Excuse Ken Williams if he’s about to go Billy Bob Thornton and turn “Bad Santa’’ these days.
After all, how many kicks in the stomach can the White Sox general manager endure this offseason?
First, there was losing out on free agent outfielder Torii Hunter on a $90-million bid from nowhere by the Angels.
Then during the Winter Meetings, a package for Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera was trumped by the division-rival Detroit Tigers.
Now, despite bidding more for Kosuke Fukudome than other any team in the running, the Japanese free agent outfielder chose the four-year deal of the cross-town rival Cubs.
According to a source with the Sox, they were told by Fukudome’s agent, Joe Urbon, that despite the higher bid by the Sox, the reasoning behind the decision was that Fukudome wanted to be an organization’s first Japanese player, as well as his desire to play his natural position of right field.
The Sox had him penciled in as a left fielder, and have already had two Japanese players on their roster in Shingo Takatsu and Tadahito Iguchi. Another factor was that Fukudome is friends with pitcher Shigetoshi Hasegawa, who gave him an endorsement as far as Cubs manager Lou Piniella.
So now what?
After he’s done punching a few more walls, it would seem that Williams has to have a serious sit-down with free agent outfielder Aaron Rowand and his people.
Money has not been an issue in the preliminary discussions, as much as the number of years. The Sox want a four-year deal, while Rowand wants five.
But with Boston outfielder Coco Crisp still in limbo because of the trade talks for Twins pitcher Johan Santana and the Red Sox, Rowand and the Sox are starting to need each other a lot more than they were two weeks ago.
Do you really believe the Sox offered that much and do you believe they will offer Rowand anywhere near market value. Remember if if they don't go five, the Phillies already said on a 3 yr deal they will OVER pay.
Remember the old story about the guy who traveled the world looking for diamonds while someone found diamonds in his backyard? Kenny Williams has said, repeatedly, that he wants to win this year. If he is serious, keep Crede at 3rd base for his last year with the team, put Fields in LF, sign Rowland for CF and pick-up one more experienced reliever, and leave the rest of the team pretty much alone. I believe this team would be highly competitive, save money and should not have to give up talent. For you doomsayers out there, I say, "Climb off of Kenney's back and give the poor guy a chance to do his thing." One last comment, the Cubs are throwing a lot of money around and giving significant long-term contracts to good but aging players. They might benefit by this in 2008, but could be heading for long-term, cripling, financial committments.
If we can land Rowand, and get Figgins from LAA to leadoff and play LF, I'll be happier than landing Fukudome or Hunter.
Hell yeah... let's get Rowand back on the south side. He's a BEARS FAN for crying out loud.. and ever since he left, it's been downhill for the bears and sox.. Rowand brings good karma to chicago...
Kenny Williams is becoming a punching bag intiated by himself. I don't think we would have been able to counter offer Hunter. So let that go. Cabrera, on the other hand, is a blow to jaw that he and the organization is going to feel for many years. Kenny Williams has said over and over how is going all out. Well, he has not. Cabrera is a future Hall of Famer and we should have gone all out, and instead we look like the laughing stock of the off-season AGAIN! This Fukudome- we don't know, could be good, could be average. Whatever let that go. The time has come for us to give Rowand what he wants, and make a trade to acquire another veteran righty out of the pen. Someone to challenge MacDougal (who I believe is going to rebound). I love Kenny and have the utmost trust in him and am glad that he is our GM. Unfortunately, he has failed so far. Come on Kenny- give the fans, players, and a great manager what you have promised.
Maybe the prospects do not like Williams' high pressure sales pitches.
On the other hand, maybe these prospects' evaluation of the pale hose
shows some serious flaws that even I can see (e.g., pitching, age, lack of
speed, poor eyesight. The White Sox are another Chicago team ready to emulate the Bears)
These failures beg the question, "Should Williams be fired for being unable to get it done?" I think so. For some reason, players are not lining up to play for the White Sox.
This season is done before it even begins. I'm in a glass case of emotion!!!
It comes down to how people perceive the Sox and when you have a hot head, non PC coach and GM that has made more dumb moves than smart ones, how can you blame free agents for not signing here. Forget 2005, if the Sox want to win, they need to find people that are respected in major league baseball and these guys are far from that.
Two seasons removed from the World Series we finally have an Inside the White Sox blog. Thank you.
The Cubs deal (with incentives) is said to be $50/4. The White Sox had offered $56/4 to Rowand so my guess is they did $52/4 for Fukudome. I'm glad they swung & missed. This franchise needs Rowand like the Hawks needed Roenick for the last 10 yrs. There are some players that become some etched in the minds of the fan that you must retain them.
Signing Rowand is a no-brainer. It has been two years since he last played for the White Sox & the fans still love him like never left. For that reason alone he is worth the 5th year, & sensing how much Rowand wants to be back with the White Sox I think he's willing to take a little less $$ to get it.
Question to Joe or Roman - is Rowand's agent Landis like Borass? Will the agent make/break deal?
I am quite disappointed in how the offseason has progressed. Not necessarily in Kenny Williams, but in the lack of results. Kenny has been trying. Not sure what else he could have done.
The problem is that the Sox can't (shouldn't) go into next season with Ownes in center, Richar at 2nd, and left completely up for grabs. That will leave the Sox with the same glaring problems as last season: no consistency at the leadoff position.
The best bet will be to try to resign Rowand, and I would like to see an attempt to land Brian Roberts. The Sox should be after him, if they aren't already. That lands the leadoff hitter and solidifies the outfield. Then they can keep Owens / Quentin / Anderson in a time share in left. That bat can be hidden at the bottem of the order.
This just in regarding Aaron Rowand: He gone.
There's not much left under the XMAS tree so why not bring Aaron Rowand back home?
Is Rowand signing with the Giants strike four?
I just can't believe whats happening with the white Sox. I check my e-mail two to three times a day just to see if we get anykind of good news. I'm getting to the point that he (Williams) is just sitting on his hands. He really has to go all out to sign Rowand because there is nothing else out there. Even if we do sign Rowand, I don't belive theirs no way we can compete with Detroit or Cleveland and maybe the Twins and Royals.
Sam
Rumor is Rowand to Giants for 5 yrs at $85 Million. That's insane. I like Rowand but not at that price.
You can now make that strike four as Rowland is signing with the Giants. Kenny Williams is a total failure and needs to resign. Reinsdorf needs to either spend some of the millions he is making in profits to better this team or sell it. I'm embarassed to be a White Sox fan and now have no plans to support them until KW or JR are gone. They will finish, just like last year, under .500 and in either fourth or last place in the division. They should be ashamed of the job they have done.
