lavalarva wrote:

- The Red Sox being in the World Series, so they can kick the Yankees ass.

Not to pick nits, but the Red Sox and Yankees cannot meet in the World Series, since they play in the same league. The latest they can meet in the playoffs (and incidentally, the only possible time they CAN meet in the playoffs) is the ALCS.

As far as Chicago goes...

- The White Sox getting Jake Peavy. The White Sox are shaping up to have one of the best rotations in all of baseball, with Peavy, Buehrle, Danks, Floyd, and Garcia/Hudson. Now if they can get a less erratic offense and a decent bullpen, they'd be set.

- The Blackhawks starting up again Friday after their breakout season. A lot of people are picking the Blackhawks to be the ones to wrestle the Central Division crown away from Detroit this year (finally) and I hope we get to meet Detroit again and kick the snot out of them in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Fuck the Red Wings.

- The Bears are in season, and despite some struggles (and the losses of Desmond Clark and Brian Urlacher), they're pulling their own weight. After his disastrous debut at Lambeau, Cutler has been solid, and Johnny Knox has emerged as a big-play threat every time he's on the field. I'm predicting that they'll make the playoffs, with an 11-5 record.

Rydog wrote:

Jake Peavy is my favorite non-red sox player, but he is very injury prone and expensive, I would have made the deal though because he is plain filthy. And technically, he didn't say that they would play the Yankees in the world series.

Especially for what the Sox gave up for him (the biggest player they gave up was Clayton Richard)...he is expensive, but he's a true ace when healthy. That rotation would scare anyone. They just need a slight overhaul on offense, and a remodeling of the bullpen (something tells me Jenks is gone, with Thornton manning the closer's role full time).

I read it as he wanted the Red Sox to make the World Series so they can beat the Yankees in it.

Rydog wrote:

Yeah, I would peg the White Sox as instant front runners in the Central next year, I like that they mixed things up a bit...I don't really get the Alex Rios pick up though? Too pricey for too little for a crowded outfield.

Well, there's talk of both Jermaine Dye and Scott Podsednik leaving after this year, which would clear the outfield considerably. Personally, I think Dye is gone, and I think Pods will come back for one more year. So we'll have an outfield of Podsednik, Rios, and Quentin, with Wise/Kotsay as the 4th OF.

Rios is a gamble taken by the White Sox, as he's young and a good-fielding CF, both of which we've needed since Aaron Rowand departed. He's had a bad season with the stick, but the Sox are hoping that this year is just an anomaly.

My biggest worry for the Sox is their bullpen...it was hot garbage this year, with the only reliever that showed any consistency being Matt Thornton...but he's starting to get old, so the Sox have a fine mess to clean up as far as their BP goes.

Congratulations.

Since my Sox aren't going to be factors, my team is going to be the Rockies. They're a team that doesn't have much flash, but they get the job done. Also, I love rooting for the underdog, unless my team is the favorite.