the late 60's levels. Williams lucked out in 2005, caught several players having career seasons and a down AL overall. Now, 2 of those pitchers are gone, one, his career season past. The line up is full of holes, and they resign Uribe, perhaps the only Sox who deserves to play on such a bad team. Maybe O's SS Tajeda as well.
2008 is going to be hard to take. At least unload Kenny The Hillbilly and hire someone who we can stand while watching our Sox return to the old days.

The Sox don't need Miguel Cabrera. If the price was going to be Josh Fields, Gio Gonzalez, John Danks and Gavin Floyd, how is that going to make the Sox better? Cabrera is a great hitter. No question. But he is a horrible defensive player. And, at the ripe old age of 24, he already let himself get fat. What is going to happen after he gets his big contract? Nobody needs a fat third baseman who is lazy. Just ask the Cubs.
Torii Hunter was not worth $90 million. Cabrera isn't worth giving up all your precious prospects. Don't blame Kenny Williams for not selling his soul, like the Cubs did last year with Jason Marquis, Ted Lilly and Alfonso Soriano. Yes, the Tigers are better. So what? Dontrelle Willis is horrible. He will lose more games than Cabrera will win. Be patient with the White Sox. Spring training is still more than two months away.

What bothers me the most? Ken Williams lip service.

Two months ago it was, "Last year did not sit well with any of us." Which implied that major, sweeping changes were coming.

Two weeks ago when Hunter inked with the Angels, I think Williams said something along the lines of, "It's a long off season and there are many pieces to the puzzle."

Now without the Cabrera that matters he says, "It's not always the team with the best players that has the most success," or whatever he said. I've got news for you, Ken: There has never been a team to win the Wolrd Series that didn't have at least ONE of the elite players in the game. The Sox are pretty damn far down that list. So far the biggest deal has been trading AWAY one of your premier arms for an aging shortstop. And given this market and the prices have escalated, that will probably be the extent of it for the Sox.

In terms of overpaying for Hunter: Teams paying market price for FAs are underpaying. Overpaying is the new market price, so they should have come right back over the top of the Angels' offer to land a gold-glove fielder and solid middle or the order hitter.

I feel worst for guys like Buehrle, Konerko and Dye who signed for discounts on the promise that team would contend again, only to find out they will be contending only for fourth place in their own division.

At this point give Rowand whatever he wants, try to pry Santana from the Twins and give Joe Crede his money. That's about all that bould begin to salvage a disappointing offseason.

I'm not renouncing my fanhood, but it's getting damn close.

You can have a bunch of All-Stars and not make it...i.e., the New York Yankees...The year we won, no one gave us a shot. Kenny is doing his job. I support him fully.

I can't even begin to say how excited I am about my White Sox. They still, as of this moment have not wiffed on the heart and soul of the 2005 Championship, Aaron Rowand. Don't worry about that 5th year Ken, he will more than make up for it in hustle, desire, attitude and one of the most important things any Chicago player can offer his team. HE WANTS TO PLAY FOR US!!! What more could you ask for? Don't let this one slip away, or you will lose more than a terrific player Ken, you will lose my whole family as fans. Two sons, three daughters, 6 grandchildren, and one very passonite wife who promises never to attend another game unless Aaron Rowand is again a member of the "Original Grinders", the Chicago White Sox.

this team will be put together piece by piece...just like the '05 world champions. ken does not overpay for players. he takes chances and some work and some do not. but at least he tries and follows his gut. he does not listen to reporters like mariotti. they have great scouts and will continue to add quality/not overpaid players and re-sign them as well as they still fit the team concept(dye/pierzynski). keep plugging away kenny. true fans follow what you're doing and will not abandon you!

I don't think missing out on Willis and Cabrera would hurt so much if it were not the tigers who swooped in. They also paid a huge price in Miller, who is a stud at 22. What dissapionts me is not so much the players we have missed but the way that Kenny "gone fishing" Williams runs his mouth about all his intentions. What is a player like Jerry Owens, who played his butt-off in meaningless games down the stretch, to think about his role on the club. KW is so concerned with his own image as a wheeler and dealer that he can't slow down to speak about what he alreadt has. You want to settle Sox fans down, come out and say this: "I liked what we saw from Jerry Owens this past year and I like how that play will project over a full season, now that still leaves us short one outfielder, whether it be a stud centerfielder or a power hitting leftie, but with Owens and Cabrera batting 1-2 I feel very good about the front of our lineup"
Instead you hear the talk of panic... "oh my god we lost 90 games last year we need to get 3 to 4 new players or else we will do the same thing again... we need to do something ANYTHING but trust the players we have here...."
THIS TEAM HAS LOST ITS PRIDE..................

Sports writers are just absolutely amazing to me. I just simply don't understand why someone like Jay Mariotti, who absolutely hates Chicago sports teams, is a writer for the Sun Times, or any paper for that matter. The White Sox have made a move to shore up their bullpen, added a powerful bat and great glove in the infield and this forum is asking if I have lost faith in the Sox? Yes, we lost out on Torri Hunter, but so did a lot of teams. Yes, we lost out of Miguel Cabrera, but how realistic was that trade anyways? The media loves to deride the Sox for their shortcomings in an offseason where the cubs have done what, trade Will Ohman for a utility infielder? It is just simply preposterous to me that on the third day of the winter meetings, during the first week of December, that anyone could call this offseason a bust! Last I checked, Jay Mariotti and company have succeeded in little more than whining and complaining. To quote the great Bob Knight, "Most of us learn to write in the second or third grade, and then go on to other things."