MJHquentin
trade kenny trade ozzie...DONE WITH THE SOX...LIFELONG FAN.....MY GOSH WHAT KENNY DID U INFURATIATE AARON BY ONLY OFFERING 3 YEARS....U R A JOKE..YA WON A WS 2 YEARS AGO AND HAVE COMPLETELY DISMANTLED IT! U STINK. AND U DESERVE ALL THE BAD PRESS AND THE WRATH OF SOX FANS.....LIAR.....LIAR...........LIAR...ALL TALK NO WALK NADA NOCHE FROM U OR OZZIE....NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY FOR OZZIE AND NO ONE WANTS TO BE A WHITE SOX CUZ THERE'S NO HOPE!!!!!!!!
SIGNED
FORMER SOX FAN SALLY
Go Cubs.
The price tag on Rowland was only 60M for 5 years. I feel like I just woke up and Bill Wirtz now owns the White Sox and Kenny Williams is really Bob Pulford.
mjhquentin
I had thought Kenny had to buck up and give Rowand what he wanted. It would have been a popular move amongst Sox fans and it may have helped distract attention away from the rest of the off- season mess. Now that Rowand's a Giant, he's screwed. Coco Crisp?
Kenny Williams is now a joke- in Chicago, on the South Side, and more importantly, all around baseball front offices. He's even more than that- he's a flat failure. He can't do anything he said he was going to accomplish. Now comes the traditional mantra from the South Side: 'We can compete with what we have'. Oh yeah, Ken? Then why did you even go after these players in the first place?
Criticism doesn't bother you now, you say, Ken? It should. A million White Sox fans can't all be wrong, can we? Have fun in your empty park this year, KW. You did this to yourself. You are now given the floor: please proceed to blame the media, fans, other GMs, and anyone who will focus attention for failures off of yourself.
Hey, The Giants just inked Rowand to a deal. This is strike 4. Also, Fukudome's agent said that the Sox did offer more money than the Cubs, but the Cubs want him to play right field, where he is more comfortable, and he has received good reports from other Japanese players about Lou. What does this say about Ozzie's reputation? Ozzie managed Iguchi and Shingo, but they must not have said good things about Ozzie.
Fukudome signs with the Cubs, in part because of Lou's reputation and because he thinks the Cubs have a legit shot at a World Series title. What does that say about Ozzie's rep and the Sox's future? Now Rowand's gone, too. Reinsdorf is a sorry excuse of an owner and Williams is a joke as a GM. Hendry has done a FAR better job even with the ownership/management change hanging over his head. I never thought I'd say this, but I feel sorry for Sox fans.
Go Cubs!
Rowand to SF? That's the last straw, Ken.
I'm done. Have fun with your franchise. You aren't getting any of my money anymore. Way to ruin a World Series winner, Ken- and in record time. Cheap. That's all the South Side front office will ever be- C-H-E-A-P.
Kenny Williams needs to be fired!! He has single handedly destroyed a World Series team in 2 years through bone-headed trades. He has made the organization a laughing stock of the league. He has been completely outclassed by every GM in the league. He was outclassed by the Phillies GM when he traded a 20 game winner for a few marginal prospects including Floyd. He needed to include Rowand in that deal, failed to do so, and settled for much less. He has shown his hand this whole off-season and been outclassed by the Angels, the Cubs, the Tigers, and now the Giants. He promised to make changes as last year did not sit well. It is obvious that he is not a man of integrity. His lack of competency and commitment to us fans is evident. So far adding one releiver to the 3rd worst bull pen in the league is a joke. He signed a shortstop then traded for another one shows that he has no plan and no clue. Since Rowand has left, the Sox have needed a center fielder and he has been unable to secure one. Now that we have lost out on every decent free agent outfielder, he will try to fill our needs of a lead-off hitter and center fielder by trading for a cheaper and less talented option like Juan Pierre or Coco Crisp. He lied about being so upset by the pitiful showing last year and making winning changes. Rowand wanted to come here. He instead pursued someone who didn't and slept on Rowand who just signed with the Giants. We are looking at one of the worst teams in the American League and I will not be attending any games with my family until we get a real GM. 2 3rd basemen, 2 shortstops, no lead-off hitter, no good left or center fielder, terrible bullpen, and a questionable rotation equals another long terrible season that Williams will claim to be surprised about and make more promises to fans that he will never fulfill. Leave now and take your incompetence with you, please.
IM DONE BEING A WHITE SOX FAN
Are all of you idiots on this BLOG for real???? Have you looked at the Detroit lineup? Cleveland? and even Kansas City??? The white sox DO NOT EVEN COMPARE TO THESE TEAMS!
We came in LAST PLACE LAST YEAR (2007) DO YOU REMEMBER??? No one wants to play for us---and you think that simple average Riowan is the difference???? PLEASE WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dye is a JOKE---CREDE is a bigger Joke---and we have no PITCHING--------
BOYCOTT THE WHITE SOX!!!!! Dont spend any more money at US Cellualr Field!!!!!!
even from the other side of the globe.NOBODY wants to play for the ozzie kenny and jerry comedy team.if you think all this is purely kennys fault you sox fans are not only stupid yous also are crazy.
come over to the north side and let them knock down that sox atrocitie they call a ballpark.after all they need another low income housing development with the closing of cabrini green 35th and shields what a perfect location. in the ghetto
Rowand got $60 million for 5 years which is very reasonable in this market. Cubs are paying Fuku the same and he is unproven. Williams continues to flounder.
I'm sure the Tigers are shaking in their boots about having to face Danks, Floyd and Contreras 60% of the time.
Make it strike 4 since Rowand signed with San Fran. I've been a sox fan for most of my life but come on. I understand we couldn't get Miguel and got stumpted on Hunter, but now the Cubs have taken a shot at us and so are the Giants. Get off your ??? Kenny and do something. I refuse to watch the Cubs this post season again...
Bye, bye then Sally. Who needs such fickle fans anyway? Go Sox!
Just more of the same from the WS. What was Rowand before 2005? Who were Garcia, Garland, Buerhle, Uribe, Jenks and Crede? They were so so players, claimed on the cheap, that's who. The relief staff was nothing special before the season began and the prediction was no better than 3rd in the division. They all had career years at the same time, and we miraculously won it all. Miracles don't happen every year, and this team has never spent money on players. These guys make the Bears look like big spenders.
I will still watch them because they are my favorite team, but it is probably going to be a very very very very very long season.
Did I say it was going to be a very long season?
That is strike 4. What has Williams and Reinsdork done. Let's see: Make the Angels stronger, Make a smaller market tean in the same division stronger, and then loose out to the Cubs. Oh and Lose Rowand today too. Great job Kenny and Reinsdork. It will be another dissapointing season this year. This is what happens when you low ball players, they are not stupid, they will play where the money is at. Look at who the Sox have missed this year. At least the Cubs have a GM that will spend, not one who's ego and talk fill up a room
The White Sox have resembled the crashing of the Hindenburg, going down fast, with Captain Kenny and Co_Captain Ozzie at the helms!!
