2007 Chicago White Sox Thread

[Vic Mackey]

Pitchers and catchers report today and I couldn't be more excited that baseball is about to start up again. I have a good feeling about the Sox this year, I think that Kenny made some good moves this year and they should have some good young pitching for the future if not this year. It looks like it will probably be the Sox, Twins, and Tigers again. I seriously cannot wait for opening day:rockon"

[jsc315]

same here. havent been this excited in a while for baseball.

[Ol'BloodyBottom]

dead thread

[peopleselbow]

2007 World Series Champions has a nice ring to it!

[Vic Mackey]

dead thread

Just as the Cubs thread will be in July when they complete their annual flop.

[Kid Brock]

Just as the Cubs thread will be in July when they complete their annual flop.


Here we go. The mutual Bears love is over and the city goes back to being divided.

[peopleselbow]

Isn't it great!

[Ol'BloodyBottom]

Isn't it great!
No we should hate the Mets

[Vic Mackey]

No we should hate the Mets

I hate the Mets, not as much as I hate ESPN's golden children - the Yankees and Red Sox

[Vic Mackey]

Good, Uribe's legal shit down in the Dominican is done. Now if he can only learn to layoff shitty pitches, or swinging at the first pitch after the bases have been walked full.......


Uribe off the hook, reports to camp
Shortstop cleared in shooting, lawyer says
By Mark Gonzales
Tribune staff reporter

February 22, 2007, 10:41 PM CST

TUCSON, Ariz. -- White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe reported to spring training Friday, looking fit and happy after a winter ordeal in his native Dominican Republic.

Uribe arrived late Thursday night after he was no longer obligated to attend hearings regarding his alleged involvement in the shooting of two men last October, attorney/agent Martin Arburua said.

"There are no scheduled hearings at any time this season," Arburua said. "He has no obligations to return, and hopefully we can put this to rest."

Uribe was to address reporters after Friday's workout.

Manager Ozzie Guillen warned that Uribe had better report to camp in shape, and Uribe looked noticeably thinner than he was last season as he trotted out to the practice fields.

"They don't serve you good food in jail," one teammate observed, although Uribe was never charged in the shooting.

Uribe's brother Epidio and friend Jose Manuel Encarnacion remain suspects and must report to the March hearing, Arburua was informed.

Guillen pleaded for the return of Uribe because backup Alex Cintron is the club's only experienced backup shortstop, and Cintron's throwing has been limited because of off-season right elbow surgery.

"We need him for the team," Guillen said. "He's reliable to us and we expect a lot of good things for him."

[bubbawadd]

Good news

[Vic Mackey]

Sox just signed Vazquez to a 3 year, $34 mill extension. Really would've liked them to spend the money elsewhere, but this does allow them to have him, Contreras, and Garland wrapped up thru next year.

Sox sign Vazquez to 3-year extension
By Mark Gonzales
Tribune staff reporter

March 6, 2007, 3:29 PM CST

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The White Sox stabilized their pitching staff Tuesday when they signed right-hander Javier Vazquez to a three-year, $34.5 million extension through 2010.

Vazquez, 30, who allowed four runs on six hits in three innings Tuesday against Colorado, would have become eligible for salary arbitration after this season. He was scheduled to make $12.5 million this season, with about 25 percent of that being paid by Arizona as part of a trade in December of 2005.

The signing means that 60 percent of the Sox's rotation — Jon Garland, Jose Contreras and Vazquez — are signed through 2008. Vazquez's signing also increases the likelihood that popular left-hander Mark Buehrle will leave for free agency after the season.

The extension shows the Sox have faith in Vazquez despite an 11-12 record and 4.84 ERA last season.

Vazquez expressed relief last January that he wasn't dealt. He had the distinction of pitching for four teams (Montreal, New York Yankees, Arizona and the Sox) in four consecutive seasons. He has a lifetime 100-105 record but has failed to progress since leaving Montreal.

mgonzales@tribune.com
Copyright © 2007, The Chicago Tribune

[Vic Mackey]

Bump in honor of Buehrle's no-hitter.

The Sox have started real slow and look real flat, but I'm not worried one bit because the hitting will eventually come around and their pitching has been solid so far. Just hope Ozzie doesn't burn out the bullpen.

[Gladys kravitz]

Lets see a sweep in Detroit.

[Vic Mackey]

Lets see a sweep in Detroit.

Close enough. 2 out of 3 not bad, especially at Detroit.

