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50 replies

Sox and Cubs 2008.

S soxnole1,000+ posts
Thought it might be fun to seriously discuss issue's with each team that need to be addressed.
Thought rosy,Denis and the old gang might chime in.

Sox:
Who go's down when Paulie comes back?
Send down Wise. He looks like a definete option in center but you can't send Anderson and they won't send Uribe. The problem will simmer for awhile as Konerko isn't ready anyway. Hopefully they keep Uribe as insurance up the middle and in case Cabrera bolts after 1 year. It looks however, as if they may trade him somewhere he can play everyday.

Keep Cabrera if his attitude continues to improve and the chemistry problem is resolved. Whining that a team mate (Hall) deserved an error instead of him is still a major obstacle to overcome in a tight club house.

Ramirez has actually proved that he is a big league player if not budding super star and definetely the future SS.

If Konerko gets hot in the 2nd half the Sox will hold on to win the AL Central.

Cubs:

Ramirez is such a dog that even with his big bat and better defensive play he makes you notice when he's out by 30' on a double play ball. Now he's off to take care of "personal family matters" when the cubs need him on an important road trip. Does this fellow ever smile?

Derrick Lee is as good as it gets and this team needs him badly in the 2nd half.

Will the pitching hold up? This is the real question for the north siders. If Zambrano stays healthy I think they will run away with the NL Central.If not,it will be a dog fight and the playoff's can get ugly with Lily as your # 1.

The 2 Cajuns have been solid as well as KF. Soto has been terriffic....can he keep it up?

Finally they must get some better bats off the bench. Murton is Brian Anderson without the fab defense. Ward is a stud at the plate (natural DH) but a liability in the OF.

Whaddayuguysthink?
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itsrosyitsrosy1,000+ posts
Soxnole, I guess you feel much better this Monday than last, or you would have made this post last week! LOL.

I agree with most of what you said, but something would be wrong if I agreed with everything you put forth. I am not an Aramis Ramirez hater. This guy has transformed his body from the Pillsbury dough boy to someone who is very lean. That should make things easier on his legs and he needs to stay healthy if they're going to win. He comes to play with a big stick each and every game, and if he needs to tend to something personal, then I give him a pass. Lou knows just what he's doing with this team and I won't question him. This Cub team has more depth than any in recent memory, when they're all healthy. In the end that, along with a trade for another starting pitcher would do it for me. Did anyone say, CC?

Good to hear from you.

One Cajun is terrific but the 2nd one isn't an everyday player, IMO.
FastballDadFastballDad1,000+ posts
Gotta agree with Rosy on Ramirez. He is far better than what we saw when he got here.

The qustion for the Cubs is: How will they be playing at the end when it counts..... that goes for all playoff teams, but these days winning 100 means little with the format we have. Some team with 86 wins who is playing well can beat you easily enough. Cajun #1 is fine, but I'll trade #2 for Alexi Ramirez.

The question for the sox is whether or not these starters are going to pitch this well all year. Some are slipping, but there is a long way to go and we will see.

Both teams will make the playoffs, but this time the sox will see some good teams and will have to beat them if they want to go all the way.
S soxnole1,000+ posts
Playball2....

The NL is BRUTAL.

"Good team" has a decidedly different meaning depending on which league your talking about.

149-102 AL over the NL this year.

The cubs must take advantage. Then......they SHOULD make it to the Series.

Where.......they SHOULD be CRUSHED like this past weekend and when they played the Ray's.

The cubs and Sox both have a tough time matching up with the Red Sox and Ray's. The Angels, Tigers,Twins and Sox are all better than any of the cubs NL partner's.

But....Just like the 06 Cards, it's baseball, You never know for sure until you play the game!

Fastball......The Sox competition will be slightly tougher this year but the 05 Red Sox were a pretty fine team and the CHAMPS spanked them. With the best bullpen ever, these 08 White Sox have a real shot at another crown, while the cubs starters will be fodder for any of the AL top teams.
itsrosyitsrosy1,000+ posts
Soxnole, Both leagues are down this year in my opinion. All the top teams have flaws. AL Central, best division in baseball? I don't think so.

I'm a NL guy all the way, but I like the Angels and they've got the best manager in the game, in this guys opinion.

You're interleague point is vastly overrated. The matchups aren't consistent and the only way to judge would be the impossibility of everyone playing everyone else, ie, one league. Because the AL did a better job of beating up on the little sisters of the poor, doesn't mean much to me.
FastballDadFastballDad1,000+ posts
I agree with Rosy. Baseball is without a great team right now. I wouldn't want to play The Rays in the dome to be sure.....I don't think anyone does.

I think the AL has 4 pretty good teams in the sox, The Rays, The Red Sox and Angels. The Tigers may be good enough to catch the sox if they stumble.

I think the NL has 2 or 3 pretty good teams in the Cubs, The Cards and if the Brewers or Phillies make a trade or two for pitching they could be there too. The D-Backs should be better with Webb and Haran at the top of the staff but they don't seem to have put it together so far.