I left this message on the White Sox website
I know that you work for the Chicago White Sox but it seems your journalistic integrity comes into question when you continue to softshoe this offseason. Are you fed questions to answer in the mailbag? How can any journalist in Chicago not make the team account for all the money made for the past 2 years, saying we were going to make a splash then leave the supposed Tori Hunter money on the table, the saved Garland money unused, the pending loss of Uribe (whom noone wanted resigned) and Crede and/or Fields for not one IMPACT player? Today Tejada, Rowand, and Fukudome all signed with teams. What gives?
What will he say with all of our money?
come to fan fest
send them a message!!!! opening day needs to be empty
Apparently, Williams and Reinsdorf have no clue as to how frustrating and infuriating this is for Sox fans. Williams has about as much credibility as George Bush. All of the new fans earned by winning the World Series are going to bail. Nice work, idiots.
I can't believe all of the negative comments towards GM, Kenny Williams, especially two years after a team was built for the world series.
1) Who in the hell would sign Hunter for $90mln? I know I wouldn't. I mean he is good but I think his career will decline, and when he is 32+ I would not want to be on the hook for $18mln
2) Aaron Rowand come on. He had two good years, 2004 and his free agent year (when most baseball players have good years). Ok he has great intangibles but those don't win ball games. Remember he was in Chicago for four years before they won the series and you same guys were clamoring to get rid of him.
3) Did you see what the Tigers had to give up to get Cabrera and Willis? Two former #1 picks and 4 other top prospects in the farm system. Do you think anyone could have competed with that type of package. What about the future? What about building an organization, not just a one year team? Has D. Willis done anything besides eat up innings? I could have sworn his record was sub .500.
I say all of that to say this. I don't think Kenny was trying to stay put, he just couldn't compete with some other teams packages and the ridiculous amounts of money given to these other free agents. I think last year was a down year for the sox hitters and pitching. I think they will be much better than last year. I see you all are all bandwagon fans!
Im THROUGH
DON'T SPEND ANY MONEY AT US CELLUALR FIELD IN 2008!!!!!!
BOYCOTT YHE WHITE SOX
WE ARE NOT FOOLS!!!!
Sox fans need to calm down and relax. Williams needs to put his brain in his head and go get Brian Roberts and Coco Crisp. Also trade Crede for another proven player either left field or pitcher. Dont worry about the cubs they will choke like always.
Bradley,
No, I don't remember the Sox coming in last place in 2007. If you ARE GOING TO WRITE IN CAPITAL LETTERS, you should at least get your facts straight.
That is all.
Ihave been a Sox fan for more than 50years.I saw Bill Veeck trade away the promising young players on the 1959 Sox --Norm Cash,Earl Batty,John Romano.ETC and ruin the sox for years.He is still a hero in this town.Maybe Kenny thinks he can get awawy with stupidity and cheapness too.As long as Rhinsdorf is in charge he is going to make money for the shareholders first.I dont think Veeck ever lost money either,even with some terrible teams.Check on it!
Williams has ruined the farm system.They are going to get a high draft pick.He will pick a pitcher.He doesnt have the ability to judge position players.Another flop.Right now no Gm could make a contender of that bunch of has beens and never will bees on the Sox roster.Ozzie cant manage a team like this-Who can?Even Steinbrenners money couldnt make a contender of the Sox now.Fire Williams Ozzie and the coaching staff -Get new ownnership --goodbye Rheisdorf.Start fresh.Maybe we will have a
contender in 5-10 years
Frank Dollinger
What a sad day in White Sox land. At least Cubby fans can say "wait til next year" What the H**l is K Williams doing? Does he expect the fans to pour into The Cell with what he has? I will always be a White Sox fan but I'll be watching them on the tube in 08. PATHETIC!!!
Aaron Rowand signing with SF Giants would be strike 4. What an offseason for the cheap Kenny and Jerry mutilation team! It seems like the White SOX are the only ones not willing to pay $$$$ to bring in talent. I heard the reports of them outbidding the CUBs for Fukudome but I don't believe they conceded all that they could to reel him in. I also think sometimes false reports are released to the press that are ways of taking the heat off Kenny and J Reinsdork. Remember the Tori Hunter press release that indicated Sox were frontrunners but Hunter's agent sent a reaction to the press that indicated that that report was FALSE! And $60M for 5 years for Rowand? That is only $12 Million a year which is a significant reduction off the cost we would have paid for Hunter.
wow the oast 3 years the white sox have made so much money and where has it been spent? who do we have to show for it? where are the big names? i say blow it up... trade konerko, trade jenks, trade buerhle, trade crede... its time to start re building... trade them all... there is no way the sox even sniff the post season the next 4 years... how can a team look like this after winning a world series 2 years ago and sell out 90% of the games the next 2 years... what are we the florida marlins... i am sick to my stomach... this is disgusting... kenny williams you make me sick!!!!!
Losing Rowand wasn't just losing a center fielder. In my opinion, Rowand was a big reason the Sox won in 2005 because he's an on-field motivator. Watch him play and watch him talk. He kept the team on its toes. Not Ozzie. Rowand. Notice the last two years there is no one to spark the team on the field. Konerko's the captain and he's a loner. Posednik brooded, Dye's a quiet man, as is Crede. Some of the guys can't speak enough English to be a leader. There is AJ, who talks all the time, but he's kind of annoying, not an inspiration like Rowand was. The Sox need a leader, desperately. They missed out big-time in losing Rowand. Yuk.
I think I finally understand the grand plan by Williams and Reinsdorf. They intend for the team to fail abysmally in the first half of the season so they can sell off the pieces before the trading deadline and reduce the payroll dramatically. I think they consider the Marlins the model to follow. They just want to maximize the profit margin and think that one championship two years ago immunizes them from criticism for decades to come.
If the Sox were truly serious about winning, they, rather than the Cubs, would be fiercely working to complete a trade for Brian Roberts at second base and Erik Bedard on the mound to replace the huge hole they created by ditching Garland. They'd also go to the wall to bring in Jason Bay to play the outfield and Danny Haren to pitch. Instead, they are entertaining the notion of bringing in Coco Crisp who lost his job to a rookie and worthless Mike Cameron.
