Full Court Press

You cannot trade something for nothing Thome is only a hitter at this stage in his career no one would take him this early in the year. Wait and in July value if he's hitting could be more. Konerko is the logical candidate still fair in the field. This team needs a infusion of speed still like Figgins, E. Santana and a throw in off Angels bench. P.K has been great but time for change for all.

Crede is still young enough to rebound & come back with 2005 like numbers. Fields showed some power but rather have a proven veteran than a kid who had trouble hitting for average.Sox still need pitching ,second baseman & a centerfielder. Ramirez might be a surprise to fill the CF void & Quinten had some promise but wouldn't put my house on him .Swisher a good guy chemistry wise can spell Konerko at first plus play outfield. Uribe unless moved to second ,would be favorite sox to get traded but for who? Cabrera certainly a improvement over I'll swing at anything Juan.

How about Crede for Figgins or Crede, Uribe & Broadway for Figgins & Santana? That sure takes care of a whole lot of problems.

If Crede's back stays healthy,this is great...he's one of the best defensive 3rd baseman's in the league, and hands down, the best in this town! Also, way better defensively than M. Cabrera! On another note, why can't Jay Mariotti have a "respond" column because it's getting really old how his hatred for the Sox organization is never ending....he's so pathetic!

That's not a bad idea trading Thome to the Yankees for Melky Cabrera. I would rather trade Konerko though he would bring back much more in return such as to the Angels, for Figgins, Santana and Kendrick. The Sox could even throw in Richar or Uribe or both. I love Joe Crede and would hate to see him leave when he plays well the Sox win.

Ricky - I am a Bulls optimist they will rise again now that darth vader is gone.

I am also a Sox optimist and I am glad they resigned Crede. We miss him dearly. He are Kornerko were my 05 MVPs. It will not take much more if these two guys return to form. (need some pitching though).

I love your deal! Forward your request to Kenny. PLEASE! Thome is a prince of a guy but too slow and we have a 1st baseman.

The way I understand it, we only can get one more year out of Crede anyway because he'll be a Boras free agent demanding a mega-deal that the Sox will never cough up. That's why he's the one who needs to go - preferably by end of spring training or at least by July 31.

If you're talking about saving the Sox like 2-3 years from now......maybe, but Thome is still a beast of a hitter, and I think that finding a way to keep Thome around over the next 4 years or so would be way better for the Sox than trading for Cabrera. I frown on giving away anyone who OBPs .400+ consistently with good power for a player who "might" turn out to be good. I know Thome is getting older, but his walks and power aren't fading away too quickly.

Personal opinion: Melky Cabrera is something of an overrated commodity these days on the market. He's played two full seasons and hasn't had an EqA above the league average in either. I know it may be because he's just starting out, but he's no sure thing. The Sox lineup is just so far less intimidating without Thome in it that I can't really understand dealing him for something besides premier talent. We can control him for the next 2 years, and the Peoria native probably wants to stay close to home at this point.

If Crede and Uribe can be shipped for a mediocre starting pitcher (something around the skill level of a Jeff Suppan), I might switch my senses to "cautiously optimistic" about this season. But Thome can't go. "Younger and better defensively" is not a high enough reward to justify losing that bat.

Thanks for the link Ricky. Unfortunately, I think I'm in the minority of Yankee fans who really like Melky.

Is this the last year of Thome's contract?

As much as I like Thome, I agree with your premise about his tradability and the value he could bring. It would/could also provide more line-up flexibility (no permanent DH) and more speed. However, I don't like the idea of making a young guy a DH - don't want to stunt his professional growth.

Like Melky & he would upgrade the outfield. Also think they need to invite at least one legit pitcher to camp (prefer someone other than Bartolo, but hey...). What's with this new wrinkle about possible moving Uribe to 2nd? He'll still strike just as much as he did playing short, right?

Of course the Crede deal resolves nothing. That situation almost certainly will not get resolved until spring training. What's new there?

Equal value? In terms of what? Bad back? One-year contract? The value is not based on a baseball card, especially from two years ago. And if the Sox receive prospects for Crede, you can scream about value, but the point is what happens with the saved money and the prospects?