It will come down to how well a team is playing in September and October.
B bballdad1954500+ posts
Rosy, I know you don't like Kenny Williams. How about the trade for Danks? How about picking up Alexi Ramierez? How about picking up Orlando Cabrara? How about getting Floyd? Where is McCarthy and Garcia? How about Carlos Quinton? Someone is finding guys that can play and getting rid of guys that can't. Is he perfect. No GM is. But, he is doing pretty good. Thome is still hitting 'em out, Thomas is done.
itsrosyitsrosy1,000+ posts
Everything you say is correct. You're also correct in that I can't stand the man, not that he cares what anyone thinks of him. His elitist attitude permeates every sentence that he utters, and that just rubs me the wrong way. But, there is no arguing that he has done some masterful dealing that has a team picked no higher than 3rd, leading the pack. Can't argue with it.
S soxnole1,000+ posts
Sorry guys but you 2 (rosy and Fastball) sound like Leo Burnett Account Execs trying to figure out how to put a spin on the NL playing .406 baseball VS the AL while the AL plays .685 baseball VS the NL.

rosy....Not a chance the AL is down...maybe the Yanks and Indians but who else?

The Angel's,A's,Ray's,Twins,Tigers,Red and White Sox are head and shoulders better than any NL team. All of those teams have complete pitching staffs...something the cubs do not. On top of that the cubs have won 9 of 12 from Pittsburgh and lost 9 of 15 to the AL putting them 7 GAMES OVER .500 VS everyone else in the very WEAK NL!! Please read cub shill Phil Rodgers on the state of AL/NL baseball he wrote on Sunday. As far as Fastball's Phillies and Cards....maybe a trade or 5! Without Tony LaRussa and his staff the Cards would be buried by now.
itsrosyitsrosy1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by soxnole:
NL playing .406 baseball VS the AL while the AL plays .685 baseball VS the NL.



No spin zone here. But, you've got to explain this FSU math to me! I must be missing something. Doesn't the NL winning % and the AL winning % have to add up to 100%? If I'm wrong I apologize in advance.
itsrosyitsrosy1,000+ posts
AJ vs Varitek was a no-brainer. You shouldn't be surprised that the players voted for JV, when a couple of years ago they also voted AJ the most disliked player in MLB.

Agree about Fukodome and Crede. The snub to the WS pitchers is because the Sox just don't have anything but a local following, that's just the way it is. But, when the players or manager don't even pick one pitcher from the team, there must be something else going on.
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S soxnole1,000+ posts
I'm surprised anyway!

The Sox national following might not be what the cubs and Braves is but the WGN telecasts have had an impact. I know people all over Florida, Arizona and elsewhere rooting for the Sox that used to be Braves and/or cub fans.

Francona should be ashamed of himself for leaving Linebrink off the team. We'll just have to eliminate he and JV from the playoff's!
P pitcher2510+ posts
im shocked linebrink isnt on the all star team, the guy has been lights out all year. his last 3 innings he has given up a run, and still has an ERA under 2, thats impressive. you could also make a case for gavin floyd, 10 wins, took a no hitter into the late innings twice this year. and even though some of the numbers might not be there, john danks is an all star caliber pitcher.
itsrosyitsrosy1,000+ posts
Some risk, very high reward. Certainly didn't mortgage the future by trading Murton, Patterson or Gallagher. Chad Gaudin makes this deal a potential big winner my AL friends tell me.

Oakland got what they wanted, a young, healthy starting pitcher and a few other parts, none of which are close to arbitration or free agency. Harden's salary of $7M for next year may be peanuts to the Cubs, but for Oakland it is a risk they can't afford to take.
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S soxnole1,000+ posts
Great deal by Hendry.

Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then.

Sox and cubs beating opposition to death!
They lead the majors in run differential.

Of course the cub competition (NL and the Pirates) make any comparison impossible.

rosy....lots of Sox fans and no cub fans in KC last night....though its hard to see much when channel 26 looks like 1959 video!
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S soxnole1,000+ posts
My answer: (Which rosy has heard a few times) The NL played at a .407 pct. VS the AL in 252 games.
This is equivalent to more than 1 and 1/2 seasons.
The cubs were 6-9 (.400)
Only 2 of 16 NL teams could even reach .500.
To be 33 games over in the NL is about the same as being 20 over in the AL.
The cubs are going to the World Series if they don't choke their ivy off.
The Sox must face the Rays,Angels,Red Sox and Twins.
All of which are better teams than the cubs.
Toronto is at cub level.
Btw, Glad to see that Derrick Lee agrees with Barack Obama about wrigley,cub fans and the hordes of sightseeing tourists from Iowa and beyond.
Beenthere is vindicated!
Pinella is the #1 reason for north side success while Kenny Williams deserves Exec of the year once again.
Last edited by soxnole
ballyallballyall500+ posts
There has much discussion about the order for the Cubs pitching rotation in a playoff:

I have heard Zambrano first because he has lead the team for years. I have also heard that Dempster should be game one especially given his propensity for winning at Wrigley.

Personally, I go

1. Harden
2. Dempster
3. Zambrano

What do you guys think?
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