Williams, you suck. All you have done is slowly trade away and lose to free agency the talented team left for you by Ron Schueler in 2001. You've never received value for value in trades and you've allowed the farm system to rot. You don't recognise baseball talent and neither do the scouts in your employ. You have no coherent long term strategy. Your deals are based strictly on impulse, as evidenced by first signing Uribe and then giving away a quality starting pitcher coming into his prime (Garland) for an aging good field/no hit middle infielder who already has his career year behind him and who can walk as a free agent next year. You prefer to collect a stable of failed outfield prospects, now adding Carlos Quentin who has a track record as bad as Brian Anderson, instead of signing a proven veteran. And, you still don't have a clue what you're going to do about third base, do you? Both Fields and Crede can't play the position at the same time. You really don't want to re-sign Crede because you hate Borass, so why don't you trade him for some pitching, you numbskull. You drove off long time Sox heroes, like Frank Thomas and Maglio Ordonez, in return for nothing. You traded away young talent, like Carlos Lee, Aaron Rowand, and Jon Garland, for aging or flawed help. You've created an atmosphere here, including the nutcase who manages the team, such that no free agents want to sign with us. Too bad Reinsdorf is too cheap to fire you. Show some guts and resign.
For the first time in a long time, I'm incredibly mad at the White Sox organization.
I understand not committing $15 million to Hunter. And the M. Cabrera talk was just silly when there's Josh Fields waiting in the wings. So Fukodome turns down the Sox offer of more money to go to the Cubs. OK. Can't blame Kenny for that.
But to totally botch the Rowand signing really pisses me off. When I saw it on the ticker, i was sure Rowand signed with the Giants for something around $14 million/5 years. But when I read it was $12 million ... I couldn't believe it!
I know Aaron was coming off a career year he likely won't replicate, but you can't underestimate his clubhouse influence. There's a reason a BETTER team on paper in 2006 couldn't replicate the accomplishments of the 2005 team. Plus, he's a total fan favorite.
I'm not saying you should always bow to your fans. But when it fits a need, and you're willing to spend the money (they were willing to spend $15 million on Hunter), why the hell not??? Oh yeah, that extra year. One friggin' year.
In just two seasons, the White Sox went from being the toast of the town to, once again, irrelevance.
Ha! I know fans are all over Kenny Williams but his hands are tied by his owner, not to mention the disaster that is Ozzie. He is nothing but a loud-mouthed jerk who alienates his players and any self respecting fan. Who the heck would want to play for such an egomaniac who thinks he is the reason the Sox won it all in '05? Only when Reinsdorf cans this embarrassment of a coach will this team be an attractive destination to free agents.
So it's only mid-December, Spring Training isn't until March. Though time isn't the issue for KW, it's options that are running low for us.
Not signing Rowan is a disappointment. Have to let it go as the Giants gain is our loss. Hope Jerry Owens is working on his batting eye this off season...he's going to need to figure out more ways to get on base.
If the Sox can't trade for a left fielder, center fielder, and second baseman, then get pitching and more pitching! The A's and O's are willing to trade their aces, so figure out how to snatch them. Is the farm system that horrible that we can't package something up including Joshman and get at least one of them? Wish the Sox could get Santana, but why would the Twins ever trade them within their own division?
Come on KW, get another stud starter and more help in the pen!
I'm never quitting on being a Sox fan! Thanks for the 2005 WS!
Coco Crisp sucks. Coco Crisp is not the answer. Why does everything I read about the Sox keep coming back to this guy? Why were we promised a Mercedes Benz and it keeps looking like we're going to leave the showroom with a Ford Taurus? Why did Kenny vow that he would not be sitting on his couch again next fall watching the playoffs? He said that he would be damned if he had to go through that again. Kenny, please tell us loyal Sox fans that this isn't the way it ends. And if it is, please don't over-promise and under-deliver ever again. I know this isn't any fun for you. You know this isn't any fun for us. Go Sox! Go Sox!
Fuku or Rowand were not going to help this doomed team. We're not going to compete with the rest of our division regardless what some IDIOT FANS LIKE 'SALLY' say. This team nees a firesale and rebuild for 2009. Goodbye to Konerko, Dye, Thome, AJ, Beuhrle, Vasquez, Cabrera, and Jose. Please start over Kenny!!
I have been following this team for 40 years but it is not worth it right now. There is no excuse for not at least making a competitive offer for Rowand after the other failures. It is clear that Sox fans don't count as much to KW/JR as their 'principles' about salaries and years. They do not deserve loyalty at this point. If they are not going to try to win now (which is obvious) they should rebuild. But they won't do that either, instead trying to con everyone into thinking the team is competitive with a few more minor moves.
Kenny, even my kids are asking what is going on with the Sox and why can't they bring in great players this off season?
Let's call Garland for Cabrera an even exchange. Where is the master plan and when are you going to deploy it?
Hunter received a crazy offer, fine. AJ wanted more than gold too and went to the Dodgers, fine. Fukudome thinks going to the Cubs who haven't won a World Series in 100 years is the team to go to, fine. You thought Rowand wanted 1 too many years, fine. Okay, so forgetting all those guys, what is the upside of waiting while other teams are continuing to make major moves since the Winter Meetings? I don't get that. Pounce KW, pounce baby!
It's brutal watching not only our top division rivals stock pile weapons of mass destruction, but then the Cubs secure the same guy you were going for?! Have mercy on us!!!
Do something this week to show your teeth, where's the fight displayed by your actions to win this year as you say?!
Williams' and Guillen's fault no doubt. Whatever foundation the team had has crumbled faster than the '85 Bears' team did. Disgraceful.
What a joke! Now I am waiting for the Race card to be used by Williams toward the White Sox fans. This team is a joke and will not be good for years. I am also waiting for the Hymie Bird Hawk to start blaming you know who from the Sun Times. I am also waiting for all the other mouth pieces to come out. Brian Anderson in Center what a joke and Jerry Ownes is not much better.I think my 8 year old daughter has a better arm.
It is incredible how a GM and Owner can destroy so much goodwill in less than two years!
Boys - Chicago was yours! You owned the town! But you threw it all away. The team is in shambles. Is there any reasonable person out there who honestly believes the Sox will be a playoff team anytime in the near future.
I cannot believe the incompetence!
People, the problem is not Williams. While I believe he is a bad GM, he can only work with what he is given. He has been saddled with a bad manager. He is not allowed to deal with Scott Boras. Who, mind you usually has the best players. Both free agent and draft picks. The problem on the Southside is the cheapskate owner, Jerry (Ebenezer) Reinsdork. He has said that they only way the Sox can spend is to fill the park. For the last three years The Cell has had record attendance. All Reinsdork has done was keep the profits in his pocket. Reinsdork has lied to us time and time again. The reason the Tigers were able to pull off the trade for Willis and Cabrera is because they paid above the MLB "Slot" in the draft. The center pieces that Miami received, were paid multi-million dollar bonuses. Jerry will never allow that to happen on the Southside. The last big name free agent he signed was Albert Belle. As long as Jerry is in charge of the Sox, they will act like a small market team. It does not matter if we have the best GM in the world. Whoever that person may be, he will always have limited money to spend. He will not have the resources to go after top tier talent. He will always be forced to “bottom feed” for players. They only way to rid ourselves of Reinsdork is keep The Cell empty. Make it no longer profitable for Reinsdor to own the team.