Thome for Melky Cabrera? In your dreams, mine too. If Williams pulls that off, he should get exec of the year.

I think Konerko is more tradeable and I'd like to see him for Figgins in some form. There would have to other pieces, but I'm not sure Kendrick is realistic. I'd love Santana as well. Could the Sox dump Uribe? The Angels need power.

Either way, right now the lineup is vastly more balanced and I think will be more productive. Then there is the pitching staff...

You will never get Melky for Thome. Why not have a lineup that includes your 9 best players? This means Crede at 3rd and Fields at 2nd. He is young enough and a good enough athlete to learn the position. It isn't like Iguchi or Richar showed a tremendous amount of range over there. An infield of Knoerko, Fields, Cabrerra and Crede is solid. Since the Crede/Fields situation is solved, any suggestions for CF?

You fail to realize that the Phillies are paying approximately 1/2 of Thome's remaining salary. This makes him fairly cheap for the White Sox to hold onto. The White Sox were 14th in OPS and runs scored in the AL last season. Trading Thome, your best OPS guy, is not a great move. Crede's health issues mean he may never be a consistent contributor. I'm in favor of dealing the unknown rather than the known.

Be patient. Kenny Williams will find a taker for Joe Crede. Crede just has to show that he is healthy this spring. But let's face it. They aren't going to get anything more than some prospects. Other teams know the Sox can't play two third basemen and they aren't going to deal Josh Fields. If the Sox get a couple AA pitchers with potential, that will be good enough. They need to replenish the farm system.

Seriously, Ricky how old are you? The only thing Melky doesn't do well is hit HR's. Both defensively & on the base pads he's a heady player & the Yanks aren't dumb enough to trade him for a slow,aging, DH with back problems.

Once again Crede signs for reasonable money with the Sox to avoid arbitration. Do you think Boras is telling him to do that? You don't trade a guy who makes that kind of effort to stay with you
especially when they guy was istrumental in the drive to win the division & the world championship.

Boras is not going to go away. The White Sox can not expect to win another championship by avoiding his clients. I think it would mean a lot to his current/future clients if the White Sox could extend Crede long-term. First though, Crede's got to prove he can still play at the level he did in 2005.

The Sox need a left-handed reliever, like Brian Fuentes, more than they need Melky Cabrera. Fuentes is supposedly on the market, because he is a free agent in '09 and has a salary in excess of 4 million in '08. The thing to do is to get a third team involved, or see what Colarado wants for Tavares and Fuentes, and make a move. How about Danny Richar, Brian Anderson Jerry Owens or Carlos Quentin, and Lance Broadway for Tavares and Fuentes. Colarado lost Kaz Matsui and needs a 2B, Owens could leadoff and play CF for them, and they really need starting pitching. Then move Joe Crede and Boone Logan to Arizona for Orlando Hudson. Az. has a top prospect being blocked by Hudson, and could use an upgrade at 3B.

I really like Crede and if it means opening the bank, lets do it. I think we should trade Konerko and Thome. Get the centerfielder for one, like Cabrera and Santana for the other. If they can get the deal on Crede in the spring, do it and then move Fields to 1st base. I like the defense/pitching strategy. It's so hard to believe that all the problems we talk about today relate to the Rowand for Thome deal.... think, Rowand in center, Crede at third, Fields at first and Konerko designated hitter.

I really like Crede and if it means opening the bank, lets do it. I think we should trade Konerko and Thome. Get the centerfielder for one, like Cabrera and Santana for the other. If they can get the deal on Crede in the spring, do it and then move Fields to 1st base. I like the defense/pitching strategy. It's so hard to believe that all the problems we talk about today relate to the Rowand for Thome deal.... think, Rowand in center, Crede at third, Fields at first and Konerko designated hitter.

Less Sox, More Cubs please.

Keith - enough of the Skiles garbage. Seems to me he had these under-achievers winning 45+ games for a few years until they decided to quit playing...bottom line is there's plenty of blame for all 3 (pax, skiles, the players).

Romo - agree with others above questioning Thomes trade value. If Crede can play, he will have limited trade value also given he can walk after this year so why not keep him for the year, trade Paulie to Angels for some players, and move Fields to 1B at least for the year. Santana and prospects would go a long way...Figgins and Santana would be a huge deal cuz there's nuthin in CF for us.