This certainly has been a disappointing off-season to date for the Sox and as a fan I can't help be a bit unnerved. In the past I've had a lot of faith in Kenny Williams (although he's never brought in a 'cream of the crop' premiere free agent before) and thought that most of the moves he's made came with solid upside. However right now I wish I could be a fly on the wall in that Opryland Resort or somehow be able to read what is going through his mind. By not landing his 'big fish' in Hunter and Cabrera, he has not only upset his fan base but failed to follow through on promises he made to Dye and Buehrle when they signed their hometown discounts as well. And its pretty bad when your clubhouse leaders don't have a positive outlook on the future of the club. Honestly, while I'm on the subject, if Williams goes into 2008 with the team in its current state or does little else I wish he would've traded Buehrle and Dye for young talent. I know those signings were big PR moves to appease the fans, but with Cleveland and Detroit looking like powerhouses and Minnesota seemingly primed to net some really nice young players off of a Santana deal, I'd gladly take a mediocre 2008 season for a solid outlook on the future. The Cabrera / Willis to Detroit deal yesterday also exposed the fact that the Sox have a very lacking farm system, and if guys like Gonzalez, Floyd, Egbert, Broadway, etc don't pan out the franchise could be in trouble for years to come. In fact, the big question mark in my mind that hardly anyone is talking about is the back end of the rotation. Isn't this team supposed to be built on great starting pitching? Overall I've always loved Williams attitude and leadership ability, but he'd better step it up or all the faith that he and Reinsdorf earned after 2005 will be gone. And this time it will be even more difficult to earn back.

Have I lost faith? My answer is No! As much it hurts to see Hunter not being sign I do have faith in Williams. Remember and this might be cliche, He did create a 2005 World Series Championship team. We did not like letting go of Ordonez or Carlos Lee, but, instead we got Jermaine Dye ( World Series MVP) and Pods when he was at top of his game that year. I do want another championship badly and we do need help still. I believe something good will happen. Last time I checked Ordonez or Lee or the high spenders from the North Side empire have not a won a championship. That keeps my faith intact. Patience is a good thing and we will be the best in the AL central next year. We still have good pitching and good hitting and need to click it again that is all.

It seems there are some Sox fans who are dealing with this offseason just fine. To them I say it's time to rise above the denial.

Yes, spring training is more than two months away. So what. What's going to change in the next two months? Is Josh Fields suddenly going to be able to play the field? Is Joe Crede suddenly going to fire Scott Boras and sign for $10 mill a year?

The REALITY is that the Sox have done nothing while the Tigers and Angels have improved. The Red Sox are the Red Sox and the Yankees are the Yankees. The REALITY is there is no way the Sox are going to make the postseason in 08, or 09, 10 and 11 for that matter. It's time to retool this whole operation and get on the right track. Putting a team together piecemeal will never work.

I have giving my total support to Kenny for job he's done,That World Series title was fantastic. I've been SOX fan for 35 years but Kenny you have to step up now, we are slipping and I can't stand it when even Mariotti is making sense. Kenny PLEASE DO SOMETHING.

well done Romo pulling the prior Cowley blog topic....they guy makes a mistake...everyone makes mistakes. No need to pull the topic like it was never posted.

Roman responds: I pulled it because it was too fluid of a situation. I don't want people talking about something that's not happening. And he didn't make a mistake. He reported the Sox thought they were going to get Cabrera, have you read anywhere where they said that's not true? What mistake? I guess I could have left it up and tweaked it. Next time. Things changed so quickly yesterday.

As long as the fans usher into the Cell like a herd of sheep, Reinsdorf won't open the cash register that he keeps under his pillow. Sox fans who continue to pay ripoff prices to watch a last-place team are simply playing into Reinsdork's greedy hands. Let's get back to the days when 13,000 fans represent the average attendance. Only then will we see some Major League players on the field.

"You can have a bunch of All-Stars and not make it...i.e., the New York Yankees...The year we won, no one gave us a shot. Kenny is doing his job. I support him fully."

Uh, the Yankees are pretty much a lock for the freaking playoffs each year. The WS get there, oh, every five years or so. You bet your damn a$$ I would rather have a team of all-stars than a core of just-past-their-prime, slow-footed boppers and unproven, AA pitchers ready to fill out my rotation.

kenny williams drives a Hummer. enough said...what an idiot. i would not put my trust in him.

Typical cubs fan , "every one remember when the red sox were dying to get rid of cabrera?" Cabrera signed as a free agent with the Angels. Kenny Williams sounds a lot more intelligent than you do right now.

White Sox fans, Reinsdorf has played us. Remember, he told us that if we started buying tickets and showing up at the park he would start spending more on the team. Well, attendance has been pretty good the last couple of years and look at the results. This is worse than 1994. See ya, Reinsdorf, and see ya, White Sox.

I have been a total Sox fan for more than 55plus years. I just cannot believe whats going on with Ken williams and Mr. Reinsdorf. I truly belive they are taken all of us Sox fans for total idiots. There is no way that they are going to compete with anybody in our division.
Totaly Discusted
Sam

Well, I have been a lifelong Sox Fan and they are actually coming ot my Hometown, Memphis TN to play in the Civil Rights Game. To think I may get to see a lineup of Owens, Cabrera, Thome, Konerko, Cabrera, Dye, Rowand, Pierzynski, and Richar come to Fruition.....But It's not To Be. Williams is trying but it's Reinsdorf that should be Dangled off the Sears Tower! I remember when Ellis Burks, DJ, Robin Ventura, Franco, and the Sox all were in the post season in the early 90's then Reinsdorf had a Fire Sale and we ended up stinking it up until we won the Series again. I love the White Sox, I always will, but I will always hate the Owners...........Thanks for Gassing me up and making me think we were going to contend. We would need Santana, Rowand, and at least 1 or 2 more solid players to even Contend in the AL this year........I look for another next to last place finish in 2008! Go SOX........By the Way, Jerry, sell the Sox to Cuban.......they are much closer to what you want than the Cubbies are!