What you people don't realize is this started two years ago when Kenny Done started trading some of the Sox better prospects to Arizona and KC for Vasquez and MacDougal. Instead of paying up for pitching he traded "prospects", ultimately though he got traded out because teams like Detroit were stock piling talent and used that patience and talent to outbid the "Good Guys" for Cabrera's services, putting a tagger in the Sox hopes for some time. Detroit's GM put the Marlins together a few years ago, went north to Tiger land and manuevered to put the team in place that could checkmate the Sox for a long time. Kenny Done badmouthed Frank out the door and that started their slide. Frank put up very decent numbers and the Sox now have had a void in center going on the 3rd straight and counting year. The Sox scouts have done a miserable job, other than Fields and Crede they haven't got alot to show from the farm. When was the last time a real blue chipper came up threw the draft to the Sox?? Not alot of good to talk about anymore and the way the team has performed the last 2 years, 2005 may have been a miracle, no, change the may to WAS!
hey ANTHONY AND JAMES....james ya idiot "fan" AND ANTHONY THE "FICKLE" ONE: obviously u don't get that passionate LIFE LONG sox fans such as myself KNOW 1 PLAYER LIKE ROWAND WON'T MAKE THE SOX WS CHAMPS in '08 BUT ITS A START IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION...HELLO...
1. TEAM CHEMISTRY...WHICH WAS DESTROYED THE MINUTE KW TRADED ROWAND THANKSGIVING 2005 FOR OVERPAID NICE GUY DH THOME....who wouldn't be nice making his salary!??!
2. WE HAVE NO DEPTH AT ANY (IF, OF, OR C) POSITION THANKS TO KW---ONLY AT 3B DO WE HAVE IT WITH CREDE AND FIELDS AND THAT IS ALL UP IN THE AIR...
3. WE HAVE A GARBAGE BULLPEN- BESIDES JENKS, THORNTON, AND UNPROVEN BROADWAY..Nothing to write home about in the BP we also have NOOOOOOOOOOOO MIDDLE RELIEF
4. THERE IS NO BACK UP TO AJ...THE GUY IS A GAMER BUT HE CAN'T HAVE A DAY OFF CUZ HE ALWAYS HAD TO COME INTO THE GAME FOR HALL, who couldn't call a game either!
5. STARTING PITCHING BUEHRLE, JAVY...PUT CONTRERAS IN THE BP AND TRADE FOR AT LEAST ONE STARTER YOU CANT HAVE 3 ??? FOR STARTING PITCHING WITH DANKS, FLOYD, AND CONTRERAS
6. PABLO, RICHAR AND OWENS...ONLY BASE STEALING THREATS....AND YES PODS NEEDED TO GO (HE WILL ALWAYS BE MY FAVE THOUGH) BUT NOW WE HAVE OUR AGING MVP DYE AS THE ONLY PROVEN OUTFIELDER...WHAT JOSH FIELDS IN LEFT....SHOULD HAVE KEPT PODS THEN. OWENS ROCKS ONE ROOKIE IS FINE BUT NOT 2.
7. FIRE OZZIE....FUKU DIDN'T WANT TO PLAY FOR HIM, HOW MANY OF THE OTHER "HOT FREE AGENTS" DIDN'T EVEN LISTEN CUZ OF OZZIE'S REP OF THE BIGGEST EGO EVER! HECK THEN PLAY THE GUILLEN KIDS (WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN THE DUGOUT?)
SO B4 U CALL SOMEONE AN IDIOT AND FICKLE FOR BEING PASSIONATELY TICKED OFF AT THE ENTIRE WHITE SOX FRONT OFFICE...GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT AND SAY WHAT U KNOW BOUT THE SOX AND BASEBALL WHICH LOOKS TO ME TO BE NADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! U DON'T NEED A FIRESALE 2 YEARS AFTER WINNING THE WS MY GOSH....ITS CALLED HAVING BIG HEADED KW AND OZZIE DESTROYING THE TEAM THEY THINK THEY SOLELY WERE THE REASON FOR WINNING IN '05....WHY OH WHY WOULD U BASH A FELLOW SOX FAN ? WE'RE ALL ALLOWED AN OPINION! READ ALL THE OTHER COMMENTS 9 OUT OF 10 SOX FANS ARE LIVID ON THIS FOURTH STRIKE OUT BY KW AND THE ENTIRE WHITE SOX ORGANIZATION! SOX JIM LANDIS SON WAS AARON'S AGENT-IT WAS A LAYUP! ITS THE FINAL STRAW NO NEED TO TRADE THE BIG GUNS, KONERKO, AJ, DYE, CREDE, JAVY!!!!!!!!!!! OH AND BTW...does anyone realize Jerry Reinsdorf is planning on retiring in the next 2 or 3 years....so obviously HE DOES NOT CARE SINCE HE GOT HIS RING! FINALLY: whatever happened to small ball: speed, pitching and defense?!?!? YOU KNOW WHAT WON THE WHITE SOX A 2005 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP?
guess who will be the first and second to prolaim their love for the white sox when they start to win?...sally & joe. i'm sure there are others, but i skipped past most of the other comments. thanks ken for not overspending. you are a true professional gm. i'm sure bill beane & others are proud and taking notes. good luck torii and arron on the west coast, hope you don't get soft. welcome orlando and scott, we will support you. the thought of j. ownes in center is not too shabby for his price and upside. keep stockpiling the pitching and we will be celebrating again in 2-3 yrs or sooner! does anyone need a third baseman with a bad back for a few more prospects?
While seemingly disappointing results thus far, lets let this off season completly play out. Lots more moves to play out, and watch for the trades and signings to occur, I'm sure.
Biggest concern for me is that the holdover players, led by Dye, Konerko, and Thome, cut down on SO, Ground-outs and DP's, and the rest play fundamental team baseball, not this ESPN highlite reel crap played by a lot of teams.
I personally think that Owens and Richar will have great seasons...and both should be told to do 25 push-ups if either of them hit a fly ball again. Oh, and the bullpen blowup last year really can't repeat...just throw strikes, gentlemen.
One last thing: about Rowand's impact...I do not place great value on the "loss" and the fact he now works in SF. Given a choice, I'd much rather see Mr. Owens in CF and Mr. Cora, the real ignitor, waving from 3rd base next year, not sitting in a corner.
Mr. Williams, I continue to have respect and faith in you and believe many good things will happen under your leadership.