[Vic Mackey]

So when does the fire sale start? As much as I love this team, they just aren't clicking together, same thing with last year. At this point I would not mind it if Kenny started unloading some of these guys (Dye, Crede, Garland) for some good young prospects. And with the injury to Erstad, even though it is supposedly only 15 days, I unfortunately don't see this team going anywhere in the Central division this season.

And I cringe every time Ozzie brings in Macdougal or Boone Logan, game over every time.

[Vic Mackey]

Wow, the bullpen makes me ill. Basically unless the staters can go 8 innings, the Sox are fucked. And it doesn't help that there is virtually no offense to win these games. Buehrle pitched a complete game Thurs. gave up 2 hits no walks and the Sox lose, that's fucking pathetic.

[Deadbent]

I'm so disgusted by the team, the bullpen, and to a lesser extent, guillen this year, that I don't even have much to say here about them.
I'll get back to discussing them when they pick up someones 2nd or 3rd starting pitcher, and work them into middle relief.

Off to the game though, had tickets all week for the yanks series.
I'm hoping this bitch isn't rained out tonight.
3 games in almost as many weeks I've gone to, and have been rained out and postponed. The good thing about that, I guess.. is that old man reinsdorf reimburses you not only for the actual game, but you get free upper deck seating for any game of your choice. So, every postponed game and its ticket, nets you two visits to the ballpark. Not bad I guess, but I'd rather have a set up man instead.

But whatever,
Tonight, as usual, lets see if we can get a 10 run lead by the 6th, that way when relief comes on in the 7th or 8th, and we give up 11 or 12, we only lose by two or three, and not 7.



By the way, how ya been Vic?

[Vic Mackey]

I'm so disgusted by the team, the bullpen, and to a lesser extent, guillen this year, that I don't even have much to say here about them.
I'll get back to discussing them when they pick up someones 2nd or 3rd starting pitcher, and work them into middle relief.

Off to the game though, had tickets all week for the yanks series.
I'm hoping this bitch isn't rained out tonight.
3 games in almost as many weeks I've gone to, and have been rained out and postponed. The good thing about that, I guess.. is that old man reinsdorf reimburses you not only for the actual game, but you get free upper deck seating for any game of your choice. So, every postponed game and its ticket, nets you two visits to the ballpark. Not bad I guess, but I'd rather have a set up man instead.

But whatever,
Tonight, as usual, lets see if we can get a 10 run lead by the 6th, that way when relief comes on in the 7th or 8th, and we give up 11 or 12, we only lose by two or three, and not 7.



By the way, how ya been Vic?


Not bad Deadbent. I went to that game Tuesday as well. Got some upper deck makeup game seats w/ my season tickholder pals. That place was dead, not much to cheer about besides Owens infield single and Dye high-tailing it to third......only to get stranded:mad4:

I try to be as optimistic as possible, I think that the offense will eventually come around I just hope that it is not too late. This division could get away from them really quick. What I would like to see is one of their young guys like Owens or Fields to really step it up, since they are the future of this club in the next few years. I think Sweeney did a good job when he was up, and hopefully Anderson continues to do well in the minors. He has the potential to be great, I think he just needs to develop some more, and the majors is not the place for him right now.

I can't really blame Ozzie for this, he's playing with what he has right now which isn't much.

[Deadbent]

Was nice to see the crowd in philly give Thome a standing ovation.

But as of today, in 18 games we've seen the same game exactly 17 times.

Be up, or tied going into the 6th. Bring in relief, give up the game.
Rinse, wash, repeat.

Exactly 17 times.
2 of those 18 times we've managed to crank out a win by the skin of our teeth, and in one of those 18 games, we've won resoundingly.

It's pretty disgusting.

Ozzie bringing out denks today wasn't a bad move. Keeping Thorton in, one batter too many, was.
Thorton is the guy who should come in for 1-2 batters. Sit em down with 98mph fastballs and goes away.
Not stay and try to get more than that.


Tired of ozzies tactical mistakes.
Tired of Greg Walker not correcting hitting errors and technique problems in the hitters.
Tired of having the bullpen throwing bp to the opposing teams.

[Deadbent]

Tired of going to ball games where they should be winning. Not giving it up in the last few innings.

[Vic Mackey]

Juan Uribe needs to go away real quick. I'm so sick of watching him dog it day in day out at short. He has the talent, he is just one of the laziest players I've seen. I was listening to the game at work, at Farmer said that Garland looked real pissed when he got pulled after Uribe duffed that ball in the 8th.