Even if the SOX could have made a counter for Hunter, $90 mil over five years is too much for Hunter. He'd be 38 by the time the contract expired, and he'll be lucky to still be playing CF by year 4. He'll spend more time in the bottom half of the Angels line-up than he will in the top half. Cabrera would have been great, but not if it meant taking on Willis. Losing record aside, Willis has had an awful ERA the last few seasons, and that is with solid defense from the youngsters behind him. Now Willis will be going to the AL and won't get to be pitching to inept NL 8 and 9 hole hitters. Willis isn't even the best pitcher changing hands in this deal, Miller is phenomenal, the Tigers pitching staff just lost a small step at best. Rowand would be great to have back, but don't be surprised to see him try and sign somewhere before the Mitchell Report is released. Not that he's still on the juice, but lets just his market price might substantially drop before Christmas if the Mitchell report does indeed name names.

Well, I have been a lifelong Sox Fan and they are actually coming to my Hometown, Memphis TN to play in the Civil Rights Game. To think I may get to see a lineup of Owens, Cabrera, Thome, Konerko, Cabrera, Dye, Rowand, Pierzynski, and Richar come to Fruition.....But It's not To Be. Williams is trying but it's Reinsdorf that should be Dangled off the Sears Tower! I remember when Ellis Burks, DJ, Robin Ventura, Franco, and the Sox all were in the post season in the early 90's then Reinsdorf had a Fire Sale and we ended up stinking it up until we won the Series again. I love the White Sox, I always will, but I will always hate the Owners...........Thanks for Gassing me up and making me think we were going to contend. We would need Santana, Rowand, and at least 1 or 2 more solid players to even Contend in the AL this year........I look for another next to last place finish in 2008! Go SOX........By the Way, Jerry, sell the Sox to Cuban.......they are much closer to what you want than the Cubbies are!

I wouldn't say "lost faith".....I would say "credibility" is the right word. In fact it just doesn't go for the Sox, it also goes for the Bulls and Bears. I just don't believe anything either of the three say anymore, from the coaches, to the general managers/owners to the players. It's all just a bunch of lies, misdirection and "pie in the sky" talk.

I am tired of being told we have enough to compete, only to find out we don't(BULLS, SOX, BEARS). Then the offseason comes around, management says "we are going after people because we know what we need to make ourselves better", target marquee free agents then don't land them(Bulls, Sox, Bears). Then after telling us we need big names and people with skill, strike out, then turn around and say we DON'T need them we have enough to compete......and then the cycle just repeats itself. The Bulls are really good at this btw...

Which one is it? Do we need big name talent or not? Do we have enough to compete or not? Can Brian Anderson get on the field anc contribute or not? Can Jerry Owens play centerfield or can't he? Are we comfortable with Uribe at shortstop or not(obviously not as we brought in Cabrera). Can Danny Richar play second base everyday or not? Can Josh Fields replace Crede at third or not? Do we have three people that can come in and stabilize our rotation(Massett, Danks, Floyd, Contreras, Broadway..... ANYBODY) or not? Do we have a left fielder or not? Why can't we get a freaking answer about everyday normal things? It doesn't make any sense.

The Sox, just like the Bulls have painted themselves into the "dumb ass corner"......The Bulls say they want quality guys, well you have quality guys, but nobody who can consistently score to not only keep you in ball games, but help you win. It's almost as if "quality guys" has come to stand for "guys we can control that won't become more popular than the coach/general manager, and won't be a threat to become the face of the franchise). The Sox on the other hand have painted themselves into the "we don't deal with Scott Boras clients nanny nanny poo poo corner", well that's great, except that a very good number of his clients are THE BIG NAME TALENTS WE NEED.......I won't even go into how we constantly undervalue, and under pay our own guys then try to pass them off in trades like they are the best thing since sliced bread....I am too exasperated for that. News Flash Kenny! If you won't pay top dollar to keep your own people, why would people give you great prospects, cash or other talent for those same people? JOE CREDE I HEAR SOMEONE CALLING YOUR NAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

what's that saying about cutting off your nose to spite your face?

How can I not be dissapointed when I learn that DET is willing to add $20 mil to their payroll to get to the WS? As I read it in a FL paper it sure sounds like the White Sox were the front runners until FL got the idea of incl Willis. The White Sox were not willing to take on his arbit cost.

On the heels of that comes news now that Rowand is entertaining an offer from the Royals. They just signed HGH user Jose Guillen to $36/3 & now they've set their sights on Rowand. If Rowand signs a 5 yr deal with them that would be a major blow to the gut of all Sox fans.

I'm not beginning to think the big move Kenny's been talking about will be FA Correy Patterson. He did steal 37 bases last yr so I can see the spin coming.

At least the Sox didn't get scooped by a team on a coast this time. Although detroit is in the division so that isn't really that great either. Good move by detroit to keep the Sox from landing Cabrera, plus they picked up a veteran arm in the deal. Now that is good general managing.

I just hope the Sox don't get desperate and overpay for Rowand now, guess you reap what you sow.

Kenny really thinks he's "in" all these deals, but he's more likely just getting used as negotiating leverage for the real players deals, doubt he's taken too seriously anymore.

Now it's up to Ozzie to get the guys that are left to play. Bet Dye is glad he re-upped for this.

The Brewers should be good if Sox fans are looking for a new team to follow.

I am very disapointed so far. The Indians passed us by last year. And now the Tigers are way better. Heck, the Royals are spending and will be better. Kenny says he is playing for now and not rebuilding, then why is he not making trades or deals for now? You can't sit on the fence Kenny, which way are you going? Torri Hunter should not have gotten away. And now Cabrera? Kenny should have gotten one of them. I don't know whats left, Andrew Jones? We all know how much Reinsdorf likes Andrew's agent Boras. Guess he is out too. Whats left to do? Kenny better pull a rabbit out of his hat, or it's going to be a long season.................................

Bring Chet Lemon out of retirement!!!

I'm disappointed in what has happened. The farm system needs to be improved greatly no matter what. I am willing to wait a couple of years fielding bad teams to get the farm system in order. Hire the best scouts,the best development personnel, sign or trade for the best prospects. For Kenny to say he wants to win today is not realistic with the current group--too many holes. No one on this team is untradable--NO ONE!!!