IF YOU'RE A TRUE WHITE SOX FAN, THEN YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. BOYCOTT OPENING DAY!!! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! I'VE BEEN A WHITE SOX FAN FOR 30 YEARS. I'LL NEVER FORGET THE 2005 WORLD SERIES. NEVER!!! BUT THIS OFFSEASON DEBACLE IS UNFORGIVEABLE. SURE, MOST OF US OVERLOOKED THE CHILDISH BANTER BETWEEN KENNY "SUCK" WILLIAMS AND THE BIG HURT. ALL RIGHT, WE ALSO MOVED ON AFTER KENNY AND JERRY PRETTY MUCH LET MAGGS WALK OUT THE DOOR. OK, LOSING C. LEE HURT, BUT PODS GAVE US ONE GREAT YEAR. AGAIN, LOSING ROWAND FOR A HOF LEFT-HANDED BAT FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE ORDER MADE SENSE. AND YEAH, GARLAND WAS IN HIS PRIME, BUT HE WASN'T GOING TO RESIGN ANYWAY. BUT NOT GIVING ROWAND FIVE YEARS TO BRING HIM BACK???!!! HOW DO YOU NOT PAY $12 MILLION A YEAR TO A TRUE GRINDER, WHO WANTS TO PLAY FOR YOU???!!!
NOT TO MENTION ERASING THE ILL-WILL CREATED BY A TRADE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WIPED CLEAN AND MADE THE PHILLIES LOOK LIKE CHUMPS. OH, AND WAY THE HELL AREN'T WE GOING AFTER ROBERTS??? DON'T WE HAVE HOLES AT CF, LF AND 2B!!! WOW!!
I WILL ALWAYS DEFEND THIS TEAM. I'M NOT JUMPING SHIP (LONG LIVE THE NORTHSIDE CHOKERS), BUT UNTIL THE POWERS THAT BE (MEANING KENNY AND JERRY) STOP JERKING US AROUND, I WILL NEVER SPEND A DIME TO SUPPORT THE CHEAPEST FREAKIN FRANCHISE IN THE LEAGUE.
LIKE I SAID BEFORE THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY WE AS FANS CAN UNITE OUR VOICE: BOYCOTT OPENING DAY!!!
SEND A MESSAGE TO THESE IDIOTS. WE AREN'T FOOLS!!! WE CAN READ BETWEEN THE LINES. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO COMPETE FOR ANOTHER WORLD SERIES, THEN JUST COME OUT AND SAY IT. ADMIT YOU'RE GOING TO TRADE AWAY MORE AND MORE OF OUR FAN FAVORITES. FORGET ABOUT WAITING FOR THE TRADE DEADLINE TO BREAK THE NEWS. BOYCOTT OPENING DAY!!!
OH, AND DESPITE THE CONCENSUS, THIS ISN'T OZZIE'S FAULT! THIS ALL FALLS ON KENNY AND JERRY (NICE JOB WITH THE BULLS BY THE WAY!).
STAY AT HOME. DON'T PAY KENNY'S OR JERRY'S SALARY! BOYCOTT OPENING DAY!!!!!
In Poker they say "shut up and deal."
Kenny would be wise to just do that since the beginning
Fix our White Sox please
Bottom Line Kenny Williams promised us Sox fans he would land a big fish....WELL HE LIED....the Sox have made very little improvements this off season and Kenny "all talk" Williams swung and missed again....everyone get ready for a very long and ugly season were a 4th place team at best KC might even be better than us.
If I still lived near Chicago I wouldn't attend a Sox game in 08 with lack of a sincere GM & owner.Williams made a statement he thinks his team will contend with current roster! Lol..GM Williams has come up short on several free agents who could of help sox. Instead pick up a very average reliever in Linebrink who probably will add new meaning to gas can pitching at the Cell. Quinten another pick up is certainly not what Sox need is another .220 hitter.Coco Crisp a possible pick up wasn't very impressive with Bosox ,but knowing Chisox they'll pick up someone like him.Unless improvements are made by spring training Royals will no longer be doormat in division.
Great job, Kenny-- you owned the town--2 years later you leave us with Jerry Owens (97 atbats to get his first rbi!!!) and Danny Richar (no range, no hit but cheap) Gavin Floyd (nice ERA) 2 third basemen, 2 shortstops, no leadoffman, no leftfielder, no major league 2nd baseman---free agents who do not want to come here.....when fans stop going again..Kenny/Jerry will state that they cannot spend money because of lost revenues-yet when they have record breaking attendance, we get???????????????
One thought, if Kenny evr gets fired..do you think another team would ever hire him as GM?......or Ozzzie as manager??? --Plus we have one of the worst farms systems and talent evaluators in baseball..Merry Xmas, Kenny
The majority of you bloggers have the right idea turn the cell into a ghost town this season let's see more tumbleweeds than fans
out there. Maybe Cubs fans don't care if their team wins or loses because basically Wrigley is one giant outdoor beer garden & the game is secondary.
However Sox fans are a little more savy when it comes to the sport of baseball they know if it looks like a turd, smells like a turd it is a turd ! Also I'm tired of all these pro Ken Williams bloggers what are you related to the guy, face it he is just a puppet for Reinsdorf & will never be able bring in any talent as if he cares anyhow as long as his bread is buttered. When the best move off season Kenny did was the free agent signing of Scott Linebrink right there that should have set off red flags, this guy couldn't get anyone out when he was in Milwaukee. That's just great another middle innings relevier that can't get any body out, I think the Sox had plenty of those guys last year if I recall. And now Kenny is mad & not speaking to anyone regarding Sox personnel moves, he's mad that's a laugh if anyone deserves to be mad it's the season ticket holders who were promised pie in the sky & didn't even get crumbs. Face it Sox management never had any plans to go after any key free agents & that's that. Sox fans were lied to basically & if you don't like it we could care less is message streaming from the Sox management camp.The bottom line is the Sox have probably sunk so low who knows when they ever will be competetive again as long as they remain in Reinsdorfian ownership. We the fan must force change & if this means not attending any games until management is willing to turn this team around so be it.I rather keep my money in my pocket than give it up to the current regime. As it stands now 60/65 wins might be a stretch.
Let's see -- a reclamation project in left, a guy who can't stay healthy in center, another reclamation project in right, the slowest guy in baseball at first, an import at second, a nutcase behind the plate and two pitchers of undetermined age on the mound. No, that's not the 2008 White Sox. It's the 2005 White Sox, about this time in the dark winter of 2004. Kenny Williams acquired Podsednik, Dye, Uribe, Pierzynski, El Duque and Contreras, and we don't win the World Series without them. I've lived through plenty of White Sox off-seasons where the GM packed it up Oct. 1 and played golf for five months, so let's lighten up a bit here. Most people understand the economics of baseball enough to know the Angels overpaid for Hunter and the Giants probably overpaid for Rowand. The Marlins took the best two minor leaguers from Detroit. But it isn't like we're not in contention for these trades and signings. And as the Fukodome signing proves, it's not always about either logic or money. The White Sox' problems will be fixed if the 25 guys they go north with play hard next year. The fact that they didn't in 2007 was the thing I'm most disappointed in from last year. The GM is fine. Ozzie's fine. But get these guys to play hard in 2008 or Ozzie's the first guy that has to go, because that's his job.