On the good side, at least Josh Fields is starting to hit, and his d has been pretty solid.

[Deadbent]

Did I mention I'm tired of going to ballgames and losing like suckers?

Because if not, I'd like to reiterate that.

[Hoagie]

That rare suicide squeez play was a thing of beauty.

[Vic Mackey]

Woo Hoo!!! Swept the D-Rays. OK, can't get too excited about that but it's a start. Now if they can just pony up and give the ultimate team player Buehrle a nice contract extension which he deserves, that would make me happier. Trade Contreras and Dye and some others for some offense as well.

[Kid Brock]

Nothing can cure a losing streak like the D-Rays.

[Vic Mackey]

Nothing can cure a losing streak like the D-Rays.

Unfortunately it didn't last long, getting smoked by the Royals is not a good way to come off a 4 game sweep.

[Vic Mackey]

Talks off between Buehrle and the Sox. He agreed to give them a HUGE home town discount, apparently 4 years $56 mill. The White Sox refused to give him a no-trade clause, which he is eligible for after 08 anyways. Brilliant. The guys done nothing but peform and give his best for this organization, and they can't thank him by giving him a contract and a no trade, which leads me to believe that they never had any intention on resigning him. It was all a ruse to say that they tried. Jewey Reinsdorph and this organization can be so maddening some times.

[Deadbent]

Talks off between Buehrle and the Sox. He agreed to give them a HUGE home town discount, apparently 4 years $56 mill. The White Sox refused to give him a no-trade clause, which he is eligible for after 08 anyways. Brilliant. The guys done nothing but peform and give his best for this organization, and they can't thank him by giving him a contract and a no trade, which leads me to believe that they never had any intention on resigning him. It was all a ruse to say that they tried. Jewey Reinsdorph and this organization can be so maddening some times.



Yeah, something tells me next years team is gonna rival the strength of the 1988 white sox.

[Deadbent]

Thanks for that blown 4 run lead that was magnanimously lost in the last 4 innings of the game.

[Kid Brock]

When Cory Patterson goes 4-4 against you it might just not be your year.

[Deadbent]

Buehrle got a new contract. My guess is they'll shop around Contreras next. Too bad they can't find some shortstop action!

[Vic Mackey]

Buehrle got a new contract. My guess is they'll shop around Contreras next. Too bad they can't find some shortstop action!

Glad they got that done, must have really been feeling the pressure from the fans on that. Vazquez had another awesome game, 2nd complete game with no walks. :clap: Hopefully he can keep it up.

Wish for 2nd half: Dump Contreras, Dye and Iguchi for some good prospects and make the Tigers and Indians work for it. I would hope for a Twins 06 2nd half, but I dont want to be greedy!

[Kid Brock]

Only problem is that you can only expect Contreras to be a salary dump because he isn't going to bring anything back in return.

[Deadbent]

If anyones at the game tonight, IM me on aim. We'll have a drink before we lose in the 9th.

[Deadbent]

Bye Gooch.

[Vic Mackey]

Baaaaaad Bobby Jenks retired 38 batters in a row tying fat David Wells for the AL record. Sadly, unless you go to mlb.com or read the Chicago papers you would not have known that. Fucking ESPN sucks my ass, if he had been on the Yanks or the Red Sox they would have been there sucking his cock. Oh well, hopefully he can tie the major league record of 41 tonight when I am there!


Record night for Jenks as White Sox beat Mariners
By Dave van Dyck
Tribune staff reporter

August 10, 2007, 11:18 PM CDT

So this is the way it was supposed to be all along?

Jermaine Dye hitting homers and starting rallies, Josh Fields showing major-league potential with another power display, Javier Vazquez almost dominating and Bobby Jenks unhittable.

It obviously has taken a long time to get to this point, but with Friday's 5-3 victory over Seattle, the White Sox have won six of their last eight games, this one coming before a sellout crowd of 38,586 at U.S. Cellular Field. The Mariners, who had the American League wild-card lead, lost for only the fourth time in their last 13 games.

While Vazquez was credited with the victory, Jenks picked up his 33rd save when he retired all three hitters in the ninth. When Ichiro Suzuki bounced out to end the game, he was the 38th straight batter Jenks had retired, tying him for the longest streak in AL history with David Wells for the Yankees in 1998. The major-league record Jim Barr's 41 in 1972.