Well Sox fans they are doing it to us again. During the late 90's Mgmt practically begged us to come to the park. Well we did, at the tune of 2.5 to 2.9 million fans a season for the past 3 years. The Sox actually have a "Season Tickets Waiting List". This offseason is yet another snowjob by the Reinsdorf administration. They are flush with cash yet crying poor again. It's take the money and run time again at the old ball park on 35th street.

Whatever happened to "If they come, we'll spend the money" ?

Roman responds: Well, they were a top six payroll last season.

im a huge sox fan kenny williams brought a world series title to chicago. i think kenny has a pretty good idea in what hes looking for. there was no reason to trade for miguel cabreara we already have two "major league" third basemen. they could start by adding a starting pitcher,center fielder, back up catcher and some more reliefe help. they need to also beef up there minor league system. but i do agree kenny williams lives in a fantasy world he needs to pay big time money for big time players.

"Patience is a good thing and we will be the best in the AL central next year. We still have good pitching and good hitting and need to click it again that is all."

Seriously, dude, you must be eating mushrooms by the handful.

The 05' aberration has thrown everyone off kilter. We've not made a strong multiple trade attempt since, damn, I can't remember one in the last thirty years. Don't let the fact we got hot at the right time in 05' fool anyone into thinking Kenny Williams was some Guru. I'm a DIE HARD Sox fan and I know damn well things fell into place for us all at the right time. The experts had us as the last seed in the A.L. alone, even behind wildcard Boston. Reminds me of the year Dick Juron went 13-3 with the Bears. Easily could have been 3-13 and that's a FACT. Williams is just full of himself, and unless we get some ownership change ala Rocky Wirtz I see no chance of even bothering to get excited about the season. The Bears and Bulls are living proof ONE STRONG SEASON DOES NOT A STRONG TEAM MAKE. I'm also afraid the pickins' are diminishing real fast so the near future looks just as glum. Anyway, I've seen enough Big Boys try to buy a championship (Steinbrenner,Snyder,Cuban) with little luck lately so I'll just sit back and wait for 'Lady Luck' to make her way back to Chicago again. Better odds await us there than a G.M./Owner winning combo.

Kenny W. would make a good used car salesman.He put together one lemon of a ballclub! Hey Kenny! If you can read ? Former Padre Bradley is available & should be ready by April.He may be cheaper than Rowand & he can hit.

What consistently pains me is that the Sox just don't get it:this town will only turn out if you play big market ball and put yourself in a position to win. Watching a ninety loss team is no reason to lock yourself in a chilly Cell in September. The Sox need to start acting like a team in one of the three largest markets in America, give themselves a chance to win, and stop crying poor.
As a life-long Sox fan, I've decided this offseason that until the Sox start paying the necessary money to attract the talent/ team this city deserves I won't be handing my hard earned money over to watch mediocrity or worse.

The Whitesox are so depressing to me that I dont even want to talk about them. I feel like crying just knowing that the Whitesox are headed into 5 place coming this new year. And the season hasent even begun. ( How sad )

Where was Cabrera going to play? We already have Crede and Fields there. I would rather they sign Crede, Rowand, go after Brian Roberts of Boston, and pick up another arm. Can't lose faith after only two months of offseason, but it is NOT looking good at all for Kenny W. Let's get a move on.

Is it true the reports of 4 yr 56 mil to Rowand?

Roman responds: Yes. The sticking point is the fifth year. And as far as Crede, a bad back does not bode well for his future.

Although I've been one of Kenny's loyal apologists, I am now concerned that he has lost his determination to keep the Sox on top. How can anyone espect the Sox be to win anything in 08? The team's three key sluggers are now older; the bullpen and the starting rotation (except Buehrle)is unreliable; there is no one who can play centerfield; the second baseman is a AAA tryout; the team lacks speed; fielding is unremarkable and the bench mediocre. From April-June batters can't hit for average.

Goodness forbid, the team's attendance per game may drop to 15,000 or below if the Sox start skidding from the get-go. I will still attend games, here and there, for the love of the sport, but be aware that the average Sox fan will not even get close to the park just for the strange fun of seeing the team play and lose, as it happens up north.

Since I was a young lad hanging around the Sox Park I thought the Sun Rose and Set in comiskey park....no I haven`t lost faith.

I Read all the crap you Cubs fans are coming with,but the Gold Trophy still sits on the SouthSide!!!!!
So the Sox have to settle the budget a little bit after the 2005 Championship Season.
I`ll Patiently wait. Look at the Yankees spend like crazy and no
World Series.

So Detroit got luckey with couple of players...good luck tring to
fix whatever is wrong with Willis!.....Can`t find the plate.

Cubs win 87 games with Soriano!!!!!Wow...Can`t win the Gold ever!!
So don`t look down on the Sox they`ll be just fine.

Ken Williams has done a great job as GM.
Two Years since the Championship.....they don`t grow on trees guys.
So don`t go acting like this has been Championship City OK.
So Calm down and don`t let Cub Fans worry you.
They got their own problems .......its called Choke,
and their favorite WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR !
Wished I had a doller for every time I`ve heard that one.

Go Sox!

First of all I am a huge cubs fan, I have read most of your sox fans stuff on not getting hunter and not getting the good cabrera..... but this is why the sox don't spend money to get those guys...... u sox fans are very bandwagon! 75% of you guys have said in your statements that you are either done with the sox or are pissed off until something happens. Cubs fans always sell out Wrigley Field, no matter of how bad a team is on the field. That is called loyality. Sox fan's do you even know what that means? You have a world series title 2 years ago and you're complaining?????!!!???!!!??? WTF is wrong with you people? You sox fans claim that you've been selling out the cell for the last 3 years.... i strongly disagree with you on that one. Oh here is why you have put up better attendance #'s hello you caught lightening in a bottle and won a world series 1 time only to have ur gm and ur owner F it up! The same owner who is in "the boy's club with selig" and will do everything in his power to keep Mark Cuban from buying the Cubs and turning them into the new NEW YORK YANKEES! But this is Chicago and under Reinsdorf's watch that can't happen cause he is too cheap to pay (let alone even keep up with the cubs big pockets, assuming we get Cuban as our owner.) Even when you sox fans put up better attendance figures (which Jerry and Ken used as there excuse for all those years not spending money and then you guys start showing up and he gets cheaper by the dozen) LMFAO!!!! Point being, is that Jerry needs to sell the team if he doesn't want to spend money in the 3rd biggest market in the country, and he needs to stop blocking the cubs with cuban! Either way it just isn't right!