I agree that Hunter at his age is not worth the money and long term committment. Fuku was going to the cubs regardless of what any other team would do. Rowand was a good outfielder here not a savior. What are his career averages and how often did he miss games due either to his style of play or off field pursuits. He is not a difference maker and if he was how did the Phillies do last year in the playoffs and how did Rowand do in the '05" playoffs. The season is a few months off and the possibilities of the Sox are still good. In '05' nobody on that team had career years and last year everyone on the team with the exception of Burleigh, Vasquez and Jencks had either below average or worst year performances. The Sox will compete with most players on the current roster having a normal year and the young players improving a bit. Cabrera is a step up from Uribe and Uribe(as a second baseman unless they get Roberts)is a big step up from Richar. The question marks are going to be Danks and Floyd being able to lower their ERA's into the mid to high 4's and Owens uping his average to the .280 range with an o.b. in the .350 range. If these questions are met the Sox will be in the thick of it in August. Be patient and do not get so damn pessimistic because a few signings have not gone our way. In this division only Detroit improved. The Yankees, Seattle, Oakland and Cleveland have not gotten any better and they all are catchable.
Here's the real question in all of this, Are the Whitesox any better than they were last year? Obviously, not at all! Trading Garland and getting a thirty three year old shortstop, who himself is a season from free agency? We should gave gotten atleast a package of prospects with Garland? To add only one releiver to the worst bullpen most of us have ever seen! Where is Alfornia Jones and the Bullpen of Doom when we need him? Giving up Garland's 200 solid innings probably has damaged the ball club more than anything else. If you remember 2004 where we lost every fifth day all season long! This team has no number 4 or 5 starter, cf, lf, 2b and not to mention Mike MacDougal! What is the Plan Kenny? Did any of us really think the Sox were going to pony-up for a big name free agent? For Williams to make all these big proclamations and have it blow-up in his face, is it really suprising? Why is KW so upset then at fans and media? Is his wall of silence boxed off by the walls of stupidity, arrogance and embarrassment?
Okay IGNORANT BRADLEY!!!!!!!!!!
The sox finished 3 games from last place in 2007. THATS CALLED LAST PLACE WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT KANSAS CITY!!! and winning the WS only 2YEARS AGO!
Oh I forgot, Kansas City improved themselves and we have done nothing.
I stand corrected. It will be LAST PLACE IN 2008!!! Im sorry.
DONT SPEND ANY MONEY AT US CELLUALR FIELD!!!
BOYCOTT THE WHITE SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RESPONSE TO SOX 59
The deals other teams are making are not Ridiculous. THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO DO!!!
They are what you call MARKET VALUE.. What are the White sox doing with your money. The STATE OF ILLINOIS pays for everything inside of white sox park. Where is all the World Series money??
They did not REINVEST IN THE TEAM but used YOU as a SUCKER to keep you coming to the ball park. Have we all forgotten that the TAXPAYERS OF ILLINOIS pay for everything inside of US Cellular Field?
Please. You use pitiful excuses for why the White sox will come in last place again this year!
This is the problem with White Sox Fans. You always have to compare yourself with the Cubs. If things go right or if things go wrong. Hell, you could'nt even enjoy 2005 without mentioning and making comparisons to the cubs.
I finally get it. What SUX fans need to understand is this. YOU WILL NEVER BE MORE POPULAR THAN THE CUBS. THE CITY DOES NOT SUPPORT YOU NOR LIKE YOU; YOUR BALL PARK WILL NEVER BE AS FUN---YOU WILL NEVER BEAT US IN ATTENDANCE (WE SELL OUT IN 2 HOURS FOR THE SEASON) WHAT YOU FAIL TO REALIZE IS THAT NOT WINNING IN 100 YEARS IS NOT THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS THAT THIS IS A BUSINESS. The business of entertainment,and you do not provide that.
The only entertainment you provided is when your wonderful manager took YOUR world series trophy into Venezula to visit Hugo Chavez and show it proudly. AFTER Chavez thretened America--then to Thank him, we gave Ozzie free and imediate citizenship. How wonderful!! and you wonder why no one likes the White Sox. Ha Ha.
In business you spend money to get a quality product; and if you dont-you fail. Just like the White Sox. Even in 2005 it was the LOWEST RATED WORLD SERIES in baseball HISTORY. Didn't that tell you something????? No free agents want to play for this team because it is a JOKE!
Worry about your last place finish in 2008; dont worry about the CUBS. Just worry about us when you SWEEP you again in that TAXPAYERS BALL MALL!!!!!
As a Sox fan, I am truly disgusted with the team and management. The laughable Cubs can not be laughed at anymore. Even though the Sox brought a baseball championship to the city two years, there has been a rapid regression in talent. I must admit that I will have an envious eye on the Cubs for the foreseeable future. Even though they overpay players, at least they are willing to take the chances to improve. As a Sox fan, I can no longer hold on to the 2005 championship. It makes me look so bad. The Cubs ARE getting better and the Sox ARE much worse.
Aaron Rowand was not the answer. He can not play center and pitch. Sox fans should get prepared for a long season. Furthermore, we will have to listen to Cubs fans as they gloat. Once again, baseball will not be recognized on the southside. It only took two years. WOW!!!!
Hmmmmm....
lets recap,
2005- 99 wins and you know what else
2006- 90 wins
2007- 72 wins...
If my math is correct that is ONE BAD SEASON.... RELAX.... In fact that is the first awful season the Sox have had since 1995!!!!!! Though they may not make the playoffs every year they are right around or above .500 as consistently as any team in the league.... LAST PLACE? When's the last time we finished in last place? Lifelong fans? Sure you are... thats why your trading in your team in December....
man... oh man...
If you think a team with two great starters (Beurhle, Vasquez), a great closer (Jenks), three legitimate all-star sluggers (Thome, Paulie, Dye) a catcher with an attitude (AJ) almost two stud third basemen (Crede/Fields), a gold glove shortstop (Cabrera) is a LAST PLACE TEAM...
YOU HAVE BEEN DRINKEN TOO MUCH OLDSTYLE AND SHOULD START WRITING (EXPLETIVE) MARRIOTTI"S COLUMN>>>
COULD ALL THE CLOSET CUB FAN/FAIRWEATHER FAN/YUPPIE CUB FAN/MORONS
STOP POSTING ON THE WHITE SOX BLOG....