Tommy I was addressing RICKY - who brought it up. I agree about the blame to go around, and Mr. 45 games also was the CHIEF reason the PLAYERS stopped playing. Pax was not about to deal another player because the COACH was unable to reach them. Ding Dong the witch is dead - and now we can sign some free agents - including the ones we currently have! Now that is the bottom line. Now Go BULLS and Whitesox!

I like Crede, but the health issue is a nagging problem. I would like to see the Sox trade Thome. As much as I like Thome, since his arrival, the Sox have been soft. Philly was soft too while Thome was there. Of course, then the Phils got Rowand and took a different attitude, but lacked the pitching depth to make a serious run at the playoffs. The Sox need someone on the team that is a player and a grinder. This team was soft and lackadaisical last year. That needs to be changed. Even so, they still need more pitching depth.

STuck in Wisconsin, please go away....go on another blog and talk about your old football days (which brought a real tear to my eye in your previous post on a blog), and talk about how you could have been, blah, blah, blah, you're nothing but a "has been"....Again, go to www.cubs.something and you can talk about your cubbies all you want...It's becoming apparent that your'e not really knowledgeable about baseball!

Ricky responds: Don't do this. Roman posted something on the Cubs last time, so I posted on the Sox today. These petty arguments just make everyone sound dumb.

so you read my other posts, huh? Hmmmmm...don't recall anything you ever wrote. Maybe someday, you will have someone refering to your posts as well. Night.

Soft? What does that mean? Thome works as hard or harder than anybody on the team. He's a leader for the younger guys. Does Guillen know the Sox are soft because of Thome? I think he would have mentioned it at some point.

How come the Sox don't try to get Bedard and Roberts from the Orioles??? Roberts is your lead-off guy and d baseman plus Bedard is a decent pitcher. the cubs aren't the only Chicago team that could use a lead-off man!!!

tom - Any team that takes Jerry Owens for anything of value should fire their GM immediately. Period. Sure he can "lead off" and "play CF". I can do those things too. All you have to do is pencil my name onto a lineup card. I, however, would be terrible at both. So is Owens.

I think it would make an interesting trade. I don't think the Yankees want Thome. I'd make that trade Thome and Owens for Cabrera. If Crede is healthy then move him up the lineup to third. I just hope the White Sox never put AJ there again.

I thought Thome had a "no trade" contract? And Dewey, unfortunately, the lack of talent in the minors prevents the Sox from getting Bedard or Roberts.

see. Only half the responses of a Cubs thread....Looks like you learned why Roman doesn't post too many Sox Threads. Less Sox, more Cubs.

To suggest Jim Thome is your best hitter is nuts! He's good for two strikeouts a game. Sox need guys who can put the ball in play.It would be a shame to give Crede away for nothing, if you are thinking Josh fields is the answer at third, that might be a little premature, he's had one season and is not a proven commodity. Let's see if K. Williams can unload P. Konerko and free up 15 million in salary.

"On another note, why can't Jay Mariotti have a "respond" column because it's getting really old how his hatred for the Sox organization is never ending....he's so pathetic!"

Amen, Brother. I've asked this question a few times and have never received an answer. At least the caustic Rosenbloom over at the Trib has the stones to allow for reader comments to his blog. Mariotti is a truly pathetic individual.

If Joe Crede is healthy enough, this spring, I expect him to be traded for minor league prospects. From the various sources I've read, the Giants seem to the most interested team. I like Crede, and would prefere to keep him, but the combination of his back injury and his agent-(Scott Boras), make it very likely he'll be traded. Josh Fields needs to hit better than .213 versus right-handed pitching.

Trade Thome? .410 OBP, .563 SLG in 07. He's a good offensive player, period.

Dear George M.

To suggest that Jim Thome is NOT the best hitter on the team by a huge margin is nuts. Jim Thome OBPs over .400 pretty much year in and year out. He also has a lot of power. Even if every out Jim Thome made was a strikeout, he would still be the Sox' best offensive player given those two facts. I certainly hope you do better next time!