Well, Andruw Jones is off the market now without any kind of offer from Sox, for a measly 36 mill. There is nothing left now. KW screwed up this season beyond belief.
For all you goofs that think Rowand is the answer. Not even close, we need alot more than just him and I wouldnt pay the money he wants anyways. There was one obvious thing to do after last year and that was too rebuild. Now we have an team that is aging everywhere and is not talented enough to compete. We were an awful team last year people. How are we not still awful right now? We need a CF, LF, 2B, a leadoff hitter, some major speed somewhere, andytwhere, relievers and 2 more starters (Contreras is done).
If he was gonna trade Garland and not improve this years team, he should have dealt them for a booty of top notch prospects. Not resign one for a crappy team, and not trade the other for a 33 year old shortstop on a crappy team that has no chance of competing. If the Sox want to be crappy small market team then fine, enjoy all 1.7 to 1.8 million fans you will draw next year.
Back to the same old Sox. That honeymoon didnt last long at all.
What a bumbling bunch of morons to screw up such a good thing.
Think of how hard you would have to try to turn off your fan base 2 stinkin years after our first title in almost 100 years. Its pathetic, a shame, and sickening. The f'in Royals have like 5 offers out right now for 5 different players. What the F?????!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?

I feel the same way I did when the Patriots signed Randy Moss and the other free agents in the off season. Engrave the trophy now!

Here is a comment from Williams: ''All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us,'' Williams insisted. "
This guy doesn't get it, Detroit and Cleveland are on a different level and Minnesota is much better than the Sox.

The only team the Sox are contending with is the Royals to avoid last place.

He is clueless. 1 post-season in 7 years Kenny, pretty bad.

The most disappointing part is that Kenny got clowned by an interdivision rival; and Dombrowski did it twice this offseason.

Dombrowski jumped on Renteria immediately when everyone was still packing, then trumps Kenny by buying Willis in the deal. Kenny whiffed on Hunter and is balking on Rowand.

It seems to me that the other GM's don't want to play Kenny's game and he's getting hung out to dry because of it.

Hey...I posted the Tigers trade minutes before it officially went down?? Hmmmm....i smell a conspiracy!!!

Why are Sox fans mad at Kenny Williams. This man has a history of trying to bring the best player available to the White Sox. Didn't he just bring the World Series winner home in '05? Anyway, is it K Williams fault that the Tigers traded their whole farm system for Cabrera and Willis? Is it Kenny's fault that Sox fans continued to boo and harrass T Hunter after he cleanly bowled over the Sox back up catcher in '04? Maybe that's why Hunter chose the Angels over the W Sox.

I'm sure that the Sox will make a few deals between now and opening day. And if not, you still have 2005 and can build to contend again in 2009 or 2010.

We need to relax. Get a proven stud outfielder and a solid starter and we'll be good to go next year. I believe our bullpen will be much better next year. Personally, I'd rather keep Crede if we are thinking short term. When healthy he is a stud and possibly the best all around in the game.

I hate to say this Roman, but I'm now beginning to think Kenny's the wrong guy for the job. You can't fly under the radar any more with the coverage MLB gets ALL YEAR ROUND!

He doesn't understand that the rumors fuel LARGE fan interest in their teams & that definitely affects the bargaining position of GM's.

The only risk w Rowand is his health but his marquee status as a do-or-die web gem play-maker is something the SOX can market even if the team loses! The Royals are thinking 5 yrs because they UNDERSTAND that!

The only coverage the Sox got in the paper today was Williams tirade against the rumor mill. In the meantime Cub fans are giddy to hear the possibility of 50 SB in Robert's coming there way & their team being the front-runner on Fukudome. The only reason the Cubs weren't interested in Hunter or Rowand is the $136mil Soriano.

You can't see 2008 as a return to the post-season because you don't have the horses. In 2005 they had 3.5 proven horses in the rotation. Contra showed promise in 2004 & BMac surprised. In 2008 they have 2.5 proven horses. To have any hopes of competing, Contra, Danks, & Floyd wil have to surprise us. That's a tall order that would be less of one w GG's at SS & CF.

Kenny doesn't seem to understand that the TEAM is still suffering from a major PR hit when Maggs went to the Tigers. It's going to suffer in Chicago as Garland puts up a career yr in that spacious LAA Park. If it loses Rowand to the Royals nothing short of winning BIG will end the suffering.

Roman responds: First of all, I'm glad you've joined the blog. I like your posts.
I really find Kenny's candor interesting. I don't know of another GM who talks about guys he wanted who went to other teams. I understand fans being upset their hopes got up, but I kind of like that he's candid.

I think Ken Williams needs to go and here is why:
1. The farm system is abysmal as evidence that they can't compete in the Santana sweepstakes and couldn't compete in the Cabrera sweepstakes (though I don't know why we would need another 3rd baseman). No one wants anything from our farm system.
2. Big Time free agents don't want to come to the White Sox as evidenced by Hunter (or any other big time free agent).
3. No good plan for upgrading the team as evidenced by not addressing the needs of the team. He signed Uribe, then traded for Cabrera (2 Shortstops), he tried to trade for another 3d baseman (making it 3 for the team), while ignoring the outfield needs (Center and left), upsetting current players (Dye called Williams to find out what's going on), and ignoring starting pitching.
4. The pre-release of the "Ozzie Plan" came out the other day hoping people would sign-up with the 'promise' of landing some big names. That is poor public relations and looks bad on the organization.