The superstitious Jenks wouldn't talk afterward, but Vazquez called his string of zeros "pretty amazing. That's tough to do, especially in that situation coming where it's three up, three down."

"That's [remarkable], especially when you're a closer because you don't have that many opportunities," manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Vazquez has won seven of his last eight decisions, a streak that started with back-to-back complete games. He has walked only 14 batters in that span, including one (intentionally) Friday.

While allowing the Mariners nine hits, he limited them to three runs, getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh with two straight infield outs.

"That's one thing Javy can do that he couldn't do in the past," Guillen said. "He couldn't get out of a tough inning. The key for Javy is that he has learned that when he doesn't have his best stuff, he can still pitch."

With success has come confidence and with confidence has come a lower pitch count, as Vazquez has quit nibbling at the corners.

"He was not aggressive," Guillen said. "Now he's more aggressive, attacking the strike zone. That is the reason he is having a better year this year."

Vazquez's feat was all the more remarkable considering the Mariners came into town having scored 31 runs in a three-game series at Baltimore, getting at least 15 hits in each.

"They have one of the best lineups in the game," Guillen said. "They have power, they have speed, they have guys who know how to play the game. It doesn't surprise me at all that they put up those kinds of numbers. I said [in the spring], that is one of the best teams, hitting-wise, in the American League."

Vazquez was staked to a 1-0 lead in the second inning and a 2-1 lead in the third on homers by Dye and Fields.

He couldn't hold either one of them, giving up homers to Kenji Johjima and Raul Ibanez. The Mariners took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning on Jose Vidro's sacrifice fly after Yuniesky Betancourt and Suzuki had singled.

Fields tied it again in the sixth inning with a 405-foot shot just to the left of dead center, giving him his first multihomer game in the majors.

After Vazquez escaped the top of the seventh, the Sox gave him a two-run the lead in the bottom. Dye led off with a single and streaked home as Juan Uribe hit a shot off the left field wall. Uribe then scored on Darin Erstad's triple that skipped past Suzuki.

dvandyck@tribune.com
Copyright © 2007, The Chicago Tribune

[Kid Brock]

It is a nice little achievement, but it is way more impressive when a starter does it than a closer. It is not #756, or a 300th win. Did you honestly know or care about the consecutive batters retired mark before Jabba Jenks made his run at it?

[Deadbent]

It is a nice little achievement, but it is way more impressive when a starter does it than a closer. It is not #756, or a 300th win. Did you honestly know or care about the consecutive batters retired mark before Jabba Jenks made his run at it?

Hush, or I'll plunk you like marquis did that dude last night ;p

[peopleselbow]

Heading down to the Cell now for the epic White Sox vs. Royals battle - wooo hooo!

[Kid Brock]

Heading down to the Cell now for the epic White Sox vs. Royals battle - wooo hooo!


Better luck next time pal.

[peopleselbow]

Better luck next time pal.

Despite the exciting finish, it was a long, hot, boring and sweaty game.

I haaaaate Jose Contreras!

[Deadbent]

had I caught this thread earlier, I would've went too. I had tickets, and opted not to go because ol forkball hanger was supposed to pitch.

[Vic Mackey]

What I don't understand is why they keep throwing him out there. It is pretty much an automatic loss. That or a mountain of runs to come back from after the 1st inning.

I am glad they are playing the kids, and they hopefully will be able to field a pretty good team next year if they can make some good offseason pitching moves. Still hope they keep Garland, but not likely.

Going on Saturday if it ever stops raining here.

[Kid Brock]

There is article today on ESPN Insider I believe talking about how the Sox are going to keep him. Like they have a choice at this point.

[Vic Mackey]

I have never been more embarrassed as a White Sox fan ever. How do you let your fucking stadium become a loser Red Sox faggot home like that. Blood boiling, Deadbent. Boiling. And I have to go to the game with the old lady's stupid red sawx friends tomorrow. Puke here. At least she has dd boobs.

[peopleselbow]

Out scored. 46 - 7 over the weekend. Just pathetic. Thank God I gave away my Sox/D-Rays tickets for today.

I can't believe they won the World Series 2 years ago and now this!

[Deadbent]

Well gents... I just don't know what to say after this year. It's a total catastrophic failure. Big whoopdeedo to the 4 jacks today. Might've been nice to see if I decided to go. But why go when the team gets simply crushed on a consistent basis, and like vic said.. embarrassed as bad as they did by the redsux. Absolutely rotten.