- Noles

Ricky responds: Noles is officially the gold standard by which all future commenters will be judged. I think he just earned the prestigious title of 'my dawg'.

I can't think of anything sweeter than the White Sox to come from no where to win their 2nd championship this decade while the Cubs turn the clock to 100 since their last.

The latest rumor is that Octavio Dotel (another fireballer) is coming to the White Sox. He won't be cheap (made $5 mil in 07) but he would provide competition for the setup role with Linebrink in ST. That's exactly what this team needs: competition for jobs!

Cub fans get real. You're team won the division because the Brewers bullpen fell apart down the stretch. The Brewers have spent the dough to upgrade it & if that pans out you're likely to finish 2nd. An 85 win season followed by an embarr-assing sweep in the playoffs is nothing to be proud of :)

To those poor Cub fans who are not attending Cubfest and need a chat topic. How about the gall of Mssr. Zell to try and dump that pile of bricks at Clark and Addison on the taxpayers! It must be the most chutzpah exhibiited by the Cubbies since the first Wrigley ownership.

blah,blah,,blah. Less Sox,more Cubs.

Ricky, don't try to play 'God' and even up
the topics. It will only come back to hurt your credibility.
Let them put the 'mobile home' of baseball parks on the hitch of their whitetrash circa 1990 Chevy Blazer,and drive it all the way to Gary where the smell will match the quality of fans and players. Then they can talk about their world series as if it mattered to anyone. A.J. might even be considered cute there-since he has all his teeth.

Be sure to wipe your butt with the leaves after taking a dump on someone's lawn in Wrigleyville. I sympathize with your plight of having the worst rest rooms of any ML park but your mamma should have taught you to keep it in your pants until you get home :)

As funny as that image might be, it's true. Wrigleyville-ites have been complaining for years about Cub fans defacating on their lawns & shrubs before, during, & after games.

Ricky you picked a good one! Noles is a heavyweight! And when it comes to the Whitesox blogs he goes Super Saiyan.

Stuck in Wisconsin- If you want more Scrubbies talk why did you come in here when it clearly said White Sox resign Crede. Go in the Blogg that says Cubs sign Lieber and have a fantastic conversation about a 40yr old pitcher and how he is going to get rocked. This is the exact reason why cub fans get bashed need to be in the spot light all the time. Maybe they should make a blogg on 100yrs of embarrassment baseball being played on the North Side. Have fun with that discussion.

Thank you Kenny! I feel much better! Got some arms!!!!

Beats me that anyone would still follow the Cubs after 100 years of "wait till next year."

And if per chance they win one in the future, please do not cry "dynasty." The championship, if it comes, will be as rare and short-lived as a snow shower in July.

Mike, I already had a meaningful conversation in the Leiber thread. Obviously,it is much more comfortable watching the professional grace of a "washed up" players than 'never was'.
I post in all sox threads, because apparently, all the Sox fans are trying to be 'big brothers' in the Cub threads. What goes around, comes around. I just have the talent to pi** off people a little more. Now go back to brainwashing your kids into being Sox fans. It's a tough job, but Sox fans aren't just born-like Cub fans. They have to be mentally abused into it.
BRRRRRRRRRR...it's so cold....I saw Jerry Reinsdorf sticking his hands in his own pockets!!!!

`````A first grade teacher explains to her class that she is a Sox fan. She asks her students to raise their hands if they were Sox fans too. Not really knowing what a Sox fan was but wanting to be like their teacher, their hands explode into the air like fleshy fireworks.

There is, however, one exception. One girl has not gone along with the crowd. The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different. "Because I'm not a Sox fan."

Then, asks the teacher, what are you?

"Why I'm proud to be a Chicago Cubs fan," boasts the little girl.

The teacher is a little perturbed now, her face slightly red. She asks the girl why she is a Cubs fan.

"Well, My Dad and Mom are Cubs fans, and I'm a Cubs fan too."

The teacher is now angry. "That's no reason," she says loudly. "What if your Mom was a moron, and your dad was a moron. What would you be then?"

A pause, and a smile. "Then," says the girl, "I'd be a Sox fan."

Q: Whats the difference between 'The Cell' and a cactus?

A: With a cactus all the pricks are on the outside.