As evidenced above, Mr. Williams is destroying the White Sox in every meaningful way possible. It's sad when KC is a more desireable place to play.

Comments?

Is 35th and Shields on another planet?
I guess the Sox are going to do things THEIR WAY...Catch Lightning in a Bottle is the organizational philosophy.
Jerry Reinsdorf has "Chairmanned" this team for close to 30 years, and the White Sox farm system, scouting and player development are nothing short of a farce.
Where is Kris Honel?, Jason Stumm, Brian Anderson....the Duane Shaffer drafts are comical for their ineptness.
Reinsdorf has treated us to Hawk Harrelson and Ron Schueler as General Managers...How lucky can we get????
2005 is long over...can't wait for the "brain trust" on 35th Street to start blaming the fans for the team's plight.

I heavily disagree with anyone who is saying we need to relax.
Bryant I like your post and wholeheartedly agree.
If we as fans dont make noise - then they will continue to give us mediocre.
After last year....Sox owe us some action!

Kenny Williams is just what his boss wants in a GM.
Small market thinking, penny pinching methods and this whole arogent attidude of "we know better than you low life fans"
When I heard about the Tigers move I went home, opened my closet, took out my White Sox hat and pitched in the trash.
If they don't want to put in the effort then why should I?

I'm just glad that full-on Sox fans are starting realize that their organization is just as crappy as the Cubs'.

It's unfortunate that the Cubs haven't won the world series.. they have actually made the post season more times in the last decade than the Sox have. Maybe the Cubs' organization is actually a little bit better!

Hahahaha!!

>:-)

Riensdorf and Williams are losers!! White Sox aren't doing anything until those idiots are out of town.

I really wanted Miquel C, absolutely for his bat, however, he stinks up the field...watching him at the end of the season playing the cubs....he had an easy double play but through the ball into right field (lots of errors the whole season)....he's a horrible defensive player....Dontrelle Willis' stats (and remember in the weak National league) have not exactly been that great when you look at the numbers, giving up walks, Era for the past 2 years.....I do agree Kenny better make some move, just don't know what....I think Rowand's asking way too much and he's not worth it, but is a fan favorite and he works hard, though I'm not confident. Crede's back still worries me, though he is one of the best defensive 3rd baseman's in the game, way, way better than Miquel defensively. Remember, we have had the Tigers' number for the past couple of years! Let's do something in '08!

What the hell is going on on the South Side? Kenny what are you doing to us Sox fans? Does Jerry have the strings on you again? Holding on to memories of 2005? Loose lips aren't the problem. It's a slow trigger finger on your part. This all started before the all star break in 2006 when Kenny wouldn't part with Brandon McCarthy or whomever else to get Alfonso Soriano for the 2nd half run in a winnable division that year or at least the wild card. Then he winds up trading McCarthy during that off season. Then Iguchi gets let go this year for a nobody A ball player. I can somewhat see letting Pods go but I would have like to hold on to him for another year. When healthy Pods jump started that lineup. So let's see we have a rookie 2nd baseman unless Uribe moves there. A question mark in left. An iffy leadoff hitter in Owens. A 3 man starting rotation with 2 question mark starters which right now is adequate at best. Bet JD & Buerhle are rethinking their decision ot resign with the Sox now aren't they? Who's ready for White Sox baseball 2008 style? I'd like to see how Kenny is going to put a positive spin on the 2008 season at the upcoming Soxfest. I think if I were you Kenny I wouldn't show up.

As a White Sox season ticket holder, and a lifelong fan, I am disappointed in the off season. However, I'm not disappointed in the effort. First, this is the worst group of free agents in memory, and as such, the ones with any value are getting way overpaid. Jose Guillen just got 36M for 3 years, and Andruw Jones the same money for only two years. I don't want the Sox paying that to an average or slightly above average player, including Aaron Rowand. And the Tigers just traded away all but one of their top pitching prospects for Renteria and Cabrera/Willis. Their starting staff, outside of Verlander is mediocre at best, and their bullpen is awful. The Tigers need to win now, as Cabrera is gone after '09, and they traded away the top outfield prospect in baseball along with the top starting left handed pitching prospect for a pitcher who had a .320 batting average against right handed hitters, and an over 5 era in the NL. The White Sox need a lead off hitter, another solid bullpen guy, a starting centerfielder, and another starter. I would like them to get involved in the Erik Bedard sweepstakes, and have the O's add Brian Roberts to the mix. Roberts would cure our leadoff issues, and give us solid defense at second. And then go after Fukodome and one more reliever, and I like our 2008 chances.

Brian K, hate to waste my breath on this one, but Sox fans care, okay? We won't sit and watch some lousy team year after year (cub fans) and act like we couldn't care less (cub fans)...We all know why cubs sell out, okay? Biggest beer garden on the planet, who can wear the bigger sun glasses (Paris Hilton wannabees), location, location...shall I go on...come up with something better than your attendance (no trophies given)...go ahead and get Mark Cuban, he's the epitome of what a cub fan is. beautiful people, sun tans, beer drinking, what are we doing after the game, who won the game, blah, blah, blah! Typical Cub fan! Most of you no nothing about baseball! Go back to your board and figure out why you lost in the playoffs in '07 or do you remember you were in them?

Not as mad as yesterday, but still disapointed. We have zero chance at competing for the nezt 2-3 yrs and need to seriously rebuild. I don't want to see a couple band-aids(Rowand), which won't do anything but appease some ignorant Sox fans who don't know any better. Trade Konerko and Crede to the Angels for Kotchman and Willits. Trade Cabrera, Dye, Thome and any other veteran who doesn't want to be here for the rebuilding. Hunter and Cabrera would have been nice, but Kenny did try. For all you Sox fans who say we should have spent more for Hunter: get a clue, he said he would have signed for even less to go to the Angel's. They do spend money, just in the wrong places: don't overpay for old players, SPEND MONEY ON THE DRAFT AND INTERNATIONAL'S!