[Vic Mackey]

While I am glad they are playing the young guys, I am starting to wonder what the plan is for next year. They need to make a lot of moves in the offseason if they want to be competitive. As much as fans have continued to show up, they owe it to us to go out and make some moves that will put them right back in contention and not go into rebuild mode. And I am starting to get the feeling that Kenny still really believes in this slow, aging team.

BTW, barring any unforseen changes, Sunday was the last day I plan to go to the park for the rest of the season.

So sad I won't be seeing another:

- Connies pizza race;
- Watch some puky fat kid not hit a home run in the fundamentals deck and still run around the bases;
- Get bombarded, hit in the back of the head, and have my beer almost knocked out of my hand by asshats when the Pride crew throws out $2 tshirts while I'm trying to relax in between innings
- All the other minor league bullshit, information overload Reinsdorf's injected into going to the game. God do I miss the old days of having some old highlights play over music.

[peopleselbow]

While I am glad they are playing the young guys, I am starting to wonder what the plan is for next year. They need to make a lot of moves in the offseason if they want to be competitive. As much as fans have continued to show up, they owe it to us to go out and make some moves that will put them right back in contention and not go into rebuild mode. And I am starting to get the feeling that Kenny still really believes in this slow, aging team.

BTW, barring any unforseen changes, Sunday was the last day I plan to go to the park for the rest of the season.

So sad I won't be seeing another:

- Connies pizza race;
- Watch some puky fat kid not hit a home run in the fundamentals deck and still run around the bases;
- Get bombarded, hit in the back of the head, and have my beer almost knocked out of my hand by asshats when the Pride crew throws out $2 tshirts while I'm trying to relax in between innings
- All the other minor league bullshit, information overload Reinsdorf's injected into going to the game. God do I miss the old days of having some old highlights play over music.

:haha7::haha7:

Priceless!

[Vic Mackey]

So here's my take on where the White Sox stand so far this offseason.

1. Traded John Garland for Orlando Cabrera - OK, if you can pull off the rest of your plan. Didn't happen, so now they gave up their 2nd best pitcher, a guy who will give you 7 quality innings each outing and keep you within 2 runs. So now they have Buehrle and Vasquez to hold down your rotation. Oh yeah, Jose Contreras is still there to suck it up, and two of the young unproven guys. Plus they flat out were not going to resign Garland, because why would you want to reward one of your best pitchers, and who needs starting pitching to win anyway.

2. Didn't get Tori Hunter - I was pissed at first, but then I saw what the Angels offered, 90 mill over 5 years for a 32 yr old guy.

3. Signed reliever Scott Linebrink - good move, probably overpaid though.

4. Traded their top 1st base prospect Chris Carter for outfield prospect Carlos Quentin. This would be OK if they didn't already have 3 young guys who can play outfield already and are supposed to have a ton of potential (Anderson, Sweeny, and Owens). Oh, and Konerko isn't getting any younger and will probably have to move to DH in a few years. I do like what I hear about Carter, but it just doesn't make sense with what they have and how Kenny talked a big game about getting the big fish.

5. Did not get Miguel Cabrera. Not only that, the Tigers got him. This was Kenny's guy after Hunter, and he didn't get him. If the Sox minor system wasn't so depleted, maybe they would have had a chance, but Kenny has taken care of that over the years. This also makes the Garland trade look even worse now, you got older and slower and you now have a sketchy starting pitching staff. The Cabrera signing prompted a pissed off Jermaine Dye to call Kenny and ask what the deal is, where his big fish was going to come from. KW told Dye when he resigned that he was going to make some major pickups during the offseason. Kenny then also came out and said that Andrew Jones is absolutely not in their plans (he is a Boras client and the Sox are the only team in baseball who won't negotiate with him, not that he reps any top players). He also came out and said don't ask for a dollar when I can only give you 50 cents. This is probably the comment that pisses me off more than anything. If you aren't willing to pay for good young players don't go to the fucking table, don't tell fans you are going to make some big offseason signings, and don't tell your aging players who you give way too much $ to that you are going to get a big fish.

There is a possiblilty that they could still get Rowand, but he isn't the best they could have done. Not the way to reward your fans either, especially the ones who still showed up when you were the shittiest team with a $110M payroll ever last season.

So as they are now, a 90 loss season is looking pretty good to what they could have coming in '08. Unless KW can pull something out of his ass, they are seriously fucked for a few years. Sucks, especially after '05, when all the analysts were saying that this team had the potential to win a few more World Series, or at least be competitive.