Roman keep up the good work....
Just great! Now I read that IDIOT BOY Williams has let Dan Haren get away to the Diamondbacks. Williams, you wreck our pitching staff with bad deals and you won't lift a finger to fix it. If you do not immediately try to acquire Erik Bedard and Brian Roberts from the O's who practically want to give them away, you ought to be run out of town on a rail.
OBTW, "Note from Cubbies," there is no reason to inject politics or Ozzie's citizenship into this discussion. Whether he is a decent manager or not has nothing to do with his love for both his native country and America. Don't get your hopes up about Sox fans turning against the team just because we are justifiably critical of Kenny Williams. We'll always love the Sox and hate the Cubs (mainly because of people like you). You don't like the fact that "the Cell" is owned and operated by the state? Fine, then campaign vigorously against Blago's plan to buy Wrigley Field and renovate it for the Cubs on the taxpayer's dime. If you don't, you're a hypocrite.
PLEASE DO NOT SPEND ANY MONEY IN CELLULAR ONE FIRELD IN 2008. AS A LIFE-LONG SOX FAN I AM JUST THROUGH!!
Tom Wilmington
Aurora
How about this SAM
Why don't the White SUX give back or refund most of our money since 1991!!!!! They have been ripping off TAXPAYERS ever since because they can't NEVER fill the SEATS in that BALL MALL because NO ONE IS INTERESTED IN THE WHITE SOX!
Don't cha understand it? Its right in front of your face.
John
I cannot believe the pressure that i am feeling as a White Sox Fan to see Detroit's line up in 2008.
The White Sox are a national embarassment with Ozzie Guillen. It is only highlighted by a last place finish (2008) AND A OVER THE HILL WASHED-UP JERMAINE DYE.
It never stops coming when it doesnt have to. I will NOT be in that stadium this year!
Davis
I need a few Xmas presents:
Konerko to occasionaly come up with a clutch hit
Dye to contribute the whole season, not just the last 2 months
Richar to live up to half his potential
Fields to keep being Fields
A relief corp that doesn't signal game over, Sox lose.
Owens ending up as our leadoff man and stealing 80 bases
Pitching, any pitching in exchange for Joe Crede
Contreras finds the Fountain of youth
Four starting pitchers that can stay healthy and give us innings
A left fielder..News flash Podsednik sign multiyear deal with Sox
162 games worth of good bounces and warm weather
Thanks Santa, I'm not asking for much
lets just fast foward the 2008 season.its now the 2009 season the sox are coming off another last place finish and rebiulding has started.kenny williams[and his attitude]are gone,being replaced by steve stone[ya baby].ozzie didnt make it either,he was replaced after the all-star break[sox none]by jay marriotti,who has all the answers.yes,the south will rise again,starting in 2009.
The reality is, the Sox like to operate as if they are a small-market team. For years, we as Sox fans, have heard that "if you come, we will build it."...WE'RE WAITING!!!
I think the Orlando Cabrera trade was a great deal (IF we can sign him to a 3+ year contract.) and acquiring Scott Linebrink may or may not be okay...but, are we in any better position to compete with the Tribe or the Tigers? We're not even as good as the Twins!
The fact of the matter is, we CANNOT compete, not this season, and probably not in 2009; not with the current squad.
Unfortunately, the Sox farm system is devoid of tradeable talent. The Sox NEED to blow up the team and rebuild...there is no other viable alternative. (The Sox also desperately NEED better talent evaluators...don't blow up the team IF you can't get REAL talent in return.)
Good luck Sox...you're gonna need a lot of it!
As of today the White Sox are not a competitive team. Williams has promised us that the White Sox will be competitive in 2008 (they did not compete in 2007). This is December 21 and Williams and Reinsdorf have until April to put together a respectable team. Let's be patient. But the White Sox should realize that another team like 2007 and the White Sox will be lucky to draw 15,000 to 20,000 a game. Not competing makes the White Sox a small market team as it should be. To compete as a minimum, the White Sox need at least one more starter, a lead off man, and more bullpen help. The farm system is at least two years away from providing any help.
Is it me?!? or are all these posts just insane? "For years they've been promising, build it and they will come. So where is it?" We are 2 years removed from a Championship. Mind you, the first one by a MLB team in Chicago in 88 years. Ingrates.
The Cubs have been putting crap on the field for 100 years now, and the sheep flock to the dump. I realize that they are a dumbed down version of MLB fans, but seriously.
The Sox won 90 games in 2006, pretty much a guaranteed playoff spot in any other year. They ALL flailed offensively in 2007, a rarity for any team. But it happened. For those giving up and saying "I'm done with the Sox"....GOOD RIDDANCE, you are fair weather fans and the club does not need your selective support. True fans stick by the team through thick AND thin.
Not every team is the Yankees and gets to the post every year. Not every team is like the Cubs and fails every year. Good with bad. How soon some forget that Kenny Williams made some unpopular moves in the 2005 pre-season, and look what we have here....a World Championship. Everyone adored Ozzie and his mouth and freshness in 2005...now he is just a loudmouthed jerk to you. HE HAS NOT CHANGED, YOU HAVE.
Be thankful for what you have....after all, you could have been a Cub fan. *shudders*
Ken Williams belongs in the hall of Shame. Keep in Mind who really run the Whitesox: Reinsdork. He sold out the White Sox in 1997 when just 31/2 games to the Indians, sold 3 starting good pitchers for nothing. He also sold out the Bulls after their 6 chanmpionshipHistory is repeating. Reinsdork and BS williams believe after a world series, they can CON the fans coming in for 3 million a clip a year and sale the club and all those players. Keep a marginal club on the field and let it atrophy while making big spashes. Kenny william fielded a team without a centerfielder for two now going three years. Any GM would be fired UNLESS this is the NON Offical policy by the owners (Reinsdork and company). I am THROUGH with the White Sox. They had no intention of getting any players. It was a CON publicity event.
I can remember Ken BS Williams telling the public in 2006 the rookie Anserson will do adaquately tofill Rowand's shoes. Anderson was a subpar minor league palyer and BS williams blew him up as the next Willie Mays. This jerk needs to be fired for screwing season ticket holders.
Some idiots on the board say relax. Boston lost the playoff in 2005 and they immdeiately upgraded their team in 2006 for the 2007 World Series run. What did the Sox do, just reverse. They are going on Cheap and have no interest fixing the massive holes Ken Williams trades have done the last 2 years. I thinks those who say relax and everything is OK are SOX employess fearing their jobs and the 2008 season melts. Everyteam improved except the Black (Oh White) SOX