Duck hit the nail on the head.

And my deepest condolences to South Side Keith.

Rowand, (IF the Sox sign him) will become the Adam Archuleta of their team.

Roman responds: No way. Archuleta stunk last season.

Get real guys: Kenny Williams is only doing what Reinsdorf wants him to with his money. Save it from being used up on high-priced salaries. Funny how the W.S. and the Bulls are treated the same way by two different guys who have nothing in common but Reinsdorf.

hey Goldberg, great post. You won't support your team when they are down. That's the definition of a fair weather fan. I won't bore you with our attendance trophy because we won our division last year. I'll take any owner as long as he'll do whatever it takes to win. You said earlier that Dontrelle plays in the weak national league. Is that the same weak national league that your team had a losing record to last year? Hopefully Hendry will get Roberts and Fukudome so instead of beating the Sox five times we can win all six next year. Hopefully, you guys can hold off KC next year. But what the heck, you have your memories of 2005. What did Ditka say about people that live off the past? Losers and cowards. But I am glad that you think we're beautiful people.........Hey Roman, that ought to start a sh.. storm.

Jeez....88 posts? That's too much idiocy for me to reply to in

1) Rowand > Hunter
2) Glad we didn't sign Hunter
3) Rowand's proposed contract is a good deal for the Sox
4) Sox didn't have a chance at Miggy Cabrera, not enough good young players.
5) Kenny still has that $75M to spend that he didn't give Torii Hunter, and giving about 80% of that to Rowand should not be a problem.
6) I think I saw someone say that Orlando Cabrera's bat is "powerful". *laff*
7) The ONLY mistake that Kenny has made so far this offseason (and it's only a POTENTIAL mistake at this point) is signing Uribe for $4.5M pre-Cabrera. Uribe is both too expensive for a utility role and too good a defensive shortsop to sit idle. Keeping him is a very inefficient use of resources.
8) No single free agent signing will allow the White Sox to win the division this year without like 25x more luck than they had in 2005. So before whining about not getting the guy, think "is 3rd place a good enough prize to justify spending this money right now?"

Well, those are the correct answers people, you guys can keep arguing over who hustles more and bunts better.

Did Kenny Williams actually say that Detroit's recent moves only served to put them in position to compete with the Sox? Are you kidding me?

The arrogance of Kenny Willaims never seases to amaze me? Did he really say the Tigers only made this move so they could compete with the whitesox? KW's candor may make him fun to cover as a reporter, but I ask wouldn't Jerry Glanville have been fun to cover also? Needless to say, I wouldn't want him running my organization either!!!! What is it about the sox that they think it's ok to do business in this fashion? From bad mouthing former players who leave, keeping Bevington around to spite the fans and continually lying to the fans? The Cubs covet their fandom and treat them well! Why does Reinsdorf seem to have so little intrest in faithful other than our wallets?

Ken Williams is as good a GENERAL MANAGER as they come.
People you ever tried to spend somebody`s MONEY? Hard job huh.
Try being a buyer for WALGREENS most of you will be gone in week.

Thats what any GM go through A BUDGET before he even leave for the Winter Meetings,and a WISH LIST.

May be a bad system to the fans.But its what KENNY has to work with.
He`ll get his Man yet,I believe he is trying to do his best with what he has to work with.

T.Hunter was good choice but not at 90 million.
GO SOX!

"Did Kenny Williams actually say that Detroit's recent moves only served to put them in position to compete with the Sox? Are you kidding me?"

That's true...assuming he meant RED sox.

Roman responds: Now that's funny.

Noles makes sense.

I may be banned from this post after my comments but I respect the Tigers. Good leadership, good players despite Maggs really needing a haircut. Even so I thought the Marlins trade was excessive -- they gave up SIX players (Noles correct me if my math is wrong) --they got 1 more iffy pitcher in Willis, and they need more than an iffy pitcher, even with their tremendous lineup. Pitching, pitching is the key. I don't have the exact stats in my head, I think the Sox won their season Series w/Detroit in both 07 and 06. Detroit still doesn't have great pitching and I think only made themselves modestly better w/ Willis. Maybe. I think that trade is a big gamble for the Tigers who appear to be trading away a good portion of their future in hopes that they will contend right away. But they still need more pitching.
Of course none of this changes the fact that the Sox are mediocre at best right now.
"EXCESSIVE" is the MLB baseball theme these days. -- Excessive trades to land the big fish, excessive prices for free agents. Jerry/Kenny won't spend like that. And yes Kenny does say stupid things but that seems to be a prerequisite for being a manager in that organization -- look at Ozzie.

CHEAP AND STUBBORN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brian K, nice try! Yes, you really have something to brag about your team winning the division...joke of a division (if you know anything about baseball, you can at least agree to that)The "proof is in the pudding"...Snake Bit, remember?...We all know the Sox got beat up last year, we admit it, and we weren't happy about it, but the joke is your team couldn't beat a team over 500, except for maybe the
Brewers, who were a joke as well....I pay good money to WATCH good baseball, and I will not put up with mediocracy...I want to win, get it? I watch every Sox game, I know every night before I go to bed if they won or lost, unlike many of my Fair-weather Cub fan friends, it's all about the party at Wrigley, in fact, my Cub fan friends admit it! They like to party and couldn't care less about the crap team on the field! In my last post I don't remember mentioning the '05 season,so take your Ditka quote and save it for your bragging about how your team won the division last year. I believe this blog is about the Sox, but morons like you have to put their two cents in... so go back to your board and talk about the 3 ring circus that goes on at Wrigley on a daily basis!

Kenny Williams got to stop listening to Ozzie, if it was up to him , the Sox would have all South Americans on their roster. From what I can see is that he doesnt put much stock in American born ballplayers. I'm sure that he was instrumental in the Sox extending Uribe's contract. Also the fact that Kenny even considered going after M.Cabrera who is a third baseman. That would have been a stupid move considering the Sox are loaded at third. I know that Ozzie will talk Kenny Williams into signing the light hitting Juan Pierre.

I don't know how Williams could have passed up on Willis-

what, we got a great staff already? Kenny, you TRADED AWAY two of our best starters in Garcia and Garland. When exactly are the 'kids gonna play'? They can't get their ERA's under 6.

Then again, Williams always has someone else to blame (media, fans, other GM's mouths) and has an excuse at the ready.

Oh, they wanted too much money. Too many years. There was a hurricane! A tornado! An earthquake! It wasn't my fault! -

Let's see.... play on a team where the only recognition you'll get is from being called out in the media by Ozzie Guillen? The only adoration you'll get is from Hawk Harrelson's stupid nickname he'll come up with for you? Maybe they should package in season tickets for the Cubs as a signing bonus. Until then...nobody wants to play for an organization which is responsible for the ultimate Final Jeopardy question: " this team
won the world series in 2005". Who is.............darn...why did I bet so much........

To Jim Martin: Sounds pretty racist... As for being loaded at third base, We have two big question marks. Creede is comming of an injury that could still spell th nd for him and he is going to be a free agent. Fields has yet to prove that he can play the position on a regular basi. Anytime you have a chance to get a guy who is one of the 5 best bats in the majors and is only 24, you go for it. That being said, did the Sox really try to get him or was this just more smoke bing blown in our faces to blind us bout the fact that it is time to scrap the team and rebuild? I say that if they think Creede is healthy, sign him to an extention, trade Konerko to a contender for top return after the season starts and move Fields to first.Also, we have to get some speed in cf, lf and 2b. The way things are now, this team will hit into a ton of dps again. Konerko, Thome, Creede, Dye and AJ are brutal on the bases!

Anonymous, to generalize about a fanbase shows you are ignorant. To say all Cub fans care only about getting drunk is like me saying all Sox fans run on the field and beat up first base coaches. There are smart baseball fans on both sides of town and their are drunken idiots on both sides of town. I stopped going to the Cell because when I took my son to a Sox/Cub game there were three different groups of druken Sox fans trying to pick fights. I know all Sox fans aren't like that. I watch every Cub game so I know how hard it is to watch a team lose 90 games ( Dusty era). But don't feel too bad. I don't think you'll lose more than 83 games next year.

soldier don't forget; "My Tux didn't get back from the cleaners", "I had a flat tire", "Folks came in from out of town", "Locusts"" I swear to GOD". (Blues Brothers,right)

Rick sez: "What did Ditka say about people that live off the past?"

Fortunately, you won't ever have to worry about that situation, as the Cubs don't have a past worth remembering.

Here's to your next 100 years of frustration and futility.

Same old B.S. from the White Sox. Same party line. Same ole' Ooozie. Same ole' Williams - talk a good story to try to keep the fans in line and then whiff on the pitch. Same ole' Dollar Jerry - the lineage of Bill Wirtz continues! Reinsdorf and that Loria character in Miami must be brothers!!

ive, not given up on the sox,,kenny the dodgers are looking for a third baseman trade 2 pitchers minor league guys & joe crede or josh fields to the dodgers, for jaun pierre, pierre can play left & sign rowand, they also can switch too,, he also can lead off, or yu can put cabrera in center fied & stll play whats his name at short,kenny get off yur behind man, sign rowand before he gets away & trade for pierre, sign crede to a 3 yr deal but tell him to get rid of his agent first, im sure jerry riensdorf want another championship, at
least befor the sisy cubs get one,
gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo whitesox
whitesoxjoey of stjohn ind

"From what I can see is that he doesnt put much stock in American born ballplayers."

Left field comments die hard and hardly die.

South side hero Aaron Rowand playing for the giants really hurts . Williams gave us a series win but trading Rowand was stupid and he missed his chance to correct it .

Any chance the White Sox are interested in a trade for Hideki Matsui? The Giants don't want him anymore since they have Rowand now. Why couldnt the White Sox bring back the Gooch? He signed for a bargain price of one million with the Padres. Iguchi would have been better thn Richar. Let's get all the Roid Boys who were named in the Mitchell report. JUST DO SOMETHING!!! ANYTHING!!!

The White Sox are not a small market team, they were in the top five in payroll last year.... THE TOP FIVE!!!! You may not agree with how they spent the money but they spent it. KW paid up to keep Paulie after the Series was over... Thome isn't cheap.... Buerhle and Dye were resigned (what would all you closet cub fans have said if he didn't do it?) Vasquez and Contreres are well paid...
If you are keeping score at home thats 6 players being paid over 10 million a year (I might be off but I don't think I am) You figure in guys like AJ and Crede and Uribe who make decent money. What you have is actually a pretty pricey roster...
The Sox problem is not that they don't spend enough... Perhaps they aren't spending it that well....
Lay off Kenny until you see the product on the field. If you want to talk about winning the Offseason World Series just go to the northside, grab an oldstyle at Sluggers, and stay away from the Cell.........
AND STAY OFF THE BANDWAGON COME NEXT OCTOBER WHEN WE SNEAK UP ON THE LEAGUE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN FOUR YEARS!!!

Baaa Haaaa Haaaa! Listen to all you Southside CRY BABIES. The Sox are going to be contending for last place with the Royals. Jerry is counting all the dough from bribing you into season tickets. The Sox are the second team in Chicago once again, Ozzie is talking out of his rear end on a daily basis and Kenny is lost in outer space with the Hawk. SOX IN OCTOBER= THEY GONE!

BOYCOTT THE WHITE SOX!!!!!!!!!!!

Dont spend any money at US Cellualr Field in 2008!!!!!!

TEACH THE WHITE SOX A LESSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!